Photo Fun

It was a strange and wonderful week in Instagram land.  I had quite a few pictures featured on various accounts much to my pleasure and surprise.  It seemed like every time I checked my phone there was a massive orange bar of goodness running along the  bottom right hand corner - and it just kept coming and coming!  I still feel like my photography confidence is lacking so this week was a huge boost for me.  I always tell myself that my pics need to be more creative, or have more colour or less colour or contrast or conception or blah blah blah.  Yah - I can be hard on myself.  But as mentioned it was a fun and very strange week.  Here were the shots that were picked!  

I was extremely honoured…

This little nugget got featured quite a few times.  Who knew an excited little girl wearing a tutu and a cape would be so popular?!  HAHA

 It’s so nice being able to get creative and be inspired by countless other photographers.  What a great little app.

Have a fantastic day!

Kate

Guess where we were?! (again)...

These are the days, the precious and sweet days that I’ll be longing for twenty years down the road.  The days where we spend all day at the beach in the sun with the sand between our toes and forget about what time it is and where we need to be next.  Even with all that’s been going on and the ‘challenges’ that have newly emerged in our lives, I know that I shouldn’t be wishing away time only to get to X, Y or Z.  It’s ‘now’, right now that matters.  We really only have these moments and we can only make the best of them.  

So again, we’ve basically been living at the beach…we go a lot.  It’s just such a joyful and happy place for our family and makes both kids forget about some of the struggles that they are facing as little human beings.  I keep cringing at the ‘back to school’ sale signs and shops featuring new fall clothing.  That just puts me into a panic because it feels like summer just began!  But this is what I’m talking about - it seems like we as a society are so eager and rushed to get to the next thing.  We're always looking to the next season, the next holiday the next point that is going to make us happy.  Always living in the future.  But for me, I'm really working on living in the now and right now we’re just going to continue being grateful for whatever blessings are present.  

Anyway, there is my two cents.  Enjoy the weekend friends.  We only have this day, right here, today.  ENJOY! XOXO

Also, you'll know where to find us if you need us...

Luvs,

Kate 

XO

9 Months!

Will’s NINE month update

Personality:

We still have a lively, happy, smiley baby, but he’s definitely fussier these days and fussier for longer periods.  He absolutely hates the new hip brace.

Sleep:

Major major major major major MAY-gerrrrr sleep regression.  We’re talking every two hours William will wake up because he either: 

a) can’t get comfortable 

b) can’t roll over 

c) is in pain.  

Have I mentioned how much he hates the brace? 

Physicality:

Will weighs 19 pounds and has his two bottom and two top front teeth and more are breaking through his gums (which doesn’t help in the pain department).    

Food:

He’s still nursing and eats solids four or five times a day.  His favourite is a chicken and veg casserole which is bizarre to me.  Meat was the one food Scarlet kind of stayed away from so this is yet another example of how opposite these two kiddos are.

Me 9 months postpartum

How are you feeling?

I’m ok.  I’m feeling so terrible for my poor little guy.  I just don’t want him to be in any pain or discomfort and of course his happiness is constantly on my mind.  It’s totally exhausting because I know being positive is the best way to get through this but I fear that these next few months are going to traumatize him in a way or disrupt his milestone growth - so I end up being negative (in my head).  All the docs that we’ve seen have totally assured me - verbally - that this is just not the case, but of course as a mother I worry non-stop.  Again, I’m leaning on God and believing He only has the best in store for us.  It will all be ok - but I can’t lie - it kinda sucks right now.  But let me just be clear here, again one more time for the record.  We all hate that dang brace.

Any weight loss?

Yes.  I know I’ve mentioned this before on the blog that I’m one of those people that loses their appetite when stress is present and I know I didn’t have a ton of weight right now to spare.  My weight is not healthy and I’m fully aware of it.  Trust me though - it’s not by choice and not anything I’m trying to do.  This week I’m at 104.  Nate has also gently encouraged me to get some food down, but it’s hard.  ZERO appetite.

Best moment this week?

Best moment was when we were together with two sets of family friends and all the kiddies.  It was lovely seeing them all play and have a ball.  Friends are amazing during these hard times.

What are you looking forward to? 

Obviously the brace being off but I’m going to push that one away for a little while and revisit that when we’re much closer to the removal date.  What I’m really looking forward to are the two weddings coming up.  I seriously can’t wait to dance.

Gracie (the sweet pooch) had Will's attention BIG TIME!  #distraction

Just hanging with his favourite guy - Dada.

Kate 

XO

Little beach bums

I mean - who DOESN’T love the beach?  Let’s face it.  We come home dirty, exhausted maybe even just a little sunburned, but it is well worth it.  The mere fact that there is not just one but two gorgeous community beaches near our pad is honestly one of the main reasons I begged Nate to move to this neighbourhood.  We have been here almost every week this season.  Memories of learning to swim, catching minnows, building sand castes, eating hot dogs and ice cream right near the lapping waves - you just can’t beat it.  The memories here and every other beach we’ve been on as a famjam are forever engraved on my heart.  Thank GOODNESS my kids and hubby love it as much as I do…

We took sweet Will out of his hip brace for a little chunk of time and he was so thrilled and happy.  

Kate

XO

We be chillin'

 Crossing our legs exactly the same way.  #win

It’s early August and that means we get at least another month of this glorious summer weather.  This month will bring our family two very big (and I’m sure beautiful) weddings, four nights of BBQ’s at the beach with friends and all six of our Hoyda, Weiland and McKinnon sibling mix together all at once!  I can’t even tell you how stoked I am to be with all of my siblings again.  It gives me butterflies I get so excited.

So yes - I’ve said it before and it’s true, summertime is my personal favourite time of the year.  Christmas - great, birthdays - fine, but summer?!?!  HEAVEN!  

I love how fresh these beads of morning dew appear on the leaf.  It put me in such a good mood and I'm not totally sure why.  Even when I look at it right now as I'm writing this post, I feel really inspired.  I guess it reminds me of new, fresh and clean things that come to us daily and how each one that we are given is such a special gift.  

Hope you guys have a great Wednesday.  Here's to more summer!

Luvs,

Kate

XO