So many little things happening....

We have had a busy few weeks...

Hayden was to start both soccer and T-Ball last week but unfortunately soccer was cancelled due to bad weather.  He seemed to really enjoy T-ball and I think that may be a big hit this summer.  It's great that both leagues focus on the kids having fun and learning the skills they need to play each game.  There are no scores kept in the game and everyone gets a turn at all the different positions.

There will be no sports this week as Calgary has been treated to a lovely "winter-like" storm and mother nature has dropped over 50 cm of snow on us during the last 5 days.  Honestly, I think we are all over the winter weather and would really love those warm spring days to return.

Faruq had planned to take Hayden out golfing on Friday but I doubt that will happen now but they are both hoping to get out very soon to hammer some balls on the driving range.  They have gotten over to see our friend who is a PGA professional for a few lessons over the winter and Hayden is pretty excited to practice what he has learnt. 

Laila is doing really well.  I took her in for her 4 month shots last week and she is growing at a great rate.  She is over 14 lbs now and is off the charts for height.  She is getting stronger everyday and has just started to move from the positions I put her in.  I have a feeling she is going to be a very early walker just like her brother.   

She still watches and loves everything that Hayden does.  It warms my heart to see the relationship that these two little people share and hope that the bond is always so strong.  Hayden is such a kind and loving big brother even when she takes the attention that would have been intended for him previously.    He is well beyond is 4 (almost 5 years) in maturity and I guess that makes all the difference.

I'm doing great - down over 25 lbs since going back to Herbal Magic.  Feeling great and can't wait to finish the program and get on with living.  I'm so looking forward to turning the big "40" this year and starting the next phase in my life.  What a difference a year can make in your life....last year I was facing my 40th birthday with dread and really thinking time was running out on us having anther baby.  Now we have Laila and life is just perfect.

I'm going to join a gym and get myself a personal trainer for the last 25 lbs I have to go.  This will help ensure I reach my goal but also give me the tools I need to maintain this new lifestyle.  The one I'm looking at has a great daycare facility after dropping Hayden at school and Laila at the daycare  I can fit a little time in for me.

Faruq is very busy at work right now and is travelling a little more then normal.  It harder on me with the two kids now but I know he does try to keep the trips to a minimum and usually adds a day to the ones he does take so he isn't going back the following week.

We have finally decided to do our basement and have gotten really lucky with the builder we have found to do it.  He usually just does custom built homes but has agreed to do our basement.  Only problem is he wants to start at the beginning of May (YIKES !!!) - he has a two month window that he would like to get in and get it done.  Sounds great but I have to purge and pack the stuff that has been accumulating in the black hole for the last 2 years.  I spend the better part of Sunday down there and just got through one section of stuff.  I know we can get it done before he is scheduled to start but it just means a lot of work.

I'm so looking forward to having the whole house developed and nothing else needing to be done.  Landscaping was all but completed last year and with the basement done this summer we can finally just totally relax and enjoy our home.

How lucky we are....

During the last few weeks I have been following the story of this family who were expecting their fourth daughter. What should have been a joyous occasion turned very sad when they came to learn that the baby had many health challenges and wasn't expected to live much past her entry into this world.

I have shed many tears while reading this families story but have rediscovered something that was missing inside of me for a very long time.   I believe that there is a higher power and that while we feel we are in control of our lives truly we are not. In the end we must submit to what God has planned for us and not judge him.

This little girl has done more for me then she will ever know....I have rekindled my relationship with God and often now freely speak to him throughout my daily life.

I'm going to start thanking him for all the wonderful things in my life and rejoice that my life is full and rich.    As well, I will try to understand and learn from the times that may not be as positive.

Here are a few things that that I'm thankful are:

I'm thankful for my health and that of my family.
I'm thankful for my wonderful husband.
I'm thankful for my two beautiful children.
I'm thankful that my mother and father have been able to meet and get to know their grandchildren.
I'm thankful for my extended family.

I'm thankful for all my wonderful friends who are more like the sisters.
I'm thankful to be able to stay home and provide for my family.
I'm thankful that my husband has a good job.
I'm thankful for our lovely family home.
I'm thankful that we live in such a wonderful city/province and country.

Lastly, I'm very thankful that I have been privileged to read the story of Audrey Caroline.   Rest in Peace sweet angel.

So the next time you feel the need to complain about something in your life instead maybe take a moment to say what you are thankful for in your life.  I'm sure you will discover the positives greatly out weight the negatives.

We are all so lucky. 

God Bless

A few of my favorite photos of the kids....

"Big Bro and Little Sis sharing another special moment"

"Laila snuggling Mr. Cat"

"Little Miss Sunshine"

"She loves to laugh"

"Her very first Easter dress - she wasn't too impressed"

"Bunny kisses for his little sister"

"Just Thinking"

Practicing "The Pout"

"Hangin' with my buddy Mr. Sprinkles"

"Sharing a moment"

New name and a promise to blog more !!!

I decided to rename this blog instead of starting a brand new one.  I find now that most of my time is taken up with caring for my two beautiful little children with not a lot of time for scrapbooking so figured I would rename it to something a little more fitting.  I do miss blogging and I promise to make more frequent posts.

So much has happened over the last few months...where to start with it all?

Laila has been an amazing addition to our little family.  She is perfect in every way and continues to grow.  It is really something to experience all the new things through her little eyes.  Today she discovered  her image in mirrors and would just giggle every time we passed one.    

She is a great eater and sleeper.  Since week 3 she has slept from 8 pm to 7am so the adjustment in having a baby in the house has been an easy one for mommy.  Sometimes I feel guilty when I talk to other new moms but honestly I feel very blessed that she has developed great sleeping habits.  

99.9% of the time she is just a happy, happy, happy baby.  Her smile is just the best thing to wake up to in the morning.   I now know all the pain we experienced while waiting for her to join our family was worth it and thank God everyday for giving her to us.

Faruq just shakes his head every time I mention that Laila and I have hit the mall.  I'm certainly indulging in my passion for everything girlie.   She now has the nicknamed "Imelda Marcos" because she already has a very impressive shoe collection.

 

Hayden is doing great....is loves the new role of "Big Brother" and takes it very seriously.  Laila adores him and laughs at all the really silly things he does.  It is truly an amazing bond that brothers and sisters share.  We are so happy that they will have each  other as they grow through the years.

With very heavy hearts we decided to pull Hayden out of the private Montessori school he had been attending for the last year and half because of some issues that were occurring with another student.  But again I believe everything happens for a reason and we found a wonderful school that he started with in January.  We both feel is enjoying the new environment more then his old one and that directly influenced where we would send him for Kindergarten next year.

Once again we were blessed and he was accepted into a specialized program called the Traditional Learning Centre.  Most of the same academics are taught at this school teach but there is some extra instruction included in it.   He will go there from Kindergarten to Grade 6 so that is a bit of a relief for us.  Calgary is growing so fast that most of these schools are now on a lottery system for the spots then the remainder are "waitlisted" with now guarantee of entry into the program.

He has started regular golf lessons with a friend of ours and seems to be really enjoying that.  It's amazing how good he actually is at such a young age.  Just a lot of natural ability.  

As well, we have put him into T-ball and soccer.  The T-ball seems to be the preferred sport but he has agreed to at least one more year of soccer.

Faruq is good...working very long hours the last month or so but that should be coming to an end in the near future.    We are both really excited to get out with the kids and explore this beautiful city we live in.  

As well we aren't planning on long distance vacations this summer but instead plan on really getting to see the southern part of Alberta through lots of weekend trips.  Of course, we will head to BC to visit the grandparents for probably the month of August then back here for the first of September.  

For some reason I can't seem to post any pictures tonight but will figure it out before I blog again and post new pictures of the kids then.

God bless and chow for now !!!

So much has happened

I can't believe I didn't blog anything since our trip to British Columbia this summer...I guess its time for an update.

Hayden started school in September and is loving the 5 afternoons. He has the same teacher as last year so there wasn't a big adjustment period. 4 friends that started in the class and that he was with last year either moved away or were transferred to other classes so that was a bit of a bummer for him but like most kids he didn't seem to be too bothered by it.

He did the winter session of gymnastics and while he always seems to have a good time we have decided to not to do the next session but instead take a little break from it. He starts swimming soon and with school 5 days now we don't want to add to much extra activities to his schedule.

Both Faruq and I can't believe how much he has progressed in school this year...he now has his ABC's down pat and has started reading and writing simple words.

Even physically and emotionally the development has been huge...he just doesn't seem like a typical 4 year old. We are so proud of how he is reacted to his sister arriving and has taken on the new role of "Big Brother" like a champ.

Onto our latest project....

Lovely "Laila Quinn Suleman" arrived kicking & screaming into the world on December 5th at 3:24pm weighing a healthy 7 pds 6 oz. She was born at Foothills Hospital via a planed c-section birth. She is perfect in everyway and is just a really good baby. Cries when she is hungry and sleeps on a pretty regular schedule. 

It's honestly hard to imagine what life was like without her.  I'm sure it will be interesting and busy with two wee ones now but we feel very blessed to have two healthy children !!

Daddy has already started to develop that wonderful bond that little girls have with their daddies...I can already hear the conversations about how Laila needs those really expensive jeans at the mall and how her dad needs to buy them for her.   What's the saying "Wrapped around her little finger"...but it's beautiful to watch and it just melts by heart.

I will post my favorite shots of Laila and family in the next post.  

Christmas was good this year...My parents arrived for Laila's birth and have been here ever since so they enjoyed the holiday season with us.

Santa was very good to everyone again this year.  Mommy must have been especially good and got an iMac under the tree...I have to say it is a "Very sweet" machine and I have been enjoying it very much.

Faruq received gift cards from all his favorite places to shop as well as a digital picture frame so he can have lots of the kids pictures at work without filling his walls up.

Hayden was well looked after with stuff on the Planets, Earth and Space...his new favorite subjects.  He got a cool telescope to look at the stars as well as a globe for his room so he can identify what's what up there.

We snag a Wii for my parents and they were thrilled.  They have been playing with our since arriving last month and were so surprised to see one under the tree.  We joke with about being the coolest seniors on the Sunshine Coast now.

Even little Laila managed to get a few gifts and with Hayden's help got them all opened.

Faruq went back to work on January 3rd and my parents go home on January 16th so life will get back to normal (our new normal) after that. 

Faurq will be busy finishing his Project Management Certification and I plan on starting back with my Photography Certification.  We both want to be done by this time next year.