Caitlyn's First Day

Our littlest lady is doing so well. She is such a teeny baby and so sweet. Here are some photos of her first day.

Check it out! She tried on a onsie. Such a cutie!!

I have never had a baby that fit a size "5-8 pounds" onsie!

Maddie is very possessive. She can't stand it when anyone else has the baby. She paces waiting for her turn and says to me "I can't wait to hold her".

Getting a little vitamin D to avoid turning yellow.



She looks tiny with Mikayla even. Mikayla is able to do lots of things with her. She is so happy to be such a big girl. She has changed a diaper even!!

AH! I love this photo!!

My biggest and my littlest girl.

Mailee picked out a different onsie for Caitlyn. They are matching!

Sweet little feet. She was sticking her legs strait out. So cute.

Uh Oh, thumbsucker...

Getting the hang of the soother and testing out her cradle.

Our little guy is so outnumbered now!!

For some reason blogger won't let me upload this photo "sideways" but it is still beautiful of Mailee and Caitlyn in this angle. She's looking right at Mailee. Such a sweet moment!!

The Beauty of Homebirth

Yesterday Caitlyn Hope joined our family! She is so tiny and sweet and we all love her to bits. Caitlyn was born at home and it was so wonderful. This is our 4th home birth and I am a major fan! Here are some details...(don't worry, it's PG details :)

Caleb brought a book in to read to me while I was in labor. He was so cute, the book was upside down but he was reading and showing me the pages!

The kids were so emotional when the baby came out. It is such an awesome thing for a child to experience. Such a cool thing to go through together as a family. Having them there helps me stay calm and helps them understand one of God's most intricately planned out miracles!



Mike's three sisters, his Mom, my 10 year old niece and our kiddos were present. From my viewpoint, there were so many loving faces in awe of our new little blessing.

(p.s...I'm wearing a swimsuit top, see the strings?)

Caitlyn was born in this birth tub. She is our 4th water birth. Again, we are big fans!!

Water birth is amazing!!

Perfectly fresh and new!

You can see on Mikayla's face that she is still really emotional. She told me she couldn't help crying, she was so happy!


Maddie is sitting next to me right now as I type. She has had Caitlyn in her in her arms for 2 hours now. She is completely in love!
Caleb calls the baby "chay-ta-yin". He is trying really hard to be gentle!

The baby and I were loved to pieces by the other kids for hours after she was born.

Weighing in...6 pounds, 15 ounces. 19 inches long. Our smallest baby! She is sooo tiny!

This is the fabulous midwife Anne-Marie.

There she is. Little Caitlyn. What a blessing to peacefully bring her into this world! If you have any questions about home birth, please ask, I'm happy to answer.

Practice Makes Perfect...

I have had my eye on this wall in town for a while. Yesterday after school the kiddos were in a great mood and the sun was shining so we stopped.

I have been following a blog that does a cool photography "carnival" (still learning what that is..) but last week's theme was to shoot letters. I am not aspiring to be a photographer by any means BUT I recognize that the more you practice the better you get at nearly anything you try so I have taken it upon myself to hop on the carnival and "capture" our life with the new camera!!!

Here are my letters with my favorite subjects in front:)

Check out the carnival by clicking the link beow....!

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Jumping for JOY!



Sister Hug



Getting so big!

"I'm Three!"

Mike's Birthday

I'm almost caught up :) On Saturday Mike turned 35. It is hard to believe that I have only known him for 10 years. We have lived so much life and experienced lots of changes and amazing moments in just 10 years.

Mike you are thoughtful and perceptive. You look after so many things and provide everything that we need. You are helpful with the kids and things around the house and you are such a great Dad! In 10 years you have accomplished so much- from completing Chiropractic school with two small babies at home to starting a successful and meaningful practice here in Kelowna. Oh not to mention having (almost 5) kids. I love your heart to help people and your desire to keep learning and then share what you learn with your patients, family and friends.

I love how you are such a "big brother" with your family, always wanting to help them, support them and protect them.

Such a fun Daddy! Our kids love you so much and I love watching you with them.

I love you more today than yesterday!! You are dedicated to becoming better all the time and that makes us stronger along the way. I am so glad we are on the same team.

I love you Mikey! Happy 35th birthday.

Terri's (belated) Birthday!!

I missed another birthday! My sister Terri had a birthday at the beginning of April and I failed to post about it. Shoot!

Ter- you are fun loving and giving. You have gained so much confidence and grown into such a sweet, spunky, mature woman in the 10 years that I have known you. I love that we can share our interests in crafty/party stuff and encourage each other!

I love that my kids love you so much and that you are dedicated to helping them grow and develop in their character and faith...and that you take them to all the fun places I don't (value village..).

You are fabulous in every way, I watch you to know how to dress and what shoes to buy...I love you!!

Mikayla Today

I got a new camera!! It's not a "point and shoot" like I have always had, it's a DSLR and I am IN LOVE!!!! I have heard the best way to learn how to use the camera is to practice so I am on a mission to do just that.

In a rare mood, Mikayla actually wanted me to photograph her tonight! She is usually not too fond of taking photos so I was thrilled to have an opportunity to have her smile for me willingly. Her smile is so much nicer when it is genuine and not forced.

Love the hat? You must check out this site and you too can have one! This hat fits Mikayla and me and we both wear it a lot. She actually took it off my head to wear for her photo shoot!


Sweet girl. I think we missed the nice sunlight by 10 minutes but there is still a little left!

Check out her dimples! The first thing I noticed about Mikayla when she was born (after finding out she was a girl) was her chin dimple!

This is my favorite from today.

Let The Nesting Begin

The baby will be living in our room so over the past 2 weeks I have been preparing a space for her. I am quite distracted because this weekend I am doing a superhero party for Mike and Caleb. (Mike turns 35 on April 25, Caleb turns 3 on the baby's due date- May 3) I am super excited about the party and I have lots to do to be ready for that but I also feel a sense of urgency to get ready for baby!!

Wow, bad planning, everything at once...or am I just being cranky?

Anyways, Here are some photos of Caitlyn's space and some of her things!

So last week I finished this duvet cover that is 4 years in the making. I have had the new duvet in a bag for 2 years, the fabric that you see for 1 year and the fabric that is on the other side for 4 years. I am not sure what kept me from just tackling this project, it took two nights once I got started and I love it now that it's done. And for a little dose of reality- It is technically not done. I pinned it along the opening with safety pins for now... sewing on buttons and making button holes just did not sound like fun at this point in time!

This book shelf was a junk collector but I have de-cluttered and now it is much more appealing! I still have lots of room. I would love to get some square baskets for diapers and onsies.

My sweet friend Pabby lent me this fantastic cradle. The bedding that came with it was adorable but since Caitlyn will be living in our space, I decided to make a bumper that coordinates with our new duvet. I love the way it turned out with the black ribbon ties...perhaps that would be an easy solution for my duvet?!

Little jars full of teeny baby things! Soothers come in such great girly colors now! Even in the 5 years since Maddie was a baby, the color selection has seriously improved.

All her tiny clothes in my side of the closet. This is everything I kept from my other girls, all my "favorites" up to 18 months...and a few new things as well:)

A taggie blankie I made for Caitlyn a few months ago when I first found out "it" was a girl!

Another blanket I made a few months ago. I made one just like it for my best friend Gretch.

Her first baby is due May 15.

Teeny shoes Mike's Mom brought home from Mexico. So precious.

We are major soother fans at our house!

(Or for the Americans in the crowd...what do we call these? Pacifier, Binky...)

Wasn't thinking ahead...her special blankie and the room decor do not coordinate at all! Hmph. What to do? I love them both but don't love them together! Oh well, I think I'll have to let this one go. I'm pretty sure our new baby won't mind!

Little Miss Cranky Pants

I'm cranky these days. I hope my family will forgive me. I'm trying to be on my best behavior but it's been a little tough!

Living It Up Before Baby

Mike and I had the opportunity to go on a date (thanks Shelley for the babysitting) last weekend. I am kind of figuring that may be our last date before the baby arrives

We went out for Sushi and did a bit of shopping...ended up finding a cream rug for the living room and a black curtain rod for our bedroom. (I will have to post the ongoing bedroom makeover pics one of these days)

The main event of the evening was an over the top (in a good way, you know I love over the top) birthday party for a friend. Her husband flew in her favorite singer, Joshua Radin, rented out the art gallery, had it completely made over and hosted 100+ of her friends to a fabulous evening. We had a great time!

Even the chandelier was brought in to set the mood!

There's me sitting in the VIP seats after the show.

Loving all the details!

Wow, check out that belly...only 2 weeks to go!