Hello everyone

First Kristen...Delta to North Vancouver is a long distance. I would recommend taking the skytrain and seabus. I would guess you could be in traffic for at least an hour and a half on a good day. At least you can get on the freeway and just ride it out to North Van. It all depends on the time of day if you are driving. I use to drive from Maple Ridge to Richmond everyday. I left for work at 5:00 am before rush hour started, and the drive took me only 45 mins. I left for home at 2:30 pm again before rush hour really started, and the drive took me an hour and a half. If there is some kind of accident or construction, I was in traffic for another hour or two. I would suggest looking for a place around the Burnaby/Vancouver broader and close to a bus route or skytrain.

I have a go; I didn't realize what time it was. I'll post again later,
- Sammi

busy busy

Wow, everyones busy busy...

Robyn- The wedding is scheduled for June.30/2007 We just booked our hall yesterday... we are going with the Army and Navy hall in Vernon. And then we book the park in June. Exciting!!! ya, about the hill..... I think the beauty of the park out weighs the grandmas who have had knee replacements .... I guess that sounds really bad hey???!! No- I think they are allowed to get dropped off at the base of the lawn there and then it isn't too bad of a little hill. Didn't even think of that though... Thanks for pointing it out Keira.

Sunday is the day

hello,
Well I guess I sould check in here since there seems to be so much news with everyone eles.
I"m moving to Vancouver this weekend. Sunday to be exact. This week has been a crazy week. I'm working 12 hour shifts for overtime pay and I"m workin on my days off. On Sat my parents will be coming in to visit one last time. and on Thurs Drews family will be taking us out for dinner.
I"m getting so excited about Gina. That would have been the scariest thing in the world not feeling her move for a while. I'm glad everything went ok.
I'm pretty stressed out. I"m moving to Vancouver early to get settled. Drew is going to move down after his exams. I got a job there as a care aid worker but on call. so I'll have to find another job asap. I also need to find a new place to live asap. I"ll be couch surfing for a while.
Does anyone know of an apartment that is clean and quiet and alows animals in the Vancouver area? I'll be living in Delta for the first bit and working in North Van (no idea how far apart they are) so yeah.
I'm getting excited about nursing this fall. and Drew is excited to finnish school at SFU this year. everythign seems to be falling into place. except for the place to live and not seeing Drew for a month. But oh well. life goes on.
but yes I guess thats all the news I have for right now.
wish me luck!
Kirsten

Hello from Ottawa!

Hey Everyone.

Sorry I haven't been around much. Been really busy with school, work and everything else. I have decided to come home for the summer and cant wait to see everyone, especially the new edition, and help Ang with all the wedding plans. 3 weeks is sooo soon. Thats great you two, u must be soo happy and excited. Hope the shower went well. I saw a few pics and it looked like a great time. Well I guess thats about it, take care, miss everyone and see you soon. Good luck in the last few weeks Keira, you look so beautiful and happy in all the pics. Motherhood definately suits you.

YAY! Everything is SO exciting!!

OMG Keira!!! 3 weeks would be SO awesome :) I'm sooo excited!! I haven't seen you in a while, and I would like to get together really soon if you're up for it. Sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now though :) I still have a present for your new baby and for you, when we see each other I'll give them to you. That ultrasound that you had sounds so interesting! Do you have pics of it?

I love all the pics of Kaidyn, she's adorable!

Ang, when are you getting married? I didn't know you guys had set a date or anything!! That's exciting news too! We have a lot to celebrate lately! :) I guess that's what happens we come to this age and everyone starts pairing off, getting married, and having babies LOL :)

How has everyone been doing lately? I have been fine, kinda hectic because it is assignment time (for the one distance ed class that I'm taking) and then off to the final, that is worth 55% of my mark... ugh, so I have been stressing out about that lately. Then maybe off to somewhere exotic for me!! Can't wait! What has everyone else been up to?

Countdown

Yay, three weeks! That's the same number I told Matt this morning. Let's hope your mom is right Sammi.

Matt and I are finishing up all the baby stuff this weekend: getting the last of the family baby stuff from Pat, buying the rest of the stuff that we'll need for the first few weeks, and packing our hospital bags. I'm too big and waddle-y to shop after that.

Oh yeah, we sold the car on the weekend, to the first people that looked at it and for more money than we expected. So now we're in the family car, and it's so freakin' nice.

Ang, Kaloya is beautiful. The reason we didn't pick it is becuase you have to make a bit of a hike to get to the place with the arch. It's nothing major, about five feet of slope, but the grandmas would have had too much trouble getting up there. Something to consider if you have family members who can't walk very well.

Sam, when is your Aerosmith concert? Rob, how are the travel plans coming along? Kirsten, what's up with Van? What's new everyone? This doesn't just have to be the baby blog!

come this friday Keira......

Me too!!! You guy's should try and come... we havn't seen you much at all... check out our blog, we have new links (specifically one for the wedding)... by the way, thanks so much for the info about Kopje. We went and checked it out again... mainly as a back up plan...and Sammi wanted to see it seeing she wasn't there last year. We think we are going with Kaloya thought where you had your engagement photos done for you invites. Awesome park!!! holy crap!!

Ya, I'd pack your bags.... that is kinda exciting hey! Can't wait to see little Angelina!!

Gina is coming soon!!!

My mom was reading your blog with me, and mom suggests packing your bag. Have a bag in the house and in the car; the car just in case you are out and about when you go into labour. Mom thinks you'll have Gina in three weeks.
Keira we'll have to go for lunch soon; it's been a while since our last lunch. How about next Monday for lunch around 1:00 pm? Do you think Melissa would want to join us? Get back to me if the time doesn't work for you. There is a bunch of us going to see "Ice Age (II) - Meltdown" on Friday at the Vernon theatre. I believe Ang said, we were going to go to the early show. Check Ang's blog for the correct time. I would love to see you and Matt there.

- Sammi

Oh Baby

We had a bit of a scare and called the doctor yesterday when the baby wasn't moving. We went in for an ultrasound today and it turns out she isn't moving so much becuase she has settled into the birth position- head down and very low- and is staying there.

An ultrasound at 34 weeks is so different than at 19 weeks! We saw baby's little face really well and even saw her eyes, open and blinking, clear as day. She has strong facial features and giant eyes, and huge fat cheeks! Her body is really fat and round too. Books and articles say the baby is just under five pounds now, but Angelina is six!

Six pounds, birth position, really low... I don't believe we will have to wait 6 more weeks.

Kaidyn Kaidyn Kaidyn!!!!

Here's some more pictures of my beautiful neice.....2 weeks old.....she's sooo precious....

I love the new car; it's cute. When I looked up after you honked, I didn't realize who was honking at me until I took a closer look. The car suits the three of you. Were you coming for poker at Sir Winnies? Did one of you win again? Congrats on your win the other day Keira.
Thank you for the cute "Thank You" card. How is everything going Keira? Not too much longer until Gina joins us. I hope everything is going well. I have been busy getting my life back on track after my little vaction in Vancouver. I had a blast.

Talk to you soon,
- Sammi

TGIF

Does anyone know Lindsay and Joe Loomis (used to be Lindsay Ackles)? They had a baby girl on Feb 22 and I am waiting for pictures! Linds if you read this, I forgot your email address!

How did the interview go Kirsten? Thanks a million for finding a BOB sign. I'll put it up as soon as I get it. My baby now sits like 2 inches from the steering wheel so even a small rear-ender would be dangerous, and people tend to drive a little crazy up here on the hill.

Not too much to report here. I won poker last night, dispite the fact that I am WAY too pregnant to still be playing... I'm usually nodding off halfway through the game. We're starting to get calls from people interested in buying our car (it just went in the paper yesterday) and with any luck it will go this weekend. Baby keeps getting bigger. She gets the hickups several times a day and they jolt me around. She also squashes me everywhere and kicks me in the ribs alot. Poor baby, she's so smooshed in there!

M&M both have the flu and are trying not to give it to Kaidyn. Speaking of M&M, Matt K found these pictures of them in our old photos. This was the first time we ever met Melissa. I think it was the summer of 2003.

baby on board

hey lady,
I actually picked up a baby on board for you and forgot it at home when I came and saw you. so I'll send it out this week.
News on me and Drew. I have a big job interview tomorrow. they women interviewing me really wants me so I have to go tomorrow rather than on Friday. If I get the job then I have to move to vancouver alone on MOnday and Drew will follow as soon as he is done his exams.
wish me luck!
Kirsten.

As Promised

The last belly pic, I'm way bigger now!

Daddy and baby, awwwww.

Me & M with our babies, one born, one not yet!

We had a great weekend. We spent most of Saturday walking around car lots in Kelowna and it was so nice out, I actually got a bit of a sunburn. And yes, we got a new Sugarmobile! It's a 2001 Toyota Echo with some nice features and incredibly low kms. We're picking it up tonight. Sunday we did the bedroom and the nursery.

This week we'll be selling the other car. She's a really good car, I'll miss the old gal. But I'm looking forward to driving around in our spiffy new car and putting in the carseat and "baby on board" sign.... help, I can't find one of those! If anyone sees them please let me know. They don't seem to exist anymore!

Yep I meant Mexico, not SA. Blame the pregnancy brain, it's getting really bad. Last week I went all the way to my doctor's appointment in Kelowna only to find out I was there on the wrong day.

Robyn asked if I was more nervous about the delivery or the motherhood: neither. I used to be terrified of delivery but I find as it gets closer, I get less nervous and very excited. It must be a natural anti-terror mechanism in the brain.

A Tarzan babbydaddy could be a good choice. Rugged, outdoorsy, healthy. A british daddy would be good too! I hear New Zealand men are jerks, or was that Australian men?

Update....

hey everyone! I guess I'll give you guys an update on Drew and I.
Sam, Drew and I will be moving to east Van or Burnaby for the first little bit until Drews family can find a new enough and cheap enough place to buy for us. They are looking for a place in Delta for us.
the reason why we are moving is that Drew is going to SFU to finish his teaching Degree and I have applied to Kwantlen to take nursing though I have talked to the program coordinator and it sounds like it is a sure thing! Drew is going to be taking out a student loan and giving it to me since I still have an outstanding loan.
I also have been sending resumes off left right and center threw monster and have had 4 places call me back about different secretary jobs! also I have had a call back for here in Kamloops at a manor.
Its kinda hard because I work Sunday threw thursday and have to go down to Vancouver and schedual interviews on those 2 days. and each interview is at a total differnt part of the city.
Drew is really liking Starbucks. it helps that he is working as well. It means a little bit more money to save for the move.
Keira did you guys find a new car yet? Is there any kind of make,model and year that you are looking for. I'm sure my dad would be more than happy to help you look a bit. I could also look here for you. And what city are you going to looking for a car? Kelowna or Vancouver?
thats about it. I'm getting so excited about our life moving on. I didn't think that it would ever advance
Kirsten

Quickie

Yup lots going on I'll blog later too. Right now we're on our way to the city to buy a family car and do a bunch of stuff. I have more pics on my camara: more recent pics of Kaidyn and the last belly pic of me & M. Will post soon.

HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY!

Good day to you all!

I don't have anything really exciting to share...I just wanted to say hello to everyone and see how they are doing....

Hope things are going good - I will blog in a couple days.

Travel and baby

OUCH! That whole process for Melissa sounds VERY painful! Holy shit! 9 lbs?! I weighed 5 lbs 4 oz, so that is crazy! So Keira, you're next, getting anxious about the delivery or more about having a new baby brought into this life? SOO glad baby is perfect!! But aren't smiles at this age just gas?!

Tell Matt I said thanks Keira, for suggesting Vegas. I have always wanted to go there, and it's not expensive at all for an all inclusive package there. I don't know if all of South America is under warning, but it would be cool to get to see Peru or something like that... hmm... I'll check into that. I know for sure that Cancun is though, and I really wanted to go there, but Cancun is in Mexico, not South America :P... Hmm Costa Rica sounds awesome! I could find myself a Tarzan there you mean :P and we could live in a hut and have sweet babies LOL. You have quite the imagination I must say, Keira. OMG going to the LOTR places doesn't sound geeky at all!! I totally want to!! I have a friend who moved there, so I could just stay with her. I have been doing some hard thinking about that. I'm not sure the shire would still be up, cause all those "doors" were manmade I think, but holy hell, I could see it all!! :) Hmm the UK sounds nice too. I have never looked into places to go and stuff there, and you make all your suggestions sound so awesome. THANKS so much for the suggestions, I will research them all.

What is new with everyone else? Thanks for the email about Friday, Ang... decide what you're doing yet?

More...

Melissa started having regular contractions at about 6:30 pm on Saturday while out to dinner with us. We timed and recorded every single contraction until 12:30. At that point they slowed down to every 10 minutes so M&M went home to sleep in their own bed. Matt called at 6:00 a.m. to say they were on their way to the hospital and this time really seriously in labour. So there were 8 hours of labour, not counting the 12 hours of contractions that were not serious enough to go to the hospital. The baby was not delivered via c-section, but she was huge and had to be pulled out, and Melissa has countless stitches. Daddy watched the whole thing and was the first to hold the baby. Melissa had a fever and had to stay in the delivery room for 3 more hours and be monitored. Baby is perfect! She even gave us a little cabbage-patch smile when we came to see her.

Robyn, Matt says if you can't do Mexico then do Vegas. Is it just Cancun that is under warning, or is it all of South America? What about Costa Rica? They have awesome jungles there that you can Tarzan through. I say go far far away. You were talking about New Zealand... then you could see the LOTR places! You could visit the fucking Shire! Or maybe you're not a huge nerd like me. Anyway I would go to the UK, they have the most amazing stuff all over the place and you can get package deals where you go to all five countries and see everything. And you can go to London and take the chunnel to Paris for the day and stuff. And you can sleep in a haunted castle and see Stonehenge and marry prince William.

A Congrats DIDDO!!

Very cute! Glad to see that everything looks like it went well. You guy's havn't given us much info though.... how long in labour? c-section or natural? daddy faint!!? :) well good luck with your first couple days at home...

Keira.... if you are the same size as Melissa was when she was due, how big is Angelina going to be do you think???!!! WOW! (i mean OWW!) hey... we may be playing poker at our house on Friday night... have a couple new people... give us a call... hopefully you can come.

Yay!

Kaidyn is so precious! She's really fat and has her daddy's exact nose and mama's lips, and a little bum chin! M&M also have lots of pictures of course. They might come over on their way home from the hospital, hopefully today. My Matt is so sweet, he made them a frozen meal to bring home so that they wouldn't have to cook as much this week.

I have 6-8 weeks left, but now we're getting REALLY excited. Angelina's getting really big now and when she pushes her feet out I can feel her feet, bum and head all poking out in different places. Morning sickness is back, unfortunately, and I never know which days I'm going to throw up or be really queasy. And I'm still too busy, with tons of family stuff and lots of work. My last ultrasound was postponed so I still don't know whether I'm actually supposed to be on bedrest. We're also shopping for a new car, the clock's ticking! Matt finished another gruelling CGA exam on the weekend and is now on his third-to-last course, yay!

Welcome to the World Kaidyn!

CONGRATULATIONS TO MELISSA & MATT ON THEIR ADORABLE NEW LITTLE GIRL! KAIDYN IS BEAUTIFUL! I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET HER IN JULY.

Hello Everyone ~ It's been forever since I've blogged. Glad to hear that things are going well for each of you. I'm doing alright......I've been going thru a really tough time emotionally with another sickness in my family but my family and I are managing (Mom's side). Other than that just enjoying life in the fast lane like normal. The weather is driving me insane in Vancouver this year though.....last week we had about 7 inches of snow, then we got a couple days of sunshine and this morning it's raining!
Kirsten - Where in Vancouver are you and Drew moving?
Sammi & Robyn - HELLLOOOO! Haha!
Erin - Thank you for all the pictures they are beautiful! Makes me feel like I am not missing as much as I know I am......the whole family looks so happy in all of the pictures. How was Penticton?
Key - Hey lady how are you feeling? I haven't talked to you at all since your birthday...feels like forever! Give me a call or email or I'll do the same in the next couple weeks and we'll catch up.

That's it for me today...I am at work (it's 8:10am and I've been here for almost an hour! Yuck!) so I should start working again.....keep in touch and if I don't talk to you on blog hopefully I will see you when I am up in July/August.

YAY!

CONGRATS TO MATT AND MELISSA!!

I know that I don't know you, but you are related to Keira and I'm still so excited! Plus, she is SO adorable :)

Thanks for posting all those pictures to share with us Erin.

How much more time for you Keira? Getting anxious yet?

Congrats on the move and the new house Kirsten. I hope all works out for you and Drew there. Any luck finding any job down there yet? I don't know, but I doubt it'll be that hard there. What about Drew, what is he going to do there?

Robyn

Congrats to Melissa and Matt!!!

Melissa and Matt,

Your baby is so beautiful! How long was Melissa in labour for? Hope everything is going well.

- Sammi

Moving in May!

hey everyone!
Hurray Kaidyn is born! She is so beautiful!
lol I'm getting antsy for little Gina to be born. I actually got a chance to see Keira this weekend. we went for a nice breakfast at the hotel most people had prom at (no idea what it is called). wow she is so pretty with her round tummy!
I also have some news about Drew and I. Drews parents have decided to buy us a place in Vancouver! We will be moving in May! I have been applying for all sorts of jobs already. I'm so excited.
well thats about it.
Kirsten

A Few More...

More Pics

Baby Kaidyn

KAIDYN KAIDYN KAIDYN

MARCH 12th, 2006 9lbs 1oz born at 1:19pm

OMG she is sooo adorable.........

hope this works

Hey guys,
I'm just seeing if blogging works for me now. I had to change my name and stuff because for some reason that me and Keira are still trying to figure out, it was bugged.

I have also been quite busy lately. I was supposed to be in Mexico for 6 months right now, but plans changed at the last minute because of two of my other friends so I am trying to plan another trip somewhere else. Anyone have any neat suggestions? I was thinking Cancun at first, but apparently I can't go there because of hurricane warnings. So I don't know... I was thinking Tofino or Las Vegas. Anyone been to either of these?

Also, I'm glad the shower went well :) and Keira, I still have a present for you.

Well I hope this works. I'll talk to you all soon.
Robyn

Yep

Yup I finally did. She is having problems posting to the blog so we're trying to fix that.

???

Anyone hear from Robyn yet???

Preggers

How exciting! Melissa told me all the weird details about the labour and the hospital and such. I'm still glad I have at least another 6 weeks, even though of course I'm excited to have our baby born. I haven't done all the reading and prep that Melissa has yet, so hopefully I will be cool and calm as her when it's closer to delivery time.

Poor aunty Laura. Hopefully she will be feeling better in time for Kaidyn's birth. Every time the phone rings I expect it to be Matt calling from the hospital to say the baby is coming!

Kirsten asked about cravings and I never answered: that's just a stereotype. Some women get cravings apparently, but it's not like on TV where they're waking their husband up at 3 am to go to the store. Anyone who could do that would be very spoiled and would get very fat! Most of the stuff we all think we know about pregnancy is false, and the stuff that actually happens is unknown to non-preggers.

Early Labour for Melissa!!!

Hey everyone....seeing as NO one posts...i'll post once again.....Matt and Melissa came to kelowna LATE sat night as melissa was in early labour.....i guess they hooked her up to a contraction machine and all that jazz....but things weren't happening all that fast so they sent her home (toi my place) they stayed all day sunday and sunday night and i think if nothing has changed they are heading back to salmon arm today....probably only to race on back here in a couple days....but her doc said she'd be more comforatble in her own home.....so it was a close call and we were all hoping for the baby to pop out......but nothing yet.....oh and here's an update on my mom....

Hi everyone,

Laura has been struggling with a cold and sore throat all week, and Sunday morning had some chest pain, so we went to the hospital where, after
about 3 hours, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. It is one spot in one lung, so not too serious, although the doctor said her lungs sounded
awful. She has been prescribed Moxifloxacin for 10 days, and was told to recover at home because of the superbug at the hospital. They don't want
her to be a patient at the hospital unless she gets really short of breath.

She also has a bit of an infection on her PICC line, which they swabbed and will culture over the next few days. I have to take her in today and
get her PICC dressing changed. Thankfully I am off work today and have no problem doing this.

Still no granddaughter yet.....perhaps she is waiting until Grandma feels a bit better......

Mike

TTFN i'll keep u updated on melissa as they dont have the internet right now!!!

Erin

Hello!

I have been extremely busy the last couple weeks, with work, lots of birthdays, family stuff, the shower, appointments, etc, etc. I'm too pregnant to be running around like a maniac, so I've become quite sick.

I tried to blog the other day but the computer was down because of the power outage that struck Salmon Arm through Vernon. Anyone know what happened there?

The shower was wonderful, thanks to everyone! The games were fun, the gifts were generous, and the food was delicious. The baby's room is starting to look more like a baby's room now. I put all the little outfits on hangers in the closet and carebears on the shelf and the dresser is full with baby stuff.

Matt was in Toronto for a week and we are sooo glad he's back. When he got back he won the month-end tourney at Winnies for the second consecutive time. On Friday we have another ultrasound, and on Saturday Matt writes another CGA exam. The end of all his gruelling work is approaching, slowly but surely (this fall).

Where is Everyone???

HELLO???? IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE????? WHERE IS EVERYONE.....GEEZZZEEE....