28 weeks!

Well, Blessing and I have made it. We are now sitting pretty (well...) at 28 weeks! That's viability in Doctor talk. Not that I have a doctor. Actually we have AWESOME midwives. We go to the Ridge Meadows Midwifery clinic, and as with Robynn's birth, we are planning another home birth. I would recommend a midwife to ANY pregnant woman! They are truly the best.

Blessing - that's what we've temporarily named our little mover and shaker - is due on December 12th. I think that would be an awesome date to be born... Robynn is 9.9, so this one could be 12.12! However, like Robynn, I think Blessing has some plans to make his or her arrival a little earlier than the due date.

These pictures don't do how large I FEEL justice. Really, I think Blessing shrank back, because s/he knew Daddy was taking the shots! I really do feel bigger than these shots show, but I guess there will be time for that to materialise. 12 weeks to go!

Am I 5 yet?

Robynn has been celebrating her fourth birthday for three weeks now - so long that she wondered if she were five yet! Yup, my only child little darling is S-P-O-I-L-E-D!

It started in August when Grandma and Grandpa Downstairs (Russ’s parents) came over to celebrate Robynn’s day (a couple of weeks early), because they were off to Greece for the month of September (I'm not jealous!). We had a lovely time with them: dinner, presents, and cupcakes. Robynn was quietly (?) excited about getting a new bookshelf for her room and loudly excited about her new Kaleidoscope book - that glows in the dark! Perfect for a little girl procrastinating going to sleep at night.

On her birthday there were more cupcakes (see September 9th entry). Cupcakes for preschool, cupcakes for all of our neighbours, leftover cupcakes. Cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes... You get it.

On Robynn due date: September 13, we had a family party for her where all of the adult Reid's and alllllll of the little Reid's got together to celebrate. Robynn was so excited to get a big girl watch - she's worn it every day since and loves telling us what time it is (okay what numbers the big and little hands are at); clothes (mostly purple of course); a medical bag - "I've always wanted one of these!" - and a Fancy Nancy book (from which she can already give direct quotations...).

Painting coasters and magnets and getting tattoos was a highlight for all of the girls (including the big girls). But playing outside was probably the hit of the party. We are so blessed to live where we do! It was so much fun to watch all of the children play at the park right outside our front door.

Even Isabelle had fun!

No party is complete without cake (special homemade - 7 cups of raspberries - Raspberry Ice Cream Cake!), and of course, more CUPCAKES! Russ and I stayed up until midnight making that ice cream cake, and Robynn had a cupcake from a box! No gratitude I tell you...

Of course, the festivities didn't come to an end there. But fear not, a few days later, we had yet ANOTHER party for the birth-month girl! Grandma and Grandpa Bark Bark (my parents) had us all over for dinner and Robynn was able to have special homemade mac and cheese, more presents, and of course more cake (no cupcakes this time, but I'm sure she wouldn't have refused!).

Last night, we headed to Purolator to pick a package from Grandpa Boat and GrandSmum (my AB Parents), and Russ put it together while Robynn was asleep. She had asked Grandpa Boat for a scooter for her birthday, and was VERY excited to receive a PINK PRINCESS SCOOTER! After showing it to her this morning, we HAD to go for a ride around the block right away. Michael Jordan has nothing on my daughter. Of course, the Leapster game system that was also in the package (really!?!) is puzzling to the Mother, so we'll have to wait until Daddy gets home to explain that one...

Robynn is still getting birthday acknowledgements in the mail. Miss Jo sent Robynn a lovely card that Robynn was very excited to open this morning! I do see the end to this month of birthday surprises, but you never know what is around the corner. I've never seen a kid so in need of a sibling.

And the girl who wanted her picture taken...

Wow what an awesome thing it is to be able to get together with friends and watch your children GET ALONG!






Erin with Lucy, Lynda with Joelle and Baby Susanna Kate, and me with Robynn - we all had the opportunity to sit for a second or two at our local McDonald's while the girls played. What a privilege!

While trying to document the moment, we had another little girl join in the fun. She just had to be a part of this gorgeous group!

She's 4!

Today is the big day, the day we've all been waiting for, the day Robynn turns 4! This is the first year Robynn has understood the real excitement behind her very own day, and the excitement was awesome.

It took a little bit to get the wee one out of bed this morning, but with promises of surprises awaiting downstairs, we were soon on our way. All Robynn asked for from us this year was a balloon and a sucker - since she got the sucker yesterday when she visited me at work, we needed a balloon. We got two! She was just tickled when she saw her special balloons this morning flying over her breakfast chair.

But the biggest giggle came when she saw the 4 dozen cupcakes waiting for her and her friends on the counter! Robynn got to take some cupcakes to her preschool, and we had plenty left over for all of our friends that we play with in our townhouse complex this evening.

I looked at Robynn this evening as asked her if she had thanked me yet. So she thanked me for the cupcakes. "No," I said. "You need to thank me for giving birth to you." "Oh! Thank you for the cupcakes." Well maybe another year... But since we're remembering, here's a shot of our angel on the day she was born. I really can't believe it's been four years already.

Happy Birthday Robynn. You are loved.

NorthRidge Carnival Success

What an absolutely fabulous day! Our new church plant in Maple Ridge kicked off the weekend with a gift to our community - A FREE Carnival! It went off without a hitch: volunteers, food, fun, and amazing weather provided by God all equal a great success. We had so many people come join us for this day, and I had the opportunity to speak with many wonderful new friends while I was volunteering at one of the stations.

I went online to our National webpage and read that the mission statement for The Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada is to be a Christ-centered national movement dedicated to serving people through planting and sustaining healthy local churches. Wow, that is exactly what we are doing! I'm so proud!

Russ and I feel blessed to be a part of the group beginning this church. The core leadership team are unflappable in their dedication to God and this new church plant. Our first "official" service is tomorrow, and I just can't wait to welcome all of the people that came out today into our new family.

If you would like some more information about our church, please go to http://www.nrchurch.ca/ I look forward to seeing all of you at church!