our new set of wheels . . .

We're loving this stroller that we bought second-hand recently. It's a Valco Runabout with toddler seat attachment. The front wheel swivels which makes it super easy to handle or it can lock for jogging. The toddler seat is easy to clip on and off and the stroller has a bit more steps involved in folding it, but it's so worth it. So no more going back and forth between my single and double strollers or storing both in the back of the van and forgetting to take one out on grocery night. And since Alyssa doesn't use a stroller much anymore except for the busstop, it's great that I always have a single with me.

HE'S HOME!!

We got to take our little man home today! No more going back and forth every 3 hours to feed him, no more IV's and needle-pokes for him, his sisters get to finally see him again, and we get to be together as a family for the first time. Justin wasn't too pleased about being put in clothes for the first time, but he looked pretty cute in the take-home outfit that Daddy picked out for him. And he was a great traveller in his carseat - and already got shown off at his grandparents business and Daddy's work. Now just one more sister doesn't know that he's home yet, so she'll have a nice suprise when she gets off the bus this afternoon.

Off to school . . .

So today was the first time that the girls went to school together from our own house. So we took some "back to school" pics even though they're a week late. Daddy will be walking his girls most mornings since it works well with his start time at work.

Our little man is here!

Justin Peter joined our family on Sept 9th! It was pretty shocking to have a boy after our trio of girls and my hubby is super-excited and already wanting to buy Tonka trucks and a hockey jersey for the little guy. Soon after he was born, they realized that he was fighting a chest infection and put him in an incubator with oxygen and antibiotics. He's doing much better today but needs to finish off the 7-day round of antibiotics. All of his sisters got to meet and hold him before he got put in the nursery but haven't seen him since, so we're all a little eager to have him home.

baby update . . .

So the babe is still in there, and we're at 39 weeks now. We had some excitement a week ago when my water started leaking. After being told to come in for an induction and then a change of mind when an ultrasound showed that the fluid around the baby was fine, it was determined that it was either hind water or a high leak that repaired itself after a few days. It was a bit of a disappointment to go in expecting to have a baby that day and going home still pregnant, but it is nice having the kitchen done and being settled back into our own place again before this babe comes home. And today looks overcast which is always welcome when you're full term in a hot Summer. Only one week to go!

a dress for Alyssa . . .

Well I'm definitely getting some use out of this pattern, this is my fourth tiered round-neck dress from Portabellopixie Gracie. I couldn't resist making one for Alyssa so that she can have a new dress for baptism (hopefully we'll still have a bit of Summer left by then). It's also my first time back in the sewing room since the reno - and wow, it felt good making something again! The fabric is from the Posh by Chez Moi line from Moda - it was on clearance at our local quilt store. Alyssa loves it and I had to bribe her to get it off after I took a couple pics - I LOVE having girls to sew for!

Kitchen cabinets are in!!

Thanks to a lot of hard work from Brad's three brothers and his Dad, our cabinets were installed this past weekend! We love them - and have been happily living in our own house again and using them (we stayed with my parents for a week while we were kitchen-less). There are so many functional and custom features about this kitchen that I love! Like the big pantry cupboard, the corner Le Mans system, the pull-out garbage/recycle cabinet, the size of the island, the wine rack and wine glass holders, all the deep drawers for my cookware and tupperware, the slideouts, the amount of drawers that I have now, and so much more! Brad put in a sink last night (after I took these pics) and the dishwasher will be functional again by the end of the day. The tile for the backsplash is on order and should come in Friday. After that, the kitchen will be finished! I'll make sure to take more pics when it's all done. So now the only thing left on our list of home improvements is that the last of the windows in the house are being replaced, but the workers are here right now so they should be done by tomorrow.