Big Changes

The last few months have been a blur. Hence why neither Roland nor I have been blogging (not that Roland ever does). When we decided to start this blog it was to let others read about what has been going on in our little family. So, here it goes. We are moving to 100 Mile House, BC. Never heard of it? Well neither had I until I met Roland. It is a little town of about 10,000 people in the Cariboo region of BC. Yep, it's official I am moving to a town of 10,000 people! Every time I tell someone where we are moving the usual response is "oh" with a disgusted facial expression and tone of voice. But, I absolutely love it there. It is so beautiful. But, it will definitely be an adjustment since I am used to city living and 100 Mile doesn't even have a Walmart! Roland had to leave before Joseph and I to find a job and a place for us to live. He left almost two weeks ago and it has been a huge adjustment and not one I am a fan of at all. I have a new appreciation for single mothers. Not that I am comparing my month without my husband to the difficulties of raising a child alone by any means. I find myself getting more easily frustrated with Joseph and I feel really bad, but it is so hard when I don't get a break at all and am doing all the parenting on my own. I have a new appreciation for my husband and the amazing father that he is. I love him so much and am so blessed to have such an amazing man as my husband. Joseph is also really blessed with a father who is so involved and loving towards him.
In the past few months our son has really grown into his personality. He is a happy smiley baby who loves to cuddle and play. He has started being really mischievous as well. Getting into everything within arms reach and he can't even crawl yet! He is rolling everywhere to get where he wants to go. He is really missing his daddy right now and I can tell because he is a lot fussier than normal. Not to mention I am pretty sure his teeth are coming in. I am so proud of Josephs accomplishments and of him. I love him so much and am so excited for his life. I am trying to enjoy each stage since he is growing up so fast. I can't believe he is already seven months old!

One of his first times in his Jolly Jumper

The Joys of Motherhood

So, the last couple weeks my angel baby who had slept through the night from a month old has decided that he does not remember how. He cannot even make it four hours anymore. I thought the days of waking up every two hours were behind me until we decide to have our next baby. Last night Joseph was up 6 times. SIX! He hasn't been up that many times since the first few days we brought him home. I thought I was going to die this morning when he decided it was time to wake up. We moved him into his own room this week thinking that it might help him sleep better but that is just not the case. 
I have no idea what to do to get him sleeping through again but I am on a quest to find something! Does anyone have any tips? Anything would be much appreciated.
Even though he is killing me with his new sleeping habits he makes up for it with how adorable he is and how much he is learning. He just recently started making "razzes" and it makes me laugh every time. He also started on rice pablum a couple days ago ( I did this in hope he would sleep better but nope it is not working). He is becoming so interactive and has the cutest little laugh. He is extremely ticklish on his tummy neck and up his back and when you tickle him he gets so squirmy. He has been able to sit up leaning on his hands and is getting better at that by the day. I feel so blessed every day to be able to watch him change and grow, which by the way, is happening WAY too fast its like where has my little tiny baby gone? I can't believe he is already 4 months old and 17 almost 18 pounds! 
Chels

Nothing in Life is Final

Lately in my life I have been realizing that the people who you thought would always be there wont be. I guess this is a learning experience that all must go through as they graduate to adulthood but, it is not an easy one. I think it is sad that all of a sudden someone who most of your teenage memories include (good and bad) isn't really a part of your life anymore. This for me has been a hard pill to swallow. 
At the moment I am sitting here and I miss this person, even though I really shouldn't be because honestly, they haven't given me any reasons to. And, it isn't like they care about me one bit. So, why do I care so much? 
We made all these promises to each other as kids as we fantasized about how our lives would be when we grew up and got married and had babies, and now that I have done those things, where are those promises? Now, I am not so naive to think that all of those things would come to fruition but as I am going through all of these changes I miss this childhood friend who promised as a young girl to always stick by my side. I'm not going to say that I have been the perfect friend because I haven't. I haven't always been there and I haven't always been supportive but who is at that age? I never thought I would be missing out on one of the biggest days of her life. It breaks my heart but, I guess that is what happens in life...heartbreak. 
I look at Roland and he is ten years older than me and barely friends with anyone he was friends with at my age. That scares me. I hate losing friends and I have a really hard time making new ones, which by the way was never a problem in my youth. I don't want to lose my closest friends and I pray that I don't. As we make those promises to each other to always be there, I hope that we have created a bond where that is possible. I hope I am now a friend who can make good on that promise. I don't want to have to look through pictures ten years from now and think "I wonder what happened to them". 
I love all of you 
Chels

Time is Flying

I can not believe how fast time is flying by. On the 8th our little baby will be three months old. I look at newborns and it seems like just yesterday Joseph was that size! Is it too early to be getting baby fever?!?! This past three months has been a roller coaster ride but we are finally settling down into a routine and as a family. Joseph has made so many advancements in his little life of three months. He started sleeping through the night at one month old (other moms please dont hate me). The only way he would sleep through the night was in our bed tucked in beside Roland. And boy did I ever get an earfull about that. But, Joseph likes to prove people wrong and now at almost three months he has started sleeping through the night in his own bed! Now, just to get him in his own room. He has also rolled over from front to back, I seriously cried when he did, I was so proud of him. Recently he has really started to love his toys, one in particular which is his elephant he will just stare at it and pick it up and crinkle its ears. I never knew that I would be so proud of him playing with his toys! 
I am getting close to my second goal with breastfeeding and like my mom kept telling me I would, I love it. It is so much easier and way more convenient! I am really enjoying this mom thing and am loving Joseph so much he has the greatest personality that is beginning to shine through. I can not wait for what else is in store for our family
Chels

The Holidays

I never thought it would be this hard to keep blogging after we had Joseph! I just can not seem to keep up and, not going to lie, I am pretty disappointed in us for our lack of blogging!

This past holiday season has been a pretty busy one. For my Grandmas birthday we went up to Parksville to have brunch with her and my aunts and uncles. It was really great seeing them because it has been forever. We got to see my cousin Zana who I hadn't seen since like 2008 so Roland hadn't met her yet.
On Christmas eve Roland, Joseph and I went over to my parents house. Tradition in my family on Christmas eve is to open one present from my dad which is always pajamas. I am a huge fan of this tradition. This year Joseph got the cutest little dinosaur pj's. Rolands and mine are also super nice (thanks dad!) On Christmas day we woke up bright and early...thanks to my mom, and we opened our stockings and our presents. Then at nine we went to my cousin Cory's to have breakfast, which was delicious. We went to my grandmas after to help set up her t.v stand and open the presents she got our family. For Christmas dinner my moms side of the family came over to my moms house and we had a amazing turkey feast it was absolutely delicious. In our family for Christmas dinner the person who hosts the dinner (this year my mom) makes the turkey, stuffing and gravy. We put the names of the rest of the dishes in one hat (potatoes, yams, dessert etc.) and all the names of all the people that are coming to the dinner in another hat and draw. This year I got dessert and Roland got veggies, which he switched with my cousin Shannon (that's cheating by the way.) I made pecan pie. I was freaking out all the way up to Christmas because pecan pie looks so hard to make but it was actually really easy and perfectly delicious!
On December 29th we went over to Vancouver to spend five days at Rolands parents house. It was really nice to be able to spend some time with them since they hadn't seen Joseph since he was two weeks old and he had changed so much since then. It was a nice break for us as well. It was really nice also because Michelle, Juston and Jordan were down from Vernon as well so the whole family was together. I never thought I would miss living over there but I do sometimes! We had to come home on the second because Joseph and I had a Doctors appointment. 
As much as I love the Christmas holidays I am so relieved that they are over and only come once a year!
Chels

Photo Session with Deanna McCollum Photography

Last Saturday Roland, Joseph and I went to Deanna McCollum's home studio to get our photos taken. It was really fun and I was so proud of Joseph. He was so calm and would let Deanna put him in any position she wanted to. I am absolutely in love with the pictures she took. She is so talented! Here is a link to her website http://www.deannamccollum.com/ and also a few of the pictures from the day.

Breastfeeding Terrors

One of the things I've had the hardest time with is breastfeeding. Even though I didn't have some of the problems that moms can have such as latching issues I just did not like it at all, and that is putting it nicely.I felt so bad for hating it because, as a mother, wasn't I supposed to enjoy the closeness and nurturing that breastfeeding brought to my child and my relationship? Unfortunately I was not getting that feeling and I felt there was nothing I could do about it. I would actually watch shows where moms were feeding their children formula and look on through jealous eyes. When formula commercials came on I would look at them and want to switch so bad, sometimes I would even cry. But, I just couldn't bring myself to switch for some reason. R would always say that we should, and that it wasn't that big of a deal, but to me it was. Maybe it was everyone telling me that it wasn't actually easier. You see I asked a whole bunch of my friends who are moms and got a ton of advice, even my own mother had tried both (I'm adopted so she had to bottle feed me however, my brother is biological so he was breastfed.) That, by the way, is another reason I just couldn't up and switch. I have a horrible immune system and I am convinced it is because I wasn't breastfed meaning I missed out on those antibodies that help with immune systems. Some of the advice I got really helped. One of the things that stuck the most was to give myself goals such as: 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and so on. So, today I find myself two days away from my 6 week goal. And, surprisingly I don't hate it anymore. I still don't love it, and some days I still want to switch to bottles (like this week when Joseph was going through his growth spurt and either eating, sleeping, or crying.) But, I persevered and now sometimes I even enjoy it. Yes, thats right, enjoy it! 
Becoming a mom has taught me a lot about myself. I never knew I could be this patient or that I could stick with something for this long even though I hated it. When I was younger I would watch my mom do things (let's be honest, everything) for us children. She even did all these things when she was sick. And, I never thought I could do that...I'm not a very happy sick person you see. But now I know that I can because if I can make it through and keep on breastfeeding, I can do anything.
Mom

Being a New Dad

Nov 7, 2010 was the beginning of the end of  Chelsea's pregnancy, and the end to the first stage of Joseph's life. 53 minutes after midnight, Nov 8, 2010, our son was born. 8 lbs 12 ozs of our boy came out of my wife with barely a cry, and alert as can be. The sheer joy that overcame me upon seeing our son for the first time was overwhelming, too the point of tears. Being at Chelsea's side had me torn... do I stay with and comfort my wife, or do I go and hold our son for the first time? I chose to stay with Chelsea until she said to go... which wasn't very long. Then I got to clip the remainder of Joseph's umbilical cord (not as tough as it's made out to be), see Joseph weighed and tested, and FINALLY got to hold our son, whom I immediately brought over to take some pictures with and meet his mom. While Chelsea was getting put back together after her c-section, Joseph and I went to meet his Grandma and Grandpa Sherwood, Grandma Larocque, Grandma Deena, and Uncle Jason. I have never seen such a calm and alert newborn as he turned his head to hear who was talking and see who was holding him. Everyone was overjoyed to see the healthy baby boy. We spent the next few nights in the hospital and had many visitors, all of whom welcomed our bundle of joy into this world. I can't wait to watch our boy grow and grow and see what adventure life has for us Larocques. Until then!

Milestones

Today our little one is one month old. Already?!?! are you kidding me? It surprises me how fast time passes, especially considering how slow nine months went when I was pregnant. I think that's because I was waiting to "get there". You know how when your traveling somewhere the way there seems so long, but the way home flies by? 

This first month of my sons life has already brought so many milestones and I look forward every day to see what new thing he will that day. He is lifting his head 45 degrees, focusing on faces, focusing on objects, following objects with his eyes and as well as turning his whole head to follow them, he's found his hands, and today he smiled and it was the most amazing moment of my whole life. He has been kind of smiling for the past week but today his whole face lit up and I cried. I can't believe I'm one of those moms...actually wait...who am I kidding? I always knew I would be one of those moms. 

When I was pregnant I could not wait for Joseph to come but now it all seems to be racing by faster than I would like. Although, I am so excited to watch him grow into the person he is going to be. I am so excited for his first laugh and words, crawl and steps. I am so excited to be his mom and to help him learn and grow. I am surprised daily at the amount of love that I have for him and also that it grows every day. I am really settling in to this mommy thing and I am loving it!

P.S I started writing this on the 8th so thats why it says "today our son is one month old"

4 Things

4 Things

I'm a sucker for these things!

4 shows I watch:

One Tree Hill

Modern Family

Glee

How I Met Your Mother

4 things I am passionate about:
1 - family
2 - church
3 - shopping
4 - travelling

4 phrases I say a lot:
1 - tell me about it
2 - P.S
3 - really?

4 - are you kidding me

4 things I have learned from the past:
1 - hard times can make you stronger depending on how you react to them
2 - patience is important
3 - love matters more
4 - be kind


4 places I'd like to go:
1 - All of the Caribbean
2 - England particularly Brighton
3 - Montreal and Quebec City
4 - Greece


4 things I did yesterday:
1- Looked after my one month old
2 - put away Josephs clothes finally
3 - the dishes
4 - family home evening


4 things I am looking forward to:
1 - Christmas
2 - watching my son grow up
3 - going to see my grandma sherwood
4 - getting Josephs/family pictures done on saturday

4 things I love about winter:
1 - warm clothes
2 - nights in
3 - fires in my parents fireplace
4 -Christmas

4 things on my wish list:
1- Joseph to sleep through the night
2 - a new TV
3 - for us to afford Roland going back to school
4 - to be a stay at home mom

4 people I tag:
1- I don't really want to tag anyone...do this if you would like :)

Chelsea

Our New Arrival

I was hoping I would get around to writing this post a little sooner, but, as I'm sure most of you other moms know, being a new mom doesn't leave much time for blogging! So...here is the story of how our wonderful bundle of joy came into this world!
On Saturday November 6th Roly and I went to a Victoria Salmon Kings game. Now, we went to a game a week before that too and I had a feeling that I was going to go into labor after a hockey game, so when my parents offered their season tickets to us again I jumped at the chance to go considering I was three days late already! So, we went to the game with my grandma and unfortunately the Kings lost horribly (due to the worst reffing job on the planet might I mention.) After the game we dropped my grandma off and went home to watch some t.v and go to bed early since we had church in the morning. I think we went to bed around twelve and I ended up waking up at two-ish feeling like I really had to go to the bathroom but it turns out I didn't. While trying to go to the bathroom I had my show...sorry guys its gross but this is the story. But, I had read that having your show doesn't mean your going in to labor so I didn't really think much of it. I went back to bed and an hour later was to the bathroom again with no avail, but more show! This time I woke Roland up. We laid back down in bed and my cramps started slowly getting closer together. Around six am they were about 4-5 minutes apart and HURT so I figured it was time to call my Dr. who told me to go to the hospital. By the way I had had an appointment on the fourth and he had said he would be very surprised if I went into labor that weekend. I guess you should never tell me I wont be doing something cause I'll do it! 
Roland and I drove to the hospital and checked in. When the nurse checked me I was 1cm dilated and 100% effaced, she called my Dr. and he decided to come and check me too. After he had arrived and I was still 1cm they were going to send me home and told me to come back around 6pm unless my water broke. They were also going to give me some painkillers and some sleeping pills to help me wait it out. So, we got up and I got dressed ready to leave the hospital and they changed their minds and said I could stay. I was pretty relieved considering I have zero pain tolerance and these contractions were killing me. I started with using just the laughing gas which surprisingly helped a lot because it made me concentrate on my breathing. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to get me through the pain so the nurses gave me morphine. Morphine was a joke and barely touched the amount I was hurting so I begged my Doctor to give me an epidural which with much convincing on my part he finally gave in. Thank you Doctor Bill! I got my epidural within ten minutes which was super lucky considering I had talked to another lady who delivered the same day as me and she had to wait like three hours, thank you Heavenly Father for knowing ten minutes was all I could wait! When the specialist was giving me my epidural Roland almost passed out which I thought was really funny cause it didn't hurt at all to get it.Having my epidural slowed down my labor a lot (before I had it I was having contractions every two minutes and they slowed down to every four.) 
I had a lot of people at the hospital to entertain me throughout my 21 hours of labor. My in-laws were able to make the trip over to the mainland hoping I would have Joseph by 5 o'clock because my father-in-law had to take the 7pm ferry back. However, that wasn't the case considering I had him at 12:53 am. Also at the hospital was my mom, dad, birth mom and her boyfriend Evan. So, at around 6pm my Dr. decided to get a consult from another OB to see if I should get a c-section because my sons ginormous head just would not engage in my pelvis (we found out later on it's because my pelvis is shaped weird.) So at I don't know what time, probably 11:30ish, the other OB came in and examined me. By now my epidural wasn't working anymore even though they had just put more medicine into it. The other OB tried to turn Joseph because he was facing up instead of towards my back, hence why the epidural wasn't working, and it was the most excruciating thing I have ever felt. Unfortunately, Joseph wouldn't turn so I was offered to wait a little longer and see if we could try to get him out vaginally, or, have a c-section. Now, I know some women are against c-sections or they feel like they failed at being a woman because they couldn't have their baby the way billions of other women have but, at this point I was in so much pain, balling my eyes out and so done with this whole situation that I decided to have a c-section, and you know what? I don't regret it at all. 
How fast everything happens once they decide to do an emergency section is mind blowing. Within five minutes I was being wheeled into the operating
room and getting put onto the table. For sections you aren't put under you are given a spinal tap, which by the way was one of the scariest experiences of my life. Getting it wasn't the hard part, it was just like getting an epidural. It was the way your body freezes that was scary. I felt like I couldn't breathe and I was given an oxygen mask which made me feel claustrophobic and all I wanted was to take the mask off. Once they got me all frozen and prepped they let Roland in, I'll let him tell you about it from his point of view. Having surgery when your awake is a weird feeling, I could feel pulling and tugging but no pain. And, all of a sudden my son let out his first cry, which, by the way, was right as his mouth hit the incision and it was his only cry. My dr said he came out wide eyed and alert looking at everyone and everything around him. They cleaned him off and wrapped him up (dad got to cut the umbilical cord shorter than they had cut it) and passed him to Roland who in turn brought him to me. I'm not going to lie to you, that instant connection that you see moms feel in movies or read about in books, I didn't really feel that right away. Roland brought him out to see our families and I'm told he looked around at everyone then too. I couldn't hold him until I was in recovery because I was shaking so bad from the anesthesia. The nurse passed him to me so I could nurse him and he was the perfect little latcher (thank heavens I was so worried about nothing!) As soon as he started nursing the shaking stopped and I fell so in love with my little bundle of joy.
Healing from this c-section, and adjusting to becoming a new mother has not been easy for me. But, I am finding the joy in this role I've wanted to play my whole life. Through foggy minds and fuzzy eyes from tiredness I have grown to love my son more than I ever knew possible. And that love grows every day. I am so thankful for the other moms in my life who have helped me with words of counsel. And, especially to my mom who has helped with absolutely everything from dishes to diapers. This new mom task I have taken on is a big scary one but it is one I know I will enjoy thoroughly. Maybe even more when he starts sleeping through the night? 
Mom

The Due Date of our Son

Today is the due date of our son. It has been so exciting counting down to this day, and it is finally here. But where is our son? Chelsea has been excited that he could be here any day for at least two weeks, and now she has become impatient. I can understand, but only partially. I haven't had to feel the aching of hips, the carrying of extra weight, or the cramping that comes and goes, just as a teaser of what is to come. I eagerly await and do what I can to help, but really, do any of the old wives tails help to induce? Not for us, so far. But as we wait, I can't help but think of how exciting the unravelling of events will be once our bundle of joy makes his arrival. What has been peaceful, and for the most part an easy pregnancy (especially for me!) seems as though it isn't building to it's climax yet, but being calm before the storm is a good thing, right? What I mean is that Chelsea is healthy and Joseph is active in the womb... these are all good things. And it will all culminate in the birth of our son, whom we already adore, eventually. So as we await for this exciting new page in the book of our lives to be written, I can't help but wonder what is to come. Will our son be a happy baby or will he be cholicy? When will he start sleeping through the night? What will be his first word? I know it's all going to fly by so fast once he's here, but for now, it feels like his arrival is on pause. Until you arrive, son, we await longingly.

Love, Dad

The Final Countdown

On Wednesday I will be 38 weeks pregnant...WOW how time just flies. It seems like just last week that I thought I had the flu and my mom asked if I was sure I wasn't pregnant. I can't believe how much has changed in this past year. It has been the best year of my life and I am looking forward to all the changes the years will bring to our lives. But, really? 38 weeks already? That means that this little one could come literally any time now. ANY TIME. However, when I went to the Dr. on Wednesday he said that he hadn't dropped yet so maybe I won't be earlier than November 3rd. 
I'm planning on spending these next two weeks getting everything ready. I have pretty much finished putting everything in the places I want them but, having an apartment isn't really conducive to all of the stuff we have. I'm finding that there is not enough storage space for all of our stuff. These past couple weeks I've been getting super uncomfortable. It feels like my pelvis and hips are being torn four different ways. It's really fun... I've also had heartburn real bad which is random because I didn't have it at all throughout my other trimesters. But, oh well I guess these are just the things that come with the end of a pregnancy. I keep telling myself it will all be over soon which scares and excites me at the same time.
I think the thing I am most looking forward to is seeing Roland become a father. I am so lucky to have him in my life as my husband and the father to my child. He is so excited and it always puts a huge smile on my face when I see him talk about his son. Roland is going to be the most amazing father. I've always been worried that I would have a husband who wasn't really involved in my childrens lives, but Roland will be so involved. 
I cannot wait to have Joseph in my arms and I cannot believe that its so close!

 

Oh to be Thankful

This Thanksgiving weekend has been a good one. Roly and I celebrated first with his family and then with mine. We left for the mainland very early Saturday morning and spent Saturday at his parents house watching movies (I napped) because being up at 430 am is not really my thing so I could barely keep my eyes open. On Sunday we had a delicious turkey dinner with yummy stuffing which Rolands mom puts bacon in mmmm and had a birthday cake for Roland since it is is birthday today. I was really tired again so I ended up going to bed pretty early. I just have not been able to stay awake for the past week, I guess they weren't lying when they said first trimester tiredness can come back in full  swing the third trimester. 
My parents were cooking dinner for monday so we had to get back to the island asap. We were supposed to catch the twelve but were late by one minute because the ferry stops selling walk on tickets ten minutes to sailing time so we ended up on the one which was fine. We had another amazing turkey dinner with my family including Grandma and the Whiddens. Roland also got another birthday cake (lucky guy). This time it was ice cream cake though which is his favorite.
I absolutely love this time of year and I love that we have a holiday to remind us to be thankful for the things which we have. I am thankful for so many things. I am thankful for the most amazing, caring, and loving husband a girl could ask for. I am thankful for the health my father-in-law has  been blessed with over the past few weeks. I am thankful for the greatest, most supporting family who are always there for my husband and I no matter what. I am greatful that I have had a easy (for the most part) pregnancy and that I have a healthy baby boy to meet soon. I am also thankful for the gospel and the hope and comfort it brings to our lives. 
Chels

Fall

I LOVE fall...absolutely love love love it! Especially October because there is pumpkin everything! I am addicted to pumpkin pie! and also Egg Nogg has already come out to play! yum yum yum!
So, Roly has offically started his new job and I am so happy to not have the stress of him looking for a job anymore although, I'm not going to lie I miss him a lot during the day. I got used to having him around. Oh well, pretty soon my days will be full of diapers and feedings and hopefully some sleeping (I'm crossing my fingers.) So as I am bored to my wits end I can't help but think that I should be enjoying this free time now because I will never have this much again. Hmm...maybe I should bake something pumpkiny off of one of my favorite blogs Our Best Bites. Like maybe this recipe:

Pumpkin and Cream Cheese Whoopie Pies
Original recipe from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking

Cakes

3 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 Tbsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 c. oil
1 c. dark brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
3 c. pumpkin puree
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs

Cream Cheese Filling

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter
1 8-oz. package cream cheese (you could use light)
3 c. powdered sugar
3 tablespoons maple syrup of 1/2-1 tsp. maple extract
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.

Lightly spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level with a knife. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat together the brown sugar, white sugar, and oil. Add the pumpkin puree and mix well. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix well. Slowly add in the flour mixture and mix until combined.

Using a 1 tablespoon scoop or a 1/2 tablespoon measure, drop the batter onto a baking sheet (lined, if possible, but not necessary), leaving about 1" between the batter. Try to keep the batter as circular as possible. Bake for 10-14 minutes or until the tops are done and a toothpick inserted into the middle of one of the cakes comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes on the pan and then transfer to a cooling rack.

To prepare the filling, beat the butter on high for 1-2 minutes until smooth and fluffy. Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, maple, and vanilla and beat until combined. Transfer to a large Ziploc bag and cut 1/2"-1" off the corner.

Flip the cakes over on a flat surface. Squeeze about 2-3 tablespoons of filling per large whoopie pie (less if you used a 1/2 tablespoon measure) onto every other cake. Top each pie with the remaining cakes. Serve immediately if possible; otherwise, these can be refrigerated in an airtight container. Makes about 30 large whoopie pies.


Don't they look delicious? I will hopefully get around to making them soon. I've also slowly been working on the nursery and it is coming along nicely. I have hung some pictures on the wall and since we aren't allowed to paint I've also been thinking of getting some stick on bordering but am still not quite sure about it. There is so much stuff to get done in this last month before the baby comes so all in all I probably wont have any time to bake!

Chels







 

Mom, Babe, and Dad Update

It has been one very busy stress-filled week this week. Both good and bad stress though! Roland's dad went in for his surgery to get his pacemaker defibrillator taken out because he had an infection in the area and it was really bad. When they went in they realized that the infection had gotten to his heart, also when they took the pacemaker out his heart had grown over it a bit so they had to use a laser to take it out. When we heard what had happened and that his dad was in ICU we rushed to the ferry and went over to go see him. When we finally got over there it ended up that he was out of ICU and that he is doing much better. He is still on the antibiotics for the infection but from what I understand it seems to be going away (thank you Heavenly Father.) He is going in for another surgery Monday to get his pacemaker defibrillator back in but they are putting that on the other side this time. So, we are praying that everything  goes smoothly, could you please pray too? It was a very quick trip though because Roland started his new job on Friday and we had gone over Wednesday so we came back Thursday evening. 
This weekend is also General Conference. We went to the the morning session today and it was great. I love hearing the church authorities speak and teach the Gospel to us. I can't wait till we can actually go to Salt Lake  to see General Conference. My family is there right now and I am super jealous. I didn't go to the second session today though because my birth mom Deena threw me a baby shower and it was  so great. I got to meet a couple people from my birth family I didn't know and baby Joseph got some really great stuff! The baby shower was so much fun! And there was a ton of really good food. I ate so much that I just finished eating dinner now because I hasn't hungry until like 9:00! (it was a really delicious grilled cheese made for me by my wonderful hubby.I love him so much.) I'm so grateful to have such a loving caring support system around me it feels amazing and I feel so incredibly blessed.
We are also looking after my family dog Zoe this weekend. Even though we aren't technically allowed pets or visiting pets in the building. We have a cat though that they let us have. I'm just praying someone doesn't hear her barking and complain!
Because of us going to visit my father-in-law I had to postpone my doctors appointment till Monday. I am pretty sure Joseph is engaged because it hurts so much to walk especially right after I get up from sitting or laying down. Although everyone says I don't look like my belly has changed but he has been super low my whole pregnancy so I doubt it will change. Like I have said a million times before I am so ready to have this baby!
Chels

Bitten

We have officially been bitten by the nesting bug! Something I never thought would happen to me, I  could see it happening to Roland but I am not too fond of cleaning so I doubted it would happen. Today when we got home from running various errands Roland wouldn't let me go on the computer (he has a new, unhealthy I think, addiction to online games) so I just went into the mess that we called the babies room and started getting Josephs laundry ready to go. Oh boy does he ever have a lot of clothes already! Three loads to be exact, and I haven't even had one baby shower yet. His wardrobe is going to be bigger that mine and that is saying a lot. I'm pretty sure its already bigger than Rolands. So, since I had already started on the laundry and Roly Poly was done with his games (finally) he started tidying the babies room. We also rearranged our room so we could put the t.v my parents gave us to good use finally but it doesn't even work!  Oh well I guess thats just the way things go. 
Today, when we were running our various errands we went to London Drugs to look and see if they had any thank you cards, which by the way they didn't, I randomly decided to look at the cameras because I really want a new one and I fell absolutely in love with this one:

Isn't it beautiful? It is the Nikon COOLPIX 10.3MP Digital Camera (P100) - Black and I want it SO BAD! And Christmas is coming...but I want it before so we can take pictures of baby with it because I do not like my camera I have now at all so I have pretty much stopped taking pictures all together, and I am not a fan of that one little bit. 
Well I should probably get back to helping my hubby nest away!
Chels

Mom and Babe Update

Only 39 days to go! that is SO crazy. I am getting ridiculously nervous and so excited/impatient all at the same time. Last night we had our last prenatal class and it was really good. Our teacher taught us about breastfeeding which was really good because that is something I am super unsure about and really nervous for. We also learned about vaccinations and circumcision and normal things for a baby that most parents worry about such as cradle cap and so on. Here are a couple pictures of our class

  Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

I am really happy that we took this class I think we both learned a lot and I am way more prepared for this whole child-birth and new mom thing that we are about to experience. (39 DAYS aahhhh!!!) I am freaking out! I've started counting days by the way because it freaks me out less. Another reason I loved taking this class was because I didn't feel huge around a whole bunch of pregnant women and we got to compare stories and feelings which was really nice. Here is a picture of my  bump this week. I am shocked at how much it grows every week.

Now that I am getting closer to the end of my  pregnancy I am kind of sad, which is  something I never thought would happen considering I am not a huge fan of being pregnant. I am going to miss feeling him inside me in the protection of my womb. I am going to miss feeling him hiccup which is the coolest thing ever. I'm so shocked at the protected and loving feelings I have for him already. I love him so much.

Chels

A New Direction

Well, I'm at it again. Looking for a new job. A career. Something to put food on the table for my family and keep myself happy and fulfilled while doing it. I guess that it's better to do this now, as opposed to when our child is born, but I never thought I'd have to do this the month before our baby arrives. So I've been looking online and going to job fairs. I've been thinking about labour jobs that pay well and sales jobs with no guarantees. I've been looking at apprenticeships in the trades, and even looked into the Department of National Defense for these positions. I'd love to start my own personal training company, but I need to do the course first and don't have the money for it. Plus, is it recession proof? I'm at a point in my life where I can't just do what I want to do on a whim. I have obligations. I have responsibilities. So, with my experience in customer service and sales, I'm seeking employment in the same field, once again. Being in Victoria is very hard, in that aspect, as I have found several opportunities, but none with a salary of more than $12 per hour. I am not afraid of commission only positions, but Chelsea is not a fan. If I can't rely on the salary to cover our living expenses, then she is not secure in the fact that we will survive month to month. If we can cover our living expenses with the salary, we can rely on commission for getting ahead in life. But where do I find such a position in Victoria? Why are all the good paying positions in Victoria for the well-educated? I feel as though the options here are either for the upper class or for those that serve them. There is no in between. Perhaps we are destined for a new location for our new direction.

Roland

Belly Update

So, here's the huge belly!

We had our Dr. appointment today and everything is great. Joseph's head is down and he hasn't dropped yet.  I want him to drop so that I can breathe again! I'm so happy that we chose to go with my Dr. he is an amazing Dr. and hilarious. It will also be cool cause he delivered me! And has been my Dr. my whole life. I am so excited!!!

Chels