Our little toddler has totally captured our hearts! He's such a delight!
A few tidbits on life with Noah these days...
- on the go constantly....yesterday at church, I was in the toddler room and the lady next to me (whom I don't know) says to me "Wow. He's busy! I thought my daughter was busy but he's way busier!". He is a quick little guy and can run fast!
- getting more and more verbal....he is able to communicate a bunch between a few sounds/words and few signs. He is very expressive! Noah will talk in the van all the way to the store, down the aisles and all the way home. He especially likes to talk to the cashier and try to get people who look preoccupied and busy to look at him. He smiles at them and tries to get their attention =)
- full of affection...Noah loves people! He seems to really care about how people are doing and feeling and always has a hug to give. He wraps his little arms around your neck and squeezes. He gives the best hugs! Even to all the strangers on the playground =) Yesterday in the toddler room at church, I watched him connect with every family in there. It appears he has a caring, pastoral heart already =)
- loves things that start with the letter "B"....buses, Bibles, books, birds and even pointing out his bum when I'm changing his diaper =)
- teething...he cut 3 molars and 1 canine tooth in the last 2 weeks. It wasn't so bad! The amber necklace has been helping, I think! The last few days, the teething symptoms have increased....is he getting more?!
- loves being outside and is pretty tough with all the bumps, scrapes and bruises that go along with being an active, toddler boy! I am constantly praying for protection from injury!
We are so blessed to have Noah in our family! I love that little guy!
Monday, May 27, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
We're Not in Canada Anymore Moments
I was thinking a few weeks ago that I really should be recording the moments we have that we like to label "We're not in Canada anymore!" moments =) For your enjoyment, Shane and I both had a WNICA moment on the same day a few weeks ago. Shane's was hilarious! I don't know if the funniness will transfer via blog, but here's the story =)
As a disclaimer, I mean no disrespect to the people or cultures involved in any of these cases. They simply remind us that we are not in our homeland anymore and make us chuckle. There are aspects of people and culture here, that are very different than home!
Earlier in the afternoon, I was at a company and getting some direction from the lady in charge. She was African American and the delivery of her information to the group made me continuously chuckle to myself. There is just no way you would hear someone talking like that in Canada. The culture is so different! She was talking about how we had to use black pen. Instead in of simply stating that, she went on and on to prove her point. "Now, you need to use black pen. Not your pretty purple pen or ____ pen (insert whatever colors, I don't remember her examples)" and the tone had attitude and it just made me smile and realize.....we are not in Canada anymore.
I told Shane about my moment when I got home and a few hours later as I was putting Noah to bed, Shane went to the store nearby by grab some milk. He was crouching down at the fridge/freezer to pull out a jug of milk. As he stands, he hears of the voice of someone coming down the aisle. These two African American ladies are walking toward him and one says, "Dang! You cute for a white boy!". Drop. Dead. Hilarious. And so crazy bold!
She goes on to ask what he's doing tonight and Shane tells her that he's on his way home to his wife =) She communicates her disappointment and how she would have loved to hung out with him for the evening.
Oh my word. Totally hilarious and not something we probably would have encountered in Canada.
We are not in Canada anymore. These moments prove it.
As a disclaimer, I mean no disrespect to the people or cultures involved in any of these cases. They simply remind us that we are not in our homeland anymore and make us chuckle. There are aspects of people and culture here, that are very different than home!
Earlier in the afternoon, I was at a company and getting some direction from the lady in charge. She was African American and the delivery of her information to the group made me continuously chuckle to myself. There is just no way you would hear someone talking like that in Canada. The culture is so different! She was talking about how we had to use black pen. Instead in of simply stating that, she went on and on to prove her point. "Now, you need to use black pen. Not your pretty purple pen or ____ pen (insert whatever colors, I don't remember her examples)" and the tone had attitude and it just made me smile and realize.....we are not in Canada anymore.
I told Shane about my moment when I got home and a few hours later as I was putting Noah to bed, Shane went to the store nearby by grab some milk. He was crouching down at the fridge/freezer to pull out a jug of milk. As he stands, he hears of the voice of someone coming down the aisle. These two African American ladies are walking toward him and one says, "Dang! You cute for a white boy!". Drop. Dead. Hilarious. And so crazy bold!
She goes on to ask what he's doing tonight and Shane tells her that he's on his way home to his wife =) She communicates her disappointment and how she would have loved to hung out with him for the evening.
Oh my word. Totally hilarious and not something we probably would have encountered in Canada.
We are not in Canada anymore. These moments prove it.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
A Few Updates...
I thought it was time to update on a few things....
Our visas....sadly, still not processed. We finally heard from the lawyer a week and a half ago with all the information that he needs from the base. Needless to say, it is a big job and the accountant is working on it. So, once he has it all together, he will send it to the lawyer, who will go over it and hopefully send it back to the government asap. The timing has been such a challenge. We never thought it would take this long and still possibly be far away from the end.
In light of the lack of visas.....Shane is not going to Thailand on Monday =( He has worked so hard the last 5 months preparing for the Call2All Congress and it is so disappointing that he won't get to be on the ground, seeing the fruit of his labor. As I write, Shane is working hard in his office. He has been working all day and evening this week, as well as all weekend so far. Thankfully, the end is in sight because this pace would never work long term! But, the Lord is helping me with grace and today He kindly sustained me and energized me, despite the sacrifice of the last little while. Though we are disappointed Shane won't be in Thailand with his team (and working through frustration with the visa process from time to time), we feel peace.
Our night away was lovely! And the Lord knew that we really needed some quality time before this last week of such intense work! It was so wonderful to connect and not have to share one another with anyone!
Noah....is adorable, getting more and more verbal, runs everywhere, loves everything and is teething fiercely. One molar is mostly through and the other 3 are soooo close. He lights up my world =)
Please continue to pray for our visa situation and the Lord's perfect timing...before June would be really great!
Our visas....sadly, still not processed. We finally heard from the lawyer a week and a half ago with all the information that he needs from the base. Needless to say, it is a big job and the accountant is working on it. So, once he has it all together, he will send it to the lawyer, who will go over it and hopefully send it back to the government asap. The timing has been such a challenge. We never thought it would take this long and still possibly be far away from the end.
In light of the lack of visas.....Shane is not going to Thailand on Monday =( He has worked so hard the last 5 months preparing for the Call2All Congress and it is so disappointing that he won't get to be on the ground, seeing the fruit of his labor. As I write, Shane is working hard in his office. He has been working all day and evening this week, as well as all weekend so far. Thankfully, the end is in sight because this pace would never work long term! But, the Lord is helping me with grace and today He kindly sustained me and energized me, despite the sacrifice of the last little while. Though we are disappointed Shane won't be in Thailand with his team (and working through frustration with the visa process from time to time), we feel peace.
Our night away was lovely! And the Lord knew that we really needed some quality time before this last week of such intense work! It was so wonderful to connect and not have to share one another with anyone!
Noah....is adorable, getting more and more verbal, runs everywhere, loves everything and is teething fiercely. One molar is mostly through and the other 3 are soooo close. He lights up my world =)
Please continue to pray for our visa situation and the Lord's perfect timing...before June would be really great!
Sunday, May 05, 2013
Blogger Book Review - The Christian Mama's Guide to Parenting a Toddler by Erin MacPherson
The Christian Mama's Guide to Parenting a Toddler is a book about entering the world of parenting a toddler. The author is a mom of 3 herself and pulls from a number of different people, resources and experiences to discuss a number of topics applicable to any mom of a toddler. Topics such as discipline, tantrums, sleep habits, healthy eating, potty training and preschool are covered, as well as topics specific to moms such as keeping date nights alive, the joys and challenges of stay-at-home moms and working moms, and preparing for baby #2.
I had mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I enjoyed the topics and could definitely identify with many of the circumstances and challenges of parenting a toddler as I enter into the toddler phase with my little guy. I liked a lot of the lists of suggestions and recommendations that Erin provided and I think I will look back through the book to try some of them out!
On the other hand, I really had a hard time reading the book because of the tone of the author. I felt that humor and sarcasm was used far too much. I myself am more of a serious person and really dislike sarcasm in general. It made me feel like what is holy and sacred about motherhood wasn't valued or communicated in the way that I would have liked to hear. It was hard for me to get past the tone and enjoy the content.
I may recommend this book to mommy friends of mine but I would definitely disclaimer the tone and see if it would be a good fit for their personalities and communication style first.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I had mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I enjoyed the topics and could definitely identify with many of the circumstances and challenges of parenting a toddler as I enter into the toddler phase with my little guy. I liked a lot of the lists of suggestions and recommendations that Erin provided and I think I will look back through the book to try some of them out!
On the other hand, I really had a hard time reading the book because of the tone of the author. I felt that humor and sarcasm was used far too much. I myself am more of a serious person and really dislike sarcasm in general. It made me feel like what is holy and sacred about motherhood wasn't valued or communicated in the way that I would have liked to hear. It was hard for me to get past the tone and enjoy the content.
I may recommend this book to mommy friends of mine but I would definitely disclaimer the tone and see if it would be a good fit for their personalities and communication style first.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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