England!

Hi all! Sorry for my blogging hiatus!

We just returned home from a week in England. It was for a sad occasion (my Grandad's funeral) but of course, it was fun to be back with my family regardless.

So much went on that its hard to get it all into a single blog post {plus I have to pick up my babies from Carly s in approximately 10 minutes, so I have to be quick!!}

The plane ride to England was long but the babies did really well. The only time Bennett got really upset was when he woke up and didn't recognize where he was. I was in the bathroom changing Brooke's diaper {which is about 2'x2'....HARDEST DIAPER CHANGE EVER} and actually heard the screams down the plane. Otherwise he was good natured and just walked/crawled up and down the aisle about 1000 times. I swear we knew most people on that flight by the end of it.

We went shopping the first and second days and I managed to get some Laura Ashley wallpaper on reduction for 4 pounds!! That's like $7 people! It was reduced from 44 pounds a roll! I got some lovely cream and pink stuff for Brooke's future room and some white and grey for a feature wall in our bedroom. Can you tell I like wallpaper?! Both rooms are far away from being done but who can resist a bargain like that?!

Our trip also happened to fall on Hannah's 13th birthday!! It was so nice to have the day to spend with her!! We had a lovely dinner out and then went home to open pressies and watch a movie!

On the third day, the day before my Grandad's funeral. My Mum's washing machine broke! That probably doesn't sound like a huge deal but with a household of nine people including two babies that have to change frequently....it was a bit disastrous. We actually ended up having to clean my brothers suit for the funeral with baby wipes and a lint roller :)

That day was consumed with trying to fix it and we flooded the kitchen {which is where your washing machine tends to be in England} about three or four times. So on top of all the backed up laundry, we also had about ten soaking wet towels on the washing line. The part that was needed was something that ended up having to be ordered, so we never did get it fixed before we left. Let's just say there may have been an emergency knicker run to Tesco's ;)

My Grandad's funeral was a lovely event. It turned out to be quite joyous which is fitting for the man he was. My mum chose to finish the funeral with the song California Dreaming by the Mama's and Papa's, which put a smile on my face as we said our final goodbyes. Carly and I also made a speech which I hope he heard. He was one of the best people I have ever known and I hope that he is happy now :)

In true Willis fashion, driving home from the funeral turned into an event in itself. We were in two vehicles and we somehow got separated. In the meantime, it began to pour rain and my Mums windshield wipers packed in, almost blinding her with the rain. Long story short, we ended up on the side of the Motor way for almost THREE AND A HALF HOURS with hungry babies. I also had to use the bathroom at the side of the road which I am sure that I will never live down. We lost Scott but discovered him at a neighbors house much later on haha. I am pretty sure that my Grandad wanted to play one last joke on us! Even my uncle that came to rescue my Mum said that it had Bill written all over it!

So to sum up it was an eventful but extra fun week in England. Brooke loved it too {obviously} being that it was her first time! The flight home was extra amazing with both babies not crying once...NOT ONCE!!! Now our family are due to fly to see us in a week for Christmas!! Anyways, I must go as my children are back and Bennett is throwing things in the toilet to entertain himself. Don't worry, its not like it's my expensive Estee Lauder face cream or anything ;) xxx

On the plane!

 

                                                                                             
               

           

Miss Brooke is 2 months old!

Our little Brooke is two months old. For some reason this last month seems to have been slow. Which is a good thing really...I don't want to lose this newborn stage too quickly!

Month two was a good month. It's been super busy which is partly why I have slightly neglected to blog. After Bennett's birthday it was Halloween of course! We decided to dress up Bennett and took him around the street with my family. It was really just an excuse to see how my neighbors decided to decorate/furnish their homes though! Me and Carly made sure to peek into every house while Bennett was getting his chocolate haha.

             

The Monday after Halloween was mine and Carly's 28th birthday! Carly took off the day and we went shopping with the blobs. We face timed with my family and then met the boys {Ryan, Nate and Scott} for dinner out. It was a lovely day as per usual and we enjoyed our little shopping buddy's.

The weekend after that we took a trip to Kelowna/Revelstoke with Ryan's dad to go and visit family. It was a great weekend but in the midst of it all I found out that the loveliest man in the world {my Grandad Bill} had passed away :( :( :( I am so sad to even have to type that, he suffered from Alzheimers but still had the most amazing demeanor. He met Bennett last year in England and I had so hoped that he could meet Brooke. I am happy now though that his mind is free of the jail that held him captive for so many of his later years. Me and Carly are taking Bennett and Brooke back to England next week for his funeral. It will be a sad event but I am so happy to sneak in an extra week with my family before Christmas. It will be the first time my Dad and little sisters get to see Brooke too! So that will lighten the occasion.

The last note {which is just a chance for me to complain} is that we came home from our trip unwell. I have been battling a bad head cold/ sore throat for eight days now. I also lost my voice {which I am sure some people would say isn't the worst thing in the world haha} and have passed on the sickness to Bennett and now Ryan. I am just HOPING that Brooke also doesn't pick it up. Needless to say, we have been quite the sad bunch. Thank god for Tylenol Cold and Carly {who has been taking the babies to let me rest}.

So anyways, this has turned into more on a general update but I suppose I should get back to little Brooke!

Weight: 11.2 lbs

Routine: Well last night was hopefully the start of a new routine! Brooke fell asleep at around 9:00 pm and slept right though until 6:30 AM!! It was glorious! I fed her then and put her back to bed until 9:00 AM when Bennett woke up. I swear I was tired from getting too much sleep haha. I wasn't used to it! This is around the time when Bennett started sleeping through the night so let's hope this little girl is just like her brother.

Eating: My little piglet loves her formula! She guzzles it down and has increased the amount she intakes during a feed {which might explain the reason she is sleeping so well at night}.

Milestones: Her strength in general is getting better although she is not such a fan of tummy time. Also, she cracked her first smile this month, which she didn't want to do for any of her pictures but trust me, it is SO CUTE!!!!

Here are some quick shots of Brooke at two months. She is looking SO much like a girl version of Bennett....right down to the adorable chubby cheeks :)

 

Brooke's famous pout. I kid you not, she did this the second she was born. Instead of crying, she just whipped out a fat lower lip and made all of us laugh. She is already such a princess ;)

Our little Bennett is one!

Bennett turned one on Sunday! Let me say that again...my baby is ONE! And what a sweet little one year old he is!

I have had the most amazing year with him. He honestly is the best baby a first time Mum could of asked for. He slept through the night very early on and is so easy going. His personality is through the roof and he makes us laugh every day. There is not a day that goes by that I don't realize how lucky we are to have this little blob in our life's.

Also lets think about this for a second. This month last year, not only had I not met Bennett...but I hadn't met Brooke either! So this year has definitely been extra special!

He had a lovely day filled with presents and sugar. We started out by going to my sisters house for a skype date with my family in England. That meant that they could sing to him and watch him open their present. Brooke dressed up as well, she had to look her best considering she was attending her first birthday party as a guest :) Next we went out for lunch with my sister and her husband {Aunty Carly and Uncle Nat}. When we got home we watched a movie and napped, then it was time for his dinner celebration! My friend Anna made him a monster cake which was a big hit :)

Anyways, here are his stats as well as some {ok LOT'S of} pictures from his birthday. This will be his last monthly update now we have reached a year! I will still update on him every six months though because I love updates!

Happy birthday little Blob, we LOVE you! xxx

Weight: 22.2 lbs

Routine: I can finally say my child sleeps in his OWN ROOM!!! We decided it was time we focus on getting him to sleep in his crib. Getting him used to it turned out to be pretty easy. We just started his bedtime routine a little earlier which gave him time to fall asleep while we were still up doing things. I think hearing us helped him feel comfortable. Now he goes down like a pro for naps as well as night time.

Eating: He still drinks formula in bottles as well as a plate of whatever we have for lunch or dinner. I was just told that he should start coming off bottles. That may be quite difficult as he always has one when Brooke does. We'll see though.....it just might take a tiny bit of convincing ;)

Milestones: Well there it the obvious milestone of turning one and this last month he really started to understand the word no. I can now tell him no and most the time it will make him stop in his tracks. This is usually only for a second to look at me with a cheeky smile and then continue to do whatever he wasn't suppose to be doing ;) He has also figured out how to "comfort" Brooke when she cries. Comforting is shoving a soother in her mouth and rocking her in her chair. It is sweet to see him try, even if it's not the best method haha.

               

              

          

     

A picture from each of his first 11 months :)

Fast sleep after his long day :)

Baby Brooke is one month old!

Wow I cannot believe that I am already doing Brooke's one month update. Even crazier is that Bennett's next update is his ONE YEAR! {Cue sobbing here} Time seriously flies when you are having fun.

Brooke is such a sweet baby. She is already showing a little personality and Bennett has started to really enjoy having her around. Even this morning I caught him squishing his face up against hers and smiling. She is very good at sighing/grunting and knows how to burp...well. It makes me laugh because she always looks so sweet and innocent {and is usually in something pink}, then lets out a huge burp. Also, because she can't smile yet, her grunting and sighing always makes her seem really put out by the world. It's hilarious.

I already love her so much and really can't imagine our family without her. Considering we did not plan to have her, I still can't believe how perfect it feels now she is here!

Weight: 8.4 lbs

Routine: She is still in that newborn routine where she sleeps alot and really only wakes to feed. Her sleeping is good but she is alot more alert then Bennett was at night. I still can usually get her right back to bed after milk but sometimes that requires some extra cuddle time :) I am hoping she will start sleeping through the night early like Bennett did around 10 weeks.

Eating: She is CRAZY for milk. This little piglet not only loves milk but gulps it back every time she drinks it as if she hasn't eaten in days. She actually gulps so fast that she chokes every feed. It was worrying at first but lets face it, it's not like she is going to choke to death on liquid. So I just sit her upright and wait for it to make it's way down. The plus side is that her feeds are done so quickly {which is nice at night!}.

Milestones: Obviously there aren't many of these at 4 weeks old but she is definitely getting more alert about the world around her. I am hoping she will crack a smile soon, I can't wait for it to light up her lovely little face!

This picture cracks me up! She looks like a cross eyed alien baby :)

     

Bennett at the petting zoo!

We live in a new community called Legacy. I actually really like it so far and know it will be lovely when its all done.

A couple Saturdays ago, the developer put on a big block party to encourage people to check us out. They had a petting zoo which Bennett got to go in. He loved it! The baby pigs were adorable and defo my favourite! Bennett, on the other hand, seemed to be much more interested in the baby chicks. It was so cute to see his little chubby hand reaching out to touch them.

Here are a few pictures from the day :) xxx