Driving Back from Colorado

Can't believe how fast 6 weeks went!  The drive back took us another 5/6 days.  I have to say, even though I usually LOVE to stay in hotels and LOVE to eat out....it's got kind of old!  Eating out with a toddler is just not that fun and staying in hotels gets old pretty fast.  Once he's in bed at 8 pm we can't really leave to go do anything so we'd be stuck just watching TV or well, that was it!  I also got this terrible sinus cold which has led to problems hearing in my ears.  Driving through the mountains with increasing sinus pressure was just not that fun!  However, we survived!  

Home was indeed sweet to see again and made even sweeter since our house sitter planted some beautiful flowers in our garden to greet us!  What a nice surprise!  I am amazed however, how much needs to be done around here.  Life is busy with organizing and keeping a home again.  I like the busyness but find myself a little confused what to do with Silas.  He's changed so much!  He's talking all the time, so curious about everything, climbing, wanting to help with stuff.  I need to re-learn how to be with him all day by myself!  Summer weather here is cold and wet right now so we're a bit limited with what we can do outdoors.  I'll have to start getting creative.

Another realization: the baby is coming way sooner than I'll be ready for!  So much to do to fix up the house and get organized before baby #2 arrives.  Are we crazy???  

A big thing on my to-do list is to finish this quilt I've been working on (for ages), paint our bedroom, maybe change out the vanities in our bathrooms (eek) and learn how to get this toddler of mine to eat something healthy!  I'm in the throes of trying out the book "Sneaky Chef" and have been pureeing veggies like a madwoman so I can start hiding them in recipes.  He's such a picky kid and only wants to eat 'loo-la' (his word for yogurt) and 'cooookie' (how did he learn that when we haven't even given him that many??).  Grrr.  

I'll have to outsmart him with some cooking prowess.  I just gave him some 'juice' that had some carrot juice mixed in with OJ and some blueberry/banana/avocado drink.  I felt very sneaky and very relieved to know that he was getting SOME nutritional value more than ketchup and carbs.  

Any tips for getting a toddler to eat, well, anything?  Or anything healthy?

I go back to work this Sunday- feels like awhile for sure!  It'll take a bit to get back to some kind of routine here.  But this summer is still full of camping, weddings, trip to Saskatoon and many other adventures.  We'll see if I ever DO find a routine!  

Here's some pics from our trip back:

you get what you pay for!  No name brand diaper malfunction

 
 Driving through Grand Teton National Park- Wyoming

Silas was sleeping in the car, we jumped out for a photo!

Yellowstone national park.  Hot spring pools!

 Geysers!

 More geysers going off in Yellowstone

 Old faithful!

 Very hot spring- steam blowing off

 What planet are we on???

22 weeks pregnant (and squinting)

A Few More Photos

I basically study, go to class, study, bike to class, cook dinner, play with Silas, swim....so haven't had time to write out some of the ways I've been challenged spiritually by the content of the classes I'm taking.  It will have to wait for some more reflection time (I hope) in the near future...  But until then, a few more photos

seeing some sights with Uncle Kim

playing in his pool floatie

the breakfast stare-down

Silas laughing

20 weeks 

:

Life in Fort Collins, Colorado

I have to say, I'm loving our new routine and our new surroundings.  There's something about being in a completely different place that makes you feel excited about living again.  Crazy thunderstorms, discovering incredible milkshakes, exploring new parks with Silas, taking classes and challenging your brain, meeting new people, more time with Jason, eating lunch at home everyday... I feel very blessed right now.  For this opportunity to learn new things about how to study the Bible better and really refining what it is I believe.  I feel blessed to have this time with Jason to strengthen our connection together, discuss things that are important to us, and learn new things together.  I feel blessed to be sleeping well!  I feel blessed to watch my son learn and grow and become more confident and independent from us!  I feel blessed to have the privilege to meet and fellowship with others who have devoted their lives for the cause of Christ.  I just feel blessed.  I want to soak up every moment here and not just look forward to the 'next' thing.  

New buddy Carter (my cousins son) they had so much fun together...decided to lie on their pizza...?

 

our living room.  See the 'non-kid-friendly- furniture (his seat is roped to the bar stool and today he punctured  his forehead on the corner of the coffee table....so we put the table away for time out in the closet)

 
Seeing my grandma again after almost 4 years!

After getting caught in a sudden rainstorm while out for a walk!

19 Weeks

First Family Roadtrip - recap

A few of the photos we snapped along our 6 day trip from Vancouver to Fort Collins.  Phew.  Had fun, but glad it's done!

at the McNarry Dam (in Idaho?)

at a dam along the way 

in Boise, Idaho 

the Mormon temple in Salt Lake City, Utah 

 Silas enjoying his daily nap

 hitting stormy weather...

attempting a family photo in windy, dusty weather...

 in Deadhorse Pass: incredible views!

Silas loving the view (mommy, getting nervous...) 

 Family shot!

 In Utah!

 More lightening storms and rough weather

 Trying to hide Silas away for sleep (not working so well!)

 Arches National Park, Utah

 Incredible Arches

 Loving the scenery

 Full family shot (baby included)

 Daddy & Silas in an Arch!

 Climbing (I needed help down from a stranger!)

 Daddy & Silas in Arches

 Family shot!

 Double Arch

 In Vail, Colorado

 Checking out a gondola!

 Ski runs behind

Entering the Mountains of Colorado

so the Adventure Continues...

We head out tomorrow for our 5 day road trip to Colorado.  (woot woot!)  We are stocked up on snacks and kids' dollar store toys and DVDs.  We hope (and pray) that Silas will survive, and that we will survive him and each other!  We're excited for what this month ahead brings as we will be doing some Bible schooling out of Fort Collins.  So many doors have opened for us in order to do this, so we really feel the Lord's leading.


We are also very thankful that I am feeling much better (no nausea!) and that I had a good ultrasound the other day!  Everything looks a-okay and we're getting more excited about this baby.  I think I felt him or her move today during worship which was exciting!  I started to get emotional the other day in the car listening to Creed (of all bands...)  Their song 'Arms Wide Open' is about the lead singer finding out he is going to be a Dad and I love his words:


"Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life"
he says to his child:
"With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything"


Okay.  It's not that sappy.  BUT I still got this swelling up of emotion and joy that I will again, Lord willing, have the opportunity to hold a little life in my arms again.  


On that up note, in typical Shannon style, a little authenticity:  If adventure usually means good, it can sometimes mean scary and that is also where I'm at.  It's hard not to be fearful about how adapting to baby #2 will be.  My thyroid was tested the other day and I'm borderline hyperthyroid.  Oh bother.  Here we go again (?)  I pray it isn't so.  Or that somehow, I will have the maturity and grace to go about any bumps along the road in a different way (if that's the Lord's will).  


So there you have it!  We have an exciting summer ahead: Bible school, trip to Saskatoon, weddings... and are on the verge of something incredible as we continue on this journey back to the mission field [?] and back to being new parents again...  


And here I am.  Busting at the seems (okay, not quite).  17 weeks and counting:

15 Weeks and Counting

at this point, I just feel fat. grrr.

But, looking forward to my ultrasound next week!