Prenatal #4: We graduated!

Well we've officially graduated, certificate and everything, from prenatal, I guess that means we're going to be perfect parents now right? I'm trying to remember what we learned, or even what interesting things happened at prenatal this week, but honestly it's all basically a haze. You see I started with horrific allergies! You know the kind that takes over your entire body! It hit me the middle of the night/morning Thursday and just progressivly got worse throughout the day. By prenatal time I was miserable! My doctor suggested saline nasal spray and benedryl, but I only remembered he recommended benedryl for bedtime after I took 2 just before prenatal. Can you say drouzy? Man it was rought stuff! I had a really really hard time staying awake. I think we learned how to bath the baby...yeah that sounds familiar...we watched a movie...was that about.....maybe bonding to the baby after it's been born....I'm sure there was more....

Anyway, Chad and I talked over the highlights of prenatal and I think we'd have to say the Peepee teepee (and I guess you can buy them at A Room to Remember downtown) and paranoia girl....man she was nuts! "You know there is a 1 in 1 millionth chance your baby could get......fill in the blank", or the best was "no no it's really cheap online. In Canada it would cost $300 but I got online for $200, and this was the case for every possible gadget you could buy, you can bet she purchased it. Chad & I realized we really were a gadget-less family at this point... oh well.

Well hubby's home from a photoshoot and I'm too nosey not to go check out his pics right away...and I believe he brought me home an icecream treat--yeah Chad!

¢ hange for Change

Smythe Street Choir is teaming up with the Fredericton Community Health Clinic for Change. The Community Health Clinic is operated by the faculty of nursing in downtown Fredericton providing essential educational experiences in primary health care for nursing students as well as meeting the health care needs of the homeless, people struggling with addictions, living in poverty, new immigrants and other marginalized people.

The clinic serves approximately 450 persons a year; more than 50 individuals per day of the year receive at least one health service. Some of the services offered are TB screening, HIV & Diabetes, blood pressure monitoring, complete medical histories & physicals, dressing changes, medication administration, injections: flu, tetanus & B12 shots, mental health & lifestyle counseling, methadone treatment programs, nutrition enhancement as well as basic hygiene care: showers & laundry services. Personnel at the clinic also refer people to the city’s emergency shelters, the Community Kitchen, the YMCA, John Howard Society and many other community agencies.

Smythe Street Choir is renowned in Fredericton for its quality performances, innovative musical arrangements and broad musical repertoire, ranging from traditional hymns to R&B and Jazz. SSC is a dynamic, 30 voice Gospel choir under the direction of Jill Kozak, enhancing weekly worship services as well as engaging in many community events. This year the Community Health Clinic lost its governmental funding and the Smythe Street Choir would like to help.

Smythe Street Choirs’ second recording project entitled Change is an upbeat, hope filled album. Choir driven, this Jazz & Blues album features the smooth sounds of the legendary Mr. Bucky Adams on the tenor sax as well as many talented local vocal favourites such as Christine Crain, Sheldon Gordon, Evangeline Inman, Conrad Mead and Jacqueline Vaillancourt. The CD launch is set for September 30th at 6pm at Smythe Street Cathedral and The SS Choir promises a fabulous concert free of charge but accepting monetary donations and Superstore gift cards as admission for presentation to the Community Health Clinic. (audio clips from the CD can be heard at http://www.ssc-creativearts.com/Special-Events.html )

Come and join us for a great concert while making a tangible difference in our community. For more information on the Community Health Clinic check out: http://www.unbf.ca/nursing/chc/index.html.
Community Health Clinic 275 Brunswick St. Fredericton, NB E3B 1G8
Phone: (506) 452-6383 Fax: (506) 452-6038

SSC's 25th Anniversary: What a weekend!

What a weekend! Smythe Street Cathedral celebrated 25 years in the building on Smythe Street this past weekend. What a fun, and exhausting time! Saturday night we had a great (allbeit LONG) evening of remembering where SSC came from. Pastor Mart Vahi returned from Estonia to reflect on his days bringing SSC up the hill from Argyle Street, there were newspaper articles and pictures from tent days and baptisms in the frozen river. The present day choir sang a few songs, the old Argyle Street hymn circle sang a few songs (how I loved those ones as they were what I grew up in Moncton on as well). And Pastor Mart closed the evening off with a talk on Success, Vision and Fullfillment.

I must admit that sitting the majority of 3 hours in a pew is not such a great idea for an 8 month pregnant lady like myself, but I couldn't help but see the and feel the awesomeness of the evening as well.

Sunday morning dawned early but with lots of excitement as Pastor Verner had been preparing his Vision casting for the next 10 years sermon. Never have I seen service go so long (25 minutes overtime the 11am service was starting to file in before we'd finished the 9am service) but what a powerful time and exciting time for our church as well. As Pastor Verner committed to the next ten years of values and focus areas for our church, it was hard not to get caught up in the vision and imagine where 10 years will take SSC. You can listen to the podcast at http://www.smythestreetcathedral.com, it's good stuff.

Sunday afternoon we had the priviledge of going down to the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel for a reception for all those people who made the journey up the hill from Argyle Street to Smythe Street 25 years ago and remained with us. It was quite something to see the 40+ people who had stuck it out through some very difficult times with the church. SSC gave each one a silver sailboat for their 25 years of service, it was really neat.

Sunday night was the big finale, and what fun family time it was. We started off at 6pm with a bbq and potluck which is always a fun time as a church family. Then we moved into the sanctuary for a worship time and testimonies. I was so moved during the worship time as families and individulats brought their cards filled with their hopes, dreams and faith in God to the front and put them in the time capsule. It was one of those moments that just sort of happened, but this was worship, more than the song service, this was worship...it was beautiful! Pastor Verner and Pastor Wayne shared how SSC had been a place of healing for them and their families during really difficult times, Brad Gunn also got up and talked about his transition back into church life and finding a home at SSC, and Bill & Liz Kent got up and talked about their journey to God and finding a place at SSC. It was exciting to imagine in 10 years when we crack open that time capsule what other stories we'll hear of people who have found God.

Chad had all the children come up on the stage and he asked them what they liked about our church and then asked them for help singing Happy Birthday to Pastor Verner. They wheeled down a big cake for him and he blew out the candles. As much fun as having all the kids sing to him was, I can imagine that there was no better way for Pastor Verner to spend his birthday weekend, then in remembering and seeing how God has used his life and ministry to affect so may others.

Then we all piled out into the foyer where they cemented the time capsule into the display case, and had a massive balloon drop with little scriptures printed on small paper inside each one. This was so much fun! Seeing families gather together, hold hands and children and pray for the next 10 years of their lives. It is hard to believe, but in 10 years we'll have a child nearly 10 years old! I'll be 37, Chad will be 41....wow....definilty hard to believe!

We cut the cake and called it a night, well called it a weekend actually! and what a great weekend it was!

Prenatal #3 & the Pee Pee Tee Pee

Prenatal week #3 has come and gone. I must admit this week was a lot harder on the head, post partum depression. I mean of course it's important to imform us, but it certainly wasn't easy to take in. I mean you spend so much time thinking, praying and hoping for your baby, imaining what it will be like to hold him or her, hear them laugh and giggle, watch them smile, and then to be faced with this horrible unattachement, it must be absolutly horrible!

We did a lighter activity after watching the video on post partum depression, thankfully. The guys went in one room and the girls were in another. The girls went through a "day in the life of.." and figured out prengnant how many hours we spent doing what. We came up with a grand total of at least 30 hours of activity in a 24 hour span of time... no wonder we're tired! We did managed to calculate a grand total of aproximatly 30 minutes peeing time in the run of a day--that's a lot of pee! Anyway, the boys spent their time putting together a list of things they could help with when the baby comes, funny funny boys! In the end I think the point was to realize we needed to work together and put restrictions and boundries up at least after the baby was born. The nurse was great with some suggestions for limiting visitors (keeping a housecoat by the door if someone drops by to help look distraught), taking a "babymoon" with your husband and not answering the phone or door for the first few weeks, leaving a message on the answering maching, we're spending time getting to know our new family, we'll return you calls in 2 weeks :), and the best I thought, was a bowl of chores written out on little pieces of paper, and if someone wants to come visit the baby they have to first complete one of the chores, do the dishes, clean the bathroom, start a load of laundry....sounds good to me! LOL!

We did learn one really fun little thing though, there is a new contraption called a "pee pee tee pee" LOL! It's for little boys, a little hood to put over them when you're changing his diaper so he doesn't spray the room down! LOL! We're going to have to try and find these and give them out as hilarious shower gifts wherever we go now! Ahh the things you learn!

Next week is the last week of prenatal and we graduate, certified great parents I'm sure! It's hard to believe that it won't be long and Baby B could be showing up on our doorstep any day!

Breastfeeding Clinic

Wednesday night we attended the Breast feeding clinic at put on the by the hospital and I must say it was really really great! Chad & I were both really impressed at how informative it was, and also the instructor, Pam, was really laid back and great! We wanted her phone number for those emergency calls after the baby arrives!

We couldn't get over all the crazy great benefits breast milk gives babies, everything for great immune systems to better bowels, higher iq's, and blueberry flavored milk! :) Of course they say that the first 6 weeks can be really difficult while Mom & baby are trying to figure themselves out, but the benefits seem great! We learned amazing things like how if the baby is sick or difficient in some way, somehow it signals the Mom's breast milk to create more of whatever the baby needs (seems so like God to me, and unexplainable! even the nurse said they couldn't quite figure out how this happens yet) We also learned that if you pump too early in the process you can actually train yourself to pump up to 7x more than what your baby needs--yikes! Pretty neat!

Anyway, we were impressed with the class, found it really encouraging, informative, and like "we can do this thing!" All with the exception of course to the rather disturbing video of Mom's breastfeeding, lets just say the video of the first Mom would scare me away from nipples for a lifetime--yikes! that's a mental picture!

Our 1st Date Anniversary

Yup, Chad & I have been"together" for 3 years Sept. 17th....just three years ago he decided to give me a call and ask if I was busy that night or not... and there it began. What a full 3 years! We met the first, married the second, and now Baby B is on the way for year 3! Chad was sweet picking me up flowers on the way home and then we went to the Back 9 for supper. Neither of us had been there before and it was really nice!

We started off splitting sweet potatoe humas which was good but really really sweet. I think Chad was right when he said it would be the right thing to split with another couple, just giving you a taste but not so sweet you didn't want anymore. I think I'm a bit traditional with my hummas palate as well. Then we split a really really great Chicken Ceasar Salad, it WAS really good having just the right amount of everything, including sauce, I would definilty get that again. Then to finish off we split this great pasta dish with peppers and cream sauce....oh yum, again really good! The atmosphere (at least on Monday night) was really great, quiet, nice lighting and neat decor. I think probably it wouldn't be that way if there was a big game on or something with all the t.v,'s but it was perfect for us!

We managed to take a walk over to try some Bubble tea. Chad had some out west and thought it was great so he wanted me to try it. He said it wasn't as good as the one he'd had out west, it was ok in my opinion but I neat thing to try regardless. We went for a little walk along our beautiful river and headed for home. A perfect evening, and considering the crazy schedule we've been running lately-- a much much needed time to ourselves!

The Garganteous Baby Shower

We had our church shower Saturday, and there really aren't words to express it other than crazy, overwhellming...over the top....

It was fun which was the prerequisite for me, none of these boring baby showers! Anyway, there were over 100 people show up, coming and going at different times. We started the "show" off with Pictionary boys against girls, this was absolutely hilarious with the girls winning of course, but I must admit the boys drawings were really really...interesting.

Then the girls showed off by winning the diaper races. In pairs we had to diaper a doll each with one had behind the back. Again, it was fun and people were really into it, so that was cool!

Then came the gift marathon, and honestly it was really just way too much to soak in! I mean sometimes a person says that but this time it was really true. The mounds and mounds of gifts, the tons of people...I was exhausted and about halfway through I just couldn't really do it anymore. Chad kind of took over and I did more watching at that point. Our families and the real keeners stayed till the end, 5pm, when we finally finished working through them all. Mom came up to me after and mentioned I looked exhausted. I told her I thought "I just needed to go home and have a good" and before I could say "cry" the tears started. Too much.

Thanks to Grampy's van we got all of the loot home and in the livingroom, and within an hour of being in my own home with my family I was feeling good again. But wow, what a mound of stuff. Chad & Adam (my brother in law) put the crib & dresser together which was really exciting, and Kaitlyn and Dad kept us entertained in ways that only they can do.

It was late when everyone packed it up to head for Moncton but the nursery was nearly together, well at least the big furniture, the mounds of gifts were still in the livingroom in piles, but the nursery was starting to take shape. As I watched my family pull out of the driveway, from our doorway, my heart swelled, honestly with all of the love and kindness of all the church folks, what meant the most to me, was having my family around me, in my home, in my life here in Freddy, how I miss not having them here sharing my regular living, what a treat for me!

Harvest Jazz & Blues

Well we had our concert, opening for the Lee boys at the Harvest Jazz & Blues festival last Friday night and I must say it was tons of fun! Honestly I haven't had that much fun in awhile! Of course there were a few moments where things didn't go quite like we would have liked, but that's how it goes right! Regardless we had a blast and nearly sold out with just 42 tickets to sell that night! I even think we were better than the Lee boys, at least I'm pretty sure we had more fun then they did!

It was a special treat for me because Mom & Dad came up to spend the night with us, and to hear the choir sing. I can't endorse our new CD "Change" enough, I think it's a great one! If you haven't heard it, come on out to our CD launch, free admission with a cash or gift card donation for the Superstore to help out the UNB clinic downtown, September 30th at 6pm at SSC!

Dad was hungry and I was a bit myself after the show so we took off for the Diplomat for a VERY late supper. Yum as usual, and then home and in bed by 1am for the big day, Saturday's baby shower!

At 5:30 AM this morning

Guess what I was doing at 5:30am today? Getting out of bed! Gross eh! Actually it was around time for my 3rd visit to the bathroom anyway so it wasn't so bad. We had to leave the house at 6:15 to be at the Mojo Tent for the CBC's Harvest Jazz & Blues Breakfast. They were charging $5 for a nice looking breakfast and 2nd Cup Coffee and admission into the tent which was full of great music like the SSC Choir!

It was COLD!!! We were on stage and singing at 7:15am, and I think it went great! I mean I have no idea what the mix sounded like on the radio, and honestly it is a little hard to believe that singing at 7am can be fun, but it really was! The people seemed to enjoy us! I'm just hoping they come out to the Playhouse for our show tonight! THAT will be a blast! I'm so excited my Mom & Dad are coming out!

Prenatal #2

Last night we had our 2nd Prenatal visit. This week we learned about different pain medication available during labour and C-births. All I can say is I really don't want one, but I knew that before the class. I was really suprised when we were learning about the different medications that an Epideral is actually the best pain relief option in regards to safety to the baby and relief. I was suprised. For some reason I always thought pain relief yes, but it must be bad for the baby. But compared to fentenal and demoral it's actually better because it's not a narcotic. The laughing gas is of course an option, and you can self minister it as you need it in small doses and it doesn't do any harm to the baby either. Our nurse WAS quick to point out that the nurses will be monitoring all the doses of narcotics and if need be they have a medication they can give the baby when it is born that will quickly reverse any effects of the narcotics on the baby.

We also saw the instrument they use to induce labour. Lets just say our! that looked nasty! basically it looks the equivilent of a long sewing needle! and then she told us about "scrapping the membranes", 'cuse that sounds nice! Or sometimes you can go in and the doctor will give you medication and try to turn the baby, when she mentioned medication I immediatly got the worst possible image in my mind of a doctor going up inside of you and trying to turn the baby. She quickly laughed (as did everyone else) and assured me that if they try and turn the baby it is from the outside! that was scary for a minute!

All in all a helpful, information wise, evening, especially the stuff about the different pain medication. I still have to wonder on the drive home though it it wouldn't be easier to just not know....which is funny for me because I usually like to have all the inside information....I continue to have myself psyched that I can totally do this thing! Last night I had a dream that we had the most adorable little boy, with these thin little elf ears! :) I'm so anxious to meet this little person...who is Baby Billington?

The Hospital Tour

Chad & I had the hospital tour of Labor & Delivery tonight. It was pretty neat, and informative too. Much easier on the head than the video we watched and the dialation chart we saw at prenatal last week!

We got to see one of the rooms we'll likely have the baby in. Kinda neat I guess, looks like a hospital room. It's weird, you actually have to be buzzed in to the labor & delivery section. We got to see the t.v. and reading area where a lady was attempting to watch t.v. and ignore her discomfort, and the shower area (but we didn't get to see the jacuzzi area, it was in a different spot). We found out where there is lots of ice, and where they keep the popsicles (all important!).

A man & his wife came in to deliver their baby and he saw Chad and stopped, pointed at "the bag" and mouthed the words, "Don't forget the bag!" to Chad. Sounds like they had a bit of a situation on their hands! LOL!

We also saw the nursery and learned about private rooms, vs. semi-private and ward. We saw where they do circumcisions and the breast feeding clinic.

We also walked by a room with a really really old lady sleeping in the bed and we were all a little alarmed at the possible fertility miricle before our eyes, but we were quickly informed that women with reproductive surgeries etc. were also kept in that area of the hospital sometimes.

So all in all a productive hour, if only our hunt for a not so expensive blind for our oddly deminensioned baby's room window was half as productive!

The Baby Border

Tonight we had "Uncle" Doug, and "Great" Grammie B in for supper and they helped us put up the border in the baby's room. I was pretty much devestated that Chad had left the camera at the church today, so I was unable to take a picture, I've been trying to catelogue the process and all those who have helped us get ready... so we are left only with words and memories.

We had fun and it only took a little more than an hour! and it is SOOOOOOooooooo cute! I absolutly love it! And Chad is getting more excited about it too which makes it more fun! So another step in the process completed. We'll rehang the valance tomorrow, and hopefully I'll find a blind I like and get to hang that as well. Then after our shower on Saturday we'll be clear sailing for putting the finishing touches on the room. Then we just wait, for Baby B to arrive! Man how I wish he or she would get whatever it is he or she has stuck in my left rib OUT!

Our First Baby Shower

My Aunt Sue threw a family Baby shower for us this past Saturday just outside of Moncton. It was stiffling hot! In the pictures I look even more bloated than normal! Despite that though we had a good time and got some really adorable things for Baby B. and lots of yellow! I love baby's in yellow!

Some highlight gifts were definitly the blanket my Mom made for the baby. It is beautiful and unique and perfect if it's really cold, or you have to lay the baby down on a floor somewhere 'cuse it's thick too, or wrap it up toasty. It's one of those inverted quilt things where the ends are all snipped on the outside, but made with flannel. It's great, and it smells wonderful! I can't wait to wrap little Baby B in it and tell him or her how much his or her Grammie in Elgin loves him or her-- a like a warm hug from Grammie!

Another favorite was the most beautiful bonnet, sweater and booties my Nannie made for the baby. It is a cream colour and so gorgeous I can't wait to put it on the baby. It really is so beautiful and will be picture perfect...and so soft! Of course it was made with love from my Nannie so it is even more special. It is one of those pieces that will be kept lovingly forever!

My sister Angela, Adam & Kaitlyn gave us a neat basket from the heart with things that Angela found worked great with Kaitlyn. There was bedtime bath and lotion, a little bear blanket, some bum cream and 2 CD's of lullabys. Do you detect a theme?

My other sister April, & Trevor gave us a hilarious book called the Baby Owner's Manuel! I guess we won't be able to give this baby the excuse that he or she didn't come with a manuel! it is set up in a way that the baby is like a piece of equipment or something....really too hilarious! And a handful of cute bibs.

I obviously can't get into describing each item, but those were some definite favorites! One more shower next week at the church, and then we'll finish tackling the baby's room and getting everything all set up for the big day when we can bring this little one home!

Our First Prenatal Visit

Well Chad & I had our first prenatal meeting this past thursday. It was a little aqward walking in, well for me anyway, Chad loves new people situations, me not so much. So we arrived and Chad did offer me the comfy chair (they have it comfy, not so comfy chair, comfy not so comfy around the room) but I quickly lost it when everyone was asked to move down and somehow we got shuffled out of the good seats, or another couple was taking two or something.

First the VON told us a bit of ourself, and everyone was really quiet and strange. Then she got us to do an icebreaker game and I must admit it looked bad for awhile, but people warmed up and had fun. Chad of course knew two people in the class from before, and he was right in his element cracking jokes until they brought out the dialation chart. Yup, they have this massive chart showing the progression of your cervix as it dialates to 10 centimeters. They actually only go to 8 centimeters on the chart, we think because 10 is just too distressing to see!

Then we were all given a card with a question and answer on it which we were to go around the room and read aloud. Chad got the question about dealing with hemoroids, and I got the question about sex...figures. Chad thought he had the best question! LOL!

After that we had a break to stretch our legs and came back to.....hear the ominious, forboding music climaxing in the background.....THE VIDEO. Yup, they showed us a birth. It was pretty messed up to watch actually. Chad kept patting my knee and looking at me nervously. I was shocked. I mean I thought it would be push, out comes the head, push out comes the shoulders, push out comes the baby, but THIS BABY! it's head was stuck outside of the mom's body for ages as she worked to try and push the sholders out. So there it is, the Mom's belly and the baby's head sticking out for eons!

The VON nurse did a deep breathing relaxing technique thing with us, did Chad ever take the breathing seriously! I think you could have heard his deep breathing from across the room! and we called it a night. Next week we learn about different pain medication etc.

We got in the car and Chad asked me, what I thought of THAT, and I pretty much said, I was pretty sure I didnt want to do it. He said yeah he could see that! LOL! All along I've had myself pretty psyched thinking I can do this thing...the video and the cervix chart....didn't help so much!

I did learn one important thing though. They say you shouldn't drink Green tea 'cuse it can bring on contractions, so I figure middle of October you should be able to find me, hanging out at Tim Hortons with a new found appreciation for the tea, and smelling of grass!

My Award Winning Photographer Husband (among other things)

I'm sooooo proud of Chad! He's been trying to get a bit of a photography side buisness off and running and in trying to get his name out there decided to put a few submissions in at the Fredericton Exhibition this week.

Well he came in first place for one of them and it happened to be in Portraits, which is where his interests lie anyway. It is a beautiful pic (antique style pic of an adorable little girl on a rocking horse) and I would have been suprised if he hadn't won something on it, but we were both really happy he won first!

You can see the pic, and a few other highlighted ones he's taken at http://www.chadbillington.com, along with some of his rates, check it out! And if you need to have some pics taken of your family, a friends' wedding or your own, or a special event, contact him! He's fun and his prices are crazy reasonable, not to mention he takes some great pictures!

Just being stupid

Today Chad & I headed off to Houlton to pay that blasted bill of ours! But I was actually excited because we were picking up the rest of the Baby's wall boarder and some presents we had bought in the states. We started off at the market (which is always a good idea on a Saturday morning) and was it ever packed out! We did stand in line for the samosa's this time around, because I'd been craving veggie samosa's for weeks! Unfortunatly the vender I prefered to get the veggie ones from is no longer there. :( Chad also tried the kettle corn (which is realitivly new to the market) and it is really really good!

So we headed out, did some shopping and hoping for a rocker at Mardens and Walmart but no such luck this time around, so we came home and took a NAP. My how I LOVE naps now that I'm pregnant. Of course my nap would be better qualified as a sleep, but it was still great. And I woke up happy to be alive. That's one thing I've found about pregnancy,I really need my sleep and food when I'm hungry. If I skip out on either, I get really really down and just don't even want to exist! Chad has picked up on this as well and he is quite accomodating in trying to ensure neither of these things happen. Also, if I'm in one of these slumps, he's usually the first to suggest and remind me that I probably need some food or a nap-- good ol' hubby of mine!

Anyway, after the nap, Chad & I had decided for our long weekend festivities we were going to splurge and get some good steak (non of this marinate-drowning and simmering stuff) and corn on the cob (cuse I've been longing for this for weeks now!). And I must say it was one of the finest meals we've had in a long time. Both of us were groaning and moaning our way through this one! YUM!

After supper Chad returned to his sermon for tomorrow, and I remembered there was this shelf on sale at Walmart this week and if I wanted it I had to get it tonight. So I headed over. Of course, being the last day of the sale, they were all gone, but I got this brain wave that I would drive over to the new Walmart on the Northside and see if there was one over there, because of course there are less students over there sucking up all the shelves! So I headed over, feeling kinda smart. I got on to Brookside Drive, and suddenly I was ENTIRELY confused! I could see Sobeys and Zellers, even that Roxy place, but no Walmart. I'd been over to this new Walmart one other time and I knew it was here...so I drove around slowly...still no Walmart. So I start to panic a bit. My cell phone was dead so I'd left it at home so I couldn't call Chad....and I was starting to wonder if I was having one of those pregnant moments, and maybe I shouldn't even be driving! Feeling really confused and weird I headed for home, but the entire time before I got to the bridge I kept thinking I was missing something and I should turn around. There was no exit for anywhere other than that Pizza Delight, and then Brookside Drive coming back over, so again I thought I was having a Harry Potter moment, and maybe the Walmart had just disappeared.

Anyway, I got home in one piece, and Chad came out to help me with the shelf that I hadn't picked up, and I explained to him how strange an experience I'd had (I was on the verge of tears, feeling stupid and wondering what was going on, and feeling like I was missing something). Of course he filled me in that, you can only get to the "special" street the Walmart is on, going towards Brookside Drive, but it is before that. He tried to acknowledge my feelings by saying that must be frustrating, and he tried to make me feel better explaining how you could only see the exit from one side and that I'd only ever been there one other time in the dark...but I remain feeling stupid and a touch frustrated. So I crawled in my pj's and poured myself some nice hotchocolate to soothe myself, but everytime I took a sip I would start this coughing, gagging fit! hands raised for women who know coughing fits and nearly 8 months pregnant don't go so well together! anyway, lets just say I think it's about time I call it a day and take my sorry self to bed!

There was a day, I even remember it, when I considered myself a rather intelligent being!

A Road Trip

Betty Anne, Shelley & I took off Sunday after church for St. Andrews. ROAD TRIP!!! Of course the trip started off with Shelley driving Betty Anne's new standard car, so just as I was about to down a great gulp of water from my Nalgene, she decides to shift gears and I'm suddenly SOAKED- thanks Shelley!

Anyway the drive was nice, we talked like we haven't talked in years, and honestly it feels like it must have been at least that long since we all just sat down and jabbered outside of church activities! You know what one of the things I absolutly love about sitting down with a handful of women for the afternoon (or at least the women I love to hang out with), we don't waste our time talking about trivial things, but dive into trying to solve the worlds problems! :)

We arrived mid afternoon to Kingsbrea Gardens, a gorgeous place!

This is picture of the lily, unopened is one of my most favorite pictures! Doesn't it just remind you of people and potential beauty; haven't we all met people like this? haven't we all felt like this? Afraid to open up and expose ourselves, yet in remaining closed to the world we withold the deepest, most beautiful parts. I love this picture and I'm so glad I got it!

It was rather hilarious as we took off through the gardens. Betty Anne & I drawn by our eyes "oh look that's pretty!" and Shelley keeping her eyes focused on the map, making sure we saw everything and trying to keep us on track! How exhausted she must have been! LOL! Of course Betty Anne & I just laughed at her mulling through the map, trying to reorientate herself, and consequently trying to get "US" back on track. So we continued to laugh "ooooo isn't that pretty!"

There were some really neat things to see, including water fountains, fruit trees, billy goats and peacocks, not to mention tons of SUNFLOWER (a personal favorite), and just a gorgeous array of flowers!

I would love to go earlier in the season another year and see things different again I'm sure! That's the great thing about gardens, really well kept ones always have something different and beautiful to offer each time you go see them!

And to sum the whole garden experience up, Betty Anne said it best. We stopped at the end of the MAP (yes the map Shelley!) at the cafe and restaurant for a cool drink and as Betty Anne told our waitress "A round of cookies for all!"

When the garden closed we headed downtown to mull about the shops, forgetting that it was Sunday and most of the shops closed by 5pm. So we wandered around a little bit and then went to my favorite place for dinner (well ok, maybe the only place I've ever been in St. Andrews for dinner, but it's my favorite non the less). It's this little place, you walk through this garden path to the back of the house, and sit out on the water, and WOW did we ever get a sunset! It just kept getting better and better and better! 4 times I got up from our table and sat down next to the rail to take pictures. I wish I could show you them all here, but I'll show you the best one. The colours just kept getting better and better! Definitly the highlight sunset of the summer!

Anyway, all said it was an absolutly GREAT day (one we've been planning for 2 years mind you!) although a late night coming back!

Grammie & Grampy Billington's 60th Anniversary Party

Saturday, Sept 25th, as many of the family were in town, the Billington clan got together to celebrate Grammie & Grampy Billington's 60th Anniversary. It was SUCH a hot day! What a shocker! Chad & I had enjoyed having Doug & Melanie & Nannie Whitaker stay with us throughout the week, but it was really great to get together with everyone for the afternoon and celebrate 60 years of marriage.

Wow, I can't imagine what marriage looks like after 60 years together! Matter of fact, the chances aren't great Chad & I will even know 60 years together. He was 29 when we got married, so that would put him at 89, and I was 25, putting me at 85. We might make it that long, maybe longer if we're lucky!

Chad's Grammie also found the infamous Noah & the Ark tape that Chad had memorized as a little boy. It was quite a treat for Chad to be suprised by it! Something tells me our little Baby Billington will likely hear it a couple of times! :)

Savanna's 2nd Birthday

Savanna's 2nd birthday has come and gone. Poor little tyke woke up puking her guts out the day of her party, but thankfully she was feeling better by the evening for her big do, although she seemed a little more subdued than usual. What a spread of food! of course! There were mounds of food not to mention birthday cupcakes (so cute on that cupcake tower!) and birthday icecream cake--yum!

She was so funny opening her gifts. She got right down to it. Opening each one and moving on quite quickly, getting the job done! LOL! We had struggled trying to decide what to get her, but she absolutly loved the container of artistic supplies we got her. I'm glad, I actually wanted one myself I thought it was so cool! :) Then, after she'd opened up all her presents, she was such a doll and went back over each thing, getting so excited as if she was seeing each thing for the first time!

Hard to believe both our girls are two already! I wonder how fast it will all seem to go once we have our own little ones....actually I think I prefer not to think about that, as I sit here with Baby Billington kicking along inside of me and wondering what he or she will look like and be like!