Fiesta Dos/Scary Santa

The little Livster's birthday party went off without a hitch. Everyone had a great time and it's nice to see the amount of people who love our little girls.

We held the shindig on Sunday afternoon in our town house which was just the right size. Sam decorated the main floor with pink and white streamers and purple and pink balloons. She made a wonderful batch of different cookies, cooked some delicious appetizers and we ordered a cake from a nice Italian bakery.

Livi loved every minute of it and received every imaginable Disney princess accessory known to man including stickers, colouring books, dolls and even a hockey stick! After each gift Livi got up and found the people responsible, gave them a giant hug on the legs and yelled THANK YOU! She also received a basketball hoop and ball from Nana and Grandad Nutley and a wagon from Nana and Grandpa Berry.

After a long day of partying, after everything was cleaned up we all settled down on the couch and watched a movie to wind down before bed. Wonderful day.

The next day we took the two of them to the mall and got their pictures taken with Santa. Like last year we went to Guildford where they have a great display set up and a very genuine Santa. Also much cheaper than the Richmond Santa! This year they had a forest display set up with lots of trees and anima-tronic animals plus trivia about Canada's forests. Uncle Pete would be proud. Finally at the end of the line-up we walked through the giant 30ft Christmas tree and were next in line to see the boss. (Not Springsteen, too bad) Sam held Livi as I held Emma (who we both assumed to be the scared one). As soon as you could see the red suit, Livi clung to Sam like a barnacle to a ship. She would not sit down or let go at all! I strategically turned Emma so she never actually faced Santa and managed to place her on his knee staring at me the whole time. Worked like a charm. We finally got Livi to stay in place long enough for a pic of a confused Emma and a terrified Livi.

Much more interesting than those boring smiling photos...

Aftermath

A week after it started, few remnants remain. Livi finished her antibiotics this morning, Sam and I have a few remaining symptoms and Emma coughs like a barking seal. Other than that the cold is gone!

Due to the illness we've had a bit of a quiet week. Friday night was dedicated to assembling our Christmas tree and decorating the house. Livi had a great time and was amazed by every single ornament that came out of the box. Then she got up on my shoulders and put the star on top, Emma sat in her swing and smiled. Next year there will probably be an argument over who gets to do it.

Saturday was a party at the Keens house for Derek's birthday as well as a housewarming. We brought both of the girls to show them off to friends. Livi made a friend, Gracie who is about the same age. We're trying to set up more chances for them to play. After an hour or so, Nana and Grandad took our two girls back to their house for a sleepover where they both behaved like angels. Mommy and Daddy got some well deserved socializing in at the party and had a great time.

Sunday morning we picked up the girls and later returned to Nana's house for the Nutley tradition of baking Welsh cakes for Christmas. Livi was a great help this year using a cookie cutter to create the shapes herself.

Daddy and Grandad also followed tradition by enjoying a few drinks at the bar with Uncle JP.

Aaaannnnnnndddd, they're all sick

Yep. All three. All three girls in my house are sick.

Livi started it all off with a runny nose on Saturday. Not too big a deal and she definitely didn't act like she was sick.

Sunday morning she woke up pretty much the same. We went out for breakfast and did some shopping. Nose kept running but she was in good spirits. Lots of juice and a nice long nap.

By late afternoon the nose ran more and more to the point of it being plugged and she could only breathe through her mouth. We figured it would be hard to sleep so I wasn't going to force in to bed, instead just let her sit up with me on the couch with a blanket and pillow. I lay Emma down around 8pm upstairs and she went to bed wonderfully.

Livi sat up but then around 9pm she started getting tired and tried to lay down to sleep. Tossing and turning constantly on the couch. She asked to go up to bed so we did that but to the same result. She tugged on her ear and said "Daddy, ear hurt." I knew an ear infection would be bugging her and made it hard to sleep.

Looking up remedies I found a suggestion to use a warm, moist towel on her face near her ear to alleviate the pain. Seemed to work pretty good and she calmed down a little. By this time she could barely stay awake and was falling asleep sitting up but waking because of her breathing being plugged.

After a long few hours of very agitated crying, Sam arrived home from work. Livi had gotten her second wind by now and was playing and pretending to be a moo cow on our kitchen counter. Sam spent the night in her room helping her sleep while I spent the night in our room with Emma.

Starting at midnight, Emma woke up at least once an hour when her nose plugged. Snorts and coughs were my alarm clock all night. Pick Emma up, on my shoulder, nose drain on shoulder, fall back asleep.

Everyone awake at 6am and now I've got 3 sick girls sitting on the couch at home. Hoping they all get better soon.

Let's also hope it's some sort of female cold and won't get passed to me. KOW

Signs of Improvement

The terrible two's have calmed down to the slight agitated two's. KOW. Hoping not to jinx myself.

Since my last post about Livi and her tantrums, her attitude has greatly improved. Sure we still get a blowout once in a while but it's much easier resolved. Not by just giving her what she wants but by distracting her or compromising the situation. (Take note Fehr/Bettman). I'm sure it's something we're going to be dealing with for a long time but like I've said before, we know it's normal and part of life. It's really not even that bad. Not complaining at all.

As for Emma, it's all smiles and blabbering. The happiest little face you'll ever see on a baby. She turned 4 months yesterday and went for her checkup at the doctor. Everything checked out normal and she's nice and healthy. KOW

Other than that, just getting everything ready for Christmas and Livi's 2nd Birthday party next month. Updates and pics to come!

No-throw, No-hit, No-spit

It seems pretty evident now that we've hit the terrible two's with our little Olivia. For the last few weeks, we've been seeing tantrums, screaming, crying and destruction on the same level as a Junior Godzilla (or junior Cloverfield to be current).

We knew this was coming and had discussed our strategy well in advance, read up on what to do when a situation arises or got advice from the "wise" elders of past generations. It's just something something we realized is going to happen and it's completely normal. You try to deal with her behaviour and slowly do what you can to calm her and calm yourself. We try talking to her and explaining that we're not happy with what she did, try to get her to clean up her own mess and most importantly be a good example ourselves of how to act. Any other advice would be appreciated, please comment below.

We know that it's a combination of the terrible-two's, jealousy over a new baby in the house and the NHL Lockout. Livi needs her Canucks back!

The Rainy Adventures of Corny and Pumpkinny

Ahhh, it's over. Halloween is done for 2012. We'll get excited for it again in 11 months.
Last Friday we made a trip to the pumpkin patch with the girls. We decided to go early on a week day to beat the crowds and take advantage of the discount. One thing we didn't realize was weekdays = field trips. 6 school buses of kids joined us as we braved the elements.

After the initial line up to get in, we were greeted by a dancing Corn on the Cob "Corny" and his pumpkin cohort "Pumpkinny"? and a full band playing songs. We watched for a bit and then got on a tractor for the hayride. They sang songs which Olivia loved and clapped along. They pulled up to the field where we were to pick our pumpkins and dropped us off.

At this moment I realized that putting Livi and I in Chuck Taylors was not a great idea. Sam and Emma the barnacle stood near the edge of the field under an umbrella and attempted to stay warm and dry. Livi and I were off through the mud. "Stuck Daddy!" Livi's little feet were no match for the muck and I was constantly pulling her out. We picked up the first 3 pumpkins that we found and put them in our bags, turned around and got back on the tractor. More songs, more rain, more Pumpkinny aaaaaaaand back to the car.

Well worth it and a great place to go.

Sam and the barnacle

Muddy feet

There's Pumpkinny in the background

All carved

A great night was had by the Nutley's. Olivia was dressed up as her favourite Sesame Street character Abby Cadabby (see Figure 1 for reference) and our little Emma was an aerobics instructor or Emma Newton-John (she did not get physical at all. Unless sleeping and smiling count). Sam made the Abby costume herself from scratch and did a wonderful job. Emma's however was thrown together from stuff we had around the house.

Like last year we went to the mall down the street which does a Halloween event where all of the stores inside give out candy and all proceeds go to charity.

The girls had a great time seeing both of their Nana's, getting lots of candy and being kept up at all night by firecrackers.

Figure.1

Adding freckles

Emma Newton-John

Nana and the girls

Nana and Grandad's house

Abby Cadabby

The Nutleys

Pay-Gound!

Fun! Pay-Gound!

Team Zissou - Junior Member

That is currently the most used phrase in our household right now. The first thing Livi says when she wakes up, when we put her on the phone to one of her grandparents, when I get home from work and when we're trying to get her to sleep. Apparently she has fun at the playground. We think anyway.

Our little girls are doing great. Emma is getting close to 3 months old now. Her first set of shots were last week. Everything went well. Emma screamed. Sam cried. Livi said Fun...Pay-Gound! She's smiling constantly at everyone and is overall a very happy little Nutley. She's making noise all the time and starting to laugh. Sam's very good at getting her to giggle.

Livi is doing great too. Getting more independent and grown up everyday. She's sleeping in her bed now for the most part. It took a little adjustment but she's getting used to it.

Passed out

It's starting to get a bit colder in Vancouver. The weather is still nice but we're wearing more jackets and toques. Thankfully we've got thousands of them and we're covered for every possible outfit combination. Nothing cuter than a kid in a toque.

Livi and her gang

We're looking at a busy few months ahead with weddings to attend, Halloween and a certain little girls birthday at the end of the year. Then Christmas 5 days later.

Wrapped up warm

Sisters

Little Emma Nutley is almost 2 months old.

Still a week and a bit off of that now that I actually look at a calendar but close enough.

Things are going great with our little Emerald. She's a very happy and smiles all the time as you can see by the previous post. She's started 'coo-ing' and imitating us talking to her. She has her moments of crankiness don't get me wrong. It's not all sing-alongs and dancing around the Nutley house but she's a delight and very easy going.

Livi is doing great too. Repeating everything we say. EVERYTHING! She also says everything she is doing and everything she sees. We will be walking down the street and in 5 minutes our conversation is:

Liv: Bus!
Me: Yeah bus.
Liv: Dada, bus!
Me: Yeah bus Livi.
Liv: Bus, Daddy, Fun.
Me: Yeah fun on the bus
Liv: Mokol (motorcylce)
Me: Yep
Liv: Green. Blue.Poop. Emma. Cry. Oh gosh. Hat. Mickey.
Me: ??
Liv: One, Two, Three. Bus. hahahahaha
Me: :-)

Yep. She can count. She lines things up and can count to eleven. Sometimes she gets distracted and adds new numbers in. Bus seems to be a popular number that randomly pops in. I don't know what denomination a bus is though.

Happy Girls!

These are just too cute not to share...

Olivia (20 months)

Emma (6 weeks)

Emma Charlotte Nutley

Presenting the newest Nutley, Emma Charlotte Nutley. Born Monday July 23, 2012 at 9:42am and weighing 7lbs 15oz. Everything went smoothly with both Emma and Sam. Livi and I are holding up as well.

We spent two nights in the hospital and were home Wednesday night. After a few rocky sleeps we've settled better into a routine and things are going great. Very busy obviously but great. Lots of pictures and stories to come but for now here she is.

38 Weeks

38 weeks yesterday!! I've been told by a few people that I'm looking VERY pregnant lately, which I suppose is a good thing but I find it funny since I've often wondered if my belly looked smaller lately.  Maybe just wishful thinking on my part. ;-) Nah...I kind of like my belly and I'm sure I'm going to miss it eventually.

Anyway, this just might be the last belly photo of this pregnancy as we're scheduled to have a c-section on Monday (July 23rd)! We'll find out on Friday afternoon what time we're supposed to be at the hospital on Monday morning or if for some reason we've been "bumped"...which we're REALLY hoping doesn't happen. We're ready to meet little munchkin #2 for sure!

In related news...I'm headed into the hospital again today for another Non-Stress Test on the little lady since my blood pressure was a little bit high at my last doctor's appointment. I had this test done last week as well and although the bp was elevated, everything else was good so I was sent home and ordered to "rest and avoid stimulants like coffee and chocolate". Boo on the chocolate...I've been craving it like crazy lately! Anyway, nothing to worry about, we had this same test done a couple of times towards the end of my pregnancy with Olivia too and all turned out well...just a precaution to make sure little lady is still doing better on the inside than she would be on the outside.

As always, we'll keep everyone posted as much as possible and as soon as new baby arrives we will make the big announcement! Don't worry! :-)

Nutley family of three....for now (KOW)

As we enter the last week of being a one child family I keep remembering all of the familiar things I'm going to go through again. With all of the new babies around us, I see the faces and hear the noises that the tiny ones make. Olivia seems like such a departure from that now as she runs around the house and repeats every word we say like a parrot. It's going to be very exciting I know but also very busy. Not so much looking after the new spawn but chasing after the older one.

Speaking of our older monster, over the weekend we brought her to see Elmo Live!. Disregarding the rule "you don't wear the t-shirt of the band that you're going to see", we put the Livster in her Elmo shirt and drove out to Abbotsford. Quite a different concert experience from seeing The Rolling Stone's in BC Place or Social Distortion at The Commodore. Elmo and the gang put on a good show and the crowd of a hockey arena full of dancing toddlers was entertaining too.

This will most likely be the last update before the new arrival so we'll catch up then (when we have time obviously) and have lots of of new info, pictures and stories.

Maybe we shouldn't listen to The Fox anymore...

Well...for some kids its truck, others its frog, but for our hilarious little Livster its...Fox! We discovered this while listening to The Fox radio station in the car a couple of weeks ago. I know its not the classiest thing  for a little girl to say and we won't be encouraging it for much longer...but its just so funny!! Anyway, enjoy while its still cute! ;-)

Oh and here's a belly photo I took at work the other day...

This was taken Sunday which was 35 weeks. That's just one week short of 9 months! Can't believe that we should be meeting our new little girl in less than a month!

8 Months and New Babies Everywhere!!

Well, I actually managed to remember to take the 8 month photo! I'm shocked because we have had SO much going on in the past few weeks with all of the new babies that made their arrivals in the last couple weeks of May. 

First we got to meet Sean's cousin Angela's new baby girl Jayde who was born on May 20th, next were our good friends Derek & Laura who had another little girl, Genevieve, on May 22nd, and last but certainly not least were Auntie Daryl & Uncle Alex's who had their little guy, Beckett, on May 23rd! So many babies!!

So, finally, here he is...Olivia's very first cousin: Beckett Roan Mead! This picture was sent to us today by Auntie Daryl...he is looking more and more like his mommy every day!

And here are a few from Beckett's birthday, May 23rd, 2012:

We're SO excited that he is here and we can't wait to watch him grow up! Love you buddy! <3

Some recent (adorable) photos...

Here are some recent photos of the Livster for those of you who aren't on facebook.

She absolutely LOVES the slide at the little playground by our house!

Daddy taught her how to kick a soccer ball and she can't get enough!

Practising for later...

Bear Creek Park

Grandad Paddy feeding her some ice cream...I think he may have enjoyed it more than she did! :-)

Livi's latest trick...feeding herself! yay!

Its been a while!

Wow, I can't believe we haven't posted anything since MARCH! Sorry to the 3 of you that actually read this any more ;-) I forgot to get a six month belly photo so before I forget again, here is 7 months (which is tomorrow). We've been to the doctor a few times in the past few weeks and Baby girl is looking good. We have tentatively scheduled her c-section for July 23rd so hopefully just a little under 3 months to go! 

Little Miss Livi is 16 months old, growing like a weed and getting smarter every day. As you can tell from the video below, she's learned her name, mastered her animal sounds and (not in the video) even figured out how to feed herself with a spoon and/or a fork! 

I'll try to keep up with the posts (I know I say that every time...) this summer but we've got a LOT coming up. I started my new job last week and so far its going really well. We're VERY excited for all of the upcoming babies that are due in the next few weeks. Especially Livi's very first cousin - Baby Mead! Hopefully the babies come nice and quickly and also safely!

Another Little Miss Nutley!

Yay! We were informed yesterday that Baby Nutley #2 is (probably) a GIRL and we couldn't be more thrilled! - they have to say "probably" just in case it isn't right so they can't get sued! lol! We're just going to trust that its right. :-)

We've started teaching Livi how to say SISTER and we may have settled on her name already since Livi can say it and it sounds SO cute! :-) We're keeping that one to ourselves for a bit though just to make sure its perfect.

We have our meeting set with the Surgeon (end of next week) as well, so we should know the Little Lady's approximate birthdate by the end of the month as well! Very Exciting!

5 Months!

I'm not sure if we're going to bother with all of the Facebook craziness this time around but since its still fun to keep track of the "belly photos" somewhere, I thought this would be the perfect spot. Here is the first one of this pregnancy at exactly 5 months. Its finally starting to look like I'm pregnant and not just that I've given up on any sort of exercise all together! Yay!

We also needed to have another ultrasound this morning because little babe was hiding a few things that they needed to see last week. So, here are a couple better profile/face shots. These ones are much clearer than the last ones!

Only one more week to go until we find out if the little babe is a boy or a girl! We are definitely ready to know and will share the news ASAP!

The Littlest Nutley - Ultrasound 03/06/12

We finally got to see the new little babe today and he or she is adorable! The pictures aren't super clear because he or she is VERY active but we did manage to get a couple of pretty cute ones. Take a look:

This is the little cutie's profile.

Here is a foot.

And here is the face.

They were able to determine the gender during the scan today but due to policy we aren't able to know until we reach 21 weeks which is not next Monday, but the following one (the 19th). Its a bit frustrating but it will be here soon enough! We'll be sure to share ASAP, don't worry!

Quack-Quacks

Nearing the end of February now and the 3 of us are definitely ready to start spending more time outdoors. We took a frozen walk over to the duck pond down the street. We're still bordering on 0° here and it even snowed a little after we got home. Nana and Grumpy came along too and took some great pics.

The "quack-quacks" must have been starving because they rioted when we started tossing some bread for them. Livi watched in awe at these strange creatures that don't look anything like her rubber ducky that floats around her bath tub. 

The new little Nutley is doing great. The doctors appointment a few weeks ago turned out great. Heard the heartbeat again and Sam is doing great as well. KOW. We're going to the ultrasound a week from today and will hopefully find out what we're having (boy or girl) a few weeks after that. I bet the anticipation is going to drive Sam nuts. Should be a good time!