The Daily Hailey

Not everyone buys into the whole amber necklaces for babies thing. Some people like hazelwood better. Some people think any necklace on a baby is unsafe. Some people think the whole thing is made up. To each their own, as always. We’ve seen amber necklaces work before our very eyes on our babies, dating back to Dekker. He was a class A drooler, that boy. He was soaking wet down the front of his clothes 100% of the time. That was our motivation to try the amber, not teething. The very next day after putting his necklace on him, the amount of drool he produced was legitimately cut in half. No exaggeration. It was wonderful! Since then, we’ve always used amber necklaces with our kids, regardless of how they drool/teethe/whatever else.

I’ve had this particular kind of amber necklace in mind for Wavy for a while now. I’ve seen them on Etsy, Pinterest, and really all over the internet. Its a basic yellow amber necklace, but it has one small bundle of stones on it that made up a little rainbow. I LOVE this idea for her, for so many reasons! Not only does it follow along with Wavy being our rainbow baby, but she has also added color to our lives like we never could’ve expected. I LOVE this idea!!

We usually get our amber necklaces from the same person, but she doesn’t have the rainbow ones. This is part of the reason I’ve been holding off on buying her one. The ones on Etsy are expensive. I also like going to someone I trust to give me real amber and not the phoney stuff. But over the last little while, Wavy has become just a liiittle bit fussier than usual, and a liiiiittle bit droolier. Placebo or not, I wanted to get this girly an amber necklace.

So I did something I kinda didn’t think I’d do. I gave her the amber necklace we had bought for Jamin.

I’m not sure if it makes me feel warm and cozy, or sad and weird. Still mulling that. However, it does seem to have settled out some of the mad drool action. So I’m thankful. But its different, for sure. I guess Jamin never really had a chance to give tangible gifts, so maybe this is the one time he can 🙂

Lucky little girly she is to get to wear her brother’s necklace. What an honour.

I’m not sure if anyone likes these little anecdotes but I just can’t resist sharing them! This way, I can keep them forever. I know you weren’t there, witnessing it personally, but I hope you can appreciate the mental picture, or the simple amusement.

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Dekker walked to school on his own yesterday. I questioned whether or not that was “mean,” being that the snow was flying and it all just seemed unfamiliar. But it really wasn’t too cold. I walked all the time as a kid, even in winter. Turns out, he was totally gung ho for it! His fall jacket is fleece lined, as are his splash pants. We pulled out toques and mitts a day or two earlier. He was ready! He headed out happily in the morning. The rest of us went about our day in sweats, tucked away in the warm house.

With Dekker walking to and from school these days, he usually gets home around the same time. I checked the time at one point, and it was a few minutes after that time already. I checked out the front window and didn’t see him. I walked to the back of the house and looked out a back window to see if he was just a ways off. I still didn’t see him. Hmmm. 🤔

In that moment, I heard the little kids cry from the basement, “Dekker is home!” They were downstairs with Brady while he was framing, and apparently Dekker was peeking in the window, waving at them all! I just hadn’t seen him right up against the house when I originally checked out the front window! I heard him clunk onto the wooden front step, and went to greet him at the door. But he didn’t come in. I waited a few seconds, and I kept hearing clunking, but he wasn’t coming in! The door was unlocked. I couldn’t figure it out, so I finally opened the front door to check.

And there he was. In true Dekker fashion. Watering the flowers on our front step.

In the snow.

Isn’t he the sweetest thing?? All foggy and toothless and ADORABLE! He was all wet and red in the face. But he was smiling happily, hauling the full watering can over to our flower pot filled with snow-covered flowers. He chirped a happy “Hi Mom!” when he saw me, but finished up his task before coming in and hugging me.

MAN I love my kids. We should all be as thoughtful as Dekker. Thoughtful enough to water someones flowers, even if they’re probably going to die the next day 🙂

Of course it snows on the last day of summer. Because Saskatchewan.

Facebook memories reminded me that Laela was actually due on September 21st, five years ago. I wrote a Facebook post requesting her to be born that day so I could have another summer baby. Of course, she was not, but what can you do? No big deal. I love her in fall, too.

The floating of snowflakes makes our basement project feel just that much more urgent. Not that it has to be finished ASAP, but that we really need to finish up the framing so we can throw in the plumbing and electrical, and INSULATE!!! Its not brutally cold down there, but its not exactly balmy either. Brady’s been using his few days off to sneak in some framing. He’s included the kids, which has made it SO much more fun for them!

Aren’t they just the cutest things?

Its also more fun for me! I lurk upstairs with Wavy.

When she sleeps, I’ve been getting some crocheting done. Its nice 🙂

Brady and I are so eager to get our basement finish, and we’ve been trying to think of a way to set a goal on the blog so it has to get done. Its always easier to finish a job when other people know about it, right? We can’t really find a way to do it, though, without putting ourselves in a financially straining situation. If you guys can think of a way to keep it fun and not unreasonable, please let me know! Because the sooner we have a basement, the sooner we can have overnight guests, or later movie nights, or just be more accommodating! We can also have another room or two for our kids to sleep in, which would be handy for when Waverly is ready to move out of our room 🙂 Would be a win all around!

Remember a few months back when Solly wasn’t saying a whole heck of a lot? We rocked some basic sign language with him, and it seemed to awaken a new confidence in him that got him talking fairly quickly after that. It was a huge relief to us, his parents, who were pretty over all the screaming and lack of communication.

Since then, Solly has hit that beautiful sweet spot where he’ll mimic anything we say. If he’s waving something around at us, or pointing at anything, we’ll say what it is, and he’ll respond with “Ya, _____” and repeat the name of the item. So he’s learning super quick now! He’ll say anything! His current faves are flashlight, hammer, catch, bottle, and coffee.

Sentences are a super cute recent development. He’s had the little short important ones down for a while already. “Help, please” is a big one. He’ll say I love you, Wavy’s sad, what’s for supper, etc.

My FAVORITE stage of speech is what he’s doing right now. It goes like this.

Me: Solly, are you dancing?
Solly: Ya, I dancin’! (shakes his butt)

Me: Solly, can you share that toy?
Solly: Ya, I share! (runs in opposite direction with previously stolen toy)

Solly: HAHAHA! Oh Solomon…..

Me: Woowee! Solly, you stink!
Solly: I tink?
Me: Ya, you’re kinda stinky.
Solly: Ya, I tinky. I poopin’.

My ALL TIME FAVORITE!!!

Me: Its stinky in here.
Solly: Ya, I fartin’. I fartin’ here. I fartin’ there… (runs to another spot in the room) I fartin’ over there…

This kid, though.

He keeps things entertaining over here! And also stinky…

Last year, at this time, we were in SUCH a different boat.

Last year, I had just experienced losing my baby at 16.5 weeks.

Last year, I had just met my OB for the first time. I had gotten an amazing amount of blood work done, and was waiting for results.

Last year, I was having ultrasounds to make sure every sign of Jamin was out of my body. I was struggling pretty hard with that, “wanting” him out of me, when I so desperately wanted him to still be growing away in my womb.

Specifically, last year, on this day, I was having my official “let’s figure this out” ultrasound. My tech looked for polyps, cysts, whatever else in there. She checked my uterus, my ovaries, my cervix, all the good business in there.

I remember being somehow relieved that my ultrasound wasn’t one of those “looking for any signs of life” ultrasounds. This one felt like an easy one. A boring one.

I remember hoping that she’d find something. Hoping that my blood work would reveal some issue that we could focus on. Some answer.

I remember that she focused on one place for a while, and I was SO sure she had found something, but that was later discounted by both my doctor and my OB.

I remember being so discouraged that my body appeared healthy.

What a backwards time!!! My gosh! Grief does crazy things!!

I’ve been feeling pretty scattered these days. A bit lost in my own head. I’m trying to give myself grace, because looking back over the last year and a half has been so new and so overwhelming. I feel together most days, but some days I’m still reeling and uncertain. Turning 30 this summer didn’t help, and while I know so many of you have told me that 30 is the new 20, I’m just not feeling that way. Maybe it’ll come after some of this self reflecting either wears off or sorts itself out. I’m just not sure what to do with myself these days! Which goals to work towards first. What to prioritize and what to let slide. How to be a better friend when I feel like a jerk, and how to reach out to people in spite of that.

I’m not making any sense. But remembering where I was one year ago helps me feel a bit more “normal” in my lostness. I have so much to be thankful for, but maybe that doesn’t have to cancel out the hardships and struggles. Hmmm… always mulling…

Brady and I are approaching ten years of marriage! Did you guys know that?? I mean, probably many of you do. Its kind of a big deal, and then at the same time, its not. He’s my best friend! Its an obvious pairing over here 🙂 Its not a big effort to do life with this guy.

This summer, I bought Brady a pair of sweat shorts, because the rest of us have some. He LOVED them. Shortly thereafter, I bought myself the same pair. Who cares that they were mens, right? Right. Meanwhile, my good cozy sweatpants have become threadbare, and I recently purchased a new pair. I bragged up how soft and comfortable they were, to the point where Brady bought himself a pair! Who cares if they’re ladies, right? Right.

We’re basically the same person.

In an episode of “How I Met Your Mother,” there is a little snippet of Ted and his wife in the future, when they’re old and grey. I don’t even remember what sparks the comment, but they admit to each other that they are officially an old married couple. And they both said “Yesssss!” Like it was an accomplishment. And I LOVE that!!! THAT is how I feel. I’ll embrace the fuddy-duddy side of being married to the same weirdo for my entire life, if given the opportunity. I am so thrilled to be married to Brady. I’m thankful for the life we live, and the kids we have, and that we’re together in all of it!

All of this said and done, I discovered yesterday that Brady and I pack the dishwasher literally COMPLETELY opposite. We’ve lived here for two years, and I just noticed this yesterday. I wonder what other surprises you’ve got tucked away, hahaha!! Way to keep some mystery, honey 😉

Old and married, here we come!I

Finishing our basement has been a SLOW process over the last two years. We’re not even done framing. Its kind of a bummer, but logic is clear. Work has had a few slumps, and while we have had the time to do the work, we haven’t had the money to buy materials or hire trades. So, its sat. Recently, I’ve been LOVING having people in our home more, and its bumming me out that our basement isn’t finished. I feel like many people know that our house is a soft place to fall, but its so temporary when we can’t offer them a place to stay overnight. We HAVE to get this basement done!!

Brady is home for a couple of days this week, and this morning he determined he was going to get a bit more framing done in our basement. There isn’t too terribly much left to do. Its mostly just the tedious stuff. Brady happily invited the kids downstairs with him, since he didn’t have a ton of dangerous power tools out, and nothing within reach. Laela, Rowan, and Solly ran around and played with the toys we have down there, and were totally occupied and happy. I fed Wavy and drank coffee, so I was also occupied and happy.

Unfortunately, the whole thing went a bit south when we discovered we were missing pieces out of some VERY expensive hardware we had ordered. Thus began many calls back and forth between Brady and the company we had ordered from, and without getting to into it (because I’m still WAY too frustrated about it) we’re at a bit of a standstill. There are still things to frame, and he can work around what we are missing, but its annoying and leaves more room for error. Not to mention the fact that the company may choose to be dicks and we might be out $150. Grrrrr! I digress.

So the morning wasn’t as productive as we had hoped it would be. Brady and I were both super annoyed with the company we were trying to deal with, and the kids were SO scrappy. Wavy was fine. She drank milk and went back to bed, as per usual. Once the kids were down for naps, we invited Cher over for lunch, and spent an hour or two eating yummy food in the living room for a bit. That was a definite upper for the day!

Cher has gone home now, and Brady ducked out to get the mail, water some flowers that we’re on the hook for, etc. Dekker will be home in about an hour, and I expect he’ll be full of stories. Today was picture day and show and tell! That poor kid is going to be so bummed when show and tell stops happening. He just LOVES it. Today, he brought his rock collection from our trip to Waskesiu this summer 🙂 And I can guarantee there are a few rocks from our driveway in there too!!

It was a grey, rainy Sunday, but it was also great! I’m so thankful for how today went, for a handful of reasons.

We’re back on the schedule for leading music at church! Brady, Carrie, and I had taken the summer off, but now that we’re all back into the swing of things with Fall and school and whatnot, we’re back! Unfortunately, Brady was sick this last week, along with a kid or two, and we weren’t sure if everyone would be able to make it this Sunday, so just Carrie and I did music this morning. My family was able to come along, but Brady hung with the kids during the music.

Solly had a hard time at church today. He had woken up pretty early in the morning and was just SO weepy over absolutely everything! Our church is amazing, and someone was always willing to take Wavy when I left the bench to go up front. Meanwhile, Brady would occasionally have to walk out with Solly, and Laela, Dekker, and Rowan just sat and waited for him to return. No BIG drama. Solly did have a pretty loud moment, though, during a particularly quiet part of the service. As Brady was shimmying out of our bench, I said “sorry everyone” kind of loudly, and our pastor addressed my apology. He reassured me that the sound of children was wonderful and important to the church. If there are no children, the church won’t have a future. After the service, a handful of people sought me out and told me they felt the exact same way. What an amazing, supportive church we attend!! Thank you, friends, for not being annoyed or inconvenienced by my children!

We came home, had lunch, and napped 4/5 kids. Around 2:30, Cher came by, along with another friend! I had never met her personally but she followed along with the project Cher built from my pregnancy with Waverly. She happened to be in town this weekend and wanted to meet the fam!! We spent all afternoon chatting about our lives and how the last year has gone. All three of us have had our share of grief, and it was interesting to relate to one another, check up on each other, and see how we were all recovering/growing/moving forward. It was SUCH a great afternoon of visiting, and I feel like I made a new friend 💜 Thank you for coming!!! Was a wonderful end to our great day.

*****

Our company just recently headed out, and we’re putting the kids down for bed shortly. Life continues tomorrow with school for Dekker! Its his picture day, his show and tell, aaaaand the beginning of him being the star of the week! Go Dekker!!

Laela. Did. Amazing.

I am pleased to report that not a single tear was shed, by her or by me, in the dropping off or picking up of Laela on her first day of school! It was hard to get details out of her, but here’s what I know.

They sing a “good morning song” and there is a bit about big high fives. She sang it for me before clamming up and saying she didn’t remember 😉

Recess was her favorite part of the day. Obviously, lol! However, apparently Dekker sought her out every recess and played with her!! She told me at one point, they held hands and ran together. Ack!! I love them!

Laela did some writing at school. Her teacher texted me a picture yesterday evening of Laela holding a paper that said “I love scool tda.” I love school today. Eek! I LOVE THAT!

She ate almost all of her lunch!

At the end of the day, when we went to pick her up from school, she hugged her teacher goodbye. Its such a relief for my heart to see her love her teacher already! She LOVED her preschool teacher SO MUCH, and was pretty discouraged when we warned her in advance that her beloved teacher would stay teaching preschool and wouldn’t be teaching her kindergarten. Lucky for her, her kindergarten teacher is also EXCEPTIONAL, and it seems to have clicked between them already.

Last but not at all least, as we all walked home together, Dekker and Laela ran ahead of us, chatted together, and played games.

In those moments, they were like best friends.

These two. My two who probably butt heads the most often, were just hanging out, enjoying each others company. This I have prayed for. That they would become friends in their travels to and from school, venturing out to do big kid things together. I know it won’t be perfect, and I’m so ok with that. I’m just excited that its starting!!!

Yay for new adventures!!!

Guys. It happened.

Laela is officially in kindergarten!!

I wish my little posed picture of all four of them turned out a bit clearer, but alas, its still terribly cute. Look at Laela’s face! She is SO amped! I took a few special little times with Laela this morning to see how she was really feeling, and as far as I could tell, she had no nerves whatsoever!! I figured we’d see what happened when we got to school, though. You never know, right?

Today wasn’t probably the ideal day for a first day of school. Rather than a regular morning schedule, the school put on a pancake breakfast to welcome everyone into the school year. Its a super fun morning event every year, but for Laela’s first day, I kind of wish we could’ve gotten in through her boot room, put her shoes in their spot, walked her the right way to her classroom, etc. But hey, there will be LOTS of mornings to walk her through that routine! This morning was just a different. Instead of walking, we drove, and walked from the van to the front doors.

We piled into the gym and loaded up a couple plates of food for the kids, found a spot on the floor, and ate breakfast. It was cute and chaotic. Laela was still completely on fire, thrilled to be there! She found out her teacher was at the juice table and actually went over and gave her a hug.

I got her into her classroom, helped her find where to hang her coat and backpack, and got her settled at her spot at a table. No nerves, still!

She was sitting across from a girl she knew from preschool, which she was happy about. The girls started playing with some blocks together, and that was it. She was good. She was ready. I gave her a hug and a kiss and whispered if she was ok. She responded with a loud “Yup!” and didn’t even look at me. It was perfect.

Brady traded me out and gave her a kiss goodbye while I waited with the boys. When the bell rang and school was about to start, I waved at her from the door. She waved back at me with a huge smile plastered across her face. I tried to ask “Are you good?” but she was already busy with something else.

She was settled.

I’m SO happy for her!!!

I’ll be back tomorrow, as usual, to tell you how the day went. I don’t anticipate a problem 😉

Have a happy Friday, friends!!