Kai's glamtastic party

Em, Kai, Kendra & Maggie

8 little glamour girls

Birthday girl laps up the attention

They share a birthday !
Jaya & Mara get to 'meet' for the first time

Yesterday was a wonderful, early celebration for Kai's birthday. The girls loved the 'no boys allowed' dress-up lunch & the mums loved a chance to actually 'do lunch' (like our husbands think we already get to do everyday anyway). Kai was spoiled with Barbies, purses, dance bags, dvds, a tea set, etc. etc.etc.

And, here are a few more random shots. Someone in this house always has the camera in their grubby little hands. If DK aren't trying to bear hug their sister, they're taking her picture.

Drew & Mara
My obsession with little feet continues

Mara gets cozy in her gorgeous handmade blanket from Carma!

Another Drew shot! This kid is a natural!

Kai fills Mara in on the plot of her Strawberry Shortcake movie

What the?! A face only a mommy could love

Our first week

My mum always told me we'd have three kids. She would dismiss my certainty of feeling finished after having two children, always smirking, "Never mind that, you will have three." Thank god she was right.

Mara has fit into our family as if she has been here all along. There has been no adjustment, no awkward period of figuring each other out, just a pure and sweet presence that has been a rebirth to our spirits. Call it postpartum sappiness, I'm sure there is a little of that mixed in too, but she is nothing but a gentle gift to us and we are cherishing every minute.

This last week has been a busy one - there is no easy transition into this family even when you're a baby. After coming home from the hospital at a mature 24-hours old, it all went at breakneck speed from there. Mara has already survived her first birthday/costume party with 15 six-year-olds, a trip with me to Walmart (every baby's right of passage), a doctors appointment (she's 7 pounds and perfect), lots and lots of love and mauling from DK, and this afternoon at Davison Orchards. Through it all she sleeps and eats and is just happy to be around.

Mara's first bath at home

"We could put her in the swing...but no underducks yet, right Dad?"

"I think Mara is the best member of our family"

So tired out from...?

Drew's artistic view of "his girls"

Our family completed

Our sweet surprise is a perfect little girl, Mara Joan, born on Saturday evening. At just 6 pounds, 9 oz, it's hard to believe that she is the biggest of the three & almost a whole pound heavier than Drew was. She is such a tiny thing! She looks like both her big brother and sister...and a little like a grumpy old man.
More photos and details to come. We're just happy to be home already.
Safe & sound.

Last days of summer and...school!

Kai on the "miggery-ground"

Look familiar Grandpa & Grandma Nancy?

Just another friendly competition

We ventured to the IPE for the last weekend of the summer and spent the traditional fortune while the kids rode all of the rides and ate everything available on a stick. They were very patient in the hot sun & long line-ups - a lot more patient than Grant & I! Oh, the things we do for our kids...

Then Tuesday morning came & marked yet another milestone in our family. After spending all day Monday shopping with Dad, Drew eagerly set his new alarm clock, packed his lunch and his new backpack and went right to bed. He took all of his preparations very seriously. In the morning he woke up almost an hour before the alarm went off & was dressed and ready to go very early.

Up, dressed & having breakfast by 6:45

Of course, the obligatory front door photo

As we were leaving the house, this was our conversation:

Drew: Mum, from now on can you call me Big Grade One Boy?
Me: Sure bud.
Drew: (rolling eyes) Ummm....mum...
Me: Oh, sorry - my Big Grade One Boy.
Drew: Now that's the spirit!

Waiting, waiting, waiting

He was thrilled to see he was in the same class
with all his best buds from last year.
I pity their teacher!

And, on a less than exciting note...I am now 38 weeks and still waiting. Both Drew & Kai were born by this point, making me feel overdue when realistically I could have another 2 weeks left!

Lauren (2 days from due date), Jen & me (same due date - both with #3)

Savannah (Jen's daughter) & Kai, both about to become middle children

Kai gets a makeover at Savannah's birthday party