"Seven Posts in Seven Days" 4 of 7

Last Friday Nicola and I enjoyed our second Halloween with Maggie. It is amazing how fast time flies. Last year, for Maggie's first Halloween, we dressed her up as a skunk which, considering some of her diapers, was easy for her to pull off.
This year Nic selected something a little girlier for Maggie to wear... yes our little skunk blossomed into a beautiful little butterfly.

At the beginning of the evening we met my cousin Darrin, his wife Jill and their daughter Charlotte at Market Mall for some Halloween fun. Maggie and Charlotte had a blast walking around the mall window shopping.After a couple hours at the mall we made stops at Papa & Grammie Clark's and Grandpa & Grandma Mooney's. Sadly (actually it was kind of funny) by the time we got to Grandpa & Grandma Mooney's Maggie was so tired that she just powered out on the floor.

At the Clark's...

At the Mooney's

Somehow throughout our evening we managed not to collect any candy but we sure did have fun. Hope you enjoy the pictues.

JRM 11/6/2008

The Babies Are Here...The Babies Are Here

OK... the 7 in 7 got interrupted Friday with Halloween and then my acquisition of a computer virus on Saturday which had me down until late Sunday night. I will resume later tonight including Halloween pictures but for right now, I just wanted to share the exciting news:

The Babies are Here!!!

Justin called me early this afternoon to share the news. Jen had her scheduled C-Section today and everything went perfectly. Justin, Jen and Caden have "officially" added 3 beautiful, healthy baby boys to their family.

Though I'm sure Justin & Jen will provide all the details and pictures on their blog in the coming days, this is what Justin said today:

Dylan Michael Mooney was born at 12:38pm weighing in at a whopping 6lbs.
Evan Timothy Mooney was also born at 12:38pm and weighed in at a rough & tumble 5.25lbs.
Liam David Mooney followed at 12:39pm coming in at a svelte 4.85lbs.

Justin said that the Doctors told him that Evan & Liam are identical. All three boys are doing very well and will not need to stay in the NICU. They are free to go home. Jen, however, will need to stay in the hospital for a few days to recover and adjust to being half of her weight from yesterday... haha!

Keep an eye on Justin & Jen's blog for all the details and pictures in the weeks to come.

www.themooneyclan.blogspot.com

Nicola, Maggie and I are so full of joy and absolutely thrilled for you guys. We'll see you very soon!

JRM 11/3/2008

"Seven Posts in Seven Days" 3 of 7

Did you get the hint?

It was a beautiful evening in early August. I was working outside in the garage using power tools. Tired and sweaty from a long day’s work, I paused to enjoy the subtle smell of campfire emanating from the neighbors fireplace. As I contemplated bringing my work to a close for the night and making my way to the shower, I heard that familiar squeak of the back screen door opening. “…you’ve been workin’ so hard sugar…how ‘bout you come on in for a nice cool glass of lemonade?”

As I undid my tool belt, I slowly wiped my brow and replied, “…sure, darlin’, that sounds great…let me just unplug my power tools first…you can never be too safe with your power tools you know…”

Anyway… Nicola and I are proud to share some wonderful and surprising news; we are expecting a little brother or sister for Maggie! We’re not sure how or when it happened but the Doc. says that we’re about 13 weeks along and due sometime around the 1st of May. It’s a miracle!

Last Thursday we had our first appointment at the low-risk maternity clinic and got to hear baby’s heartbeat for the first time. The baby’s heart rate was a steady 150 bpm. What an incredible and humbling sound. God truly is awesome. It made my tummy flip. Maggie may just get her wish after all.

Please keep Nicola and baby in your prayers over the days, weeks and months ahead.

JRM 10/30/2008


And now... here are a few random pictures of Maggie for your enjoyment.... because, really, that's what people go to blogs for right!?! Pictures...







Goodnight all... tomorrow is Halloween! We are so excited as Maggie is now old enough to take around to get us some candy... The cuter we make her, the more candy we get... pictures to come. J

“Seven Posts in Seven Days” 2 of 7

I was trying to decide what to cover in this 7 day blog marathon which, by the way, is an insane commitment considering I’ve never done this before. In my logical way, I made a list of chronological events that have occurred over the summer, crossed referenced them with our library of photographs and then, naturally, I built a spreadsheet to analyze the relevance of the material relative to a statistical cross section of our viewers. (what? isn’t that the way you do it?) :)

For chronological reasons, the day 7 post would have been about my brother Justin and his wife Jen who are currently pregnant with triplets. As Jen is now almost 36 weeks and about ready to burst, I thought it prudent to bump the news up to day 2 of the blog marathon just in case the boys decide it’s time to party sometime in the next week.

A couple of weekends ago, Nicola, Maggie and I hopped in the car for a 2-day turn around road trip to Regina to visit Justin, Jen and Caden. Calgary to Regina is a 6 ½ to 9 hour drive each way depending on who’s in the car. Since Maggie was in the car it was a little closer to 9 hours including a hotel stay in Moose Jaw along the way (don’t ask). Given Maggie’s go-go-go nature, being strapped in a 5-point harness for hours on end was pure torture to her and, well, she let us hear all about it. I’m just glad my navigator was able to sleep through it all. :)

The following are a few pictures from our visit:

Auntie Jen, cousin Caden, Maggie & Mommy chillin' on the couch. You really have to see Jen's belly in person to appreciate how big it really is. (I know girls don't like to hear that but guys marvel at this kind of thing... sorry Jen.)

Caden and Maggie playing together on the couch. Caden is Justin & Jen's 2 1/2 year old son. He knows that his mommy has babies in her tummy but I don't think he realizes how cool it will be to have 3 little brothers to teach the way of the Mooney.

Caden & Maggie watching Diego together on Caden's 'lil Spider-man love seat. I love little people furniture. When I was a kid we had to lay on the cold basement floor to watch TV... AND we had to walk to school in waist-deep snow up hill both ways in our bare feet.

Uncle Justin proudly wearing his Alberta colors in the city of green. Way to keep the faith brother!

"hhhhmmmhhh... Caden sure is lucky to be getting 3 little brothers to play with. I wonder if he would let me have one of them... I mean really... OR... maybe I'll ask Mommy and Daddy to order me one of my very own.... brother... or sister... I don't care... but it has to be here by the first week of May..." Maggie ; )



To read more about Justin, Jen, Caden & the triplets, I encourage you to visit their family blog.

Their Blog address is: http://www.themooneyclan.blogspot.com/

We are so excited to meet the boys. Please keep the whole family in your prayers in the weeks to come.


JRM 10/29/2008

"Seven Posts in Seven Days" 1 of 7

Greetings friends and loved-ones. Hello. Hello?

Not so long ago, American television went through a writer’s strike. Initially, North-American viewers tolerated the re-runs with the full expectation that the differences between the respective parties would quickly be settled and the programs they so looked forward to each week would soon return. Days became weeks, weeks became months and still there were no new shows to be seen. By the time the strike was resolved, the season was almost over, summer was on the doorstep and much of the viewing public really didn’t care anymore. Shows that did return suffered significant rating declines and some even ended up cancelled all together. We still miss watching Las Vegas together on Friday nights.

Nicola and I have never been accused of being reliable bloggers but our, most recent, two-month hiatus from posting has us wondering whether anyone still thinks to even check. No, Nicola has not been on strike…well… perhaps in the kitchen she has (jk) but not as our family’s cyber-journalist.

It is hard to know where to begin with an “update”. Part of the reason we haven’t been posting is that we just haven’t felt much like sharing the details of our lives recently. Our milestones, our changes and joys have just seemed so irrelevant to us over the past two months. Many of you already know why but for those of you who don’t; our one-year-old nephew Drew, son of Jordan (Nicola’s Brother) & Kari Clark, passed away in the Alberta Children’s Hospital on September 28th after a courageous and unforgettable battle with mitochondrial disease. Though I would love to elaborate on Drew’s story, I just cannot do it justice in a paragraph or two. I do encourage you to visit Jordan & Kari’s Blog to bare witness to his amazing life and to share your thoughts with them.

Their Blog address is: http://www.jkpdclark.blogspot.com/

Since the funeral, we have been in a bit of a daze. It seems strange not to be going up to the hospital as we drive by it everyday on our way to work. Drew rarely drifts far from our thoughts and, well, the idea of things getting “back to normal” seems anything but possible. I guess, as a family, we’re working towards determining what the “new normal” will actually be. Life must go on… and… so we’ll try.

We love you Kari, we love you Jordan, we love you Peyton and we’ll always love you dear sweet little Drew.

JRM 10/28/2008

Grandma & Papa Clark had a new deck and cement patio built in August and the grandkids were invited over to leave their permanent mark in the wet cement. Below Maggie and Drew are seen leaving their impression.

Thanks Grandma and Papa for this lasting memory!

Back at work... and people wonder why I can't keep up with blogging...

I've been back to work for nearly two months now and I'm already on vacation. James was taking part in a conference this week so I needed to be home with Maggie. I tell you what, I sure miss that little girl! We've had so much fun this week and I think she has missed me too. Maggie isn't a cuddly baby, but lately she just wants to be near me all of the time... sitting on my lap, playing in the kitchen, following me around. I hope next week isn't disasterous for her, or James, once I'm back at work. Regardless, a "vacation" every two months is in order just so I can get some one-on-one time with her!

Mags got into a box of Wheatabix (don't ask why we have it), and did what we all wish we could have done with our Wheatabix when we were kids: throw it on the floor

James with a party favour from Drew's birthday. He looks totally different... I think it's the glasses.

Maggie having her turn on Peyton's new trampoline. Future gymnast?

Mags and Drew with Papa

Jordan, Jason, James and Colin, after getting into the face paint.

We had a few very hot days this summer, so Mags and I went to the water spray park to cool down. She loved it!

I came home from work one day to find the backyard set up as a water playland! Maggie just loves being in the water and running around outside. She has so much fun with Daddy!

My hat matches my car, bathing suit and ball... I'm good to go!

This is Maggie's chair, and Maggie's chair only.

We have a one-year old... what???

Everyone told me that the first year will just fly by. Two weeks ago, I would have disagreed. I went back to work on the 1st and after returning to my desk, with everything left pretty much as I left it, I feel as though I've only be gone for a month. Then I come home and I see my little Maggie speed-walking towards me, giggling, and squealing, and reaching up for a hug, and I realize how much has happened in the past year.

I can hardly remember those late-night feedings, and the world that new moms become a part of during those late nights. You know what I mean... watching 90210 re-runs at 4:OOam, facebooking and that the only other people on at that time are other new moms, seeing the Turbo Jam infomercial and wondering if you should invest in it to lose your baby weight... yes, it's a whole world that I almost forgot that I was once a part of.

But she sure is precious when she's sleeping!

I remember the day that Maggie first smiled at me, and now I can't remember a day when I haven't seen it since.

I remember how exciting it was when she first rolled over. And then how scary it was when she rolled off of the bed. (I sure hope this isn't the first time James is learning of this... I think I told him... I think.)

I remember our first swimming classes, picnics, trips to the zoo, and so many other fun trips that we have made together.

A trip with Peyton to the zoo. Clearly, he is not interested.

Mom's 'n' Tots playtime with Joseph

I remember when she first pulled herself up, and when she started crawling, and now more recently, when she took her first steps.

Walking through the spray park at Bowness Park... not a wet t-shirt contest.

So now, when I'm sitting at my desk thinking about how quickly the year seems to have passed, I am reminded of how much has actually happened in 12 short months. And how even though it has only been 12 months, I can't remember life before Maggie.

Here we are celebrating her birthday with Clark and Mooney families. It was the perfect day! She loved playing the water, but not as much as her first experience with cake and ice cream... she ate it all!

The backyard set-up

Drew liked the water!

A lot!

Peyton loved it too... a little too much!

This picture was taken a split second too soon. The slide was wet so Peyton shot down it like a rocket!

Perhaps one of the most entertaining moments of the day!

Cake time!!!!

Oh this is good stuff!!

My new wheels!

Happy Birthday Sweet Maggie... we love you!