PHOTO DUMP!!

Life's been going pretty great so far, besides the stress of Kansas' weight, I am pretty happy with this three kids thing. I remember hearing people say how three is the hardest and you are going to hate it. I have to be honest and say I love it. It has been great and the kids are awesome. It helps I think that Macie is at school all day and Wade is so good at playing buy himself with his toys. It gets a little stressful between that 3 and 5, on days Wade has preschool and we have to pick him up, get home, wait for Macie to get home then rush snack into our mouth and head out the door for swimming or dance lessons, but we are even starting to get the hang of that and Wade is so good at grabbing his bag of toys and playing with his toys while we wait for Macie to do her things, and Kansas just cuddles on my lap and watches the world. I've been terrible at blogging so thought I needed to do a little update and put some pictures on.

Science Experiments while Kansas naps and Macie is at school

Being so good on our drive to Edmonton

Getting ready for Conference with our getting to know your prophets chain

Our favourite place to go for walks in Cold Lake (The Provincial Park)

we headed to Lethbridge for thanksgiving and were able to see all our cousins

watching Movies on the tramp late at night

Wade being a trooper with our endless Doctor's appointments

swimming at the hotel in Edmonton. Kansas has her surgery the following day. 

having a fire pit in the snow

3 MONTHS OLD!!

It is going buy way too fast and I can't believe Kanas is already 3 months old today. This past month in a half has been a bit of a gong show. I want to start buy saying that Kansas is an amazing baby. She sleeps amazing, 10 hrs straight at nigh time. She has the most adorable smile ever. She is almost always happy and content at home, she gets a bit fussy when we are out and about and like Macie screams bloody murder when we put her in her car seat. She is now starting to love her baths and diaper changes. She is awesome at tummy time and naps great during the day. She is already reaching for toys, smiling like crazy and recognizing Me, Mark and the kids. She loves sucking her thumb and  she weighs about 11 lbs 3 ounces, and her to dye for hair is still there, I can already put it in a ponytail, and  Everywhere we go people comment on her hair. Know to explain the gong show. When Kansas was born she was 8 lbs 11 ounces and in the 90th percentile. When we went for her 7 week check up she had fallen into the 30th percentile, a week later when we went back, down to the 20th percentile. The doctors were hugely concerned and had me meet up with a Lactation specialist. She looked at Kansas mouth and figured she had an upper lip tie and lower tongue tie. We were referred to a dental surgeon and in the mean time had to do tube feeding and extra bottle feeding, which was not going well at all. After the laser surgery on her lip and tongue I noticed her suck was getting better and my milk supply was coming in stronger so I thought for sure her weight was going to be picking up. Unfortunately it was not, we waited one more week for another weigh in and when that came back even worse the Doctor decided to send us off to a paediatrician. We see the Peds doctor in November. The Doctor did do a good check up on Kansas and thinks she is a healthy, strong, happy baby. Which mom agrees. If it wasn't for the visits I would have had no idea she wasn't gaining any weight because she is such a good baby and reaching all her milestones and looks like she is growing. But the Doctor still wants to send us to a Peds Doctor just to make sure nothing is wrong. So we have been praying hard that all is OK with our sweet little bug. We just love this little girl so much and are so happy we decided to have another one, she has filled out home with so much love and happiness and we all just adore her.

WADES TURNS 4!!!

Another year older and wiser too, Happy Birthday to Wade!

Wade buddy how are you 4 years old already. You are one pretty amazing boy that's for sure. Whenever you walk into a room people instantly smile when they see you. Everyone especially your Mom and Dad just adore you. From your infectious smile to your naturally funny personality. You just beam with excitement and Joy and that rubes off on everyone around you.I love you so much and hanging out with you and Kansas as Macie has started full time school has been pretty awesome. 

Wade you are such a boy still and pretty much play with your toys from sun up till sun down. Your latest obsession is Transformers and have already started to build up a collection. Grimlock is your favourite. Dinosaurs and Paw Patrol have started to fade from your daily play and cars and transformers have taking over. 

Next to playing with your toys all day long are Bike Rides, swimming, the Beach, Playgrounds, Walks to Sobeys for a cookie, and sometimes working on your letters and sight words with Mommy.

You are one smart little boy and have mastered writing your name, you know all your alphabet and about 60 sight words. Your comprehension is out of this world and it makes me happy and terrified at how well you understand things. 

You love your best buddies and going to play with them over having them over is just about the greatest thing. Max Ellis, Duckey (Deklan) Hamilton, Malcom Burgess, Grady Hall (your cousin in Lethbridge), Brylin Lowry, and Maja Pinch just to name a few. Whenever we go to the park you instantly make friends and play so well with others. 

You have one pretty big appetite and it blows our mind sometimes how much pizza you can down. Thankfully Mom has worked hard at making sure you eat healthy or I swear you would already weigh 100lbs. Pizza, Ham sandwiches, Donuts, and Hot Dogs are probably your favourite food. You will also eat any kind of fruit and vegetable and surprisingly love salad. You always devour the meat and vegetable on your plate at supper time but are not a huge fan of rice, potatoes, and pasta. 

You had your booster shots the other day and weighted 41 lbs being in the 80 percentile for weight and I don't remember your height but you were in the 78 percentile for height. Nurse was happy and you were in a great spot on the BMI scale which made Mom happy. 

You still got that strong spirit in you and although you are thankfully done throwing temper tantrums, you can still get pretty upset with people quickly and it can sometimes be hard to get you to settle. Some positive words and hugs usually does the trick. 

Although you are super outgoing, you have this sweet shyness about you. I love it when you come to my side because the thought of saying hi to someone scares you, or throwing out garbage because someone you don't know is close to the garbage can. You were so nervous about your part in the primary presentation but after some bribing and words of encouragement you said your part so great and so clear. 

Anyways buddy I am so excited for this next year and watching you grow more into this amazing kid you have become. Mom and Dad love you so much. Happy Birthday!

BEST BUDS!!

OK, I know I just said in my last post how Macie and Wade fought more this summer then ever before, but really these two are the best of buddies. This summer was hard with Mom being super pregnant and then having a C-Section, So I do need to cut them some slack. When it comes down to it, these two play together all day long, having adventure and creating there fun. If they are not off playing then they are on a crazy walking, biking, or beach adventure with there mom and/or Dad. Today was Cops and Robbers, Thursday was our last big walk and picnic before Macie starts full time School. These two love each other so much and I hope all this time we and they have spent together will keep building there relationship and build an unbreakable bond.

KINDERGARTEN!!!

Why are we here, why are we already at this point in Macie's life. In some ways I am happy, Macie and Wade fought more this summer then they have there whole life probably. Macie is starting to outgrow playing Dinosours and Paw Patrol with Wade, and is enjoying doing more structured things throughout the day. Not that they fought a lot, but definitely had to find more things for them to do separately and had to intervene when they played sometimes as the fighting was leading to hitting and meltdowns. Playing at the park and the beach going for lots of walks and bike rides kept them pretty happy and mom sane, but come winter we won't be able to do that all day long, so having Macie in school and Wade in Pre-school will definitely help. I just hate that they are gone all day and all week. I wish school was only 3 days a week, until middle school. I do enjoy my space and some time to myself, but over all I enjoy spending time with my kids and I am really going to miss having them home with me. Thank goodness for Kansas.

So Macie started school on Wednesday, but only went for 2 hours, then Friday was her first official full day, then Monday it Starts. All day, 5 days a week. Which is crazy to me. I am so glad I held her back and definitely know that that was the right decision to make for our family and for Macie. Her Teacher is Mme Valerie and she is in the French Immersion program. Her school is literally in our backyard and on Friday I loved spying on her for recess and watching her running around and playing. I hope she has a great year learning and making new friends.

Kansas Baby Blessing

September long weekend 2nd-4th in Cold Lake.

This was the weekend that we scheduled to have Kansas blessed at church.  Kalinda scheduled a Friday evening fire pit with Cold Lake and Cherry Grove friends to come and visit and of course play.
we set up the bouncy castle and a ladder to cross the fence to access the park. In all we had about 16 adults and lots of children.
The weather held out pretty good so we were able to cook some hotdogs and marshmallows.
Grandma and Bailey and Grady made it from down south as well.
With all the commotion of kids coming and going to and from the park we had some other visitors from the neighbourhood join us. Apparently the ladder can allow flow from either direction.  This boy cam across the fence and was jumping in the bounce house, enjoying a drink,  playing on the trampoline..
List of Friday Guests
Burgess (Jeff & Cassidy)
Ellis (Cory & Mel)
Fenton (Colin & Elissa)
Hamilton (John & Natalie
Toone (Nathan & Lindsey)
Whitehead (Truman & Renea)
Vadnais (Julie)
Yochim (Steve & Pam)
Grandma

On Saturday Danny, Diane and Jenae drove up from Glenwood. They got a little lost in Cold Lake looking for our house but, with a little coaching, they made it. We set up the Tent trailer for them to sleep in.
Corrine and the Girls made it later in the afternoon, had them set up in the basement.
Grandma and the kids were in Kansas room.


Sunday
Another big day. We all got ready and made it to church early, how sweet is that. Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Mark were there at church when we got there.
In the Circle for Kansas blessing was

Daddy
Jeff Burgess
Vince Burgess
Colin Fenton
Adam Vadnais
Daniel Hunsperger
Mark Waggoner
Bishop Gusa

Some of the blessings, were that Kansas would have the health, desire and ability to serve those in need, to have the capacity to understand the Gospel, a strong desire to learn about those who have gone before, to attend the temple to do work for those that have passed before. That she will have loved ones on the other side of the veil watching her here, and that some day she will be a mother who will teach her children the gospel.
Of courses the caveat to all of this is based on free agency. She can choose for herself if she wishes to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

She slept the whole time during the blessing.
After church, there was a family gathering at our house and a large number of friends who have supported us during our sojourn in the great white north.
the food was delicious, and the visit was nice, however as people started to leave, it was time to have the house back to ourselves, and to get ready for school, and all the other things that come with fall.

HER FIRST MONTH!!

Kansas first month has been pretty awesome. I don't know how I lucked out and got three babies that are all amazing sleepers, but somehow I did,  at least so far. Kansas is already doing 5-7 hour stretches at night, then eats and goes right back to bed for another 3-5 hours. It has been so wonderful to not feel like a Zombie 24/7 especially when having two other kids to parent. She loves tummy time and snuggles and is always pretty happy and content in the morning and afternoon when she is awake, she does a huge long nap in the afternoon and then is up for 3-4 hours in the evening. She gets a little bit grumpy in the evening and likes to cluster feed and be held the whole time which makes putting the kids to bed a gong show. When Mark's around it is not to bad, but when he is gone trying to get Macie and Wade to sleep has been my biggest challenge. Kansas hates her baths, like scream bloody murder, and she doesn't love at first getting put in her car seat but eventually calms down and either falls asleep or looks around. We have been able to get out lots of mornings and go for walks. She has blocked tear ducts like Macie did and I am putting breast milk in them daily in hopes they will go away a lot sooner then Macie's did. The poor girl still has horrible baby acne, but thankfully she is so cute that it doesn't annoy me too much. Her hair is to dye for and every time we go out I get comments on it. You are a pretty awesome baby Kansas and we are so grateful we decided to have another baby and you came to our home.

A wonderful friend (Jen Isackson Photography) did newborn photos for you and they turned out amazing.  I can't wait to frame them and put some in your bedroom.

This one is my favourite

I asked for this photo to not to edited, as I want to remember the red mark on your forehead and the horrible baby acne you had. 

love that she took some pictures of me and Kansas, I am not very photogenic, but they turned out so good, and I will love having them to look back on.