It seems that an update is long overdue! I keep telling myself that I will blog on Sunday afternoons, but somehow it never happens. So much has happened since the last entry, I will try to briefly catch up...
I started back to work part time at the lab in September. I have been working 2 days a week and trading childcare with our good friends, Carla and Josh Vold (& Hadley-1 week older than Gabriel). I have to admit, I was a little nervous to have 2 kids only a year old, but I quickly realized that there wasn't that much difference and they have grown to play very well together and love spending time together. They have become such good little friends and they are so nice to each other.
We are also expecting our second child. The ultrasounds say that it is a girl, but I guess we will find out for sure when he/she arrives. The expected date of arrival is June 28, 2013, however I keep telling myself to anticipate a July baby. I am sure that she will come at just the right moment :)
I have gradually started picking up a few more hours at work. I started with just a couple days a month and now I am working 3-4 days a week, and should finish work in the next few weeks. I quickly realized that I needed to work more hours at work to qualify for maternity benefits. I need 600 hours (minimum) in the last 12 months to qualify. If you don't have the hours, you don't get any of the benefits($). Simple enough. I am happy to report that I have qualified! I can't express the relief that I feel, knowing that we will have some supplemental income while I am not working. I am glad to live in Alberta that allows parents a full year, with benefits, to have time with their newborn! How lucky are we? You can't get that in California...
In the meantime, our little Gabriel is growing up. He is getting to be a tall young man. He is 19 months old now and he is an active little angel (most days). He started walking just after his first birthday and we have been chasing him since. He has mastered crawling the stairs and has recently started walking up and down them on his own (only his brave moments). He is talking, but he only says things that he wants to say, and he is always on the phone. If there is no phone, he will talk on the shoe phone, the hand phone, cheerio phone, or any other item he can find will become a phone.
Gabe loves playing with Daddy, besos (kisses), being tickled, chased and driving the shopping cart. He is still a happy kid and LOVES being outside.
Ryan is keeping busy at work. There have been some recent changes in his department, allowing him some more responsibilities. He is still doing Cubs and enjoying time with the boys. He is a great help around the house, fantastic dish washer and laundry man, among other things!
We went to Mexico for my sister's wedding in January. It was a beautiful wedding and so fun to spend time with family. Gabe loved the warmth of the sun during winter. We loved the ruins and the sand. Gabe was such a good little traveler!
We just got home from Hawaii a few weeks ago. The Prince's took us and all the grandkids to have a little fun in the sun. We had a great time! We got to spend time together in paradise. We had perfect weather and got some much needed vitamin D! The highlight for Gabe was playing in the sand and splashing in the waves. Mostly the sand. He was happy to stay at the beach in the sand all day! He loved playing with his cousins, Colton and Avery, throwing the ball and he loves running with Grandpa. Somehow, Grandma was his favorite person the whole trip. She must just have the best hugs or be the best listener. Gabe would always run to Grandma, not mom or dad.
Time to run...
Jenn
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