Platt Family

Tegan's First swim

2012-01-28T20:29:00.000-08:00

Look at this little cutie pie! Man is she ever adorable. I know I am biased, but I swear her little face gets sweeter each day! I found this cute swimsuit for her at Target this Christmas. It's 6-9 months, so still plenty big for her, but it still worked out!

She definitely enjoyed the warm water as much as Cameron did his first time. She was very relaxed, and lasted over an hour without even a whimper!

Here are both Tegan & Cameron with Daddy, right before their first swimming experience!

Photo Update

2012-01-28T20:13:00.001-08:00

A new addition, and another photo shoot meant it was definitely time to update the photos in our home! Here are the new additions in our family room...

We also got a few of Tegan's photos printed off, and did her crib wall, much like we did when Cameron was born. I actually found the letters for her name on sale at Target while I was in the States this past summer. I painted them pink before we hung them!

Here is a reminder of what we did for Cameron's room...

1 month old Baby Tega

2012-01-10T16:18:00.000-08:00

Cameron's vocabulary is just the cutest these days. I almost don't want him to talk properly at all! Tegan has therefore been dubbed "Tega", thanks to Cameron. What a cute little name!

Her check-up with the doctor was at just over 1 month old. She now weighs in at 9lbs 12oz, and 22 inches. They really do grow soooo quickly in the first year, and she's already close to outgrowing clothes!

Aaagghhh....we just love her so much! Cameron is so cute with her, and helpful. He really loves his little baby sister.

She is much more of a cuddler than Cameron ever was. She prefers to sleep right next to me, and it's taken a little while to get her into a routine. I have already had to move her into her own bedroom! She has just recently started to clue in though, and last night was our best by far with a 7 hour stretch.

The ride of your life

2011-12-29T10:16:00.000-08:00

Since we were in Minnesota for the Christmas season, we definitely took advantage of Mall of America shopping. Cameron and Tegan both did very well being traipsed around such a large mall. Cameron even enjoyed trying on "accessories" in Urban Outfitters while waiting for Daddy.

Before leaving, we made sure to have plenty of time to show Cameron the theme park, and take him on a few rides. There were a couple that he really enjoyed...

And one that he really DIDN'T...!

We checked out the huge Lego "Woody" at the Lego Store before heading home.

All in all it was a very successful visit. Other than Daddy torturing him, by putting him on one super scary ride! ;) Cameron had so much fun on the other rides though, and was sad to leave. We are excited for our next visit when Cameron is even bigger, and will enjoy more.

A Minnesota Christmas

2011-12-25T16:08:00.000-08:00

Tegan thankfully arrived just in time for us to make our trip to the States. Her Birth Certificate hadn't arrived, but since we decided to drive rather than fly, crossing the border with her was a non-issue with some hospital paperwork.

The drive went surprisingly well. We left around 9:00pm, so we could drive through the night, and hopefully the kids would sleep. Tegan was pretty scheduled, and woke every three hours or so for a feed. Cameron slept fairly well, and the iPad kept him entertained during his waking hours! They both did really awesome, and we arrived at my parents house at 7:00pm the next evening.

We arrived only a couple of days before Thomas and Katie's wedding...so our first full day was spent up at the outlet mall finding me a dress to wear! So happy to be *close* to regular size again, meant coming home with about 10 outfits to choose from! Merry Christmas to me! :D

Thomas and Katie's wedding went great. It was a long day for Cameron, but by the end of the night, he still had plenty of energy to dance the night away! He was so funny, and I am sad none of his crazy moves are video documented! :(

The next week was spent doing some hard-core Christmas shopping. Christmas morning was exciting. The older Cameron gets, the more aware he becomes, and we're really enjoying it!

He has REALLY started to love "Toy Story", so he was "Toy Story" spoiled on Christmas Day! With Buzz, Woody, Rex, a little Lotso bear, and anything and everything else related!

Santa's big gift to Cameron was the Rockin' Elmo, which he is also pretty attached to! Needless to say, he was a mighty lucky kid!

Both Grandparents got him Thomas the Train sets that build together, and some trains. He has had lots of fun setting it up and playing with Daddy when we arrived home.

Clark and I also had a "successful" year! Clark broke his age-old skates a while back, so he got treated to a brand new pair. We also went to a "Wild" hockey game, "Vikings" football game, and a "Timberwolves" basketball game. Along with mountains of new clothes, I also got a camcorder, and can finally capture our little munchkins greatest moments.

Tegan was barely 3 weeks old for her first Christmas, so everyone was low key with her. She got some adorable clothes, and a few cute little baby toys.

Macmillan Fam 2011

2011-12-23T11:45:00.000-08:00

For the first time in a couple of years, the whole family was in the same place at the same time! This is my side of the family complete with EVERYONE....to date, that is! Brand new baby Tegan, and the family's newest "official" addition...Thomas' wife, Katie.

Baby's First Haircut

2011-12-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess technically he's no longer a baby, especially now that he is a big brother to a teeny tiny sister, but he'll always be my little boy. He has always had the cutest, to-die-for blonde curls, and it took me a good 2 years, plus multiple comments on my cute "girl", to finally take the plunge, and chop off some inches. I thought I might cry during the process! What if it no longer went all cute and curly!?

We had a friend do the honors, since she is currently serving in Nursery at church, and Cameron is just in love with her! We knew he would sit as still as can be for her...

She did an awesome job! The curls are still in existence, and he looks cuter than ever.

Family Photo's 2011

2011-12-14T14:47:00.000-08:00

I love little newborn photos, and I'm always eager to get them done after my kids are born. I had a friend start up her photography business recently, so I was excited to take advantage of her talents this time around!

She did an awesome job on Tegan, and captured some real beauties. This is Clark's favorite, which we decided to use for the announcements.

It's so hard for me to pick a favorite...I love them all...but here are some of the best...

We also got a few great ones of Cameron...

And since we were all together, a few updated family shots as well...

Busy while I wait

2011-12-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

I have been pretty crafty lately! I found this cute idea on Etsy, and figured I could make it myself for pretty cheap. Plus, it gave me something to involve myself in while I waited for Tegan to evacuate my belly.

Lady Baby

2011-12-09T12:59:00.000-08:00

The night of December 1st was a little crazy. Knowing exactly what awaits you the next morning sure makes it difficult to get to sleep! It also happened to be ridiculously windy, which added to the challenge. Cameron woke up twice that night as well, which is extremely unlike him! What bad timing, considering I had to be up and ready by 6:15am.

My sister-in-law came over to watch Cameron until he woke up a few hours later, then took him back to her house for breakfast. Clark and I were at the hospital by 6:30am. We were all checked in, and asked a bazillion questions. My OB/GYN decided to break my water at about 8:00 to see if that would initiate labor on it's own. I felt some cramping, and dilated a little more, but by 10:00, there hadn't been much of a significant change.

I had an IV started just after 11:00 to actually induce my labor. By 11:30 I was having real contractions, which were about 2 minutes apart by noon. I was told to request the epidural pronto by the nurse if that was what I wanted, since she thought my labor would move fast. Thankfully the anesthesiologist arrived much quicker than with Cameron, and I was much more comfortable by just after 12:00.

As soon as my epidural took effect, and I was able to relax a little, Clark decided it would be a good time to move the truck, and pick up a few treats assuming he would be sat down for another few hours awaiting baby's arrival. I was checked just after he walked out, and was 6-7cm. 5 minutes later I felt a lot more pressure, and was checked again, now at 9cm! The Doctor was paged, and the nurse called Clark's cell phone to have him come back quickly! He didn't answer, but walked through the door just in time!

I pushed for only about 15 minutes, and our little baby girl was born. I felt like I coped with her labor far better than I did with Cameron's, but her delivery was far more painful, despite it being so much faster.

Tegan Samantha Platt was born December 2nd 2011 at 12:42pm. She weighed in at 7lbs 2oz, and 20.5 inches.

She has quite the lungs! She seems much louder than Cameron when she wants to be. The first night she was awake for quite a lot, which was very different than with Cameron, who slept the entire time. She seems to have settled comfortably into the day/night schedule though, and already sleeps as well as her brother did. She is definitely much more of a snuggler though, and I have yet to get her to sleep an entire night in her own bed!

We were discharged from the hospital almost exactly 25 hours after her birth. Her weight had dropped to 6lbs 12oz. But at her 1 week check-up today, she was 7lbs 7oz.

We have already settled into life as a family of 4, and are enjoying her.

Cameron sure loves to get right in her face, and say "Hi baby Tega". He loves her, and asks about her constantly.

Reaching the 41st week....again!

2011-11-27T18:02:00.000-08:00

Well...Here I am again. Reaching, and passing the "official" due date. Shocking hey?! 9 Months, 13 inches, and 25 lbs later, I am definitely ready to call it quits again! Thankfully this time I already have an end in sight, and pregnancy number two will go no longer than 5 days overdue. I will be induced the morning of December 2nd if baby girl is still a no-show.

Cameron turns Two!

2011-11-11T21:33:00.001-08:00

It's hard to believe how fast these last two years have gone. He is such a great kid, and we love him to pieces!

He is still a skinny little guy, but tall, at exactly 3 feet. He loves to throw balls, and play hockey. He enjoys his scooter, and loves getting out of the house, and going for car rides. He is very animated, and his language skills are improving rapidly.

The cake is the big deal for me. I think about it for weeks in advance because I enjoy it so much. He is into a couple of things these days. He has 3 stuffed animals that go to bed with him...A little Bulldog, Pooh Bear, and "Raaa". (A lion).

For his birthday, we decided to rent out a pool and board room at a hotel. We invited some friends, spent the first hour in the pool and hot tub, then ate some pizza, cake, and opened presents.

Cameron has been talking about getting a bike for a few months now, so Daddy and I came through for his birthday, with a brand new Orange Strider bike!

Check-in with baby

2011-11-03T12:21:00.000-07:00

I finally got in to the OB/GYN I wanted to see. Wish I had been referred to him much sooner, but better late than never! He asked a few questions, and checked everything over. My uterus measured a little on the smaller side, so he sent me for an ultrasound to make sure baby was still doing well.

The ultrasound was this morning, and baby looks good. She is currently weighing in at around 5lbs 10oz. At this stage she will gain around 1/2 a pound a week, which should bring her birth weight right around 7 1/2 lbs.

Our big, grown up boy, in his big, grown up bed.

2011-11-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

Cameron has been getting out of his crib for a few months now. It didn't happen all that often at first, and it was usually only during nap-time. He would get out, and play with his toys on the floor.

Recently though, his skill level improved to getting out even with his sleep-sack on...so we decided since the danger level had been upgraded, it was time to make the BIG switch to a BIG bed.

We moved most of his toys into the basement, and kept a few tucked away in his closet, so there are very few distractions at night! He has taken to it pretty well so far. Nap-time is still a work in progress, but night-time is improving. Last night, he was asleep in less than 10 minutes. Now all we have to work on is making sure he doesn't fall out!

Halloween

2011-10-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

Halloween was pretty low key for us this year. I had planned on just having Cameron wear his Dragon outfit from last time, despite the fact that his sleeves and pant legs were 3 inches short! Daddy came up with a pretty cute idea right before we headed out the door though, and we each dressed up in hockey jerseys.

Our ward had a trunk or treat, which is nice for the younger kids. Rather than taking them around the neighborhood, we all pull up in our cars, and open our trunks to hand out candy. It's sure nice to have it over with in a short amount of time, since it gets pretty chilly here at night this time of year!

We gave out plenty, but in the end, didn't even bother taking Cameron around. He was more than satisfied with his one sucker, and playing street hockey with Daddy in the parking lot!

The ninth month

2011-10-28T14:53:00.000-07:00

Pregnancy usually slows everything down, but life is moving super fast for me these days. My mind switches back and forth between excitement for our new arrival, and anxiety. My schedule with Cameron is down to a science, and I'm nervous about having to do it all over again, incase I totally screw up! The fact that "every kid is different" doesn't seem to instill much confidence in me either.

However, I am lucky beyond belief that I have a husband who is not only almost always around, (in the cooler months anyways!) but that is very hands on when it comes to being involved in his son's life. He loves him more than words can explain. Nothing makes Clark happier than Cameron...and nothing makes me happier than to see them play together

This fact alone relieves most of my worry, and I really am eagerly awaiting baby girl's debut.

It's officially less than 1 month away.....whatever "officially" really means in my case! I am of course *hoping* for a delivery at least CLOSE to on time, but who really knows! Time sure does S....L....O....W......D....O....W....N as soon as the due date comes and goes, and all of a sudden, patience runs out! Especially this year, since I am banking on still making it to my brother's wedding, and Christmas at the Macmillan home in Minnesota.

As far as pregnancy goes, I did have an emotional hurdle to jump through this week. I had a 35 week check-up with my family doctor. Everything looked fine, but I came to find out after trying to book my next appointment with him, that he no longer delivers! I was pretty upset, not that he necessarily wouldn't be the one in the delivery room, but that at 8 months along, I didn't know who would! He referred me to another GP who does deliver, but I figure if I have to be referred to ANYONE else, it only makes sense for it to be an OB/GYN. Trying to find an OB/GYN with only 4 weeks until D-Day is a little unnerving. With no time to make a decision based on preference, I am relying on advice and suggestions as to who I choose. After a few friends had good things to say about one Doctor, I got my referral changed, and will hopefully get in to see him in the next week.

In other news, my little Cameron is growing up! He will my turning 2 in 2 weeks time. We have a pool party booked for him, and he has some awesome presents lined up! He has such a great little personality, and is always on the go. We are so lucky to have him in our family.

Ultrasound #2

2011-09-04T18:40:00.000-07:00

We recently went for the second ultrasound of this pregnancy. I had the fun 3D one done in the States, but didn't have the "medical" one scheduled until Clark had arrived home, since I wanted him to be a part of it.

The report suggested that everything looks healthy, and confirmed that we ARE expecting a little lady.

Because my pregnancy is so far along, it's hard for them to give an accurate due date. What they do in this case is to basically measure certain areas of baby, and take an average of the sizes, guesstimating when I will be due. My best guess for due date was November 27th. The snazzy pregnancy test I took said my due date was no later than November 30th. The ultrasound suggests maybe half a week to a week later than that even. So who really knows! In any case I imagine I will be late again!

Whoop-Up Days Fair

2011-08-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

Since the Whoop-up Festival is still in full swing, we decided to take advantage of everyone being home, and head to the fair. We enjoyed plenty of fatty fried food, lemonade, shaved ice, and watching the kids on rides.

There was even a little section for the miniatures of our group, and Cameron got to experience his first ride without either Clark or me with him. Total success!

Well...until it was over! Poor little guy was soooo sad to be taken out. The ride attendant came and unbuckled him, and Cameron tried his hardest to buckle it back up to go again!

Cupcakes and Cousins

2011-08-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

Now that the selling season has finally come to an end, we are able to have the Platt Family together again. Clark's sister came down for a weekend visit, and all the cousins had the chance to see each other again after close to 5 months.

Mine Dada!

2011-08-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

Clark had only been away for 3 1/2 weeks this time, so I didn't expect Cameron to have such a drastic reaction to his return. I woke up the next morning, and began feeding him his breakfast. Clark walked down the stairs, and peeked around at Cameron. Cameron didn't even hesitate. He began talking to him about his breakfast and favorite TV show like he had never even been away! It was quite hilarious how non-chalant he was about the whole deal!

He has been pretty clingy with his Daddy ever since, just as I expected! The second morning, "Where Dada?" was the first thing out of his mouth when I got him up from bed.

Guess what Honey?

2011-08-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

Possibly the bravest thing I've ever done. Not dying my hair so drastically different, but the fact that I did it without hubby's approval. Eek!

I had planned to do it a couple of days before he got home, and when he called on Wednesday to say he was headed home the next day, I panicked, and had to do it the day he was driving back. I was a little nervous to say the least!

I think it turned out great though, and am really enjoying the change. Clark really likes it too, which is the most important thing! Happy I took the plunge to the dark side!

Whoop-up Days

2011-08-23T13:54:00.000-07:00

I was up at 7:30am today! I don't know how real mother's do it. My eyes stung for the first 25 minutes I was awake. The funny thing is, we were sat down, and ready for the parade before most of the participants were! Our timing was a little off, and it ended up starting an hour later than we thought. Cameron sat very nicely in his chair though. At least until it started!

He was very excited for Papa to arrive. He loves his Nana, but he is most definitely a Papa's boy!

They gave out some popcorn, and he was occupied for a good 15 minutes with that, and a little pop from his grandparents! He kept saying "more, more more!"

He did enjoy himself when the parade started. He loved the big trucks, flags, and horses, and even quite enjoyed the bagpipes, clapping and dancing along to the music.

But most of all, he loved the balloons! He even went and got one of his very own!

Play-date at the park

2011-08-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

I think my kids are going to both be pretty lucky. There are a lot of boys Cameron's age in our neighborhood, including his cousin, and it seems everyone is having baby girls this time around. So they will both have friends very close in age.

Over the course of this Summer, Cameron has matured enough to really understand interacting with other kids. It means that I can finally now take full advantage of that wonderful thing Mother's like to call "play-dates"!

Today's cooler weather called for a trip to the park with my friend Brooklyn, and her little boy Jack, who is only a week or so younger than Cameron. We set up our blankets on the ground, and the boys got right to playing on the park.

After stopping for a little packed lunch, they were back to playing again until we left for nap time. What a great way to spend the morning!

Baby names

2011-08-12T12:43:00.000-07:00

It's baby fever in our ward. There are 7 babies due over the next 4 months, including little Platt-ski. Not only that, but 5 of the 7 are supposedly girls, 1 is a boy, and 1 unknown.

It will be so fun for them to have little friends the same age, but it makes me a little nervous about naming!

Clark and I have had our little girlie's name picked out since before we were married. It would have been Cameron's name, had he been a girl. I'm actually surprised that we not only still love the name we chose over 5 years ago, but that I think I love it EVEN MORE now that it's "attached" to a little person.

So since baby's name is confirmed, it's time to play the waiting game, and hope that she is the only one with this name by the time all 5, possibly 6 girls are born! It's not that I wouldn't still name her what we have chosen, but I will likely be the last of the bunch to give birth, and I don't want anyone thinking I loved their daughters name SO much, I had to copy them!

So far there have been two girlie births, and neither have been said name! Whew!

Through the eyes of my phone...

2011-08-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

...life doesn't seem to be going so badly. Though it could be a whole lot better!

While I am counting down the seconds until the love of my life walks back through the door, I am doing my best to keep both Cameron and I busy. He is sure growing up lots this summer.

He loves all fruit, but especially cherries. It's quite hilarious to watch him eat them. He puts the whole thing in his mouth, and eventually spits out the stone. I have to admit, it makes me a little nervous watching him eat them, but as with most things these days; he insists on doing it himself!

He is one heck of a good eater now. I had a seriously hard time getting him to put anything in his mouth other than snacks for a while there, but since Daddy's visit, he is a changed boy at dinner time. He ate a whole plate of rice, bread and pork curry tonight! It's shocking!

He's also very good at saying prayers beforehand!

We recently got to hang out with some of Cameron's cousins who were down visiting! He hasn't seen them for a while, and has matured quite a bit since then, so he enjoyed playing with them.

Cameron's starting to do pretty well in Nursery at church. He had a very hard time there while we were in the States, and most Sundays I had to either stay with him, or he would be brought back to me in tears! In the 2 weeks he has been home though, there has been major improvement! Making it the whole time on both occasions, and apparently not making TOO much of a fuss.

He has also taken to cleaning very nicely. I am sad his desire for it will almost definitely not last, but for now, his efforts are *usually* appreciated!

I hit 24 weeks along in my second pregnancy. Well, at least I think I did! Still no official due date until my medical ultrasound September 1st, but I think I'm pretty accurate with my assumption. Excited to be over halfway done, and eager for it to continue speedily!

I'm feeling so much better now too. It seems like overnight I began to feel more like myself again, which has been a huge blessing since being back home on my own. It has meant lots of days like this....!

There are a few outdoor pools around here that have been keeping us occupied. We've been a few times with "Nana & Papa", then once when Daddy came home, and today we headed there with our neighbors.

We tend to go during nap time though, so the little man was pooped as soon as we were back in the truck to head home!

He's got the cutest little white bum though!

...and some seriously blonde hair!!

Here's hoping the next 18 days are just as easy!

Our Special Visitor

2011-08-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

It had been almost 15 weeks since Cameron and I had seen his Daddy, and we were all in need of some family time, not least of all Clark! It is a ridiculous amount of time to be apart, and we swear we will never do it for that long again.

Clark is still on the clock until the end of August, so our time together was limited, but the 10 hour trip here and back was worth it for all of us!

Since time was of the essence, Clark left after work on Saturday, and drove through the night. I didn't exactly sleep all that well waiting for his safe arrival home, and woke up almost as soon as he walked through the door, at about 5:00am.

I was a little nervous about Cameron meeting him again. He is still pretty young, and I was unsure as to how he would take to him initially. Clark walked into his bedroom while I was sat playing with him. Cameron acted a little shy, and coy, but had a huge smile plastered on his face the entire time. It took him all of 30 seconds to throw a ball, and bring his Daddy toys to play with, and not much longer before he was dishing out kisses and cuddles for him. He knew exactly who he was. It melted my heart to see them back together again. He has always been such a Daddy's boy!

Our first day together was laid back. We went for a family walk together around the neighborhood, had Clark's parents over for dinner, and played in the back yard. Cameron got a little hockey stick recently, and though I have tried to help him play with it, I am not quite as skilled in that department as Daddy! He sure had a ton of fun.

The weather held up for the entire visit, and we were able to spend our second day at the local outdoor pool, eating our picnic, splashing in the water, and soaking up some rays!

Not even his Grandparents spoilt Cameron quite like his Daddy this trip! Though I have never seen him eat so well! Mealtimes are a different place with Clark around!

The first Tuesday of every month is our family grocery shop day, and this was no exception. I was a little bummed initially when I suggested we still did it, but by the end of our long shop, I was so relieved Clark was here for it! I honestly don't know how anyone does a big grocery shop alone, with toddlers in tow!

Wednesday afternoon saw us at a lake, picnicking with some lunch, a Slurpie, and a couple of DQ Blizzards. It didn't take long for Cameron to find his way into the water! He loves it!

Wednesday also saw Cameron's 3rd missed nap in a row! Needless to say, our little guy is DEFINITELY NOT ready to give those up yet! He was a grumpy terror by bedtime, but still had it in him to give his Daddy a nice goodbye. They read a few books, played together, and cuddled for prayers.

Watching Clark drive away for the second time this summer, was a lot harder on me than I expected. Though I do my best to keep my emotions bottled until Clark leaves. I know he doesn't want to go, and it's so much harder for him than me, so I try not to make it even harder. What keeps me going now is the knowledge that this stretch will be a piece of cake compared to last time. Just over 3 weeks until our family is together again!

Nesting in pink

2011-08-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

It's a little ridiculous, I know, but actually knowing what baby's gender is in advance can cause a real onset of early nesting instincts.

Baby Girl Platt already has a closet full of clothes, blankets, and other goodies. A lot was bought during my trip to the States this summer, and a good deal are hand-me-downs from girlie cousins, that have been stored in the basement for some time. There's apparently no way I could leave everything there though, and it's all already organized neatly on cute little pink hangers.

Yes, I am crazy, and yes, Cameron's closet is this organized too. I'm just not sure what happened to mine!

AAAAGGGGHHH!!!

2011-08-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

Ooooooo, I am mad.....and a little confused actually. I spent seriously over an hour writing a blog post last night, only to wake up this morning, and realize that not only did it not post....but it didn't save at all!!!

I'm a little nervous about writing it again incase I waste all that time twice! Now that I am home alone again though, I suppose there isn't much else to occupy my time until I hit the hay! Watch this space I suppose!!!

Let's cool down here!

2011-07-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

I spotted this fountain on the way to Como Zoo. After sweating ourselves half to death, walking around the park in 100+ degree weather...it looked more like a spray park to us! We didn't think much about how unprepared we were to get drenched, but it was completely worth it!

Cameron loved being leant into the spraying water...

21 week baby belly and I really needed the cool down too!

Como Zoo

2011-07-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

We didn't exactly see as much as we normally get to. The heat was a little extreme to be walking around for long periods, especially with Cameron. He was a trooper though, and enjoyed every second!

He was quite a daredevil when it came to peeking over at the Seals!

"Sparky" the Sea Lion had her very own show while we were there. We watched her perform some tricks, and swim around in her pool. Cameron was very entertained! I kept thinking how fun it would be to take him to Sea World. Clark and I had lots of fun there when we lived in Florida...but bringing Cameron along would be that much more entertaining!

Here are some of the other animals we got to see...

I don't think today's weather was quite what this guy was hoping for!

We walked back to the car after some food, and waited in the shade for the car to cool down a little before getting in!

Rainy Day Project

2011-07-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

There was rain, thunder, lightening and more rain when we woke up this morning. We HAD planned on going to the zoo...

Time for some indoor projects. Cameron, Mama and I headed out to Joann's, and picked up some crafts for the kids. Mama and I decided to choose some fabric, and make a car seat cover for baby girl on the way. Much like this;

I obviously don't have the infant car seat with me, so the measurements were based off other covers online, and we wont see if it's *perfect* until next week. It looks pretty darn cute though! It's cotton on the outside, with a minky pink fabric underneath, and for the straps. What is around $50 in stores, cost us about $15 to make!

Sea Life Minnesota

2011-07-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

Cameron got sick with Strep throat a few weeks back. Actually having to use our travel insurance meant that we learnt a few things about it! For instance...it only covers us being out of the country for up to 90 days at a time. Our original leave date wasn't going to be until sometime in the middle of August, but this now means that we head home a little sooner.

So we have been trying to get all the fun things we had wanted to fit into our visit done before we leave! Today's trip was down to The Mall of America. Not to shop, but rather to let the kids check out the Sea Life Aquariam.

Cameron sure had fun looking at the fish, and other sea creatures!

4th of July beach day

2011-07-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

We've been lucky enough here to have another great week of hot weather, which included Independence Day. We got sandwiches, cheese, fruit and drinks together in a cooler, and headed over to Elm Creek park for an afternoon at the beach there.

It was BUSY, even when we showed up at 3:00pm. We were lucky to find an umbrella only half occupied, and squeezed ourselves in under the shade.

We ate our picnic, and went back and forth laying on our towels, and in the water. The water was actually really nice.

Cameron had his regular "sand" issues when we first arrived, but actually got better with it the longer we were there. He still won't go in the water without his shoes on though!

Apple Jack Orchards

2011-07-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

It was a scorcher here today. 37C, and humid as always. So we were all sweating buckets as soon as we stepped out of the car...especially this pregnant lady! It was still a fun idea though, and a cute little place to take the kids.

Cameron enjoyed a little "cow train" ride with Grandma, before we got to picking our strawberries. He picked the "Gracie" cow, named after his big cousin!

The heat was a bit ridiculous, but Cameron LOVED the Strawberries! So it was well worth the trip!

A Birthday Surprise!

2011-06-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

I mentioned before, that my first gift of the day was an appointment with a 3D/4D ultrasound Technician at Bella Angel. here in Maple Grove, MN. I had seen the store front when driving past before, and when I discovered I would be pregnant during my long visit here, I really wanted to try it out.

It's a completely different atmosphere to your regular medical ultrasound. There are big, dark stained wooden doors, a massive comfy couch for family members, a projector, the lights are all dimmed, there's spa-like background music, and the bed you lay on is nice and squishy! The technician was so excited about the fact that I was expecting, and about the baby itself, rather than having to focus on measurements, and making sure everything looked A-Ok. Upon leaving, you receive a bag of goodies, a couple of photo print-outs, all the photo proofs on CD, and the entire session on DVD. Well worth the $130 in my opinion!

We got plenty of great movement from the little one. It was awake and kicking for most of the 30+ minutes we were there. It was amazing to see something so tiny, already with everything it will have when born. Tiny fingers and toes, ears and a cute Cameron-like nose!

Platt #2 sure does also have Cameron's long skinny legs, and massive feet!

One of the tech's first questions for me was whether we were looking for gender. After going a full 41 weeks not knowing with Cameron's pregnancy, I was dying for an opportunity to shop in advance this time around!

My little kiddo's are just awkward though! The umbilical cord just *happened* to be right inbetween the legs on this occasion, obstructing a very clear view for most of the session.

The tech still did have a very good idea though, and was 95% sure she was right by the time the session had finished. She was incredibly sweet though, and invited me back the following day for a free quick peek in the hopes that baby had moved enough for a definite gender answer.

I think I was more excited about going back a second time, knowing what to expect, and having a second peek at my little one. The tech was still so cute, and excited, and we basically had another 30+ minute session for free, plus another 60+ photos on CD. The cord was still right between the legs, although baby did pick it up near the end, and we got a better look!

The news is official this time around though, and thankfully she was right! (since I had already made my first purchase yesterday!!) The Platt Family is expecting a little GIRL!

A Birthday for the books

2011-06-27T14:18:00.000-07:00

I decided to baby myself out for my birthday this year. There aren't too many things that make a fatso happy...especially not cute clothes.

My day started out with a wonderful gift. Being able to see BOTH my beautiful kiddos. I went to Bella Angel for a fun 3D/4D ultrasound. It was pretty amazing to see something so tiny with it's little fingers, and some very long legs and feet! I will post more soon about my visit there...but it was a lot of fun, and so amazing.

I finally ordered myself a stroller! It should be here by tomorrow, and I seriously can't wait!

and a "big enough for two" diaper bag, which should be here sometime next week.

And every preggo girl needs herself a pedicure! Since it's a little uncomfortable doing them yourself!

What more could a pregnant birthday girl need? Oh yes, her husband. I sure miss him...especially today, but we're more than half done now, and there are only 2 months to go!

Wayzata Trolley Ride

2011-06-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

We decided to take a trip out to the cute Main Street in Wayzata. Little shops, Lake Minnetonka, Ben & Jerry's ice cream parlor, and a Train Station entertained our morning. We also took a ride on the Trolley that tours the towne.

Cameron sure enjoyed himself on it!

I love my little guy!

We saved a stop at Ben & Jerry's 'til last. Good thing! This little one gets mighty possessive of his ice-cream, and just slightly messy!

All, minus one.

2011-06-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since our family was all together, and technically, we're still not, with Clark missing. But since Thomas returned from his mission, all the siblings at least were home at the same time for a short period.

A new face in the crowd you say? Why yes. Katie and Thomas have dated for about 5 years now, and throughout his entire mission she waited for him. Wedding Bells are sure to be ringing soon enough...though it's not my place to give out details on when exactly! ;)

Sand is not my friend, Mom

2011-06-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

We had a string of awesome beach weather days here in Minnesota last week. Temperatures getting into the 40's, and cloudless skies.

Cameron really loves the beach. He's a fan of throwing the little rocks, and splashing in the water. These are only acceptable activites though, if he has his shoes on. Since he is NOT big on the sand!

Every time we would leave the water for some snacks, he insisted on having his shoes removed, and would not stand in the sand with wet feet. Both his feet and shoes HAD to be rinsed, for fear of a complete meltdown.

It still was a successful adventure though. We all enjoyed the heat, water, strawberries, and smoothies!

beh-bee

2011-06-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

Everyone has one. At least Cameron thinks so.

We have been telling him that there is a baby in Mommy's tummy, so he lifts up my shirt to take a look, points to my belly, and says "beh-bee". It's all very cute...except now he thinks we ALL must have baby's in there!

Even Cameron has his very own "beh-bee".

...to catch you up on life as a Platt

2011-06-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

Well, since I haven't blogged for a good couple of months now, I'm sure many of you can only imagine what that might mean! Indeed, I was once again NOT one of the lucky few when it came to avoiding the dreaded morning sickness. It hit me hard, and although I am still not feeling 100%, I am MUCH better than before!

Thanks in part for my earlier-than-usual recovery go to my family. We were able to move down to live with them at the end of April, and I haven't had to cook, clean, or do very many of my other Motherly duties for a good month! So that has really taken the weight off my shoulders, and helped me feel better fast.

Clark left in the middle of April for work in BC this summer. It's hard to be apart, and seems to get tougher the older Cameron gets...at least for Clark. It's such a sacrifice for him, and we can't wait to be a family again in September!

In the mean time, while Daddy slaves away, Cameron, Daisy and I are enjoying some Macmillan family time in Minnesota. Hopefully, now that I'm a little healthier, I will be better at keeping up on this!

I love this boy's hair!

2011-06-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota humidity loves it too...and he must be the only person who's hair loves it back.

What a stud.

Happy Mother's Day...to me!

2011-05-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

I have wanted one of these forever! Ever since I have been "building" my pink kitchen, I have been dying to add it to my collection. Good thing I'm a Mother now, and can take full advantage of the one day a year completely dedicated to us! I hope I deserve it...but it's mine now, even if I don't!

Hop on board, Baby

2011-04-02T15:55:00.001-07:00

That's right folks! The second Platt is on it's way!

Due date is not official yet, since my dates are a little crazy after having Cameron, but my guess is no later than December 1st. Since I'm in Minnesota for the middle of the pregnancy, I am having an earlier ultrasound before I leave, (end of may) which will date it more accurately.

I am anxiously awaiting the next couple of weeks, since I didn't get SICK with Cameron until about 8 weeks along. Still hoping to avoid it altogether of course, especially since this time, I will be flying solo! Clark leaves for BC in 2 weeks. Wish me luck!

Introducing...

2011-03-05T23:18:00.000-08:00

As if I was no good at keeping up with the "Platt Family" blog, I have created yet another time sucker for myself. It seems like it's the thing to do lately though, so I'm joining ranks.

It's no surprise what this Blog is going to be about. I feel like the family blog is being overcome by posts about bargains, wishful items, and must-haves. It only seemed fair for both parties, that I separated the two. So here I am, introducing "Shopper Girl".

These are a few of our favourite things...

2011-01-08T18:31:00.001-08:00

Since I have been somewhat slacking again, and before it gets any worse!....here are our favourite parts of the last 3 months!

1. We're together as a family again...ALL the time...and we LOVE it! As good as APX is to us, it's hard to have our family separated. We are enjoying spending all day, every day together!

2. Cameron got some teefies! A couple posts ago I mentioned that he was getting his top teeth through. He was somewhat of a late bloomer, but he now has 2 top, 2 bottom, with more coming through as we speak. Unfortunately, he does get quite sick, but it's all worth it in the end.

3. I finally got rid of my ridiculously annoying Samsung flip-phone! Awful. Awful, awful, awful phone. About 2 years ago, Daisy managed to find my then Motorola Krzr, and destroyed it! So I rode out the rest of my contract on the cheapest available phone as a replacement. It really wasn't a horrible phone bar one thing. The texting. Oh my goodness, the texting. After months of spontaneously having the message erased WHILE I WAS WRITING IT, I finally had enough credits to upgrade my piece of crap, to the current love of my life; complete with pink bumper.

4. Cameron turns 1! What a big boy he is! Well...make that tall! On his 1 year birthday, he was 50th percentile for weight; at 21 1/2 lbs, and 90th for height; at 31 inches.

His first birthday party was a big deal for his Mama! I may have gone a little overboard, but I loved it! For example; I started planning his birthday cake back in August! I came up with a few ideas, and found a great website with a fondant recipe. I seriously enjoyed making it, despite it taking me 4 hours to decorate!

I had a slideshow going on the TV of his past year, and also reconnected with my crafty side, Clark has spent years trying to suppress! I made a little chart with photos of my little cutie, stats, and fun facts.

Unfortunately, he had another tooth make an appearance right before his big day, and he was a very sick puppy the day of his party. :( You could tell he really wanted to participate, and open presents, but he was just too unwell.

Daddy sure enjoyed getting loves from the normally "not-so-cuddly" little guy though!

5. December 9th; Our 4th anniversary. It's weird...I always think we've been married much longer...and then I realize that we have really been together for over 6 years. Still...whether it's 4 or 6, I still love him. He's still great, still sweet, still thoughtful, still helpful, and still thinks I'm hot.

There might well be a theme emerging here, but I was really quite sick on our anniversary. Clark had some meetings up in Calgary, so we all made the journey up there, and Cameron and I did a little mall hopping/Christmas shopping while he worked. The day ended the way every good anniversary should, with me puking out the window of the truck in downtown Calgary traffic. Special. Clark made me feel all better with his gift though;

6. Christmastime. I love my tree! It's still a work in progress, but I love it. Despite it consuming 2 entire days to put up, and take down, I can't wait to do it. Clark gets queasy thinking about storing decorations for 11 months of the year, but I know he loves it too!

The Christmas season involves the following for us;
- Lots of baking! Caramels, chocolate/caramel covered pretzels, cupcakes, brownies, sugar cookies etc.
- Shopping! Christmas shopping is my favourite. Who doesn't love a good excuse to spend money! It's a little tough always shopping for one side of the family who is away, but lucky for them, I love online shopping too!
- Christmas Eve. The night before Christmas is always the most magical. We are creating a family tradition of Christmas PJ's for our kids. Cameron is of course the first to participate in this, and opened his snowman sleeper to wear while waiting for Santa's showing! Another Christmas Eve tradition is "Elf". Clark and my fave Christmas movie.
- Snow, sledding and skating!

Cameron sure did well this Christmas! What a lucky little boy he is! Lots of toys, clothes, and blankets. Clark and I bought ourselves some furniture for the house. A dining table and chairs, bedroom set, and TV.

7. Cameron's first steps! He seemed to be quite content with crawling...perhaps walking holding onto one of our fingers, but last night, out of nowhere, he walked a toy over to me! All of a sudden, he's a clever little guy, and has been walking back and forth between Clark and I, all day. He's getting a little more brave every time, and it wont be long before he ditches the crawling altogether!

Minnesota fall

2010-10-07T17:46:00.000-07:00

It seems this has been quite the location for photos lately. I had to take advantage of the sunset, and fall trees there before we left. Here are some family pictures of us in Minnesota, October 2010. Cameron is a week shy of 11 months.

The birthday before the birthday

2010-10-05T10:08:00.001-07:00

Us Platt's head home this week, and the Macmillan family wont have the opportunity to be around for Cameron's 1st birthday...so we threw him a warm up party before we leave. Mama made a fabulous cake for him. It was my idea to change the middle to a "P"...I thought it was a cute idea since it now matches our sons initials...apparently though, I was messing with tradition a little too much!

Cameron sure enjoyed his first taste of cake though! He was a little unsure at first, and kind of prodded it with his fingers, but after tasting the frosting, he was sold!

Needless to say, his bath had plenty of floaties in it.

Surprised, and perhaps thinking it was already his 1st birthday, Cameron figured he better get a move on with the whole walking thing. After his bath, Clark handed him his walker, and he took 5 steps with it! Within a few minutes he had decided it was time to walk up and down the street with it! Perhaps we should have had his party even sooner!

A date with the Twins

2010-10-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since Clark and I have actually been out sans Cameron...and as much as we LOVE him, (and maybe miss him quite a bit when we do leave!) it was time for him to spend some quality time with Grandma.

We went to watch the last game of the Twins regular season in their brand new stadium. It is gorgeous! Our seats were awesome, behind home plate.

The sun didn't quite make it to our location though, so it was a little chilly after a while! We took a walk around the stadium, got a few photos, and watched the last couple innings in the sun! There isn't a bad seat in the house!

Jack Jack & V

2010-09-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

I am far from professional by any means, but I do love a good photograph shoot. Cameron is obviously my main practice subject, and who could complain. He makes any photo look good! I do occasionally get to expand my horizons though.

A friend contacted me after realizing I would be in Minnesota for a while, and asked me to do a little shoot for her kids. FYI: The cutest little faces ever!

:D

2010-09-30T19:14:00.000-07:00

It's not that all your husbands are bad, it's just that mine is so much better than yours. Here is more proof....

The boy is back in town

2010-09-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

It's been almost 2 months since Daddy left, and it's sure been nice having him back again. He even surprised us by coming a couple days earlier than we expected!

Daisy knew who it was right away! Cameron was slightly unsure at first, but warmed up to him in no time, and they are already "best buds" again!

We didn't have a whole lot of time before Clark had to leave again for a few days, but we've been out and about, enjoying Minnesota together while we can. It was great to catch a Vikings game, hit up Mall of America, and we plan on checking out the Twins in their new stadium before we head home.

10 Months

2010-09-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

Still no breaking tooth news, but the little guy is still as cute as a button! He's still walking along the furniture, and has stood alone for a few seconds at a time, but it seems like he is saving his big steps for when Daddy's around!

Speaking of...Daddy gets here this week! We can't wait!

The top first?

2010-09-10T18:59:00.000-07:00

At almost 10 months old, it's hard to believe Cameron is still not sporting any teeth! I have done my research though...and it's supposedly a good thing. For him AND me! I am certainly one of the few "still-nursing-at-10-months" mothers, who has no chance of a swift nipple bite.

Unfortunately for him, he has been teething on and off for a while. Months in fact. Lately though, it's definitely been more "on".

I have a habit of trying to see what's going on in there. He's caught on, and clamps his lips tight so I can't sneak a finger in to feel around. Naturally, I was peeking on his bottom gums until I caught a glimpse of him laughing....and look what I found...

While there are still no actual teeth, there is a definite explanation for the discomfort I can quite obviously see my little man in...and trust him to do it all his own way!

Little man

2010-08-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

My recent Babysteals purchase was this super cute tie. What a stud.

New victims

2010-08-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

I have plenty of chances to photograph my family while I'm here. It's great to have a few more unsuspecting subjects I can pounce on to practice my hobby.

Here are a few of my beautiful siblings.

1600 Miles

2010-08-08T20:59:00.000-07:00

Thankfully my parents arrived the same day Clark had to leave, so I had little time to wallow in self pity. They had arrived by 5:30, Dad packed up the car a little, and we went downtown to show them a few of the Ottawa sights.

We ate dinner down in Byward market, saw Parliament Hill, and stayed long enough to catch the light show.

After packing up the rest of the car the next morning, we were on our way to our first stop by 9:00. Palmyra, NY. There is plenty to see for church members. We checked out the Visitors Centre, Hill Cumorah, The Smith farm, and the Sacred Grove.

We went on from there to our hotel in Buffalo for the night. We were on our way the next morning to Niagara Falls, before continuing our journey. It was a little out of our way, but totally worth it. The view is a million times better from the Canadian side of the border, but the wait to get across can get pretty ridiculous, and I didn't feel much like trying my luck with another customs officer. Going through the border is not the smoothest operation for a resident of both countries.

Still, Niagara is amazing. It made me want to see much more obviously, but it is phenomenal none-the-less.

Niagara was our last stop. We drove for the rest of the day, and got to Chicago late that night. Dad decided it would be a smart plan to go through Chicago at night, to save ourselves enduring the morning rush. Day three of our journey allowed me two opportunities to finally eat Panera!!! That excitement gave me the last push I needed to make it through all the driving!

Cameron and Daisy both did amazingly well, and we made it to Minnesota in fairly good time, despite some traffic on the last day, and numerous tolls! Now all I'm eagerly waiting for, is Cameron to catch up to the time difference here!

Montreal

2010-08-08T20:09:00.001-07:00

When we found out about the change of plans for the rest of the summer, there were only 2 free days to do all the sightseeing and traveling we had wanted to save until the end. Unfotunately that meant not being able to do quite as much as we had initially hoped.

Montreal is less than two hours from Ottawa though, and since it's Clark's Mecca, we couldn't pass the opportunity up!

I have to say, the freeways leading into the city are pretty confusing. It can get overwhelming quickly! It took all of a matter of seconds however, for Clark to notice the Canadiens logo on a road sign, and he new exactly where he was going. The Mothership.

We spent more than half of our day at the Bell Centre. Taking pictures of the iron statues, the monuments, decorative tilework, and all the other commemorative pieces since their 100 year birthday.

There was plenty of time spent with everything Patrick Roy too. Clark's favourite player. He is even trying to persuade me that were we to have another boy, his middle name should be Roy. Except, no-one would say it properly, (he's French-Canadian), so we should spell it Wa. I'm thinking no.

We managed to spend plenty of money in the Canadiens gift shop. A couple of shirts for Clark, and shirt and hat for me, and a shirt and PJ's for Cameron.

They also have the Canadien's Hall of Fame at the Bell Centre. So that was a must see. We had plenty of fun looking around at some vintage gear, and hockey history.

After all things hockey, we actually saw a little of Montreal, the city. We walked down to Old Montreal, and browsed around a little, looking at all the old buildings. It's a really neat old city, and has a very European feel about it. Clark and I both were disappointed not to have had much longer to explore. There is so much to see.

...and of course, we took one last trek up to the Bell Centre before we headed home.

8 Months

2010-08-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

My lack of laptop has put me about a month behind on my blogging, so I'm doing my best to catch up now!

Cameron's last month was quite an eventful one. He started it off with the measles! Baby measles that is. Which thankfully has no side effects other than a 12 hour temperature of 104, and a bumpy rash.

His 8 Month check up saw him grow half an inch, but lose weight....which can be attributed to the measles, his new found love of crawling speedily everywhere, and the fact that our apartment was a consistent 1000 degrees.

He is still as cute as ever though. He's learnt to pull himself to a stand, and now loves to watch TV 3 inches from the screen.

I took him to the park for the first time, and he loves the swing.

Here are a couple more 8 month shots of the little guy. (Taken July 23)

We miss daddy. Already.

2010-08-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

This summer has taken a different turn for us. Clark's office has been moved 6 hours outside Ottawa, so the company gave up our original accommodation for some new ones...new ones a whole family wouldn't fit in! Not only that, but there was no way for Cameron, Daisy and I to get home to Lethbridge with no car, and all of our summer stuff. So we are improvising.

My family had planned a trip up to visit Ottawa the second week of August, so they agreed to bump their trip up a week, so we could travel back with them to Minnesota, and stay with them while Clark finished up work in Ontario. Originally it was a month we'd be apart, but he since got an offer we couldn't refuse, requiring him to stay on an extra month.

The good news is that my family now get 2 months to see Cameron! Living so far away is hard on them, I know, so this will be an exciting bonding time I hope. Clark works long days during the summer, so having the extra help, and company day to day will be nice for me. I'm excited about spending time with them, and being in MN. It's been a while!

The sad part is that we are now apart from Clark for 2+ months. That's 2 months he doesn't get to see his son learn new things. Potentially his first tooth, first steps, and maybe even his first word. Parents should never be apart from their kids. It's not fair.

It was hard for me to watch him leave. There were many times we spent apart during our dating relationship, and it was tough then... it's even harder now. We don't get sick of each other, well...at least I don't get sick of him! The nature of this job allows him to be home almost 24/7 during 8 months of the year, and I love it. It's not a conventional set up, for some people, its maybe too much of a good thing! But it works for me. I can't believe I got so lucky. What are the odds of finding someone in this world that you can spend every second with, and love each one more?

As hard as the separation will be for me, I know it will be even harder for Clark. He has more than one person to miss. I appreciate his sacrifice for our family, and hope it is all eventually worth it. Only one hour after seeing daddy drive away, we already miss him, and are counting down the days until he is home with us again.

Make time for the DOTD!

2010-07-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

As if one addiction in my life wasn't enough, I can't help but share with you my latest major crush; Deal-of-the-day websites!

Back when I was still pregnant with Cameron, my cute friend, Beth, introduced me to this trend. 1 item of merchandise that is on sale 40-80% off each day. She pointed me in the direction of babysteals.com, and I have recently discovered another; mamabargains.com.

Mamabargains.com
This is my recent find, and takes a slightly different twist on the regular DOTD websites. Rather than just posting 1 deal a day, they post 1 deal at a time. They claim to change it every time an item sells out, but thankfully it is often before that, since some items don't always completely sell out. This site is slightly more addicting because it's unpredictable. You never know when it's going to change, so you find yourself hitting that refresh button several times a day! Because they have so many more listings however, you tend to come across more lower ticket items; plushy toys like "lubies" selling for $4.50, that to be honest, I couldn't care less about. They make up for it when they bring out the big kahunas though. I've seen high end strollers, regularly over $600, on for $300. For those that need one, they are certainly lucking out! They often have pricier toys too, like the smart gear push bike, on for under $45, regularly $90. I myself am certainly hoping this comes back when Cameron is old enough to appreciate it! For now, I'm holding out for a wheely bug!
The website is fairly well designed. There's a description, photos, and a cute little pregnant mama running from "lots left" to "all gone", indicating just how quickly you have to act. At 37,000 fb fans, mamabargains is slower selling though, so you usually have a little time to decide whether it's a must have. The site does do a lot of repeats...probably because a lot of items don't sell out before the deal is changed. This can be frustrating for some, but for others, a relief, when they get a second shot after not quite acting fast enough first time around!

Babysteals.com
This website is awesome, probably my favorite of the two. It does only have the one deal a day, but in general, the merchandise is more likely to be something you'd want, at least in my opinion. The website is maybe a little more appealing, they have more product photographs, and a good explanation. They don't however, tell you how close any particular product is to selling out, so you have no idea how much time you have to think of a valid explanation to tell your dear husband, as to why you absolutely needed it. In general though, babysteals sells out far quicker than mamabargains. They change the item up for grabs, at 9 MST each morning. Babysteals has over 60,000 facebook fans, And hot items have sold out in less than 10 minutes, so if it's something you're interested in, you'd better not wait around.
Babysteals does do repeats, but not nearly as often as you would like! Because there aren't many deals that don't sell out quickly, there is a far better chance that you'll miss out on something awesome. I have never seen hugely expensive items, like strollers, but they do have pricier goodies. Aden+Anais, Ergo backpacks, and PPB to name a few, though these are the products that will sell out the quickest.
Another great aspect of babysteals, is it's archive. Like I said before, most items sell out within the 24 hour period, so the archive is slim pickings. Its worth checking out anyway, if only to see what you missed out on!
Babysteals also has other partner websites; kidsteals.com, and scrapbooksteals.com.

The shipping is unfortunately a necessary evil for both websites. You sometimes have to eat quite a cost, depending on the item, to get it to your door, but when you're getting 50% off your bundle of joy, it's often still very much worth it. Us canadian mamas get the worst of it, with even higher costs, plus sometimes even duty, depending on the product. Luckily for me, I have a readily availably US address at my disposal! Thanks family! Even luckier are the Utah residents, who have the option of warehouse pickup, and don't pay an extra penny!

If nothing else, babysteals, and mamabargains have opened my eyes to some awesome new products. Products I wish I knew about before I had Cameron, so even if you don't get addicted to BUYING off the website, at least become a fan of the Facebook pages! There are a ton of other moms who talk about the products featured in deals. It's the best review guide you could ever need!

Unwanted rehab

2010-07-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

I have come to the realization that my laptop is a major contributor of who I am. Well, maybe that's a little extreme, but it certainly is the first place I turn when nap time rolls around.

I often tell Clark that the camera he gave me last Christmas was the best gift he's ever given me...and that's saying something, since the last few gifts have consisted of clothes, spa days, costly electronics, and diamonds in one form or another. (Clark is one hell of a good gift giver). My camera though, is different. It continues to create new and exciting memories. It gives me something to learn, to constantly improve at, to feel like I am somewhat accomplishing something in my otherwise "nothing-but-a-housewife" life. We create the memories as a family, but it's my job to capture them in a media that we can "knock-on-wood" keep forever.

My camera has unintentionally created a critical bond between myself and my laptop. The snapshot is only the first part of the equation, and my artsy fartsy nature cannot leave it at that. Photographs are not ready to be seen until they have been edited to perfection. I certainly don't claim to be a world class editor, but as my skill for the field improves, as does the level of what I consider to be "perfect".

I am addicted. Addicted to taking photos, and even more addicted to editing them. So since my laptop charger quit on me last week, I have been having some serious withdrawals. Since I see life through a lens, Cameron has become a permanent model. He's cute when he does just about anything other then whine, and even sometimes then, so it's only natural for me to need to photograph every second! Needless to say, I have a weeks worth, (approximately 140 photos, and 2 videos) sitting on my sim card, waiting to be beautified, and it's killing me!

Canada Day in the Capital

2010-07-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

There are a few things you just have to witness first hand....one of which are the festivities of Canada Day in Ottawa.

The afternoon saw the Prime Minister and the Queen of England arrive, and give speeches, along with a few other noted Canadian guests. The jets flew over, the canons went off, and they had the changing of the guard.
Despite the crowds, Clark got us an AWESOME spot up on Parliament Hill. We laid down our blanket, and watched the Canada Day concert with performers including Barenaked Ladies.

Unfortunately, Cameron had a pretty rough day. He's been extremely tired, and has a snotty little nose. Needless to say, our "sweet" spot was a little too loud for him to get some beauty sleep, so we had to give it up, and move further away.

The distance gave us a new perspective though, and I got some great shots of the crowds up on Clark's shoulders!

We walked around through the sea of red and white, and made our way up to another park to watch the late night fireworks.

All in all it was a tiring, fun day, full of good music, lots of walking, great sights, amazing atmosphere, and plenty of second hand weed.

Quarter of a Century

2010-06-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

It turns out turning the big 2-5 isn't all that bad. Sure, I'm creeping out of my prime...haha, but I think I have a lot to show for it. The best husband a girl could possibly ask for, and a beautiful son.

June 27th 2010 was a fun family affair. Although the weather didn't permit our initial plans of going to the waterpark, we did go downtown, browse the mall, the outdoor market, and had dinner on the patio at Milestone's.

In addition to a wonderful day, my boys showered me with wonderful gifts! A few swimsuits I have been craving....

...and this little gem!!!!!!!

I have been playing with my iPad since I got it. It's awesome! Now I just have to work on getting my 25 year old body looking as good in those bikini's! That sounds like a lot of work. :S

Daddy's so funny!

2010-06-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

Cameron got VERY excited when Daddy arrived home in time to watch him eat dinner. Clark has a habit of loving to scare us, and decided to make a loud noise behind Cameron to try and scare him. He was already so excited though, and got the giggles whenever Daddy made the funny noise!

Sun on a Sunday

2010-06-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

We finally had a Sunday with some heat! The last 3 weekends have brought nothing but rain, and since we only get one day a week as a family, it's nice to be able to get outside. The sun was shining this Sunday, so we made it to the beach. Although FREEZING, I even persuaded Clark to venture into the water!

With Father's Day just around the corner, we can only hope next Sunday is just as nice!

7 Months

2010-06-11T18:45:00.000-07:00

Cameron turned 7 months today....so we went out for a little photoshoot at the park. Isn't our little guy the cutest?!

At his 7 month check up Cameron weighed 17 1/2 pounds, and was 28 inches.

Oh Saturday

2010-06-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Summertime Saturdays aren't much fun. Clark works a 12 hour day, so it's long for all of us! Our apartments this year are in a great location though, so when the day gets long and boring, there's plenty to see and do.

Today saw us taking a walk to "Hog's Back Falls". While oddly named, it sure was a fun little adventure!

The buildings are part of our apartment complex.

Cameron and Daisy at the falls.

After checking out the falls, we walked through the trees and parks nearby.

I guess sometimes Saturdays aren't so bad after all! How can they be, with this little guy?!

Moment of creative rage

2010-06-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

I'm a creative person, and this blog is foiling all my internet habits. Why do I feel like I am using a program that is stuck in the 1990's when I try to personalize this thing? Having 10 "templates" to choose from is just not cutting it my friends.

Back to business

2010-05-29T20:10:00.001-07:00

Wow, am I ever bad at this blogging thing. It's been so long, that I actually forgot how to post to it! I really am going to try and get back into it again though. I have a million things I'd like to blame my laziness on, but in all actuality, it is just that.

First item of business...the bump is no more. Contrary to how I felt at the time, I was not pregnant forever. We welcomed Cameron Clark Platt into the world on November 11th 2009. He was a hefty 8lbs 2oz, and 21 1/4 inches long. Mama's visit was scheduled for the 9th in the hopes that the bundle of joy would already have arrived. I was impatient by a week after the due date, and Mama wasn't going to be around forever, so I elected to be induced.

My labor was 7 hours...almost exactly. I was induced for the second time at 1:30 in the afternoon, and the contractions started immediately. I finally got the epidural at about 7:00, and Cameron was born at 8:22pm. Because of the H1N1 epidemic, only Clark was allowed in the hospital, so I asked my doctor to be let out asap so I could get home. I was out of the hospital 15 hours later, and back at the mall a day later!

6 months later, and my cute little guy is doing great! He has been a great sleeper from the start, sleeping through the night on occasion since a couple weeks old. Cameron is an extremely agile, active little fella. He has wanted to be standing up since day 1. He rolled from tummy to back at 5 weeks, back to tummy at 3 1/2 months, and learnt to sit up alone at 5 1/2 months. He had his first babysitter at 1 month old, first swim when Grandma and Grandad Macmillan came to visit at 7 weeks old, and went on his first airplane at 4 1/2 months, when we took a family trip to Vegas. He started solids at 4 months, and has graduated up to fruits and vegetables....he especially likes his strawberries!

Now, he is rolling around all over the place, has started pulling his knees up, and has been up on all fours several times lately. Needless to say, I have no idea how I am going to keep up with this kid when he DOES start moving! He loves jumping in his jungle gym, napping in his swing, he loves to blow raspberries with his tongue and scream VERY LOUDLY...especially with Daddy. He REALLY likes food, and eats like a little piggy...though I can't seem to keep an ounce on the child! He is constantly in the 80-90th percentile for height, and 20th for weight!!

On to other matters. The summer has begun, and we have left our little home again...this time for Ottawa. It's beautiful here. There are rivers, lakes, canals, and plenty of trees. The weather has been gorgeous since our arrival, and we've already done a little sightseeing downtown. I spend my days outside for the most part. There is a nice park by the canal, and also a beach, both a 5 minute walk from our apartment. Cameron and I have already been swimming at the beach! It was so hot last week.

There will be plenty to do this summer, so I'll do my best to keep the blog up to date! I can't guarantee anything though!

40+ week bump

2009-11-08T17:49:00.000-08:00

Well....the due date has been and gone, and the bump is still in plain sight! We will keep you updated......if it EVER happens!

Birthday Surprise

2009-10-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

It's birthday number 30 for Clark on the 5th, and although that just so happens to be my due date, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to do something special for him this year! So I planned a surprise party for him, with some good friends. No big deal I thought....I'll just keep it simple, and have a little get-together. It turns out that even a "little get-together" is a boatload of stress when it's a surprise!

Keeping it from him up until the day of the party was no big deal. I thought I had everything under control! I told Clark I was going out with my sister in law to the mall for some girl shopping, which was my alibi for getting all the food and decorations I needed for the party. Our little nephew got sick though, and she couldn't come out with me. Clark had a work meeting, so I had no way of getting out of the house to buy everything! I started calling people, but with no luck! My last resort was my next door neighbor. I showed up on her doorstep practically in tears! Luckily she was available to drive me around, and stored it all in her garage until I needed it in the evening.

I had arranged with one of Clark's friends to take him out to rent a movie or something. He was coming to pick him up at 6:00...all the guests would arrive, and he was to be home at 7:00. Clark called him at 3:30 however, and asked to be picked up at 4:00 instead because he was bored at home! It actually turned out for the best....there is no way I could have been prepared with everything I needed to do in just 1 hour! I felt bad that Shane had to figure out how to entertain Clark, and keep him out of the house for 3 hours though!!!!

Another dilemma was attendees! I had invited about 13 couples along, half of which had to back out on me at the last minute due to the H1N1 epidemic that's hit Lethbridge! It seems like everyone is getting sick around here!

Thankfully almost everyone showed up on time! We had a few late comers...people that couldn't make it any earlier, but the surprise remained a surprise until it was supposed to, and the rest of the night went smoothly!

Clark's first comment was in reference to masking tape. haha...he was very concerned about the decorations taped to his walls! I had streamers hanging down...he thought I must have decorated for halloween, and didn't understand why I had used GREEN streamers! All these thoughts were fleeting until he walked far enough around the corner, and everyone shouted surprise! And don't worry too much...the tape didn't wreck our walls!

There was no cake at this party. Clark isn't a huge cake fan, so I had his Mama make 30 miniature Lemon Meringue pies. Those he IS a big fan of!

He was a happy boy after the kids fingerprints had been wiped off all the glass at the end of the night! So the stress was worth it. I was kind of hoping all my nervousness would put me into labor! No such luck yet.

He's not ALWAYS right

2009-10-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

I officially own a diaper bag....and a cute one. Clark suggested that we already had a few black backpacks somewhere in the basement. Thanks for saving me with your cuteness, Petunia Pickle Bottom.

Landscaping

2009-10-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

Our landscaping is finally done! Clark worked overtime for a solid 3 weeks to get it all finished, and what started out as a couple of piles of dirt, now look awesome!

Here's the front yard, we still intend to plant a tree in the front, probably next year though. What a difference grass makes!

Entryway...

Clark put a rock water feature in the front. It's sooooo heavy! Quite the ordeal!

Walking into the backyard...

Clark built the retaining wall, and came up with the idea for the rock steps to overcome the sloping backyard! The Bulldog statue we found in Regina during the summer, his name is Iceman.

We have 9 trees in our little backyard! It'll look great when they're all grown!

Our little garden. Hopefully we'll be able to plant something one of these years!

Staining the fence is still on the schedule. Clark started doing it, but then it got too cold, then rained, then snowed! It could be a while until he's able to finish it!

Daisy turns 1!

2009-09-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to our little puppy girl! She is officially 1 today, and we had a little party with Cousin Corson, and her neighbor friends to celebrate!

Mommy made her a cake, and although she couldn't eat it, she was so excited to have so many visitors, and presents too! (Yes, that is my belly sneaking into the shot. Baby Platt wanted in on the action too!)

Corson gave her a bone shaped doggie cookie...

She was a little unsure as to what she was supposed to do with it at first...

but with some help, she got the idea!

...and the Baker girls gave her a vibrating ball...complete with Daisy covered wrapping paper, and a card!

What a lucky puppy!

...'til the bitter end

2009-08-14T16:29:00.000-07:00

Summer 2009 is coming to an end. Despite the boring nature of our stay in Regina, Saskatchewan, it's hard to believe that we have been here 4 months already. Perhaps I deserved a seemingly faster summer in my "condition", or maybe time is bound to move along a little more quickly when you spend most of your time throwing up, sleeping, and throwing up some more. Although the weeks may have been slowing down the closer we get to our departure, I am more than happy to have waved goodbye to the sick days!

I guess if I had been blogging this whole time, my last post of the summer wouldn't be quite so long winded, but as it turns out, we haven't done all that much in 4 months anyway!

Daisy is officially the best dog ever. She has kept me company during the long lonely days, and dragged me outside for some exercise when it's been nice. She sure has been missing Clark since he's been gone working though. Recently, she has taken to whining at his side of the bed in the morning, until he lets her up!

At, the end of June, we took her to the lake downtown for her first swim, which was hilarious to say the least.

She was a little nervous at first, but soon warmed up to the idea when a stick was involved!

The middle of the summer brought more fun for the Platt family. Clark and I were able to head home one weekend, for our mid-pregnancy ultrasound. The trip home was wonderful in itself. Although 6 hours each way was a long drive for just a weekend, our house still smelt like new, and I can't even begin to explain the good nights sleep we both finally got being back in our own bed!

We had hoped to find out what we were having at the ultrasound, but baby decided it would be more fun to keep it as a surprise, and clenched it's little legs together, so there was no peeking! We were a little disappointed at first...but we have totally warmed up to the idea of having a surprise at delivery, and the most important thing is that everything looked healthy.

It was sure fun to see our little baby moving around in there. I was 18 and a half weeks pregnant at this point, and had been feeling it kick for a good couple of weeks already, but it was great for Clark to have a little more sense of reality.

After dropping Thomas off at the MTC in Provo, Mama, Genna, Matthew and Kiera were able to stop by for a few days, to check out our sweet abode here in Regina. The weather wasn't our friend for the most part, and much to Matthew's dismay, we spent a lot of time at the mall! We also made sure to check out the hotel pool though! Matthew and Kiera were a little wary of Daisy upon first meeting, but they soon warmed up to her, and she is now apparently their "number one dog". Eat your heart out Cocoa.

Lucky for her...and me, while my family were here, we stumbled upon a cute little paddling pool type thing, with fountains. It's about a 10 minute walk from the apartment, and on the hot sunny days, it keeps us both cool, since our place has NO AC! Don't even get me started on that.

Clark's parents also came for a brief visit after my family. They were here for just a day and a half, but having visitors sure gave me something to look forward to! I was pretty exhausted after a tiring week, but happy to have had some entertainment!

It's not easy being without a car. It has limited my activity somewhat! Especially in the area we live. I have only once decided that I needed something from the grocery store so badly, that I walked the 3 hours there and back to get it! Thankfully there have been a few occasions where I have had the car. Last week was one of them, and it couldn't have come at a better time! As we inch closer to our departure of the Queen city, the excitement begins to make the days feel like weeks. My sister-in-law feels the same way. Her husband is doing the same thing 2 hours north of where we are, and, thanks to the freedom of having a car, I was able to go and stay with her for all of last week. So it zipped by like a charm, Daisy and my little nephew, Corson, kept each other entertained, and Ashley and I finally had each other to laugh at when her Wii fit congratulated us each day we weighed in heavier and heavier. (She is pregnant too!)

Daisy is sure going to have fun having even more kids to play with soon!

Clark is more than ready to have a break from all this selling, and we both can't wait to head back home and start landscaping our yard, and preparing for our new arrival, not to mention, sleeping in our own bed! The last selling day is August 29th, and we'll hopefully head home a day or so later. We're here 'til the bitter end...2 weeks, and counting.

Almost 2 years later....

2009-08-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

In September of 2007, I decided it would be a good idea to sign Clark and I up for a blog...and it's taken me a good 23 months to do anything with it! I had hoped to chalk my laziness up to "Blogging" being so damn difficult, but it turns out that when you actually try, it's not that hard at all!

It's in fairly good timing though. Despite having not blogged many important events since Clark and I have been married, it seems I am still in time for the most important experience of all; the birth of our first child. It is still a good 3 months until D-Day, and I'm happy to have finally set up our blog before I have NO time left on my hands to figure this thing out!

For now though, this summer has been spent out here in Regina, SK. It's been a successful year, but we are sure excited to get back home! It's been a very low key summer for me, especially being pregnant, so for the next 3 weeks anyway, I should have plenty of opportunity to update the blog! We'll see how I manage!