Everyone is home!

Actually, we've been home since Tuesday afternoon. It's ironic that Myriah stayed for 4 days with both Ethan and Olivia, but when she undergoes major surgery (c section) she is home in a little over 48 hours.

This is a sign that she has bounced back rather well from the c section and she is up and about (relatively speaking), the early departure also means that Troy is doing very well. He is the easiest to manage of the three kids at this age. He sleeps a lot and cries very little.

Ethan has taken quite a liking to Troy, starting off somedays asking "where's my little buddy Troy?" Ethan is actually down in St. Catherines tonight with his Nana Charlotte, I took both Ethan and Olivia down to the Grapes and Wine parade that tours through downtown St. C. Ethan proceeded one with his Nana to the fair.

Our great friends Jerry and Michele came by tonight for dinner and to check out Troy...Jerry commented that he has never heard our house so quiet. We decided that we miss the energy Ethan brings to the house so Myriah is going to go and get him tomorrow.

Olivia is rather indifferent to Troy, but Ethan was the same way to her when she was born so I am not really surprised.

The other day, Ted Graves came down on his 70th birthday to see his new Grandson along with Margaret and Michelle. Myriah and I have down our part with increasing the number of males on the Graves side of the family.

Anyway, here are some pictures of Troy with his Family.

The Newest Sullivan!

At 10:30 AM this morning, Myriah and I welcomed Troy Stephen Sullivan into our family. Young Troy came by way of a c-section and weighed it at 9 pounds, 9 ounces. As this was planned (albeit a week early) both Myriah and Son are doing fine.

Myriah informed me at midnight on the 23rd that she might be going into labour. We called up Aunt Mimi, who rushed over despite thinking it could be a joke (this is in fact a joke I would play on her). Our neighbour Jeff, tended to the sleeping siblings for first 30 minutes of our trip and admired my flat panel LCD - for those of you that don't know the link between Troy and the TV, please ask me later (its a good story).

I now feel like Jack Bauer during the first season of 24 after his day went astray after having presumably been up for 16 hours before all hell broke loose. I am currently on about 36 hours with little sleep and on the way back to the hospital after I am done this blog (with a trip to Tim Horton's on the way).

Enough words for now. Here are the first pictures of young Troy - who looks like Ethan when he was born.

We'll have new pictures soon and we also undoubtedly change the name of the blog once Myriah gets home on Wednesday.

Scott

Happy Birthday Daddy

Last weekend we celebrated Scott's 35th Birthday. On Friday night, we went out for dinner with a bunch of friends, without kids! It was great to have a quiet dinner out with so many good friends (see picture below). Papa, Margaret and Maggie came over to babysit, which was a first for them. Both kids were well behaved and asleep by 9:00 p.m.

On Saturday night, we had a quiet birthday celebration with just the four of us. Olivia especially loved the birthday cake. During the day, Olivia and Scott went shopping for some birthday presents for him. Other than that, we just relaxed at home. I don't seem to have the energy (or desire) to venture too far these days!!

Aside from birthday celebrations, things have been very busy around here. Last week Ethan and Olivia both started pre-school. Ethan goes MWF from 9-11:30 and Olivia goes T/T - same time (different pre-school). Two of Ethan's friends are in his class. He really likes his new school and was happy to go on the first day. Olivia on the other hand, is not really liking pre-school so far. She really loves her four core people - me, Scott, Paola and Olivia - and isn't really too fond of spending time with anyone else (unless one of us is with her). The first day, parents stayed and she had fun exploring the room. However, on the second day you just drop them off and leave. So I dropped her off and went to get the oil changed on the car. Around 9:45 a.m. they called me to come and get her because she wouldn't stop crying. I guess she was fine for the first 15 minutes and then started crying and would not stop. So I rushed to get her and literally the second I picked her up she stopped crying and started smiling - what a turkey! She didn't end up going on Tuesday, so we will see how tomorrow goes..

Aside from pre-school, Ethan is also taking gymnastics with two of his little friends. I was a little hestitant at first, I figured gymnastics was only for girls, but they all love it. He is also playing soccer for the month of September and taking a class at the library with another little friend. Lastly, he starts swimming lessons tomorrow night, the class is designed to teach the kids how to swim on their own. I am trying to keep him occupied and out of trouble but not overschedule myself...not sure whether that balance has been achieved!

We have also had a couple of playdates at indoor playgrounds. Unfortunately, I have not had my camera for any of these events. I will have to try and bring it more often!!

Although Olivia has been taking 6+ steps on her own for the past 6 weeks, she was too nervous to go any further. Over the past week, she is now taking 10+ steps and walking on her own. She is still nervous at times and only wants to do it on her terms. You can try to get her to do it for 20 minutes and she won't want to but then 15 minutes later she does it on her own with no prompting. Too funny...anyway, she is definitely making lots of progress in the walking department!!!

The next blog will likely be introducing the newest member of our family...could happen any time now...stay tuned!

End of the Summer

Time is flying by...summer is over (although it is stil hot) and we are starting the countdown to the arrival of baby number 3...Two possible dates - September 28th or October 1st - not sure which one yet. I am definitely hoping for September 28th, as I don't think that there is any chance I will make it to October 1st (September 28th seems doubtful for that matter)....but will wait and see.

We have been busy with birthday parties and bbqs. I am finished work and have been trying to get through my "To Do List" before the baby arrives. Ethan finished daycare last week. Since then he has been home driving us crazy....he is all over Olivia all the time. Luckily he starts pre-school next week (as does Olivia). I have also signed him up for a number of other activities which will hopefully keep him busy at least some of the time.....

Ethan is enjoying playing with Scott's "gifts" from his golf tournament yesterday...


Olivia walking around outside...for some reason, she has started sucking her thumb....

On Monday, Ethan and Scott went to Canada's Wonderland. They had a great time. Ethan went on two roller coasters and wasn't even sacred (his words). Here is Ethan on the bumper cars.

Last Sunday we went to Papa's for our last swim of the season. As usual, both kids had a great time. After swimming, we went to Michelle and Kevin's for dinner.

Here is a picture of the extended Graves' family. This was taken two weeks ago at Caitlyn's birthday party...Ethan and Olivia aren't looking - but everyone else looks good.

Here is Ethan hanging out with his nieces at Caitlyn's birthday party...

Here is a picture of Olivia at Truman's first birthday party a couple of weeks ago. It was a jungle theme and was a lot of fun.

Will try to post more frequently in the next couple of weeks...