March 10th 2009

Yes, again, it has been a while. I can’t say that updating this has been a consistent part of my life…. But as time goes on and I realize that it has been months since I updated you all, I start feeling bad. So much has gone on that I have to update about!!!! -N



The last time I updated was last September…. Wow that is serious ground to cover!!! I will update month by month. And Andrew and I will take turns.



October.

Our good friends Brad and Shandra came to visit. Andrew played an acoustic show for a Western Canadian Music Awards showcase. He played with the regular band and added a pianist and a cellist. Brad, Andrew’s musical soul mate, sang back-up vocals, and it sounded amazing!!!! Jovie, Brad and Shandra’s eldest daughter was so into the music she went up on stage to participate in the performance! -N



Tabitha and Jordan came to visit us the following week for thanksgiving, when unfortunately I came down with a terrible flu. Sorry to have had to subject you to that Tab’s and Jordan! -N



For Naomi’s birthday this year I took her to see David Copperfield at Rexall Place. We go to a lot of concerts but this was the first time seeing a real magician so needless to say, we were pretty excited. And alas, we were not disappointed. It was every bit as cheesy as you’d expect – the ‘intense’ music, the wind machine, the drama – but also every bit entertaining. He made a full sized car appear out of nowhere, he disappeared from the stage and appeared across the arena in the blink of an eye, and he actually made 13 people from the crowd disappear and appear across the room. Pretty neat! -A



November

In November, Aurora said her first word, “Dada”. 50% of the time she meant me and the other 50% she was just babbling. This was followed by “Whasat?” (What’s that) and “Kitty”. She’s getting better at communicating and she is able to tell us what she wants 9 times out of ten. It may not always be intelligible to anyone other than Naomi and me, but as long as we understand, that’s all that matters! -A



In November and December I was in a battle of the bands at a local club here in Edmonton. I qualified for the final in November and then lost in the December final by 2 votes! The worst part was that Naomi was in BC and I forgot to vote! There are our two votes! Oh well. It was a lot of fun and a good experience for me, Jon and Ryan. -A



December

In the end of November my best friend Victoria gave birth to her first daughter. She is like a sister to me and I wanted to pay forward the love and support I got from my mom and sisters, so I went to stay with her and her husband to help out whenever/wherever I could. It was great to be able to help and spend time reconnecting, and getting to know Victoria’s beautiful little family. On the weekends I was able to go to White Rock and visit Ashley, and even Jen, who was back from Korea, visiting family for Christmas. It was so great to be able to see some of my closest girls!!!! Seriously last year was great; I was able to see just about all my girls every other month! It was such a blessing!!!! -N



My parents moved back to Edmonton in the beginning of December, so we were able to spend Christmas with almost all our families! Hannah, Tabs and Jordan were all able to come visit around the holidays. Unfortunately, on our way home from a shopping trip Jordan, Tabitha, and I were involved in an accident. We stopped at a red light, only to be rear-ended by a SUV. Tabitha’s seat wasn’t locked into place so her chair slid forward and backward exacerbating her whiplash. I was leaning forward in the backseat showing Tabitha something, so my whiplash was also made worse. We ended up being taken out of the almost totaled car on spine boards and rushed to the hospital. I had pain running up and down my neck and back, and because of this I had to stay in the hospital so they could put me through extra tests and a CT scan. I finally got home sore, but within a week or so, most of the pain had gone… I don’t feel any residual affects… I don’t think??? -N



Aurora thoroughly enjoyed her first Christmas, she was just at the age of figuring out how to open her presents. She loved ripping and tearing the wrapping off almost as much as she enjoyed the presents. Everyone was so generous, to her and us, and we are so grateful! -N



On boxing day, we drove to Saskatoon and spent a couple days celebrating with family, and then for New Years we went to Regina, staying with Brad and Shandra, and hanging out with Tabs and Jordan and Hannah. It was such a wonderful way to start the New Year! -N



January



My New Years resolution was to expand my craft universe. I decided to “open” my own craft business, to sell my wares. I created a website at butterflygarage.com and am currently selling reversible diaper bags, crocheted booties, and announcements. Right now I am taking special orders, and trying to fill my stock. I really love to be able to do this, as it has been a dream for a long time! It would be my dream one day to do this full time! I love creating cute, stylish, practical wares, and I think I have some pretty great products on my hands! Check out my website and let me know what you think!!



Starting out the New Year, I was able to spend a lot of time with Uncle Robyn, Alexandre and Felix. Aurora loves those boys! Every time we see them she just shrieks, and gets giddy, they sure light her up! -N



Aurora’s birthday was up next and I planned her a big shin-dig!! Not that she would actually know that it was for her, but we also wanted to have her birthday be a dedication party. The theme was fairytale! With the star of the show: Princess Aurora! Hannah flew in a few days before to help me prepare. What a lifesaver she was! We went grocery shopping, decorated the house, and Hannah cooked up hundreds of pigs in blankets (hotdogs wrapped in white buns). We even set up craft table where kids could make crowns. We had all our friends, family and church come, and in total we fit over 40 people in our house. Aurora was a bit overwhelmed…(didn’t help she didn’t have a decent nap that day). But over all it was wonderful! Pastor Dan and Pastor JB of our church, Bridgepointe, dedicated her, and it was the perfect time for our family and friends to commit to help raise her to grow up loving Jesus! -N



February

For her actual birthday Tabitha made Aurora a cake, and we had my mom and dad and Isaac come over to help us eat it! Mmmm Carrot cake! -N



February is the month in which Aurora took her first steps!!! I was at a friend’s house and all of a sudden she stoop up and took 4 steps into the middle of the room! There was no one coaxing her, nothing to walk to - she just took four random steps! All in her own time, just as I suspected would happen… Aurora is very much a person who does things in her own time and way. Ever since then she has slowly gotten more confidant and this past week she has taken right off. Scooting is still her primary way of getting around, but she walks whenever the mood strikes. She is getting braver, and I think by then end of March there will be no stopping her! -N



February is also the month Aurora got her first teeth! Yes! Her first teeth, I know! It took a while, and they’re not coming in the right order, but they are here - 2 glorious top teeth, soon to be joined by one more on either side. Still no real visuals signs of bottom teeth, but I can sure feel them with my finger! She hasn’t actually bit me yet, so I’m just counting my blessings on that one! She sure does have the cutest smile though! N



In other news!!!!

Aurora is going to be a BIG SISTER! And we will be parents x2! Come September 30th, there will be a new Pahl baby joining the clan! I am 11 weeks pregnant, and feeling it! The morning sickness kicked in fairly early, and I am still dealing with that… As of now, there is not a problem with high blood pressure, so if you could keep that in your prayers that would be great!



2 weeks ago I caught the GI flu that Andrew had a week before, and needless to say it wasn’t a pretty sight. I lost 4 pounds, which isn’t the best thing while pregnant, but I have been assured I will soon regain that, plus some ;). Overall though, I’m having an easier time with this pregnancy, so far, than I did with Aurora. Even with the flu, I am already showing… My belly just suddenly popped out which is more common in 2nd pregnancies, especially pregnancies that happen closer together.



Aurora will be 20 months old when the baby gets here, so she will never remember what it’s like not to have siblings. I love the fact that Hannah and I are 22 months apart, I always remember her being a part of my life. Andrew and I also wanted to have children close together so they could grow up close and we could be young parents. Potentially we could be done having kids by the time I’m thirty which means that Andrew and I will be nearing fifty when they are out of the house, and then it will be time to PARTY!!!! All joking aside, we are thrilled to be having another baby, and are so excited to meet our new little bundle of joy! -N (Or bundles… )-A



Thank you all for being a part of our life! I will try to update as much as possible through out the pregnancy, stay tuned!!!

-Naomi