Its already December!

Elise and I with our kids when she was here for a visit in October.





One weekend in September Emma and I were able to go to a retreat called Women in the woods. She was soo excited to be able to go for a horse ride.










This is a pretty common picture, both girls love to be in Daddy's lap as soon as he comes home.



Dakota and Emma were out in the rain one afternoon. Dakota's raincoat and boots were too big, but it was soo cute to see her walking around.

I guess part of me is glad it is, I have 8 weeks till baby 3 is due!! YAY I have to say I'm ready to be done, my back is sore, my belly is sore, I have a cough and it hurts to cough so that's no fun. But other then that I feel like this pregnancy has gone well. Last week I went to a Dr's appointment and a lady that I didn't know came walking up to me smiling and she told me she thought I was having a boy. Its kind of funny to have people come up to you and tell you what they think you are having, how do they know???

Christmas is just around the corner and I haven't even started Christmas shopping. I am so indecisive that I just don't know what to buy people, its a good thing that we draw names on the dunham side because that means only 1 gift. I don't even know what to get Ryan. Buying gifts suck!! Okay now that I got that out. Its hard to decorate for Christmas when all your stuff is packed in a box and you are living in someone else's house. I guess I don't want to bother but maybe some day.

Ryan's car has had to have some work, and the family car needed to get all new tires so now we really don't have money for Christmas. We were hoping to work off rent on the house this month but that didnt' happen either, so we are going to be a little short this month. Does that sound familiar with other people??? For some reason it doesn't sound like something that would happen to just our family :)

We are planning to go to Red Lake the week of Christmas, as of now we'll plan on it but we'll have to see what the Dr. says :)

The girls are doing well, they both were a little sick but are getting better. I had the Dr. look at Dakota, and she said that D had a double ear infection! so she put her on antibiotics right away, it cleared it up and now she's her little rambuncious self again! She's a doll! always happy and smiling. Emma is our little scholar, she loves to learn. She is learning to write her alpehbet and she would love to be able to read her stories herself, so we are working on it a little at a time.

I have a few pictures but they don't really have any order or significance, but I'll share some.

Whoa, I thought last time was a long time!!

Okay its late, everyone is in bed sleeping and I am not, so I will blog.

I'll try to fill you in since our last post.

* Had a Dunham get together down at Trout Lake Camp. It was a great family time lots of kids, swimming and had a great time! I should post some pics of the blue blob!! (right Jill??) maybe another night.

* we moved to another house, this time we are out in the country. We are house sitting for a couple that work in Alaska during the school year so we are here till next summer. Its a nice BIG log home. We have lots of space for company so does anyone want to come a visit!???

* Emma turned 3! I can't believe it, she is a sweet girl!! I love her soo much what a joy she is to us.

* Rachel and Dave got married, I sure would have loved to have been there!

* The girls and I had a great visit up to Red Lake for 2 weeks, can you believe we were there that long?? I can't! It was a great time of seeing friends and just hanging out with my family. We got to go blueberry picking twice and I think that was the most I have picked in a long time. We spent some time watching the Olympics which was fun for me since we don't have TV in our new place. Elise and Scotty came over almost every morning (since they were up earlier then we were), went to the park a few times, the beach a few times, got to see the Red Lake zoo (garbage dump with lots of black bears), had a few picnics and overall had a nice relaxing time. Ryan came up Labor Day weekend and picked us up.

* Derek and Elise are expecting number 2, due some time in April. I was really excited to hear that we will have kids together.

* Dwayne and Laura had a beautiful baby girl (which was my guess :) ) Eliana Brooklyn - Aug. 21

* I had planted tomatoes at my mil's this spring and boy did they produce!! I have never seen soo many tomatoes! and big ones!! We made a few salsa's, I froze some and Ryan has been eating about 3 a day :)

* I also had my ultrasound this month, we are always excited for that. We got to see Baby 3, we don't know what we are having so you'll just have to wait along with us. I measured right on and we are still due Jan. 30th.

* Two of my sister-in-laws were due this month, on the same day. Both lady's went over due and one decided to be induced, well wouldn't you know both delivered that same day! Lori and Pete had another little boy, Eli Edward and Jesse and Jessica had a little girl, Carly Joy. Both families are doing well.

* Ryan was able to help Pete out with harvest driving truck for a couple of days.

* I started a Beth Moore Bible study on Monday nights, it has been very good!

* Last weekend Emma and I were able to take part of Women in the woods weekend. We had a good time we had beautiful weather and got to know more women of our church. We also got to have wagon rides pulled by a horse, which was very exciting for Emma. The next day Emma got to go on a horse ride by herself (well led around on a horse), she was soo excited to do that.

* Dakota is growing, she finally got out of 12 month clothing to 18 month clothing and size 4 shoes. She got another tooth one of her "I" teeth. She has learned to nod with yes, and shake her head with no, which is very helpful when she is not able to say what she wants. She loves to do what her big sister does (except jump on the trampoline) its fun to see her mimic. She doesn't say much (Mama and Emma) but only when asked to. She can be funny at times like a little tease, but most always has a big smile!! She is an absolute sweetheart!

* A friend of mine just recently told me she is expecting! I am so excited for her and her husband this will be number 3 for her too.

* We are able to work off some of our rent so we are busy with projects on the house when the weather is nice.

* We were able to go to Steinbach area a few weekends ago and see some old Red Lake friends (Matthew/Rhonda, Daryl/Robyn, Marcia (Frey) / hubby, Michelle Frey, Paul/Rhoda Frey, Dan/Brenda, Tammy/Menno, Dwayne/Laura). It was great to laugh and see each others children growing up. Nice time to connect, but as always not long enough!!

* Our church was expecting 11 babies at one point this summer (July). Since then 6 of them have been born, 3 girls and 3 boys. Needless to say the church has been busy with baby showers :)

Well that should be enough for a little bit. I will try to some pictures, maybe in the next day or two, we'll see.

I should go nighty-nite.

Whoa, it has been a while!

Some one in the past few days has told me to blog, so here I am.

I have to tell you a cute story about Emma. We are at the fair and she has to go to the potty. With the door shut and in the stoll the door itself is about the middle of Emma's back when she is standing by it. After she gets off the potty and is pulling up her panty's she says, "Mama, I don't want anyone to see my bum". Her bum was wide out in the open, the door didn't come down far enough to cover anything on her :) I laughed, anyone walking in would have gotten a good mooner!! hehe. Nobody came in then so no one got mooned :)

We've been around pretty much all summer. We are still looking for a place to buy, but have recently found a place to rent till next summer, its for a Christian couple that only live in the area for the summer. They have a beautiful big! log home. We will continue to look for some land and possibly poor some foundation for a house this fall yet. We'll see how that goes!

As for some of you who don't know I am expecting #3 and I'm still feeling pretty crummy, pretty much nauseated all the time. Sure hope this passes soon. I am 13 weeks along, and got to hear the baby last week, so that was pretty exciting. I hope next month Ryan will be able to come along to meet the Dr., although we both know him since he goes to our church.

I'm pretty bummed because I had a great opportunity this year to go on the women's canoe trip! I would have loved to have gone!!! But Grandma Becky will be busy taking care of another grandchild that week so I had to refuse.

Emma is going to be 3 in a few weeks and is looking forward to that. She is into her ABC's and loves to sing that song. If you listen closely enough you will realize she doesn't say the J, but other then that it sounds great. She is also into saying "WHY" for EVERYTHING!!! Okay that drives me a little bit nuts at times. She has named baby 3, "Keeya" the name of a doll she plays with at Grandma's house, I guess that name isn't too bad.

Dakota is figuring out where her body parts are so that is fun to play with her. She has gotten a few more teeth this month and has a great sense of humor. She often has a smile on her face and is usually pretty agreeable. She's into following her sister around and doing what she does, but most times someone ends up crying. She is a sweetheart!

Ryan is working hard, and still comes home most days later then I would like. One nice thing about our upcoming move we will be a few miles closer to Ryan's work, and that means home faster :) He is still a wonderful husband and father and I love him a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyhoo that's the scoop I'll try to post some pictures soon.
signing off
Mel

Mother's Day - Having the girls Dedicated

On Mother's Day at our church they have child dedication ceremonies, so this coming Sunday we are having both girls dedicated. It is such a great opportunity offered by our church, knowing that as a congregation we will have their support in so many ways. I think its great. The dedication is during the morning service for anyone who can come :)

Whoo She's got it!!!

Its funny because last week I posted that Emma wasn't potty trained, well guess what?? She got it! On Thursday she decided that she wanted to be a "big" girl and go on the potty and has ever since! She's had only a couple accidents and that's been it, today she even went #2! This is great! I am so excited and keep praising her! She keeps asking me "you happy??" Yup ! I am!
Thanks for the advice ladies. Its funny because I've asked a few people about it and they seem to give me the same advice "when she is ready, she'll go". Now I know what they mean :)

Did I mention that I have started a tap dancing class?? I've never really thought much about it, but a lady from our church gives lessons for free, so quite a few adult woman have joined and its turned out to be alot of fun! So I ordered myself a pair of tap shoes and am looking forward to the next class.

The weather has finally warmed up some here and is expected to be in the 60's most of the week, yay!!

Might be heading to Canada for a couple of weeks next month, as crops will be ready to put in in a few weeks, which means my hubby will be gone too much, oh well its only for a few weeks.

Thanks to those who leave comments it sure means alot to me.

Potty training is for the birds!

Okay I think i'm going to have my one year old potty trained before my 2 year old! Isn't that pathetic??
Honestly I haven't really worked that hard at getting Emma potty trained so its my own fault. But Dakota is soo cute I wish I could have taken a picture of her this morning sitting on the potty, her legs crossed and bouncing them, she had this huge grin on her face and she was humming, like this was the best place to be. She didn't go, but at least she looks like she likes it.

Well I have to go. My oldest is up from her nap and isn't happy.

ANy potty training tips, I would love it!!

About the Time again :)

Easter Family Picture

Easter Dresses (Thanks to Cheryl Hvidsten)

Emma and Titus reading together

Jes Jes David

Jessica, Jesse, David and us, spent an afternoon at Bemis Hill a few weeks ago. We had brats, and smores it was a good afternoon. Unfortunately Emma was not feeling well, so she didn't have a good time, kept crying and crying and wouldn't tell us what was wrong :( Oh well



Okay the title can be taken several ways, time to blog, time to have babies again (not me this time), birthdays, that's about all I can come up with.


We have been doing well. Ryan is enjoying his job, I'm busy at home cleaning and cooking, and trying to wait patiently for nicer weather, the girls are busy growing, learning ABC's, 123's, walking and talking! Wheeww!

We had a very nice Easter visiting Grady and Jill down in Waterviller, Iowa. We started pre-weekend in Fargo visiting our friends Daniel, Stacy and Kendra, it was really good to see them again. Too bad it wasn't longer. It was nice travelling both down and back again which is a blessing. Grady fed us very well! We had a couple good games and some really good chats, one really late night! I got to visit my Amish store and pick up a few treats. It was fun to meet our little nephew Cody! What a sweet little boy! On our way home we stopped in to see Jed's homestead, it was fun to have a break from sitting. The kids had fun running around working off some of the Easter sugar rush. We made it home in time for bed. It was a good weekend.

I've decided that being a first born is somthing I wish I could change about myself. It doesn't seem to matter where or whom you know someone reminds you of this or wonders if you are one. Its not usually in a nice way and if you want to make me feel bad just ask me "are you a first born??" because it usually means I've done or said something wrong to affend them. Wish I could change this but I'm stuck with it so if I say something wrong or hurt you again, please know that if I could change this about myself or be someone different....I definately would!!

Does anyone else feel this way about their birth order?? I know it can't be changed but it was on my mind today.

ANyhoo, not sure where my pictures will be posted on top, or bottom of this post :P

Family Picture

Our family picture with great grandpa Elijah taken over Christmas this year.

Home today

It was funny I was upstairs vaccuming and carrying Dakota on my hip and I had to smile because I still get those moments where I think am I reallying doing this??? Being a mom, a wife etc. I love our little family! Does anyone else do that from time to time??

I'll fill you in a little bit about what we are doing since we moved back to Roseau. We have moved in with an older couple, the wife (she's 59) has progressed into early alzheimer's. She is still capable of alot of things, but her communication and thought process is not always there. Her husband is here most of the time, and we are glad that we can help him out as needed. We are living with them in there house and we have most of the upstairs. Husband and Wife have been going out for ALL their meals before we came, and now eat at least two meals a day with us about 4 days out of the week. We are blessed to be here.

Ryan just called his new employer this morning to let them know he will be working for them and starts Monday. Its been a long break for him and he is anticipating his new job and having something to do again. He will have a 40 minute commute (each way) and doesn't look forward to that, but the job itself sounds like one he will enjoy.

I have started a new bible study with my sister-in-laws (sils) and Ryan's mom. We are studying what it means to love God with all your mind. Its been very good so far and its been real nice to get to know my family better.

The girls have been adjusting to well. Emma is learning to count and can count to 11, and a little bit of her ABC's. Dakota is a lazy crawler, she doesn't do much of it. She puts alot of things in her mouth (Emma never did) so I have to watch for all the little things. I was definately spoiled with Emma as a baby. Dakota is learning to sleep through the night, she is up around midnight for a little snack and then usually sleeps till morning. That's pretty good. She is a little bit bigger then Emma was at this time, and has started to wear 12 month clothing already. She is a sweet doll and we love her. We took her to her first hockey game last week and she had fun watching the old ladies next to us cheering for their teams. She just sat there and stared!! it was too cute. Dakota has been sucking her thumb more and more. I wish you could have seen her this morning. She thought I was upstairs and realized that i was in the living room which meant she had to crawl back, in between she stopped for a break stopped to suck her thumb and lay down! It was cute.

Anyway, Roseau has a hockey game tonight I think we are going to.

Elise is writing her test tomorrow, just wanted to let her know we are thinking of her and praying for her.

Have a great weekend
Melissa

Braids

Emma's hair is finally long enough to keep french braids in. She sat real still getting them in
Gotta go baby crying

Finally!

Okay I don't think I have any pictures right now, but I will try to get some on real quick.

We have finally moved back to Roseau and we are getting settled in our new place. We are working at getting a routine with the girls and letting them get used to our new surroundings, so it will take a little time. I will fill you in more on this move later on.

I started a bible study with the ladies in our family, and it has been good so far. I am looking forward to getting to know them better.

Ryan continues to look for a job, but has a few leads again I'll let you know more about it later.

Thanks for being patient I will try to do better and let you all know what's happening.