LEILA WALKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday morning was one of the best days at our house. Leila Edith Mulder took her first steps!!!
From a little baby who was flown to Edmonton in an attempt to keep her alive to a 16 month old who took her first steps!!!!
Siena, Leila and I were doing our normal routine of breakfast and getting dressed when out of the corner of my eye I realized Leila was not leaning against the couch where I had left her. There in the middle of the room standing on her own was LEILA!
OMG....I thought...she walked all that way?! Shortly after she fell over but the fact she had made it that far was a victory.
My eyes swelled up with tears and I immediately called my husband...."you'll never believe what happened....LEILA WALKED"...."WOW...GOOD" he replied. I than called my mom who sounded relieved. We spent the rest of the day trying to practice Leila's new found skill. She also climbs both up and down the stairs and says words that are very clear and understandable.
This little girl is one of the most precious gifts GOD could have ever given us. She has taught me so many things....mostly to have HOPE and FAITH.
I was so overjoyed yesterday and so proud to be her MAMMMA....

This post if for my beautiful daughter LEILA EDITH MULDER!!!!!
MAMMA LOVES U SOOOOO MCUH!!!!

Family Update February 2011

I said I would post more blog entries at the beginning of this year and alas....I have already failed....so here is an entry that is long overdue.
We are doing well here in our home! Siena is a vibrant, smart and typically selfish 3 and a half year old. Leila is a growing 16 month old who learns new words every day....but still has not mastered walking, however she does pull herself up and walk on any surface she can find, so we figure it is just a matter of time now. Brett and I are doing well and have been having the "do we want another baby discussion" more often these days. This is our 10th year together and our 5th year married. I can't believe how fast time goes....it's crazy.
I have joined a gym and have been going regularly for almost a month now. I have taken a few ZUMBA classes and I love the way I am feeling. I get an hour out of the house on my own almost every night and I feel so awesome when I am done at the Gym. All mommies need an outlet to relieve stress, anxiety and the frustration of small children...I have finally found one that I love.
We have decided to surprise the girls and head to Disneyland in California on March 2nd. We are so excited to take the girls and experience the world of imagination and princesses through Siena's 3 year old eyes. We plan on telling her as the plane touches down at LAX that she is going to Disneyland. She has been asking if we can go almost every day. When I explained to her that you need money to go she quickly went to get her piggy bank and told me that she only had enough for her and Daddy to go and that I would have to stay home with Leila......that was priceless!!!!
Hope all of you who read this are doing well!!!!
Regards,
The Mulder
xoxoxo

It's Christmas time in the CITY!

Hello Everyone,

It is December 31st today and I can't believe 2010 is coming to an end in a matter of hours......
I am very blessed to have my children and husband healthy and happy and we all look forward to 2011.
We are hoping 2011 will bring some much needed family time in MAUI....a Mommy and Daddy escape to VEGAS with the Mulder cousins.....and of course maybe baby number 3!
Every night I find my prayer including a little wish at the end where I hope I may be able to have a healthy and happy baby number 3.
My husband has consulted a Chinese gender prediction calender in hopes the odds will be in our favor for a little boy....but I am just wishing for a happy healthy baby that I can take home after 2 days:)
We want to wish all of you and your families all the best in the NEW YEAR!
I also hope to begin blogging on a regular basis this year.....as it is one of my many resolutions!

Here are some recent pictures of my family!
ENJOY!!!

Time for number 3?!

I'm not sure when it happens? But I think it's different for all Moms. I find that I always get the urge to have another baby when my current baby is around the 11 month mark.

You know some Moms have told me "you will just know" when you are done. I'm a little worried I will never want to be done.

Don't get me wrong there are days where 2 seems like the heaviest work load ever and the stress is enough to make my head explode. But I adore being the "MAMMA".
So here we are at the 11 month mark and my husband and I have had the "do you want another baby talk?"

We both want 1 more to make our family of four a family of five. But will we end up with three daughters.....and when they are 16, 18 and 20 wish we had stopped at 2?
I'm not sure?

If we have a third girl will we try one more time for the boy?

Children are such special people in this world and I cherish every second that they are both in my life.

To be honest a part of me is terrified after what happened to Leila almost a year ago. What if it happens again? Can it happen again? I am so worried?
My husband seems to think the odds are in my favor. "What more could go wrong?"
I pray that if we do get lucky enough to be pregnant with baby number 3 that everything will go well (regardless of gender) and we will both be healthy and our family might finally be complete.

My little girl in love at 3?

Siena is going to be 3 on September 14th....and she is in love with teen heart throb Justin Beiber. I know what you're all thinking and NO I do not like him.
I actually think he probably looks young enough to be my child.
It just blows my mind that at 3 she can have a "crush" on a singer. It's so funny how that works.
I guess I won't have to question her sexuality...?!
"Mamma I just love him"
I have had mixed reactions from people and my opinion is I don't think it's harmful at all. There is nothing sexual about the "crush" it's the same kind of love she thinks Cinderella and Prince charming share. I mean Siena still thinks she is going to marry daddy when she grows up...LOL;)
So I would rather her have a crush on Justin Beiber than have to listen to The Wiggles all day or something else much more annoying.
She doesn't know it yet but she will be going to his concert as a birthday gift from my cousin. I'm not sure what her reaction will be but I think she will love every minute of it. If all she gets from it is a fun night out with Mommy than it will all be worth it!!!!
So I am proud to say in this house we have BIEBER FEVER.....;)

Sometimes we need a BREAK!

I want to start by saying I LOVE MY CHILDREN!!! I love both of them more than anything in this world BUT......sometimes mom's need a break away from everyone and everything.
I have planned a night away in Canmore with a few girl friends and I feel guilty already. I have been pumping milk for the past 2 weeks in hopes that there will be enough milk for Leila when I am gone.
Leila is 10 months old today but she does not do well with any other type of milk except mine. She hates all brands of formula....and reacts badly to cows milk and goats milk. Just recently I have managed to get her to drink formula occasionally but she still gets most her milk from me.
I can not wait to be away from my kids and my husband......and enjoy time with other people who understand what it feels like to be me on a regular basis.
Most days I look at my kids and think "Wow I can't believe I made you" and I am in love. Other moments when I have reached the end of my rope I think "Why did I do this to myself?".
This is why I think all moms need a break....an over night break (not just a few hours). The mental and physical exhaustion take a toll after a while and if you can't take time to recharge it can be a bad situation for the whole family!

It's been a while...?

It has been a long time since I wrote an entry in this blog.......WOW...time flys!

Big things have happened in our household since the last entry. The biggest news is Siena is finally potty trained....THANK YOU LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think (aside from breastfeeding) this has been the hardest task I have had to do thus far. She turns 3 in September and I have to admit that my motivation was that I desperatly wanted her to be able to start preschool.

Leila is doing well and after seeing a new neurologist at the Childrens hospital they seem to think she can come off the anti seizure meds in about 4 months. As long as she stays seizure free. Brett and I have planned and BOOKED a trip to Vegas....without our kids. This will be the first time in 4 years we have gone anywhere together. I am looking forward to sleeping in, eating meals hot and taking long showers!!! We have done a few trips with the kids and are thinking of going to Maui sometime in the spring next year. I took the kids by myself along with my Dad to Winnipeg to visit our cousins and it was a BLAST. The girls loved it and they were awesome. The summer seems to be going so fast and the girls are growing every day. Here are a few updated pictures. ENJOY!!!