November Good News

Greetings!

In case you haven't heard the good news or seen me recently (I'm huge), I want to let you know that Baby Faulkner is on the way, due May 30.  We are excited to be blessed with another wonderful boy or a girl.  We expect to find out the gender at the end of this month or early next year when I have my first ultrasound, so we'll keep you posted.  I feel fine (nothing), like usual.  Isaac is excited that he'll get to share a room with Kohen (we'll probably make that transition in March) and both boys like to hug and kiss "Baby", with Isaac saying, "Good morning," and "Good night Baby."

Brothers

Three people have actually asked me if this means we have grown out of our home.  Wow.  No.  We have however grown out of our Tercel as three carseats will not fit in the back (Isaac needs to gain five pounds before he'll be in a booster seat).  So, we'll probably transition to a minivan in the spring.   I love our Tercel ... but extra space will be nice. 

I did find out last week that I can catch Fifth's Disease if I am exposed to it and then there's a chance that the baby could catch it.  Three percent of babies who catch this disease could develop severe complications.  So, the doctor has suggested that I stay away from groups of toddlers.  We asked a nursing friend about this and she advised that I not put Kohen in the toddler room at church in order to limit the risk, so that's what we're doing.  I take Kohen into the service for as long as he'll last until he's too noisy and then we head to a room where he can make some noise and move around but I can still hear the sermon.  The funny thing is, I had the same risk for the other pregnancies, I just didn't realize it as I don't think I was tested for it. 

Recital Day

I had a knee drained and two cortisone shots at the beginning of this month.  I am thankful to feel better than I did.  My doctors says that often during pregnancy, arthritis is not an issue.  I was hoping that would be the case after this last shot but I can tell there is still some arthritic activity in my body.  Thankfully it's mainly affecting my hand right now and only mildly.

Isaac had his first piano recital this past Saturday.  He played a short version of Jingle Bells.  He gave strict instructions that only Graham, Kohen, and I could attend.  He has agreed that his grandparents can come to his spring recital.  When he first heard of the recital he said he wouldn't be part of it but he's glad he did (particularly because he was given some chocolate from his teacher after he played).  It was fun to watch him.     

Celebrating a great recital

Graham and I have decided to be brave and give Isaac a birthday party with friends instead of only family.  This counts as bravery for us as it seems a little overwhelming.  What can go wrong in two hours on a Saturday afternoon?  Our first born will soon be five years old (he's told us for a while now that he's eleven.) 

I was able to go with my Dad to Joy: An Irish Christmas at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto last week.  It was a fun evening and parking was only $5, not far away.

Isaac had a fun Daddy date going to the local Santa Claus parade with Graham.  They took the bus downtown.  Isaac was disappointed that the escalators weren't working (they are always a highlight whenever we find them.)  They finished off with a treat at Williams and a hot chocolate for the bus ride home.  Good times!  I remember being part of many Santa Claus Parades when I was younger, either with a float from our church or with the high school band, playing Christmas music.  Their bus was late so they missed some of the parade but Graham didn't recall any Christian message in the parade. Hopefully he just missed it.

Isaac on a Daddy date to the parade

Kohen is busy learning lots of words.  He tries so hard to communicate but often I don't know what he's saying.  Graham is better at figuring him out.  He recently fell off a rocking horse (over the front) and into a Christmas tree where he sustained a couple of minor face scratches.  After a brief cry his first instinct was to get back on the horse (though Mommy wouldn't let him).  He's a funny boy.  He loves to clap when he hears other people clapping (like at the piano recital).  He keeps asking me if it's time to clap and I need to tell him to wait.

My Dad helped us transform our front closet so that there's a place for a bench with cubbies for the boys.  It is such a nice change to be able to sit somewhere and to know that the boys can find and put away their own things. 

Hot chocolate on the bus with Daddy

A friend just brought by a fun activity for Isaac and I to do this December.  It's called "Countdown to Christmas Activity Kit."  There are 25 envelopes and then lots of cards to pick one for each envelope.  Examples include: "Let's buy some groceries and deliver them to our local food bank."  "Let's make and decorate our gingerbread house today."  "Make, decorate and hang up a family gratitude list."  This will be fun!  I also need to get out our Christmas candle set and devotional book.  Each night we light the candle and move Mary and the donkey one peg closer to the middle.

Isaac wants us to put up Christmas lights outside.  Hopefully we can accomplish that.  I think we're going to save putting up the tree until after Isaac's party so that there's a little more room for his friends to run around.  I have been listening to an old Christmas cd of Amy Grant for a while now.  I find it relaxing, especially when I'm preparing dinner and the boys are hungry.  I actually listened to the same music when I had my MRI when I was pregnant with Josiah.  Tight, enclosed spaces are not my thing so I was very thankful to be able to close my eyes (I don't think I opened them once inside) and listen to Christmas music ... in March.  God provided for me again on that day.  I hadn't thought about the battery life on my old iPod but one of the many people watching the procedure had just what was needed to recharge it and allow me to keep listening.

Okay, it's time to add some photos and do some laundry.  Thanks for your prayers.  May you and yours have a very blessed Christmas season.  Jesus is the reason!  We are thankful.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.