Trevor & Rachel Olson

Family Photos

2011-10-10T10:18:00.000-06:00

Hudson at Two Months...

2011-10-01T23:42:00.000-06:00

Weight: 13lbs 12oz

Height: 23 inches

Favorite moment: Hudson has let out two hearty laughs so far, with many more to come. The first was when his puppy got in trouble! And the second was when his paediatrician was examining him for his 2 month check up. We can't wait for this laughter to become a regular guest in our home.

First: The boys had their first bath together. Hudson, of course, isn't sitting yet so Trev held him but he loved watching his older brother splash around and Sawyer seemed to love his company. I see many fun, many very wet bath times ahead.

Little boy: Hudson is now easily into 6 month clothing. Today I had to pack up all of his newborn - 3 month clothing and bring out the 6 - 9 month clothing. He is such a healthy big boy!

Favourite toy: Hudson has grown to love his activity arch. He can lay on his back and stare up at the hanging toys for long periods on end. Hudson's other source of entertainment comes from sitting up on his couch and watching Sawyer chase his puppy around the house. Both of these activities bring on smiles and irresistible cooing.

Hudson at One Month...

2011-09-12T14:46:00.001-06:00

- Two Weeks.-

Weight: 8lbs 7oz (as of two weeks)
Height: 20 1/4 inches (as of two weeks)

-Hanging out with his ecstatic older brother.-

Favorite moments: Sawyer loves his little brother and seems to always have a need to be near him. Often Sawyer joins Hudson on the little kiddy couch for Hudson's tummy time. It's down right adorable. Hudson really seems to be fascinated by his older brother and loves to watch Sawyer play and sing.

-So alert. So precious.-

Newest trick: Right from the time that he was born Hudson has been very alert. He loves to watch everything that is going on around him and often he will woo the people closest to him with his big blue eyes and irresistible smile!

-Trev's favorite way to hold his newborn son.-

Likes: Eye contact and being snuggled. Although there comes a point where Hudson just wants to be put down so that he can get some serious sleeping done.

-Much like Sawyer, Hudson loves his tummy time.-

First: Road trip. Hudson took his first of many road trips to see Grandma and Grandpa Olson as well as to attend Auntie Joline and Uncle Blair's wedding. Not only did he travel extremely well but he slept the entire way and fed like a trooper.

-Getting acquainted with Grandma Andrus as she helped out for the first week of Hudson being home. A HUGE thank you to my awesome Mom!!-

Little boy: First time away from Mom and Dad. At just under two weeks of age Hudson and Sawyer spent the day hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa Andrus. Hudson did very well and even took two of his meals from a bottle which allowed us to spend the day shooting a wedding! Bottles are new to this family and we were relieved at how well the feedings went. What a considerate little man Hudson is!

Hudson Ethan

2011-08-01T13:43:00.001-06:00

Introducing...

Hudson Ethan Olson

July 31st, 2011

7lbs 12oz, 20 inches

Sawyer, along with his parents, were pleased to welcome Hudson into the world at 5:20pm on July 31st. Our newest little man is a happy, healthy little boy and we are so proud to call him a part of our family. We are so excited to see what God has in store for little Hudson!

From a Baby to a Little Man

2011-07-29T13:35:00.000-06:00

Pre haircut.

Post haircut.

We cut off the baby curls and he loved every minute of it. It's still amazing to me that trimming a little hair can make such a difference in how grown up Sawyer looks.

Pool Fun

2011-07-25T13:32:00.003-06:00

We're all just waiting these days...

Somewhere Between One and Two

2011-07-22T23:32:00.000-06:00

Somewhere between the ages of one and two you learned how to walk, learned how to talk and learned how to hold us captive with your delight. We notice nothing but the wind blowing through your curls, the twinkle in your eye and the shear enchantment of your giggles.

Almost Four!

2011-07-12T14:13:00.000-06:00

Having such a busy Spring (with Trev working full time, a few weddings to shoot, night classes for Trev, a trip abroad, not to mention a few health problems and a 1 1/2yr old to chase after) it was hard to find time to fit in a belly shoot. Baby #2 may not have as many belly pictures as Sawyer did, but I sure did enjoy shooting outside this time around instead of being stuck indoors on cold wintery days.

We're ready anytime you are little one!

To London and Back!

2011-06-22T14:00:00.001-06:00

This Spring Trev had the chance to travel to London to be a delegate at the Alpha International conference. For just over a week he was able to attend sessions, meet interesting God-filled people, listen to visions and be inspired. And, as you can tell from his pictures, he was also able to do a little sightseeing as well! :) Sawyer and I stayed back in Canada marveling in his regular texts and calls.

It was clear from the beginning of the whole process of getting Trev to London that God really wanted him there. And it was clear upon Trev's return how much God had done in his heart and his life. We are looking forward now to being able to implement so many of the visions that he was inspired by on his short journey abroad! It's going to be an exciting year!

Spring!!

2011-05-18T10:21:00.000-06:00

Can you tell that someone is happy to be outside?

No more cabin fever. No more winter coats. No more being locked inside because it's miserable out!

On to great adventures outdoors!!

Slow Motion Baby!

2011-05-08T18:26:00.002-06:00

Sawyer the entertainer. For those of you who have seen 'slow motion baby' in real life, you know that this doesn't compare but until we get better footage... enjoy!

Beach Time

2011-04-14T17:36:00.001-06:00

-Sawyer's first time to the ocean.-

Despite the chilly weather, we all had a great time at Stanley Park... well at least for the first half of the visit. I would love to blog about how wonderful of a trip it was but in reality Sawyer cried/screamed for the last half of our very long walk around the park. He then managed to pocket dial 9-1-1 which left me answering questions to a less than friendly dispatcher. When we arrived back at the car he calmed down only to fall asleep, miss dinner and thoroughly soak his diaper, outfit and car seat. Poor little guy has a great day up until the camera went away and then it was tears and tragedy. A huge shout out to Becki and Amanda who put up with the two of us that long, long day.

-Thanks to Beck for letting us tag along on her trip.-

Firsts...

2011-03-25T13:06:00.002-06:00

- Sawyer's first time at the pool. 11 months.-

I recently downloaded all the pictures of Sawyer off of M+B's camera and found a few gems that should be shared. Here are a few of Sawyer's firsts from the past 4 months: Swimming at Grandpa's company Christmas party (a hit for sure) and a trip with Auntie Becki and myself to the coast to meet Great Grandma and Grandpa Magnus. He was a great sport in the water, loving every minute of his new adventure and he traveled like a dream.

- Hangin' with Auntie Becki in the hot tubs.-

-From the look on his face, I'd say he LOVED it!-

-Meeting Great Grandma and Grandpa Magnus! 1 year. -

-Making good use of Grandma's fancy decorations :)-

-Hitching a ride with Grandpa... check out those great socks!-

Favorite Activity

2011-03-11T20:25:00.002-07:00

When I lose myself in a task during the day I often listen, like any other mom, to the sounds of my child playing in the next room. And, like every other mom, when the sounds fade away I drop what I am doing and head for closer inspection. And everyday when I arrive at the scene this is how I am greeted. A happy boy is quietly reading, enjoying his bedtime books on his bed side stand. What more could a mother and a teacher ask for :)

My, How He's Grown!

2011-02-17T16:33:00.003-07:00

-1 week - 6 weeks - 10 weeks-

One year ago these two began a journey.

One of them changed a lot in that time, the other, not so much.

-15 weeks - 4 months-

-6 months-

-7 months-

-8 months - 9 months-

And, today...

Birthday Bash!

2011-02-09T21:57:00.002-07:00

-Dressed in a Korean hanbok (Dress Robes). Thanks to Uncle Eddy.-

Sawyer turned 1! I know, hard to believe. Where has the time gone?

-Let the cake eating begin!-

-Sawyer and Uncle Ed.-

-Dawson sporting a vicious snake.
A huge thank you to Rob for the amazing face art!-

-Kisses from Kim.-

-The spread. Trev and I are pretty proud of the Puppy cake.

Not sure how we'll top that next year.-

-One adorable little man sporting his hanbok (dress robes worn by Koreans at such occasions as the first birthday, New Years, Weddings and all manner of important celebrations).-

Thanks everyone for your support, friendship and love this year. Raising Sawyer and watching him grow has been one of the most rewarding blessings of our lives. Thank you for being a part of it!

One Year!

2011-01-25T14:20:00.003-07:00

Weight: tba

Height: tba

Newest trick: Wrestling. Sawyer loves to wrestle. He loves to be rolled and tickled and teased. In return he face-plants on your tummy and leaves a nice wet mark. Or better yet leaves you with slobbery cheeks from a nice fat kiss.

Little explorer: Since Sawyer can pull himself up to standing on his own he loves to explore the shelves in the living room. Time for some more baby proofing.

Likes: Sawyer loves his bath. Trev runs the water and I strip him down. It's all I can do to keep him from lunging into the water. I think we may have a fish on our hands. :)

-Sawyer proves he can pull himself to standing in his crib by emptying the tissue box (which was sitting on his dresser) into his bed. Look how pleased he is with himself. :)-

Trying to learn: Our little man is trying desperately to learn how to walk. Planting his face into the carpet and posing in the downward-facing-dog style is as close as he can manage for now... but I have a feeling that it won't be long. Watch out Kimchi!

A Surprise Vacation!

2011-01-19T13:19:00.001-07:00

-Family picture. Poor Kimchi couldn't handle the cold and stayed in the truck.-

Just after Christmas and right before Sawyer's first birthday we were offered a free weekend in Jasper. Who could pass up such an offer. Thanks to a friend of ours we spent a luxurious weekend enjoying the mountains of snow in the Rockies. Trev spent much of his time with friends at Marmot while Sawyer and I chilled in the hot tub and spent the afternoon strolling through town. On Sunday we managed to head out to Maligne Canyon for the quickest hike to date. It was beautiful but it was COLD! Oh and to top it all off, not that you can tell from the pictures but Kimchi was able to come along too! Yay for pet friendly hotels and yay for spur of the moment family vacations! :)

-Trev and Sawyer enjoying the hot tub after a hard day of snowboarding and napping (respectively).-

-Sawyer snuggling into the snow. There was SO much of it!-

-Maligne Canyon. A breath taking hike (in more than one way).-

A Haircut for our Redhead

2010-12-30T23:22:00.001-07:00

One other happening over the holiday's in Red Deer was Sawyer's first haircut. We figured that the tub was one of his favorite places to sit and play so into the tub he went. He sat very well for his grandma, as she trimmed his long curly locks.

First Christmas!

2010-12-28T17:47:00.052-07:00

-Sawyer showing off his sock monkey toque from Auntie Becki and Uncle Mark.-

Sawyer's first Christmas was a whirlwind of family, food, presents, a minor bit of kid chaos (which he loved) and unfortunately sickness.

-Dawson's best smile... the one he impresses the ladies with ;)-

When Trev finished his exams in mid-December we stayed around Edmonton for a few get togethers with friends and then promptly headed for Red Deer, the first stop of our Christmas travels. In Red Deer we enjoyed a few visits with friends, a delicious birthday party for Trev, Christmas and all the trimmings, as well as sledding and playing in the mild weather.

-Sawyer loved ripping the paper off his gifts and his cousins were there to keep an eye on quality, ensuring all the paper was removed.-

-Cooper, Sawyer's other (and slightly older)half.-

-Sawyer was pretty pleased with his gifts.-

-Nixon slept through Christmas but watch out next year... he's going to love all the action.-

-Who's who? We spent a considerable amount of time this holiday season marveling at the resemblance between these two.-

-Precious Nixon.-

Eleven Months!

2010-12-26T17:43:00.001-07:00

Newest trick: Climbing stairs. Sawyer loves to climb the stairs at the Andrus household. And why not, all the good stuff is upstairs. Who needs baby toys when there is a kitchen full of people and food!

Little explorer: Toys almost seem irrelevant as Sawyer has discovered that he is efficient at exploring new places. Doesn't take long for him to get from point A to point B with a few pit stops along the way.

Favourite food: Sawyer still loves his baby food although we are starting to make a small break through with table food. Much to our delight Sawyer actually joined us for turkey dinner on Christmas Day!

First: First Christmas. I'm not sure which he enjoyed the most, of the hustle and bustle of his busy cousins or the crinkling of the tissue paper.

Favorite moment: Big, fat slobbery kisses from Sawyer. They leave you feeling like you need to squeegee your face but they are so sweet.

Trying to learn: He's not walking yet but he's letting us all know that he's going to be a bi-ped in no time. Crawling doesn't cut it anymore, walking (with assistance) is the only way to go!

Ten Months!

2010-11-25T12:09:00.001-07:00

Words: Sawyer talks all the time now and we love it. We have yet to decide if he understand what it means when he says Mom and Dad...

Little explorer: Officially crawling in a forward manner, which means... he's into Dad's electronics and Mom's candles, he loves to slobber all over our wedding pictures AND he's found the bells on the Christmas tree! It's officially a great start to an INTERACTIVE Christmas! Also he's taken his crawling into the bath tub as well and now spends most of his bath time chasing his toys around the tub.

Favourite food: Bread, anything bread.

Likes: His new fascination is standing up holding onto the couch. He can't pull himself up yet but he tries. When he makes it to standing he loves to dance to show his excitement.

Trying to learn: How to get Kimchi to play with him. He takes Kimchi's toys and waves them around try to get the little puppy's attention. When he does manage to get Kimchi to come over to him he roars with laughter. Which is usually followed by Sawyer trying to grab Kimchi and Kimchi making a bolt for it. I see a great future for these two.

Yum, yum: Sawyer is having a hard time getting mashed potatoes to stay down. HOWEVER, he LOVES pickled asparagus of all things! Who would have thought!

Invasion

2010-11-06T22:41:00.002-06:00

His world invaded!

First Halloween

2010-10-31T22:55:00.000-06:00

Despite the last hour and the fact that he couldn't even have any of the candy that he work so hard at being cute for, Sawyer was all smiles. He didn't mind his monkey costume. In fact I might even go as far as to say that he liked it. But the thing that he loved above all about his first Halloween was watching his big cousins. Dinosaur Cooper and Ironman Dawson were, to Sawyer, the most entertaining part of a great Fall evening.

-Sawyer learning how to take what is not his...-

-A cuddly monkey and a proud father.-

-Uncle Mark and the most precious Nixon-bear.-

-Ironman Dawson.-

-A ferocious Coop-o-saur.-

-Trev imparting the secrets of charming candy to Sawyer before the night began. Sawyer was a good student.-

Nine Months!

2010-10-25T16:10:00.000-06:00

Weight: 19 lbs 7 oz

Height: 27 1/4 inches

Little explorer: He is becoming a little more mobile everyday. He scoots, he rolls, he sort of crawls in a forwards fashion and he's mastered cruising in reverse.

Words: Sawyer is finding his voice! He now says momma and dadda (but not yet with recognition) and a whole host of other sounds.

Newest trick: This month has been a steep learning curve for Sawyer. Among his many new tricks comes the infamous raspberry. This new spitting trick makes for messy, messy dinner times!

Favourite toy: Sawyer loves his singing teddy. He dances, claps and squeals in time with the different songs. It's so cute!

Yum, yum: We have discovered that Sawyer loves pumpkin pie. And, if you're not careful, he'll finish off an entire piece in no time!

First: Our personal favorite memory from this month has been when our little man wakes himself in the morning singing. There is no better way to awaken than to the singing of an adorable little baby.

Finger Foods

2010-10-23T11:58:00.000-06:00

Sawyer had recently really started to enjoy finger foods and as the pictures attest more than one member of our family are stoked about this new progress. Needless to say this is the beginning of a beautiful journey for Sawyer and his puppy! :)

Eight Months!

2010-10-01T19:59:00.004-06:00

Words: Sawyer loves to make himself known especially in situations that call for peace and quiet. Take for example our visit to church on Sunday. While sitting in amongst 2000 fellow attendees the Pastor asks for everyone to take a quiet moment to reflect and connect with God. It was at the moment when the congregation was at its quietest when Sawyer bursts out in the loudest holler we've heard yet and not just one holler but a whole sentence of hollers!

Walking: No crawling or walking but he does stand very well.

Newest trick: Waving 'hello' and 'good bye'. And we almost think that he's starting to understand what a 'kiss' is. We've had a few slobbery cheeks to attest.

Favourite toy: Anything that he can bang together to make noise. He even loves to rub things back and forth across his soother making a clattering sound.

Little explorer: Our little man is getting frustrated with not being able to get where it is that he wants to go. He lays on his tummy and flaps like a seal trying to crawl... so far he's made it to mom's candelabra once and had a wonderful time tipping all of the candles on to the floor.

First: Sitting in the bathtub. Trevor says that we are now officially a family... we have toys and an alligator mat in the bathtub!

Likes: Sawyer loves to entertain! He already has his dad's charming ways.

Favorite moment: When he laughs so hard he snorts! There is nothing more adorable!

Seven Months!

2010-08-24T18:39:00.004-06:00

Weight: 17 lbs

Height: 27 inches

Newest tricks: He's been going through phases.

First week - Shaking his head back and forth, back and forth and laughing. I couldn't figure out why he was doing this until Trev came home that night. Trev came in the door from work, walked across the living room bent over Sawyer and Trevor wiggled his head from side to side as he lowered his head to give Sawyer a big raspberry on his belly... It was then that I realized that the son is just copying his dad!

Second week - Scrunching up his nose and snorting.

Third week - Making a popping sound with his lips.

Fourth week - Gurgling and grunting.

During the week of the phase this action is all that Sawyer will do to get your attention. It seems that he LOVES to entertain but come to the end of that week and the beginning of a new phase and you won't catch so much a glimpse of the last action. What a funny little man!

Little explorer: What we affectionately call turtling... Sawyer would flip over from his tummy to his back and couldn't for the longest time figure out how to reverse this action. He would get stuck on his back and would lay flailing until someone would flip him back onto his frontside. Thank goodness he's figured out both rolling from his front and from his back now! It makes for a much less frustrated baby.

Little boy: Standing. He now supports all of his weight on his legs. Now to work on the stability...

New Smile: Two teeth are better than one. Sawyer now boasts two precious teeth, which he is very proud to show off!

Favourite food: It took a while to find a food he loves but we've finally found it... bananas.

Dislikes: Carrots! Prunes! Apples! Pears! Add Peas to that list! Plain old cereal or bananas for this boy.

Favourite moment: Ice Cream with Grandpa Olson!! He LOVED his first taste of Grandpa's frozen dairy treat! Sawyer is such a lucky little boy to have such wonderful grandparents that feed him sugar. He's going to grow up wishing that they lived a whole lot closer! :)

Dedication Day!

2010-08-18T23:49:00.002-06:00

-Father and son during the dedication.-

We believe that it is an awesome privilege to be raising Sawyer to be a devoted child of our awesome God and that we can't do this alone, we need a community of believers and a lifetime of prayers.

-Sawyer enjoying the day with his Grandma Olson.-

Sawyer's dedication was an important step in our parenthood and in our faith. We were overwhelmed and blessed as many came and stood by us as we took on this challenge of parenthood. Sawyer's dedication day was yet another example of how God has blessed us not only with a beautiful baby boy but also with each other and a community that stands behind us as a family.

-Trev safety testing the food.-

Thank you all for coming out! We were blessed that Sawyer could be surrounded that day by people that love the Lord and that love him.

-Sawyer showing Grandma and Grandpa Olson how we spend summer in Edmonton.-

-Great Grandma Andrus holding the newest addition, Nixon Peter Yates Andrus.-

-Auntie Becki showing Coop a thing or two about the art of face-making.-

-Trev and Dawson on a much needed break from tickle-wars.-

-Grandma Andrus enjoying her time with Cooper.-

-Kimchi's Mark... Becki beware.-

Welcoming Nixon Andrus!

2010-08-07T23:33:00.000-06:00

-Safe in the arms of his Great Grandma Andrus.-

We are delighted to welcome our newest nephew, Nixon Peter Yates Andrus!!! The third in a family of precious boys, Nixon was born on August 5th just a few days before his parents 7th wedding anniversary and a few weeks before his next oldest brother's birthday! I'm not sure if Cooper would agree but I don't think that there could be a better birthday or anniversary present!

What a sweet little boy, Nixon. Not only are we are excited for Sawyer to have a cousin the same age but we are so looking forward to watching this new little Andrus grow and change and become who God intended for him to be.

A Little of What We've Been Up To....

2010-08-05T09:56:00.004-06:00

We've been busy this summer, hasn't everyone? It seems that summers in Canada are crammed to the breaking point. We're all just trying to make the most of the short time we have under the sun and on the lush green grass. Usually we take at least one trip in the summer to get away from all of this busyness and enjoy some relaxing times on the water, but not this year.

This year we've been trying our hand at family photography and whether the shots have turned out or not, we've really enjoyed the whole process. Meeting the families, sharing, creating and capturing moments together has made for a lot of unexpected fun.

Here are a few shots from some of the sessions that we've had. We're pleased with them but we are always striving to improve.

Gardening

2010-07-27T10:22:00.002-06:00

I'll admit, I never really understood the love of gardening until this year that is. For the first time ever we are in a place where we can see our yard every time we look out a windows (unlike our thirteenth story apartment and basement suites) and so, both Trevor and I have grown to feel a great amount of pride in admiring and caring for our yard. We love the green green grass, the hundreds of blossoms, the overgrown trees and leafy bushes, not to mention our great little garden of pots on our front porch (shout out to Beck). And not only are we admiring God's handiwork in the way of flora but we've even gone so far as to buy a bird feeder in order to attract a little winged company as well.

Six Months!!

2010-07-25T16:11:00.004-06:00

Weight:16lbs 2oz

Height: 26 inches

Favorite moment: Waking Sawyer in the morning. He is so smiley and SO excited to see us. It's almost a race between Trev and I to see who gets to greet the little man first.

Newest trick: Rolling over! Well almost. He CAN roll over, he just forgets often how to do it. Sitting up on the other hand he is doing very well at. He loves to sit an laugh at Kimchi as he watches him play with his toys. It does us all good to watch the two of them. I would have never imagined that Kimchi and Sawyer would get along so well!

Favourite toy: His exer-saucer (sounds like some cultish thing). He loves to sit/bounce in it an play with all the noisy toys on the sides. I don't mind the noise because it gives me a free minute to do things like post this blog.

Dislikes: Peek-a-boo. Try it and he cries. Funny thing is, he loves to be startled. If you are walking away and turn around suddenly and grab his tummy he laughs himself silly.

Stollery: His third and final visit for the year! (See post below for further details.)

Kimchi's Heaven

2010-07-23T11:47:00.001-06:00

Kimchi has recently realized the value of having a little one in the house. For six months now Kimchi has put up with not being the centre of attention and now that Sawyer is eating solid foods, Kimchi is finally reaping his reward. I have a feeling that this newly blossomed symbiotic relationship is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. :)

Note: the following pictures are not for germaphobes or the faint hearted. Mom, look away.

-This is the chaos that we now call dinner time at the Olson residence.-

Third Time is the Charm

2010-07-15T18:44:00.000-06:00

We took Sawyer in for his third check up at the Stollery this week and good news... Sawyer's condition is getting neither better, nor worse. This is great news seeing how the last time he had a check up his condition had worsened. So now our little Sawyer is being spared five visits and does not have to return to the Children's Hospital for another year! Praise the Lord!

Saskatchewan Landing

2010-07-06T23:00:00.000-06:00

-And that's not even all of us!-

A few weekend ago we were fortunate enough to be able to attend a family reunion at Saskatchewan Landing (the Bogen side of the family (Trevor's Mom's side). Not only was it great to introduce Sawyer to a ton of his relatives (the ones responsible for his red hair) but it was so wonderful for Sawyer to finally meet all of his aunts, uncles and cousins. We were also able to enjoy a bit of the water and the sunshine while hanging out on the boat.

-Sawyer spent a good portion of his time at the reunion meeting new people, this is one of the few times I nabbed him to a cuddle.-

-Turkey & ham dinner!! That's right! Turkey while camping!-

-Canada Day fireworks at the fairgrounds in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.-

-Captain Trev loves his Dad's new boat! Maybe someday Trev, maybe someday...-

-Raith showing off the flowers he picked especially for his grandma! What a sweet boy.-

-Four generations of Bogens.-

-Zane and Raith enjoying a ride in tube thanks to Uncle Trev.-

-Tanya and Rowan enjoying the breeze while riding on the front of the boat.-

-A dirty faced little Kayla. Needless to say, she enjoyed Grandpa's boat as much as anyone.-

Twenty Three Weeks...

2010-07-05T12:10:00.010-06:00

Favourite toy: His toes. He can't get them into his mouth as of yet, but not for a lack of trying.

Little explorer: We all journeyed out to Saskatchewan landing for Sawyer's first family reunion. And, with his fiery red hair, he fit right in. Needless to say, the Bogen side of the family seemed quite happy to see that the red head gene was continuing on.

Favourite food: Rice Cereal... well I don't know if you can call it a favorite if that's all he's tried, but he does love it. He gets so excited when he sees a spoonful of cereal that he often flails his arms and knocks the goopy stuff all down his front side. Yeah, I'd say he likes food.

First: (1) Meeting one of his Great Grandmothers... Sawyer has 4 Great Grandparents and hopefully he will be able to meet them all and sometime soon.

(2) Being sick. Sawyer contracted his first cold while visiting at the reunion and it took the poor little guy out for a few days. Luckily for his mother, the little man is as good natured when he's sick as he is when he's healthy.

Likes: A more appropriate title would be 'Addictions:' Sawyer is positively addicted to his soother. He was neither here nor there about the whole soother business for a while and then he figured out how to grab it and stuff it in his mouth. Now there is no stopping him, he LOVES it!

Happy Canada Day, Saskatchewan!

2010-07-01T23:00:00.005-06:00

Wishes for a very happy Canada Day to all!

Beach Bum

2010-06-28T13:32:00.001-06:00

For a the most special of Father's Days, Trev's first, we headed out to the lake to spend the day wading in the perfectly warm waters, playing under the canopies of green leaves, cuddling on the sandy beach and chatting with family around an evening fire. All had a great time. Sawyer enjoyed the sights and sounds, Trev enjoyed just being with his precious little boy and I enjoyed watching the two of them. It sure is fun having a little Sawyer around.

-Sawyer commandeered his own lawn chair as it was too hot for him to be held.-

-Cuddling the afternoon away.-

-Playing in the shade with Auntie Becki.-

Out with the Old, In with the New

2010-06-27T17:50:00.000-06:00

-Post-cut Kimchi-

A few weeks back I got really, really tired of looking at a pitifully scraggly Kimchi. So, being poor students and all, I decided to cut his hair myself. And, thanks to You Tube, a pair of clippers and my lovely assistant Trevor I managed a half-decent schnauzer cut. Now not only does Kimchi look better but he also feels better in the heat (yes, I said heat as we've actually had a little bit of nice weather as of late).

-Pre-cut Kimchi-

-Half way done. Poor little guy sat obediently for near two hours
(the joys of a perfectionist learning a new skill).-

-Half the hair I stripped off... the rest was on the floor, my pants, in my mouth, on the carpet and just about anywhere else you can imagine.-

Five Months!

2010-06-24T06:39:00.002-06:00

Weight: 16lbs 3oz

Height: 25 1/4 inches

Favorite moment: The four of us made a trip down to Aspen Beach to join my family for a very special Father's Day BBQ. The sun was hot, the water was warm, the food was summery and Sawyer enjoyed his first trip to the lake. Hopefully this is the first of many beach days to come!

Words: No words yet but he's making new sounds daily. And, we've found that as his talking gets louder so does his crying. We may have to invest in earplugs for our downstairs people, Rach & Rob.

Trying to learn: Still working on rolling over. But for now Sawyer pivots around in circles (his head stays in one place and he pushed his body around it by kicking with his feet). Now when I lay him in his crib he is guaranteed to be in a different place when I go to get him up. Watch out world, here comes a semi-mobile Sawyer!

First: Slept 8 hours... only once. I guess that Sawyer just wanted me to know that he can sleep for extended periods of time, he just chooses not to. They say that his sleeping should be getting better, but it doesn't seem to be. It's a good thing that he's so wonderful during the day. At least I get a break in then.

Likes: Sawyer is captivated by his Jolly Jumper. He loves to stand and watch what is going on around him. He appreciates the better view of me, as I do chores, and Kimchi as he follows me around the house.

The First of Many

2010-06-20T17:40:00.000-06:00

Happy first Father's Day, Trev!

The Calgary Zoo

2010-06-12T22:12:00.009-06:00

Sawyer took his first trip to the Calgary Zoo this past weekend. I was equally as excited to introduce him to all of the animals as I was for him to spend the day with the whole family. Sawyer on the other hand found the zoo a great place for a very long nap!

During the day we did see many animals. We managed to get a few shots of the more intimidating ones...

-Monster, Auntie Becki toting Sawyer around in his super wrap.-
(Thanks again to his Auntie Karalee)

-A rare sighting of the ferocious camera wielding Uncle Dave.-

All in all it was a successful day of rare sightings, long naps and family fun! We're looking forward to many more trips in the future and with any luck, hopefully Sawyer will be able to stay awake long enough to see an animal.

Nineteen Weeks...

2010-06-10T13:08:00.000-06:00

Weight: 15lbs 6oz

Height: 25 inches

Likes: Kimchi (our dog, not the food). Sawyer now smiles when he sees Kimchi and Kimchi has begun to shower Sawyer with kisses. Lately I've even noticed that Sawyer looks around for the puppy when he hears little nails clicking across the kitchen floor.

Words: You can tell when Sawyer has had a good nights rest as the following morning is filled with jabbering. Sawyer now babbles, stringing together multi-syllable sounds and giggles. Nothing could be more adorable.

Newest trick: Our little man has now learned how to push himself up with his arms and hold himself upright. He is very proud of his achievement and spends a good portion of his tummy time checking out his new found world.

First: This past weekend Sawyer made his first trip to the Calgary Zoo. Needless to say he spent most of his visit sleeping (much to his Auntie Becki's delight). Maybe next time he'll enjoy the animals, sights, sounds and smells a little more.

Trying to learn: Sawyer is working on learning to roll over. Stay tuned...

Precious Toes

2010-06-08T23:58:00.002-06:00

Four Months!

2010-05-25T13:03:00.002-06:00

Little explorer: With many more to follow... a trip to the Rocky Mountains. A few weekends ago Sawyer and I ventured to Shunda Creek Hostel for a stagette. Lucky Sawyer. The weekend was wonderful. We hiked, hot tubbed (sort of), and had a huge breakfast. Thanks Kim for the wonderful getaway and thank you Laurel for providing the excuse.

New smile: smiling + giggling + blowing bubbles = slobbery messes. Don't get me wrong, Sawyer is still adorable; he's just adorable in sopping clothes.

Newest trick: Sitting in his Bumbo. I know that this doesn't quite count as sitting up but it's a pretty big step. He just doesn't seem at all like a baby when he is vertical and playing with toys.

First: Going to bed at 9:30. It's been a long journey of sleepless nights and fitful days but Sawyer now seems to wind down at around 9:30 instead of his usual midnight. We are so thankful for the schedule change and are embracing our few hours of "free time" in the evenings.

Favorite moment: Sawyer now seems to play shy. If he does end up having a quiet side, he definitely comes by it honestly...

Trying to learn: Two fists are better than one. If it's not his soother in his mouth, it's a few fingers or a fist (or both fists for that matter). These past few weeks Sawyer has learned the art of grabbing, holding and somehow everything seems to find it's way to his mouth. Now if only he could figure out how to put his soother back in.

You Know You're in Alberta When...

2010-05-19T13:04:00.000-06:00

You know that you live in Alberta when...

...one weekend you bundle your baby up tight, layer after layer of warm clothes and blankets to battle the blizzard outside.

And the very next weekend...

...the heat is so intense that you bust out your baby pool and everyone gladly goes for a dip as a much needed reprieve from the heat.

A Family Affair

2010-05-12T13:10:00.004-06:00

It's coming to the end of slipper season; a mixed blessing.
We love the soft warmth of our Padraigs.
Yet, we love the feeling of bare feet in the summer.

Our slippers have served the three of us well through the cold, cold days of winter and long into the blustery days of spring.
But now we say hello to summer.

Because before we know it we'll need our slippers again.

Fifteen Weeks...

2010-05-10T03:39:00.003-06:00

Firsts:
1. Babysittering. Sawyer has had small little stints of time away from Trev and I but nothing like this past weekend. Thanks to Sawyer's super Uncle Dave, a bottle and Sawyer's stroller (but mostly Uncle Dave) Trev and I managed to shoot a wedding. That's an amazing five or six hours of bonding time with his uncle!! (THANK YOU DAVE) That brings up the next 'first'...

2. Sawyer attended his first wedding. Attending the ceremony and tagging along with the wedding party all day should have given him a good glimpse of what a wedding entails... even if he did snooze through most everything.

-Watch out Moose, he's catching up!-

Likes: Daily explorations in the neighborhood. Sawyer now stays awake for the better part of a walk and just seems to enjoy the scenery flashing by.

Newest trick: Sawyer is now a grabber; hair and jewelry beware.

Communication: Surprisingly, Sawyer is not speaking yet, but he defiantly lets us know his thoughts and feeling through sounds and gestures. From coos to cries, giggling to grunting, and not to mention smiles and screams, Sawyer is mastering the art of getting what he wants.

Favourite moments: Kimchi now sits and watches Sawyer play with his toys. When the toy is dropped Kimchi swoops in for the grab and he's off. What Kimchi doesn't realize is that one day in the near future Sawyer will be bigger than him and mobile.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T13:31:00.002-06:00

My boys spoiled me on this, my first Mother's Day.

I enjoyed a long sleep, waking to a clean house and breakfast in bed. Not to mention a long stroll by the river and a wonderful amount of time just being together as a family!

All my favourite things. What more could I ask for.

Happy 백일, Sawyer!!

2010-05-05T11:53:00.010-06:00

-Eddy, initiating Sawyer into a Korean tradition.-

This week we were fortunate enough to be able to celebrate Sawyer's 100th day of life with Eddy, our good friend from our days in Korea. In Korean culture the 100th day of life (or Baek-il) is a very important day. This day marks the end of the difficult first days of life, celebrating the survival of the child and for the first time looking at the future with hope. Baek-il was born out of the time past when infant mortality was high and many babies sadly did live past three months. How blessed we are to live a life that makes this horror hard to fathom.

-Happy 백일(baek il) little man!!-

On the 100th day after the child's birth, a party is thrown; family and friends are invited, and a feast of rice cakes, wine and red and black bean cakes is prepared. It is believed that if the rice cakes are shared with more than 100 people the child will be blessed with a long life. People in return send gifts of rice, money and gold symbolizing future wealth.

While Sawyer didn't celebrate in a fully traditional style, we did mix up some killer rice cakes, the most delicious home cooked Galbi and he was showered with gifts from his uncle Eddy.

Thanks for the memories, Eddy!

Sawyer Edison Olson

2010-04-26T18:48:00.003-06:00

Second Time Around

2010-04-22T13:52:00.000-06:00

Earlier this month we ventured back to the Stollery Children's Hospital. As most of you know, in February Sawyer was diagnosed with Pulmonary Stenosis, a heart condition affecting the transfer of blood from his heart to his lungs. This time the procedures were familiar, a heart echo followed by an EKG and finally a consult with the pediatrician.

Waiting for the consult, I looked around the waiting room hoping that in a few moments the doctor would tell us that Sawyer's condition had improved and that we would be able to forego any future trips to the cardiac unit. This was not the case. The doctor informed us that his condition has become slightly more exaggerated and although surgery is not needed at this stage it may be needed at some distant time down the road.

And, again it needs to be said that we are thankful to God for His provision and goodness. We are overwhelmed by the knowledge and friendliness of the Stollery staff and we are grateful that Sawyer can receive such outstanding medical care.

Another appointment has been booked for July.

Three Months!

2010-04-19T19:19:00.000-06:00

Weight:13lbs 2oz

Height: 23 inches

Stollery: Smooth sailing on his second visit to the Stollery Children's Hospital. He was a rock star. Even with doctors, nurses and technicians poking and prodding he was a content baby. It's just too bad that good behaviour doesn't keep us from heading back for another echo and EKG in a few months.

Newest tricks: Whining... it's really cute right now but I can only imagine how we'll feel about it in the years to come.

Little explorer: First Campfire. Rachel and Robin, the lovely people downstairs, kindly put a fire pit in the backyard. We've enjoyed one evening of flickering flames and good conversations so far and we're excited for what the summer evenings are going to bring.

First: Sleeping for 5 hours at night! I'll gladly take this over 45 min at a time. I had almost forgotten what sleep felt like.

Dislikes: Immunizations. Not really a shocker there. He went for his two month shots and showed us that he does know how to scream. Poor little guy.

Words: No distinguishable sounds yet but lots of cooing. He takes after his mom as he is always eager to chat.

Ten Weeks...

2010-04-05T17:54:00.002-06:00

Newest tricks: Sawyer spends a considerable amount of time laughing with his dad. Nothing is more precious than his little giggles and ear to ear smiles!

First: Explosive poo. We've entered the world of messy diapers! His worst mess to date snuck out of his diaper and was flowing down my pillow. It would have made a disaster of the bed but Trev got to it just in time. Thank goodness for bleach and washing machines!!

Little explorer: To Saskatchewan and back again! This week we traveled out to visit Grandma and Grandpa Olson in Swift Current. Sawyer slept the whole 7 hour drive with the exception of a stop to eat. Now if only we could convince him to do the same at night!

Likes: Sleeping on his tummy. I know that it is not recommended but as of this week he seems to greatly prefer to nap this way. Up until now Sawyer has done little to no tummy time. Before this week he made it clear that he thought tummy time was the equivalent of some cruel form of torture. Why the sudden switch?

Favourite toys: Sawyer loves to lay under his play gym kicking, flailing his arms, smiling and cooing.

Favourite moments: Smiley mornings... We've learned that Sawyer loves the mornings.

Two Months...

2010-03-22T02:57:00.015-06:00

-Sawyer and his monster friend, Bruffin.-

Weight: 12 lbs

Height: 22 inches

Little boy: Sawyer is now wearing big boy clothes. This week he grew out of his second round of clothes (1 month clothing) and is working hard at fitting into a new set, a set which includes some adorable overalls. A big thank you to The Andrus Family for the said adorable outfits. We love them and we love you!!

-Seven Weeks.-

Kidnapped: Once again Sawyer and I headed for a visit in Red Deer. We weren't expecting to spend the night but after some smooth talking on the part of his grandparents, we ended up staying. Although I am sure that Trev missed his little man for the night that we were gone, I am sure that he welcomed the uninterrupted sleep and distraction free study time. Thank goodness that exams will be over soon!

Newest tricks: Sawyer seems to be able to focus on objects and people that are moving or that are at the far end of a room now. He seems to really enjoy following people with his eyes. This makes the time that he is awake more engaging and all the more fun.

-Cuddle time, one of my favourite times of the day.-

First: Almost every day for the past few weeks Sawyer has been out for a walk, either in his great Phil and Ted's stroller or strapped to the front of his dad in a Snugli. All three of us are SO thankful that spring is here so that we can get out and explore the city and markets on foot.

Likes: I like that Sawyer is as good as gold when we go out in public (knock on wood). We take him to church, bible study, out for dinner and this week we had our first coffee date with Kim. When we're out he doesn't make a sound, just sleeps soundly in his car seat. What a good little boy. I sincerely hope that he keeps this up :)

Just Like Korea 참치 김밥

2010-03-13T02:57:00.002-07:00

Chamchi kimbop (참치 김밥), strange words to most of you but ever since leaving Korea they are the two words that are most likely to get Trev's attention. And, much to his delight, this past week Eddy was kind enough to host a Chamchi kimbop party at our place. Our stomachs are eternally grateful!

'What is Chamchi kimbop?' you might ask. Kimbop: rice and seaweed roll. Chamchi: is the variation, it means tuna. Simply put, kimbop is the equivalent of our peanut butter sandwich to Koreans. It is their 'go to' food for any and all outings. Ask a Korean for a snack, you'll most likely get a shiny tin-foil wrapped roll of kimbop.

To the untrained foreigner it resembles a sushi roll, but really it is so much more than that. Kimbop comes in many, many different styles. First off, you can spell it with a 'K' or you can switch it up and spell it with a 'G'. There is round kimbop or triangular kimbop, my kimbop always looks a little more rectangular. You can get kimbop with cheese, kimbop with squid, kimbop with tuna, kimbop with beef... You can even get nude kimbop! The lists of kimbop variations are truly endless. But for Trevor, nothing but Chamchi Kimbop will do.

Let me show you how to make Trevor's favourite food.

참치 김밥 (Tuna Kimbop)

Ingredients:

Rice (밥)
Seaweed (김 or Laver)
Pickled Radish
Crab meat, Tuna (canned)
Soy Sauce, Mayonnaise, Vinegar, Garlic, Sesame Oil and Seeds, Carrot.
Perilla Leaves (kind of minty plant)

Spread rice mixture (Mix 1/2 tbsp Sugar, 1 tsp Salt, 1 tbsp Vinegar and add to 5-6 cups of cooked rice) evenly over a sheet of seaweed (laver).

Place carrots, crab, pickled radish, and any other toppings of choice on top of the rice and to one end.

Then top with perilla leaves, followed by tuna mixture (canned tuna, 3 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 tbsp sugar, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tsp pepper) and a squirt of mayo.

Roll up the kimbop gently using a bamboo mat, seal the edge with a little bit of water.

Cut the roll into slices...

... and enjoy! :)

Six Weeks...

2010-03-08T01:23:00.007-07:00

Favourite moments: I realized this week that Sawyer and Kimchi are now about the same size, weight wise. Kimchi may look a bit bigger but he's all fluff. Sure did take Sawyer a while to outgrow Kimchi. I never really thought that I would have a child that was smaller than my tiny little dog.

First: Sawyer is now a regular attendee of church...however, he may regularly sleep through the whole service. At least he has an excuse, unlike others of us. :)

Smiles: And sometimes something that resembles a giggle, are becoming more frequent. We have yet to capture one on camera.

Trying to Learn: To control his head and his hands. He's getting a little more coordinated every week.

He prefers: Green hair... Sawyer has discovered that the turtle, one of the toys on his play gym, has green hair that he can suck on. It's hilarious to watch him wiggle his head until he gets a mouthful of hair to gum. He seems to really enjoy the whole experience and spends a considerable amount of time munching on his turtle.

Likes: Sawyer seemed impressed that our Canadian men won the Olympic Gold in hockey... he sat wide eyed through the whole match and even helped us cheer.

Four for Four

2010-02-24T06:15:00.012-07:00

So I was thinking about it today and Sawyer has seen a doctor a week since he was born. Be it a regular check up, an emergency room visit or the latest, a visit to the paediatrics cardiology ward, he's no stranger to the hospital.

It's this latest visit though that's the point of this post. On our visit to the Stollery Children's Hospital this week, after an ultrasound and an EKG we were told that Sawyer has a heart condition known as Pulmonary Stenosis.

Pulmonary Stenosis is, by definition, a narrowing of the valve or path leading from the right side of the heart to the lungs. Sawyers condition, as of right now, is not serious but he will need to be monitored over the coming months to make sure that the narrowing is not becoming more pronounced. Worst case scenario Sawyers condition can be fixed by inserting and expanding a small balloon in his narrowed artery. This is an easy, safe and permanent fix.

We'd like to thank you all for your prayers concerning Sawyer and his health. It might sound weird but it is a relief to Trev and I to know what the problem is and to know that we live in a country which allows for money strapped students to access the most advanced health care. We thank God for His great mercy.

One Month...

2010-02-22T01:15:00.011-07:00

Weight: 9lbs 1oz

Height: 21 inches

Milestones: This week Sawyer lost his umbilical chord. Not that I was sad about this loss but it kind of reinforced the fact that Sawyer is indeed growing and changing, and lately the growing and changing seems to be happening at a pretty steady pace.

Little explorer: Road Trip! And finally, Reading Week. We took our first trip as a family this week. Sawyer slept like a rock through the whole two hours in his car seat and seemed to quite enjoy his time being cuddled and kissed by his adoring relatives in Red Deer.

First: I was torn whether this comment should go into 'Firsts' or into 'Favourite moments'... Sawyer is now sleeping in his own room. This means that he is not only sleeping through the night (well he is still waking to eat) but that his mom and dad are also getting some rest. So I guess it is a milestone for Sawyer and getting some sleep (hopefully soon a habit) makes it a favourite moment for both Trev and I.

Scary moments: During his first doctor's appointment we were told that Sawyer has a heart murmur (an extra or unusual sound heard during a heartbeat). Apparently they are quite common in babies but we are being sent for some tests at the Stollery Children's Hospital just in case. Please pray.

Three Weeks...

2010-02-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

Weight: 8lbs 7oz

Height: 20 inches

First: Sawyer has officially outgrown his first outfit... well out stretched it. Since being home from the hospital his favourite position has been with his little legs tucked up beside his belly. Lately he's been experimenting with stretching out his legs and thus eliminating one of his newborn sized outfits.

Likes: This week Sawyer decided that he actually likes taking a bath. This makes it a much more pleasant bonding time for Trev and his little man.

Favourite moments: Sawyer attended his first party this week. Auntie Sandra and Uncle Kevin hosted an Olympic party. Sawyer loved all of the attention and cuddles. He slept through the entire party being passed from person to person. Needless to say, he stayed up most of the rest of the night.

Trying to learn: Sawyer is trying to learn how to sleep in his crib. Correction... we are trying to teach Sawyer how to sleep in his crib. I sometimes think that the learning curve for us, the new parents, is greater than that of our little new born who is discovering the world for the first time. We'll get this parenting thing figured out yet.

He prefers: His soother to his fist... yes, he does use a soother. After three weeks of no sleep, we popped in his soother, he instantly calmed down and we all had a bit of rest. We were hesitant about it at first but it sure is making a difference in his sleeping.

Amazing: When Sawyer is truly asleep nothing can wake him. Tonight as he was once again cuddling with a visitor, the fire alarm went off; he didn't even flinch. Too bad we couldn't transfer this sleeping power to the middle of the night!

Mail

2010-02-12T14:13:00.001-07:00

It's official... Sawyer gets more mail than we do! He just received his fifth package today.

At least Sawyer gets presents instead of bills. :)

Week Two...

2010-02-08T10:37:00.011-07:00

Weight: 7lbs 13oz

Height: 19 inches

First: This week Sawyer started to focus his eyes on objects close to him. Now when he is held, if he is awake, he spends a good portion of his time intently staring at your face. It's nice to feel like you're being seen.

Likes:This week we started having some tummy time in the sunshine. No complaints from Sawyer.

Dislikes: We discovered this week that Sawyer does not like being tickled. We've found that his back is especially ticklish and if you run a finger up from his hip to his armpit he squirms and protests.

Favourite moments: I would have to say that our times cuddling, now with smiles and focused eyes, are still my favourite times.

Trying to learn: Sawyer is trying desperately to learn how to suck his thumb. Most of the time his arms are flailing about and so he ends up with a fist in his mouth for a few seconds and then off it goes again.

One Week...

2010-02-01T10:35:00.013-07:00

It's hard to believe that Sawyer has now been a part of our lives for an entire week. All of the adjustments, not to mention the steep learning curve, have robbed us of time and most definitely sleep. This week has been a blur.

We'd like to keep you all updated on Sawyer's many accomplishments and journeys through life. Here is the first of many to come.

Weight: 7lbs 1oz

Height: 19 inches

Newest tricks: Sawyer likes to smile. I swear I've even heard him giggle. Whether it's gas or his way of expressing emotion, it sure is adorable. Funny though, he seems to like to smile at me in the middle of the night while he's keeping me awake. It's as if he thinks it's funny that he controls the show around here, especially in the wee hours of the morning.

Likes: Sawyer likes chillin' with his dad. The two of them sit at the computer and Trev introduces Sawyer to the world of music. Trev will say, "I know you won't like this music when you're older, mostly cause we like it, but you need to give it a chance now". At which time they listen to some 80's tunes.

Dislikes: He greatly dislikes being cold... can you blame him? He fidgets and sometimes screams when you change his diaper or strip him down for a bath.

Favourite moments: Number One - My favourite moments this week have been the quiet times when we sit in the arm chair and talk. I love to see him smiling back at me.

Number Two - At the hospital Trev was changing Sawyer's diaper when the doctor walked in and casually asked Trev how many times he'd been pooped or peed on. Just as Trev finished telling the doctor that he hadn't yet been messed on, Sawyer let loose and sprayed the entire hospital bed. To make matters worse as Trev was frantically cleaning up, Sawyer peed all over his own face (Poor little guy!). The doctor just stood by calmly and watched while an embarrassed and dishevelled Trev did his best to amend the situation. You couldn't help but feel bad for Sawyer and for Trevor! Especially seeing how Trev changed ALL Sawyers diapers for the first three days. (P.S. Trev is amazing!)

Scary moments: Sawyer ended up in the U of A Emergency room this past Sunday. Visually, his jaundice had been getting a lot worse and then Sunday he refused to wake up and eat for almost 10 hours straight. We called Health Link and were advised to rush him in. At the hospital he had an IV put in (so heart breaking), blood drawn and waited 5 hours to see the doctor. In the end all was fine. His jaundice levels, although they looked high weren't in the dangerous range and the doctor said that some babies just decide not to eat for quite a period at a time. This was a hard experience for us but we are so thankful that Sawyer did not have to stay in the hospital and that he has been at home eating like a trooper ever since.

Seven Pounds, Five Ounces

2010-01-30T10:11:00.011-07:00

-Sawyer, still wrinkly.-

A few more pictures of our baby boy, all from our adventures during our time at the hospital.

In total I spent the better part of three days at the hospital. With not a single complication during the entirety of my pregnancy, it was a bit of a shock to find on the Thursday before my due date that my blood pressure had shot through the roof. Fearing seizures and other serious medical issues, induction was imminent. I spent Saturday in the hospital hooked up to monitoring machines. Mom and Dad were coming for a pre-baby visit and arrived just as I was being released with the news that tomorrow would be the day. We were okay with this news. This gave us enough time to stock the fridge, have one last baby-free dinner out, and for Trev and I to spend an evening together struggling to bring the search for a boys name to an end (it's a good thing too).

-First nap together. I figured that we both deserved a little sleep.-

Back to the hospital early the next morning, after a quick cleaning of the house, to find out my blood pressure had risen still and it was inevitable that they would induce. Sunday was spent in a hospital bed visiting with friends and family, worrying and waiting. It was late Sunday after everyone had gone home for the evening that the pain kicked in and I was given something to help me sleep.

I awoke Monday morning at 3 am with what I could only presume were contractions. And after yet another 2 hours secured to machines, Trev was called to come in and I was rushed to the labour and delivery room for a non-negotiable epidural (lowers blood pressure). When Trev arrived at 6 am I was feeling much better. We napped together for most of the morning, no thanks to the plethora of roving doctors and nurses and their accompanying students. Mom, Dad and Becki arrived a little later to keep us company for the rest of our waiting. It was almost noon when they finally broke my water and informed me that it was almost time to push...

-Cuddling.-

All 7 lbs 5 oz, our tiny Sawyer was born at 1:15pm in the company of 3 doctors, 8 nurses, 1 anaesthesiologist, Becki and his proud father, Trev. In all the months preceding birth I was so focused on the pain of child birth that I had really never put any thought into how it would feel to hold this new little life in my arms. I was happy to have not felt the pain but was overwhelmed by the emotion of meeting my little boy. A perfect little version of Trev, red hair and all. A perfect gift from God.

Sneak Peek

2010-01-26T16:03:00.006-07:00

Introducing...

Sawyer Edison Olson
January 25th, 2010
7lbs 5oz
19 inches

We were pleased to welcome Sawyer into the world at 1:15pm this past Monday. Born on his due date (I was informed that less than 3% of babies arrive on their given date) Sawyer is already defying the odds. We know God has great things in store for him.

Our little man is a happy, healthy, red headed little boy and we are so proud to call him a part of our family.

Single Digits

2010-01-16T12:26:00.001-07:00

Sledding At Its Best

2010-01-01T15:17:00.007-07:00

-Raith enjoying the hill.-

One of the things we missed most while living in Korea were winter sports. The winters were cold and the lack of snow, space and free time made winter activities almost nonexistent. And while it's true... I still complain about the length and severity of Canadian winters, I do love all of the options for outdoor fun. So far this year, for obvious reasons, I have missed out on the downhill fun. But I'm counting the days until I can throw on my snow pants, grab my crazy carpet and join everyone on the hill.

-Anthony and Moss experimenting with a new and improved form of daily walk.-

-Zane, before...-

-Zane, after. I believe no injuries were incurred.-

-Tanya and Moss.-

-Grandpa stays on the super sled for 8 seconds!-

-Anthony and Moss.-

Olson Family Pictures

2009-12-29T15:05:00.006-07:00

-The whole family.-

-Imogen.-

-Jo and her good looking bunch.-

-Zane was pretty proud of his new shirt and tie.-

-The Maley's.-

-Grandma and Grandpa with their princess.-

-Four generations.-

An Olson Christmas

2009-12-26T12:57:00.001-07:00

-Grandpa reads the bedtime story, The Night Before Christmas. And, while it was the night before Christmas it took quite a while to calm the excitement in the air and get everyone tucked snug in their beds.-

- Bright and early the next morning...-

-Raith was pleased with his slinky. Probably one of the most 'loved' toys the days following Christmas.-

-Zane loved his new car collection.-

-Kayla spent the morning practising to be a princess.-

-It was a very merry Christmas all round.-

An Andrus Christmas

2009-12-19T23:45:00.000-07:00

-Dad reading the Christmas story... just a slightly different version for the young ones among us.-

-Coop not even noticing that his mom has opened yet another one of his gifts. I'm guessing things will be different next year.-

-How the family picture starts out every year.-

-And surprisingly, everyone is looking at the camera. The best family picture all year!-

-30°C

2009-12-06T08:26:00.004-07:00

-Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.-

There is beauty to be found in the blistering cold.

First Baby Gift!

2009-12-02T18:36:00.003-07:00

We received our first baby gift... thanks, Katrina! Makes this pregnancy thing all seem a little more real.

The Christmas Tree

2009-11-30T00:31:00.012-07:00

-Lights and Ribbon-

Setting up the tree was a momentous occasion this year. Partly because it will be our last year that we may have glass ornaments hung on the lower branches and partly because it had been four years since we'd seen any of our decorations. Setting up the Christmas Tree and decorating the house brought on a mixture of nostalgia and surprise. It was a bit like opening presents on Christmas morning.

-The first decorations.-

No Trev does not have two wives... he just has some great skills in photoshop that allow him to create interesting perspectives.

-Almost finished.-

Trev ceremoniously placing the star on the top of the tree. Umm... I think it might be crooked.

-Our tree, 2009.-

The finished project minus the tree skirt which was being washed due to remnant cat hair.

Christmas Traditions

2009-11-26T00:18:00.001-07:00

It's great to be back in Canada for the entirety of the holiday season this year! We are already enjoying the festivities that we've missed so much in years past. And to kick it all off this year Kim, a good friend of mine, and I baked some delicious (not to mention darn good-looking) cookies. Passing them out to friends and family was a treat in and of itself!! A second round of cookies may lay in the near future.

Bring on the season!

Giants Next-door

2009-11-23T00:02:00.001-07:00

We've traded in vast fields, hay bales and cows as neighbours. Once more we're surrounded by high-rises and city life. Some would not choose the drastic changes we have as of late. But, as much as we too struggle with change, in the end we enjoy the challenge.

Living in the city again has a few perks, one of them being a chance to shoot urban night scenery. Trev walks by these giants by day and was inspired to capture them by night.

30 Weeks

2009-11-19T20:56:00.008-07:00

It's been a while since we've posted belly pictures but if you take a look at the shots I think you'll agree that they were worth the wait. The baby is now 30 weeks old and, according to what we read, growing and changing so quickly. We can now visibly watch the little one roll around and kick in the belly. A friend put it well this week when they said, "it's more entertaining than watching T.V."

Pregnancy and the new life that results are truly miracles!

Last post was at 24 weeks. Click here to see.

Third Place! Congrats Trev!

2009-11-06T23:59:00.007-07:00

-A brilliant shot of the evening warmth of summer.-

(Click on the photo above to view in a larger format.)

This summer Trevor entered his first ever photo competition and out of hundreds of entries landed a solid third place. Third place is not so bad for the first time around.

-The newspaper write up.-

This shot of the river valley may look familiar to our regular blog readers as it was featured on our blog back in July before being entered in the contest. For those of you who are familiar with the Red Deer River valley, this shot was taken near the top of Canyon Ski Hill, just behind my parent's house (the Andrus residence).

The Legislative Assembly of Alberta

2009-11-01T17:10:00.011-07:00

-Night at the Legislature. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.-

Points to Ponder:

Alberta's Legislature building was build between the years 1907-1913.
The design incorporated elements of Greek, Roman and Egyptian architecture which were meant to symbolize power, permanence and tradition.
Inhabitants of Fort Edmonton in the 19th century say that the site where the Legislature is now built was once full of pits that were home to thousands of garter snakes. YUCK!
The building cost 4 million dollars. In it's day, that must have been a lot.
If we were to build the same building today (taking into account the inflation only), the Legislature would cost $91,290,225.33!

-A column, made from southern Albertan sandstone.-

-Build in the Beaux Arts style which originated in Paris.-

An Early Winter

2009-10-26T12:30:00.001-06:00

-Berries in the backyard piled high with fresh flakes of snow.-

Winter came a little early this year.
Thank goodness it decided not to stay.

As much as it was magical to watch the snow fall from the sky, clinging to the green leaves still on the trees and piling high on the few remaining flowers, the warmth of the sun and mild temperatures that quickly followed were welcomed with open arms.

-The end of a season for these flowers.-

-The only typical winter shot taken.-

Fall Family Portraits

2009-10-16T12:52:00.002-06:00

-Notice the green leaves on the trees and the snow on the ground... hmm... something is wrong here.-

A few shots Trev snapped this Fall for Dave and Karalee. What a cute family!

-Karalee and Coop having some cuddle time.-

-The Andrus Family.-

Thankful for Thanksgiving!

2009-10-12T10:27:00.003-06:00

-Cooper and Dawson.-

Yep, it's that time again. Time for snow and sleds, mittens and toques.

Over an uncommonly cold Thanksgiving, we stepped outside for as long as we could bear to snap some shots of D+K's little family. And, while we appreciated the beauty of the fresh blanket of snow, we were also thankful for the roaring fire and woollen slippers awaiting us indoors.

Autumn

2009-10-10T18:55:00.004-06:00

-Crabapples on a sunny afternoon walk at the Legislative grounds. Edmonton, Alberta.-

-Suspended.-
One of the few leaves that actually made it from green to red this Fall.

24 Weeks

2009-10-08T00:31:00.007-06:00

You've seen our baby inside his/her cozy home, now here is a view of what Baby Olson's home looks like from the outside. I am now 24 weeks and starting to show. Up until our first doctors appointment at 22 weeks, there was really nothing but a little bit of weight gain to hint at a pregnancy. I figure this was a blessing as it was just a few weeks ago that I had to go out and get some new clothes... and I'm glad that I did. Call me a granny but full-belly jeans are not that bad. In fact they are rather comfy. With Thanksgiving just around the corner you should really give them a try. You might be surprised at how much more turkey you can manage to pack away ;)

Debut

2009-09-27T23:32:00.007-06:00

-Baby Olson's debut.-
(legs and umbilical chord on the left, head on right side)

We went for our first ultrasound on September 25th at which point I was informed that I was 22 weeks and 3 days along. A bit late for a first ultrasound but as far as we know everything looked fine and our baby is healthy.

With the help of modern technology we looked on as our baby squirmed and kicked. We were amazed at just how much detail you can see with an ultrasound! With our inside view and could see the smallest details from the heart beating (140 beats per minute!), to the stomach and even a full little bladder.

But the most amazing part of the whole experience was when our ultrasound technician told us that our baby's feet were already 3 1/2cm long! I'm still stumped as to how all 28cm of this baby fits inside me!! Amazing!

North of 60°

2009-09-22T22:21:00.004-06:00

-The Northern Lights as seen from the Ingram Trail (the beginning of the ice road).-

-Aurora Borealis light up the northern sky.-

Wild Wood Bison

2009-09-15T14:31:00.010-06:00

-Wild Wood Bison.-

Trevor had always told me that wild buffalo exist. As I grew up on the prairies buffalo were a part of a legend that I never really thought that terribly hard about. To me the fact that these huge wild beasts could exist alongside modern man was preposterous. Well, okay... so these herds don't exist alongside man... but here are the pictures to prove that on our trip to and from Yellowknife, we came across many wild Wood Bison.

-Swamp, swamp and more swamp. The view on the way to Yellowknife.-

Wood Bison Facts:

The Wood Bison the largest terrestrial animal in North America.
It is heavier than it's cousin from the plains weighing in at a whopping 900 kg or 2,000 lbs!
They were believed extinct in the early 1900's until a herd of 200 was found in Alberta in 1957. That herd today is up to over 3,000 bison.
Wood Bison appear on both the endangered species of Canada list, as well as the threatened animals list.

-Grazing Buffalo.-

The Northwest Territories

2009-09-09T22:33:00.013-06:00

-Fireweed over looking the Great Slave Lake.-

Here is a summary of the whirlwind excursion:

Drove 34 hours round trip (17 of these hours in one stretch... with 3 breaks of 15 min. each)
Replaced an alternator in one of the most isolated cities in Canada.
Repaired a flat.
Paid $1.30 for a litre of gas and $12.00 for a plain burger that had been sitting under a heating lamp for no less than a week.
Saw two wild bears, a lone wolf, three friendly foxes, and herds of wild Wood Bison.
Camped 400 kilometres south of the arctic circle and saw our breath in August.
Ate peanut butter sandwiches for almost every meal.
Spent a very COLD night on a hilltop watching the Aurora Borealis dance.
And, learned not to flinch with more than 500 misquotes buzzing around your head at any given time.

-Lady Evelyn falls.-

-Typical Canadian shield topography surrounding the city of Yellowknife.-

We never thought that our spur of the moment getaway would leave us so tired, so broke or so cold. Don't get us wrong, the trip was educational in and of itself. We both ventured farther north than we'd previously been. As Trev grew up in the north his 'territory gained' was substantially less than mine.

We were awed by the wildlife (although there are no pictures to prove our sightings of bears, fox, elk or wolves), astounded by the natural beauty of the Canadian shield, overwhelmed by the sheer size of the Great Slave Lake (the deepest lake in North America and the ninth largest lake in the world) and blown away by the dancing northern lights.

-A day of fishing... beautiful cold clear waters, amazingly deserted surroundings, unforgiving rocky landscape, hours of haunting loon calls but no fish.-

-Lophocampa Maculata or common caterpillar. Much more cooperative than the bears, fox, elk, wolf or wild buffalo that we encountered.-

Dragonfly

2009-09-05T22:35:00.004-06:00

It's been just over 6 years since Trev and I started dating.
Just over 5 of those years we've been married.
We've spent more than half of our married life as non-residents of our homeland, claiming residency in another country... or no country at all for that matter.
And now, it'll be only 3 short months till we become responsible for another life.

So what does this have to do with the dragonfly?

During all of this time together we've changed identities, roles and residency often but one thing we've been firm on since the beginning was the importance of our relationship together. More important than schooling, money, fun, friends and yes, our beloved families. Second only to (and strengthened by) our personal relationships with our Saviour, Jesus.
It has been because of this importance, we've set aside Trevor-Rachel time every week to work on 'us'. And, it was on one of these precious date nights that Trev snapped this shot of a dragonfly. I can't tell you exactly why this picture drums up memories of our relationship but I can tell you that reminiscing only makes me more thankful for my time with Trev, more thankful for the holy institution of marriage and more thankful for where God is leading.

Prairie Storms

2009-08-20T12:37:00.000-06:00

Looking back over the summer we were hit with a few decent prairie storms. And, during almost every storm we were sitting in the back of the explorer at the top of the highest hill trying to get a shot of the fantastic lightning. Here, in my opinion, is the best shot of the summer.

The Great Sand Hills

2009-08-12T10:40:00.000-06:00

-Footprint in the sand. The Great Sand Hills, Saskatchewan.-

The Great Sand Hills are located in southwestern Saskatchewan and amazingly enough cover an area of over 1,900 square kilometres! Who would have thought? We always imagine far off equatorial places as boasting sprawling deserts of towering dunes, not the prairie province next door. And, while not all 1,900 square kilometres of the hills resemble the iconic tall towering dunes it's still amazing to climb to the top of a few active dunes and survey the fragile landscape.

-The expanse.-

-Boots of the Sand Hills.-

-Kimchi loved jumping from the tops of the dunes.-

Lacombe Days

2009-08-09T12:13:00.013-06:00

-The parade. Lacombe.-

Earlier this summer we were invited to tag along with our friends Kirstin and Brent as they attempted to capture the spirit of Lacombe Days through a lens. Trev bought a new lens in preparation for his day of shooting and as you can see, put it to good use. But while Brent and Trev were compelled to make the rounds, Kirstin and I enjoyed good company, a wonderful lunch at Becki's and the brilliant heat from the afternoon sun.

-Our favorite part of the parade, bagpipes. We love bagpipes.-

-It was a beautiful day to be a Shriner on a mini-bike.-

It was an interesting day for me, returning to the community that I grew up in, this time as a visitor. And, while it's a charming community and it was a great place to grow up, I don't regret moving on or living in larger centres.

-The Koreans show off lanterns on festival days...
we Albertans show off tractors.-

-... And cars.-

-As you can tell Trev is more drawn to hood ornaments than to the cars themselves.-

-Another highlight of the day, the blacksmith.-

-Forging metal.-

Multnomah Falls

2009-08-07T22:09:00.004-06:00

-Multnomah Falls. The Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, USA.-

Just a side note... if you haven't read the book,

The Shack
By William P. Young

you really should.

An Ocean View

2009-08-04T10:35:00.003-06:00

-Ecola State Park, Oregon.-

Our second and final destination during our trip to the beautiful state of Oregon was Nehalem Bay. From our cozy campsite we took day trips to the bustling summer community of Cannon Beach and the awe-inspiring beaches of Ecola State Park.

-Turbulent Ocean.-

-Solitude.-

Our days were filled with salty water, sand castles (a feat to be crushed... or so Dawson thought) and sumptuous meals of fresh seafood. Our evenings: campfires, smores, sneaky raccoons and cherry cola.

All in all, a great way to spend time with family.

-Tillamook Head Lighthouse. 1881.-

-Trev's Art.-

Haystack Rock

2009-07-30T22:06:00.004-06:00

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach.
-Oregon, USA.-

Camping

2009-07-28T11:11:00.003-06:00

-Nehalem Bay. Oregon, USA.-

Our little tent. One of the reasons we are happy for summer. One of the reasons that we are happy to be home.

Astoria

2009-07-16T10:22:00.012-06:00

-It is estimated that since the early 1800's more than 2000 ships and 1000 lives have been lost in the Astoria region. The wreck of the Peter Iredale (1906) is one of the only sign we found to support these facts.-

Our first stop on our recent trip to the Oregon Coast was in the small town of Astoria. While being a small quaint kind of a coastal town it is able to boast of hosting great explorers such as Lewis and Clark (1805-1806) as well as the great British explorer, David Thompson (1811). More recently Astoria is known for it's role in popular culture. Some of you may remember the best movie ever released in the 80's, The Goonies. This great show was filmed on location in the wonderful town of Astoria as were the movies of Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, Into the Wild and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

-Built in 1926 as an observation tower, The Astoria Column stands 38 metres tall and boasts an elaborate painting of the events of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition.-

Astoria (more specifically, Fort Stevens) is also famous for it's involvement in the second world war being the only spot in America to come under hostile fire.

-Another shot of the Peter Iredale in the Graveyard of the Pacific.-

-A bay view, looking across the mighty mouth of the Columbia River at the Washington shoreline.-

-Peter Iredale, in colour.-

Revolting

2009-07-14T11:00:00.003-06:00

-Pike Place Market. Seattle, USA.-

This may well be the most disgusting picture that has ever and will ever make it on our blog. If you can't tell what it is, look a little more closely. It's old chewing gum. Now I don't know about you but the sight of a gob of old slobbery gum on the sidewalk makes me a little nauseous... a whole wall sporting a variety of saliva, now that's just revolting. Trev however found this wall and it's decoration enthralling and so here I post one of his favorite pictures from our recent trip to Seattle. Enjoy.

Trevor's Hobby

2009-07-07T10:58:00.011-06:00

-Bird's eye view of the Red Deer River. -

Over the past few years Trevor has grown a love for photography, as many of you know. But it's only been since we've returned to Canada that he's begun to take his hobby seriously. With the nudging of a few photo-nut friends, the information of on-line tutorials and a ton of practice, Trev's photographic eye has matured. He is now winning challenges, competitions and has been asked to seriously consider shooting a wedding!

-Shadow work.-

I was amazed the other day at how much Trev's skills had grown when I took a trip back into the archives of our blog. What we used to cherish as the best shots, the crowning moments behind the lens, I now see as pictures that could have been greatly improved with just a little change in perspective, a better focal point or just the most basic photo-shopping. It's encouraging to see the transformation and I'm excited to see where this hobby takes Trev.

-Downtown Red Deer in the late evening.-

-Abstract shot looking down a kids slide on at a playground.-

-Wind Turbines in Southern Saskatchewan.-

-Another abstract shot this time of a stained glass lamp shade.-

Happy Canada Day!

2009-07-01T16:20:00.009-06:00

-Bower Ponds Fireworks. Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.-

And, yet another wonderful Canada Day. Only this time we were lucky enough to be on home soil. This year we are fortunate enough to take a different spin on the typical Canada Day post. Instead of 'the 5 things we'd be most happy to return to' (2007 & 2008), we'll be posting on the...

'The Top 5 Things We're Happy to Have'
(not in any particular order)

Family: We're SO happy to be home and be around family again. And, although we don't see them all as much as we would like we're happy to have holidays together and be on the same side of the globe again.
Nature: Even after witnessing a tornado touch down in front of me this week we're still ecstatic to be home and reveling in the wide open spaces, enjoying the rain showers and soaking up the fresh air.
Communication: It's so refreshing to be able to speak the same language as the people that surround us on a day to day basis. We do greatly miss Korea and the inevitable learning curve that comes with living there but for now we are enjoying simple pleasures such as asking for directions or listening to the news.
Life Direction: Trev has recently been blessed with the opportunity to attend the university he wants to, in the program of his choice and has been granted two years towards this second degree! It is wonderful to know where we will be heading and to once again have a place to put down roots (only if it is for a few years).
Love: In returning home it is nice to have at least two constants in life: God's love & provision and each other. I know it sounds sappy but without the first of these, we'd be hopeless and without the later, we'd be out one best friend. It's great to know that God loves us the same in Canada as he did in Korea. And, it's also marvelous to have someone to share life's experiences with.