Ugh, worst blogger ever...and I mean ever!

I always log in and check out other peoples, I always creep/stalk other blogs and wish that I was more on the ball, I always try to diligently upload photos to EVERYTHING else but my blog. However, I am a slacker, a rotten blog slacker. There I said it, and I don't care who knows it...my mom cause she may be one of the only people who read this! There have been many a new thing going on at the Bird House. I am busy with the two ladies and getting ready for summer to end. We have been all over the place, B.C for a friends wedding, Fort Mac, camping with the fam jam, visiting with friends and much much more. It has been busy getting used to the two ladies schedules and finding out what is working for both. Jon is still super busy with work and still enjoying it, so that is a good thing. Jacey just turned 5 this last week and is such a big girl. She is going into a typical Kindergarten class this year. I am excited/nervous for her to make new friends and enjoy her time. I am sure she will, the kid is crazy social and such a fun girl. She will ride a short bus that is wheelchair equipped because...WE GOT SOME WHEELS!! She is loving her wheelchair and how much independance it gives her. Jacey likes to push and roll herself here and there. So exciting, we are also in the middle of purchasing and adapting a minivan, yup were minivanners now. Jacey also did lots this summer, some swimming lessons, TONS of playdates and many outdoor adventures with friends and workers. A big goal this year is potty training, we have a wicked potty at our house that she is getting used to and one for school as well, hoping it will catch. Neely is now 4 months old and changing daily. She is a chunkster!! Such a happy, easy baby. Great sleeper, like 10-11 hour nights which is phenomenal. She is also beginning to try some pablum which is fun to watch. Neely is rolling over and reaching out for kisses, toys, hair, you name it! She has such huge grins and her eyes get all squinty it is just adorable. The sisters are working hard at tolerating each other. Jacey is still adjusting but it is coming along. I am finding it interesting to watch them study each other and what actions they do, I am sure loving being a mama to 2 ladies. That is about all that is new, you will probably see another update in oh a month or two or three. Ciao! - Alyson

I have FINALLY arrived!!

Friday evening at 7:51 pm Miss Neely Jane Bird joined her mommy, Alyson, her daddy, Jon and big sister Jacey. Neely weighed 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 19 and 1/2 inches long. It was a loooooong process to make this tiny lady come. I (Alyson) had been having on and off contractions since the Friday night before and had even had a slumber party at Gramma and Grampa Hudkins house with my sisters, mom and hubby Jon because we thought she was coming. Sadly, she tricked us....for a whole week. However, this Friday was not such a trick. It was a long, hard day but she made it and was instantly loved. Neely is a sweet, mellow little lady (so far) and loves to eat, sleep and poop. Her big sister Jacey adores her and gives her many an open mouth, wet kiss and likes to pat her back and hold her. We are glad she is here and chose to come to our family. Some family pics will follow when things settle down a bit more here. Love From the Bird Family: Jon, Alyson, Jacey and Neely

Jacey's Fundraising Video for Ability Camp

Please click on the link to see my video!

http://youtu.be/zDqHnrjSQjE

Ability camp asked Alyson and Jacey to do a video about their successful fundraising and here it is.

Love,

The Birds

Ability Camp - Week 4

Oh Week number four, you were my Everest!!! This was probably the hardest week here for me. The people I am here with are amazing and truly some of the sweetest people to meet. I am grateful for all their help with Jacey, my dishes, my sick whining, my throw my child at them to run and barf, my blah sick self. THANKS!!! After my teary goodbye to Gramma and my dad, we busted into week number 4. Jacey had been kind of sniffly and sneezy and I was getting concerned she was getting sick. So I loaded up on some type of organic-y cold medicine for kids which really helped her. I on the other hand was a different case. I started the day after her and was runny nosed, sneezy and a bit coughy. When I get sick, I turn into this sore, mushy baby-esque version of myself. I felt terrible, not to mention still icky pregnant. Needless to say it was a looooong week in the sick department. Everyone here was so sweet, would grab dishes for me, and help with Jacey as much as possible. Sooo very much cared for. Jacey was a trooper and still went to class and chamber which I wasn't sure she would be ok to do but rocked it as per usual. She was also a class A potty girl. TMI ALERT: She deuced every day in class on the potty and also did either 2 or 3 pee's. PAROUD MOM ALERT!!! She just rocked it, and even though she had some accidents here and there, more in the pots than out which to me screams success. Plus she totally recognized when she did do it in her pants. Sooo I am gonna go ahead and say she rocks the pot. Her walking has really improved. The conductor is having me work on being in front of her rather than behind guiding her hips. She is pretty wobbly and needs constant reminders to step and push her walker, but it is developing and it is so so cool to see her do it. I am beyond excited to think that one day this kid is just going to take off and walk. Her fine motor is also doing much better, she is grasping things more appropriately and working to manipulate them better. Loving it. She is still as nosy as ever, constantly needing to be reminded to "look where she is going instead of where she's been", "quit watching others and get to work", "focus, focus, focus!" hehe I love that about her, although sometimes it makes me want to poke her in the eye. We had fun as a group this week, cooking together and doing some play dates. We made pom pom's for all the kids to help cheer on the two adults in the stroke program when they did their walking. It was really cute, and the kids loved to cheer for them. Aek and Ruthie were excited to have a cheering squad, even though most of the cheerleaders were trying to eat their pom pom's. Saturday we went to pick up Nanny Bird. We were so excited and talked about it all day. When the time came....Jacey scream cried and clung to my shoulder. It was a bit of a sad reunion, but after a few minutes she got used to the idea that Nanny was here at camp. So they became fast friends and now I am dead to her. Yup, she is all about her nanny....although she can't quite figure out where her Poppy is as they are usually a package deal. Hehe Getting excited to be done this week and head to Newfoundland. Excited to see family and reconnect...then off to see my hubby. Oh how I miss that guy. Love him and am proud of him letting us go for another long spell. He tells me he misses his ladies often. Thank goodness for Skype. Anyways that is all that is new, glad to have nanny and company, excited to be done. Love you all, Alyson and Jacey

Ability Camp, Week 3 under the belt!

Well we are now past the half way mark for camp being done. On a different note, I am only EXACTLY one half of the way away from being at home. Jon's mom and I along with Jacey (cause she is mostly the one people want to see) are going back to Newfoundland for a week after camp. We are excited, and by we, I mean me b/c let's face it...Jacey doesn't even know!!! Anyways back to being over half done camp. HURRAY!!!!! We had a fun, eventful, visitors welcome kinda week. Jacey got into the groove right on Monday morning and worked hard. She earned all of her stickers and is now one of the top potty kids in her class. I love looking at her potty chart and seeing the rows of stickers and know she has great potty skills. (They probably come from me!) We were super, super excited to have Great Gramma Hinko and Grampa Hinko come to visit this week too. It was not a super long visit, but great to have some new blood in this joint and some help for this mama. I am still friends with the toilet in the mornings and sometimes afternoons....I curse morning sickness! (In a YEAH I am grateful for a baby out of it at the end, but will this ever end kind of way) So we picked up our guests and brought them back to camp, it was late Wednesday night but they were able to meet most of our housemates. (If I didn't look around and remind myself where I am, the housemates comment would seem almost Jersey Shore or Real World-esque....it is not) Jacey woke up super early on Thursday and the first word out of her mouth was "Papa". It was like she wondered if it was real or a dream. She called out for him and we had to make our way down the hall to find him. Sorry Gramma, I love you but you were definitely second fiddle to the Grampa this week. hehe We had some breakfast and they came to our room to watch some stretches and morning prep. We also had individuals today and they were able to come into class and observe her work. She worked so well for me and really was trying to impress Grampa with her soccerball kicking skills. (Probably not from me) We had some lunch and Grampa went into the dive for the afternoon, he was sure nervouse, but did fantastic! The other moms really helped him, he began to call it "The Hole". I was proud of him and really glad he could give the other moms a break who were helping me take Jacey in. We did some driving around in the evening and killed some time sightseeing all the little farms and cute houses in the area. Also did a drive down by the lake to see the water, some really great waves. The next day was a more veg day. Gramma and I baked like 10 dozen cookies (which were ALL eaten by like 8 o'clock that night.) People around here love homemade baking or anything "homey". Grampa did another dive and we made our way around again scouting out some other drives. We were in time to have a pizza party with the whole house. There was a sweet adult here from Jersey who threw the pizza party for the crowd because it was his second last night and he wanted to get together with everyone and visit. It was awesome! Everyone really enjoyed the food and the company was great. I think that Grampa and Great Gramma really got to see the community of special families at work and feel the sweet spirit that accompanies each. One of the adults who was leaving even teared up and said that he just could not believe that love and dedication in each family. Watching everyone work together and care for each other here. It was just a really great night. Saturday was a kinda more boring day. Two dives, and I was not sure both would happen for Grampa, but he did it and did great. We headed out for supper that night to a roadhouse grill and it was sure tasty. Sunday was a nice break day. We decided to skip dives and take our time touring down here up to Belleville so that Grampa and Great Gramma could get some sights in. We toured around Bloomfiled and Wellington and saw the big houses on the water, visited a winery for them, got some great pics of farmers fields, pumpkin fields and dairies. It was sure nice. Topped off with lunch at Montana's before they caught their train. There may or may not have been two teary phone calls to my hubby and sister/mom. (Ok there was TOTALLY teary calls) I was sick, Jacey was getting a cold and my only help left me. I was kinda a mess yesterday. BUT we got home had some supper, dessert and hit the sack early. OH WAIT, only Jacey hit the sack early. The other moms here had prepared an Emmy Party as the Emmy awards were one last night. It was sooo what I needed. We all got in pj's, cooked up some appe's and snacks and got drinks and vegged out in front of the tv to watch the awards. Such a needed veg night. I loved it and am excited to have another mommy night tonight to see Dancing with the Stars. (Which I have never followed before but some other mommies have and are really excited....and let's face it, what else will I do?!?) So that is our week wrapped up. Only like 5ish days until Nanny Bird comes and I am excited to really take it easy then...get ready Nanny!!! Then off to Newfieland and some family...and then my sweet hubby. Can't wait to see him! Thanks again for all the love and support guys. - Love Alyson and Jacey