A few pictures from the last week

Hi everybody....not sure who that applies to but hopefully there's still a few of you out there reading this blog! 8)

The past week has been great and a huge adjustment at the same time. To make it much easier, Jenn's mom has been here helping us out tremendously! Here are a few pics of J.P.....enjoy!


J.P. and mom


J.P. and Nanny


J.P. expressing displeasure with his camera happy daddy 8)


J.P. mellowed out after a big meal 8)

Please....welcome to the stage.....

Here he is....the long awaited J.P. Claus, born on Christmas Eve at 906am, weighing in at 7lbs, 3oz., 20.25 inches long.


Labour went on for nearly 2 days for Jenn, but not really progressing very fast. On Saturday, she had contractions all day long, but they never really got any closer than about 15 minutes apart. So I went to work that evening, just working at the front desk in case I had to leave. About 3 hours into my shift, at 830pm, I got the call from Jenn that the contractions were about 7 minutes apart. I rushed home and within an hour we headed to the hospital with contractions within about 5 minutes of eachother.

At about 1am, the contractions were about 90 secs apart and intense enough that Jenn was ready for the epidural. That slowed things back down and she was soon put on a Petosan drip. By 630am she was fully dilated and her water was broken. About 650 she began pushing and that went on for over 2 hours with contractions between 1 and 2 minutes apart. Jenn worked like a trooper and I was gushing with pride watching her!

At 906 J.P. was born and it was all I could do not to ball like a baby! He's a beautiful, perfect creation of God and we are so thankful!

The last couple of days have been a huge learning experience but we've had family helping us along...Jenn's mom is here for a week and it's hard to imagine doing this without her here helping us out! Last night was our second night at home and we actually got quite a bit of sleep! The second picture is of baby, daddy, and great-opa.

Well, I hope you all had a blessed Christmas....it's certainly one we will never forget! BTW, if you want to know J.P.'s full name, just send us an email at allan_claus@yahoo.ca and we'll fill you in! 8)

This just in.....

Well....Jenn's been hardly sleeping the last couple of nights, especially last night as sporadic contractions have been keeping her awake. Today, the contractions are varying from 10 minutes apart to about 30 minutes apart. She's soaking in a hot bath now to try and help things along and all of our bags are piled by the door. Still a little unclear if it's going to happen tonight or not, but I don't think I'll be going to work! ---- Al

3 weeks to go!!!

Wow....the pastor at church this morning reminded everyone that it's only 22 days till Christmas....all I could think about was that minus a day was how long until Jenn's due date! It's coming really fast now but I think we're as prepared as we can be. All the bags are packed for the trip to the hospital and the baby's room is ready. Jenn feels like it might come early and the way the baby's kicking she's hoping so! The little one likes to kick and stretch Jenn's tummy out sideways...she tells me it hurts...it just looks freaky to me! 8) We had an ultrasound a couple weeks ago when Jenn's doc wanted to make sure there was enough amniotic fluid. We were a little nervous going to that as we had heard that if there wasn't enough fluid the doc may want to induce labour right away. Under such short notice, neither of us were quite ready for that, but everything was fine! As I type this Jenn is upstairs baking like crazy....her nesting phase might make me chubby!

Here are a couple pics from a few days ago. Jenn wanted to put the Harley Davidson tattoo on her belly...wasn't my idea! 8)

Cute little tummy 8)

Biker baby...

It's been a very busy month, as usual. I've worked a lot of overtime and Jenn has been busy prepping her staff to keep things running when she's gone. Being away from her store will be a challenge for Jenn, but I imagine her time off will fly by! We had a good time at my work Christmas party a couple of weeks ago, a very classy affair! I've also started playing hockey, for the first time in about 20 years. I'm playing in our platoon league at work which can be pretty competitive. Our police service has quite a few former professional hockey players...one of the guys on my team played for Boston, the Leafs, and won gold at the World Juniors. So it was a bit intimidating stepping onto the ice with virtually no experience except for the year I played in Grade 8 (I think I had about 3 shifts the whole season). Anyhow, my very first game, I got run over by my own teamate at the blue line and I scored the opening goal! I ended up getting the first star, even though we lost. In game 2 I scored again on about the ugliest (so I was told) breakaway ever. So I'm really enjoying that , though I don't know how long I can keep the scoring streak up!

We also had a nice visit with Nick and Melissa Alkhoury and their boys recently when they dropping in for a visit. It had been a long time and we're looking forward to seeing them again soon as they are staying a bit closer now than Sudbury!

Well, we hope all is well and who knows, the next update might be from 3 of us. We hope you all have a blessed Christmas and New Year!

Al

53 more days

Just 53 more days to go, until baby A or J arrives. It still seems like its far off, but we are starting to feel a little more prepared. We've got the baby's room set up, I finished making the crib bedding last week, and we've started buying little things like clothes and cloth diapers. Yep we are going to use cloth diapers! They really aren't as bad as one might think. Thankfully I did get to help my sister on occassion and she put all 5 through cloth diapers. Did you know one child in cloth diapers saves one tonne of disposables from going to the landfill! What a difference not to mention the money savings!

Al bought me my most important pre-baby toy last week, a playstation 2. I figured I might go a little stir crazy in December when I am off of work and needed something to do! Speaking of work, I should be home by the second week of December, the dr said I could work as long as I want since I am doing so well, but Christmas time in retail is crazy and the commute only gets longer once the snow starts to fly, so I decided I need to be home by the second week. I found out two weeks ago who will take my store while I am off, and I am thrilled that it is exactly who I wanted. Its hard to run a business then leave it completely in someone else's hands for awhile, so when I found out that Hugo would be taking my store, I felt a lot of relief!

I just wanted to give you all an update, I'll get Al to post some pictures soon!
j.

Here comes fall....

Yes...it's been another bit of a wait for this, but, here goes! Things have, as always, been busy around here. Sometimes it's hard to imagine what it's going to be like with a little one under our roof to take care of! But we are SO excited and looking forward to the birth of our little one! We've bought our crib and change table....still got stuff to buy, but we'll be ready! Especially for Sarah, here's a picture of Jenn from yesterday... 8)

We were down to see my sister in Brantford who just had her 4th child, finally a boy, Aidan! We have 3 months left and we'll have our own....though we're not sure what! 8)

On Saturday Jenn and I went to Toronto and saw the Blue Jays whoop the World Series Champs, the Bosox. It was a really good game...the Boston coach even got kicked out of the game!


During the first week of September we went camping at Killbear, as we did a couple of years ago. This time we went in style in our humungous new tent....I think we could pitch 3 or 4 of our old tents inside! 8) Like last time, it was very peaceful as the Labour Day Weekend crowd was gone. Here are a couple of pics of Lighthouse Point and some wildlife:

The lighthouse. On the point. At Lighthouse Point.

Quito enjoying the view.

We saw loads of deer!

Anyways, work is busy...we are finally getting close to having computers in the cruisers....something other services have had for 20+ years! I'm training this week so that I can train the other people on my shift on how to use them. I had an interview last week for a position as a detective constable... the powers that be likely had their choice made before the interview process so I'm really not expecting it this time around but it was good to see what the process is like and to let the powers that be know I'm interested.

Jenn has been busy and was in Ottawa for 3 days last week for a national managers' meeting. While she was there she was announced as the manager of the month for August for all of Canada! 85 stores!!! I'm super proud of her! 8)

So that's about it...the colours are changing and the nights are definitely cooler! The putting greens seem to be more and more covered with fallen leaves which is nice to look at but annoying to putt through! 8) We hope everyone is doing well!

Quickie Update

Hey everybody...in keeping with our desire to keep this blog a little more current, here's another update:

We celebrated Jenn's 29th B-day on Friday with an ultrasound and lunch at Mike Love's BBQ (the best BBQ north of Memphis). The ultrasound was very cool and we have a copy of it on video if anyone want's to come by for a viewing... 8) Everything appears to be well with our little one and he/she was very active, flipping right upside down...maybe it's that lingering gymnastics influence? 8) Anyways, here's a pic of Jenn with her little tummy... K....blogger doesn't seem to want to upload our pics...I'll try to post them later.

Friday we travelled down to Woodstock where we went out for dinner with my parents. Saturday I hit the driving range with mom and dad and then we brought some KFC for lunch to Jenn's gramma and uncle in Mossley. Eventually we made it to Jenn's parent's house were we spent the rest of the day visiting with family from Jenn's dad's side. Sunday morning we had a yummy breakfast with our friends Beth and Dave and then spent the rest of the day with Jenn's family. It was actually a much more relaxing weekend than it sounds!

Tonight we had a wicked storm line blow through most of southern Ontario....as I write it's probably rolling over Jenn's store in Richmond Hill. I snapped a bunch of photos of that as well but I may have to post a couple later.

The basement is more or less finished...the plumber is coming by tomorrow to hook up the bathroom, but other than that, I am thankfully done and we are now enjoying it, especially in this heat wave. The basement stays pretty cool. Anyway, can't think of too much else right now...hope all is well with our few faithful readers! 8)

Al and I know we need to post a little more often then we have been. But honestly some times it just doesn't seem like there is anything new to share. Right now its pretty hot in Barrie, even for me, (Al likes to tease me because I like to wear my flannel pj's even in the summer - I'm always cold).

If you are reading our blog still, you know by now we are expecting. No one thinks I am showing yet, but I have traded in a lot of my clothes for mat wear now, I do have a little belly, even though you can't see it yet. I'm 4 months now, and we go for our second ultra sound on the 28th of this month. We've decided we want to know if its a boy or a girl. I hate waiting for surprises.

I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and wash my car. Someone hit it last night while it was parked on the road. Oh well, it is just a car, and its nothing major, just cosmetic. Its actually been a crazy month for my little Ford Focus. First I had to take it in for routine work, and it ended back in the shop just a few days later, they had forgotten to tighten some nuts. While it was there they tried to change my rear brake late, that took 3 technicians and an hour and a half just to change the bulb. Recently I noticed a golf ball stuck in my grill, and for those who know me, - I don't golf! I figured it must of bounced in to my grill on my drive home from work. There are 3 golf courses I drive by just as I approach our house. The golf ball is still there as I am not really sure how to get it out! Then I noticed a dent and a scratch this morning on the bumper. I'm just glad the car still runs!

Well its too hot to sit here much longer, but thought I better write a little something. We will keep you posted as things progress. Much love to all who still visit our blog!

J.

Is there really an excuse that anyone will buy???

Yeah, been a long time....I know...would it help if I said we've been really busy? Hehe, yeah, probably not, eh. Well, for the last 2-3 months, I've been slaving away in the basement, ripping out some of the existing drywall and framing and wiring the unfinished part, drywalling, mudding, taping, and, after Jenn painted, we most recently installed laminate flooring. It's been quite a learning experience but it's nice to be able to say I figured most of it out and it actually looks presentable! 8) At least this summer we can enjoy the deck and backyard that I slaved over last year! 8)

As for pictures, here's a good one of Quito for all those readers who have been spellbound by his doggy charm... 8)

Work for both of us has been going well...Jenn's store continues to be one of the best run in the region and I've been spending some shifts lately as a Sergeant, filling in for holidays.

Oh yeah, almost forgot to mention....Jenn and I will be having a baby...due Christmas Eve. Seems kind of appropriate for a Claus, eh? All is going well with the pregnancy and Jenn has only experienced a small amount of sickness. Needless to say, we're really excited!

I know it's a little short but I hope it satisfies anyone who still pokes their heads in here every so often! Let us know if you're reading! And, especially you Sudbury folk, if you're through town, give us a shout!