Goldie Locks gets a real hair cut

Zoe loves her locks, but her mommy was desperate. So a while ago there was a chopping of locks in the kitchen. But a real hair appointment was needed. Well zoe had her first real hair cut!

Images of Peace

Enough said.

Hairy Business

Well it was bound to happen, eventually the tangles, tugs and tears of having long curly hair were going to result in somebody breaking down. It is with much mixed feelings that Zoe was convinced to allow her mommy to cut some of her hair off. About 3 inches or so, and truely I want/need to get her to a real hair specialist, but at least it's a start.

Hopefully there will be less tangles, tugs and tears in the future.

Bree loves her Sister Zoe

It's got to be love, and trust too, that our new baby Bree will fall asleep on her sisters tummy. Trent put her there because, well Zoe loves her Sister Bree, but what is amazing is that Trent put Bree on Zoe's tummy awake. And as you can see from this wonderful shot, she fell sound asleep. That's trust.

Strange Sleepers

Well strange things are afoot! Sleeping habits of newborns are hard to predict. We thought we had it figured: swaddled up, something to suck on, head half covered and cuddled close to the body. So here's the question: Why then does Bree fall asleep uncovered and alone lying on our bed? Strange things to wonder about!


And Zoe, what's up with that? My little Girl, either wants to be like her Daddy and not wear a shirt to bed, or... more funny, take a look at this picture. What is she wearing on her head do you think? Yep, you guessed it, her PJ pants! And if you peeked under the blanket you would see that she put her PJ top on upside down with her legs in the arm holes. Sigh. Kids are weird.

My own live doll

When Bree arrived in this world, her mommy and daddy said, "ooh aah! What a sweet little baby." Ok, so neither of us did really, I cryed and laughed and Trent tells me I looked like the Grinch when his heart grew three sizes (and probably because that's what happens to moms when they see their new born). I don't recall what trent said...

But here's the thing, Bree came into this world at 8 lbs 1 oz (alot smaller then her sister was at 9 lbs 10 oz). So most of my clothes I had saved and ready were the 0-3 month size and she was swimming in them. Freinds came to the rescue, but the sweetest gift was from her cousin Dante who offered up a beautiful doll dress from her own dolly. And it fit, ain't it the cutest! My own live dolly!


Three weeks later I am packing up the newborn clothes and Bree is fitting into the 0-3 month clothes!!! This is my favorite item, her Grandma and Papa gave her: a warm, soft, fuzzy, snuggy ducky pj's with matching bib. Oh to be that little and have such wonderful clothes to wear...

Bree meets her family

Minutes after Bree is born—around 9:40 pm on August 27, 2007— the most important call is made: Daddy (Trent) phones Zoe (who is staying with her aunty Jerrilyn) to tell her she has a baby sister!

Here is how the conversation went: Daddy: "Hi Zoe you have a baby sister." Zoe: "What?" Daddy: "A baby sister" Zoe: "What?" Daddy: "A baby sister" Zoe: "A brother or a sister?" Daddy: "A baby sister" — line goes dead. Jael picks up phone: " Zoe has gone to the front door to get her shoes and coat on to come see her sister."

Zoe had to wait until the afternoon of the next day to see her, and she has been the proud sister ever since.

Introducing Bree

It has been 3 weeks today since Bree Rachel Ester Ernst was born and I am just now finding time between feedings, diaper changes and whatnot to get her pictures up. Trent has been much better, getting them on facebook right away. Well he doesn't have the same demands on his time (or didn't).

Here is Bree.

What's the focus here?

So we are taking pregnancy shots in the back yard. Husband Trent (the greatest living photographer... seriously, Google it!) is in charge, and here is what he comes up with! Great shots but what's the focus exactly, pregnancy or...

9 months and counting

Some pictures Trent took of Zoe and I in our back yard, me with my pregnant tummy! Zoe asks often "how long until the baby comes?" and I say soon I hope!

Zoe gets her own computer!!!

Ok so this is cool for her, but if you saw the computer you may be less than amazed. Zoe turned FOUR, on Monday and so I gave her room an overhaul. She now has a first generation imac sitting on a little zoe sized desk that will play a whole swack of preschool games that no newer computer will play. Games are still great, just no one thought to update them in the last 5 years or so... So we took an old computer, and gave it a new home!

She loves it. Hasn't watched a bit of TV all day. When given the choice all she wants to do is play games. (Don't worry, the majority are educational and helping her learn her numbers and letters).

The great thing is I have been letting her use my computer to play games on-line for the last two months, She has to do small detail work for 2-4 hours a day to help strengthen her weak eye, and so when I started doing this I lost access to my own favorite toy! And you may have noticed not blogs!

Well I have my computer back and now I can blog! I also joined facebook, so now I can keep updated ... for the next 5 or so weeks until baby comes and I haven't got any time left! But for now! I'm back and zoe is soo happy!

Soccer mom

I read on line that my womb was the size of a soccer ball at 26-27 weeks and got this idea. Fortunately with a Pro photographer for a husband and a friend who is an amazing artist I was able to accomplish my "goal" and it's a SCORE!!!!!

sorry!

So after tuesday you may notice that zoe did nothing... or at least nothing was reported. I'm sad to say her mommy got soo busy she just couldn't hack it.

Here are a few pictures to make up for it:


Zoe played in the yard.


She had baths



She picked her mommy a ton of bouquets of flowers.

so that's a few...

Zoe's Tuesday

Tuesday Zoe slept in. For her mommy this means that Zoe awoke at her "old" schedule of 9:15 instead of the 8 or 8:15 she had reset her clock to while in Burnaby visiting Grama & Papa. The funny thing is it threw her mommy for a loop, because her mommy was then rushing to get breakfast ready, teeth brushed, her own self showered and fed by the time Dakota came over for science. And to make it even more funny, Dakota showed up 10 minutes early so mommy was just stepping out of the shower and drying off when Zoe answered the door... oh right this is about zoe.

Zoe had cereal for breakfast and played, watched a little TV, dumped bubbles all over the porch and herself and got soo hot she asked if mommy could take off all her clothes because she was too hot. Mommy put Zoe in a bathingsuit and let her play, then both zoe and mommy went and enjoyed sprinklers and a picnic in the back yard until mommy had to go to work.

Zoe watched "a series of unfortunate events (half of it) had a nap, watched the rest of it, had dinner and watched Cheaper by the Dozen 2 with her mommy until it was over. Then zoe and mommy walked home in the cool evening air and stopped at the park to swing on the swings and try not to get bitten by mosquitos. Daddy arrived home, and zoe headed off to visit Aunty Jerrilyn with him while mommy went home to write this blog.

Zoe and Daddy came home at 5 to 9 and got ready for bed. Zoe had the joy of having her daddy read her a bed time story (Roar) and then brushed her teeth and headed off to bed at 9:20pm. Good night zoe, good night readers.

Zoe's Monday

Awake at 8:15 Zoe came to wish her mommy "good morning" and ask if she could watch TV. Zoe had hot chocolate and watched TV for awhile until her mommy got her act together and made pancake breakfast. Zoe ate two whole apple banana pancakes topped with more apples, bananas and yogurt. She then got dressed, brushed her teeth and played dressups and "fort" while her mommy took care of some house work and taught chemistry to Dakota (Zoe's cousin).

Zoe then got to ride in her Aunty's big TRUCK to the police detatchment where her aunty works for Victims Services. There while Zoe's mommy dealt with financial details for the upcoming youth event (what a lot of time her mommy spends on that stuff), Zoe hung around the police station, got to eat cucumbers and apple sauce and visit with Val. Zoe wanted to know where the other guy was (Corporal Kirt Peats - head honcho aka the other guy) and was told he was out at a meeting.

After lunch Zoe and mommy went to the bank, to the post office and to the grocery store to get a pogo stick (deepfried battered hotdog on a stick) and some turkey pepperoni for mommy. Then Zoe walked to Todd's house (where mommy works) and got to stop at the park to play for a little while. After nap time Zoe spent more time outside jumping on the trampoline with Joel (12 yr old boy who mommy nannie's) until Joel's friend came and took over the trampoline. Zoe, true to her nature, had just as much fun watching the older boys do flips and then came inside to eat dinner and watch "A series of unfortunate events" while her mommy folded laundry. When a scary part was showing zoe cuddled on mommy's lap until she felt less scared.

Returning home from work zoe had a bath, and her mommy stayed and blew monster bubbles with a straw on the side of the tub for zoe to pop. Zoe wanted one on her tummy and mommy blew two on Zoe's belly. Then it was time for hair brushing and braiding for the night, hot chocolate, teeth brushing, stories and bed.

That was monday.

Zoe Withdrawl?

So it's monday and i promised that I would give reports on a daily basis of what zoe has been doing, and already I'm a day behind!

Zoe awoke on Sunday morning at 5:30 with bad dreams. She was tucked back into bed and then SLEPT IN to 8:35am before getting up and wishing us all good morning (her favorite salutation). After a dressing in a summer outfit (pink sleeveless dress) for church she ate most of her cereal and cantaloup peices and got rushed off to the car for church. At church she missed seeing her cousin Dante but got to see her friend Anna, and tried to sing twinkle twinkle little star during connecting service (unfortunately she only know the first two lines).

After church she went shopping with her mommy and daddy and was sooo very excited to show mommy the flower bouquet she herself picked out for mother's day for her Mommy. It had blue and pink and yellow flowers (blue tinted daisies, pink carnations and yellow mums) as well as a happy face "bayoon". She then returned home with her Daddy (mommy went to work for 2 hours) and ate all her chicken, all her perogies and half of her daddies chicken too.

Affer a nap Zoe got to go outside and play at the Webb's, eat pizza and watermelon while her parents had a meeting indoors.
Then rushing home from that to go and play with Dante (who had returned home from Prince George) before bed. Bed time was a little late and crazy for her because her mommy was busy with fundraiser details with another mommy. But Zoe got a treat because the teen daughter (Jen) read Zoe 101 dalmations and zoe got to give and get over 20 hugs and kisses before going to bed at 10 pm.

That's sunday. Usually the busiest day for all our family.

The ultrasound duet

As you know Zoe is a perfect example of a beautiful Ernst Baby. She's my joy and happiness, my laughter and mirth, my ooh's and ahh's. My little blond blue eyed curly haired girl. But she was also my 4 hours of pushing, huge monster head and stuck shoulder birth experience.

So this mother wanted to know how does baby compare? Well here is her answer, see for yourself!

baby pictures

Here are the first Baby Pictures! A very awake baby didn't want to stay still for the lab tech, and poor mommy had to be let up twice to release some pressure from her over full bladder, but the result is one head, two legs two feet, two hands, one belly and your guess is as good as mine as to gender! (they don't divulge this and the tech only lets me see what she wants on the ultra-sound (but as Daddy says " it adds to the suprise!)

enjoy the pictures.

Baby's tummy! according to the tech the dark bit near the bottom is the umbilical chord, like I say your guess is as good as mine, but she showed me the actual umbilica and it was dark just like this bit...

Baby's little feet!!!

Baby is Heard From

Hello! My name is "Lumpkin-widget-walnut-yournicknamehere-ernst" and I am 16 weeks old. My family got to hear my heart beat this week, and my mommy was very releived that I actually was able to give her proof of my existance. (Just wait until I start jumping on her bladder and elbowing her in the kidneys, she'll look back at these quiet weeks and wish for peace!)

Well that's it for now... oh except Magnus: since when was "Dinner" and appropriate nickname for someone as cute as me?

ah the hair!

Zoe oh Zoe let down your hair!

All mothers want a blond curly haired girl right? That was what I wished for, thought it would be cute... and it is. It gorgeous! But here is the catch: we only wash zoe's hair twice a week Tops! Because the poor girl has to undergo shampoo & conditioner and detangle with brush, then rinse and comb out again, then brush out. And if that's not enough mommy either braids it to prevent tangles, or she puts it up in pony tails for the same reason. So it's seldom that Zoe gets to wear her hair down.

Well after a bath this time we tried something new: blow dry (which Zoe loves) and a bit of gel. And then mommy looks at her beautiful daughter and starts hollering to the dearest talented Daddy person: "Get out your camera! She's too cute to let this pass up!" It takes no effort to encourage Zoe into her favourite princess costume and less to get her to dance, jump and pose for her daddy. These are some of the results.

No longer Peanut!

14 weeks pregnant! (12 weeks gestation).
So a new nickname is required for "peanut". I have been showing pictures from online sources to zoe as baby grows and baby now looks like well a baby. Only 1-2 ounces and 3-4 inches long (knowing the stock he/she is coming from probably the bigger size...) baby needs a new nick name. Any suggestions?

wipe away those winter blues

Winter getting you down? Try joining the current fashion of northern three year olds! Yes who can be blue when dressed up in such happy and colourful attire as Tigger? If orange isn't your colour than blend in with winter white as a furry lamb. Warm, fuzzy and full of fun, these are very important things to remember when winter gets you down...

Party Clothes and Vanity

This is the party outfit for Three year olds up north. According to Zoe, who being a three year old is in the know! Who is the party for? Well pig and cow of course, who are learning that even farm animals can be vain!

Another photo of Zoe!

Our gal! Always the interesting personality, always adding a little spark to the day. She isn't ever camera shy, with a photographer for a Daddy... but sometimes the pictures we get are are packed with well extra ...personality. Trent has titled this one "do a little dance" and anyone who sees her on an average day with music playing knows that she is the dancing princess.

Mommy, Why are those boys (half) naked?

You teach your child decency, you tell her keep your clothes on. Zoe knows that undies are not for public viewing, so when she comes into the room during Dillon and friends photo shoot to half naked boys trying to be studs... it seems an appropriate question!
So this is the life of a photographers wife. And while Trent doesn't (always) get to choose the model, and as you can see some may not be completely svelt, he has the amazing knack of taking and making a great shot out of anyone! But please, don't all clamour to strip down to your skivies in our home please,...