Chocolate Cake

This is pretty good...

uh oh, I got some on my shirt

even better

sans t-shirt

Happy Easter

The Oroville Egg Hunt at Memorial State Park:

Saturday was a beautiful day for egg hunting, (and throwing rocks in the lake).

Mmm, Dad, these are pretty good but I like a little salt and pepper on my hard boiled eggs.
Grandma Connie and Grandpa Dick came for a nice Easter visit this weekend. We ate ham, shopped, dyed eggs, watched some NCAA tournament, and the guys went steelhead fishing. This morning Gus had way too many chocolates, but now he is taking a nice nap.

28.5 week belly photo

Yes, its getting big! The belly is measuring ahead, apparently I just grow large babies. Gus was 9 lbs, delivered at 40 weeks 2 days. This one is on track to be a similar size. I have gained 19 pounds so far, feeling good and savoring our last 10 weeks of "just the 3 of us".

Welcome, Little Baby

Joe, Katie, and Reilly welcomed a baby boy into their family around 10ish last night. Welcome Sawyer James, 7 lbs, 15 ounces.

We can't wait to meet this new little one.

With a good portion of our friends expecting babies, its been really fun to see what everyone has ended up having (boy or girl).

Congratulations, Joe and Katie! Reilly- you'll have to show Gus the ins and outs of being a big brother.

Naptime

Gus and I shared a wonderful nap on the couch today. We are both taking up more space these days, so it was pretty cramped, but neither of us minded one bit.

Mom's-eye view:

I took this photo on the "sunset" setting, but I think more appropriately it should have been called "waxing moon" setting, or perhaps "porpoising" (note the empty chocolate pudding dish on the table).

Just for Grandpa Dick and Grandpa Tim.....

A little something we'd all like to get our hands on:


http://dponwine.blogspot.com/

(scroll down to the post about the Leonetti Vertical)

I wonder how the '78 Leonetti would stand up to the '78 Cuvaison? It would be fun to find out.

Deep in thought

It's Time to Potty. Tonight, after his bath, I found Gus deep in thought on the potty. He is doing pretty darn good, we just started the no- diaper thing on Friday and he has really taken to peeing and pooping on the potty. He only had one accident at daycare today. I have some anxiety about the whole thing- but so far, it hasn't been bad at all. Send us some positive potty vibes our way, it can't hurt.

Old Wives Tales

According to the Old Wives Tales, I am having a.................
Boy. by about 70% odds.

The following point to boy:
Basketball shaped belly, Fetal heart rate under 140bpm, ring on string swayed back and forth, craving sour and salty, feet seem colder than usual...

The following point to girl:
Carrying high, craving fruit (grapefruit)...

Not that I put any real faith in these predictions, but they are fun, no?

Some good reading for Caucus Time

http://www.mom-101.blogspot.com

Interesting....

Take a look at the baby's sex poll to the right. Hmmm. So far, 65% have voted that we are having a girl. Very interesting... I guess I better post a belly picture soon so more analyzing can happen. Only 14-15 more weeks and we will find out!

Free Elephant Rides

Joe makes it look easy. Two 30+ lb two year olds can be a real handful.

Our annual Super bowl get-together with Joe, Katie, and Reilly, was a blast again this year. Reilly and Gus played so well together. They kept themselves busy with tractors, trains, and race cars. These boys have a lot in common; both are going to be big brothers soon. I think they are up for the challenge. I guess we'll see come March and May...

And from the Casa de Ugaldea

Grandpa Tim and Grammy Kath are also buried on the South Hill. Good luck to anyone attempting to ring the doorbell.

Digging Out in Spokane

Looks like Grandpa Dick and Grandma Connie will be shopping for new shrubs come spring...
The little pickup- stranded till March?

Oroville hasn't experienced the dramatic snowfall that Spokane has, but we sure enjoy seeing the pictures. The three of us were there last weekend, and it was absolutely beautiful. The drive was a little sketchy coming home, but we made it safe and sound.

Editor in Chief

2 years ago

A little trip down memory lane. Here is what Gus was up to exactly two years ago. Its enough to make a mom misty. This little guy has grown into such a big boy. I am so excited to have another little one in the house.

Fun with Freddie

I am going to make up for lost time on this blog. We got a new computer for Christmas, and today the high-speed internet got hooked up. I am ready to blog on a whole new level, people! It feels so nice to step up technologically to the current time.

Looking at these recent posts, I just realized that Gus is wearing his snow suit quite a bit. He does love his winter gear, but more importantly, he loves playing in the snow. This winter has been a wonderful snowy white winter in our area.

Gus, quite the Musher

There are a few nice things about living in Okanogan County. Mushing in Havilla is just one of the activites in which children around here participate. These local dogs took the little ones on a free ride around the hills near Havilla two weekends ago.

Here is Gus coming and going.

In loving memory of Aunt Dot

Aunt Dot passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning. We just saw her in September, and she was her usual spunky self. It is so sad, but she lived a long and full life. We will surely miss her.

Sledding

Snow Excursion

Grandpa Dick, Aunt Molly, and Dad took Gus to Cannon Hill today to enjoy premium sledding conditions and swinging, which for Gus is a four seasons activity.

Merry Christmas

Opening Gifts with Uncle Steve

Horsing around with Aunt Molly

Lunch at Clink's. Gus was helping Grandpa Tim organize Christmas Eve Dinner

Bowie Meets Crosby

The first minute is a bit cheesy, but this is such a beautiful duet. Two of my favorites: Bing and Bowie. Gus has been singing Christmas songs like crazy, so I thought I would share one of our favorites.

Pictures for the Post Below

Snow

We had a nice storm come through a couple of weekends ago that left us with a gorgeous blanket of white. Then a warm-up in temps melted it all by the next weekend. It started snowing again last night, thankfully. The forecast is for a chance of snow everyday for the next 10 days.


Gus really likes the snow. Last year he called it 'no (with a silent s) but this year he has taken to pronouncing the s on the front of many of his words. He still says "cary" for scary, though. He played in it for over an hour, and didn't really want to come inside. Finally his hands got cold and we lured him in with a warm lunch.


We are all very excited for Santa's arrival this year. Gus had a chat with the big man last weekend in Spokane. I am not sure exactly what they discussed, but around our house there is talk of cranes, tractors, cars, and other fleeting wants.

This age is so much fun. There are things that I love about each stage of development, but it is so fun to have a little person around the house who uses 4 and 5 word sentences, loves "helping" and is oh so excited about Christmas lights, decorations, ornaments, Santa, and the whole shebang.

Thankful

To be a member of our wonderful family,To partake in a truly gourmet meal,
And have a comfy place to doze off at the end of the day....

Steelhead Time

Uncle Ben and Dad on the Tucannon River Nice Steelhead, Dad!
That water looks fishy to me.
Gus tries his luck in Uncle Ben and Aunt Holli's backyard stream.

Thanks to Grandpa Tim for posting these pictures on Westfly. I had to of course post them here as well. The grown men of the family braved the icy cold weather on Saturday and went "Steelheading" while us ladies and Gus spent the day shopping in downton Walla Walla. We all had fun, enjoyed fresh air, and came home to a wonderful meal of turkey leftovers and pie.

It's time for a Poll

The Question: Boy or Girl?

Please vote. You have over 5 months to vote, and you can vote as often as you like. (on the righthand side of this blog)

We are not finding out the sex with this one either, sorry to all the "planners" in the family, but its one of the only true suprises left in life.

Gus has been saying "Baby Sister"- as of this weekend. I am feeling pretty much the same as I did when I was pregnant with Gus. Queasy for the whole month of October, tired, hungry, yadda yadda yadda. I am really feeling boy, but a part of me thinks, "hmmmm, maybe girl!"

Grateful Dead 07-15-1988 Fire on the Mountain MATRIX Audio 1

A little taste of what Gus was singing this morning. Maybe we have been listening to the Grateful Dead channel too much on Sirius? Nah, never.

Peeka- Boo!

Thanks to Grandpa Dick for emailing these pictures of Gus, taken yesterday.

Gus goes on an overnight adventure with Dad, is gone for less than 36 hours or so, and comes back with an advanced vocabulary. I swear, he is morphing before my very eyes into a full blown kid. We were playing with his new firetrucks on the couch this morning, and out of the blue he started singing "Fire, fire on the Mountain" that lovely Grateful Dead classic.

Our News

"Hun, I see two lines. Most definetly there are two lines there, hun."

For those of you who haven't heard yet..... Yep, Gus is going to be a big brother!

Sorry if anyone reading this gets a little grossed out by the pee-stick photo. I think its actually a quite normal occurrence for women to document the positive pregnancy test result. Matt thinks its nasty, but oh well too bad for him.

The circumstances surrounding this test taking, about 7 weeks ago, are pretty unforgettable.
Was it:

a. The morning after my 29th birthday
b. The morning after drinking a wonderful bottle of Arbor Crest 1999 Dionysus (with Matt)
c. The morning after Ben and Holli called to share there great news with us- that they are having a baby in May
or
d. All of the above.

Yep, it was d. Gus is going to be a big brother and a cousin. At approximately the same time- sometime around the 3rd week in May. Its pretty exciting stuff.

Trick or Treat!

Here is Gus and his friend Max (who happens to be our daycare lady's grandson) hamming it up for the camera. As you can see, Gus picked out an Elmo costume this year. Matt and I were trying to persuade him to pick Cookie Monster, but Gus was adamant about Elmo. He had a great time going from house to house with Dad and saying "Trick or Treat" followed by "Thankyou" and "Happy Halloween"... he made out pretty good with the favorite item being two new jars of pladoh.

I had to stay here and give out candy. It was a busy night, but not as busy as it has been in the past.

Leaf Time 2007

We take pictures of Gus playing in the leaves every year. Its harder and harder to make him sit still as he gets older. But he is having so much fun, I don't mind. We have a beautiful maple in our front yard that provides us with ample subject matter (and work).

Hopefully the leaf fairy comes again this year. We raked and bagged our leaves last year- approx. 25-30 XL yard waste bags absolutely full of leaves, and set them in the driveway. When we were away one day, some nice person came and took all the bags, saving us a trip to the dump. The year before, a lady asked if she could have them for compost, and so we have never had to actually haul our yard waste. I am crossing our fingers that our luck will continue this year.

Our Pumpkins

My Guy

Gus came crawling upstairs this morning to coax me out of bed. I pulled him into bed to cuddle for a little while. Dad came in and flipped on the lights. So we ducked under the covers, making a cozy tent. Gus said, "Shh. Its raining!". Then he popped his head out, and then quickly back in and said "Hair is wet!". I love the little adventures we have when we follow Gus's imagination. On Monday mornings in particular, I wish I had all day to imagine and explore with him.