A smile...with his brother!

Too bad Judah has his hands on his face. Most of my pics of the boys have Samuel with an awful look on his face, probably from being pestered by Judah. Apparently he likes movies and snuggling with Daddy.

Father's Day Camping Trip

We decided last minute, Wednesday, of a busy work week for Jamie, that we should go camping. Jamie found a place in Anacortes, Fidalgo Bay Resort, that had openings. We were able to stay right near the water, overlooking the lovely Anacortes refineries. You may think that isn’t a fun view, but being the Chemical Engineer I am I get a kick out of it. Jamie was hoping to get off early Friday as he had put in lots of hours earlier in the week. Unfortunately that was not possible and I packed as best I could with the kids until he was able to help at noon. We pulled out of the drive around 1:30, not bad!

Once we pulled into camp Jamie went to work setting up the trailer while I took the kids to the nice park across the street from our site. Judah loved it and made a friend and met a really nice cat. Next time we’ll try for site #16 or 17 which is right near the park and a big grassy field. Our site was also great, on a nice grassy area that connected to the bike trail. We went into town after setting up to get some early dinner as we hadn’t had lunch. Then it was back to camp for some bike riding and playing. Judah went to bed really easily in his big boy bunk. Samuel bunked in our stroller bassinet on the couch. It took a little to get him settled but thankfully he takes a pacifier and did sleep. Jamie and I started a cribbage game while we waited for the boys to sleep since I learned to play while at the lake the previous week!

Samuel did pretty good sleeping, only waking at 2:30 and then at about 5 but going right back to sleep. The day was rainy so we watched some shows and hung out inside for awhile. Then we went into town for lunch and to check out the outlet malls. We stopped at the “toy store” (Value Village) on the way back and Judah got a cool hot wheels race track set and cars. He and Jamie set it up on the picnic table to play. We had very nice naps that afternoon and then started on dinner of chicken, potatoes, and veggies. After dinner we did a walk on the trail and then off to bed. Samuel slept really well the second night and only woke up once in the early morning. We didn’t hurry to get going but got started around 10, thinking it would go quick. Turns out it took a bit longer, we didn’t pull out until 12! That’s what happens when the baby wakes up from nap and you lose a set of adult hands. Judah even got a new job, flushing the toilet to rinse the blackwater tank! He did a great job and kept at it for quite a while longer than we expected him to.

Jason and Amanda Visit

We started our weekend with a lovely date night on Saturday night. Jamie and I got away for a movie and dinner while the boys hung out with our great neighborhood sitter. After church the next day Samuel and I headed south to the airport to pick up Jason and Amanda. It was quite sweet to get a running, smiling hug greeting from Jason. The boys immediately hit it off and played together really well. Jason liked to do whatever Judah was doing. We had several adventures over the week. We had sent Jason the book “Larry Gets Lost in Seattle” so he was anxious to ride a ferry boat. After getting some ice cream we took an impromptu ferry ride to Kingston and back one evening when the weather turned out to be glorious. The boys ran all over and had lots of fun.

Jamie had Tuesday off for Memorial Day and since it was a business day and the Sounder Train was running we decided we should make that happen for Judah, plus Amanda wanted to do some downtown adventuring. So we got up bright and early to make the 7:15 train out of Everett. Samuel and I dropped them off and started to drive down to pick them up on the other end. That’s when the adventure got a bit hairy. Jamie will have to relate the whole story, but let’s just say it was stressful but they made the train! After that things went more smoothly. We had a nice walk at the statue park, took lots of pictures and had a snack. Amanda, the boys, and I continued to walk toward the market while Jamie moved the car. We got some yummy food at the market for lunch (crab rangoon, yumm!). Then headed to the Seattle Great Wheel. We got four revolutions on the wheel and got to see the view in glorious sunshine. Then it was time to head home for naps.

Wednesday Jamie headed back to work. We debated what to do with the weather and it turned out pretty decent so we went down to the zoo. We got to see elephants, monkeys, giraffes, and more! Amanda got the boys animal crackers for the ride home and we made it without falling asleep to nap at home.

The next few days we played lots more, had a great seafood dinner out, and we wrapped up the week with a fun halibut dinner with our neighbors, the Rikalos.

Samuel is 7.5 Weeks!

And just like that there goes a month! Samuel is now 7.5 weeks old, almost 2 months and I’m finding it hard to believe. He was 11 pounds at his post circumcision appointment (about 5 weeks old), so still eating really well. He has stretched out this sleeping and now does 5, 6, and sometimes 7 hours at night! Of course he sometimes is up until after midnight, but since I’m a night owl I usually don’t mind. Sadly, Judah’s sleeping has regressed some and I’m up more in the night with him on some occasions. All in all I’m still pretty tired and still very brain dead as a result.

Samuel is still a great baby. He actually loves being on his changing table and most times it calms him down, not sure if that’s the nice window he can look out or what. He enjoys baths and snuggles and laying on his back. Not a huge fan of the swing or even the bouncy chair. He actually does better just in the middle of the floor. No major fussiness, except for some gassiness in the evenings which resolves once we can bounce, patt, bend, or somehow get the fart or burp out. I joke that he burps and farts like a man but its really true! They are loud and in the case of farts, stinky. He also seems to be a poop every few days kinda guy, so we have to be prepared for blowouts.

Mother's Day and Samuel's Dedication

This Sunday was Mother’s Day and they usually do baby dedications at church so we decided to dedicate Samuel. Jamie’s family (Andi, Dan, Jenn, Bryan, Hazel, and Gus) were all able to come down for the weekend to join us in celebrating and some family time. Sadly Judah developed an awful cough Friday night and coughed all night long, so between that and Samuel’s feedings I was wiped out and not good for much Saturday morning. They left me in bed (glorious!) and all headed to Grandma’s hotel to swim in the pool. I joined up with them for lunch and then the girls headed out to pedicures while the boys chilled at home. Jamie got Judah to sleep a little, which was good because his best friend Charlie’s birthday party at Pump it Up was at 1:45. Judah had a blast in the bouncy houses and on the slide. I even did the slide and it was pretty fun. We got home and the Johnson clan decided to head out on a spur of the moment adventure. They invited Judah along and so Jamie, Samuel, and I were left to have a last minute, impromptu date night to PF Changs! We all returned home having had great times, you can’t plan this stuff sometimes. Sunday we were up bright and early to head to church for the 8:30 service. We chose this verse to dedicate Samuel. It is the same one we used with Judah but we really liked it and it is our prayer for all our kids.

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Iowa - Minnesota Visit (Blast from the Past Entry)

The blog below is a blast from the past, from 2009. I was reminded of this event by my Dad's admin, who is putting together a photo book for my Dad's retirement. She saw the pics of the burning bookcase and wanted to know more about the story.



May 29, 2009

The last weekend in May found us in Iowa for the wedding of our good friends Andy and Abby. The trip seemed marked for awesomeness when we found tickets for $143 each. I flew in to MN on Friday afternoon (Jamie had to go early for work) and met my Mom for lunch. I then drove my Dad’s brand new truck (only a few weeks old) loaded with Amanda and I’s old bedroom furniture down to Cedar Rapids.  It was a pretty sweet ride but slightly embarrassing as my Dad has made it a “boy” truck by hanging some truck junk off the hitch. Jamie and I delivered the furniture to our friends house for their two little girls to use. They were very excited and got to stay up really late to move it in. 

The next morning found us driving 80 mph on I-80 with Mark and Krystal to make it to the wedding on time. We did. It was a beautiful wedding and it was fun to see some old CR friends. We’re so happy for Andy and excited to get to know Abby better (I already know she’s way cool, after all she did get married barefoot). After the wedding we departed for our drive back north to my parent’s lake house in MN. We arrived just in time for bonfire with Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Amanda, David, and all of the Bells (plus two friends).

And what a bonfire it was! It was a special occasion bonfire as my Dad had finally decided, after 35 years, that he no longer needed his college engineering text books.  So he decided to burn them. Yes, I know that sounds awful, burning books, but they were engineering books and not worth anything on the used book market. Moral of the story: Sell your books back! You will never need them again and if you do you will always have a work colleague you can borrow them from. (Does anyone need any chemical engineering books circa 2002, I’ll give you a deal) 

Anyway, in true Beaver form we all had to wager how long it would take for the “bookcase” to collapse into the fire. I’m not sure the final time but it was well over an hour. In the meantime Jim went down to the boat, threw out one cast and pulled in this beautiful large mouth bass.  Too bad it wasn’t in season and had to be released, good thing we have the pictures to prove it. After that the bookcase collapsed and we all went to bed. 

Now you would think that was the end of the story but no, there’s more.  The next morning was really windy and as Grandpa was cleaning up the fire pit an ember escaped and made its way into the firewood pile (the massive, 7 cord pile whose splitting still lives in Beaver family infamy). It became a 3 foot high blaze on top of the pile in no time. Thankfully Grandpa caught it, alerted Jamie and Dad and it was under control by the time we got back from our walk. Scary, but even scarier is that the forest behind it was full of dry leaves...oh and the pile sits right next to the propane tank.

The rest of the weekend was pretty uneventful thankfully. We spent it relaxing and then going back into town for, our favorite thing, a Costco run where Mom got new pots and pans.  Then it was back home to work and the crazy Seattle June heat wave. The last weekend in May found us in Iowa for the wedding of our good friends Andy and Abby. The trip seemed marked for awesomeness when we found tickets for $143 each. I flew in to MN on Friday afternoon (Jamie had to go early for work) and met my Mom for lunch. I then drove my Dad’s brand new truck (only a few weeks old) loaded with Amanda and I’s old bedroom furniture down to Cedar Rapids.  It was a pretty sweet ride but slightly embarrassing as my Dad has made it a “boy” truck by hanging some truck junk off the hitch. Jamie and I delivered the furniture to our friends house for their two little girls to use. They were very excited and got to stay up really late to move it in. 

The next morning found us driving 80 mph on I-80 with Mark and Krystal to make it to the wedding on time. We did. It was a beautiful wedding and it was fun to see some old CR friends. We’re so happy for Andy and excited to get to know Abby better (I already know she’s way cool, after all she did get married barefoot). After the wedding we departed for our drive back north to my parent’s lake house in MN. We arrived just in time for bonfire with Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Amanda, David, and all of the Bells (plus two friends).

And what a bonfire it was! It was a special occasion bonfire as my Dad had finally decided, after 35 years, that he no longer needed his college engineering text books.  So he decided to burn them. Yes, I know that sounds awful, burning books, but they were engineering books and not worth anything on the used book market. Moral of the story: Sell your books back! You will never need them again and if you do you will always have a work colleague you can borrow them from. (Does anyone need any chemical engineering books circa 2002, I’ll give you a deal) 

Anyway, in true Beaver form we all had to wager how long it would take for the “bookcase” to collapse into the fire. I’m not sure the final time but it was well over an hour. In the meantime Jim went down to the boat, threw out one cast and pulled in this beautiful large mouth bass.  Too bad it wasn’t in season and had to be released, good thing we have the pictures to prove it. After that the bookcase collapsed and we all went to bed. 

Now you would think that was the end of the story but no, there’s more.  The next morning was really windy and as Grandpa was cleaning up the fire pit an ember escaped and made its way into the firewood pile (the massive, 7 cord pile whose splitting still lives in Beaver family infamy). It became a 3 foot high blaze on top of the pile in no time. Thankfully Grandpa caught it, alerted Jamie and Dad and it was under control by the time we got back from our walk. Scary, but even scarier is that the forest behind it was full of dry leaves...oh and the pile sits right next to the propane tank.

The rest of the weekend was pretty uneventful thankfully. We spent it relaxing and then going back into town for, our favorite thing, a Costco run where Mom got new pots and pans.  Then it was back home to work and the crazy Seattle June heat wave.

Samuel is 3 Weeks Old!

Wow, I just typed March, guess I’m still in a bit of a time warp. Well, Samuel is three weeks old now and still not sleeping through the night :) I’m a bit sleep deprived but was sort of inspired to update our blog a little. It’s been a bit light since August, which isn’t surprising, that’s when we found out we were pregnant with Samuel. I was also a bit out of excuses since my friend who has 5 kiddos, including brand new twins, is updating her blog fairly regularly. What can I say about the first 3 weeks? Well, the first two were awesome! Seriously, my Mom was here and took amazing care of Judah, as well as cleaning, cooking, and caring for me and Samuel too. Jamie also was able to take off the first week, which was great since he was still recovering from his head cold. It’s also been unusually sunny which has helped with all our moods and allowed us to get outside to play and do projects and walk.

Samuel is actually a pretty great baby. He is nursing like a champ, he went from 9 lbs to 8 lbs 8 oz and then back to 9 lbs 10 oz in the first two weeks. We had a bit of a blip at day 3 when my milk transitioned from colostrum to milk, he just didn’t quite know what to do with it and we struggled for a day. Thankfully we had our doctor appointment that morning and I was able to have a phone consult with the lactation consultant which were reassuring. He is also pretty good natured and sleeps well. We’re up every 2-3 hours but he falls right back to sleep after eating, similar to Judah. He’s the fussiest in the evening and doesn’t go to bed until 11ish but continues his night sleep until 9ish. That would be great for me as I’m a night owl that likes to sleep in if it weren’t for son #1 getting up earlier and earlier it seems as the sun comes out earlier and earlier.

Judah has suddenly become a big kid, like overnight, when we brought Samuel home. He is the “big brother” and has become fearless and brave. Just the week before Samuel was born I had to go with him to his dark room or downstairs. But now “big brother” will go everywhere (sometimes this is not good, like when I’m nursing and hear the garage door shut because he’s gone looking for Dad who was mowing lawn, did I mention he can’t get into the house from the garage yet?). I had joked that I was hoping Judah would be able to dress himself before baby came. As of even the day before he was born Judah was still not able to dress himself. Baby comes home and boom, he is dressing himself, completely, undies, pants, and shirt. Sometimes they are on backwards but we don’t complain. He loves his baby brother and is pretty gentle and sweet to him. He has become a pro at sanitizing his hands before touching him which turned out to be a really good thing because on Friday after my Mom left we discovered...pink eye!

Cue trip to the doctor, our second that week. Thankfully my mother in law Andi and Jamie’s Aunt Lexi had planned to come up to visit for the day so I was able to put them in charge of the baby with some pumped milk and take Judah by myself. We got eye drops which are a bugger to get into his eyes, thankfully my MIL had a great tip that they just had to go in the corner of his closed eye and they would blink into the eye. The “Grandmas”, as Judah called Andi and Lexi, also did laundry and cleaned up my kitchen, huge thank you for that!

The weekend weather was good and we did some projects outside. We put together our new patio furniture and washed up our old set to sell. Judah helped me go to Fred Meyer for my fuschias for my hanging baskets. Sunday we had our first family outing for lunch. We went to Demetris in Edmonds, sat on the patio, and saw three trains!