To Ohio we go!

I take Isaac's nose retainer out to massage his lip everyday. So I snapped some photos of him without the equipment..... he's healing really well. After I massage the area it's pretty red for a while.

I think he's getting a tooth - because he's chewing on everything around him.

This is such a fun baby stage - he's always trying to find me in the room and tracking me with his eyes. He talks a lot (mostly in the morning). I'll open my eyes when I wake up and see him smiling at me. It's sooooo cute! It can also be a not-so-fun stage when the little man fusses FROM teething! Haha!

He says "Get me outta here!" like a little inmate in prison (he even looks the part with his bald head and stripes). lol

Well, the Hamilton Family is off to a much-needed trip to Ohio! I hope the kids are good on the plane..........what an adventure this will be. I'll be glad to get there! Can't wait to see everyone!

Bighorn Search

Last week Bryan and Curt had to do an intense hike up near Swallow Canyon. There were two radio-collared Bighorn Sheep that were signaling mortality.

Cause of death? All signs point to Mountain Lion. You could see puncture holes in one of the collars. Carcasses were partially buried.

Bite marks...... (pencil shows the scale).........

They happen to see a ewe trotting up there near the kill sites too........

I don't think I would have made that hike - given the shape I'm in now.........lol

Nice pictures Hunny B :)
xoxoxox

Thomas Family Visit

We had some great friends (from Ohio) return to Baker for a visit - Ryan, Sarah, & Troy Thomas. What a cutie that little boy is! I can't believe how time has passed and how big he's grown.

On Saturday we took the kids to the park and then to my house to play.

The following day we took some photos .........look at Troy's contagious smile :)

I think he'd make a wonderful, helpful big brother ;)

Great to see you guys! Looking forward to seeing you in Ohio!

Future Sports Fan

Grandma & Grandpa Hamilton got Isaac this adorable Ohio State outfit (romper & socks). So I dressed him up and Bryan & I did a quick photo shoot. lol

GO BUCKEYES! When he grows out of these clothes - I think I'll create a shadow box for a keepsake....

Ava wanted to appear in the picture............ on my oh-so-comfortable massage table :)

Ok, I opened some new packages of 3-6 month sleepers and onesies and they are tight on the toes on Isaac. Quite a few of the 3-6 month clothes are snug. Then I put a couple of 6 month clothes on and they fit just right. He's getting to be a chubby little man with a long torso but I don't understand baby clothes sizes sometimes. You never know what will fit until you try it on.

Lately Isaac has been grabbing at toys, blankets, or whatever is around him and putting it in his mouth. He's getting better at hand/eye coordination. He loves to touch different objects. He got really excited and laughed when he touched the grass with his feet today. I guess it tickled :D

Ava rode her bike again today - she's getting stronger and going a little faster....she passed me up when I was supposed to be tugging her. We, Elizabeth Anderson & I, were happily walking along when a dust devil pelted us HARD with several old, dried out thorn bushes!!! Talk about wrong place at the wrong time. Isaac (thankfully) was hidden away under the canopy of the stroller & carseat (he really could have been hurt). The rest of us had to remove thorns from our skin and twigs from our hair. It scared Ava really bad and made Elizabeth bleed. We stood there for a minute on the side of the road picking out thorns from each other's skin. I couldn't believe it. Ava knows what dust devil is now!!!!

Congratulations Osburn Family!

CONGRATULATIONS OSBURN FAMILY FOR LONG-ANTICIPATED ARRIVAL OF YOUR BABY GIRL!
Happy Birthday (03/19/10) Morgyn Alexis! (l.o.v.e. the name)
I can't wait to hold (all 9 pounds of) you!!
Ouch Sarah ;)
Well, I'm sure you'll weigh more than that when I see you....
lol
Jamie and Sarah - you did good again!


YIPPEE!
XOXOXOXOXO

Early landscaping

I won a gift certificate to Bath Lumber at the Winter Carnival so I used it to buy rocks. lol

I know, I know - but I really like these lava rocks for landscaping. So I made a walkway in between our garden plots.

Nothing to elaborate........and it won't require much maintenance. I placed plastic underneathe the flagstone and lava rocks to keep the weeds from growing in it.......

I have plans to re-paint (again) that shed in the background. Last time I painted it I ran out of one color. But it's better than it used to look with blue camouflage! lol

That will be a summer project......

Kids Pics

Ava was tired after a nice, long bike ride last night (featured on Gretchen's blog - thank you for posting it Gretchen)! I was happy she let me take pictures of her and Isaac for a moment......


The lighting was kind of bad through the window - but oh well.................

I swiftly took these photos before Ava said "I'm done" and got up and left....... lol

Someday maybe I'll get some professional photos done.....................

A cold wind just arrived a couple of hours ago - which blew my idea of playing outside :(

Bryan should be back tomorrow from a class he's been attending in Wyoming all week. Yeah!

Finally, some organization

This is only one of the random places Bryan's ((Uh- Hum)) I mean our books have been accumulating over the last year.......
;)Then, Bryan and Ava (Isaac & I stayed at Jesse's house) made a long-awaited trip to IKEA (I love this store) and picked up two colorful bookshelves. The brown one, we've had for a couple of years, we moved across the room with the others.
This has really helped with our clutter problem. Go figure! lol
Plus, we needed some colors in our house besides the brown, white, and green.......... and I like how it looks like a mini-library/family room. Now I just have a couple of chairs to get rid of. Well, maybe one (thank you Adam). Now, we just need a lovely area rug..........someday.

Now, here's an Isaac fix for you (taken a week ago or so)........

Ready to ride this Summer

We got a bike for Ava. We chose a neutral color because it will be passed on to Isaac in a couple of years. She, of course, struggled with it and became frustrated and whined the first few times trying to ride it. But, when she got the hang of the circular movement of her legs it got better.

Now she can ride it pretty good with confidence as long as it's on a smooth surface. Hopefully this summer she'll be good and conditioned enough to keep up with me walking......and ride with her good friend Matthew Baker (on his bike)
;)

Now, here's a video for your entertainment.......

Just Another Sunday

I was cleaning the house and runnning from room to room. I walked down the hall passed the bathroom towards Ava's room and saw something in the corner of my eye. I backed up, looked at the toilet and saw this:

My immediate reaction was to smile and chuckle. Then I thought - "OK, I got to start bleaching Ava's toys if she's going to start "potty training" them!!"
LOL

Here are some pictures of Isaac. It seems I'm always trying to keep that nasal retainer in. It always comes out. I think I'm going to call the doc on Monday and see if that's supposed to happen because the tape doesn't keep it in. If anything it keeps this expensive equipment from getting lost.

Yeah, I thought we were going to be done with the tape - I guess not. But at least he'll have it off before summer and he won't get a tan around the tape and look like a football player (when we take it off) ....... lol

We went to the Winter Carnival (link to Janille's blog) in Baker the other night. We had a good time eating and playing the games.....
I played a game of Bingo and actually won a gift certificate to Bath Lumber in Ely. Woo Hoo!

That's all I can post at this time - the kid's need my attention and I need more coffee........
Ha ha

Isaac's Follow-up

Isaac had his post-surgery follow-up yesterday. Despite the painfully long wait (especially with the kids) it went really good.

Dr. Morales was pleased with the results. He cut the blue stitch on Isaac's nose and took out the nasal retainer (nose tube). Isaac has to have a new larger one (to grow with) which I inserted and taped on today. This will remain in until early June. So far it's a bit high maintenance..... I've had to fix it several times already. But, it's nice to not have to put the arm restraints on Isaac and worry about his fingers going in his mouth anymore.

I wanted to get a picture of Dr. Morales with Isaac. He's been a huge part of our lives for many years and I feel like he's part of the family. What a rewarding job to have that effect on people's lives. Bryan took the photo and Ava was tired after all the waiting (as you can see in the picture). lol

We are still trying to convince Dr. Morales to come and visit us and Great Basin National Park. I know how incredibly busy he is but maybe someday we'll see him in our neck of the woods ;)

To prevent any scar tissue from forming we will massage Isaac's lip daily with vitamin E. He doesn't seem to mind that. He doesn't like it, however, when I keep manipulating the nose retainer. That's not my favorite part either.

Otherwise, we have hurdled the biggest challenge and look forward to the next chapter....

I'll post more pics later.......

:)

Reading

Ava loves to read. I love how she asks questions and repeats words in her little toddler language. I wanted to "capture" some of her reading voice. She went along with it (surprisingly). So here is a sample:

LOL

:D

3 Months Old!

Wow time's a flyin' !!
I can't believe Isaac is 3 months old today!

Lately he's been good at putting his fingers and hand up to his mouth to suck on it. He wears the arms restraints but since all his stitches are dissolved I've been letting him lick his fist. It's just natural (obviously) for a baby and he's content doing it. His follow-up appointment in Provo is Wednesday which I'm excited for. Dr. Morales will check him over and remove the metal bow and restraints (also called no-no's) LOL

Sometimes he gets really tired and then fights it (like he has to have "special" conditions to sleep). But once he is asleep - he usually crashes.

He's talking a lot more and seems to be getting better motor control of his arms.

Still a lovebug - don't think he'll grow out of that ;) At least anytime soon............

Ava (Big Sister)

I was sitting on the couch holding Isaac. Ava was laying next to me and she looks over and asks "can you put Isaac right here next to me?" I was surprised. When I did she started to pat his belly and talk to him in a high voice.

I hurried to grab the camera......it was so cute! When Ava is around and Isaac hears her talk he'll lock eyes on her and just stare. It's so funny. Even when I try to get his attention - he'll look at her and smile and talk. She likes to pet his head and play with his hands too.

This next picture was taken another day.............

I decided to get a video too.............

Awwww!
She really does want to keep him ;)

lol

Cookin' with Daddy

What a great little helper (when she wants to be).....................

Bryan made bread yesterday and we ate it all! It was sooooo delicious!

So, Ava is helping him make more tonight :)

I'm sitting on my butt while they do all the hard work.

Later I'll "help" eat

:D

Ha ha!
Yummy!!!!!!!!

Tasty Tuesday

On Tuesday's we try to go over to the Baker Community Center (which is open from 10:00 - 2:00). This is an ideal time because it's after preschool and before Ava's nap. It is nice to socialize with people and eat tasty treats and coffee.

Carol, Andy Ferguson's (Great Basin NP superintendent) wife takes charge and let me tell you that woman can cook and bake! I think she could put Martha Stewart to shame. lol

Because it's open for 4 hours you never know who you will run into week to week........

Ava and Charlie discovered the toy box and found some great things to play with like this farm set. Carol even bought coloring books and crayons so the kids could use them when they come over.

Charlie and Ava have a Love/Hate relationship (I love you! I hate you!)

Both of them want what the other has.............even though there is plenty to go around.

Toddlers!

LOL