Ava's Third Birthday Present

For Ava's Third Birthday (which is Wednesday), we wanted her to say "Bye-Bye" to her diapers. Not only for the inconvenience of getting her into one and subsequently out of it in the morning, but so she could give the cloth diapers to Jake for his use. She noticed about 2 weeks ago that Momma has pierced ears. We talked it up a lot and told her if she is big enough to get rid of her diapers (at night only, fully day potty trained), that she could get her ears pierced. I got mine pierced after my tonsilectomy at age 3 as well.

All seated up and ready for action
Ava gets her ears dotted
All smiles- dots lined up perfectly
Hold the teddy while I put in the earring
OUCH! I changed my mind!!Oh, you have a sucker? Why didn't you say so? Sugar makes everything better I don't need to cry anymore
Wow- look at me!

Every person we see now... "Mom! Look! She has earrings like me! Look! I have earrings too~ like you!" Too cute.

Why Every Girl Needs A Front Loader

Because if you separate out the laundry, a 2 11/12 year old can load it herself and think she is HOT STUFF being Mom's helper.

A Day at the Fair

So I mustered up the energy to take the kids to the Fair. Daddy had to work, conveniently enough, at the Fair, and Honey and Auntie E cleared their schedules to accompany us. Honey said "I was going to clean the house, but decided that Jake will only have his first Fair once." Sam loved the petting zoo- we had to go back twice. Ava... just wanted to be held. Thank goodness Auntie E was there!
Jake enjoyed the exhibits with Honey.Auntie E is easily manipulated. Here she is getting "trained" through the exhibits. Mom finally put an end to this when convinced that E was going to trip on one or both of them. I know, fun spoiler. Sam and Ava had their first Elephant Ear... loved it.

By about 1:30 pm, we had enough of Ava. Oh, I mean, Ava was ready for her nap. We bribed her into leaving with Honey with Caramel Corn and Pepsi. Heck, I would have left, and gladly so, for a snack like that. Snacks like that are few and far between at our house.
After we ditched Ava, we headed for the rides. Jake had fun riding around on Mom.
Sam chose the Police Ride, of course.

Coming Right Along

This room is my teeny-tiny She Space. Designed with one body in mind only- mine- not big enough to share. My only private place. This usage of my space... not what I had in mind, Mr. Drywaller.
Great Room. All that wood around the fireplace will be stone. The white hole up top is for the wiring for the TV we don't own yet.
Great room/Dining/Kitchen from entry way

Exterior Bathroom windows- "Rain" glass to match shower door. And possibly eliminate more window coverings
Tub hole
Master bed drywalled in
Unstained Front Door
Kitchen and Pantry Drywalled

Jake's First Friend

This wasn't supposed to be the first picture -this is the first friend's father, who got photographed because their shirts matched.
Liam Williams, age 8 weeks. Jake's first friend.
They were compared- as 6 weeks is a long time in the life of an infant. Neither had much to say to the other. Maybe by the next visit.
Liam's mom broke her wrist... ROLLERBLADING... nothing good comes from sweating.Up close look at the external fixation. YIKES.. but she is a champ, as is Baby Liam. Still nursing through the whole bit and has even started sleeping all night. I did talk to Jake about that.

Another Week in Photos

Ava improvises and uses the baby flight vest as a baby carrier
Yes, I helped Ava get Jake into her baby crib- she did not act alone. Too much unsupervised time (that would be Daddyless time) for us girls.
Ava checks out Jake
Jake helps Dad pay bills
Rollin' 3 Deep... any more kids means a new car for mom. We are PACKED IN in the back seat.

Oh, Right, The House

I haven't received an email lately from Uncle J inquiring about the house progress, but I know he wants to ask! Here she is...Deck is ON- obviously still needs the glass
Cheri's Fab Tub Deck- no TV wiring... just blessed silence
The insulation is finished (I believe) and they are starting on dry wall
Hardi-Plank exterior- that is what Builder is working on now- I actually like the color of the plank itself- suggested to J that we skip the paint and just have a hardi-house. After all, if Jason and I were left unattended, the entire house would be beige. We need Melanie closer.
Back porch is poured; front porch also.

The Fearless Hunters

Ahh... September First... one of my personal favorite days of the years as it marks opening day of Dove Season. Jason has given up on hunting things with legs... too much effort, perhaps, combined with our inability to consume that much meat, plus time away from home. But-- the Man loves the Birds. Bang, bang, bang, bang... lots of shooting, minimal time from home. When he announced that on Jake's eighth day of life that he had been waiting HIS whole life to take his son bird hunting, I obliged. It was, after all, part of the 'catch' of coming to Idaho- an outdoorsman's paradise. Sam had a wonderful time out with Daddy- and is now the "retrieving dog" that Jason has been talking about for years (NO DOGS now...just KIDS! please). They have since gone once more and are heading out again tonight. Sam the Retriever
Hopefully this was a lesson in gun safety
The Fearless Hunters return with their kill
The Dog fetches

Another Week in Pictures

I am taking pictures... trying to keep up with the blog.Jake takes a break on Daddy
Another break on the sofa
Post car seat stretch
The D men with their bedheads
Jake's first big bath after the belly button fell off
Swaddled up
Exhausted from nursing effort
Don't forget about this rag-a-muffin-- that was last weekend after spending 36 hours alone with Dad and Sam (mommy really appreciated that time!)
Jake's Favorite Napping place- in the bouncy seat, no batteries. Swaddled. So happy...

We went to the doctor's office yesterday for Jake's 2 week appointment. He weighed 9-4- up almost a pound from his birth weight. Momma got 2 thumbs up from the doc and forgot to get the "percentiles" of his length/weight... maybe I can just forget all that stuff for the third kid. He looks normal enough. Eats well, poops well, and is filling out.