The Christmas cards are mailed, packages are shipped, shopping is done (well 90%)... is it Christmas yet?! After returning from MN, we hit the road running. I went back to work 3 days a week, Steven's back on shifts, getting another group of Explorers through the program enrollment, etc. After a 3.5 hr drive to Eugene (normally 2) on glare ice south of Albany, we enjoyed last weekend in Eugene at Granny and PapaGuchi's house along with Auntie Stephie. Abi's become quite an animated talker so with all the loves she got, she was quite noisy! It was wonderful to see wonderful friends through the weekend at the Nichols' Christmas party and other friends (shout out to Wendy!). Thanks to Granny and Papa for babysitting too so Steven and I could go out with friends. So, just another week and we'll head back down to Eugene to celebrate Christmas; we're excited Auntie Evie is going to be flying in from NYC this year too.
Abi's had an eventful week. She was 12 wks on Monday. Apparently she's decided that means time for firsts! We're on a streak of sleeping for 8 hours at night (yay!), she picked up a rattle and put it in her mouth (fun!) and today.... she rolled from her tummy to her back!
We've had a busy but wonderful month of November so far. I've worked 4 days; not because I'm going back to work, but because my employer is allowing me to stretch my maternity leave. I won't have to work full time until after the New Year so that does require a few hours worked this month and part-time work in December. Steven was able to be home most of the days with Abi, but she did enjoy one day with our great friend Whitney. Steven's busy with getting another round of Explorer applications processed and new students in the program. We enjoyed a visit from Shaun and Rachelle and spent some time at OMSI. Don't be confused by their website: 6-12 is NOT the only age group that loves the science museum. We spend 4-5 hrs there playing with all the experiments. :) This past weekend, our friends Nichole and Jeromy were married. It was a beautiful evening. With all that behind us, we start prepping for our two week trip to MN. Abi gets her 8 wk shots tomorrow though so we'll see how that goes!
Halloween Friday Steven and I attended the Global Mission Readiness "Masquerade Mayhem". Our friend Don Davis III is the CEO/Founder of this great non-profit group who does training around the world for communities who don't have the advanced emergency rescue, fire suppression and medical response that we take for granted here in the States. The fundraiser was a WONDERFUL event and if you're interested in the non-profit, check out their website at http://www.globalmissionreadiness.org/ Steven had this crazy idea last year that he wanted to be a soy sauce bottle for Halloween...?!?! So, with the sewing genius of Mom Gold... he got to be a soy sauce bottle! I finished his label and hat this week. Mom also made my tuna roll dress. Abi spent her first evening home with a babysitter (thanks Brenda!) and did great (her Mom struggled). We'll enjoy Halloween watching the Duck game at our friend Robb's. I'm not sure if Abi will go trick-or-treating with Syd and Skylar but we'll get to hand out candy regardless! Hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!
Far from the first sleepy time smile...
Gramma Gold arrived earlier this week so has been helping out with night time feedings (thank God for breast pumps!), household stuff and just the adjustment of having an infant in the house. Steven had his first full shift back on duty, so Abi made her second trip to the station to visit Daddy as well as spent the day running errands and shopping with Mommy and Gramma. We're already huge fans of our awesome Bob stroller! And of course she gets a visit and snuggles with Granny, Papa and Stephie whenever they're in town.
she was alert and checking the world out for nearly 2.5 hrs in her swing and bouncy seat. Yay Abigail!!! Here's a couple of pictures with Abi and her guys. It was rather entertaining last night when Abi was fascinated by her father snoring. :) I'll try to get the video of that posted.
As mentioned before, we are walking every day. Poor Buster LOVES these walks, but you can tell he'd prefer the pace we used to set rather than the waddles we now take. This morning as we were heading down the trail, a much smaller, curly, "yapper" thought she needed to give Buster a piece of her mind. We laughed when the dog's owner told the dog, "Are you nuts?! You better hush before you get us both killed. What are you doing yelling at such a big dog?" If you've met Buster, you'd find this humorous too as he is nothing but a big dumb lover of a Lab. The best part of the walk (besides the absolutely gorgeous weather and sunshine and more time with my boys) was that after over two years of working with Buster on a leash, several different leash styles, and countless miles walked, he does not pull, he does not bark at other dogs and he calmly walks by your knee. I know Baby Sak's arrival will be an adjustment for everyone in the house including Buster, but I have to say there is quite the sense of accomplishment being able to take a 100 lb. dog for a stroll knowing he is no longer taking me for a walk and that he'll do just find with a baby and stroller in tow. Steven's gotten some funny expressions captured with the new camera (both of the belly and of Buster, but since I'm writing this entry, I don't put belly pictures in). Buster's expression in the picture with the head cocked, ears perked occurs you mention either the W word (walk) or R word (ride).
Since car trips get really long when you have to stop every 1.5 hr or so, we opted to go to the Oregon Coast for our anniversary this year. Last year, we enjoyed Bainbridge Island for our anniversary and it was 100 degrees the day we went to the beach. This year, it was a glorious 65-70 degrees, sunny and absolutely gorgeous as well. We enjoyed a little house down by Waldport and spend most of our Saturday putzing around Newport. The Aquarium had a very interesting Oddwater exhibit. We were both pretty enthralled by the 40 lb. Japanese Spider Crabs. They were nearly 2.5' tall!! Our dinner out was not exactly a quiet, romantic dinner. Not realizing where the restaurant was on the water front, we happened to pick the restaurant right next to the old wharf docks where dozens of sea lions sun bath. For those of you who haven't had the joy: they're large, loud (make noises that sounds mostly like barks or farts), stinky, etc. Much of the dinner conversation was centered on the entertainment of a great white entering the harbor to consume the seals or if the federal protection ban on hunting the seals was lifted. :D We were also thoroughly entertained to find out that our "water dog" who will jump into any river and lake... is afraid of the ocean waves. LOL
but apparently you're not supposed to do so with a bun in the oven. And yes, I'm feeling good. I think I'll have a t-shirt printed that says, "Due 9/18. Feel fine. No you may not touch." :) ha ha Baby Sak is very active and growing well. 
