Seattle Trip

We spent the first two weeks of this month in the Seattle area mostly for business on Mr. Tech's part. We we're graciously put up by U. Phil and A. Mary in their 5 star accommodations.This is a picture overview of the two weeks with some missing pieces were I forgot to get out the camera.

The cargo carrier lent by Bumpa and Amma that made it possible to go on a two week trip with three kids in a Kia Sportage.
:)
Jeffy meeting G. Gramma Eleanor for the first time. He's number 50 counting all her grands and greats.

Enjoying some delicious raspberries in the cool of A. Mary's back yard.
He thought it quite funny that they fit on his finger.

As did Phi.

One evening we enjoyed a delicious dinner at this little ladies house.

As well as some competitive boccie

Just like Daddy.

Leroy checkin' up on the neighbors.

"I dunno"

"Hello"
Jeffy hit 6 wks while we were there, it seemed like he grew a ton.

Near U. Phil and A. Mary's is a very unique park with tons personality between the people you see and the scenery and landscape. We walked down to it most nights and always saw something new and different. Here is a bagpipe band(?) that was playing one night.

It's right on a lake that I can't remember the name of right now with down town Seattle straight across the way. There were always plenty of boats and sail boats for the boys to watch.

And geese...

Phi's favorite was the Police boat the we saw every now and again which he had memorized and could spot before we could .

Jeffy loved being outside in the stroller in the cool evening.

Some very colorful houses we passed on our way down to the park.

One of Phi's favorite parts about A. Mary's is all the cool trucks and cars to play with, this picture doesn't show even half of them. Imagine three times this many all over the floor and you get the idea of how much fun it is and what A. Mary and U. Phil put up with for two weeks.

A. Mary and Leroy on the way up from the park.

Bethany and her mommy came over to play one afternoon.

There's always something happening in the neighborhood and the boys had a blast going to see what ever it was with A. Mary.
We got to spend the weekend with Chatty and the Mr. It was a busy weekend that I didn't get any pictures of until the last day. We made it to the All day mtg. in Arlington which was fun. It's something we've wanted to do for a while but it lands on the same weekend as ours here at home so we usually don't get to.
Anyway, while our guys were off playing disc golf or racket ball or something, Chatty and I went to this fun park that some of you Northern Washingtonites might recognize. It's a great big swamp mostly but we walked through on a raised wooden walkway. There was a great variety of flora and fauna and we even saw and heard some bullfrogs.

Chatty and Phi.

The look out tower through the swaying grasses.

Heading into the swamp.

Thanks to a good zoom we caught this guy hanging out.

Chatty had Phi posing and I snuck in a shot of his shy grin.

Water Lily blooms, ( I think) there were tons of them there.

Damsel Flies on a lily leaf.

Back to A. Mary's where the boys enjoyed her entertaining.

We got in a visit to G. Gramma Eleanor's and had a fun time at the playground near her house.

She got both boys to hold her hands which takes some doing since they take a while to warm up to anyone they don't see every day.

Phi our climber

Checking out the pond

A duck and a turtle sharing a sunny log.

Our last visit to the park near A. Mary's before leaving the next evening. It has very neat little beaches with small rocks, perfect for throwing. Leroy always looked like he was about to dive in when he wound up to throw a handful. When boats went by sending waves lapping at his toes he would get all off balance and holler for assistance.

One of the many sea planes ...

...the boys loved watching take off and land.

Jeffy seemed to grow by leaps and bounds while we were there, he weighed 12.12 at his 6 week appointment today.

Thank you to A. Mary especially for all her help with the little men and making sure mommy got her naps every day.

Week one...

A week and more have passed and it seems longer than that. Not because things aren't going well but because baby Jeffy has settled in with ease so far. Gramma and A. TeTe helped out for the first week either taking Phi and Leroy or being here with them, which gave me a good head start for a speedy recovery. Jeffy did have some tummy troubles the first four days and I was afraid he was going to be our first colicy one. But after finally clearing his little system of meconium (those first tar like diapers) he totally relaxed and since then has been giving us 4 to 5 hours at night. Yay! The boys really seem to be enjoying him and still find what ever he's doing facinating.
Here's a few pictures from the first week.

Snuggling...

...with Daddy

Our little peanut...

a bit of growing room...

"Ahh, this is the life."

He smiles already at random, but I haven't been able to catch it well on camera yet.
There's that dimple I was talking about.

Everything's so new and different he spends his awake time just looking around, taking it all in.

There's the dimple sneakin' in again, not sure what we're thinking here!?!

Life so hard to figure out sometimes!!

Holding little brother for Mommy. :)

And since mommy's busier these two are in search of some new methods of entertainment.

Aren't we stylish!!

Classy!

Of course if big brother does it Leroy must try it too.

He hasn't knocked any teeth out so far!?

Thanks for all your comments and congrats!

At long last...

Introducing...

Marcus Jeffrey
8 lbs 7 oz. 20 1/4 inches long

He was born at home Friday morning at 8:46 a.m. with the help of 3 wonderful midwives. It was amazing to be in your own environment and they were much more attune and supportive to what is going on than either of our other birth experiences which were both in hospital. We are very thankful for them!!

And now we are three ;)

10 little toes

5 little fingers which are very long and dainty for a little man.

Phi has been talking about the baby coming for the last few months and I didn't know if he really knew what he was saying or not. But when they got here Friday afternoon he came in all apprehensive (he doesn't take change or new situations too well) and upon seeing mommy with the baby wanted nothing to do with him or me and quickly asked to hold grandma. But after playing for 20 minutes and seeing grandma and Aunt TeTe hold baby brother he marched over to the couch and was ready to hold him. After a minute or two he was done and went strutting off quite pleased with him self. :)

Big brother Leroy was and is quite fascinated by him. He finds it quite amusing that little brother's hands wave around and will randomly grab his, and the fact that this dolly makes squeaks and squawks.

An unwilling model of the hat Chatty made for his oldest brother when he was born.

And his first visitors, Aunt TeTe

And Amma

And Miss Kate and her Mommy and Daddy who just made it into town the evening before he arrived.

Mommy and her boys

The boys have been at Bumpa and Amma's for the last few days, they went over Thursday night when we thought something was starting. Contractions started and we called the midwives who came and hung out for a few hours and then the contractions stopped. I was very bummed thinking this was just another false start, the midwives went to dinner and came back while we took a walk but things still didn't pick up. So they all went home saying they thought they would be back. And they were right, with in the next three hours things picked up again and they were back to help through the night. We tried a birthing pool which really helped with the labor part but didn't actually give birth in it as it was keeping the contractions too far apart. It's been soo nice to just be home and have your own bed at night and not be bothered by anyone unless the baby wakes up.

First night with Daddy and Mommy
(finally one little eye open)

He really reminds me right now of his oldest brother at this age, but time will tell. When he's awake and squirming he has a very pronounced little dimple on the left cheek that will be quite cute if it stays. We're enjoying our newest little man and very thankful to the Lord for his safe healthy arrival. And thankful for Bumpa and Amma and Aunt TeTe who have been watching the other two little men for the last two days. The boys came home last night for the night and today since Daddy's here right now but will probably go back to Bumpa and Amma's tonight. It has been fun having them here getting used to having three, and so far has gone smoothly though I'm sure there will be those moments. It's nice to be able to work up to it gradually. Phi has been wanting to include him in his toys and offering him his food at meal times and wanting to hold him off and on. Leroy regards him as his newest source of entertainment and so far has been pretty careful but will definitely bare watching when together.

And me... I can finally bend over again and of course feel 20 pounds lighter it's been imposible to stay in bed for the recomended 3 days. We are being careful and doing very well.

Around the house...

We've been sticking close to home these last few weeks, with the other two pregnancies I think we were still traveling at 37 weeks but this one has been so different in a lot of ways that I've become a homebody. The repercussions of that, much to Mr. Tech's dismay, is that I think up projects to do around here. This may also have something to do with that urge they call nesting, what ever it is it's been fun to see some improvements small though they be. This first one Mr. Tech helped with since it's was a bit out of my expertise, new lights in the kitchen!
Before... (and in progress)
After

I never did like the "chandelier" in the dining room as it wasn't centered with anything properly anyways, nor the cheesy gold fixtures in the kitchen. These lights finally "go" IMHO so I was excited to see this one done!

This next project was not in the plans but would have had to be done someday. The person who owned this house before us must have been some what of a do-it-yourselfer and was rather creative with some of his projects. One of them being that several inside door knobs have outdoor knobs on them with key locks to which the keys are long gone. If you have a two year old you may be able to see were this story is going.
This two year old ...

is very into locking locks at his stage of the game and happened to pick the bathroom door which is one of the long lost key locks. Mommy unsuspectingly walked out and closed it like usual and immediately realized there was a problem. After much searching in vain for said keys Mr. Tech had to pry the knob off. So when all was said and done we got new door knobs for several rooms in the house. Small changes but improvement none the less.

And this was my latest project...
Mr. Tech says I always get the urge to repaint some room not too long before the baby comes and there is some truth to this. With Phi is was the kitchen and with Leroy the bathroom, this time it was the livingroom's turn. I painted it a year or two ago but it was time for a change, it started with a border (it usually does) that I liked and got on sale.

The old color on the left and new on the right.

In progress...

Keeping the little men busy while the paint was drying between naps. Very thankful for good weather or it would have been a bit more of a challenge.

And the finished product...

I like it (for now anyways) ;) don't tell Mr. Tech I said that), he helped me put up the border this time, a job Aunt TeTe usually helps with. She was off to conference this time so I was very thankful for his help.

And since the weather's been so beautiful (off and on between rain and hail storms) we grabed some dinner and went out to the park last Friday evening before meeting. It's a private park so we had it all to ourselves other than the occasional tractor much to the boys delight.
Leroy snickering on the swings...

Mr. Tech enjoying the view...

And Phi's favorite, the big slide...

Keeping small men busy...
Phi loves to play in "da bubbows" and begins dragging the nearest chair in that direction as soon as he hears the dishes being done.

And Leroy... who's in to other things besides bubbles.


He finally started walking (when he feels like it) this last weekend. He also learned to drink from a straw...

he's quite proud of that one as you can see.

And currently our livingroom is an indoor jungle gym as we got a "new" to us, (thankyou Uncle M. and Aunt C.) queen mattress for the boys/guest room. The old double mattress is currently being enjoyed as a slide and climbing toy while we figure out what to do with it.

So 38 weeks and waiting... rather impatiently I'd have to say. Mr. Tech so these projects will stop :) I am just ready to meet this little person.. any time.

This and That

Just for fun thought I'd post some pix of the everyday stuff from the last few weeks.

Phi is learning to ride his bike he got for his b-day, and is still finding the whole steer AND petal AND watch where you're going, idea to be a challenge.

Mommy's little helpers :)

Leroy mops...

while Phi takes care of the windows...

the spray bottle being the best part.

Of course Leroy had to get in on this one too.


Phi also takes care of all phone calls...:) this one looks a bit serious...


Ummm...I think someone needs to be strapped in next time.

This ones especially for you A. Debbie. Bring back any memories??
He happens to be dipping his rice chex in the butter. No, he didn't do more than one, but only because it wasn't allowed. Blah, I still don't see how plain butter taste that good.

"Helping" Bumpa and U. Dave fix a sink problem.

Lego Ferry's

which have very short life spans with Leroy around, both small men for that matter. Some how something created is so much more fun to destroy than just your average tower. Phi does play with them for a while but once the demolition is started it's too fun not to join. At least it entertains us all for a little while.

Spring Time

It's officially here, we have blossoms and sunshine to prove it.

Cherries

Plums

and daffodils

Forsythia blossoms

and Robins

And the best part of all though maybe pushing it a little Strawberry Shortcake

Delectable...


We got to walk to meet Daddy for lunch the other day and it was beautiful.

Later the little men got to play in the back yard to their hearts content a first for this year pretty much.

Yes, in bare piggies it was 70 or more.

Time for gardening

Enjoying the sunshine this morning just after breakfast before getting on with the day ie. getting dressed actually.

And at last Phi gets to practice on his bike.

Hope you're enjoying your sunshine as much as us!!!

March

is almost gone and looking back it was a full month too. Aside from the every day goings on we got to see Miss Kate again for a week. We've scored this year on seeing her (and her Daddy and Mommy) once every month so far which is pretty good since they live 5 hours away.

While she and her mommy were in town Mr. Tech had to go to Alaska for most of that same week so we decided to do something fun. We tried out the OMSI Science Center for toddlers and it was a blast. They have so much to do it kept little minds busy exploring, trying, and creating for hours, it was fun to watch them have so much fun.

This was a very large squirrel den (those are the acorns) and it kept these little men busy for a while as mr. organized (Phi) kept putting the acorns back in the holes and other kids kept pulling them out. Leroy just enjoyed the put em' in pull em' out process.

A creativity room were they could do a craft or just play play dough with all sorts of shapes and utensils.

And a water exhibit the most exciting for little people. You could splash, dump it out on the floor, and pretty much everything you wouldn't be allowed to do at home and it didn't matter cause they had water proof aprons and rubber boots on and the system just keeps recycling the water.

One side was a stream with pretend water critters.

The 1 and under area was divided from the other areas partly with this fish tank .

Leroy had never felt sand before and this sand was so clean and white he kept running it through little fingers and thankful didn't attempt to taste it.

Grandma and Leroy

Hhmm what next..

It was a great place to spend an afternoon and the kids would have stayed hours more. Even with the three or four hours spent there they didn't do everything there was to do.


Back at Bumpa' and Gramma's a pile of cousins

We spent several afternoons there since Daddy was out of town.
Playing in the sand box and keeping an eye on Ferguson the dog.
This photo cracks me up because of the opposite expressions on the boys faces,
Phi's look of anxiety and Leroy's of glee.

Leroy playing in the sand and dirt and loving it.

Phi was excited enough to use his shovel and wheel barrow that he endured for awhile being outside with Ferguson running around. Hopefully with time he'll come to realize dogs aren't that bad.

Leroy and Ferg saying "Hi"

We got A. Susie for the week Daddy was gone much to Phi's delight and she has been helping out often since I hadn't been feeling so well. Now he wakes up expecting to see A. TeTe walk in the door every morning.
So that was the first half the month, the last half we've spent around the house recouping, looking forward to spring weather, which so far has been mostly rain but at least we have daffodils!