Jill's has a "hot momma" cut to it and it is just her style.
Hood River ward with family and Ryley was blessed. Being as how it was Mother's Day a couple of our friends weren't there to participate in the blessing but we are thankful for those who did.
hen I opened her gifts because she was soooo excited! I am so thankful that I have my own children to nurture, influence, teach, and love. I have always loved children, ever since I myself was a child and I will never forget how happy I was to find out I was going to be a mother- both times! 
his own, it is still special and I look forward to it in future years. 
The two of us moms spent some time alone with our newborns (4 and 6 weeks) and enjoyed going to the mall alone with out older complaining kids. The mall is somewhere we NEVER hardly visit because we never seem to make it past the toys if we try. Luckily we have a Gap, Gymboree, Target, and other stores virtually across the street for quick easy convenience. 
Of course you can see on the right Maisey has painted her face as usual. She always runs to that first but she decided it didn't look "good" and she washed it off in their bathroom during the visit!
By this time she has given up and is just holding it in for him.
When you hear about the "fountain of youth", keep in mind that I think of little youthful baby boys. Ryley continues to pee on me when I don't make the draw quick enough and I am looking forward to him gaining some control! The first time Chad changed him I warned him and I was the one who got it... I walked by the changing table to hang up clothes in the closet (Chad happened to miss the whole thing as he was concentrating on the diaper), and an unexpected sprinkler got me practically head to toe! Boys!!!
It was nice to make the short trip but we couldn't pull an overnighter because we had tons of already missed engagements here at home. But, this weekend we will make it back up for Ryley's blessing on Mother's Day for another quick visit.
He's doing something funky with his mouth and the sunset was in their eyes but he is such a cutie with his big blue eyes!
He's sure getting long! The 1.5 oz. he gained last week was probably in length, but I told the nurse we will take it!
, if Ryley makes a peep, and before I can even get to him, Maisey tells me to feed him. She tries to participate and I have to explain that it is my body and that I've done it before and that I don't need her help. I didn't think she would be as involved as she is in mothering him but I sure was wrong! She has become pretty bossy and I find myself constantly saying, "Maisey, please don't tell me how to take care of him" which only brings a scowl to her face. Maisey is so in love with him and it is really nice to see despite their age gap. I know that she will always look out for him as she already gets very defensive and protective of the littlest jokes. 
Each year I have always planted flower baskets and they've always died in the hot Hood River sun. I think that these will live since we aren't facing the sun most of the day and we have some shade too. 
If not, I will just have to keep re-planting like years passed.
I only wish I hadn't left my old ones at our old house in Hood River because they were almost identical except they were semi-circles.
I've had several people tell me lately they have been checking the blog out and haven't seen anything new... I only wish the assumption that I'm probably too tired and I'm resting when he does was the reason- but that is far from the truth. Our life hasn't slowed at all. Which has me looking forward to the beginning of June when Maisey's current activities come to an end until the summer session- which we may and probably will forgo. Just yesterday I registered for summer term (boo whoo) and the term begins in about 6 weeks on June 23rd. We will probably swim as we do every summer each day and visit with friends, and along with school work we should be booked to the fullest. Luckily I will have a month off after summer term before fall begins!
I knew things wouldn't slow down much for us with another one in tow, but I am apologizing now because I have slacked on is taking pictures!!! It is true for number two, you aren't as eager as you were to capture each moment as you probably were with the first one. It has been a month since Ryley's birth and the last thing on my mind is taking pictures. However, don't quite checking in because more are on there way very soon!
Thanks Alexa and Jenny!
It took several different brands and various sizes to do the trick but...
We're pretty sure this is the one (the newborn MAM)! For now anyway... Maisey started out with one brand and size and switched on us down the road.
Aunt Carrie and Cousin Colby
Oma
Cousins Peyton and Colby
We will wrap up the end of this week with my side of the family and we can't wait!
We hope to go home soon (preferably today) and we are waiting on the doctor as we speak so that we can approach him again about our departure.
Dad and Ryley after Dad helped give him his first bath.
Ryley is also awaiting his circumcision today!
***I didn't have my camera with me because it was packed in the hospital bag but I still threw in some visuals.
On Monday we went bowling. 
We just re-introduced Maisey to the clay studio and she loves it. We had taken a LONG break and I think she forgot it existed. Her very favorite thing to do, and she runs to it when we arrive, is paint her own face.
Always a quick and fun meal for picky eaters!
We don't know this kid, but he is at the inflatable party center which you can check out on-line if you're interested.
And for tomorrow, we aren't entirely sure but I think it will involve primping and more girly time of some sort.
Maisey gets so mad when I get pedicures without her (and she ALWAYS notices and tries to guilt me with a "Hey Mom, you got your toes done without me, no fair!").
Last weekend we stayed home an entire Saturday (for once Chad was the one with cabin fever) and I cleaned out the garage. After wards Maisey and I had "craft time" and we made this "Final Countdown" visual aid to pass away the days until Ryley arrives. She made many things and I ended up doing most of it because she lost interest with Dad playing the Wii nearby... I plugged away until it was done and she has enjoyed keeping track.
The countodwn pages before assembly.
Starting with 12...
Down through the final delivery!
Chad is so excited because he just took a job with Pet Smart. He has ALWAYS wanted to work for them but in the past the scheduling wasn't conducive. However, after working for some pretty nasty managers lately, the opportunity once again presented itself and he gladly accepted. He begins on Wednesday and he is very, very, excited to work as a Pet Specialist with the lizards, birds, snakes, fish, hamsters, and other critters. Maybe now he won't keep asking me for a pet! I am not a big animal lover...
I want this picture SO bad and today I just stared at it forever in the church bookstore... I want to buy it in the near future (I hoped to by now, but things have come up), so I thought I would post it so I can still dream about it whenever I check the blog.
I h
ave to take just a minute to post about two of the many books that left an impression
on me this past term. These two specific books happened to be from my Social Change class which focussed on the lack of finite energy resources we have left. If you've never heard of peak oil, and it is reality that we have long passed our peak, you should read one of these eye opening books. Reading them has definately made me more concious regarding energy conservation and the future of our world.
This picture doesn't do justice in its attempt to express the flavor in this salad. I made it for Easter and it is one of my favorites (my mom turned me onto it), and of course it's Paula Deen! Everyone has enjoyed it, so I thought I would post the recipe on the blog. I think it is a sure hit and it is so colorful!
I am so excited because I just posted my first eBay item up for sell. I thought while I am home over the next couple months I would make it a goal to learn to sell on eBay... Every year we get rid of tons of Maisey's old clothes but I have still hung onto many! It's kind of hard to part with them because her clothes (in my opinion), will never go out of style. Anyway, we are going to try to cash in so we can support our second child... We will see how it goes. If you know anyone looking for clothes, send them my way.
