20 Week Ultrasound & the verdict is....

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!

After going to the wrong office for the ultrasound and then dragging everyone to the right place, we waited and waited-maybe it wasn't that long, but when you have a full bladder everything takes forever!- the tech called us back and we got to see "baby bean" on the monitor. The kids were excited and antsy. I thought I caught a glimpse when she was checking the umbilical cord but of course I didn't see anything sticking out.... she waited for another view and confirmed; "as best as an ultrasound can do" that this indeed was a girl! Dustin's comment was I told you all along it was another girl. Janessa is still oblivious and Colin keeps telling people that the computer says it's a girl but he thinks it will come out a boy.... I guess he can hold out hope for a few months! Everything looked great, baby was active and at the same time very cooperative during the test. Now the great debate- what are we going to name her????? We are so blessed!

Is that Pippy Longstocking????? July 25th

It is sooooo nice that Janessa finally has enough hair to do pretty things with and the desire to hold still long enough to try. I sprayed her hair with the water bottle and the piggy tails just seemed to have a mind of their own. Next thing we know, they are sticking straight out and Colin and I are cracking up!! Maybe I've discovered what she will be for Halloween this year.

A rare but very sweet moment...

Dexter Family Fun Day @ Silver Falls July 22nd

Silver Falls

Each summer we try to pack in as many "fun days" as possible. Unfortunately we are all so busy this year we are not going to be as successful as usual- so this one was a little out of the ordinary for us! The last memory any of us have of being at Silver Falls is distant, at best, so we were all looking forward to the adventure. We had a nice picnic lunch and set off, gear in tow, to look at the first waterfall, South Falls. 3 minutes down the trail and there it is.

Colin was quite disappointed that we were not going to be taking the trail that led behind the water fall. Due to wheelchairs, strollers, and the time to walk there; it was not a possiblity. Needless to say, he would not pose for a picture......

Next stop, the swimming hole upstream of South Falls.

Janessa loved getting her feet wet in the cold water. She kept repeating, 1....2....3.....JUMP!

Cooling our feet off in the swimming hole.... emphasis on COOL!!!!

Cowboy Picnic July 21st

We are so LUCKY!!! Aunt Kelley works at Videx and we were invited to this year's company picnic. The theme was obviously "cowboy" complete with bbq for lunch, bounce houses, minature golf, bubbles, egg toss, juggler, magician, clown that made balloon animals and did face painting, and all the snacks and drinks we could ever want!

Everyone received a new cowboy hat, bright blue bandana, tickets to get pictures taken, and a water bottle. The kids each received new lunch boxes filled with toys and gift certificates, coloring supplies, and new beach towels. Then they got to go digging thru a hay bale to find even more prizes! We were absolutlely spoiled!!

Kelley tried the calf roping but with Janessa on her lap I don't think they were that successfull!

Janessa tried some hay.... She said that it tasted very ucky. She missed the part where Kelley just put it in her teeth and didn't chew it!

The kids were quite impressed with the juggler/magician. He may not have looked like much but he was the most entertaining act I've ever seen! They especially like it when he turned a balloon snake into a real live bunny.

Colin after a "long day on the range". I think he missed his true place in life- he was born to be a real cowboy!!

Gov Patterson Wayside/ Fish Hatchery July 7th

Gov. Patterson Wayside


Janessa, "happy as a clam" at the beach! Mommy helped her build a sandcastle, don't laugh, it's hard to keep anything intact with a 2 yr old!!








By the time we left she had sand everywhere
and didn't understand why everything tasted
funny....

She and Papa had lots of fun going down to the ocean to get more water for the sandcastle.





Colin and Papa, poor little guy wasn't feeling all that great. It was a nice warm day but the wind was blowing and he kept telling us he was too cold to play.







Fish Hatchery

We took the kids for the first time to the Fish Hatchery just out of Alsea. At first we thought the place was desserted but we soon discovered a couple of tanks with loads of 4-5 inch trout. Then across the way was one tank with the big guys. I spent a whole 75 cents on fish food and we had a blast watching the feeding frenzy.

I, the innocent camera operator, got splashed numberous times- much to the kids delight! We also ventured to the other side of the road and discovered a "hatchery" of salamanders. Colin seemed disgusted by them but Janessa was captivated!! They were some of the biggest and fattest I've ever seen.

4th of July Parade

Thanks again to the urging of others we decided to join the local parade. Colin and I decorated our wagon the day before and we decked the kids out in red white and blue. I finally told Dustin of the "plan" to join the parade right as he got home, poor guy; didn't stand a chance! We met up with some friends from play group and walked thru downtown in the hot hot sun. We threw candy and waved to the crowd. All in all it was a fun experience!

"Electrical Cord" June 27th, 2007

I am officially 16 weeks pregnant today- only 4 more until we can see baby bean on the ultrasound and find out the sex. Colin and I were discussing the growing baby this morning and noted that my tummy was getting bigger; like Santa Claus! I tried to answer his many questions but thought that we could get some good pictures off of webmd that might be helpful. So I logged on and happened across a picture of a fetus at 16 weeks!! We talked about all of the things we saw including the umbilical cord and cervix. I explained that the umbilical cord is to feed the baby while it is growing inside of me and that the cervix is the opening the baby will eventually come out of. He remembered from when I was pregnant with Janessa that "when it's time Mommy and Papa go to the hospital and Mommy pushes the baby out". I then told him that the Papa cuts the cord and that's how you get your belly button. He thought that was all great and we went to get Grandma from her dr. appt. We practiced on the way up to get her saying the word "umbilical", it's quite a mouthful for a 4 yr old. As soon as Grandma got in the car he shouted, "Guess what Grandma?! When the baby comes out, Papa will cut the electrical cord and the baby will get a belly button!" He was so proud of himself!! And thankfully Grandma kept a straight face and continued the conversation, because I was hysterically laughing. He noticed my laughter and was on the way to getting his feelings hurt when I told him that he had tickled my funny bone and wasn't it hard to say umbilical correctly.... Crisis averted! He has since taken to purposefully saying electrical to watch people laugh:)

Helmick Park June 24th, 2007

So, it's Sunday morning and I am stir crazy.... I decide to talk Dustin into going out for a picnic with the kids even though the sky is gloomy and its been raining off and on. He finally agrees and then we have to choose a destination. I get on the state of oregon park website and find a relatively close location that we have not been to and we are off. Helmick Park is located right off of hwy 99w and is only 20 minutes away from home. It doesn't look like much when we get there and Janessa has fallen asleep on the way. We unload the van and start laying out the food when it starts to rain. My sister, Kelley finally suggests that we move the picnic table under some of the very large trees nearby- duh! and eat there. We enjoy our sandwichs and play a little football. Janessa wakes up and we can feed her and begin our "adventure". First stop the bathroom!! How exciting:) We find a little trail that quickly becomes very narrow and steep and then before you know it we are on the banks of the Luckimute River. The river is fairly calm and we throw a few rocks and sticks and decide to go back and follow another trail before one of the kids falls into the water. After many little trails we discover a low spot with beach access to the river, someone has left 3 squirt guns and the kids are in heaven. It was a very peaceful spot, with nothing to hear but the birds and the water. We make our way along the little trails back to the van but decide we are not quite done exploring, so we take off around the outer loop of the park. We find lots of salmon berries, which I've decided are not my favorite- too sour, everyone tries some and we head off to enjoy our pudding cups for dessert. All in all it was a very mellow day but with lots of laid back walking and looking at nature. The kids we very impressed with the many banana slugs we found and listening to the birds. Definately a place we will return to!

OK- Guilt is a powerful thing!

Just for you Heather!! I thought why not start one, heaven knows that I have a lot of things to record and getting them written down hasn't happened so maybe if I type I'll do a better job!!

Stay tuned for more.....