Washington Vacation

We just returned from a great family vacation to Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA. Here are some highlights from our trip...

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Flying with a Baby

Thanks to some great advice from many friends, 3/4 of Collin's flying experience was great. There was some crying each time he needed to nap, but he did well. That is until the last flight. Yikes.

Unfortunately, he was stuck in our laps for all 6-7 hours each way since all our flights were full. How do you apologize for the crying, kicking and flailing arms?

Start with a good treat.

Attach some needed ear plugs.

And, of course, don't forget the needed apology note.

Riding the Four-Wheelers

Ryan's parents live on a beautiful piece of land overlooking Mount Saint Helen's outside of Vancouver, Washington. Ryan and I took the four-wheelers down to the nearby river, which feeds into the Columbia River, Thursday afternoon. We skipped rocks and held a few contests: biggest splash, smallest splash, farthest throw, most skips, skip across to the other side, etc. It was great fun.

Perusing the Japanese Gardens
In a search of things to do in Portland, Ryan found some beautiful gardens reminiscent of his mission. We loved the fabulous mosses and shady trees.

Maybe we'll end up over there one day, but for now, the gardens were enough Japanese culture for me!

Eating at the Rose Gardens

We got separated from the rest of the fam for a while and decided to explore the neighboring free gardens. The roses were definitely past their prime, but Collin really enjoyed breaking the rules and chowing down.

What a funny kid!

Side story: I was walking with Collin as Ryan shot some more photos of the prize-winning roses, and a lady working on scrapbooking sitting on a bench asked how old Collin was. I told her, and we started talking about how we were both on vacation in Portland. She told me she was from Alabama on the way to a conference for "Stampin' It Up" in Salt Lake City. Of course I asked, "Are you a member of the Church? ... like the LDS Church? ...you know, the Mormon church?" She (luckily) answered yes, and we continued talking for about 15 minutes. Small world.

Enjoying a Date Night

Friday night we left Collin in the capable hands of his grandparents and stayed in a beautiful hotel on the Columbia River in Portland. We sat in the hot tub, ate a fancy dinner, walked along the river, enjoyed the fitness room... and generally had a great time away from our responsibilities. We are already looking for another opportunity to escape!

Side story: As we checked into our hotel, I noticed three separate people having conversations in sign language. I thought it was odd to have so many, and I commented about it to Ryan. As soon as we got to our room, we changed and headed to the pool area. There were lots and lots of people down there (it was super hot), but... silence. It was as quiet as if there wasn't anyone there at all. Everyone was speaking in sign language! It was funny because we suddenly felt like we were in a foreign country. We didn't even know if they were talking bad about us! A bit later, two fighter jets flew over. We were sitting in the hot tub, and we look up at the loud noise. Then we noticed: We were the only ones who looked up! The next morning we passed a conference room with a sign: Deaf Women United. Mystery solved.
Hiking to the Waterfall

On Monday morning we had breakfast at Ryan's uncle's 1950s diner in Vancouver (if you are ever out that way: Stardust Diner. Awesome!). It was delicious. Then we headed out on a hike to a waterfall, renowned for its beauty. With a classification of "easy", we thought it'd be a leisurely stroll. We think it was "easy"... compared to a mountain!

Collin started out in this make-shift hiking backpack.

He quickly tired of it, and we handed it off to his cousin. Most of the rest of the way up he switched between Daddy's shoulders and Daddy's hip.
While at the top, Ryan repurposed our backpack, and
Voila! Another UNcomfortable ride for Collin.

Side story: So we are coming down from the falls, and Collin is really tired and fussy. Ryan is wearing him in the backpack, and we pass some people heading up. I am singing "Old McDonald" to try to calm down Collin. I say to them, "Sorry, it's the only song he likes." They look at us strangely and keep walking. Not seconds after they pass us, they all turn around and in unison say, "OHHHH!" They all totally thought I was singing "Old McDonald" to RYAN because "it's the only one he likes."

Collin also recognized it was a tough hike, and he expressed his discomfort regularly for us, but...

Wow, it was well worth it.

Time with Family

Most of our time was spent with family. Collin has four other cousins who filled the house with noise and toys.

Ella (3 yrs), Collin (7 mos), Grady (22 mos), Grant (5 yrs), James (13 mos)

It was lots of fun. Ironically, the youngest three (the only ones still in diapers) are all in the same size. We even all like the same brand, so there were lots and lots of Huggies Snug & Dry Size 3s filling up the trash!

Collin also got to meet more of his great-grandparents. This is Great-Grandma Williams. Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Fooks also came for a few minutes from Canada, but I wasn't able to get a picture before they took off.

Ryan's aunt and her children were in town from Connecticut, and many of his aunts and uncles and cousins live right in the Portland/Vancouver area.

Side story: The cousin on the far left is named Andrea. When I was teaching my first year of 6th grade, she was in 6th grade. We spent about an hour one Thanksgiving talking about our favorite books and giving each other recommendations. She is going to be a junior in the fall. Of course, all these cousins are too cool for us now, but I can't believe my first class of kids is that old. Time flies!

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We had an awesome trip. We love our family, and we are so glad we got to see them. Thanks to everyone. Love you guys!

Swimmin'

Swimmin', Swimmin',

In the swimmin' hole.

The day is hot, the day is cold,

In the swimmin' hole.

Breaststroke, sidestroke, fancy divin' too,

Aren't you glad that you don't have,

Anything else to do!

Six Months - 1/2 Birthday

Weight: 18 lbs. 5 oz. (65%)
Height: 27.75 inches (89%)

Head: 42 cm (9%)

SITTING

Collin started sitting by himself last week! I was at a visiting teaching appointment, and we were playing together on the floor, and I let go of him and... he didn't fold in half! It only lasted 5-10 seconds, but he has done it several times since too. I figure it'll get longer and longer until I have a real, full-blown sitting baby. I can't believe how strong he is.

BINKY
I have a binky baby. Collin prefers sucking to any other activity. He doesn’t care if it is his thumb, his big toe, three of his fingers or his binky. I should have known he’d be a sucker when we saw him on his ultrasound sucking his thumb at 22 weeks, but I never would have guessed he would always need to have something in there. I apologize for the many, many photos of him with his binky in. He just likes it. I’m sure in the years to come I’ll seek your advice about weaning him from it, but until then, I’ll just let him enjoy what he enjoys most.

GIGGLES

Collin saves his giggles for special occasions. They are few and far between, and we really have to work for them. He likes his neck and belly kissed. He also will sometimes give us a giggle when he swings from Daddy's arms. But when they come... They are so worth the effort. We love Collin's giggles.

HAIR

When Collin was born, he had a little dark hair. Over the first few months, he lost all of it except for a little along his collar line in the back. We called it his mullet. Many people have even asked us if we shave his head. Now he is starting to get his hair back, but it is coming in so blonde you can’t even see it. Sad. I guess it’s good he isn’t a girl.

WIGGLE WORM

Collin never sits still. He is the wiggliest wiggle worm there ever was. It is especially difficult to hold him while walking. He too wants to walk and tries to climb up your waist. He loves to stand on my bladder, hug his toes close, and roll over and over again. This week he started to realize he can make progress across the floor if we goes in the same direction again and again. He never ceases to amaze me with his new crazy body positions. What a wiggler.


BUSY

Collin prefers to be busy. He likes to have lots of activities and to be going, going, going. This is unfortunate since I prefer to remain home and pretty mellow as much as possible. He is also very noisy. He loves to hear himself. He has a lot of inflection in his voice and loves to explore screaming.

TEETHING

Four signs your baby may be teething (from Baby Center):

• He looks like the winner of his own personal wet T-shirt contest.

• When he chews on his fist, the expression "self-cannibalizing" leaps to mind.

• You've exhausted all other explanations for his crabbiness.

• You've exhausted all other explanations for your crabbiness.

I just liked this list and wanted to include it. Collin is very drool-ey and wishes both hands and both feet all fit in his mouth at once, but not a bit crabby (unless he's tired).

The doctor predicts it'll be another month before any teeth break through the surface.

I feel it worth noting that since last Friday, Collin has been the happiest, pleasant-est, funnest baby ever. We are really enjoying the new joys of having a 6-month old around the house. What a fun little guy!

Happy Father's Day!

We love you, Daddy!
Thank you for taking such good care of our family.
Hope you had a great first Daddy's Day.

Wisconsin Trip

We just returned from a fabulous trip to Wisconsin, and I wanted to share some of the fun things we did.

MONDAY

We drove the 4-hour trip on Monday evening after Ryan got off work. Since most of the trip was past Collin’s bedtime, he slept a lot in the car.

Unfortunately, when we got in at 11pm, he thought the hotel room was the neatest, coolest new place he’d ever seen. We tried to force him back to sleep, and the neighboring rooms heard it all!
TUESDAY

Tuesday morning Ryan headed to campus for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Consortium meeting. Collin and I headed to my old stomping grounds – Deerfield Elementary. It was their last day of school, and I got to see all my old teaching buddies and many of my former students. It was strange to be back, but it was fun to introduce Collin to all my old friends. Collin was a real champ. He even took two naps between feedings!

After leaving the school, Collin and I headed back to the hotel for a short nap before some of our friends came to swim in the pool. While Ryan played racquetball with the husbands at the university gym, the wives swam with the babies (ranging from 14 months to 6 months). We joined as families later and enjoyed lots of pizza and chatting together before bed.

WEDNESDAY

Wednesday Ryan attended a symposium on campus about reducing fuel consumption. While he worked, Collin and I went to the Madison Zoo. It was Collin’s first time at a zoo, but he was definitely more interested in looking at the other babies than at any of the animals.
Wednesday afternoon we visited with friends and had dinner with our old neighbors.

THURSDAY

Ryan returned to his meetings, and Collin and I went to Trader Joe’s in search of their mandarin orange chef sauce. With great sorrow, I discovered it had been discontinued. Then we headed to the institute to visit our old religion teacher. I inherited some scripture mastery posters for this coming fall (Yes, I’ve been asked to teach again next year.) At about noon, I strapped Collin into the new stroller, and we walked to Memorial Union to get original Wisconsin ice cream. I stopped for a photo along the beautiful Lake Mendota shoreline and discovered that somewhere between Trader Joe’s and Lake Mendota I’d lost my debit card.
With much indecision, I finished the hike to the Union for Babcock ice cream (chocolate peanut butter), and then turned around and hustled back to search the car. Despite my frantic walk, the card was nowhere to be found, and I called Ryan for the phone number on the back of his. Sensing the uneasiness in my voice, Ryan called to cancel it, and they confirmed that no fraudulent charges had been made – thank goodness!
Collin and I spent the rest of the day at various parks.
Somewhere in the midst of all the fun, Collin destroyed the last of his clothing I had packed, and we had to hit Target for some new ones.

Thursday evening when Ryan was finished with his last meeting, we drove up to Baraboo and stayed in another hotel. Collin did much better adjusting to this second hotel than the first, and I’m sure hotel management was appreciative.

FRIDAY

Ryan arose early, waited in line for an hour, and got us a camp site for that evening. When he returned to our room after requesting a late checkout, he sat with Collin during his first nap and gave me some free time to use the hotel’s AWESOME elliptical, hot tub and pool. It was heaven to be alone and free.

Friday afternoon we toured “downtown Baraboo.”
We also ate more Wisconsin ice cream (caramel this time).
Then we headed to the campground and set up our stuff. We decided to try “swimming” in Devil’s Lake, but the water was so cold we only got wet up to our ankles.
Ryan tried dipping Collin’s feet in the water. As soon as his toes touched, he went totally stiff and started whimpering. No cold baths for him!

Friday night our friends joined us for camping.
We had delicious foil dinners, s’mores and banana boats. We talked around the fire and tried to keep Carston from burning himself.
Collin slept really well, especially when he was on MY mat (he is quite the roller). He had a hard time falling asleep at first, since his bed time was when everyone else was up and talking. He finally went to bed with us late, but he was a real trooper.

SATURDAY

It rained all night, but Saturday we were still able to hike.
We followed the railroad tracks for a while, but then we ventured up the steps to have a better view of the lake.
It was beautiful! I love the green. Wisconsin is definitely greener than Illinois. Collin found it was real work and zonked out on Daddy’s back.
Saturday night we stayed with our friends. While Ryan and Johnny hung out at their place and “watched” Collin sleep, I went to some small-town fireworks with the girls. It was so fun to have a girls’ night with no babies. We laughed until our stomachs ached.

SUNDAY

Sunday morning we attended sacrament meeting. I missed the whole meeting while Collin had a total and complete meltdown. I finally nursed him to sleep as Sunday School began, and we decided we ought to drive our exhausted Collin home to his own bed and his own room.

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It was a wonderful trip. Collin did much better this trip than the last one, probably because Daddy came along. We love and miss our wonderful friends in Madison. Thanks for taking such good care of us.