So very thankful

It's a Sunday night and Randy is away in San Diego for Bronco Adventure 2011.  Trey and I are back from our five night stay at my Dad and Sandy's.  He is down to bed, and I am sitting here drinking a glass of wine, watching some of my favorite cooking shows from the DVR, and thinking about the last few weeks.

Weighing on my mind all day is the loss of a college acquaintance.  While this person and I have not been in touch for several years, I keep thinking about the tragedy of sudden loss, especially of someone in the prime of their life.  It has made me think a lot about the things I am thankful for and most appreciative of...in no particular order...my sweet and healthy son, my marriage, my home, a job that I enjoy going to each day, the fact that my family (and Randy's family too) gets along so well, the strong and lasting friendships in my life, a daycare that Trey loves, the memory of my mother who guides me as a wife and a parent...the list could go on and on.

A photo journal of our recent adventures:

Randy, Trey and I went to Anacortes and Seattle to visit Randy's grandma and some friends.  We stopped at Bob, Randy's brother, and Lisa's house for lunch on the way to Anacortes.

Trey laughing at something - probably Amy

Trey and his three Clark cousins: Caleb, Sara, and Amy 

I think Amy was trying to take Trey's blanket away 

(which we kept warning her to stop doing).

We spent Friday night and Saturday morning with Grandma Alice.  Trey impressed me with the speed at which he became comfortable in all of the places we visited, but he still kept his distance from everyone.

Holding Trey while he actually touches Great Grandma Alice 

The singing pirate bear had Trey in a trance. 

A family shot, including the pirate bear, of course

This was about as close we could get Trey and Great Grandma Alice.

After Anacortes, we headed to Samammish to visit Laura and Ryan.  I can't believe I didn't take any pictures while we were there, but it was really great to introduce them to Trey.  We spent the afternoon there before heading to North Bend.  We spent Saturday night with our friend Kaye, an old friend of my parents.  As I said before, Trey impressed me with how quickly he acclimated to all of his new surroundings, but he really surprised me with how comfortable he was at Kaye's.  I'm so glad she got to see the silly and easygoing personality of my sweet boy.  

This is the only picture I got at Kaye's.  

It doesn't truly illuminate his silliness while we were there, but it's a shot. 

Inbetween our roadtrips, we went to some wine events in wine country with Kris and John.  We visited Archery Summit, Barking Frog, and a Crowley event.  Super delicious wine!

Randy with two of his favorite things: 

Trey and a bloody mary (with bacon to boot!). 

Trey has been learning to feed himself with a spoon.

He's also practicing a new way of feeding the dog.

I had the entire week of Thanksgiving off due to furlough days.  We decided to go to Eugene on Tuesday to spend five nights at my dad and Sandy's.  I realized on Saturday that I had not left the house since we arrived on Tuesday afternoon.  I can't believe I didn't have cabin fever.  Having Trey around my dad and Sandy for 6 days and 5 nights was really fabulous because he made himself at home and they got to see all sides of him.

Trey making himself comfortable in the man chair 

Building blocks with Grandpa 

One of the many things that kept Trey busy:

rearranging pumpkins...again...and again. 

Trey LOVED this little chair that he could use while playing with his new toy. 

Holding sweet Grady so Julie could have some time to herself

Erika, Grady, Trey and I on Thanksgiving Day 

Relaxing before dinner 

Our sweet boy at 17 months out by the river 

Finding our noses

Not sure why Trey never smiles for our family portraits 

Randy's trying to get Trey to smile...it usually works. 

Julie with Grady at 7 weeks 

 We spent the majority of the weekend following Trey up and down these stairs.

Trey learning how to play the piano 

You can see for yourself his natural talent...

How could you not love this face? 

Trey discovered an even bigger piano with LOTS of new sounds.

Another thing to keep Trey busy...

A family divided

Grandpa holding Grady during the Civil War game

As you can see, we have had a long of bonding time over the past few weeks.  I thought I would be looking forward to going back to work tomorrow to get a little time away (the last time I was alone was on the drive down to Eugene), but I'm actually dreading it a little.  I have really enjoyed my time with Trey and am so thankful for our days together.  Even when I think about the bedtime and middle of the night woes we have had over the past few weeks, I look at my son and just feel blessed.  

Babies, pumpkins, and chickens

Highlights over the past few weeks include time cuddling with Baby Grady, carving a real pumpkin and dressing Trey up as the cutest pumpkin ever, and a visit to the chicken coop at my dad and Sandy's house.

The weather has changed, the leaves are (were) gorgeous, and our days are shorter.  Fall is really here with winter just around the corner.  I'm really looking forward to the upcoming days off from work (Veteran's Day on Friday, a week off at Thanksgiving due to furlough days and the holiday), and, of course, Christmas break....yes, I am already thinking about Christmas break.

 A walk up at Mt. Tabor

The plan was for Trey to play on the playground with Sarah and Kennedy while Adam, Randy and I chatted, but this is what happened instead...

Julie and Tim are in the throes of parenthood.  Grady is a sweet baby with a pretty happy demeanor.  He's only 5 weeks old, so he still gets confused that daytime is for being cute and alert and nighttime is for dreamland.  I was looking back at my blog from when Trey was that age...so quickly we forget how hard and exhausting it is.  

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks:

Trey loves to be in his crib and just "hang out". This usually means throwing his toys and blankets over the edge and giggling as I have Elmo and company "climb" up the crib and fall back into his lap.  I also like to put books in his crib, and I love watching him sit and look through them (even if they are upside down).

 A weekend morning at the science playground at OMSI

Trey thinking, "Seriously?  I get to play in the water
and you're not going to stop me????" 

"Hmmmm, let me see how far I can splash this water and how wet I can get." 

"Better taste this ball." 

All the other kids moved on, but Trey was so content at the water table.  He could have stayed here all day long.  He was DRENCHED when we finally took him away from the table.  

Halloween this year was definitely more of an event than it was last year.  Trey got to carve his first pumpkin, went to a Halloween party at the Woodlawn Swap n Play, and went to another party at his daycare.  We skipped the trick or treating since it was bedtime, but Trey didn't seem to mind.

 Trey digging the guts out of his first pumpkin.

"Now that I have everything out of the pumpkin it's time to put it all back in." 

 Our two pumpkins

Checking out the jack-o-lantern

 Headed to the Woodlawn Swap n Play party with Mindy and Camille 

When we arrived I told Randy that I was bummed Trey couldn't walk yet because he couldn't "mingle" with all of the other kids.  After watching Mindy and Bill chase Camille and Jason and Stefanie chase Declan all around the party, I decided it wasn't so bad that we got to sit in the corner and chat while Trey crawled around.  

Mom and Trey

After the party, Randy's fishing buddies, Jason and Ryan, came back to our house with their wives and boys.  We ordered pizza and hung out while the boys played.  This was so much easier than going out to dinner like we originally had planned.  I love seeing Trey with two friends "playing" in his room.

 Trey and Randy at the daycare party

That's Trey's bed back in the corner.   I still can't believe he takes 2.5 hour naps in this place.  A freaking miracle if you ask me.

Last weekend we went down to Eugene for a fishing/haircut/grandparents trip.  I would say that the majority of Trey's books have to do with animals, so I was excited to get him out to see the chickens and ducks that Heidi and Kelly have at their house.  I love these pictures that Randy took.

 Trey's not too sure about the rooster...

who, by the way, didn't get the memo about the time change.

 Trey and the rooster about to come head to head

I think he did make contact with the chicken 

but luckily there was no pecking involved.,

 Trey was so comfortable with the birds.  

I think he's going to be a creature guy just like his dad.

Trey and Grandpa Gerts

Randy and Trey down at the river.  The tree to the right is where Randy and I were standing when we said our wedding vows.

Extra Random:

Trey likes to hide things around the house.  I looked all over for his "skipit" (his blanket that he has with him all of the time) and could not find it anywhere.  I realized I need to start looking in cupboards and found it in the butcher block.  This kid cracks me up.

Trey hanging out in the man chair reading his books.  I don't know what the story is with his shirt.  Either drool or something from dinner??

I needed to keep Trey entertained while I was doing some things in the kitchen.  Having him play with dried beans and a variety of bowls did the trick.

We are having so much fun with Trey right now.  He is constantly learning new things and exploring.  I love his curiosity and his delight when he figures something out.  He has been extra clingy for the past few weeks, but I secretly love it because it means more cuddle time for Mama.