Finally an explanation!

Life at bedtime hasn't been peaches and cream around our house for the last 10+ days. The instant Ashley is put down in her crib, she starts screaming like she's being eaten by a wild animal. Sometimes the screaming and crying will last up to an hour - painful for anyone within earshot. In addition to not wanting to go to sleep, she's been consistently waking up in the middle of the night, anywhere from 30 minutes to a full hour. Jake and I just figured it was a weird phase she's going through since she's not acting sick, doesn't have a fever, cold symptoms, etc. After discussing Ashley's bizarre sleeping patterns with my good friends, they suggested that perhaps Ashley has an ear infection.
What? An ear infection? But she acts totally normal during the daytime?
But, the desire to finally get us ALL back to sleeping through the night led me to call the triage nurse at Ashley's pediatrician's office. Not an easy decision for me to make since I generally don't go to the doctor unless bones are broken, blood is gushing or lungs are wheezing. After discussing Ashley's symptoms with the nurse, she suggested I bring Ashley in.
Guess what? Midget has an infection in her right ear! Can I get an alleluia? Now we have an explanation as to why bedtime has been such a struggle, not to mention the waking in the middle of the night. If only Ashley could use her words to tell us that her ear hurts it would have saved a whole bunch of tears on all our parts!

Taking advantage...

...of a beautiful autumn day and having our family around for a BBQ. Sunday afternoon we were so excited to head to Nana and Poppie's for a delicious BBQ and the chance to visit with Aunt Leta and Uncle Bill, visiting us from one state below (California for those that are geographically challenged). It was nice having them in town as we don't get to see them but a few times a year. And what's a family gathering without mouth-watering food and enough desserts to stuff a horse? Plus we got to meet the newest member of the family Mister Tyler Chambers. Ty was born August 19 and started rolling like a week later. Poor Casey and Rachael! Not even a chance to get used to a newborn - you're already chasing your little guy around!

Mom loving on Ty
It's been a while since I held someone this size - but it'll only be a few more months until I'm officially back in the habit!
Check out that face would ya?
Batteries not included - that's where Ashley's mad swinging skills come into play!
The swing and corn - 2 of my summertime favorites
I'm in jaaaaaaaaaaaail!
Take the time to smell (or bite!) the flowers
Sniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiff
I think I got a bug...
Poppie and his little sister Aunt Leta
Bye bye, Ty. Kiss kiss!
The only way to enjoy cake
Look at me! I'm sitting on horseshoes. Horses and shoes - my two favorites!!!
A picture of Cash for Kathy
Smile, Cash (don't look at my shadow - I look like Beetlejuice with a giant body and shrunken head)
Come here Cash - I wanna give you some love

T minus 10 weeks

Would you believe I actually argued with the doctor today when she told me that from this point on I'll have appointments every 2 weeks? I mean come on. Me? Argue? Hardly.
But it's true. That's what happens when you're 30 weeks pregnant (the part where you have appointments every 2 weeks - not the part about arguing. That can happen at any time.).
At this point things are looking and feeling good. My measurements are great, including 1 particular measurement (fundal height - I've got a dollar for anyone that's not preggo, hasn't ever been preggo, not in the medical field and doesn't use Google that knows what that is...)that was just a touch too small 4 weeks ago. I'm pretty close to being back to where I should be (just a hair on the small side, but within an acceptable range), EB2's heartbeat is strong, she's head-down with her little feet tap-dancing on my lungs and her wee little bum pressing against my belly button. My blood pressure is 'beautiful!' to quote the doctor and I even passed my gestational diabetes and hemoglobin tests. Wahoo! At this point EB2 and I will just keep growing. And growing. And growing.
30 weeks.
And counting.
Ey yi yi.

She already knows...

...a great pair of Franco Sarto's when she see them.

She makes me so proud!
No, that most certainly is not a dog toy Ashley is chewing on. What kind of mother would let her child gnaw on dog toys? Not THIS mother!

Picture sharing

Recently Dad decided to share a CD of pictures with me that I've only been asking for the last 2 weeks. I guess when you're retired you've got nothing but time on your hands, ey?

Our last softball game of the season and Ashley decided it was time to practice her home-run run around the bases. Do you see anything wrong with this picture? That's right - she's headed the wrong way. We'll need to work on that.
Giving Two Nana her balloon at the dahlia fields
Learning bad habits (I'm sure!) from her great-aunts
The view from Mom and Dad's front porch - that's Buster and Jigs taking an afternoon siesta
Flashback just 3 years ago and here I am (with a waist!) when our house was being built - see the mountain just off of the fingertips of my right hand? It's the same mountain. One of the reasons I love our property so much - it reminds me of home because the view is exactly the same.
I feel the beat all the way to my toes
Mozart in training - thanks for showing me how to piano works Aunt Shawnaynay
Rudolph? Na, that's just strawberry jamI'm not sure what's going on in this picture - I can only guess that Ashley's hair was in curlers. Either that or Mom and Dad were taking her to the ghetto and wanted her to fit in. Yo.
Smiles brought to you by Poppie's Pancakes
Mm! 1 is never enough. Neither is 2 or 3 or 4...
That's one way to sit on the milking stool, Ashley
I say "Smile Ashley!" and this is what I get? Who taught her this move?

Pulling monster

Saturday Jake had a truck pull in Independence at the Hops & Heritage Festival. What was said would only take 'a few hours' turned into an all-day affair. No worries though because the weather was more beautiful than we could have asked for and Ashley had a wide open field to run around and explore in. The combo made for a day of fun, laughter, sunburns and not to mention just a little bit of dust and dirt!
Check out Jake's pull by clicking here. He was going along fine until he got sucked into the soft dirt - he says he ran out of traction before he ran out of power. Ungh! At least he had a great cheering section!

Since we're going to be hanging out longer than originally thought, we decided to hop the shuttle bus and check out the festival
My first bus ride was SO much fun - I made sure to remind everyone that we were on a bus by saying 'bus' over and over and over for the whole ride...
SWINGS!!! But where did Daddy go?
Lawn mower races? People are racing their lawn mowers? You might be a redneck...
Mommy is obsessed with my nose and loves to poke and kiss it - I guess she needed a picture of it too
Remember the part where Mommy said it was a dirty and dusty day - she wasn't pulling your leg
Argh matey!

Spoiled rotten

While Jake and I were away in Milton Freewater over the weekend, Ashley was getting spoiled, hardcore, by her Nana and Grandpa. So you can imagine how apprehensive she was to leave their house on Monday when I went to pick her up. After all, they do have a swing, something her own home is lacking.

Nana's getting me hopped up on chocolate frosting before she sends me home
Mm - it's only good if you get it all over your face
Nana and Grandpa bought me a cradle to rock my baby in
I know I'm not supposed to touch my hair, but I don't think anyone is looking...
Toboggan rides through the house - who needs snow?
Cuddling up in Mommy's baby blanket...
...what a difference 21 months makes. Here I am 4 days old, cuddling in the same blanket.
I thought I had wild hair now - just look at me then!
Alright Mommy we can go, as long as I can drive

Birthday wishes to South Dakota

Today we are sending birthday hugs and kisses to our favorite South Dakodan. She may have a funny accent, but we love her just the same.
Happy birthday, Shawna!

...no one other than Shawna will understand this picture or the caption...

Come on Shawna! We gotta run!!!

Yikes!

21 months? Our baby is 21 months old?! That means in 3 months she'll be 2. And in 3 months, 5 days Santa and his crew will visit. I know today is the last day of summer and tomorrow marks the beginning of autumn, but I can't help but think about this winter and all of the wonderful and exciting things that await our family.
21 months? But how did this happen?

Road trip!

The weekend found us in the great town of Milton Freewater celebrating Katie and Andy's engagement. For those that have never ventured to the great land of MFW, you should really make the drive. Beautiful farm land, endless blue skies and freaky frog statues await you in this tiny and quaint little town. I'm still not sure I completely understand the purpose behind the frogs, but I suppose being that I'm an 'outsider' it doesn't really matter...
Congratulations to Katie and Andy and thanks to Andy's family for being so hospitable and hosting such a wonderful celebration. Their century farm is beautiful, the house rich in history and the people who fill it kind and inviting. We had a great time and hope to visit again.

After scouring the roadside for the Bighorn Sheep, we spotted them
They blend in with the landscape so well, you can see why they're sometimes hard to spot
Mingling at the party
Practicing for the NFL
Just like the pros
Whoopsie. Maybe next time, Andy!
Quick pic with his favorite fan
Beautiful countryside
Andy and his proud dad, John
Toast time!
left-to-right
Andy (groom-to-be), Katie (bride-to-be), Debbie (groom's mom), John (groom's dad), Kathy (mother-of-the-bride), Danny (father-of-the-bride)
The happy couple
Photo op
Andy and his buddy
Smile pretty ladies
We missed you, Angie
Pucker up, Jax
Aww Jackson, you're growing up too quick!
Watch out for the Peeping Shaun
Still the happy newlyweds
Say cheese!
Man power
A kiss for the road