Merry Christmas!

Even though Gunnar has only participated in half of 2010 Santa apparently got word that he should be on the nice list! We went to my girlfriend's house yesterday and she showered Gunnar (and me) with tons of cool gifts. She got him the classic ring stacker and he loves it. He has a dog that knows his name and favorite color but his favorite toys are the standard stacker and WRAPPING PAPER!

This morning he applied his newly learned present opening skills and made out like a bandit. Thank you so much to everyone and your kindness. This was a wonderful Christmas.

Gunnar is napping and then we are off to Christmas part three with our neighbors.

Portraits

Since our camera is in need of repair, Nick's parents let us borrow their portrait camera. Nick has taken some really great pics:

Carma

The final piece of our Vanagon acquisition plan was to find a new find for the Honda. Nick has greatly advanced his mechanic skills on that car and was very torn about letting her go. Glancing at the Van in the garage has been a help though I think. Great response to the CraigsList post and we had a buyer same night. The buyer did not have all the funds so he left a deposit and would be back at the end of the week to pick up the car. Like anyone selling an older car Nick went out to let it run a little bit before the guy came to pick it up. It started, it ran, Nick began to walk away and then he saw it. A pool of antifreeze was under the car. We have never had any problems with this car. Now, right before it is to be sold it decides to have a major breakdown.

Now the problem, do you clean up the mess and top of the antifreeze without the buyer being any the wiser. Or do you do the right thing and let the guy know. Nick being the honest guy he is called and let the buyer know what had happened.

Long story short Nick discovered that it was the water pump (whew, not the head gasket) and had that fixed for the buyer. Last night it was driven off to its new home good as new. The buyer was so thrilled and even texted Nick this morning about what a great car it is.

All parties are thrilled!

Santa

Sunday Santa made a much needed supply run to Welches and we were lucky enough to catch up with him at Cafe Aria on his lunch break:

Gunnar thinks he is one cool dude!

Have Van Will CAMP!

Well, it finally happened. Nick's dream of owning a Vanagon has come true. As they say, good things come to those who wait.

Weekend before last it finally came to us. Nick has been wanting a Vanagon for about the past 5 years. When we lived in NYC no one had a clue of what he was talking about. He had a picture of one as his phone wallpaper to use as an illustration when talking about his dream. Then as fate would have it we moved to OR where they are EVERYWHERE. So Nick searched. And he searched. Looking on Craigslist for Vanagons has been his past time forever now. The trick was to find a decent van in our price range that would actually start. Last Sunday night when we got home from grocery shopping he was perusing Craigslist (his favorite way to avoid helping put away food) and there was a Vanagon in Sandy (the "town" closest to us) that was marked down for a quick sale. He hemmed and he hawed and finally I convinced him to at least give the guy a call. The usual M.O. for Vanagon sellers is that they either never call you back or by the time we call the van is gone. This time the van was actually available and not only that the guy agreed to meet us in 30 minutes to take a look. So we bundled up Gunnar and headed off into the night again.

Long story short the van is a 1989 GL that runs and is in decent condition inside. The guy was willing to take our offer and Nick drove it home that night.

To show how excited we are I actually took the next day off so we could enjoy it! It is such a breeze to load the baby, the dogs and all our cargo. Nick has installed a stereo and de-gunked the alternator already (long story) and we have tons of plans for our new baby.

Nick says he will take pictures for me to post next time there is a nice day. So maybe some time in July!

One, Two, Cheese!

Putting together a picture Christmas card has been on my radar for quite some time. However, like most items on my to-dos there just hasn't been time. Well, thanks to my wonderful husband we did it. We took a nice looking family photo! Look, I even washed AND dried my hair....


Now back to the fray. Merry Christmas!

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas

After our big Thanksgiving blow out we continued the fun by getting a Christmas tree. There is a tree farm just down the road where you can cut the one you like. Here are grandma and grandpa with Gunnar at the farm:


It was so exciting that Gunnar snuck in a cat nap in the truck on the way home. Gosh they are just like angels when they sleep!

Then I worked so hard on the tree that the dogs had to take a nap:

Here I am unveiling the tree:

Then of course we all had to pose with it:



Nick and Gunnar decided to wrestle for putting the star up top:

Lots of fun! I just found out that some of our NYC family will be in town for New Years. Can't wait! Our camera that I broke last year has finally given in so let's hope I can get it repaired asap.

Turkey Day Recap

We were very blessed to have a house full of friends and family this year! Here is a shot of the group polishing off the turkey, ham, green beans, salad, rolls, stuffing, mashed potatoes......
We put Gunnar in charge of the entertainment. Here he is teaching his aunt Shanna her colors in Spanish:
Checking the quality of Luke's fur:
Keeping grandpa off the slick streets:
After stuffing ourselves there was plenty of couch time:
And we even went for a quick hike around the property:
Nick's grandma was unable to make the trip but she was very much here in spirit! Darnelle made Bess's Pecan Tassies which have been immortalized in the home cooking with trisha yearwood cooking book. I am sure they would have been even more delicious with that little essence of Bess but Darnelle did a bang up job! They were the first to go!
I wish more family and friends could have made it out as well as we are so very thankful for all the loving souls in our lives!

Happy Half Birthday!

Yesterday Gunnar turned 6 months old! It is hard to believe that it has been half a year since we were at OHSU waiting to meet our baby boy.

Here we were then:



And now....

I thought time was flying before and now it seems absolutely out of control. By far the best Thanksgiving yet with us so grateful for our little boy.

Keeping warm

Winter has hit here on the mountain so we are doing a lot of playing by the fire these days.

Last weekend my girlfriend came over with her little girl who is 4 weeks older than Gunnar. Chella is always an amazing preview of the fun things we have in store as Gunnar grows. There was so much love that Truck felt the need to get in on the action:


Here is a shot of Mr Sunshine himself this morning:

Mama Ninja

Maybe this is a had to be there story but I thought I would share anyways. Thursday night I had fallen asleep on the couch about 8:00 (yeah, that's how I roll). Nice and snug, fuzzy blanket, you get the picture. About an hour later my side of the story is that I heard Gunnar cry. I tossed off the blanket and bolted upright ready to run into his room (no I do not let me child cry but that could be a whole other post). Then I hear Nick laughing at me. Nick's side of the story is a bit different. He was watching t.v. while his beautiful wife (okay a I am taking a few liberties) dosed daintily at the other edge of the couch. Suddenly she tosses her blanket and bolts upright with a look of confusion on her face. There was a baby on the t.v. that was crying and she obviously thought it was Gunnar. He politely notifies his wife that the baby cry was coming from the t.v. and then she slugs him in the arm for no apparent reason.

Usually I can tell if it is Gunnar crying or not but from a dead sleep I was READY!

In a Rut

We have enjoyed sharing our property with a few deer families. There is a mom and her son "Spike" plus another female who hangs out with them from time to time.

Yesterday Nick called me because there was a suitor on the scene:


He is an 8 point that we have named "Horney". Apparently he was putting on quite a show for the ladies!

Yummy

Gunnar began his foray into eating things besides breast milk this week. He had some carrots which received a mixed reaction. Then I got him some oatmeal and that has been a big hit! He likes to be part of the family at dinner time:

Go SpeedRacer

Gunnar decided to go as a race car driver today for Halloween:


We figure driving the Cub Cadet will be a great place to start!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

PS - I was Jane Goodall this year.

Fantastic Fall

Friday was a BEAUTIFUL fall day here in Oregon. I was stuck inside at work but still managed to snap a few pics on the way home:



Man, Oregon is such an easy place to love!

Grammy Visit

Last week Grammy Janice paid a visit to London Acres. We had a blast! The nice weather disappeared as soon as she landed so we had to have our fun indoors but we definitely made do. We hung out by the fire, grocery shopped, cooked and of course played with Gunnar. Here are some shots from the visit:

Grammy and Gunnar
Me and Gunnar
Grammy, Gunnar and his newest giraffe
Since snow has fallen Nick decided it was time to harvest our mini watermelon from the green house. It was small but quite tasty. Not bad for a woodland watermelon!

Next month the London grandparents are coming out for birthdays and Thanksgiving which will be tons of fun!

Flying Saucers

Gunnar's "new" exersaucer arrived today and he LOVES it! His entertainment options were definitely in need of expansion.


Thanks Gretchen!

In other news we went to the doctor for a booster today and Gunnar weighed in at 12 pounds 10.4 ounces. Heavy weight!

Wild Man

We have been really blessed by a beautiful, dry Fall this year in Oregon. Gunnar and I decided to get out and do a little hiking at Wildwood recreation area this morning. He loves the fact that he can look ahead in the Bjorn and was really great on the hike. He loves to be by the river and watch the rapids, touch the ferns and gaze up at those big trees we grow out here.


We even found our entrant for the next year's slug races at the Brightwood Tavern:

Looks like a winner to us!

Look Ma No Hands!

Being a new mom in 2010 means you have access to waaaay too much advice and information. I really do try to be a bare essentials kind of mama. I am able to grab the kid, burp cloth, diaper and be out of the house in under five minutes usually. Of course my bare essentials philosophy has been derailed a few times - no, I will not give up my wipe warmer or immersion blender!

The carriers is where I went a little overboard. I am the proud owner of a Moby, Bjorn, Ergo, hot sling and a Maya wrap. And yes, I have used them all in an attempt to be able to get anything done that requires two hands when Gunnar is fussy.

Nick has been a bit reluctant to see the carrier light. Not any more:

Justin Bieber ain't got nothin' on this kid

Earlier this week Nick sent me an adorable text while I was at work of Gunnar all smiley waking up from a nap. I thought his hair looked a little wild in the picture but it was a text and hard to really see.

When I came home I was greeted by my baby with this do:

Here is the close up:

He looks like he just stepped off the set of Something About Mary! Hysterical!

You can get an excellent side view here as he re-reads his favorite farm book:

He must be gifted as he has developed a way to read with his mouth!

Grammy Janice will be here is less than 2 weeks!

Happenings

It is being predicted that we will be having a cooler and wetter winter than normal this year so the farm is busy getting ready! Nick has gotten the roof on the new wood shed and is busy using a borrowed wood splitter to break up all the wood from the recently fallen trees. I like to help with the stacking since I get to ride in the wagon as he drives around for another load!

Gunnar is finding his voice more and more. His latest favorite thing is to SQUEAL! He and I went to Portland yesterday to lunch with friends and he was giggly/squealy the whole time. Oh my - we may have a wild man on our hands!

This afternoon the neighbors are lighting their burn pile off so we are all invited for a weenie roast and smores fest. Should be fun.

Craigslist was been working hard for us this weekend. Nick had a couple come look at his Civic yesterday and someone is supposed to come look at the goats this afternoon. Now if someone would just want the boat! Maybe in the spring.

Just a few more weeks and my mom will be here for a short visit. I can't wait to see how surprised she will be by how much Gunnar has grown/changed!

And in this corner...

Weighing in at 11 pounds 14 ounces and 24 inches long...Gunnar Jack London...and in the other corner..Geoffrey the stuffed girafe:

$5 on the slobbery one!

We took Gunnar for his next round of boosters today and he is not solidly in the 25th percentile from head to toe:


He has more than doubled his birth weight which is good since that should happen by 6 months and he is only 4.5 months.

The shots have thrown him off and he is now rocking with Papa to give Mama a break. My back is killing me after the last hour of rocking! Still think he is a keeper though.

London Love

We have been super fortunate this week to have Grandma London visiting. She has gotten a chance to enjoy Gunnar and give Papa a much needed break which has been wonderful.

This weekend we had more of the London crew come visit and it was a blast!

Here is most of the crew (Grandma took the pic) enjoying the new sofa bed:
Gunnar and Great Grandpa Roy:
Luke helping Shanna learn the loops of Hoof and Mouth:
Gunnar and Uncle Josh conspiring:
Aunt Shanna is way fun:
Helping put away groceries:
FEET!