Baby Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

We are enjoying a quiet day at home. We had some adventures planned, but our little Bean has his first fever. As new parents, we are doing a really good job of NOT freaking out (or at least putting on a good face that we are NOT freaking out..is it working??). His mild fever has responded to Tylenol, and he is a little crankier and spits up more than normal, but other than that, he is our happy little cuddle monkey.

This is West's first Valentine's Day. He got a Love Monkey from his Noni (my mother). It sings and flaps his arms. At first this little thing made him cry, but he is starting to find it interesting. Copper needed no warm up period for the Love Monkey. He LOVES it, but is respectfully keeping his distance. We discovered today that West loves the music by Michael Franti and Spearhead; we may have a little peace loving Bean on our hands. When I put this CD ('Rebel Rockers') in earlier, West immediately started to giggle. Among his other favs are the Blind Boys from Alabama. They sing 'Welcome Table' on Dan Zanes's 'Catch that Train' (an actual kids' cd).

The pictures you see are from today...fever and all. Hope that you enjoy your Valentine's Day and take a minute to let everyone know how much you love them. Big Hugs all around!!!

Carry-all

It has just been one of those weeks...you get to carry the beer, but don't get to drink it.

Thank goodness for relaxing weekends. Wednesday was tough. After I couldn't make it to my first interview, I got a rejection e-mail from University of Tennessee. It's not that bad. I don't think that I would have handled Westin growing up a Vol very gracefully. On Friday I heard from Appalachian St in Boone, NC; they want me for an interview! The details are pending and seem to be complicated by scheduling issues. If it doesn't work out it won't be the end of the world. I have faith that all will work out as it should. In any case, I leave (hopefully for real this time) for South Dakota on Wednesday. The job search is so stressful! Luckily, I have a little cuddle monkey and a wonderful husband to help keep it all in perspective.

I am always really impressed with what goes on when I am at work. Friday was music and mountaineering appreciation day.

Sweet dreams everyone! And remember to take it easy........

Is it Friday, yet?

It feels like it should be the middle of next week already. Just one of those weeks, I suppose. Sorry for the lack of blogging, but I have been getting ready for an interview at the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota. An interview that if I were on the plane to get me there, I would assuredly not be writing this post. Well, as luck would have it my flight out of Missoula was cancelled this morning...weather? NO, there was a mechanical issue and an emergency light of some sort that they have had since last night to fix, but sadly did not. Incidentally, when one flight gets cancelled, there are not many options out of Missoula and everything, I mean, everything was booked. So, my interview is moved to next week. I had a little meltdown about it earlier, but one hot shower later and all is right with the world again. Well, I will still spend the next week obsessively checking the weather and stressing out about my chalk talk. If anyone has some kick ass ideas for an RO1 on chlamydia pathogenesis, the comments section is below :). Ha ha.

Needless to say that this week, has been full of highs......











and lows....

One exciting bit of news is that we are currently winning the war on nighttime sleeping. Dalen and I decided to take the path of least resistance. Westin LOVES to sleep in his swing. So, we moved it into his room at night....He actually slept for 4 WHOLE HOURS and then after getting a full belly and a diaper change, slept for an additional 3 hours..I got a whole 7 hours of sleep. Do you know how magical that is??? Do you? West is also embracing naps. He is a much happier baby for it. We don't want to jinx it, but we might have turned a corner with the whole sleep-thing.

So, Dalen is already teaching West about the art of fly tying. They were tying ant, caddis and the stonefly skwala (aka the air Fred skwala) patterns.

West seems interested, but I think that he would rather be chewing on his own fist...at least for now.

What you talkin' 'bout Willis?

Happy Saturday evening! I am about to kick back with a nice cup of chamomile-lavender tea. Oh yes party people, this is our new exciting Sat evening, and I couldn't be more pleased. It has been an excellent Saturday. I have no pictures of today, because West NAPPED multiple times, and I didn't want to jinx it by taking a picture. But lucky for you, Fans of Westin, Dalen took some excellent shots yesterday (otherwise known as napless Friday, preceded by napless Thursday..I think that you get the theme).

When the giraffe in the picture first came to us from Bridgeport, WV from the ever so cute Sam and Nate Dodson, it's name was 'Sophie'. Dalen thought a more appropriate name for the giraffe is 'Willis'. At first little West had no idea what to think of Willis, in fact, it made him cry. Since then, he has learned to grab Willis by the throat or legs, and throw him. It also helps that Willis squeaks. I don't want to be too presumptuous, but our Bean might have met his first best friend.


Happy Super Bowl Sunday! Geaux Saints!

Snow Day

Wednesday was a banner day on all fronts. The Auburn Tigers had their best Signing Day in who knows how long. We even scored a 5 star QB!!!! We also got a 4 star weakside linebacker. On one side of the ball, we may be able to pass the ball with accuracy, and control the gap better on the other side of the ball. Crazy pants!! Update: Bitterroot Bill did not see his shadow, so his is predicting an early spring. And Dalen tried a new napping scheme with Westin that WORKED! We had a very peaceful baby (hence no pictures from Wednesday, unless you wanted photographic evidence that West actually sleeps). Of course, the strategy was unsuccessful today, but yesterday gave us hope that one day our child will learn how to sleep :).

We woke up this morning to it snowing heavily outside. Big Gorgeous Flakes. In the end, we received about an inch and a half of fresh snow. At least today the freezing fog lifted, so it got a little warmer than yesterday. Here are some pictures from our evening walk. Copper was extra well behaved because he spent the day at Daly Dog Care (thanks to Pops and D). It was chilly out, but I really love the walks when I get home from work.

Westin's new tricks: He has learned to grab a toy this week and his grip on hands is much stronger. He is also holding onto clothes as he is being put down on his changing station, etc. He is such a strong little man! :)

Happy Yellow-bellied Marmot Day!

For the rest of you, it is Groundhog Day. But here, Bitterroot Bill is a yellow-bellied marmot. He lives at the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge, just north of Stevensville. No word yet on whether he saw his shadow or not. Frankly, I hope we have 6 more weeks of winter because we definately don't have the snow pack to endure a long, hot, dry summer--excellent kindling for forest fires.

So, I never know what to expect when I come home for lunch (except, of course, a hungry munchkin). Today West is wearing Daddy's hat, and we even had some time to play. I am so lucky to be able to come for lunch everyday to hang out with my little Bean!

Ugh, Monday

It is the end of a Monday, and I am exhausted! So, is Westin, who has been resting peacefully in his very own crib for at least 40 minutes now...which means that I am running against time to get this published before he realizes that we have abandoned him in his own very room. The cruelty of parents. So he has some tricks that he has been perfecting for the last week. One is blowing bubbles, as seen above. He is starting to grasp more and is really noticing toys. He does have his favs (Thank you Grandma Moore for the toy in these pictures :)). Ah, the sleeping child awakes..enjoy the pics!