Buckley

Buckley "Bubba" His tongue is too big for his mouth.

I thought I would take the time to make an entry about the "other" member of our family. Buckley. Buckley is a miniature Australian Shepherd, although, not so miniature. Buckley is right around 4o lbs. Ryan and I got Buckley a few months after we got married. We were living in a little cabin in Ellensburg, Ryan was recently laid off, and we thought it would give him good company since the cabin was literally in the middle of nowhere. We found a breeder in Buckley, Wa (aren't we creative with names?) and took the drive to go check out the pups. Buckley was by far the biggest, and he was also the only bi-colored one. Most aussie's are tri-colored (black, white and brown) or merle's (red or blue). Ryan fell in love with him instantly because he was black and white with no tail, just like our Manx cat we had at the time. "So, they would match..." *this is an insight into how my husband reasons things...*

I really liked a tri-colored little one, so we went home and talked about it and decided that Buckley had the best personality and was the one Ryan would want to be his pal. We drove out the following day and picked him up. The seller gave us a "deal" on him. Apparently bi-coloreds aren't in high demand. Or, that is what we told ourselves as we drove away with our discount dog.

Buckley was relatively easy to train. Like all aussie's, he just really wanted to make us happy. We took him to puppy classes, taught him the basic tricks, crate trained him, and took him everywhere with us. Despite our efforts, sometimes his herding instinct just completely takes over. Also, he is extremely territorial of us, his home, or really, anything that he thinks is "his". He will watch out the front window for HOURS just waiting for something to trespass on his property. He lifts his leg on EVERYTHING. I can just hear him on walks as he pisses on anything that he thinks is his, "Mine. Mine. Mine." Side Note: We just had a load of lumbar delivered to the house so Ryan can build us a fence. Every time I let him outside, he walks right over to the stack of nice new 2X4's and 4X4's and pees all over it. I told Ryan this and he looked over to Buckley and said, "You Asshole."

Window watching

Buckley also has to walk ahead, be the first out the door, first out the car, first out the doggy door, first everything. You are now saying to yourself, "What puppy classes did you take him to?" Well, yes, he still has some work to do 3 years later (or WE have the work to do), but he really is the best dog we could have asked for. Side Note #2: We always prided ourselves that our dog was the better dog between him and my parent's beagle, Pepper. Well now, my parents have stepped up and are taking Pepper to these dog obedience classes at Reber's. I have a feeling Pepper is going to be the better dog here very soon. It's all part of the beagle's (or "Smeagle" as I lovingly call her) diabolical plan...to take over the world.

Buckley (with his summer hair cut) nursing his cow.

We were a little worried about how Buckley would handle a new addition to our family, since he was our baby and all. We really don't think he liked Lula much at first, but Ryan was very consistent about making sure he knew Lula was #1 and that she was part of our pack now. Over time, he really warmed up to her. Now, Lula sits on him, rides him, pulls on him, chases him, throws balls for him, calls him "Bubba", and absolutely LOVES him. I think he likes her too. He freaks out if she goes out of his range of sight, or if anything gets in between them.

Learning month-old Lula is in charge.

To sum Buckley up, he is a lover of belly scratches, tennis balls, stuffed animals, whipped cream from the can, and hiking in the woods. We love our Bubba and are so happy that he is a part of our growing family.

Roadkill

Baby Update

I had my midwife appointment today and got to hear the little bomp-bomp-bomp of our new little baby's heart beating away. Growing. Moving. Pretty neat. I mean, I hear it at each appointment, but everytime my heart settles and all my worries and fears I had the month before wash away. Today, we walked into the "Birth Center" part of my midwife's home. Both doors were shut and Lula and I heard the unmistakable sounds of a woman in labor. I wasn't sure what to expect this appointment, and had always wondered before, "What happens if she has a patient in labor during her day of appointments?" (two women were actually there-one had JUST delivered and the other was in the thick of her labor) Well, my question was answered as she escorted me into her actual kitchen and sat me on one of her barstools. She had my file and a portable heart monitor on her kitchen counter. A friend of hers, with hair down to her butt and feathers and beads around her neck, was drinking some tea and making candles at the table. She was listening to what sounded like a drum circle with Enigma singing in the backround, and asked Lula if she could help dip some candles. Lula stood on the chair and carefully helped dip candles while we listened to her new brother or sister on the monitor and talked about what to expect the next 4 weeks. Even admist all the excitement of two new little lives about to emerge in the rooms next door, I felt overwhemlingly relaxed and peaceful talking about our new baby and my ever-changing pregnancy. I thought to myself, "This is what it should be like. No waiting rooms, nurses, paper covers on tables." I mean, my daughter got to make candles in her kitchen for crying out loud. Way different than my OB experience with Lula. It left me feeling liberated and confident in being able to bring my baby into the world however I want to, and that is a beautiful thing.

My diagnostic ultrasound is scheduled for August 29th and 9:30 am. I will be a few days away from 20 weeks and hopefully we will be able to see if it's a girl or boy! Can't wait!

Lula's Taste of Summer

I love living in Washington. I love the green, the trees, the mountains, the rivers, the beaches...I love Seattle- the market, the shopping, all the hubub, even all the passive-agressive Seattlites. (just a little joke :-)) I love Eastern Washington and really do miss living there time to time. What I love most about Washington is the Summer. Not a lot beats the beauty of the Pacific Northwest on a clear, warm, summer day. The mountain in all its glory can leave me speechless while driving down 167.

Unfortunately, we haven't had many of these precious days this summer. I had so many things I wanted to do with Lula during our weekdays together. Zoo trips, beach trips, day hikes... so instead, on the few and far between sunny and warm days we have had, we have resorted to her running around the yard naked and playing in the sprinkler. She has no clue of the day trip ideas her momma had mustered up...she is thrilled running around in all her glory and occasionally lapping water from our sprinker. It is almost picturesque, really. I mean, I always saw those photos of people's kids, bare-bottomed squatting over a sprinkler with huge grins on their faces. I knew I always wanted that for myself. And, here she is, running around, learning, exploring, and making up little adventures in that amazing head of hers. I love my little girl, and have to pinch myself that she is actually my daughter and I get to share a life with her. Here are some pics my dad snapped this summer of our little sprite.

This summer has been anything but dazzling, yet it makes me appreciate those perfect days all that much more. When we come in for the day, Lula sits on my lap and I stick my nose right in the nape of her neck. I breathe in all that yummy summer and all the fun she had. Grass, dirt, hose water, dandilions, sunscreen, popsicles, sweat... nothing beats it and I breathe her in so I won't forget it. In a few moments her Daddy will dip her in the warm bath and all will wash away- leaving only her own sweet smell with a hint of baby Aveeno.

Babies Babies Everywhere!

I swear to God, everyone and their mom is expecting a baby. How awesome. The more little perfect babies the better. And, how wonderful is it that my children and my friend's children can grow up together and become friends themselves? Makes my heart happy.

One of my closest friends, Ashley, is expecting her little bundle of joy ANY DAY NOW! I cannot wait to meet him. I know she is soooooo ready for this little boy to make his appearance...the last couple weeks are torture. She is going to make the most amazing mother, and I couldn't be more proud of her. His room, of course, is perfect. I went over there the other day to do some reflexology on her ankles and I just had to peek in his nursery. Carpet is perfectly vacuumed, lines and all. Everything is washed, hung up, folded, dusted, and decorated perfectly. All ready for Mason's arrival. Ashley's boyfriend and partner, Nate, was upstairs talking away to someone on the phone about pack-n'-plays, bouncers and changing tables. You could tell by his face and his voice how excited he is to meet his son. Little Mason is going to be so loved, so cared for, and so perfect. I love you Ashley, and I can't wait to see you enter the world of motherhood. You are going to look beautiful holding that little boy.


I asked if I could share this picture of her with little Mason in the belly...and to show off my friend Katrina's awesome photography skills!

www.kamburgeyphotography.com

I see my midwife on Monday, and I will have my appointment scheduled for my diagnostic ultrasound to check on the baby and find out if we are having a boy or girl! We are so excited, and can't wait to catch a glimpse of our new addition. The ultrasound will most likely be scheduled for the end of August. Yay!

I Can See The Light

Well, I can finally say that I am feeling MUCH better. I can eat without getting sick, and the food aversions have definitely diminished. Thank the Lord. I am starting to feel like this cloud is lifting and I can start to function like a (somewhat) normal human being. *cue angelic singing and the heavens opening up with rainbows and butterflies and doves*

Funny story: We were having dinner over at my parent's house and I had this overwhelming NEED for grilled oysters. WTF? I can't look at chicken, or even think about it without wanting to hurl...but slurping down some oysters? No problem! My mom pointed this out to me and we had to laugh at how ridiculous it seemed. Side Note: I sweet-talked my dad into buying some and he slow smoked them instead of grilling, and holy crap... Best we've ever had. Hands down.

I will say, however, that insomnia is getting the best of me, so much so, that I have developed a sty on my left eyelid. This happened when I was pregnant with Lula as well. I am hoping that as my hormone levels continue to try and balance out, I will start to get some good sleep. But they don't lie when they say you show earlier with your 2nd pregnancy. Hello belly bump! Jeepers!

Lula and I have been going to a really nice park by our house several days a week. I have met some really nice moms there and it's been nice to get out and talk with people in the same season as me. One of the moms asked me if I had a real desire for either a girl or a boy. She told me how she cried when she found out she was having a girl (her 2nd pregnancy), and not tears of joy. It got me thinking about how I am really on the fence with wanting either a girl or a boy. Ryan really wants a boy, but I am not feeling super pulled one way or the other. And, I am pretty glad about it. This whole pregnancy is much more laid back than the pregnancy with Lula (minus the extent of not feeling well). But mentally, I am not stressed at all and have an overall sense of calm. It's very refreshing.