12 years...

From August 29:
It was 12 years ago that Merrick played in his first alumni soccer game at George Fox... as a freshman. The alumni game is fun, but it always seems to be a busy weekend for us, so we've missed it more often than not. We had nothing on the calendar this year, so I sort of pressured Merrick into playing (mostly because I wanted to go to the game and see my parents and grandparents and let Gracie play with her cousins again). I think Merrick was glad he played and had a lot of fun - until the last four minutes when he tore his left hamstring. It isn't too bad, but he's been limping around for the past few days.
Merrick in the middle, it was fun to watch him play again.
Craig running - who knows where. Gracie's uncles Craig and Scott are both GFU soccer alumni too, so they were out there playing as well.
Limping back across the field post-game, carrying Gracie and a load of stuff, leg wrapped in ice.

It was a fun morning - a great day for a soccer game. Gracie did really well, and with the help of her grandpa, spent most of the time watching, as she calls it, the "soccer ball game."

Building...

From August 28:

Merrick's been working on adding a little section of fence to close in our backyard and make it more kid friendly. This small project has turned into a drawn out project because of all of our nights and weekends away from home lately. When he does get time to work on it, Gracie is quite the little helper. I love that these pictures capture a piece of her that isn't always seen... the fact that she often isn't wearing pants (or a shirt for that matter), that she has a fantastic mullet, she loves to dress herself and loves hats (even if they are too small), and she is very good at concentrating when need be.


Though she has her moments of being a typical two-year-old, those seem to be few and far between. We have been so blessed with this spunky girl who has brought so much joy, laughter, and adventure to our lives.

Dancing in the street...

From August 25:

We ran into Shannon, Susie, Hannah and Sophia at the farmer's market in downtown Hillsboro. We weren't there long, but Shannon did snap these pictures of the girls dancing in the street. There was a live band playing in the lawn and Sophia and Grace couldn't contain their need to dance.

There are a lot of pictures, but you really need to see the whole progression to get a glimpse of how ridiculous they looked.

down

up

turn

rest

shake

skip

run

done!

Brownlee's house...

From August 22-24:
Gracie has developed this funny new habit of referring to Merrick's dad as simply "Brownlee." He used to be papa, then grandpa Brownlee, and now she's dropped everything but his last name. We aren't quite sure why, but we find it hilarious.

Last weekend we had free, so we decided to head to Eugene to spend some time with Merrick's folks. We hadn't been to their house since January 4th... more than 8 months ago. We weren't sure that Gracie would even remember it. We told her on Thursday night that we would be going to her grandparent's house tomorrow. She thought for a minute and said, "we going to Brownlee's house... grandma will be there too."

We didn't get there until late Friday night, so she was already asleep when we plopped her into bed. She didn't sleep very well that night which is very unlike her, so we were all pretty tired on Saturday morning. Margaret, Grace and I managed to get to the mall to take advantage of the sale at Gymboree. There were a few cute things from the new fall line, so we went a little overboard. After showing everything to Merrick, we kept about half and returned the rest. The rest of the day included a short trip to Skinner's Butte park, a walk along the river, reading books, playing in the loft, picking pears, and chatting. If grandpa disappeared for too long Gracie would look around and say "where did Brownlee go?"

She didn't take a nap, so after dinner was acting really sleepy. We decided it would be fun to pop in a movie for a few minutes before putting her to bed. By the time we got her on the couch and turned the TV on she was completely sound asleep.

Sunday morning we headed to church and Gracie walked straight into the nursery without looking back. Not that unusual for her really. It was about 5 minutes later that we were sitting in the sanctuary and could hear her crying and about 5 minutes after that that someone came to get Merrick out of the service. We aren't sure what happened, but she was not happy to be in there alone. She was fine if we stayed, so that's what Merrick ended up doing. Hopefully this is just a fluke since we weren't at our home church. She has never done anything like this before, and I don't really want the clingy stage to start right before the baby is born.

Sporting part of her new outfit for church.

We didn't stick around Eugene long that afternoon. Merrick's folks had commitments and needed to get back to life without house guests. We left shortly after lunch, but headed home through Corvallis to visit Dan and Natalie. We hadn't seen them for months, so it was fun to see their new place and get caught up on their lives. We ate dinner near campus and then walked around the quad for a few minutes before heading out of town (much later than we had meant to stay).

The drive home was beautiful - it almost always is. We went through Newberg hoping to help the Diefenbaughs with moving, but since we were late, we weren't a whole lot of help. It was fun to see them part way settled into their rental house and for Gracie to see her cousins. We ended up getting home just after 10 that night... pretty late considering we'd left Eugene around 1:30. It was a good weekend though, and we were glad to sneak that trip in before we hole up in Hillsboro and wait for the baby to come.

Baby update...

I'm now in my 28th week of this pregnancy... hard to believe there are less than 90 days to go.

We saw my midwife today and everything is still looking good.

My current stats on 8/18:

Gestational age: 27 weeks, 3 days

Weight: gained 7 pounds in 4 weeks (I've gained 8 pounds less than I had at this point with Grace).

BP: 120/60

Fetal heart rate: 150's (exactly what they were with Grace)

Fetal movement: moving, but down a bit... read on for more info

Fundal height: 29cm (grown 6 cm in 4 weeks). This should correspond to baby's gestational age, so I'm measuring about 2 weeks big right now... I was the same size at this point with Grace.

Glucose test: passed with flying colors!

Iron level: back up to where it should be!

We've had a crazy weekend camping with friends, and on our way home I was feeling just a little off. I'd been achy all day long, a little crampy, and wasn't feeling the baby moving as much as usual. This lasted all night, and by Monday afternoon I decided to call my the office. The midwife I talked to said to come in just to double check everything. Gracie and I had been out, so we were close anyways. Well, baby's heart sounded just fine, so they sent me home feeling a little more at peace about things. Today I went in for my 28 weeks appointment and a different midwife opted to have me monitored for a non-stress test. I'm still a little early for this sort of thing, but baby cooperated beautifully - moving more in the first five minutes of the test than it had in the past 48 hours. We sat in the room listening to it's little heart beating away, and after 15 minutes everything looked fantastic so they sent us off. Probably the baby is going through a little growth spurt and has just been extra sleepy. We'll keep an eye on things and hopefully (s)he will perk up in the next few hours.

Except for the past few days, baby has been a lot more active (thus the reason for my concern on Sunday and Monday). I'm feeling little kicks and punches all through the days. The big movements, rolls and somersaults, are becoming less frequent as this child is running out of room to turn. One of our favorite things is to lay in Gracie's bed at night and have her talk to baby. It kicks like crazy in response to her sweet little voice. Sometimes long after Grace has fallen asleep the baby is still moving all around. We aren't sure if it is in there saying "hey, I know her and like her a lot" or if it is more of "hey you, be quiet already!" We usually choose to believe the first.

We still haven't come up with any names. I'm sure that's the story that you'll hear right up until the end. In fact, don't be surprised if baby Brownlee comes home nameless. =) We have started talking about it more seriously and do have a list started of favorites (99.9% of which are girl names).

Questions:

1. How are you doing with all this heat? Well, I guess it is true that when you are pregnant you feel about 7 degrees hotter than everyone else. I am lucky that in general I don't mind the heat all that much. Sleeping has been uncomfortable, but isn't it for everyone when it is 108 during the day? I guess I haven't felt like I can complain since most people in the PacNW have been hot. I did, however, love the weather while we were in Sun River - it was a nice break to be in jeans and long sleeves for three days.

Are you getting sick of seeing these pictures yet?

Lost Lake...

From August 14-16:
We had the most amazing time camping with friends at Lost Lake. If you've never been, I'd highly recommend this destination. It is a little rustic for camping (we loved that about it), but they also had really nice day use areas.

We drove up on Friday afternoon, Merrick took off from work a few hours early so we could try to beat some of the weekend traffic. It is about a 2 1/2 hour drive to the lake - just southwest of Hood River towards Mt. Hood. It is a very popular summer camping destination, so we were lucky that Nate and Ramie were able to head up Thursday to reserve us some sites.

We were the last to arrive, but got settled right in. I think it has been almost four years since we used our tent, but we didn't have any trouble setting it up and unpacking our gear. The first thing we realized (and by we, I mean all 8 of us) is that we didn't pack very well for the weather. I guess we didn't take into account the fact that we were traveling about 4,000 feet up in elevation and camping at the base of a mountain, so the weather reports that we were all checking weren't quite adequate. It was COLD! I'm talking seeing our breath all the time, probably in the low 40's during the day cold. I didn't have hats, gloves, long johns... all of which would have been perfect. As we were unpacking we dug out our warmest clothing and bundled up as best we could, then headed to the fire. It was nice to all be in the same boat because I don't think any of us changed out of those warm clothes until Sunday morning.
Gracie and Ephraim spent the evening wrestling, playing, digging, throwing sticks and rocks. Each seemed to be enjoying having another little person around
Our first meal was "tin foil dinners" - something I used to make as a Campfire Girl when I was about 8 years old. The boys, Merrick, Nate and Forrest made dinner... well, I think it was actually Ramie that chopped everything up, and the fire did the cooking, but the boys "built" our meals.
After dinner the guys decided to head down to the lake to get a little more fishing in. Nate and Forrest had licenses, and kids under 12 fish for free, so Nate was kind enough to help Gracie nab this little rainbow trout... her very first fish. They brought it up for us to see before taking it to gut it and chop off the head - all of which Gracie watched and was fascinated by. For the remainder of the evening she would ask, "can I see my fish, daddy? can I touch it?" It was in the cooler, so he would patiently walk her over and open the lid so she could peak in and see her be-headed catch.
Our evening was wrapped up with hours by the fire, staying warm, and enjoying good conversation. Gracie was a champ and stayed awake much longer than I thought she would, but she was totally content sitting in Merrick's lap and watching the flames dance and sparkle.

One down side to the rustic camping is the lack of bathrooms. Our closest non-flushing toilet was about 1/4 mile walk back to where we left our cars. It really wasn't a bad walk in the day light, but in the dark, it was horrid. Now, something to know about me is that I am 100% afraid of all things big, mean and wild (aka bears and cougars). Amy kept trying to reassure me that there most likely weren't bears because none of the garbage cans were bear-proof. Coming from my friend who grew up in grizzly country, that was a little comforting, but she didn't have much help on the mountain lion front. So, I flat out refused to use the bathroom alone after dark. I also refused to leave Gracie asleep in the tent by herself, so that combination made for long, uncomfortable nights with our unborn child laying right on my full bladder. At the first sign of daylight I would grab our biggest, heaviest flashlight (as a weapon of course) and head to the outhouse. The first morning as I was rounding the corner to the bathroom I heard rustling in the bushes. Just as I was about to scream for my life, out hops the tiniest forest bunny I've ever seen. Nothing to be worried of, but it still managed to scare the daylights out of me!

Other than it being bitterly cold, and not wanting to go to the bathroom, we all slept very well. Gracie did great in the tent, and slept in her own sleeping bag for most of the time.
Potty training in the woods is an adventure all in its own. Gracie did really well, but we kept her in diapers because we couldn't afford an accident in the one pair of long pants that I had packed for her.

Nate was great at keeping our fire roaring, and was so sweet to always let Gracie "help" when it was time to get it going again. She was good and crumpling up the paper, but not so good at stacking the slivers of wood in a tee-pee formation.

On Saturday, after a yummy, hot breakfast, we all headed down to the lake to do a little fishing. It was cold, and cloudy, so there was no view, but the fish were biting, and it was a fun adventure.
Amy had packed a little better for Ephraim, so he had an extra warm jacket that Gracie was able to borrow for the weekend. It was super cute on her and she was such a trooper to let us keep piling on the clothing.

We went back to the camp site for lunch and to rest a bit, but soon headed back out to the lake. This time we rented boats and spent a few hours floating around the lake. The clouds broke for just a few minutes and we were able to get our first glimpse of the mountain. It was beautiful.
Ramie resting, Forrest fishing, Amy holding and Ephraim diving.
What do you do when you are in a row boat, in the middle of a lake, and your daughter says, "daddy, I need to go potty!" The best part is, she actually went!

The rest of our afternoon and evening was spent back at our campsite around the fire. Ephraim didn't take a super long nap, and Gracie didn't nap at all, so by about 6 pm we had very sleepy children. Gracie was trying so hard to stay awake, but would start nodding off anytime we set her down or walked away. At one point she was standing, holding a bucket and shovel, and tipping over because she was asleep. Luckily we were able to hold her off and got her passed the sleepy "hump" so she could enjoy dinner and s'mores. I had packed a few hand warmers and we popped one of those open for her. She snuggled up in daddy's lap, clutching her source of warmth, and conked out. She transfers so easily that even after we headed to bed she slept soundly and didn't stir until daylight.

Highlights of Saturday night were the peach and wild huckleberry cobbler that Forrest made, the s'mores with smooshed peanut butter cups instead of plain chocolate bars, and the amazing night sky. That last doesn't really fit it, but I have to include it. We walked to the bathroom where there were no other light sources and could see millions of stars. It was the first clear sky we'd had our whole trip, and totally worth it. It it hadn't been so cold away from the fire, we might have set up blankets there and laid back to enjoy the show for a while longer.

Sunday morning we woke to blue skies! It was a fantastic way to end our trip. After breakfast we packed up a bit and then headed out for a short walk to the view point.
It was so bright that we had a hard time getting a good angle to take pictures, but the view was absolutely spectacular.
It even warmed up enough to spend some time splashing in the water.
The Arnolds.
The Moodys (Ramie's baby is due three weeks before ours!).
I had packed a swimming suit, but when it came down to it, being naked was easier. The water wasn't warm, but it was tolerable, and Gracie loved getting some time to "swim." The lake was so clear that we could see out hundreds of feet and knew what we were walking on and what to avoid. Did I say that it was beautiful?

The rest of the group went on to hike the 4 miles around the lake. I was achy and having some cramping, so just didn't feel up to the challenge. The three of us headed back to the site where we roasted hot dogs for lunch before heading home.
The true mark of a good camping trip is how filthy you are when you get home. We didn't shower, didn't change clothes, and didn't wash our hands with running water for three days. Gracie's bath water was gray that night, and it took two cycles in the wash machine for the smoke smell to come out of our clothing. All of those things were worth this experience though. I think we have an honest-to-goodness outdoors kid on our hands. We are camping again over Labor Day and she hasn't stopped talking about it.

Thanks, friends, for the fun time and for all the work pulling this together. We can't wait for our next adventure with you...

August rain...

From August 11:
We had a somewhat unexpected August storm yesterday... and it was fantastic. I could almost hear the plants, trees and grass letting out a collective "ahhhhh."

All day long Gracie had been talking about going to the farmer's market and Home Depot, so even though it was pouring, we dressed the part and headed out.

It isn't too often that you have an occasion to wear this sort of outfit in August.
We ended up walking through the market and only buying corn on the cob. I think we would have purchased more, but I knew I would be out picking berries the next day and you just never know what I might come home with.

There was a sidewalk chalk contest at the market - under the cover of a nearby building. Some of the pictures were done by young children, but a few we though were quite good.

We ended up walking down a block and sharing a burrito at Taco Del Mar for dinner. It was a nice escape from the rain, and since I hadn't planned anything for dinner, it was a quick and easy substitute. While Merrick and I were in line, Gracie picked a table and found herself a high chair.
On our way back to our car we noticed the little toy store was open late so we popped in... for thirty minutes. Gracie loved looking around, playing with the train table and doing some shopping. I was fascinated by the various games they carry. And Merrick, well he found a marble game that kept his attention for the entire time. We eventually left when the store owners flipped the "open" sign around and we got their hint that it was closing time.

After a quick stop at Home Depot we were home for good - a little later than we thought, but it was a fun evening out. Gracie and Merrick played together for a while, and then we settled down with a few minutes of "The Little Mermaid" before she conked out a little before 11. Oops.

Not such a good helper...

From August 12:
These pictures sum up why Gracie isn't the greatest berry picking helper on earth. Don't get me wrong, she is great at picking berries, but she isn't so good at collecting them in her bucket.

We got out to the berry bushes and she planted herself on her little bucket and started eating...

...and eating...

...yep, still eating. At one point she showed me that she had three berries in her bucket. She was so proud. Just as I was about to praise her, she reached in, grabbed all three, and stuffed them in her mouth. I guess this is a concept we will continue to work on next summer as well.

It was still a productive morning for us (me) as we came home with just over 4 pounds of blueberries. Plus, it was great to get to see Sarri and her kiddos again. Maddy is quite the little picker. She ended up with six pounds! I was pretty impressed that she had beaten me, but she humbly reminded me that they got there first. Too sweet.

Thanks, Sarri, for inviting us along. We'll have to do this again soon.

Garrett, Carter, Grace and Madeline. Yes, I had a better picture, but I love how Garrett's expression sums up how kids often feel after a morning in the berry field with their mamas... especially when the mamas are picking the wrong sorts of berries. =)

Another trip to Oaks Park...

From August 11:
On a last minute whim we decided to meet Kim and Shannon at Oaks Park for another preschool morning. Shannon and I, who both tend to get a little motion sick, were glad Kim was there to entertain our girls.
With all four kids - Baylie, Kaleb, Sophia and Gracie - on the hot air balloon ride (think Disney's teacups, but in the air).
Three very serious drivers.
Baylie, Kim, Grace and Sophia on the tug boat ride. This one I have a hard time even watching.

We had a great morning with our friends, but the slightly cooler weather brought out the big crowds. The kids still had a great time. Hopefully we'll do this a few more times before our summer ends.