Sawbuck

I spent the morning and early afternoon today building two sawbucks for cutting firewood. I used the plans from EricsProjects with some modifications. As you can see, they fold up for easy moving and storage. I made one for cutting 16-inch pieces and one for cutting 12-inch pieces. I just used some used lumber that I had out in the shed--mostly left over from the fence that we took down last year.

Chunka Munka

Paige had her two month well visit today which included four individual shots. She weighs 13lbs 13oz - that puts her at the 95th percentile! I have to say... I'm a proud mama... to be putting all that nutrition on her thighs!

Lamoine State Park Camping Trip

We just returned from a weekend of camping at Lamoine State Park--our first camping trip of the year. Don't you think that the meteorologists stretch the truth a little bit when it's a holiday weekend? The forecast was for Friday and Saturday to be partly cloudy. I guess that was true, but the they didn't mention that all of the clouds would contain rain. We stayed Friday and Saturday nights at the park, and Saturday afternoon did actually turn out to be okay, weather-wise. We also spent the late Saturday morning and early afternoon at the playground and beach after we'd packed up the camper.

The park is a great spot--less than an hour from our house and right on Frenchman's Bay. There is a pebble beach and a huge grassy day-use area, not to mention a great playground for Avery. Avery enjoyed throwing rocks into the ocean, which you can see if you check out the photo album that we put up online (you can click on the photo album below too). He calls the big rocks "dozers." We think because it sounds like boulders, which we tried to explain to him was the word for big rock. The campsites are nicely spaced and plenty large.

This was Paige's first camping trip, and she did really well. She slept well and generally enjoyed herself.

We're looking forward to spending Memorial Day at Gram Richard's house with the family.

Lamoine State Park - Memorial Day Weekend 2008

Going for a Swim

Sunday afternoon we packed a picnic and headed out to the lake for dinner. As you can see, both Max and Avery enjoyed the cold water. Avery started out innocently playing in the sand. Then he wanted his shoes off... then his pants rolled up so he could dip his toes in the water... I should have anticipated how this would end! Luckily, I was prepared with a backup wardrobe.

Thank You

Thank you to Auntie D for Avery's new trike! She spoiled him silly while she was here!! Thank you to Gram for the Bumbo seat that Paige is demonstrating in the photo.

Acadia with Devon

Friday's "home day" was filled with sunshine, sand, a picnic lunch, and afternoon ice creams. Devon, Avery, Paige and Mama spent the day at Sand Beach and Bar Harbor. We are enjoying Auntie D's visit!

Sandbox

Jason and Avery put together Avery's sandbox today. Avery loves playing in the dirt!! We had a great day outside. We had a big breakfast together (Jason & Avery cooked!!), took a couple of short walks, hung out a few loads of laundry on the clothesline, made a trip to the dump, made a sandbox, got some sand and enjoyed the sunshine.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to Mutti, Di, Karen, Amy, my Grandmothers... to all of the special women in my life that are mothers. Today is a day that I feel truly blessed... I LOVE being a mom with every ounce of my being. It is the most amazing journey. I am amazed every day to see the world from Avery's perspective and look forward to seeing it through Paige's eyes as well. I am extremely fortunate.

Paige on Video

Paige makes her video debut. Just press play to see (and hear) her in action. She is starting to interact with us--smiling and cooing when we talk to her.

Update

Paige is now smiling and cooing lots! This is the best I have done to capture the smile. We made a trip to the pediatrician this week for her belly button that had not healed properly. After a little topical medicine, all is well now. She loves to eat... at 6 weeks she's already 12.25 lbs. She's been sleeping in her crib since Monday. Last night she slept from 9pm until 4am, let's hope that trend continues.

Avery absolutely loves his new classroom. He's never ready to come home at the end of the day. Fridays are our new "home day" while I'm on leave. Today he really wanted to go to school and so I brought him. I miss him. It would have been a lovely day to spend at the park. Last Friday we spent hours there playing on the playground, kicking around a soccer ball and having a picnic lunch. He had so much fun kicking the soccer ball on the field and into the net. (We forgot the camera.)

Max is doing well. The steroids have reduced the swelling in the lymph nodes and relieved his coughing. He doesn't like to walk quite as far these days but you can still find him chasing the cat occasionally. He's being groomed at the moment... getting his spring haircut!

First Born

Max was diagnosed on Monday with Stage IV Lymphoma. We have been trying to resolve a chronic cough he developed a few months ago and finally know the cause. He will be twelve in the fall and so we have decided as a family to keep him comfortable and love him as much as we can for the next few weeks. That's what the vet thinks we have with him, a few weeks.

Max has been the best dog ever... I remember finding him at just 5 weeks old and 3lbs, he and I driving from Florida to Maine and only stopping 4 times, earning the notch in his tongue (he lost the fight with my carpet tack strips as a pup), being a great hiking dog (even though stray lobster traps terrified him), trying to lay claim to infant Avery by rolling on him like one of his toys, camping (he loves camping), being the neighborhood dog that everyone passing by stops to love... the list goes on and on. Max has always seemed more than a dog... he has always had a spirit that seemed more connected.