With Fall and Baby Approaching...

We decided to take a trip to Yellowstone National Park last Saturday. It was just the 2 of us and often there is no better place to talk and visit than inside the car. We love going for drives to places we haven't been. We spent a whole afternoon one time in Clarkston and if you've ever been around Clarkston you know it's not exactly a destination hotspot.

We drove through Gallatin Canyon into West Yellowstone. It had been a long time since either of us had been that way and we forgot how beautiful it is. The national forest accesses were busy with bow hunters and the pull outs along the way were busy with anglers. It was such a perfect day and when we got to the park entrance it was a free pass day! Then we found out why. There was a bicycle trek going on and there were over 300 cyclists on the road which was very frustrating to Robbie who has bouts of road rage now and then. He kept yelling bravely from inside the car, "You people need to get cars!! What's wrong with cars??" We finally got past them at Old Faithful as we journeyed down to Yellowstone Lake and back north to Tower Junction along the Grand Canyon of YNP. We got out and walked some and I waded into the Firehole River.

We came out through the north entrance/exit at Gardiner. It was a low activity day for animals in the park, but we had a good time anyway and enjoyed spending one on one time together. Those days are numbered...

There were 3 different forest fires burning in the park. Here's the smoke plume from one.

More Nursery Photos

This is a clock Mom got for me probably 15 years ago. It was on my wall at Tokeneak and in my bathroom at Rosewood. I packed it out here 2 years ago and now it's on Katie Rose's wall. I lost part of the mount on the back of the clock so it doesn't hang quite right for the tongue to swing back and forth, but Robbie is going to come up with something to make it work. Here are the little dolls and things that are in Katie Rose's crib right now. Notice the wild haired dolls from Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Dale, the melody bear from Mrs. Maria Gwynn, the cuddle giraffe from Mrs. Adelia, the brown haired doll from Valli and the sweater bug from Amy Haas. Don't they coordinate well??

The Nursery Progression

Here's a reminder of what the crib color and crib bedding looks like

Ok, finally, I have some pictures of the nursery. It's still not done, but it's come a long way. I decided that painting the nursery was going to be one of my own little nesting projects. I kept telling myself things like, "Hey, I've painted before. I can do this. It's just a small room. It won't take that much paint or time. This is going to be great! How hard can it be??" Robbie, having information contrary to my affirmations, was not interested in painting the nursery whatsoever but did agree to help tape the edges, so thank you Robbie for starting the taping process. He also removed the switch plates and air intake vents and moved the furniture to the middle of the room.

I bagged up the crib bumper and went to True Value Hardware here in Belgrade. A nice man named Chris helped me find just the right color blue under the fluorescent lights they have over the paint samples. It was perfect! Then he suggested we go outside in natural sunlight to see if we still liked the color. I was CERTAIN I had done well. Hmm, or not. It was totally wrong! It was too green! Perfection thwarted! So we grabbed an entire book of paint samples, took them all outside and then found the perfect blue. Of course inside, they looked terrible next to eachother, but I was getting tired of being there and I was eager to get home and paint. 114 dollars later I was on my way. We did have to buy a step stool, so it wasn't truly that much just for paint and supplies. Oh, wait, there was primer too. Again my perfect plan of coming home and painting the nursery this beautiful blue was stalled again for the ugly yet necessary primer.

Whoo hoo, I'm now on my way but feeling less energetic than I was a couple of hours ago.

Robbie had not quite finished taping. I blame myself for this. I think what happened is I was so excited and enthusiastic about "my little project" that I accidentally convinced him I really was capable and willing to do it all myself. Lessons in marriage, right? I got home and was totally annoyed that I had 5 other steps to complete before I could put anything on the wall. I rushed through those 5 steps and in the most unorganized, least methodical manner, I got my roller wet and put primer on the wall. After priming 2 half-walls reality set in that I needed help. Meredith, the dear and wonderful, had offered to help, so I called her. She's also really tall. Tall friends are good to have when painting. I sat on the floor and did the bottom stuff while she painted the tops of the walls. We let the primer dry and then put the blue on. We actually finished and together it only took us about 3-4 hours. See how tall Meredith is?? Yes, that is paint in my hair. Tell me again WHY I thought I would do this alone???? I am singing a different tune now. The next morning I painted 2 walls that needed a second coat and then I looked at the room and decided it was good. The paint spills on the carpet are minimal. There's only a little paint on the baseboards and a little paint on the electric sockets, but I don't think it's anything I can't get rid of with a little nail polish remover.

I'll post some more pictures soon!

Few Notes

Ok, this post is way late, but it's been a whirlwind since I got home with work, doctors appointments, childbirth classes, and nursery painting and taking time to prop my feet up. It's been unseasonably warm here the last 2 weeks such that my feet and ankles have been swollen. I no longer have ankles but long calves often referred to as cankles that nearly crease as my ankle becomes my foot. I had never considered how attractive normal ankles were until now. Each morning when the swelling has gone down I take a quick look to admire them before they puff up again like sausages. I swear if you pierced them they would steam.

So I really am wanting to post on the trip to Mobile. It was so fantastic. We took pictures at the 2, yes 2, baby showers my dear friends and family hosted for me. I saved them to a cd and then Mom gave the cd to Shelly, so that's the hold up on pictures. Here's one Mom emailed to me of 3 Mamas. Ashley, Erin, and myself. Ashley has actually already had her baby September18th. Welcome to the world baby Caroline Grace! Erin is having her baby October 16th and I am due the next month. The 3 of us hung out at Ono during the summers together and it's so funny that we would all have babies nearly exact months apart. It's not coming through as a clear photo, but it's good enough. I seem to be making some weird face.

I'll post more later with more pictures as I get them, but while I had the chance I wanted to get started on this post.

Bad Blogger

I have been a bad blogger lately. I haven't even posted on my trip to Mobile because I'm waiting on photos. The nursery is coming along too, so I have pictures to post of that. I've gotten some other ideas as well, so as soon as I have a few hours I'll get this done. I promise!

Fishing on the Yellowstone

Several weekends ago Robbie went fishing with Dad and some of their friends and neighbors from Mobile, Bill and DJ Johnson. Robbie had never been on a guided fishing trip in Montana so he was really excited to be going on the Yellowstone River near Livingston. Robbie caught the first fish and later caught the biggest fish. Thanks Dad!!