Visitors!

Nona came to visit right before the Miss Mayhem made her grand entrance. She stayed untill Scarlett was almost a week old. Wish I had gotten some photos of my mom holding her (something I will most definetely rectify at Christmas!!!) but obviously I was pretty tired!




About a week and a half after my mom left Grammie J arrived. One of the highlights from Grammie's visit was a Saturday morning trip to the Kids Park. Everyone had a great time..

Even Miss Mayhem who slept through 90% of the trip to the park!


Shortly after Grammie left... Cousin Judge arrived! But that's for another post!

Photo Blog - On the Ranch #2

After playing outside with Papa - we aren't quite sure WHAT'S on his face.

Peek A-boo Calfy! (this is the same cow from the previous post)

Telling Papa how to measure and mark a post!

Checking to make sure Papa marked his measurement good.

The King of Chaos... surveying his "herd"

Photo Blog - On the Ranch #1

Black Dog (aka "Dog Dog") the best dog EVER!

Surveying the land.. plotting his next move.

Playing with a calf through the fence!

Helping Papa fix the fence so he could hang a gate.

Photo Blog: Our Visit to Louisiana...and Back Agian!

We spent the weekend with Aunt Claire and Uncle Bill and lots of other extended family memebers celebrating Aunt Claire's birthday. It was a big party!

Chris, Jr and I ended up leaving very late Thursday night/very early Friday morning to drive the six and a half hours to N. Louisiana. We arrived about 630am - just in time to surprise everyone by letting Jr run around the house and "talk". ;)



These two pictures are perfect examples of what happens when mom goes upstairs to take a nap. It's a good thing that little boys, dogs and clothes are all washable! Jr is covered in "swamp" mud. (Uncle Bill is attempting to make the "swamp" into a pond...)

As you can see in the pictures... Aunt Kathy is very proud of her handy work ;)

Uncle Bill took Jr for a short tractor ride...

Aunt Claire taking Jr down to the "swamp".

(I loved this picture in color, but absolutely LOVE it antiqued!)

Aunt Claire made out! The Dreaded "Blackish" Flamingo even made an appearance - more then once!

Chris, Papa Stan and Junior all working to put in a dog door for the boys who are now here at the house. I was supervising ofcourse ;)

While Grammie and Papa where here, Junior finally got his first tricycle. We are still learning to pedal...

But having a Papa to push you helps alot!

If Last Night Is Any Indication:

Today is going to be a very long day. Yesterday evening Jr had a meltdown of gigantic proportions for no discernable reason. I'm talking full blown screaming and crying to the point that we thought he was going to make himself sick. He didn't want to eat dinner (not unusual lately) and wanted nothing to do with anyone really. We had gone to the Dr earlier in the day to have his ears rechecked (more on that in a minute) but didn't seem to have any other issues going on. Normally when he gets upset in the evening a bath will usually calm him down. He wouldn't take a bath. However Daddy was nice enough to get in the tub and shower with him, and that was deemed acceptable. In true uncharacteristic fashion, Junior was in bed by 730 - a full hour before his normal bed time.

He woke up at about 330, Daddy changed his diaper and he got in bed with us. It took almost an hour to get him settled and just about back to sleep. Courtesy of being in Florida we just happened to have a thunderstorm settle over us and let go with a rather loud clap of thunder. It took another hour or so for him to settle back down. (normally he has slept through thunderstorms, atleast they have never woken him up) By the time he fell back asleep, he knew what the loud noises where and even attempted to say "thunder". I'm pretty sure we fell asleep about 5am and Daddy had to get up for work at 6. So its going to be a loooooooooong day today!

Dr follow up
As I mentioned earlier, we had a follow up on Jr's ears yesterday. One of his ears was still filled with wax and the Dr was unable to really look at the other one (even with Daddy holding him down!) so we are getting referred to ENT to have his ear cleaned out, and have a consult on tubes. We should be getting a call in the next couple days to make that appointment, and since the odds are they will need to sedate him, I am considering doing it while Grammie and Papa are here next week since Dad won't be able to get off work to go with us. Never hurts to have moral support right?!

On the Road agian
Tomorrow we are leaving in the morning to go visit Great Aunt Claire and Uncle Bill. It was supposed to be a surprise, but the beans have already been spilled! We are looking forward to getting to see family agian so soon after Christmas! Thank You Great Aunt Claire for having the courtesy to turn 60 and to give us a reason (not that we need one) to P. A. R. T. Y!

We are also meeting up with Grammie and Papa there who are traveling in my car back from CA with our two four-legged furbabies to bring all of the above here! It will be so nice to have not only our doggies back but mommy's car as well! And visits from family are always appreciated!

Christmas X's4 (actually 5)

Christmas Eve

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with Chris' dad (Papa)'s family in Chico. After a late start, we arrived in Chico before dinner. After quick hello's and some rearranging we headed to the P'family's house for dinner. (The "P" family are cousin's who have a large enough house to contain our growing clan ;) )


After a lovely dinner, we opened presents with all our extended cousins. A great time was had by all. Junior was quite a charmer. While he did not find that mommy holding little Miss Pollyanna (the infant in the picture) as a good thing. After a few attempts to pull her out of mom's arms, he found others to play with. (He DID give her a few "pets" on the back - hey it was a term he understood!)

Christmas Day





Christmas Morning - Take 1: Junior woke up at 5am - and since none of the rest of the family that was here was ready to get up, he went back to bed with Mom and Dad! Not a creature stirred untill about 630am when we heard Grammie get up. After Grammie, Papa, Dad and Mom where up (and Junior had suffeciently harrassed all four dogs) Junior got to open his stocking. In his stocking he found Santa left him 2 books (with wheels on them), a slinky and 2 wooden cars. We then hot tubbed for a while then got ready for Aunt Leslie, Uncle JJ and the kids to arrive. After a mad house of opening gifts, Papa cooked a wonderful breakfast of hashbrowns, sausage, eggs AND waffles! I was a bad mom this year and didn't take pictures of anyone opening gifts. Afterwards, we got ready to head to my mom's.

Christmas Morning - Take 2: We arrived at my mom's house to a tree filled with presents for everyone. I think even my brothers would admit that Junior made out very well. Juniors favorite gift of the morning (by far) is in the video below. Thank You oh so much from Mommy to a certain Uncle Ian for the drum. I am sure that we will hear alot of music coming from it.

Christmas Night: We enjoyed a wonderful turkey AND ham dinner with all the fixings with almost the entire "A" Clan (Grammie J's side) plus my mom and Uncle Ian. Junior even got to sit at the table in his own chair with out a booster seat. Junior loved the cresent rolls and entertaining everyone at the table. After dinner, my mom (Nona) and Uncle Ian had to leave due to other plans. The rest of the family adjurned to the living room for the next round of present madness. This living room seems to get smaller every year - when i joined the family almost 12 years ago, we all fit in it just fine... kids grow and people have been added. It's amazing how quickly it all changes.

After presents we enjoyed dessert of homemade apple pie, pumpkin pie and left over carrot cake from Chris' party. Junior had a great time playing with everyone. He loves his cousins very much - which is evidenced by the fact he will go to the two older ones and asked to be picked up (and carried everywhere! Justin and Megan really do spoil him.)

Today, Uncle Will, Aunt Connie and cousin Willam (aka W3) arrive from LA. There are plans for Karaoke for the adults and Megan babysitting the two little boys at Aunt Kathy's. (We shall see how that goes!) And another gift exchange with them later this week! (which will be Christmas #5)

All in all, our Christmas was a wonderful one. We where very fortunate to be able to spend this time with family and friends. The Chaos household hopes that you and yours where able to have just as wonderful time (and continue to have) as we have!

Big Chris' Birthday :)

Yesterday was my wonderful husband's birthday. He's officially "middle-age" (so to speak). He is a whopping 31 years young.



He started the day out with joining his own mother at the gym for a "Boot Camp" class. (Mr. Joe the instructor is puuuuurfect for this style of class. As Chris put it - "He is VERY motivating!") Today Chris is complaining about being able to walk among various other things.



Afterwards, his mom and I went to attempt to finish up our Christmas shopping while working on meeting up with my mom to retrieve Junior. (Whom had spent the night with Nona on Tuesday night.) While Grandma J and I finished up some shopping, Chris got the honor of feeding cows with his dad, then head to his Aunt Marge's house to replace a kitchen sink, faucet and garbage disposal prior to her hosting Chris' party later in the evening.



Around 2pm Chris, my mom, Junior, Grandma J and I met up at a non-descript building. Inside, I surprised my mom and Jane with their Christmas present. :) An ultrasound so that they can see the new baby! And what a better birthday present for Chris, to hopefully find out what his new baby is going to be. But then agian - I think like a girl :) you know sentimental and all.



Grandma J and Nona were very excited to see the baby, and got to hear the heartbeat. Grandma J had only heard Junior's heartbeat once. The cool thing was they not only got to hear it but see it. Yesterday the baby's heartbeat was 148. As we watched the baby who was moving very little, it was cool to get to see a profile picture of her. Because of the way she was laying we couldn't see her face clearly (she was laying right under the placenta). If you haven't caught on yet - it's a GIRL! :) We are all very excited and shocked. I will scan the pictures from the ultrasound later today if I get a chance and post them.

Photo Blog - Our trip to LA (part 2)

Checking out the crowd at the Aquarium

Another attempting a jail break picture... it was just TOO cute to not post :)

Photo Blog - Our trip to LA (part 1)

Fathers Day - we spent it with my Papa (to Jr: Papa Chas) in Long Beach, CA.






Here you can see they were fast friends from the get go!











My Papa introduced Jr to the marvelous thing called a slinky. My ever-0bservant, ever-into-everything child LOVED the slinky! And it was the metal variety NOT the plastic kind! (and who knows why Papa had it in the first place!! He's just like that














We spent the better part of the morning at the Long Beach Aquarium. It was too dark inside to get any quality photos...besides this was his favorite part - the aviary. He thought the birds where a little odd (larakeets they where I believe) - the birds at home don't let him get this close!









After the aquarium... we spent some down time at Papa's just relaxing. Jr thought he was going to make a break for it but he was no match for the security door!









Sunday afternoon we spent a little time down at Belmont Shores. I went to a pre-school across the street from this beach. It was, and kind of still is (to me anyhow) my beach. I have many, many fond memories of this beach and was looking forward to getting to do some of the same things with Jr here... but they removed the play structures!!!





As you can see... the excitement (and ice cream prior to the beach) just plain wore him out! Papa for some reason kept telling Jr he was being followed by the "baby paparazzi". (How's that for a monkier Angie... lol we are no longer picture happy parents... we are the "baby paparazzi"!! LOL)










I have many more photos to post... but alas I keep getting to this late at night when I am falling asleep as I type... hmm I guess that means I'll spread the joy out a little bit longer!

Tomorrow: More Beach Pics & the Infamous Mr. Cooper (and his mama!)

Photo Blog - Evenings with Papa

Papa and the boy talking to the horses (and heifers and steers you can't see). I love having the ranch sometimes!

Over the Hills..

We went to Chico to visit Jr's Great Grandma yesterday - Here are some pictures from that visit:

Sitting on Great Grandma's lap... best seat in the WHOLE house!

Showing her just how cute I REALLY am

Gandma J helped me show Great Grandma how I can stand up and use furniture and/or people to stay upright.

Playing on Great Grandma's floor with the toys mom brought for me.

We take our Navy Bear with us (yes that's what we call it) everywhere -he usually lives in the car - it's as close to physically taking Dad with us as we can get!

Life On the Ranch

There are more pictures forth coming... but these ones are the best (and most accessible at the moment!)

My morning wake up bath by Digit, Grandma J's Dog. She loves puppies and babies... which means I get LOTS of baths!
More bathing!
After a long day on the ranch... we had been in the hot tub...Momma couldn't resist taking a picture of Grandma with Jr alseep on the couch. Also pictured is Sox.. not only guarding them but snuggling with Grandma :) (he's sooo spoiled!)

Updates Abound!

Okay so there is a HUGE lull in posts. Sorry. Family was visiting... and I never realized how exhausting (although fun) that gets. Especially when your body is not your own!

Baby Shower -

My baby shower was this past Sunday the 25th. It was lovely. Unfortunately the only pictures I have at the moment are of the wonderful spread that Robin put out. The decorations where great, and where all things that Jr could use or wear over the next year. I've emailed Aunt Claire who came down from Louisiana for my shower and Robin to get some more pictures from my shower so that I can post them. During the shower Chris and his Uncle Bill (Claire's husband) spent the afternoon sanding Jr's changing table, cleaning out the garage so the changing table could be stained and repacking the bearings on a trailer Chris will be taking on a "cross country" trip (to L.A. and back) next Friday.

These where the "favors" from my Shower. My mother in law made them... they are homemade soaps, a homemade lotion and a home made lip balm... all of diffrent flavors! (Okay scents... but I call them flavors :) )

Visit From Family

Well you all know that my mother in law, Jane (Grandma J) came into town a week ago. Well the following day her sister, Claire and her husband Bill arrived to be able to attend the shower. Tuesday was Chris and I's anniversary, well Thursday was Claire & Bill's. (Intresting family trivia... the same guy that married Claire & Bill married Chris and I!) So after they arrived (after driving from Northern Louisianna) we all went out to dinner. They stayed through Monday morning. It was great to see them and we got to catch up with them - and it wasn't even Christmas! My mother in law stayed through Weds afternoon, when she flew home :(. It was great to get to spend time with her, and I really appreciated her coming out to the shower!

Projects, Projects & More Projects

While Jane and Claire where here we did alot of work on my Mother in Law's online store. My mother in law makes homemade soap and bath products and sells a couple accessories also. (Shameless plug.... check it out at Jane's Rustic Ranch Soap - and for the Mom's that read my blog - hopefully soon she will be coming out with a baby line!!) Aside from working on the website - the cause of wanting to pull my own hair out- Chris had his own projects. He finished the changing table, his mom helped him stain it - no fumes for me so I got out of it this time!!!- He also got the trailer "road ready" for next week.

Baby Updates!

On Tuesday Morning I had my 32 week appointment with Dr. G. Grandma Jane got to go seeing as she was here. Luckily no fFN test this time - so no need for Grandma to leave the room ;). Jr's heart rate was in the 140's, I've only gained 22 pounds according to Dr G so far into the pregnancy - which I'm happy with and so is he! We did the whole tape measure thing... and for being 31wks and 5 days, I am measuring 37wks! At 30 wks we were measuring 34 - this kid is going to be huge!!! Dr. G also said that he thinks Jr is head down, and because I'm so uncomfortable - as he put it - "as uncomfortable as someone who is ready to deliver in the next couple of weeks, which you won't be, you get to start coming to see me every week". He did say that the earliest he would choose to let Jr come would be 38 weeks - which puts us the week of July 6-13.

GRANDMA'S HERE!

Okay, so my boys L-O-V-E their grandma. And she loves them. ( I think because they don't talk bake mostly) If these pictures aren't evidence of that - I don't know what is!

Grandma J had taken the red-eye to come out for my shower, mostly so she wouldn't miss a day due to travel since my shower is Sunday. These pictures are after her afternoon ciesta!

I soooooo know that I take 2nd fiddle to Grandma, but sometimes it's just down right silly! Okay well granted they are lucky enough to maybe see her once a year. But still!