Manson Baby Shower

This last weekend Jason's family had a baby shower for us. It was so great to get to see everyone and have some girl time. My sister-in-law Sara and mother-in-law Lorri planned the party and they did a great job. We played some fun games...guess the baby food by smelling or tasting it (nasty stuff I tell ya!), guess the candy bar that's melted in a diaper (made me cringe at what diapers are to come!), and the toilet paper around the belly game. We were given so many wonderful gifts and words of wisdom. This baby is already so loved it's just amazing! Thanks Manson friends and family, you are all so special to us!

The Baby's Auntie Sara

The cutest baby sized Adidas

The Baby's Great Great Grandma

Belly Pic

I've had many requests for a belly photo, so here's what I've got. We'll be 32 weeks this Thursday. I had a wonderful shower with the Manson side of the family this last weekend. Photos to come.

Letterboxing

Jason was listening to the radio and they were taking calls about the top 10 dates for under $25. Well one caller told about this scavenger hunt type adventure they do called letterboxing...we'd never heard of it but sounded like fun. The website www.letterboxing.org has all the details but this is what they say about it, "LETTERBOXING is an intriguing pastime combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a charming "treasure hunt" style outdoor quest. A wide variety of adventures can be found to suit all ages and experience levels." Basically you find the clues online, search by your state or city, find your way to the place where a box is hidden, once you've found the box stamp in their logbook with your stamp, stamp in your logbook with your stamp They have these all over the country, the list of all the places boxes are located is on the website.
We tried it out this weekend, and although we didn't find any boxes (we think that this winter's storms and debris all over the place didn't help) we did discover a really cool park that is close to our new home and has tons of hiking trails and is along the Willamette River. That was really the main goal anyway, to get outside, spend some time together, and get acquinted with our neighborhood.

(In Mary Young State Park searching for letterboxes)

On a sidenote we're dogsitting for my parents this week. Annie is used to getting two walks a day, so needless to say we've been getting our exercise between walking her and running up and down our stairs to take her outside. Note to self, do not get a dog unless you have a yard!

Jason and Annie at the beginning of the letterbox quest!

Every good park needs a fire hydrant in the middle of it right? RANDOM!

The Birds are Getting Bigger!

When Jason goes on runs he is always on the lookout for as much wildlife as he can find. When he gets back home he reports to me what he saw and how many. Back in California he would typically see a mix of chipmunks, lizards, bunny rabbits, and road runners. Well the other day he was on a run around the neighborhood here at our new apartment and came across an animal that he never expected….you may be thinking something run of the mill like a deer, raccoon, nutria, opossum…oh no, that’s what I thought too – he saw a wild turkey in someone’s yard! What the heck!? He said he rounded a corner and there it was in all it’s big-ass-bird glory staring back at him! Just goes to show you never know what mother nature’s gonna throw your way!

5-10 Rule

I had orientation for my new job at Providence yesterday and today. I start my real on the job training tomorrow. I'm a bit anxious about starting this new position....I have to be all grown up now, and in a new place that has no idea where I am coming from or what I am capable of, and I have no idea what they expect or where they are coming from either....ah, don't we all love the stresses and unknowns that come with starting a new job?! Anyway on a positive note - during orientation yesterday they told us about Providence's 5-10 rule...it's the general idea that all Providence employees will make eye contact or look toward anyone, patient, family member, co-worker, that is walking toward them in a hallway etc once you within 10 feet of them (rather than staring at the ceiling or the floor or looking away) and once you are within 5 feet of someone you should say "hi, how are you, good morning, have a good day" something of that sort. Can you believe that - a rule that actually says that people should be nice to each other in the work place rather than ignoring each other as you pass in the hall. I am used to working in a hospital where people are a bit evasive and would actually flat out ignore me when I would say hi in the hall. I'm excited to put this 5-10 rule to the test - might make for a happy workplace huh?

25 weeks....how time flies!

We are 25 weeks pregnant - it feels just like yesterday that we found out. The baby has grown a ton the last couple of weeks and is really starting to stick out there! Here is a belly photo per the request of a few of you.

Puppy Love!

My Dad and Teah got a new puppy! He's a 7 week old golden retriever...he had 8 brothers and sisters. He is such a bundle of energy and a giant fluff ball! Grobin is his name and he's already wrapped us all around his paw! Can't wait to play fetch and chase each other around the yard! Probably a good thing that we don't have a house because we would have brought home one of his siblings in an instant! :)