Happy Halloween!

So, the Jakester and I are STILL just counting down the hours until Chris gets home! We JUST talked to him, though - and he is in the UNITED STATES - YAY!!! Next stop is California - and then the bus ride to 29 Palms....so far we are still on schedule for 1am :-) Here is Jake in his Halloween costume - he didn't like it! I can't blame him, though - b/c it was a really HOT costume, which maybe would have been okay in VA, but not in CA....where it is like 85 degrees right now (bad planning on the Mom end)!! Jake wanted NO part of it, but I had to get my $$'s worth and at least take a few pictures. You will notice that the last picture was taken RIGHT AFTER we stripped off that costume - he was all smiles again :-) Crying or not - he was still a really cute skunk .... in my unbiased opinion!!

Banner

Danika, Jake, and I went last night to base to hang up the "Welcome Home" banner we got for Chris. We hung it along the fence leading into the base. Of course, he may not be able to see it tonight since it will be so dark, but I'll point it out to him on our way home :-)

Less than 24 Hours...

Gotta love the hair!!

We have less than 24 hours to go. Chris was originally supposed to get in at 1pm this afternoon, but he is getting in now at 1am tonight/tomorrow morning! BUT, we will take him getting home anytime they bring him :-) So, Jake and I are just hanging out and waiting......still playing with the laundry basket (I wonder when that will get old for him)?! We are planning to go with my friend Danika and her Kindergarten class to an animal farm today, so that will be FUN! Plus, at some point, Jake will get dressed up in his Halloween costume. We also need to make a quick stop to the commissary for some last minute things and we want to get the car washed, so we have lots to keep us busy today while waiting for Chris to get home (maybe it's good he's getting home at 1am instead of 1pm)! And just in case you've missed this sweet, little voice - here it is :-) Jake pulled up on the couch yesterday until he was standing, but I didn't have the camera in front of me, so I'll be looking for that to happen again soon.

Go Phillies!

We are cheering on the Phillies in the World Series. Hopefully Chris is getting to see his team play some...of course if it doesn't stop raining - he may be able to catch the remaining of the series here in the states! Speaking of rain - I know the East Coast has been cold and ugly the past couple of days, so I hate to say that it is 90 degrees outside right now! I knew I loved the desert for SOME reason :-)

Wide Open Spaces....and a laundry basket

Well, we are in 29 Palms and in our furnished home for the month :-) It is very nice - with LOTS AND LOTS of crawling room for Jake. First thing my Mom and I did was move the coffee table into the office (and plug up all of the electrical outlets) - and voila - LOTS OF SPACE for Jake. He has been especially intrigued by the laundry basket. I guess when there is no pampers box - the laundry basket will do.

Bathtime in Albuquerque, NM

There's nothing like a GOOD bath after a long day of sitting in your car seat :-) Jake thoroughly enjoyed splashing and relaxing! He also has been clapping a lot lately, so he is doing that, too! Unfortunately, we were unable to fit the duck bathtub in the car (along with many other things I wanted to bring - haha), so Jake was sitting in the big bathtub, but he did REALLY well! He has been such a trooper....with all of the time in his car seat, in new environments, with new time changes.....BUT he is SO EXCITED, b/c he will get to see Dada at the end of the week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are really counting down the moments! We can't wait!! It's SO close now!

Lunch in Amarillo, TX

Here is Jake eating lunch with us in Subway in Texas! We tried to take him out of the highchair to bounce around, but he wanted back in the highchair, b/c he thought he was BIG STUFF!

Lunch in Conway, Arkansas

I had to show the picture of my baked potato that I got for lunch on Friday in Conway, Arkansas! I LOOOOOOVE a good baked potato, and this thing was YUMMY - AND HUGE!!!!!!! We went to San Francisco Bread Company (kind of like Panera).

Shout-out

Here is the shout-out to Gram, Poppy, Aunt Jenn, Aunt Becky, and Aunt Katy! We missed our first Wednesday night dinner since we got to VA in April, so we wanted them to know we were thinking about them on Wednesday - and were talking about how much we missed them!!

2-month old vs. 9-month old

9-month old
2-month old

Here is the traveling fool (oh, wait - that woud be his Mom.....this is the traveling, handsome boy)!!

Our Journey Across Country

We are almost to CA. Tonight, we are in Flagstaff, AZ (about 5 hours from 29 Palms)! Here are some pictures of Jake of our adventurous week across country. We left on Tuesday ...... and actually had a close call on the road. To make a long story short, a car from the opposite side of the highway lost control, went on the median, and flipped RIGHT in front of our car. I had to slam on the brakes and swerve (luckily no one was in the left lane). As I was writing up the police report, they were cutting the guy out of the car. It was pretty scary, so thanks to everyone for their prayers for our safety!! We definitely have needed - and have felt them! AFTER that stressful day, we then visited family in Jackson and Memphis Tennessee. Then, we headed to Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, NM, and tonight Flagstaff, AZ. I have noticed many differences in our travels with a 9-month old as opposed to a 2-month old. First, when we drove to VA when Jake was 2 months old, he did great in the car but would CRY every night when we entered a new hotel. Now, he just flirts with the ladies at the desk......and anxiously awaits crawling and rolling all over the bed. Secondly, the 2-month old Jake just kind of chilled in his car seat.....the 9-month old Jake realizes what the belt buckle is - has noticed the red button and if he was a little stronger, would be out of his car seat. HOWEVER, still - not even 1 crying spell while we have been driving - pretty good, I think. The last HUGE difference is with the 2-month old Jake, I could just change his diaper on the back seat of the car.....not the 9-month old, SO - I have had to wait until we can find rest areas OR Cracker Barrels (love them) in order to change the diaper. OH, and Jake has had a record number of dirty diapers on this trip! Not because he is sick or anything....just because he knows when he starts grunting, we pull over to make sure whether or not his diaper is dirty (and he knows he gets out of the car seat then)!! It has been a really FUN week of traveling with Jake and Mimi, and we are looking forward to getting to CA tomorrow. OH......and you HAVE to love this weather out here!! Enjoy the pictures and videos.

Passing out Kisses.....

OR is he really just using these beautiful faces to gnaw on?? I think he REALLY just wanted to give his aunts some kisses before he left.

Poor Guy!

When we went to the doctor's office yesterday, the doctor told me I can start giving Jake meat anytime. So, no better time than the present. Tonight, we introduced chicken. For those of you who have seen the infamous "green bean video" - Jake's experience with chicken was worse! This is just a shortened version of the video. It started off as funny - but ended up being sad, b/c Jake wanted nothing to do with the chicken. I'm not sure if it's because it is a different texture....or the smell.....or as my Dad said, "Well, Allison would YOU want to eat that mushed up chicken?" So, Jake could potentially be the VERY FIRST VEGETARIAN ASHINHURST MALE!!!!!!!!! (Just kidding, Chris....I'll keep working with him) :-)

Fun with Cousins

Today we met my cousin Wes and his wife Nikki and 3 boys for lunch in Richmond. Jake, of course really enjoyed being around them - and enjoyed all the attention from 3 active boys!! Here are some shots from the day!

We were trying to get a picture of all of them, but Jake wouldn't look at the camera....he was too busy looking at what Dustin, Jeremy, and Nicholas were doing!

9-month Doctor's Appointment

Jake had his 9 month doctor's appointment yesterday morning. It was about 1 week before he turns 9 months - because we are leaving for CA on Tuesday, and I wanted to go on and get him in to see this doctor before we left. That is one hard thing about moving around a lot....you start to really like a doctor - and then you leave them! ANYWAY, Jake is 23 lbs 5 oz and 30 inches long!! They said he looks very healthy - and the nurse was SO good at giving him his shot - he kept smiling at her the whole time and never even knew he got the shot! NOW THAT is a good nurse :-) The doctor and nurses were loving Jake's hair all sticking up in the air!! Jake is always the biggest flirt when we go in that place! It's something about women surrounding him that he loves!! Go figure!

Beautiful Morning!

Here is Jake touching the bark on the tree after our morning walk today!


And here he is on his Dad's truck.....and there is that tongue we haven't seen for SO long!!!!!!

How many aunts does it take to put Jake in his PJs??

Jake likes to move around a lot. SO, putting a diaper on him is hard (much less his pajamas at bedtime.....you should really see what it's like when I try to put a COAT on him, too)! The aunts (Jenn, Becky, and Katy) were here on Tuesday night for bathtime, playtime, and bedtime. Eventually, we did get him dressed ....... and he was LOVING being in the middle of ALL 3 of them (he's still closing his eyes, though when I take pictures)!!!

Really?

So, remember at the beginning of football season how I wrote that the Redskins lost to the Giants, but the Eagles beat the Rams in their opener? Then, I went on to say I didn't even know the Rams still had a professional football team?! Yep, those words came back to bite me (they always do, don't they)?!

I really can't believe that my Skins lost to the Rams on Sunday. I haven't been able to write about it, b/c I have been so upset! How do the Redskins go into Dallas and go into Philly and beat both of those rival teams .... only to turn around and LOSE to the Rams at home! The only thing that makes this loss a little less painful is that both Dallas and the Giants lost, too. If only the Redskins could have won.....This picture of Jake and me was taken BEFORE the sad, sad game (that's why we were both happy). At the end of the game, we were both crying....neither one of us have gotten over it yet! Notice Jake's cute, new shoes, though! I feel like Jake looks months older just by putting on a cute pair of shoes. I haven't had him in shoes really at all, b/c it has been summer and there has been no need, but now - time to break out the shoes and socks (much to his dismay), but I just think they make him look so old!!

Nature Walk

On Thursday, Jake went on a nature walk with Mimi. He found some pine cones and sticks and acorns and leaves. Jake loves to be outside and feel the green grass and the bark on the trees. I wonder if he will be able to notice all of the differences when we get out to CA in a few weeks?? No leaves, no trees (well, not like trees here), no green....anything!! Just brown desert! I'm sure he will be looking all over the place checking everything out for himself.

And just in case you wanted to know.....the pampers box is STILL (for the 4th day in a row) TRUMPING all of Jake's other toys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TEETH

Jake started cutting his 2 bottom teeth at the same time about two weeks ago, BUT...today was the first day that I was able to get a couple of pictures (barely)! I have tried several different days, but failed, b/c (as you can tell from these pictures), he doesn't want me messing with his lip to show off his teeth :-) Chris, hopefully you can zoom this picture in, b/c then you'll actually be able to see them!! Looks like it's just about that time for Jake to get some Cheerios!!!!!! I wish I could also get a picture of Jake feeling his teeth with his lips - that is one of his new "things" to do these days. He notices something is a little bit different inside his mouth! :-)