Cutting teeth

We knew they were coming...he has been drooling for months. They were not here this morning. But by 5 pm they had peeked there way through the gums. How did I discover the change you ask. Well lets just say his teeth are sharp...this may me a deal breaker for the breastfeeding Dude.

The haps

I have had my nose to the books for the last few weeks, with Rob breathing down my neck to study. He of course left town for a weekend with his buddies which makes studying a little difficult. Seeing as I had to entertain the dude. Rob left the morning Floyd decided to puke his Sweet potato and apple breakfast all over with me. Rob was just waiting for me to drop the hammer and put the brakes on his boys-weekend, but I let him go. I did my best to study with Floyd in one arm, holding him at arms length from my desk so he did not pound on the computer keyboard. We went on a 30 mile bike ride together- he did great in the trailer. And we took a walk to see "Little-big-Joe-Cooley." This is their 8 month photo. They are both 9 months old now. 

FAILED

FAILED

I got a letter in the mail about one year ago that said that. FAILED - in big black bold letters. I had failed my physics board exams. It was shocking. It sounds cliche, but I had never really failed anything before. Sure there have been let downs in the passed, but never something so absolute as failure. Rob insisted it was a mistake. I was devastated, I cried the whole night. I awoke the next morning and decided that no one had to know. It would be my own silent plight. Upon arriving to work, I learned quickly that I was not alone in this shortcoming. Though sad for the others, I was glad I wasn't alone. 

It is this failure and the knowledge that I had to retake the test again this September that has been haunting me all year. It was this failure that made it necessary for me to leave my son for the first time since he was born. On the 5th, I left for Davis, California for an intensive physics review coarse at the U of California:Davis.  It was a difficult trip for many reasons, not the least of which was leaving home without my boy. Not to mention the anxiety that comes with being bombarded with detailed and extensive information that I have to understand thoroughly by september 8th. 

Rob and FLoyd survived with much help from my mom and Paul. Floyd even had to have a sleepover at grammies house because was Rob was on call over night. I left 4 pages of instructions with checklists to make sure nothing was left to chance.  

I don't want to do any of it again, failing, leaving, physics......

Sun Valley '08'

We made it back to Sun Valley after a one year hiatus-thanks to Floyd. We arrived thursday night to our sweet digs. What is it about time-shares and really bad southwestern design? Floyd had a hard day in the car seat so had to visit the spa in the kitchen sink the night we got there. The next morning the good times began.
We caught Floyd and Olivia Jones "playing" together. Notice the surprised and coy looks, the hand holding, and Floyd's pants under her head. This is what happens when the mom's are away. Rachel and I went for a 35 mile ride Friday morning while the boys waited for the Baldwins to arrive so that Eric, Rob, and Josh could go on an "epic" bike ride.
The girls and the kidlets headed to the pool where we ran into the famous traveler el Margot Zollinger. Floyd loaned her some swim wear for her first dip.
The kids played well together, especially Gracie and Conner who got into role playing games of Mommie and Daddy.  Grant was of course the voice of reason.
The trip was based solely on biking. We all brought mountain bikes, road bikes, kiddie bikes, bike trailers, etc, etc.  And we road them too. The girls put in 60+ miles, the boys about 20, but the emphasize that the climbed a dew thousand feet too. But we know who is stronger. Try pulling the dude and el Margot up hill in the trailer with the wind howling, then you will see strength. Sun Valley was awesome.  Hope we can make it happen again next year.