Top baby names of the decade

I do love looking at baby naming trends! Babycenter has published a list of the 50 most popular baby names, both boys and girls, of the decade. Jack landed at #6 on the boys' list (which kind of surprised me, as we actually don't meet too many other Jacks), and although neither Kate or Katie shows up, Katherine is #41. Our Kate is spelled "Katharine"... and I don't think they take different spellings into account. Always fun to look at...

http://www.babycenter.com/babynamer/50_most_popular_baby_names_of_the_decade.html

Love my vintage stuff

Someday, I want to be organized enough to actually use these gorgeous gifttags:
http://hubpages.com/hub/christmas-gift-tags


Check out this adorable Santa! Don't you want to just pinch his rosy cheeks?
http://hubpages.com/hub/vintage-Santa-graphics

I also love these sweet little pictures; they remind me of being a child at Christmas, how utterly magical it can be.

http://hubpages.com/hub/antique-toys-vintage-christmas-cards

Rest in peace...

...my beautiful, vivacious Aunt Joanne. You are now free from the pain that ravaged your body these past few years. I know that you are in a better place, but we will miss you!

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:31

...and more Kate

Can you tell I'm in LOOOVE with my baby girl?

P.S. Finally got her in for her well check. She's 15 pounds, 4 ounces, and is 25 inches long. Growing girl!

Half a year

Hard to believe, but my little girl is six months old today. The snowfall prohibited us from taking her in for her well-check today, but when I do get her in, I'll make sure to record the stats. Kate is busy, feisty, determined, dramatic, and usually content. Solid foods, so far, have not been her "bag," but she is starting to enjoy carrots and applesauce. And she's now taking a bottle, even from her dad, which gives me a little more freedom. She'll sleep for a good ten-hour chunk most nights, but her naps are not quite up to par. She loves manipulating toys, especially now that she can sit up in the Boppy for up to twenty minutes at a time. She can almost bring her new pink sippy-cup up to her mouth to drink. Almost. She also looks at Jack like he hung the moon. Jack does his best to entertain her; he's a magnificent older brother! Today they play-wrestled for the first time, and both of them laughed like crazy.

A fortunate November

Wow, November... what a month! Beautiful Kate is already five months old..
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We went trick-or-treating in the Wild West town of Virginia City, Nevada...

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We celebrated Jack's third birthday in three different states, with three different cakes...

I survived a plane trip (alone, with the kids!) to Dallas to visit TT and my parents, and to meet RJ...

Then we met Brian and his parents in Phoenix for the NASCAR race (and froze our tooshies off dry camping in our RV--who knew Phoenix would be so cold?)...

And we hosted Brian's mom on Thanksgiving week. Aahhh, Grandma time...

Fall stretch

As a teacher, the hardest part of any school year for me was the long stretch from Labor Day to Thanksgiving break. I'm not even teaching this year, and it's been the craziest year yet! Brian works at least ten hours every day (and many Saturdays this fall), leaving me at home alone in isolated Mono City with the two kids. Before we had Jack, I remember a friend of mine saying that, when her husband got home at the end of a long day, she'd hand him the kids and go off and hide, by herself, for a little bit. At the time I thought, Can it really be that difficult? It's just a kid or two, and they're yours, and you have naptime and downtime, and you don't have to get out of your pajamas all day... But now I understand! Being a mom is definitely the hardest job I've ever had. I think Lynnette from "Desperate Housewives" said it best: "Motherhood means you feel lonely all the time, but you're... never... alone!" Which makes this upcoming Thanksgiving break especially needed. Brian is off for the entire week, and what's more, his mom's coming into town as well! I am so looking forward to having their company. We've planned a relaxing week; hopefully I'll have time to get out and walk the dog, take a bath, or just breathe.

The "news"

I'm lying in bed in our RV just outside Phoenix, about a mile from the racetrack which will host a NASCAR race tomorrow. The kids and I just spent five days in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, visiting my sister. My parents also made it down from Idaho for the visit, and we all got to meet Val's boyfriend RJ. Now, Phoenix for a few days. I'm lamenting my lousy blogging the past month or so, and how much writing I'll have to do to catch up, but there is a good excuse! My laptop went on the fritz awhile ago. Brian tried to reformat the hard drive, but it just didn't work. So he's been bringing his work laptop home for me to use in the evenings. The situation has not given me much time for frivolous things like blogging! Alas, it was time to order a new computer. Not complaining or anything, but there's been a lot of new stuff in my life lately. This, for a girl who's happy with a new three-pack of socks from Target. It all has my head just about spinning! Starting back in June, here's a list of my new things:

* baby * travel trailer * church * mommy group * school year * several sets of neighbors * cell phone * Internet service * insurance plan * pediatrician *

And next, a new laptop. It should arrive Tuesday, which is also Jack's birthday and our first day back in town after this trip. I look forward to posting some pictures and tales of our latest adventures very soon afterward.

Birthday auntie

Whoops! Didn't get to post this two days ago, on her actual birthday, but my little sister has turned 29! Happy Birthday to Val (or TT, as she's more commonly known 'round these parts). She's my best friend and the best sister a girl could ask for. And she certainly loves her nephews and nieces.

Pumpkin patch

This past weekend, we took the kids--all dolled up in their Halloween costumes--to the pumpkin patch just south of Gardnerville, Nevada. It actually turned into a whole weekend trip; we stayed overnight in the trailer at the Silver City RV Park in Carson City. We did all our shopping, and conveniently, there was a hair salon for me at the RV park! But the best part of the weekend was, by far, the pumpkin patch. Corn maze, pig races, haystack slides, train and pony rides... what could be more fun?

In-laws, binkies, Tonka trucks, and tufa

Brian's dad and stepmom are in town for a few days. Aaahhhhh... it's always so refreshing to have them here! Brian's dad always helps with projects around the house, and Lynn gives me creative inspiration for any sewing, beading, or any other crafty projects I may have lying around. Plus, we just enjoy their company! We met them in Reno on Wednesday night, where we stayed the night at the Silver Legacy and shopped the next day around the area.

Jack achieved a major milestone at the hotel, sleeping without a binky for the first time! (This wasn't planned; I'd forgotten the binky at home. And, of course, it was a miserable night for him. But we let him pick out the biggest Tonka truck he could find at Walmart the next day, saying he could only play with it once he traded in his binkies for good. As soon as we got home, he brought me his binkies, and we ceremoniously dumped them all in the trash. He reeeeally wanted to play with his new truck... and we haven't heard anything about the binkies since!) Today, of course, we had to take Rick and Lynn to see "downtown" Lee Vining and the south tufa.

Kate at four months

Jack and I took his little sister in for her four-month checkup today. There was actually a lot less crying from the little drama queen this time around! We talked about the eczema on her forehead and the backs of her arms, as well as using drops to clean out her system and rid her of the gas that's been causing her pain. The stats:

Weight: 14 pounds (just a little over the 50th percentile)
Height: 23.5 inches (just a little under the 50th percentile)

I was hoping to start her on solid foods soon, but the nurse wants me to wait until she's doubled her birth weight, which is another 10 ounces. (Brian and I'd already tried giving her a few "sticky stars" the other night at dinner, and although she liked them, it took lotsa effort to keep them in her drooly mouth.) So, darn it, still just breast milk. The little stinker has been sleeping all afternoon, which she probably needed, seeing as how her naps lately have been short and unsatisfying (to both of us!).

It's all about the awkwardness

We all have, somewhere, a family picture that we'd rather forget, right? I can think of many a bad hair day, tacky sweater, or unfortunate pose in the Gibler family photo vault. The creators of the website AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com have given us all a place to submit our most horrifying pictures and laugh at those from other families. The next time I'm having a bad day, I'm soooo going to sneak a peek at this website.

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

I'm not about to turn in any of the following, as I couldn't find anything truly awkward, but it's always fun to reminisce...

My parents' wedding. June 3, 1967.

Yeah, it's cute picture, but rumor has it my brother Ryan was saying naughty words to get us to smile. 1982?

I think we called ourselves the Christmas Patrol: me, my sister Val, and our buddy Jenny. Check out our sweaters and my fanny pack! 1988?

Just another Saturday night at the Gibler house. (Yes, I know my outfit was bad. That was the point, people!) 1991?

Val and I took teenage rebellion to new heights during a family visit to Fort Edmonton. While Mom and Dad chatted up a blacksmith, we stole the camera and got some fun shots. (And this was before digital cameras!) Summer 1998.

Like Waldo, only cuter

This is Jack's new favorite game. He piles up animals on his bed, hides among them, and then asks me to come find him. I think he's the most brilliant boy ever...

The bash

Jack was a big help yesterday getting things ready for his dad's birthday. He helped make a "Happy Birthday" sign, a card, and chocolate cupcakes. He also put the candles in the cupcakes. I had to help a little. If it'd been totally up to him, all 35 candles would be in one cupcake. Imagine that fire!

Jack also helped Brian blow out the candles. Looks like he'll be good and ready for blowing out his own candles come November 17th...

To my dear and loving husband...

Brian turns 35 today. I am incredibly blessed to be married to such a kind, intelligent, and hard-working man. And our kids are lucky to have such a great dad. We've had a tough year--our first in the Eastern Sierra, and his first as assistant principal--but everything we've been through has only made us closer as a couple and a family. Happy Birthday, Brian!

Big Pine football

Yesterday, after spending the morning moping about my single-mom Saturday status, I decided to take the kids and join Brian at a football game in Big Pine, about an hour-and-a-half south of here. It was a great day for a game: hot and windy, but still beautiful, with snow showing on the mountains. The Caravan hit 100,000 miles on the way down. We missed the exact moment, but caught it a mile later. The poor thing's been through ma-aaany trips! Jack didn't care about the football, but did like playing with the cupholders in our camp chairs. Kate slept through the first quarter, and was happy through most of the second, before I had to take her to the van for a feeding. The game ended midway through the third quarter--a mercy ruling, at 50-0, in favor of Big Pine. The poor Lee Vining Tigers suffered a couple injuries, one sending a kid to the hospital in Bishop. We went with Brian to check on him; he'd suffered some chest bruising, nothing serious. We had dinner at a pizza place and headed home. Jack stayed awake on the way home--"Nemo" helped--but I conked out for most of the ride (gotta take naps when I can!). It was definitely a much better way to spend my Saturday than at home with two cranky kids. No offense, kids.

Happy Birthday, Kathy!

Brian's mom, Kathy, turns 60 today! I couldn't ask for a better mother-in-law: she is constantly giving of herself to others. And she LOOOOVES her grandkids!

Watch out for the Widelite!

This past weekend we took our new RV for its first run, over the mountains to the Central Valley. We were able to get a space at the French Camp RV park, although we did have to spend one night in a truck stop parking lot off I-5 near Lodi (which was quite an ear-deafening experience!). We learned much about what we need for such trips in the future, and were glad that we didn't take our first trip to the middle of nowhere! It was good to be able to pick up supplies as needed. For instance, when Brian went to empty the holding tank yesterday, he found that he needed one little adaptor to empty it at the RV park. So we ended up hauling our "waste" all the way back over the mountains. It's still sitting in there, actually! Hopefully we'll find a place to empty it soon. We had a great trip overall, and can't wait for our next trip!

Jack's picks

With a newborn in the house, sadly, I sometimes feel Jack is a little neglected. He's been acting up lately: lots of time-outs and losses of patience on my part! A post only about my boy is sorely needed. Thus, I've put together a picture blog of his current favorite things.

Jack has a cr-razy imagination. Sometimes I can't believe the things he comes up with. Today, he put together his own little vehicle, complete with steering wheel, saying he was going to Carson City:

Our latest library find. He memorized it in a day. Which isn't surprising, since we probably read it a couple dozen times that day.

Ooooh! JELL-O Jigglers! I'd forgotten how much fun these are!

Jack is allll about the Lincoln Logs. Unfortunately, the parts inevitably end up strewn across the floor. And he's not quite skilled at the actual construction part, preferring to have his mom or dad build a barn or house for him. We'll get there.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Pat!

It's Grandma Pat's birthday today... 85 years young! The forever-busy matriarch of the Marshall family was born 50 years (and about two weeks) before Brian. Here she is with Jack and Kate this past July in New Mexico.

Our home away from home

This morning, we are the proud new owners of a 25-foot travel trailer! OK, well, the bank technically owns it... but it'll be all ours in three short years! We are excited to use it on all our road trips, as well as to offer it to our visitors as a place to rest their weary heads.

Welcome, baby cousin!

Kate is no longer the youngest in the Gibler family. Loie Elsa May was born to my brother Ryan and his wife Marisa yesterday. They had a home delivery, and everything went well. She weighed in at 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Big brother Avi looks so proud!

Two-month check

At two months old, Kate has been described using a variety of metaphors: Houdini because of her escape-artist tendencies; Elvis when she curls one side of her lips into a smile; a football when she's swaddled tight; and a popsicle when her two pudged legs emerge from the bottom of her swaddler (which they always do).
At her two-month checkup today, Kate endured a round of vaccinations, which made her bawl. It took awhile to console her, which reinforces my mom's opinion that Kate is more of the "poor-me" school of criers, like I was. She's following her brother's pattern--and the pattern of most other breast-fed babies, I've heard: they start out BIG! Here are the stats:

11 pounds, 4 ounces (73rd percentile)
22.5 inches long (50th percentile)
...and 15 inches for the head (47th percentile)

The test

Today is Day One. Today, for pretty much the first time, I am left alone all day with two children. No husband to help, no grandparents, no aunts or uncles or cousins or friends. I've had it easy the past two months since Kate was born. Now is the true test. Can I handle two kids on my own? Will I survive the blocks strewn across the living room, the whining and crying and timeouts upon timeouts, the messy feeding sessions, the constant changing of diapers? Time will tell...

Back to reality

We're home! We took the slow route back, stopping overnight in Flagstaff so we could visit the Grand Canyon. It is one of those things that you have to witness it to really believe its gargantuan size. My mom, who has seen and cringed at my husband's daredevil side, would have hated to be there and see how close Brian got to the edge, and how Jack accompanied him right up to that edge.

The house survived the month. We had one of Brian's students and her family look after the cats. Unfortunately, one of the cats was locked in a bedroom closet for over a week, thanks to one of their kids, and left a mess. The carpet is torn up, but thankfully, she's fine. Now, it's back to the grind for the Marshall family...