Luke News

For those near and far, here is a little update on our baby boy. Luke is growing like a weed - 10lbs, 9.5 oz and 23" long at his one month appointment, and probably much more by now. He will be 2 months on the 28th. He is outgrowing outfits with great speed!

He is starting to coo and smile and interact with us, but he still hasn't figured out that his hands belong to him. I think he wonders what these things are that keep smacking him in the face! He has amazing vocal cords, is very strong, and is already very capable of sustaining a temper tantrum for a long period of time. Yikes!

He is very game to jaunt around the countryside with me on errands and such. He has gone camping, hiking, was in his first car accident at 8 days old (scary, but minor...and not our fault), and attended his first golf tournament today. He seems to enjoy his Auntie Jody's singing so we listen to her CD in the car all the time.

I have many, many, many pictures, but will just post a few.

On a hike to jump crick with Mom & Auntie Becky

Just being cute

Sad face

Oh Canada (obviously dressed by Mommy)

What is he trying to say here? Surely not a comment about his shirt!?

Smiling at Daddy

Belated Baby Announcement

WELCOME

LUKE MURRAY EAGER

Born 7.28.08
8lbs., 6oz.
21" long
Cute as a button

He's generally a pretty agreeable little guy. He's growing a lot and developing more personality every day. We love him to bits and are amazed that he is finally here!

Here he is, meeting the rest of the family...

And snuggling with Daddy after a bath...

And hanging with Mom at the beach on his first camping trip...

Man at Work

Although I wouldn't trade careers with my husband for even a day (I like regular showers, A/C, sleeping in an actual bed, and would rather admire the dirty, sweaty, hot, endless work from afar) I must admit that I'm a little jealous of the "office(s)" in which he works!

It's a bit tough, though, to find anywhere to vacation in the western states that he hasn't already seen! Oh well - I guess that makes him a well qualified guide for someone like me who has so much yet to see.

Around Here

Count down to baby continues. Just a couple weeks left and I'm trying to tie up projects at work and get "ready" for baby's arrival. At home, the baby room is ready, baby's bag is packed, and my bag is empty but sitting on the floor with a pile of things around it, ready to be filled.

Meanwhile, I've been keeping busy battling weeds in the yard, keeping the new trees thriving in the heat, and taking care of a couple of new additions.


They are meant to help with the weed problem, but they are only 3 months old so their appetites aren't quite up to the volume of the job. They are twin nubians, and very sweet little girls. I would like to keep them for milkers, but this is my first goat experience so I'll just wait and see how goats and I get along. Their names are Willa (on the left) and Milly (right) after my two favorite female authors, Willa Cather and Mildred Walker. A goat needs a good name.

The garden is coming along despite the late planting date. I'm looking forward to green beans, peas, tomatoes, etc., etc. Today I used my first garden produce in the kitchen - basil leaves in a pasta salad, and red leaf lettuce in a turkey/avacado sandwich. Yum!

The yard is very obviously in it's beginning stages, but it is coming along very well and we are spending a lot of time outside enjoying it. On July 4th I hosted family and friends for a backyard BBQ, bocce, horseshoes, etc. It was the first "event" for our yard and it was fun to share it with friends. The heat let up and it was a beautiful day full of food and conversation. The kids, dogs, and goats exhausted each other, and it was a great day all around.

Miscellaneous News

I called in pregnant to work today so am at home having a day for myself and relaxing a bit, which means I have time for a blog post. It will have no theme, so pardon the collage of unrelated bits.

First, a happy photo that Casey took in our front yard the other day--our pot of gold:

With hubby back in the swing of the wildfire season, 'tis the season to fill my days with company and visiting and catching up with friends. A girlfriend and her two little boys spent 4 days here last week. Hard to say who enjoyed the company more - Katie, or me! At least I know she'll love having a little boy to play with when ours is old enough to toddle around. I enjoyed the visiting as well as having a 2-year-old assistant in the garden.

More company to come this week when Littlest Sis arrives for a few days in town for a friends' wedding. Looking forward to a visit with her!

In other news, I was spoiled to bits again at a baby shower hosted by wonderful Aunt Bon last week. What a blessing to have such family and friends! One very important friend was missing though, having just delivered a baby the day before, and another friend barely made it - she went into labor 3 days later! I swear that gestation is not required to be my friend...it only seems like it lately! Many thanks to everyone who attended. Baby Eager is a lucky fellow to be so "showered" with gifts already!

In other news, we have a skunk. Yuck. It is a baby, thank goodness, which means his scent is not mature yet. This is lucky, because Katie hasn't yet learned that skunks are to be avoided and tried to make friends. She came away with a stinging eye and a light perfume which is (thankfully) already gone today. I'm planning to encourage the skunk to find a new home before he reaches his full aromatic potential.