Jet-laggin' babies are no fun

OK, actually they are hilarious until they get so exhausted and their little bodies won't shut down to let them sleep. Jameson was in bed at 7:15 pm and I was stoked. (I was even thinking that his new bedtime would be 7 and how rad that would be). Ha ha. At 9:45 he was up as if he had just had his afternoon nap. I finally got him down at 11:00 pm and then he was up at 1:00 until about 2:15. He woke up again around 5:00 and went back down. Seriously, this isn't going to help me get over jet-lag either! While he was awake he was completely hyper and delirious, and I just sit and laugh at him. I was taking some pictures and Jameson is absolutely fascinated by anything "tech," as in cell phones, computers, iPods, and now my camera has joined the ranks of the cool toys he wants but can't have. Since the dogs are no longer around he needs a new incentive to "crawl."





Also, can I just say I STILL love H&M? I am very jealous to everyone in the States that has one within a short drive, Denver hasn't been that lucky yet. My son who is a very tall little guy wears an 18 month sleeper from Carter's. However, apparently after the 9 month mark, its near impossible to get 100% cotton footies. Very frustrating. Well, being the snot that I am, and I have my reasons, I don't want to buy him 50% cotton 50% polyester, or even worse 100% polyester. He has sensitive skin! I was so happy to walk into H&M and find 100% cotton sleepers, yippee. Even better than that, when I grabbed the 12-18m sleeper and it was WAY too long. So I grabbed the 9-12 month. After getting home and trying it on, I found its STILL too big. That is a major plus for me, because Jameson grows so quickly. Apparently, my son is not a beast here in Vienna, he's just average. He actually wears the 6-9m size. I found the cutest little "football" onesie. It has Oesterreich on the back. I was trying to get a picture and he was going crazy chasing after the camera. I am posting the pictures because they make me laugh.

U-bahn Rider

Jameson had his first trip on the U-bahn. From what I could tell he thought it was great, flirting with the ladies, enjoying the commotion, and lounging in his stroller. It makes me laugh every time he is in it, he leans back and to one side and props his feet up on the bar. He loves his stroller, unfortunately he doesn't sleep in it, because everything is much too interesting. We went to Martin's for dinner and sat out on the patio. I love the patio this time of year, the evening is pleasant and its full of other people, and it reminds me of how much I miss our "old neighborhood." Maybe soon we can buy a flat over there. Jameson was pretty beat, and we pushed him to his limits which I always feel bad about doing. He did sleep well last night though, only woke up once to eat which I totally understand. When I am jet-laggin' I get hungry around 3 am too.

Checking everything out.


Here we go...


He looks a little dazed, eh?



On top of all that excitement, we put his crib together! We all slept much better with him in his crib. The bumper pad kinda sucks, so I may be running to the store to pick up a better one, but other than that he seems to like it. Yea for IKEA! It does the job. As I type he has been down for his nap for over an hour! I am just working on the orientation packet for our students that are arriving in trickling in over the next few days!

Viva Vienna

OK folks, we have arrived here in Vienna. After a flurry of packing and cleaning, we left Denver and essentially re-located to Vienna for the better part of the next 8 months. Jameson was a trooper. He slept about 4.5 hours on the first flight, never let out a cry. Had a fine time on our three-hour London stopover, even though it was misery for Kevin and me. He slept on our flight to Vienna and only had a mini-breakdown on our way home from the airport. He was hungry, and tired and couldn't figure out what the heck we were doing.

Jameo and Kevin on the airplane, doesn't Kev look thrilled?


We got home and I nursed him and he got a huge burst of energy. I think he was so happy to not be in a plane anymore. He was crawling all around the bed. I didn't want him on the floor because it hadn't been vacuumed yet. He was squealing and shrieking excitedly while trying to crawl and roll all around. He will have to get acquainted with the hardwood floors throughout the apartment. No more throwing himself forward and face-planting to get where he wants to go. That will be a sad day the first time he conks his head on the floor. He did not sleep well last night between us. He woke up three or four times quite upset. I finally got him down around 2 or 3 am (not quite sure of the time) and he slept straight through until 10am. Needless to say, Kevin is getting a crib today at IKEA. Whoo-hoo. He took a nap, and noww are going out into the beautiful weather to help his little body adjust.

Adjusting to his new digs, yeah, he is in a carrier on the sofa, its because he rolls and climbs and lunges. I don't want him to bonk his head. However, he appears to like his new Austrian Keks (biscuit)

Portland Pics

The Shawcroft grandboys got to hang out a lot. Jake and Zach loved their "baby Jameson" and were happy to smother him with lots of kisses and hugs.


Think Jake is getting bored of my picture session? Jameson just wanted to be a "big boy!"


Tyler and Jameson playdate round 2: Cheesecake factory and the Nordstroms lounge for their lunch and diaper change.


They are becoming the best of buds


Jakey holding Jameo when we were up in Seattle


Tracy and I waking up with our baby boys in bed with us. Yay for snuggle time!


Oma Kathy and Jameo enjoyed the pleasant weather by taking a blanket out on the grass. Jameson loved the breeze.


Jameson and Ellen finally got to meet! They seemed to have a lot of fun, although Ellen was a little taken aback by how loud Jameson can be.


They weren't certain what to make of each other at first


After a few moments though the awkwardness had passed and they were friends


Its so great to be sharing such a special time with one of my oldest, bestest friends. Ellen was born on February 11th, Jameson's due date!


If you want to know how old I am (feel) here is Samantha. I started baby-sitting her when she was 2 and now she is a senior in high school!! Where does the time go?


Rosie-posie was born my Jr. year and she is the "baby" of my second family. She loved Jameson, and what a natural she is, I might have to call her up to babysit in a few years time!


Will was the first newborn baby I ever watched! He was my true learning experience in regards to babies, and what an experience I got since I watched his older brother and sister too. Jameson seems like a breeze compared to three kids, can't wait to add a few more kiddlets to the mix! I miss my Pflugs!!

Visiting Portland

Awwww! So nice to be back home in Portland. I wish Kevin was here with me, however he is taking care of business in Costa Rica. I know, its a difficult business trip. I took advantage of the fact that he was going to Costa Rica to buy a ticket to Portland. Jameson has been enjoying his Oma and Opa. It is going to be a quick visit, but I am glad I made it back to the NW, because I don't know when we may be back. Jameson and I went to lunch with my friend Katie today, and then we had family friends over this evening for dinner. There is something about being home that makes me exhausted, although traveling could have worn me out as well.


I must have bad travel karma at the moment, because seriously, it was ridiculous. We changed gates 3 times before we even boarded the plane! I was so relieved when we boarded because it was getting closer to Jameson's nap time. I figured I would nurse, he would fall asleep and stay asleep the whole plane ride. Ha ha. We boarded the plane, got comfortable and settled and then I noticed everyone getting OFF the plane. Apparently, they were de-boarding the plane, however, I still don't know why. Anyway, we go to another gate where our new plane is eventually going to arrive, but its being serviced. (Not a good feeling: waiting for your plane to be serviced). While we were waiting Jameson was getting fussier and fussier, he was hungry, he was tired and he just wanted to sleep. I finally relented and fed him while we were waiting for the plane to show up. He must have been hungry, because normally he isn't a good nurser when there are too many distractions around him, and he definitely nursed well. The airplane showed up (finally) and we sat down, the window seat, next to two men, neither of whom were thrilled to be sitting next to me and the baby. Like I imagined, he fell asleep immediately after take-off, and stayed asleep until the pilot came LOUDLY over the speaker to give us our air time, etc. I never realized how loud those speakers were until it woke up Jameson. I started covering up his ears with his blanket so it would muffle any noise. Unfortunately, he woke up and still was exhausted. When he is exhausted he gets wiggly, and squirmy. He definitely doesn't like staying in my arms now that he is mobile. The guy sitting next to me was in a forest ranger uniform, and Jameson was obsessed with it. He kept wanting to touch it, and reach for it, so he would arch his back, stretch out his arms reaching for the patch that was on his sleeve. He never sat still, he was moving and talking, kicking and reaching. I was having trouble holding him. Finally, Forest Ranger looked at me and said, "He's all boy, isn't he?" Why yes he is. Finally, he fell asleep with 45 minutes left on the 2 and half hour flight. It was a tiring flight and probably foreshadowing our very long flight to Europe coming up in two weeks. Needless to say, I was thrilled to arrive in PDX and hand over my extra bags to my momma. Hopefully my flight back will be better.

Rolling Over, Birthday, Bald dogs and BBQ's

For about a month now Jameson has been rolling over, although he has only recently realized it it a mode of transportation. He rolls all over the place. He starts out on his baby gym and is quickly halfway across the room before I catch him. His biggest incentive for rolling is to get to the dogs. He is absolutely in love with the dogs, but most especially Leopold. The dogs are great with him, they treat him like their little puppy. Although he will soon weigh more than they do. As soon as I turn my head Jameson is rolling his way towards them, and they are quick to oblige him by getting in his face and smothering him with kisses. Jameson thinks this is hilarious and laughs hysterically, but I am always mortified. No matter how much they get in trouble they still go to kiss him every time I turn my head, and these are serious open-mouth kisses. (See pic below)

Thinking about rolling


All this rolling makes little boys tired



Jameson happily receiving a kiss from Leopold



We also celebrated Kevin's 34th birthday (July 31st). I decided to make his favorite cake, which is german chocolate cake, from scratch. Normally, I like baking, and this didn't seem to be a gigantic undertaking. I figured I would make it while Jameson took his early afternoon nap, and we would enjoy it after our dinner. Ha ha ha. Luckily, Momma Archer came over to help us celebrate, because I ended up passing Jameo off to her for most of the day while I attempted to make this cake. This was the never ending cake. I hadn't made it before, so, of course, it always takes longer, but seriously, this was ridiculous. I began making it around 11:30 am, and while I did pause quite often to do one thing or another, we didn't end up eating it until 10pm! There was step after step after step. When I finally got to making the frosting, it was supposed to "harden" at room temperature. It was most definitely not hardening, and I was getting very frustrated. Kevin, finally suggested I put it in the fridge (duh!) and voila! It became frosting. I must admit though, this cake was to die for. I am glad I gave most of it away, or else we would have packed on the pounds we so diligently just lost. Happy 34th birthday, baby! Here is to 34+ more years of life. You are the love of my life and I don't know where I would be without you in it.

THE cake


Kevin posing with THE cake, he wasn't quite sure if it was tasty, I think he was a little nervous!


I got him a new set of knives, something he has been talking about, hope they are good!



For the past couple years our darling dogs have had this odd problem. They will lose their hair in spades, way more than average shedding. They have done rounds of antibiotics, and it seemingly goes away, they get beautiful new coats of fur and then suddenly its back. We took them to their new vet, and he suggested a change in their diet and adding some fish oil. He thought that it probably was not a bacteria, virus or fungus, but that it was probably some environmental factors, i.e. the dry weather, their food, possible allergies, or stress. I have decided our dogs are stressed out, and personally, I don't blame them. Kevin and I are gone almost 6 months out of the year and they get ferreted out to whomever will take them. Last year, they got to stay with my parents, and they loved that, especially after I got back to Oregon, then I went and had a baby and added a new member to the pack. After that, we came back to Colorado, and have had a few different dog-sitters in while we have traveled. Poor babies. Anyone want a caggle of cavaliers? They are only for lease though. Anyway, after the vet we went to the groomer to get them all shaved short. I was sick of finding massive furballs skittering across the hardwood every morning. Our house is on the market, and the last thing we need is serious dog hair everywhere. They look pretty funny, especially since the groomer left their ears and tails long.

Lexi's new 'do


Lulu's cut


and the saddest cut of all (because he had great fur): Leopold


Our stressed out doggies


Last weekend we went up to the mountains again. During the summer we really enjoy hanging out with Scott, Erika and fam. Momma Archer drove up from Oklahoma to visit her dad and grandbabies. We decided to do a BBQ in honor of Kevin's birthday, although it wasn't stated as such until afterwards. I was so happy to have us all in one place to get a picture of Grandpa and kids. It was such a fun day. The boys bbq'd burgers and hot dogs. We had watermelon, corn on the cob, noodle salad, and brownies. I am so glad Grandpa decided to join us up the mountain! It was so nice to be able to relax and enjoy everyone's company. I hope we can manage to do it again before we leave for Vienna!

Grandpa likes Jameson's hair, even if it isn't a mohawk anymore! :(


The family picture. We only wish Dad could have been there!