Happy Birthday Cuzzy Rye!

Henry's 1st Swim

Henry went swimming in the lake for the first time and got his first pool today. He had his first taste of real food on our ride home on the 28th - more just moved it around his mouth.

Tornado & Fire

Story to follow -

Picture Problems

I'm sad to say that my camera wasn't operating on our trip. I tried to use my camera phone a couple of times, but it only holds a couple of pictures. I tried emailing the photos to myself but ended up deleting some in the process, so I didn't try that again. Unfortunately, I missed taking pictures of Henry with his grandmother and other family members. I was able to figure out a few things to get a couple.



Aunt Desi & Uncle Glenn

Aunt Desi & Henry

Henry with Aunt Tace's Donkey

Henry and Daddy with Dandy

Henry on Uncle Johnny's Tractor

Family Photos

Rachael and Zac - I was 12 weeks pregnant with Henry at Rye's wedding. This was our first family event without Vinny (last August)



Rachael and Teagan at Rye's wedding


Dave's Grandparents - Dave's grandfather Charles Umstead who adopted Dave's father when he was a boy and Dave's biological grandmother. Dave's dad gave these to me when we were in Maryland.


Dave's grandmother Dorothy and Dave's father Charles

We had fun with the Perkins family up here from Maryland on Thursday and Friday. Kaylee is so beautiful!

We are headed to Maryland on Thursday. Eileen is taking the early boat off the ferry and we are staying in Marlboro (on the way) to break up the trip. Friday we'll drop Eileen in Abbingdon, MD and then make our way up to Rye's in PA. Eileen needs two cars on the island, so we're giving her a ride to get another one. We told her she'll have to put up with a screaming baby and she doesn't seem to mind. I'm just looking forward to some food cooked by her son (and spending some time with both of them on Islesboro). Fun times in the summer.

Tonight we are going to my mom's to celebrate Zac's 28th birthday (Friday). I'm so proud of my little brother soon to be father of two. Love you Zac!

Phone Pictures from Moosehead

Hiking back from Kineo

Mt Kineo


Maggie exhausted on our way home

Pictures & Moosehead Pictures

Paddington Bear from Cousin-Uncle Pete - straight from London

Henry 4 Months

Henry is 4 months old today. I can't imagine how much God loves us if He loves us more than I love Henry (which He does). It just blows my mind. I can't believe there could be any greater love.

Moose Madness

Dave and I are dying to see moose up here in God's country. We got here around five and have praying to God we would spot one. We drove up to Kokadjo (population not many) and didn't see any. When we turned around on a dirt road off a dirt road off a dirt road in a clearing, I was thinking this isn't God's country for me because there aren't any people. Yes, God's creation is beautiful, but God wants us to love people. Of course it's easier to love people from a distance - it's not as messy. But then it doesn't take God to do it that way, we could do it in our own strength. That's no fun to me because I wouldn't get to see God's power, God's hand in my life. Anyway, when we started heading back to Greenville, Henry finally started crying. He has been such a trooper. We stopped in town and then made our way back to our cabin 12 miles past down town. Henry's meltdown was a blessing in disguise because we saw a bull moose just before the campground. Thank You God.

We are hiking into Kineo tomorrow. Blogging from my phone.

Put Me in the Traveling Mood

Visiting with my aunt Annie in the Old Port in Portland put me in the traveling mood. It was so nice to see her (you look great Aunt Annie) and it was so nice to discover the charm of the Old Port. Please forgive me, but I have never been to that part of town! Jana picked a great restaurant Duck Fat. I had the duck and roasted peach salad, their famous duck fat fries and some type of french doughnut. Yum! Everyone got to see the cutest boy in the state (my little boy of course).

Today, Dave and I, after running errands, went to Moody's Diner thanks to Zac and Steph's birthday present to me. Afterwards we headed over to Morse's Sauerkraut's Euro Market. We love that place. The sweet bologna almost didn't make it home. Now we have Polish Kielbasa and sauerkraut for dinner tonight or tomorrow night if we're too stuffed still. Molly put that one in our head. Oh, the life of the unemployed!



I think we might start Meandering Maine some more tomorrow and head to Greenville and then Meandering Maryland next week when we Meander down to see my cousin who is almost in Maryland!

Happy Birthday to Tia - she is 18 today!

Dave Fishing

Our Temporary Pad

Here are some pictures of our temporary living quarters. We sold our house in June and moved in here. Unfortunately, it rained the entire month so it hasn't been that enjoyable. Thankfully the weather has changed and we've been able to do some kayaking and fishing. Our bedroom is downstairs in the basement but we're thinking about downsizing our common living area and moving it upstairs (that just means we're further away from the bathroom).

Henry's First Business After Hours

Henry went to his first business after hours for the Penobscot Regional Chamber at the Talbot House in Rockland. We went to represent the Camrock Network and mentioned Meandering Maine to a few people. Henry was quite a hit. He actually made it easier for me because he's such a conversation piece.

God's Present to Me

God's present to me last night was Henry sleeping through the night for the first time. He slept for over 10 hours without waking up!! Go Henry. Go God! Henry is God's biggest present to me, of course!

Happenings

Happy Belated 1 Year Birthday to Nevaeh!!

Dave finished his training of the new owners of the laundromat this past weekend. He's on call for 30 days but is willing to help after if he can. So he's officially unemployed... or WE are officially unemployed. It's not a bad feeling. It's the first time in years for both of us. It just means I need to get my butt in gear with my new business.

I had a great networking meeting this morning. Can you believe I sold my business in our little networking group? The folks that own Buzzie Bee Diapers bought it. Go Cloth! (that's their saying... something I should listen to). I truly thank God for that group. Amber from Little Harbor Technology is helping me build my new business. I love what she is doing and working with her. I thank God for Amber! We had a great meeting after the networking meeting.

My mom and grandmother came over to my house for a Biblical Psychology class. Something we have been doing every week for about a month or more. My cuzzies from PA showed up and we all went to an unplanned lunch at my mom's.

We are having Nevaeh's first birthday party this coming weekend. She celebrated it with her grandmother's side of the family and I think we waited until Annie could come up to have it on our side. This little girl is amazing and I'm so proud of her. Proud to be the cousin aunt. She better not beat my son up, though :) she's quite the little brute.

I am planning a visit with my aunt Annie this weekend. We are hoping to catch up and maybe do some kayaking. She is coming up to Portland to take a dance meditation class on Sunday and visiting my siblings and me up here before. It's perfect timing because we're unemployed but I'm sad she didn't get to see my house and business. I'm sure she'll get to see many more since we move so much.

Henry is teething. He has to be. He is drooling. He is fussy. And my mom says it. I believe her. He's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

I got my hair cut and highlighted on Friday. Henry stayed with my mom for a few hours. It was his first time without his parents. He did very well. I didn't. I left before the woman could finish my hair. I was so nervous he'd be screaming his brains out and my mom would be afraid to call. He was perfectly happy when I arrived. He was in Grampa Dan's arms smiling away.

Last night was the second time Henry was without us. He was at Molly's house two doors down while Dave, Sam and I went kayaking. Sam is an unbelievable kayaker for being 8 and it only being his second time. We saw snapping turtles sunning themselves on rocks and dead tree trunks. I guess they missed the sun, too. I also saw a deer when I was jogging yesterday morning. Henry did well with great aunt Molly and great Hunky Uncy.

Vinny

I tried to keep myself busy today to avoid thinking or talking about the one year anniversary of Vinny's death. My cousins are up from PA and my mom cooked us a fabulous lunch. Of course we started talking about Vinny. My mom has a poetry book that Vinny wrote and carried with him through out the years. I told my mom I don't want to read or hear his poetry now and maybe not ever. His death has been a very painful (and will continue to be) process. The blessing in all of it is I know it's painful for all of us, not for Vinny. Vinny is whole now. I have carried in my heart his deep pains - some are the same for me. I want to remind myself they are gone - not what they were. Thank God they are gone. We all deal with loss differently - it's a process and it's a time to learn to be patient with yourself and just let God love you. One moment I'm fine and the next I'm a mess.

Vinny's Independence Day

I can't say much about this time of year. Still too fresh. The 4th was the last time I talked to him and the 7th when we all found out. It's appropriate that Vinny's Independence day from this body of sin and death was the same time of year as our country's.

3 Months Old Pictures

Standing up by himself leaning on the chair 6/30/09


Little Man standing up leaning up against the chair



Sam's first time kayaking by himself


Sam & Henry


Henry's first time kayaking - he got sick of the life jacket


Henry's first life jacket - got from Uncle Vick & Aunt Sissy's store

Henry waking up from a nap

Chilling out at Heather's house when we were camping out

Spending the day at Grammie Sue's with mommy