Hi Everybody!

Christmas in Review

Who Me?

Playtime with Oma

Nap time with Bear. Too much nog...

Ithaca contingency.

Mommy's side.

Opening gifts is exhausting!

Cuter than Rudolf?

Home on Wheels

Traveling Nanny

Our fearless Captains!

Amber is 28. Ava is 7 weeks old TODAY!

November Fun

Ava attends her first ball. The Retro Furball Ark-Valley Humane Society fundraiser that is...

Where she met her first crazy people... her Ark-Valley aunties.

Under direct supervision from mom, of course!

With the weather getting colder, Ava dresses in her Yeti outfit before going outside. She is acting her part!

All bundled up, the baby Yeti is ready to walk the dogs.

Grandmother, Judy came to visit with her two dogs, Dixie and Tucker. Moby, in the blue jacket, is Ava's dog. No licking allowed!

Three generations. Three different hair colors!

Judy and Dan's new house. It's snowing!

And Growing!

Ava is enjoying life to the fullest as every baby should.

Ava = 6 lbs
Bob = 12 lbs
Moby = 18 lbs
Anton = 150 lbs

Bheri keeps a watchful eye.

Party central!

"Every girl needs a German bear."

Kettler trike piggy backs it home on the Big Dummy.

Daddy time...

One Week Old Movie Star

Ava received her first mail package! It was a digital camcorder from her grandmother, Judy. Unable to resist the spotlight, Ava insisted we start filming right away...

First Days

Day two, mom and baby are tired and content.

Colostrum for lunch.

Day three, Ava has her first outdoor adventure -- a walk on our trail with dad, mom and the dogs.

Day four, the midwife, Susie, and her assistant, Adrianne, make a second visit to the house after the birth. Ava gets her health and hearing checked. All is well.

Later, dad reads while Ava gets a sunbath.

She's such a happy baby!

Oh Baby!

Ava Autumn van Leuken
6 pounds 4 ounces
Born at home
7:16 pm October 22, 2008

Nesting

Both Mom and Miranda visited in September, separately, and helped me put together the baby's room. I thought I'd share some of the finishing touches...

The baby's room used to be our office. It was painted Pepto-Bismol pink. Mom helped me choose the new colors and Rufus demonstrated the calming affect.

This old trunk with bike decoupage has been around since college. It fits great in this little pocket of the room.

The office shelves were adapted to much needed storage shelves.

This baby shirt was made for Wies as an infant. Now it has a special place in the room and is waiting to be adorned again. The height chart is also Dutch, hence the centimeters. It used to belong to Anton and Arne.

This dresser, a gift from Uncle Tom & Christine years ago, makes a great display table. The shoes, hair brush, and one teething ring belonged to Wies. Our wedding picture frame complements the musical carousel that was a gift from Tante Diny. The other teething ring and silver drinking cup belonged to Anton. There is a tiny silver bracelet with turquoise and bear claw carvings for the baby, which was a gift from a friend. And, my birthing bracelet:

The birth bracelet is made from beads and charms given to me by women in my family. My plan is to wear it during the birth to remind me of all the strong women who love and support me.

The changing table, a gift from a friend, is set up in our bedroom. The adorable wooden mobile is from Anton's childhood.

The guest room was finally finished also. Yay!

Grizz Passes On

Grizz died during the night peacefully in his sleep. Over the last two weeks Grizz had less of an appetite but no obvious signs of illness. He continued to amble around the property, nap and spend time with his human and dog family even on his last day. Last night he walked away from the house and laid down under a full moon, surrounded by pinon trees and mountains and fell asleep forever. Today he was cremated with a picture of his family and flowers from our driveway.


Grizz was adopted from the Ark-Valley Humane Society in the spring of 2007. He was about 8 years old when we took him home. His teeth were worn most likely from years of chewing on fencing and his back end was weak due to nerve degeneration. We know that in the six months before we adopted him he had been at the Leadville Animal Shelter and three homes. He had been bounced from home to home because of destructive behavior and was unable to adjust to living in a kennel while at the shelter.


After we brought him home, he let us know right away that even though he weighed 130 pounds and was covered in thick fur he, in no uncertain terms, was only happy as an inside family dog. Fortunately his calm presence gained him acceptance from the other dogs in our pack. Although he occasionally ate books, he was never destructive or anxious as long as he could come and go from the house as he pleased. He would sleep along the fence whenever we drove away so that he could greet us with a raised head and perky ears upon our return.


Grizz made friends wherever he went and we know that there are many people who loved him and will be touched by his death. I'd like to think his spirit energy is running with his ancestral pack, wolves and dogs alike, as wind through the mountains. I know in my heart that he is eternally at peace.