Arkansas follow-up

Jake is such a good sport. He has been on lots of roadtrips, this 3.5 hour each way being the shortest. He's too big to sit on my lap these days (and my lap is shorter than it used to be, as well). But he still wants to be with us and a part of whatever is going on (which is usually nothing), so he lays his body in the back and then rests his head on the armrest between the 2 front seats.

It was a pretty drive, though. And I didn't even throw up! Blaine had been to Arkansas once already when he went to Nationals during his sophomore year, but I had never been. It was really green!

It was a fun couple of days and it was especially great to see everyone and to be around the track scene again. We've missed it. Especially Blaine, I think. Unfortunately we didn't get pictures with everyone we wanted to, but we're glad we went.

Blaine and Juhani - his javelin coach. He saw us walk in and immediately came to say hi! :)

Javelin was Thursday evening, so that was the first event we saw. I only had my phone so I tried to get a picture of Blaine's brother Kyle and Blaine's friend Keith, but it didn't work out so well.

 It was rainy off and on, which meant extra muggy, but it was fun. 

Friday morning, Blaine went to lift with some of his old coaches and friends at the University of Arkansas, so Jake and I explored a little park right next to the track and basketball arena. Again, it was very green and pretty. It had gazebos and bridges and benches.

 (no, Jake did not bite the hog's ear off)

Sweet puppy smelling the flowers... before eating them

After our long walk in the hot hot heat, we cooled off in the car and enjoyed some Arby's.

(no judgement)

You can see both my boys in this picture :)

 These are pictures of the WOMENS weight room that they let the visiting athletes lift in. Yes, only for their women athletes, because in the SEC, they have so much money they don't know what to do with all of it. Must be nice...

look at how strong he is :)

Afterwards, all 3 of us went for a walk around the athletic facilities... mostly football

Best buds

Blaine and Jake waited outside while I explored the athletic department, which overlooks the stadium. There is a little "museum" in it as well.

My dad has a bunch of those from Miami

 Jake was sitting between his legs when I came out. It was sooo cute, but by the time I got close enough to get a picture, Jake got up and came toward me. 

HAAAAAATE this picture, but I realized that I'm like not even in any pictures, 

so I had to prove I was there, too ;)

Indoor Practice Facility

It rained on us so Jake had to get wiped down before getting in the car

What a sweet and goofy boy

When Blaine was here for Nationals in 2009, they were supposed to throw in the evening, but there was a tornado warning, so they all had to go sit in the basketball arena at the base of that rainbow above. That was a couple months before we got married, so I wasn't there, but I remember talking to him on the phone. He was so annoyed because they had warmed up and then right before they were about to start, they all filed into the basketball arena and sat there for hours without food and water, so they didn't end up competing until midnight.

Kyle, Keith, & Blaine 

And I made it into one final picture before our drive home

Father-Son Time in Montana

The day before we left for Arkansas, Blaine had just gotten home from Montana. His dad works nights for a week and then is off for a week, but his mom still has to work. And since Blaine was on break from school, we sent him home to Libby, Montana for some Father-Son time before his own son is born!! I wasn't there, so I can't share too much, but I know he did a lot of outdoors stuff (his FAVE!) They did lots of hiking and fishing and looking for bears. They also rode the fat cat/big wheel thing that his dad just bought for lots of fun with his grandkids... especially the boy on the way in 6 weeks ;) Blaine said they tried to ride it together across a river and tipped it!! 

Blaine wished Jake could've come so bad because he would've LOVED exploring and running through the woods. Hopefully next summer all 4 of us can take a trip out there. (Blaine, Alayna, Baby, & Jake=4). Montana really is beautiful- mountains, waterfalls, forests, animals. We went to Glacier National Park when we were living there in the summer of 2009, but only got to spend a day there and there was sooo much we didn't get to see and do. 

I reminded Blaine to take pictures everyday, and he did pretty well. He's no me, but thats ok ;) I SnapChatted him probably 8 pictures a day, most of them being of Jake. I felt so bad for Jakey. I joked about it before, but this week apart with him only having me confirmed it. It is no joking matter. Jake loves Blaine so much. I am his nurturing, cuddling mama but Blaine wrestles and plays a LOT better. 

It's hard for me to take him for walks alone because his walks are pretty much a sprint when I move slowly and am ready to wet my pants after 2 minutes. So I took him to the dog park every single day while Blaine was gone to try and get his energy out running around and playing with other dogs. He prefers Blaine, but it went ok. He even went swimming one day, which he LOVES. 

So here's Blaine's pictures from Montana and Jake's pictures from being home alone with boring mom.

Blaine's mom modeling the... thing (I really don't know what its supposed to be called?)

Blaine modeling... the outdoors

Blaine's dad... probably looking for elk :)

long range shooting

Blaine modeling the bow his dad gave him

Blaine modeling the horns from his elk he shot. Once we've settled into a more permanent location, he'd like to get it mounted with a face and stuff. And while I'm all for showing off his horns and taking pride in his accomplishment, I'm thinking maybe his office or study would be a better spot... We'll see...

His dad keeps all of his elk horns even though he could get a good amount of money for them. He told Blaine that when he was a little boy, his dad told him about all these cool hunting stories and about all the antlers that his dad (Blaine's dad's grandpa) had and Blaine's dad was so excited! So then they went to his grandpa's house and asked to see all the horns and he hadn't saved any. (That was probably hard to follow). Anyways, thats stayed with him and so Blaine's dad has kept all his horns to show his grandkids. Its cute to see how excited both of Blaine's parents are for our baby boy to be born! He will be the first grandchild on both sides since Blaine and I are each the oldest children in our family. That means he'll get a lot of attention, but I worry he might be lonely or not as interested in cousin activities since he will have no cousins his age. 

Well, back to Jake pictures...

We both enjoy the box fan and bring it with us in every room. Here is is enjoying the vent in the floor and the fan... it was soooo hot.... for a day. And then it poured. Besides that first day he was gone, it rained every single day, which made it extra extra extra hard for me to take care of Jake by myself. Before letting him in, I'd have to wipe off his feet and then go rinse him in the bath tub. And in my current state, its a lot harder than it sounds. Especially when I had to give him 4 baths a day, which happened for 5 days...

The first 2 nights he slept by the front door waiting for Blaine, but after that, he gave up and accepted that I was all he had, so then he started sleeping with me

Upside-down spooning me in the morning

Sleeping with his green monkey

Made himself comfortable in the middle of the bed

Sitting in the front on his bottom like a human