I took a picture of Baylor each month of her first year with the same stuffed animal so that we could see how much she grew. It seemed only appropriate that we use the Augie Dogie blanket at a yard stick for Auggie baby.
A just started to really smile this month – he will smile back at you and also when you tickle his chin. 
I came across pictures from Halloween and felt that despite the fact it’s mid November, they needed their own post. I’ve been busy, you know, not sleeping.
We teamed up with B’s buddy Morgan for the annual Trunk or Treat. Morgan’s parents, Stephanie and Jeff, are some of our favorite people. When Jeff and Peter met last year, Stephanie and I had to check to make sure they didn’t know each other prior to parent’s night, that’s how well they got along in the first 10 minutes of meeting each other. It was weird. But a good weird. They share a love of trucks, college football, alt county and unheard of beer labels. Stephanie and I are room moms together and have the same “I tackle 18 things at one time” mentality. The difference is, she makes it look good.
Our collective theme for Trunk or Treat was Pumpkin Patch. We brought the hay, they brought the scarecrows and pumpkins. In about 2 minutes, we were set up and the candy was ready to be handed out. We did make Peter and Jeff dress like farmers…however where we were thinking they should have overalls and straw hats, they both took an alternative route….well, you’ll see.
All in all, it was another super fun TorT event!
The “farmers”. Peter explained that every farmer he’s ever met dressed like this. The scary part? They both already owned the clothes they are wearing.
Minnie Mouse was not into taking pictures…Auggie was enjoying his pumpkin hat
Enjoying their pizza before the fun started!
For actual Halloween, we joined our friends the Lovells for their annual party. They are the greatest hosts – they always have the most delicious food, wine and candy! We set up shop in their driveway and take turns trick or treating, eating, trick or treating, playing, eating…you get the picture.
Minnie Mouse – take 2. Last year her costume was a hand me down from cousin Madi that was the real deal. It was bought at Disney World and had all the accessories This year she had to settle for one ordered from the Disney store – which you would think would be nice. You would be wrong.
Poor second child…mommy didn’t even get him a real costume.
“I mustache you a question…”
Cousin Zoe as Little Red Ridding Hood
When we were sophomores in college, Peter had an idea to create a student group that would rival the student groups of some of the biggest and well known colleges in the country. The University of Arizona is one of the largest universities in the country and has some of the best and most prestigious athletic programs around…so why didn’t we have a student section at basketball games?
Peter ran for the student senate that same year with the goal of creating such a student organization. He spent many hours campaigning and I spent many hours (and manicures) helping paint bed sheets with “WAND FOR SENATE” to be strung up between palm trees around campus. I have to admit, I didn’t understand why we needed a student section – more so, I didn’t know how he was going to pull it off. And like many times before then and many times after, he didn’t fail to wow me.
After winning a seat on the student senate, PW campaigned, recruited, marketed and worked his butt off to create and then get the wheels on the student organization moving. He got the support of the athletic director, funding from Pepsi and also the men’s basketball team on board. A contest was held to name the organization and with the mens basketball team’s help, the title of the Zona Zoo was selected. And thus, a legacy began.
A few years ago, we had the UofA game on. A few minutes after kickoff, I heard swear words from the living room. When I asked what was going on, Peter rewound the dvr and showed me how many students were at the football game. And right behind them, painted on the stadium wall was ZONA ZOO. He was in shock. We had no idea that the Zoo had grown so much.
This month is the tenth anniversary of the Zona Zoo and the Arizona Daily Wildcat newspaper called to interview PW about the inception of what is now one of the largest student organization in the country with 10,000+ members.
It’s an amazing legacy and one of many that I think Peter will have. Congrats PW on an amazing job well done!
http://www.wildcat.arizona.edu/article/2012/11/beginnings-zonazoo-history-110912
The nurse at the hospital told us that kids are either exactly like one parent or a perfect blend of both and all their siblings will fit the same mould. I’ll let you be the judge of which we got.
Baylor’s 1st Day
Auggie’s 1st Day
Baylor’s crabby face
Auggie’s crabby face
Tree Frog Baylor
Tree Frog Auggie
Baylor starting to smile
Auggie making me work reeeaaalllyy hard for not a frown
Sweet cheeks Baylor
Sweet Cheeks Augg
I think I can finally write this without tears streaming down my face…ok, without a lot of tears streaming down my face.
Two weeks ago we unexpectedly had to say good bye to Bear. Honestly it had been coming and we knew that, but no one was willing to make the decision so he made it for us. He had what we think was a stroke and the vet told us it was probably one of more to come and that he wouldn’t make it through the night.
It was so sudden and unexpected – Peter and I couldn’t look at each other without crying. Bear started out as my mom, sister and my dog 13 years ago. When PW and I got married and moved to DC, both Bear and Travis came with us and that was 7 years ago so Bear was as much his as mine. And in a lot of respects, he was Peter’s because Bear chose Peter – litereally. He should have been named Judus because as soon as we were marrried, it was like all the love, feeding and caring for him that I had done didn’t mater, now he had a man to hang out with.
After several long cries, the gallows humor started. Growing up in my house my mom taught us that it’s good to cry, but sometimes you need to laugh instead of cry because there just aren’t any tears left. Peter and I laughed through tears saying that Bear was probably in purgatory watching films of all the terrible things he had done throughout his life; stealing tissues out of the trash and shreading them, peeing on the rug repeatedly despite the open dog door, tearing into bags of trash and slinking away just as his brother Travis discovered the treasure and thus making it look like he did it, wagging his tail on approach to another dog and then trying to bite their ear off, stealing baby toys, willing Baylor to drop him food, snarling through baths, learning how to open the gate to our back yard and taking himself for a walk…the list goes on. We always said he was such a smart dog, he just chose to use his brain for evil rather than good.
But despite his flaws, he was a faithful friend who was always quick with an ear kiss, a crazy welcome, a paw to shake (but only if you had a treat) a black nose to kiss and big brown eyes that let you know that there was a lot more going on in his furry head than he was willing to let you know.
Sweet Baylor crushed me that night by asking me through sobs where Bear’s bed in heaven was. She was incredibly upset about where he would sleep since his bed was still in our room. I let her know that he had a big, fluffy bed next to Travis and Mamie. She asked if his room was close to Jesus’s and when I said yes, she calmed down and drifted off to sleep.
I still catch myself saying good bye when we leave, throwing an ice cube on the floor for him, and calling for him when I drop a carrot on the floor. I miss him when the house is quiet and he would sit in the office with me and work. I miss the clip of his nails on the tile and the jingle of his collar. How he shnuffled and stretched each morning and “combed” his hair by rubbing his face repeatedly on the bed skirt. 
B and Bear didn’t agree on much – except treats, tents and tea parties
Always the perfect tea party guest
Cotton-y fur and snow never mixed…
Add “drinking from the ice bucket” to the list of things he’s watching in purgatory
Peter and I never text each other so when we do, I come across old messages – like way old. I saw one the other day from our annual San Diego trip. We had been enjoying the beach until PW was stung by a stingray (or a creature as B calls it) and went back to the room to boil his foot (no joke, that’s what takes the pain away) and a beer.
Because really, who doesn’t love a reference to a Snoop Dogg rap when discussing their unborn child?
Also? Ignore the shnicklfritz comment (too much to explain) and the Big Momma is my mom (personality really, not size) – people tend to frown on women 8 months pregnant drinking on the beach…
Peter’s sweet secretary, Colleen, presented us with this amazing blanket for Auggie! It features the Hanna Barbara character, Auggie Doggie – so cute! I asked her where she got a pattern and she informed me that she made it…oh to be that talented!!
Whew. Where did the last three weeks go? Auggie is three weeks old today and I think everyone is finally settling into life with two kids – including the two kids.
We discovered the first night Auggie was here that he is a talking. Like a big time talker. He grunts, grumbles, moans, hums and whistles in his sleep. LOUDLY. Like can hear him over the sound machine loud. And because he and his sister share (or will share) a room, there’s no putting him in his own room to avoid being kept up by the racket. So PW and I decided we would try putting him in the bathroom over night to see if helped. It turned out to be perfect – we hear him cry, but not all the noise and his crying doesn’t wake up Bay. And before you get all “I’m calling CPS” on me, he has a very lovely bassinet to sleep in in our larger than average bathroom – it’s pretty nice actually. At the very least, it will make for great material in therapy some day.
And a few new pics of the crew:
I love when they start waking up!
Bedtime stories are now a family affair. Auggie already loving Curious George.
Thank you all for the well wishes and prayers! Augustus “Auggie” Jack Wand was born October 3rd at 12:41pm. He weighed in at 7 pounds 12 ounces and 20 inches long. I’m up and moving this afternoon and feeling good. Auggie is a champion eater, pooper (gross and yet important) and just an all around sweetheart. We are so lucky, blessed and fortunate to have such a beautiful addition to our family!
Big sistah Baylor was a little freaked out by the blood pressure cuff, hospital bed and IV so she was a bit distracted while visiting yesterday. More and happier pictures of the pair to come!
These are better than yesterday’s pics – they pump you full of fluids which gave me something around 8 chins….
Auntie Ali gave us the run down on how to avoid getting peed on while changing diapers…
The Goon Room 