Strike 2

Here we are again this year, and again, 0 for 2. Brian and I could sense the sheer terror in her silence when waiting in line. Except this year, we are little stronger and bigger, that way we can try and squirm our way out of Santa's lap instead of trying to reach for mommy like last year... Also please note, the strong grasp to the candy cane in her right hand. We would not want to let go of that now would we.

I could hear the screams of little Randy in the back ground as they took the picture.
"Hurry up kid, the stores closing!" Hooooooooooooe Hoooooooooooooe Hoooooooooooe

Nice boots

This is what happens when you mix Brian with a toddler with no snow boots. We did not anticipate snow at grandma and grandpa's house this thanksgiving, and Alex just had to go outside and play in the snow. So daddy rigged up these rain boots, bent them in half and duct taped them for little alex's feet. This will probably end up on one of those "You might be a red neck if" email forwards.

Kamryn two months pic

No, i say, i cannot control the spike it just goes up automatically. No matter how much we try and control it, the hair has a mind of its own.

lactation consultant

Here is a picture of my new lactaction consultant, demonstrating the correct use of my breast pump

Tiny Dancer

alex has been to several weddings now, making her dancing debut at each. Here is one of her greatest hits. These skills can only come from the Gambles. Sorry Hamiltons, Brian was just not blessed with these dancing skills

10-4 good Buddy

Lounging with sis.

Halloween

Alex went as an Indian this year. Nice Feather Pocahontas.

Mini-me

When Kamryn was born, it was so hard for me not to notice that Brian and I can only make babies of similar Genetics. Call me crazy, but these two are clones.

Kamryn
Alex

Alex

Kamryn

Pics of Kamryn

She got the Gamble Skinny Legs

Room for Rent

The eviction is finally complete. There is a room for rent... Spacious, 1 bedroom and 1 bath might be available in the future, however it is being completely referbished until further notice. Wating lists have been started...... There are no guarantees room will ever be finished or ever be back to normal or to ever be rented again....

Ok just kidding, here she is Miss Kamryn Lynne Hamilton, born October 8th 2008 at 9:41am...weighing in at 7 pounds 7 ounces and at 19 inches long. And I gotta tell ya, she is a complete clone of her older sister Alex. We could not get over how much she looked like Alex when she was born.... We shall call her mini me...... Also on a side note, my labor rocked, my nurses were awesome.... I was alert and talking and carrying on conversation this time... 8 pushes and she was out. Epidurals rock....

Kamryn is doing just fine at home....out of the 4 nights she has been home---2 of those she has slept thru...(with feedings of course) Alex rocks as a big sister....although the name Kamryn escapes her as she is calling Kamryn,.... the baby....... we will get it straight sometime.

Here are some pictures... i will post more later when miss Kamryn is not attached to my boob 24/7.

Check Please

Ok so extreme measures must be taken here. I am in my 38th week with no avail..... so my doctor and I have decided to forcibly remove the baby on October 8th. Baby you are done, be prepared to be forcibly removed Wednesday morning. Also to my uterus, stop practicing your contractions, your ready damn it. Its as if you are over- training for the Olympics.

Iowa Reunion

This Labor Day weekend, Brian and I returned to ones of our former places of residence, the University of Iowa. Brian and the 1998 Men's Gymnastics team were being honored at the football game for their 1998 Big Ten Championship. The weekend was full of a ton of planned festivities and reliving old memories with good friends. We had great fun and great laughs telling old college stories. Here are a couple pictures from the weekend.


As with any Iowa football game, especially the first of the season, an old school team shotgun was in hand................

As was, watermellon eating contests with Kevin Agnew.

Here are some of the guys before they were honored on the field at pre-game.

A typical aftermath of an Iowa Tailgate. This random culdasac Brian and I walked off of Melrose Ave was a complete disaster. Hurricane Katrina could not replicate this. A true testimate to the typical Iowa street after a Football Game. Go Hawks.

Here is a picture of me, after only lasting 1 quarter of the football game in the blazing stands. We fried up there like shishcobobs. Brian decided it would be a good idea to park on Woodside Drive where my old apartment used to be because its kinda close to the stadium. However, we did not make it in time for the 3 mile train to block our path to our car. So here is me sitting my prego ass on some sharp stones until the train passed. However, the train did not pass, but came to a complete stop blocking all exits. After waiting about 5 minutes for it to go again Brian and I got fed up and climbed over the top of one of the train cars to escape the waiting, the heat, and frustration. Yes I climbed over a train being 8 months pregnant. Awesome.

The Varstity club threw a nice party at the new Coralville Marriott and here is a picture of the guys after being recognized at the banquet.

Trip to the Zoo

We took Alex to the Zoo for one of her 2nd Birthday gifts. She had a blast even though the temperature creeped up to 95 degrees that day.. We went in the morning to avoid the heat, but it didnt work out that way. We ended up missing the outdoor dolphin show because of the heat ...I dont think Alex was upset about that at all.... as after a couple hours she kept saying, "Mommy I go home , Mommy I go home now......Anyways here are some pictures before both Brian and I were dripping with sweat...... Awesome!


Here is Alex with her nose pressed up against the window to get a better view of the penguins

The seals kept following the kids around the glass window. They were so funny and playful.

Brian and Alex were petting sharks here.... Ya, I said petting. Can you believe it? Who would of thought that sharks make it into the petting area with the goats and stuff? Apparently these ones were not supposed to have teeth? Whatever, I am still scared for life from Jaws.

Brian hoists Alex on his shoulders so she can get a better look at the "Evident" (Elephant) bath.

If I get any bigger with this pregnancy, I mentioned to Brian, this is how they will have to bathe me in my remaining weeks.




Alex and I feed the giraffes sweet potatoes.

And I am spent

Indiana State Fair

The Gambles took the yearly trip to the Indiana State fair here in mid August. True to Gamble tradition, first we hit up the food avenue to fill our bellys with sugar, and sodium. Then we hit the rides and then rounding up the day at the animal barns, which Brian ( extremely allergic to all animals) patiently waited outside..... Oh I should also mention that it was a balmy 90 degrees that day. I spent most of the trip sitting down fanning myself. The kids however, had a great time.



Here is Uncle Matt with the kids enjoying bumper cars right after lunch. No one got sick.

This State fair game involved true skill.. The player must pick up a floating duck to revel a prize. Alex chose a duck with the "oversized stuffed animal prize" We now are the proud owners of a giant orange Nemo fish.

Dad just had to have his picture taken with this fine young stud. Dan the horse just looks ecstatic.

Alex's new room

With the arrival of Hammy # 2 coming up, Brian and I thought it might be smart to start moving Miss Alex into her "new room" before she feels like she is being kicked out of her nursery (which the baby will be able to move right into thanks to gender neutral decor) Ahh second child hand me downs. Aren't they swell?

Here is a look at her new big girl bed, straight from the Brian Hamilton catalog of Pottery Barn look-a-likes. We still need to put her trundle bed and set of drawers underneath. Getting settled in there was a breeze for her, although I have checked in on her a couple times sleeping with her nose pressed into the blue guard rail thing.

Chocolate Ice Cream

There is nothing better in this world than a chocolate ice cream cone in the dog days of summer. Looks like Alex likes chocolate like her Mom and "Gimp- pa" (Grandpa Hamilton)

Kentucky House Boat Vacation

Just this last week, our families took a "houseboat vacation" for the first time on Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. Above you will see the picture of boat 753. ( The house boat we rented).....A 78 foot long by 18 feet wide house boat equiped with 6 private cabins, 2 slides off of the back, 15 person Hottub, 2 bathrooms, a full sized kitchen, living room, grill, etc.... You name it, it was on there. We had 12 people all together and we had plenty of room. Brians parents brought their speed boat for some added water sports fun for the kids. We had a blast. Here are a couple of pictures from this adventure....

Top 5 Memorable moments

1. Poppie Gamble (Danny Boy) trying to re-live his youth and water ski again. Rick (Grandpa Hamilton, Matt and myself were brought to tears of laughter. It was like a walrus out there with 2 skis on....... In the end Danny boy did not get up on the skis, blaming the boat for his own failure. Each time he tried - a new excuse surfaced.

2. As we left the doc to go explore the lake, on the loud speaker blasted songs like "Gilligans Island theme song, and the love boat" theme song. Other lake goers stopped stared and laughed at our twisted selection of music.

3. As Nana Gamble enter the water to swim we blasted the "Jaws" music.

4. Uncle Matt trying to paddle to shore with a cutting board used for cutting fish.

5. Uncle Matt after being de-pants-ed going down the water slide on his stomach. I couldnt see anything Matt, the white slide just blended in with your body.

Here is brother Matt looking ever so metally challenged in this picture as he heads for the shore to look for arrowheads. His paddle he is using is a board used for cutting fish.

Poppie Gamble works the grill on the front of the boat for some delicious burgers and Hotdogs. Nice Cigar.

Here is a picture of Poppie Gamble and Grandpa Hamilton after a few too many beers trying their best to dance to Micheal Jackson's Thriller. I gotta tell ya, a little pee came out after I shot this picture.

Here is Alex on her first tube ride behind the boat with Daddy and Grandma Hamilton.

Here is Alex jumping off whatever she can.

Wisconsin Family Reunion

Brian and I went to the Heine Family reunion ( Brians Mom's side of the family) in July and here are a couple of pictures from that. We were in Lake Tomahawk Wisconsin. So far north that cell phone service is pretty much a no go.... Just a beautiful clear secluded lake with fishing, wildlife, water sports, lots of pine trees, lawn games, campfires, smores, and an all around good time.