Andy's love for hiking seems to be holding, so we have been able to fit hikes in almost every night after Beth finishes up at the hospital.  Even at home I spend most of my days with him in the back yard where he is much more content.  Saturday we even worked out a logistical puzzle and managed find a way for both of us to ride the Wasatch Crest Trail... The trail is wonderful and I wish I could ride it daily.  Josh, John and myself rode it before lunch and then I returned to take care of Andy while Josh went back up with Beth and Amanda for a second trip.  The views are great with the trees beginning to take on fall colors in earnest.  We are down to the final week in Salk Lake and will surly miss it.  Withdrawals seem inevitable but it has been great and we will fit as much into the next week as we can.  Here are a few pictures from one hike and Beths ride.  I'm not complaining but John pushed such a great pace on our earlier ride that I was too busy keeping him in sight to think about taking any pictures.  It is a wonderful thing to feel completely exhausted, a feeling we found it hard to obtain in the flat world.

Last weekend we piled into the car and headed a couple hours into Wyoming for the third annual Mountain Rendezvous at Rob and Melissa's new hand built cabin.  This was the first year the cabin was complete enough for use and it was amazing.  As you will see from the pictures the weekend was fill with competitions such as hatchet throw, log running, rock throwing, sling shot, water hauling, and log rolling.  Chances are if you have never attended you have little to no experience at any of these events.  The company was great and the weekend was very relaxing...  Andy even got to try some of Landon's toys while he wasn't rooting on the mountain men and women.  Thanks for a great event Rob & Melissa.

Well the trip to Salt Lake City went well for the most part.  Andy wasn't a huge fan of sitting alone in the back of the car for a dozen hours a day, but Beth weathered the crying and Andy seems to have recovered.  He is still as needy as always although with constant attention and love he lives a good life and provides plenty of smiles and sounds.  He loves being in the mountains and has taken to our evening hikes as long as they are not too long.  He insists that he is facing forward in the snuggly even though he is barely tall enough to see out and bobble heads merrily in awe as everything goes by.  Beth's schedule here has bee much more manageable and we have even gotten in some mtn biking and climbing.  My climbing arms proved better than expected although when they died the were worthless and the low elevation flatlands living seems to have thinned my blood a bit for biking as well, although the suffering feels great.  Thanks go out to Josh and Amanda (who has been so busy on call we barely see her) for the wonderful hospitality. 

Thought I better post a couple pictures of the great retiremnet cake that I returned home to Chaska a couple weeks ago.

Well a lot has happened in the past couple weeks.  Beth is now nearly done with here rotation here in Minneapolis, I "Retired" last Friday, and it was all made possible by the Johnson family.  Noreen spent two weeks helping take of Andy, Pat joined us for most of a week, Susie is here this week, we meet up with Luke and Erica for dinner, and Jon & Katie continue to support us with room and board.  We are looking forward to Salt Lake City but will miss all the Family support and the wonderful home we were welcomed into here.  Andy is growing well.  He was up to 10lbs 6oz yesterday and is full of smiles.  Enjoy the photos.  Tomorrow we pack the wagon back up and head to SLC.  We will let you know how the trip goes.  

This week my parents come to visit and get to know Andy a little better.  As a delightful side affect they helped out with valuable child care as Beth started her ER rotation at Hennepin County hospital this week.  We even got to spend time with one of my parents old friends and first baby sitters, Barbara.  She claimed she was still scarred from my relentless crying.  So apparently I wasn't the perfect little angle I always claim to have been, who would have known.  It was great to spend time with family and Andy is doing very well.  This weekend Noreen is arriving to help us out and in two weeks I will be leaving work for a while so I can take care of the little man while we travel.  So cheers to retirement... even if it is short lived :)

Well again I have to apologize for the delayed post.  In the last couple weeks we have officially rolled the gypsy wagon down the road to Minneapolis and thanks goes to the Junker family for a place to park. :)  Last weekend we traveled to Chicago for Beth's Step 2 practical test and with my commute from Grafton put another 2000 miles on the FIT.  We will let you you know how the test went in October when the scores come out.  This brings us to the main topic.  Andy is doing great.  He is sleeping much better (partially due to our new swing)  and spends many more hours awake and happy.   The last trip has allowed our little world traveler to keep his stats top notch and he can still claim to have been to as many states as weeks he is old.  North Dakota.. Check, Montana... Check, Minnesota... Check, Wisconsin... Check, Illinois... Check.  Little Andy is starting to wonder if his car seat is part of him.  On the brighter side home is in the same place for 6 weeks now, and cousin Audrey is doing everything she can to help take care of baby "aaaeee" and we got to see the Van Alstine family in Rochester.  Audrey and Mackenzie had great time running around the house spreading toys to all and everyone else had a great dinner and even better company.  So this week I am heading back to Grafton and Beth is taking the multiple choice portion of her Step 2 exam.  Another week another adventure.  Hope we find everyone in good health and spirits.  Enjoy the photos.  

Well I am sure you have all wondered what would fit in a FIT.  While our experiment is  ongoing, it is a truly a lot.  Say.... Two adults, One occupied car seat, Two 70lb golden retrievers, and enough gear for all above enjoy a week long adventure back to Montana.   Yep... It fits although as a caveat we are not accepting any gifts over the size of a 12oz soda can during this leg of the trip.  We offer our thanks to Pat and Noreen for all their help and guidance during the take off phase.   Noreen did a wonderful job keeping Beth's head above water with child care assistance and emotional support while I returned to work last week.  Pat arrived by Amtrak just in time Friday night to help me put all our earthly belongings that would not fit into our two cars into a big shipping container at the local mini-storage.  So yes, officially homeless now.  The Fit which already had a big week and now looks like a large blue golf ball due to the most horrific hail storm I have even seen last Wednesday, came with us and the Subaru was stuffed full and abandoned on a side street until we return in a week to hopefully find it safe and sound.  So we have now traveled West stopping in Billings, Bozeman, and Helena.  Tomorrow its on to Missoula to see the Rau grandparents and Audrey.  Then Monday its back to Bismarck for a pediatric appointment, then on to Grafton for work, and finally to Minneapolis the following Friday where we will stay for a few days.   As promised here are a few more pictures of our little man.  Andy is doing very well, doing what babies do....eat....pee....sleep....poop.  All that cell splitting must be exhausting.  Well keep you posted as our little adventure unfolds.

Well here we are.  Just completed the second day and Beth hasn't given up on me yet.... Or at least I don't think she has.  It was a good day.  With the help of some stout pain meds Beth regained the ability to walk upright like a human and after a few cases of excessive sleeping at the brestaurant Andy has regained his feeding enthusiasm.  To cap off the day they approved our discharge papers and we got to go home... So there went my excuse for not making any progress on the move.  So here are a few more pictures as well as a few showing Andy's wonderful haircut.  Two days in and he is already more stylish than his father.  I apologize for the delay in the posting of these sought after pics but between the honey-do list and the packing it is getting harder to find time to waste on the computer... can't wait to get back to work for some rest!  Just kidding Beth.  You can also find the local hospital announcement for the birth HERE.

Well our family was blessed with a wonderful son.  Here are the first pictures of the little guy.  It was a tough day but everything turned out well and Beth and Andy are resting and doing well.  We should head home tomorrow and are looking forward to it.  Except for the fact that we will be getting right back to the grind of packing so that we can be out of our house by the end of the month and officially homeless.  Thank goodness for friends!  Anyway here are the stats.

Name: Andrew Patrick Rau
DOB: 6/17/2010 @ 9:27pm Central Time
Weight @ Birth:  6lb 15 oz