192 posts tagged “life”
We finally sucked it up and got internet at our apartment today. We didn't want to splurge and get it because we figure we'll be moving in a few weeks, but we just felt too disconnected from the world. For goodness sakes, we had to call our friends Miranda and Justin the other day to figure out what the tornado sirens were about ;).
Andrew's supposed to call housing today, word has it (from our friends that live in base housing) a house has been packed up and is sitting empty....I'm wondering if it could be our potential new home!! (And yes, I drove by it...and there's already a flower garden...so I'm hoping it's ours!)
We were supposed to find out yesterday if we were staying in here in LA or moving to ND...but they messed up the list (put someone who can't possibly move on the moving list....) so they have to fix it and then they'll tell us our fate. I just want to know if I need to be looking for winter parkas on clearance here next spring!!!
So I have tons of updates and pictures to share, and unfortunately hardly any time to spare...Gavin is a busy little boy and doesn't take kindly to Mommy blogging (even if it is all about him!).
We've all been feeling under the weather lately, Gavin has an impressive cold that I think he caught at MOPS, but he got off far better than sweet Cade (Miranda and Justin's little boy) He got pretty sick and a 103 degree fever to go along with it. I just feel yucky but I'll survive. Andrew has sniffles too...
We managed to survive Hurricane Ike which was far worse than Gustav. For a hurricane that wasn't even supposed to bring us rain, we got to sit around with howling winds, sideways rain and watch the siding peel off the apartments across the pool from us. Lots of trees down in Shreveport, and even around our apartments (but they were all tiny). The power was off for 10 hours or so, but thankfully came back on in just enough time so all our food wouldn't spoil. The dogs did NOT like going out in 40 mph winds....imagine me holding onto them for dear life as their ears are being blown inside out and as they're trying go potty, the wind blowing their pee everywhere but on the ground...yeah, that was fun.
Since Gavin is taking a nap, I'm going to try and get some of the pictures and funny happenings updated...so stay tuned :)
I've braved the library again for a quick update.
We're all doing well (except Gromit who woke us all up at 5:30 pretty sick...all over the bed and me) He seems fine now though, so hopefully it was temporary.
Gavin just had his first Kindermusik class and LOVED it. Well worth every penny to see him so happy and enjoying himself. The other two little boys in the class are so cute, but its too bad there aren't more kids his age..(they're babies). We also had our first MOPS meeting yesterday and he apparently had tons of fun after he threw a huge fit about me leaving him. My friend Miranda came with me,and Gavin and Cade kept each other company and Gavin seemed to have a lot of fun with all the other kids (but he missed his MS MOPS friends I'm sure!)
I went to my first Officer Spouse's Meeting and had a lot of fun too, there's a welcome coffee for our squadron next week that should be fun too. No word yet on whether we're staying here or heading North yet either...*fingers crossed still*
There's a house available finally, but no definite move in date...hopefully by the end of the month.
I know I can't wait to have all our things back (especially all my fall decorations!) (ok and my pots and pans...and my coffee maker!!!)
I have lots of little things I'd love to share about our adventures in Louisiana but Gavin's patience with being quiet is running out fast and I want to check out a few more books before we leave. Hopefully I can come in without him this weekend.
Tomorrow, we're finally (officially) moving to our new base. For real this time.
Andrew picked up the keys to our new apartment this afternoon. He says it's so nice that I will love being there and forget about a house...I think he's being optimistic, but I hope he's right (that it's nice), I'm still going to hope for a house!
I took Gavin for a final play date with his best friends in Columbus today. He enjoyed a final roll around in Jackson's ball pit and admired all the toys that he had (has- but have disappeared of late), had two minor meltdowns when I went to the bathroom, and finished the day by biting me when I was putting his shoes back on.
It was bittersweet saying goodbye to Elizabeth and Traci...my first "mom" friends!! I know when Elizabeth moved to Columbus a year ago, it was with her little 5 month old, Jackson and Gavin was only 8 weeks old!! And Traci and I (funnily enough) sort of met through the internet on a military newlyweds chat board...and our babies were turning into toddlers by that point!! We've all been through a lot together, crawling, teething, first words, walking, first birthday parties, and the start of the terrible twos!! I'll really miss the weekly play dates and walks and phone calls to just vent about what our kid(s) have just managed to get into.
It was also really sweet of Paige to drop by the play date (hope all those rambunctious toddlers didn't scare you off!) She's been such a sweet friend and a big inspiration to me too.
We're leaving behind so many great friends, neighbors and memories. I know that it's only a matter of time before I will be blogging about new friends and experiences, or at least sharing my embarrassing moments catching Gromit, hmm?
I did (you know I did!) drive by the house one last time...I was trying to get Gavin to wave bye-bye to his first home...he was sound asleep from the play date. So as I drove out of Capitol one last time, I thought of all the dreams and hopes we had moving there....
I was 8 months pregnant, it was our first house. I had my first opportunity to plant a garden and explore decorating with all the quirks that make a military house home sweet home (i.e. awkward room sizes, more closets than you know what to do with, extremely odd window sizes, ancient hardwood floors, 1950s puke pink tile and the nicest neighbors on Earth!).
My husband was starting the biggest (longest) year of his life, and had high hopes for a career as an Air Force pilot! I sat through many nights of watching him pour his heart into studying T-37 bold face procedures (hand grips raised triggers SQUEEZE anyone?), "chair-flying", and walking/flying through patterns all around the house, I learned all about radio calls and how Mississippi has more catfish ponds than he ever imagined (they're easy to see from the air!)
I worried with him about what downgrades and hooked rides would mean for his future, nervously watched and waited as his dreams become a closer reality after track select came and went and he started training in a new plane (T-38). I sat through many long afternoons and evenings waiting for him to come home, woke up at the crack of dawn for many an early week and spent a few weekends with the girls while he was gone cross-country.
Nearing the end of his UPT career, we all suffered a terrible loss when a beloved IP and student were killed in a T-38 crash, and then just after the planes were cleared to fly again, another T-38 crashed at another base, further rattling the pilot's (and their wives') confidences. After that rough week, the night we'd all been waiting for finally arrived...Our Assignment Night. While it didn't turn out quite as we'd imagined all those months, we've come to be really excited about what God has in store for us in Andrew's new plane and this new base. After such a long, hard and at times heartbreaking year...it was such a relief to pin Andrew's silver wings on his chest in May. He worked so hard, and now he is finally living the dream, he's an Air Force pilot...
As I drove out of Capitol that last time today, I thought about all that's changed...that tiny baby that was kicking inside me, is now an always on the run almost 15 month old! We came into Columbus with two crazy puppies and a mellow cat, and left with two mellow dogs and sadly not with our sweet cat. We're moving on with new hopes and dreams and so with all that anticipation of what's in store...I can only say, We'll miss Columbus and all the great people and friends we met while we were here. It was a long long year, but it really was a great year and definitely an experience we'll never forget!!
There probably won't be any updates for a few days (hopefully no longer than that!) while we get "settled". Hope you'll stick around to see what's coming next.....
Yesterday it rained 4 inches. Over a period of several hours. Of course, the dogs had to go out at some point. I tried to put it off as long as I could, because remember how I mentioned that I can't use an umbrella when I take them out in rain (I thought it was just because it causes them to dawdle for ages or never go?!)...well it was raining so hard that I decided just to try the umbrella...
I geared up, leashes on dogs, rain boots on me, grabbed the umbrella, stepped outside into the downpour...opened my umbrella, and in that split second I remembered why I can't use an umbrella....
Wallace is terrified of umbrellas.
The second I opened that umbrella he took off...fortunately or not, he was still attached to me by way of his leash. So I'm skidding (as close to water skiing as one can get) across the flooded backyard, screaming at him to stop.Of course, I'm still senselessly holding onto the umbrella and so when he does slow down, he turns to see that I still have that wretched contraption, and so he starts up running again.
Gromit thought it was all some big game, so he was running right along with Wallace. I'm lucky I kept my footing and didn't land face first in the mud, and Wallace only stopped running when a giant boom of thunder scared him to his senses and I closed the umbrella and dragged him back inside. Of course no one managed to go potty....and once again I thanked my lucky stars that my parents don't have neighbors at least all theses shenanigans of the dogs have been unseen by others.
Wallace has numerous irrational fears besides umbrellas;
ponchos (I tried this number on him later...he was just as terrified as with the umbrella), balloons, big blue balls (only big blue balls- all other balls are fair game to be popped), vacuum cleaners (he loves Gavin don't you think?), moving trucks, crinkling paper or bags, suitcases, I know I'm leaving out so many of them...it would almost be easier to say what he's not afraid of....thunderstorms (unless they involve umbrellas), food, beds (unless they are air mattresses), and petting.
Otherwise, you can just assume he's terrified of it.
If he could take this toy to bed with him, he would...I have no doubt he would snuggle with it all night.
For days, whenever he was vacuuming and he wanted to be picked up, you had to pick up both him and the vacuum. He loves to push this around while Nana tidies up with her vacuum, and he takes the toy vacuum into the closet where the real vacuum is, to "compare" his to the real thing. He's content to push this vacuum around for hours...if only it could really suck up the dirt...I'd put him to work :)
They got the name right, that's for sure. Today Elizabeth and I braved a store called, "Dirt Cheap". Our friend Traci had warned us that we needed a tetanus shot and hazmat suit to enter, and she was just about spot on with that description. Okay, maybe it wasn't quite that bad... another friend revealed she gets all of her ridiculously cute outfits there, so we couldn't resist a trip, but I have a piece of advice for them....
I guess I understand the "appeal" of your store, you're luring customers in with the hope that after they dig through piles (literal piles) of junk, they might find something fantastically wonderful and feel it's all worth it! But!!, if you would perhaps "sort" the things into more reasonable piles of junk and maybe throw away the things that a) don't work, b) are EXPIRED c) are empty boxes d) or like the shoes that have no mates!! Who wants one piece of the matching pair? ...you might enjoy higher profits (though the store did seem packed)
I just feel that the point shouldn't be to disturb your customers with your lack of organization skills....it looks like the trucks just backed up to your front door and exploded their wares everywhere....complete with authentic caution tape (I kid you not!) and there was just so much junk that I just don't think would ever sell (broken toys, missing parts, stained underwear!!) Maybe I'm not giving the place a fair chance, thoughI did find 3 kids books for 25 CENTS a piece and two shirts (one for me and one for Gavin- $2 a piece)... I still wondered how the store stays open...
I'm a bargain hunter for sure, but I was just lacking the nerve (or patience with Gavin) to dig into all the stuff and see what treasure lay in the midst of disaster, I just felt that with a little more organization and cleaning!, the place would be more appealing to shoppers.
loathing:
- still no "house", we move into our apartment Saturday, but we're hoping that won't last long, unless we end up finding out we're headed to North Dakota in the Spring, and then we'll consider renting the apt. till then. (or not...depending on if I maintain my sanity with 2 dogs in a 2 bedroom apartment on the top floor).
- summer...fall can hurry up already, I'm over the 100 + temps and humidity (though this week has been a little better on the humidity front).
- no sleep...I can't sleep, its too hot. mostly because of my whippet hot water bottles every night
- Gavin's attitude of late,he screams over every tiny transgression...why call them the "terrible two's" if they hit at 15 months!!
loving:
- get back to me on this later.
looking forward to:
- the same thing I've been looking forward to for 2 weeks now....a house of our own.
- fall
- right now...Gavin's bedtime, peace and quiet if the two "hot water bottles" would quit growling and fighting on the bed....
Today was perfect weather (albeit HOT) for butterflies. My mom's gardens are gearing up for their final bursts of color before fall, and she's got the perfect place for the butterflies by her front door...zinnias, cosmos, black-eyed susans, and many more. It's a veritable butterfly paradise.
If you've ever tried to photograph butterflies, you know how you've just got your shot set up and then they flitter off. It took several several tries but I finally captured some. (Thank God for digital cameras, I would've wasted rolls of film today!)
The scene by the front door...this area is filled with flowers almost year-round...and the butterflies love it!
I just got back from seeing Andrew's parents. We had a fun visit that was quite the whirlwind of events when I sit to think about it.
My SIL Allison just got engaged last week but is on the ball with the wedding planning and bought her dress and picked out her attendants' dresses, flowers are narrowed down, she's meeting with her photographer Monday, she's got the locations booked...she's on top of things!! But Friday was fun watching her try on dresses (first one was the winner- just like with me :) ). Gavin behaved remarkably well, as long as I was in sight...he's definitely clingy these past few days.
Allison and I went out to dinner without the kids, and had a good time at Target too :)
Then we watched Olympics, my wedding dvd (which made her nervous!), and stayed up and talked for forever.
Gavin went to bed sometime before 10, but close enough to it that he was a grouch!!! this morning, since he got so little sleep. I didn't get much either...dogs took over the bed and tried to smother me to death.
Today we tied up loose ends with the wedding dress, I got a haircut (pictures to follow), and we had Gav fitted for new shoes that he LOVES. They are tiny little New Balance sneakers and they make him look so much older than almost 15 months!!
The dogs were so happy to play with Dakota (Mimi and Papa's dog), they slept well last night and have been conked out since I got home several hours ago...I think I may have to peel them off the bed to go outside here in a few minutes.
Oh yeah! Gavin fell in love with Lauren's toy vacuum cleaner (which she didn't care much for) and Allison generously gave it to Gavin. He's been thrilled, if he could have taken it to bed with him tonight, he would've. He would ask Nana to pick him up tonight, but she had to pick him and the vacuum up...he's smitten :)
I'll have to take some pictures of him with his "Mmmmm" (what he calls it- think vacuum sound).
He was a daredevil and jumped out of his chair tonight in the time it took me to turn around and tell him that he needed to be on his bottom. So...if you notice that knot and bruise on his head tomorrow at church....I promise I'm not beating my child!! He cried quite a bit, but calmed down as soon as I took him outside to see my parent's cat. Then he just wanted to chase poor Weezie.
Tomorrow is truly my final Sunday at church, because this time next week I'll be officially reunited with Andrew :) I'm very excited to have our family back together, but I really will miss my family and Andrew's. Thankfully, we're not that far away. Andrew officially started his next round of training last week- so far so good. I guess their first exam is coming up though...Hopefully it won't be so demanding that we'll never see him though...I can't take another year like UPT was!!! Too stressful!!
Anyways- I'll try and get pictures up tomorrow, I'm so tired and just want to curl up in bed!!!
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