Freaking Out!

Okay, I'm totally freaking out right now (and when I'm freaking out, I sound like a valley girl, using words like "like" and "totally"). Anyways, the reason for my "freak out" is that I just heard from Steve and all is well there but he has heard that the assignments are "out" and everyone where he is knows their assignment but of course he doesn't know his, mostly because he is in a different location than his squadron right now for a planning thing (I know this seems vague but I honestly don't understand what exactly he's doing at this different location, something about planning something?) He's still in a "forward operating location" as in, somewhere in the Middle East. But anyways, this assignment, as all assignments are, is a big deal for us. This assignment will determine whether or not Steve will be staying in the AF. We are hoping to stay in. When you are in the AF, my AF friends will agree, that your life is laid-out in 2-3 years chunks of time divided up by assignments. The assignment Steve gets determines alot of things for our lives--more babies, jobs, location, selling a house, buying a house, how close or far we are to family. All of these things are up in the air until you know where your country is sending you next. UGGGGGHHHHHHH, I hate waiting to find this out! Man I am not going to sleep tonight!!!!

Pumpkin Patch Fun?!

Are we having fun yet?!

My mom came into town this weekend to visit. She flew into Charlotte and so did my Dad, but he was there for a checkride so Brian and I drove up on Friday and picked up Mom from the airport and spent the night up there so Brian could see both his Grandparents. The next day, Mom, Brian and I drove home and Mom just left from Columbia today. We didn't do much this weekend (there's not much to do in Sumter) but we did go to the Pumpkin Patch. Actually, not quite a patch, more of a church parking lot with hay bails and pumpkins of course. It was cute though. What was not cute was Brian's attitude. He didn't enjoy any of it, well, maybe the part where he thought he was going to run across the parking lot to play on the playset. He wouldn't sit still for pictures and wouldn't be picked up. Didn't want to go through the maze made out of hay bails. He did touch a few pumpkins and run around a little and we did manage to buy a small $3 pumpkin for him to paint. Maybe it will go better next year?

We are both thinking "uggghhh"

I'll let you hold me but I'm not looking at the camera!

Oh, look, a play ground over yonder!!!

Ahhhhhhhhh!

Grandma is trying to distract me with the hay maze (I'm smarter than that)

Daddy came along and was perfectly well behaved!

At home playing with Grandma

Me and Grandma

Me and Grandpa--the Brians

Bald Steve

He always shaves his head when he's in the desert but usually just with a one clip on an electric razor. This time he went all the way with a bic and some shave gel. I had heard from the wives at this week's coffee that their husbands all said he looked funny. He finally sent a picture....

And yes, that is a deployment 'stashe on his upper lip!

Brian is Superboy!

This blog is out of order, but whatever, I wanted to tell this story. On Sunday we were at the park on base with the other wives and children in the afternoon. As soon as Brian had a snack of cookies and juice, I released him from his stroller and followed him over to the playset. He was about 8 feet ahead of me because he runs everywhere these days, but he stills need help and supervision on the play set so I stayed close by. He ran straight to the stairs to climb up and when I looked over at him, he was holding something tiny between his thumb and forefinger, reaching out to me to take it. I thought, 'oh, probably a leaf, or twig, or pebble, or other some such gift he always gives me.' Boy, was I wrong. As I started walking over to see what he wanted to give me, I realized he was holding a bee by it's wings!!! It was alive and thrashing about between his tiny fingers. The next two seconds were like slow motion for me as I ran toward him to grab the bee out of this hand. He let go of it right as I got there and it flew away. He continued his stair climbing, unstung, and I stood there in shock trying to get my heart rate back down. So, when I told Steve this story, we decided that Brian is "Superboy--master of bees," and his kryptonite is milk (he's lactose-intolerant)!!!

Pictures from the Deployed Location

Steve sent some pictures of his room and the area around his "pod". He says if you want to know what the rest of the place looks like just imagine more sand and concrete barriers.

His bed

His locker

View from the parlor?

The front stoop with extravagant landscaping?

The view from the grand ballroom?

We survived the first week!

(But just barely). Steve has been gone one week today. Both boys have been to the doctor this week--Brian to the pediatrician for a mild ear infection and Bailey to the Vet for some bowel issues. Both are on the same antibiotic actually! The Vet said Bailey has something wrong with his colon but between Brian screaming at me and throwing toys and the Vet mumbling in almost a whisper, I'm not clear exactly what his colon problem is. But I did catch the part about what pills he needs how many times a day and that he needs to go back in for xrays. Apparently this problem he has with the colon could be caused by anything from diet to cancer to "dietary indescretions" (meaning he accused me of feeding Bailey human food, I barely have time to eat human food, Bailey certainly doesn't get any). But we did have some fun this week--Brian had his last swim lesson for this year at least. He showed off his kicking skills, played around with a water noodle, and enjoyed playing "humpty dumpty" falling into the pool from the side wall. We also had a fun playdate with Brian's friend Audrey, Brian went to PMO (Parent's Morning Out) for the first time this school year, and we went to Gymboree this morning. Steve called one time this week but we've been emailing daily. He says he lost a tooth filling, sounds like his week went about as well as ours! I'm hoping for another call soon, in fact I wore my bluetooth during Gymboree today just in case! Oh, Brian tried to kiss a cat in the waiting room at the Vet's office. Don't worry, I jumped in before it got ugly. Actually I think the cat didn't mind at all. He was very interested in the cats but really didn't think much of all the dogs. He of course said bye bye to each one as they left the office. Hopefully we don't see the Pediatrician or the Vet next week at all!

Little Puppy Deploys!

Little Puppy was a gift to Brian from my mom at my baby shower. He is tiny and soft and came with his own little blankie. Little Puppy got his orders to deploy this week and began his trip today to the deployed location along with some treats, toiletries, homemade cookies, and the following letter:

Dear Daddy,
I miss you! This is my little puppy. He’s been mine since before I was born. I thought you could use some company and this little guy is small but cuddly. I was hoping you could take him places with you sometimes and take pictures of him wherever he goes. When you and little puppy get home, Mommy can make me a book of all the pictures of the places you and little puppy went together and the adventures you had. This will help me understand what a deployment is when I’m older. Take little puppy as many places as you can! Here are some ideas mommy had about where he could get his picture taken—your room, the bathrooms, the gym, the mess hall, the squadron, the BX, on the wheel of a really cool Army vehicle, in the jet, and anywhere else you can think of. Be creative Daddy! I will love to have a little book about where my puppy went with you!!! I love you so much and miss you already. I kiss my daddy doll a lot and ask about you whenever I’m on you and Mommy’s bed! Your little boy, Brian

The following is a note from mommy: I know this is weird and you’ll be embarrassed to take pictures of a stuffed animal but Brian will love this book one day. Try to aim for at least 20 pictures (that’s only one a week). It could always be worse, I could have picked a larger stuffed animal or something pink ;) I love you, Kelly

I tried to get a few pictures of Brian with little puppy before he was shipped off but he wasn't having any of it, he's not really a stuffed animal fan (you can't loudly bang a stuffed animal against the coffee table and see wood chips fly off it, therefore stuffed animals are boring). Here are some of the funny ones:

Mommy, here's this stupid dog thing again

Little puppy whispering sweet nothings...

Take this mommy and give me something hard to play with

You tricked me!