Long time

Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long between blog posts!  I clearly have been a slacker, but in my defense I was busy packing not only for our week long trip to Cape Cod, but also for our 3 month stay in FL. 

We had a great time in Cape Cod and I've quickly realized that Emma's feet will not touch the ground the entire time we are in FL unless I make her as her grandpa picks her up any time she makes a peep and carries her around the house.  I can tell she is spoiled rotten, but she's so darn cute that you can't even blame her. 

Our friend Emily braved flying alone with her 16 month old son and enjoyed some time on the Cape with us and then we drove into Boston for some sight seeing.  Can I tell you that we had gorgeous weather?  Emily may have thought it was a little chilly, but I love the fall and am hating this hot weather in Florida already. 

The day after we all left the Cape my dad's lady friend and I left with Emma to drive to Florida.  Yes, I said drive.  Thank goodness for the swagger wagon because you need a lot of crap for 3 months away from home with a baby.  Of course there is always the slightest possibility that I may have overpacked....plus we had Beast with us as he's going to live with my sister.  Luckily a chihuahua does not take up much room. 

I cannot even think of any funny stories about our drive as I've tried to mostly block it out.  It wasn't bad.  Just long.  3 days in the van with an infant gave me a good idea what pcs'ing will be like and I've already told Paul he's going to have to drive one vehicle out ahead of time and fly back to drive with us or we'll have to ship our other car because there is no way I could make that drive in the car alone.  Em was good in the morning, but was bored and lonely in the afternoon and I usually had to sit in back with her to keep her from fussy (did I mention she's spoiled?).  My poor little girl is a trooper though.  As soon as we'd stop for a break and get her out of the car she was all big smiles.  Happy baby. 

We've already seen our friend Jen T. who came over for dinner last night and got to experience my dad, his lady friend, and another couple in all their wine drinking glory.  I think Jen is going to Napa with them next year.  lol 

Em has been swimming and LOVED it as I expected.  I got her a little baby float raft and she kicked herself all over the place.  Of  course my dad put her in the pool when I was in the house (adults were present in the pool) and she was in a cloth diaper.  And she pooped.  Good times.  I think she weighed about 10 more pounds when I picked her up to get her out.  Holy chunky monkey. 

We've also seen my mom twice and she fawns over Em, too. 

After the last few weeks of gluttony I've had I am off to the Y tomorrow to see about a membership.  I cannot continue to be this heavy.  I know I say that repeatedly, but something has to change.  My attitude has to change. 

I am looking forward to catching up with all my old friends this fall even though it's hot and un-fall like. 

Hope all my northern friends are enjoying apple picking and apple cider donuts!  :)

6 month well baby

Em has had quite the 2 weeks at the base clinic.  I took her last week because she seemed so congested.  Of course the pedi didn't think anything was wrong with her and just told me to use the humidifier and to put her bed at a slant.  I had been using the humidifier so I stuck 2 books under the one end of the crib (I chose a woman's daily bible and the daily gratitude book) and she seems much better.  At that appointment she weighed 18lbs 9oz....a week later and my chunky monkey is up to 18lbs 14oz and is 27 inches long.  She seems soooo heavy and her thighs look like chicken wings. 

And she is funny!  We've been side nursing a lot because it's nice to lay there and relax while she nurses and I like to snuggle with her.  Funny gal rolls onto her back when she is full and has started smacking her lips.  I guess the boobie juice is lip smacking good!  It makes me laugh every time.  And Em is quite the laugher as well.  She giggles at everything and loves when mommy makes silly faces and kisses her neck and tickles her. 

She also has a mind of her own and is quite stubborn.  She had shots  yesterday and had zero interest in solid foods today so to thrwart my attempts to feed her solids she would suck in her lower lip as soon as she saw the spoon.  FYI you can't get the spin in when the lower lip is in the way.  Another mommy friend told me her son didn't eat solids for 3 days after his shots so I feel better and am just chalking it up to her being out of sorts. 

She is terrified of the vaccum cleaner and hair dryers.  I knew about the vacuum cleaner, but didn't know about the hair dryer until we went to the salon today so I could get a hair cut.  Another stylist turned on a blow dryer and Emma screamed like someone was coming after us with a chainsaw.

She can sit up now on her own. 

I am missing Paul all the time.  I love watching Em show off for him when we skype.  I realized that we are almost halfway through September and 2 weeks after that we'll hit the 6 month mark of Paul's deployment.  Okay, it won't be quite 6 months, but in my mind it is.  I finally booked our Turks & Caicos trip and I could not be more excited!  Even though it is way more money than we'd ever spend on a vacation normally it will be so worth it to have that family time together.  And it will be much fun for Paul to get to take Emma swimming.  Paul asked why I scheduled our vacation during the NFL play offs and requested to be allowed to watch football the Sunday we are there.  I said no problem, he could stay in the room, and watch football while mommy goes to the spa!  haha

Hope everyone has a good weekend! 

2 years

I've been a blog slacker.  Life has been crazy hectic lately and I've been neglectful.  Here's a quick recap:

I had an awful cold for a week.  Every day I had to remind myself it could be worse because I was exhausted and miserable.  My worst fear of Paul being gone was getting sick and yet I survived.  I give so much credit to single moms and I appreciate Paul so much more.  Life will be so much easier when he gets home. 

Em and I went to Dallas to see my friend Katie, her hubs, and 2 kiddos.  Katie and I have been friends since 7th grade!  I was super nervous about such a long flight with Em, but she was a trooper and did well.  I have realized that flying Jet Blue has ruined me for other airlines as I kept looking around for my tv and wondered why I wasn't getting any free snacks! 

It averaged 108 degrees the entire time we were there and although Katie told me before hand that it was a dry heat I quickly realized that is something people from TX tell their friends so that they'll come visit.  It was like being on the sun! 

I also got a feather in my hair and rocked some cowboy boots.  FYI cowboy boots=also hot.  Not just hot as in we looked dang good, but hot as in causing my whole body to sweat.  When Katie and I first went downstairs in our boots I believe David's response was "You guys aren't really going out like that, are you?"  And if you are a Friends fan then you've seen the episode where Monice buys the expensive boots she can wear with everything and you can well imagine how our night went. 

Em also went swimming for the first time and LOVED it!  I also got to see my old BRLS friend Christine who I hadn't seen since I was 21 (um that is 13 years)!  All in all we had a great time and I can't wait to see them again. 

at Jasper's (thanks Most Eligible Dallas)

Being in TX we missed Hurricane Irene completely although we lucked out in our area. 

Back from TX and in a mad rush to kept the house ready to be gone to FL for 3 months.  Squeezed in a Stroller Strides class and woke up sore in places I didn't know it was possible to be sore in.  College football season started and since Paul is gone I got to outfit Em in support of my team.

Go Noles!!!!!!

Today is my 2 year anniversary.  I feel very lonely tonight and am missing Paul tons.  I can't wait for him to get home.  When Em and I got home from having lunch at our friend's I found beautiful flowers waiting for me.  Even from Afghanistan Paul knows how to make me feel loved and special.  How lucky am I! 

And that's where we're at.  This week we are wrapping up life here and packing and getting ready to head first for a family vacation on Cape Cod and then heading south till Paul gets home. 

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Labor Day weekend.  :)