Oh Dear....

She has the attitude of a pilot to match.

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

Not much is new...we're still relaxing and enjoying time all together. Here is an update in pictures.



Bella's family birthday party.



Jack with his party hat on.



Singing "Happy Birthday" to Bella.



Bella blowing out her candles.



Uncle Jon and Lydia



Isabella opening up her gifts.



Lauren can always find something to stand on!



Chef Isabella and Lydia



Daddy trying the had on for size.



Daddy and his Bella.



Isabella and Lydia



Isabella doing one of her favorite things, looking at photo albums.



The cousins on the Byers' side.



Happy Baby Jack!



What a smile!



Umm...don't ask.



My parent's neighborhood needs Deer Xing signs!



There were five deer this morning!

Change of Plans...

And here I thought the military would leave us alone for our 3 weeks before Steve leaves...ya right. Steve was suppose to be flying out on a particular day, on a particularly "coded" airplane. Well, while we were out and about yesterday Steve received a call that they changed his "code" and now we have no idea when he's flying out. It could be as early as April 4th and as late as April 12th. I just pray that it's after April 6th, which just happens to be his big 40th birthday. Shhh...don't tell him I told you. :)

We've started to discuss with Isabella why we are with Nana and Poppy at there house, and that Daddy has to leave for the desert for a long time. Whenever we get sad she always tells us that it's ok and that, "we will have Skype Mommy so that we can see Daddy and hear his voice." I am so thankful for her innocence and the blessing she is on my life.

Jack is just being Jack...just a little noisier. He's definitely discovered his lungs in the last week. I am starting to wonder if he really is going to be as calm as he seems to be right now...or if he's going to be "crazy" like his sister. We shall see....

I've taken lots of pictures already since we've been here, but we're enjoying our family time too much for me to go through them all. Please continue to pray as we prepare for our journey ahead.

Our Trip in Numbers & Pictures

1177- the number of miles driven

3- the number of hotels stayed at

3- the number of times Isabella threw up (sorry for the details)

3- the age Isabella turned on Monday

5- the number of States we drove through

2- the number of special people we ate out with in St. Louis (we love you Nicholas and Katie!)

2- the number of times I spilled soda on myself

8- the number of months Jack turned on the trip

5- the number of suitcases jammed in the back of our SUV

1- the number of boxes I mailed from Abilene because we could fit no more into the Honda (an actual record for me…usually it’s a lot more!)

This is how it all started...all the boxes



Jack's first swim



...he loved it!



Isabella our little fish

Jack getting warm under his towel after a fun time at the pool



Still a happy baby, with spiked hair



Steve and Alamo at Steve's going away lunch



Steve and his Superintendent, Mr. Bill (as Isabella calls him)



Steve getting his tail from Col Mater

Col Mater and Jack

Isabella on her birthday

Daddy putting Isabella's birthday gift together

Isabella playing with her new kitchen...she didn't want to go to bed!

Happy Birthday Isabella...and we FINALLY made it!

I couldn't let the craziness of the move keep me from saying "Happy Birthday" to my Bella Bear. She's been a bit under the weather...mostly in the car, but seems to be feeling better just in time for her birthday. After spending three days in the car she was ready to play and run, and play some more. We finally arrived at Nana and Poppy's this afternoon. One of the first things we did was put Isabella's birthday gift together, a new kitchen! She LOVES it, and didn't want to stop playing and go to bed. She wanted to make sure the moving men wouldn't take it while she was sleeping. I think it's going to take her some time to realize that we'll be here for a whole year, and the moving men aren't going to take her things again.

I'll post pictures once I can keep both eyelids open.

Moving Update...

I unfortunately don't have any pictures to post, as our card reader is packed in a really good place, I just can't remember where. Anyway, I thought I'd give a quick update on our move. We are officially out of the house. The movers came today and loaded all our items that will be in storage for the year. Steve was the only one at the house since it wasn't the safest place for Isabella and Jack to be with all the movers, etc. I can only imagine how empty and sad the house looks now. We plan on driving by one last time on Friday.

We are at a hotel in town that has an indoor pool which has made Isabella very happy. Jack even had his first swim. He loved being in the pool with his Daddy! I have some great pictures that I will post when we get to Indiana.

Jack turned 8 months on Tuesday. He's getting bigger and bigger. He eats like a champ...2 or 3 9 oz. bottles a day and at least 5 containers of baby food. He's been sleeping a lot better since recovering from his earth infection, which is a WONDERFUL blessing. He's sitting up more, but still prefers to roll around. He gets up on his hands and knees and scoots backwards, so I'm guessing that crawling is just around the corner...hopefully before Steve leaves!

We are coming up on our last few days here which will be filled with out-processing and Steve's going away lunch on Friday. The big drive starts Saturday!

Saying Goodbye to a Home

Growing up I only moved once, when I was 3 years old, so I don't really remember that transition. Since marrying Steve 8 years ago we've moved 4 times, but this is definitely the hardest. Why...

- This was the house where we brought Isabella and Jack home from the hospital.

- This was the house where we lost our beloved German Shepherd, Princess.

- In this house I saw my Isabella go from a baby to a precious little girl, taking her first steps, eating her first foods, running in the backyard, watering the flowers along the walkway, riding her bike.

- In this house Jack realized what mobility was and enjoyed his new found freedom, ate his first foods, and became so attached to his Daddy.

- This house had the wonderful peach tree in the backyard that gave us some delicious peach cobblers.

- In this house I stepped through the attic floor into our guest bedroom on what was a really bad day.

- In this house I cried with Steve over career disappointments, infertility issues, and the news that we would be separated for a year.

On Monday I will cry as we drive away from our little brick home...



This picture was taken the day we moved in, September 1, 2005.