It's been forever!

For anyone still checking this page... Update coming soon, I swear :)

I never know what to use for a title!

Well, Noah and I have settled into a little routine here in WA. On days it's sunny we go for long walks and to a nearby park with baby swings. He loves those things - and he gets to stare in amazement at all the bigger kids. There are a ton of parks on McChord. We haven't really checked any out on Lewis yet. We had almost two weeks of really nice, sunny weather here but the past few days have been back to boring rain - that's the thing with the rain here, it's so boring; just a depressing, steady drizzle. I've always said I like rain and now I know why people from this part of the country acted like I was nuts. Actually, what I like is Arizona rain. The big thunderstorms and smell of wet dirt, even the big dust storms (haboobs!). Anyways...

Last month my dad and Linda came to visit and we had a nice time just hanging out. I always love having family visit but I definitely value that time much more now that I'm away from anything familiar. We went to Point Defiance zoo one day that it wasn't really raining and I got a membership for the year. Noah loved the aquarium there! I went back a couple of weeks ago with a some other mamas and their babies. I met them through a "natural moms" group here and we've had a few playdates and get-togethers. They're really sweet ladies and I'm bummed they're moving home when their husbands deploy sometime this fall.

What else... My mom, Bob, and Andrea are coming to visit next week and I'm excited about that. Hopefully the weather is decent! My cousin, Hunter, may drive over, from Spokane, for the weekend too. Noah and I had a quick visit with my Uncle Billy last month and hopefully we can make it to that side of the state sometime this summer to visit. It's such a pain having a dog - Kelly is sweet but she's a pain in my ass and is unpredictable with other dogs and people she doesn't know so boarding her scares me a bit.

Noah's birthday falls on a Saturday and I was getting so excited about planning his first birthday party but guess what? As usual, the army has other plans. Ryan gets back the first week in June, will be home for a week, then leaves again for 3 weeks - missing Noah's birthday. Then home a week and away for another 3. Yes, at least he's stateside but gone is gone... I know it could be worse and he could be away for much longer but it's almost worse having him come and go all the time. I constantly have to adjust my routine and go through the crappy "he's gone again" first few days. He was gone a bit while I was pregnant, then for the better part of 5 months after Noah was born, home for a month, gone for two months, back together for 2 weeks, gone for 2 months... Now this. I know all this training will just lead up to a deployment too. Long story - but we're going to have his party the weekend after his birthday so at least Ryan can be home to help with that. We have some friends from recruiting that will be up here by then and some nice neighbors so I think we'll have a good little crowd.

Here's a few photos... I'm updating on my phone so it won't let me put them in any order or write captions. For any friends or family that are still following this blog - sorry we're not more entertaining!

Gone Again...

Ryan left for Washington DC yesterday to do some more training. He'll be back home the first part of June. We're fortunate he's only gone for a couple months and he's somewhere that he's safe but today was particularly hard for me. Being in a new place where I basically don't know anyone is making this separation harder but I'm going to have to push myself to get out there and get to know people and hopefully make some good friends. Everytime we get to be back together again and finally settle into a routine it seems like he has to leave again.

I've been so busy unpacking, cleaning, washing clothes and diapers, organizing, and bossing poor Ryan around since we got here that I haven't had anytime to relax. Since Noah isn't too big on napping, the only time I usually have to kick back is after he goes to bed. I decided to FORCE myself to take a break from all the housework tonight to have some wine and watch a girly movie and RELAX... I keep having urges to get up and do stuff but I'll get to it eventually... Just have to remind myself that it WILL get done.

I can't believe we're closing in on Noah's first birthday. It seems unreal that time has gone so fast. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday! He's such a sweet, smart, happy little guy and he puts up with his crazy mother so well! :)

Here are some pictures from Easter...

We finally moved!

This move to Washington turned out to be much more difficult than we had anticipated. Ryan moved up to Fort Lewis two months ago to start working and we thought Noah and I would be up here a week or two later but it took forever for a house to open up. So, Noah and I finally flew up here about two weeks ago after Ryan came back to Phoenix for my car and our pets. We are living on the McChord Airforce Base right next to Fort Lewis, the army post that Ryan works at. McChord housing and the base itself is MUCH nicer than Lewis so I'm happy we ended up over here. We're close to a little pond and playground and there are tons of jogging/hiking trails around us. The house is about half the size of our Phoenix house so I've been trying to sell a ton of stuff. The movers didn't unpack anything since we weren't sure what we were keeping so the house is a wreck. Here's a lovely picture of our family room. The second is the park by our house.

Ryan has to leave in about two weeks for some training on the east coast. He'll be gone until the beginning of June. I'm bummed but Noah and I are excited about family coming to visit in April and May.

Noah got to meet his big sister, Abbey, yesterday. I'm so happy they finally met. She lives not too far from us so hopefully they'll get to know each other pretty well while we're here. Abbey was very sweet to him and he seemed to be fascinated by her.

Noah has been a bit grumpy lately and kind of a sleep and nap monster... Meaning he doesn't want to do either. I'm hoping it's just due to teething - I can see the top ones about to break through. We had a rough couple weeks with the bottom teeth (he has two).

Still Waiting...

Our house was packed up and moved to storage in Washington mid January and Ryan had to report up there for his new job not long afterwards. Noah and I have been living at my mom's house in Phoenix. It's been great having somewhere familiar and close to stay at. We had only planned on being here until the first week in February though so I had the movers pack pretty much all of Noah's toys and everything of mine except a suitcase of clothes. I'm sad to be moving but can't wait to have all of his baby things back. I think I miss his bouncer more than he does - it's the only way I could get anything done! We finally got our house here rented out and just found out we're finally up for a house on post the first week in March. It will be on the air force side - air force housing is much nicer! Or so it seems on the housing website. This move has been much more challenging than I had originally anticipated.

Noah has been sick this past week with a very bad cold and I just came down with it a few days ago. Poor baby boy, it's the first time he's been sick and it's been rough! He is all done with his helmet now and I can't stop messing with his hair and kissing his little head. Not much else to report though!

Last picture with helmie!

Loves to Bounce...

He's so happy in his jumperoo!