life with state

So for those of you who haven't heard, our departure has moved again. By only a few weeks, but in doing the math a few crucial weeks in my mind. Mike's training schedule has changed again to get his classes finished with in February instead of March. Like the first week of February, so we can leave mid February, if everything comes together, but this would mean #3 won't be 2 months, but just 6 weeks. Yes that's only 2 weeks difference, but that means no 2month well baby stateside and no shots. AH! Freaking out just a little, but I'm staying positive. Mommies do this all the time, come stateside to have a baby and leave right at 6 weeks. No big deal. Our departure will be mighty stressful though. #3 and I will need to both be cleared to go, we will have to drive somewhere in VA to get the birth certificate before the standard month time, get 2 passports for the baby and a visa....and the list goes on.

18-months

So Maggie is really almost 19-months, but she had her 18-month check up yesterday and I find myself amazed with her growth, although according the Pediatricians records her head has shrunk. She has grown 3 inches since we've moved to Falls Church. Her weight has stayed pretty steady at 24 lbs which is good for preggo mama who's stuck having to carry the baboo.

So the typical questions asked at the 18-month is if she can climb stairs, or crawl, everyone who knows Maggie, knows she attacks the stairs, now she jumps down them, even if I try to keep her from doing so. The number 1 question is words, how many words does your child speak. I looked at the doctor with a quizzical look like I don't know. I know some people actually count their children’s words and even write them down in a memory book, most people who know me, know I'd start something like that with good intentions, but fail, so honestly I have no clue. I asked the doctor if OW counted as a word and she said no, even if it's her go to for everything for example STOP and HELP. Nope not a word just a sound. She has however mastered the words NO and MINE. Yippie!

She then asked me if I felt Maggie was developmentally challenged, I had to stifle a laugh. If anything, Maggie is ahead of the curve other than talking.

So this is my proud post on our little daughter who is now not so little.

Our 4th

Everyone is well aware that this past weekend was the 4th of July! Yippie! It's a good time to celebrate our Nation's birthday. Which makes it what 234 years? Pretty nice.

A great Army friend came to stay with us for the weekend and Finn was just so excited about this. Uncle Bailey made his weekend by just listening to him :) The best thing about the Army was that, although all of our family is spread out across the country, we made our own family out of the good friends we made. On Saturday we made our way to the Walter Reed Army Medical and Health Museum, creepy stuff in jars! Who could ask for more? Then straight to the Nats game, which was sold out, but we were able to get standing room only tickets and wandered around the stadium buying junk food, and beer for the boys. We left early because it was HOT and didn't want to face traffic, but oh too soon since the Nats ended up coming back in the 9th inning and beating the METS! Crazy.

The 4th was just awesome. We spent a total of 10hours sitting out by Roosevelt Island, directly across the Potomac from the Lincoln Memorial, a perfect spot for FIREWORKS! Mike has made a somewhat family tradition to write out the beginning of the Declaration of Independence on something, last year we had an awesome chalk drawing on our drive way, this year it was on shirts, we'll see what we get next year in Laos.

July 4, 2009.

July 4, 2010.

Here are a few shots of the awesome fireworks, taken by Mike of course.

Finn watching the fireworks, first year he wasn't scared of them, but we're pretty sure last year he just wanted the attention from a pretty girl by acting scared.