Tuesday News

Today was a little less stressful than the past few have been. We finished hanging pictures, had some lunch (yes, I am back on the P90X diet and exercise plan as of yesterday and YES, I am starving and sore) and then took Maggie and Rachel for a walk down to the baseball field. Mags has been kinda depressed now that she doesn't have another dog to play with at home. So she needed a little cheering up... nothing a good tennis ball can't cure. Since there are leash laws here on base and the grass in our backyard is the same amount of square feet as our closet, we just have to walk her every night or she doesn't get any exercise. So with the baseball field fenced in, we let her loose and she ran after that ball like a champ. I still can't get her off my bed and it's been 4 hours!

Rach is sitting up like a champ these days...(I wish I could say the same for the afternoon naps...Ekkk...I hear her start to cry as I am typing...only fifteen minutes into her nap...sigh!)

Since I am in no hurry to clean out my laundry room, I thought I would go ahead and share the pics. While it is currently a mess, I am thrilled with the size.

This room I somewhat finished last night. It just needs a rug and pictures inside the picture frames. But this is the only entrance into our house.

Maggie gets the drawers and the rest of us have our own baskets and hooks.

And here is the front. Super plain and the stairs are really starting to do a number on my waistline.

We're Back

Finally, we are back up and running. Internet is finally working and my office chair has finally been vacated (by my husband who has his own office) so that I can get back to work. Don't worry...there is lots to come, however, I will break it up and share a little at a time.

To start off the day, I am sharing the pictures of the only 2 rooms that are complete! This is the picture of my family room.

And here is my connecting kitchen. Lots of space with a closet pantry. I am thrilled!!

If you haven't picked up all of the hints yet, we live on base in government housing. Everything I need, is within a few blocks. Grocery store, Exchange, gas station, restaurants, gym, waterfront jogging trail. I rarely have to go into the city...(of course we all know that I need a Target fix every now and then). But we arrived safely last Thursday and spent 2 days in downtown Alexandria while we got everything moved in.

Maggie is in heaven...she loves stairs and since our house is three stories, she constantly runs up and down them.

Rachel got back on routine quite quickly just to completely change everything starting yesterday. Boy what a long day we have had. Skipping the lunchtime nap really gives me a tired feeling I wasn't ready for. But what a relief it is to have her sleeping in her on room in her own bed. She has been sleeping in a portacrib in our room for the past 5 months. Ugh! While she does sleep through the night, every turn or cough or movement keeps me up.

E is reviewing paperwork and getting ready for work next week, as well as putting up pictures and moving furniture at my whims.

Baileys on the Move

Where am I these days? It hard to tell from day to day! I have slept in 8 different cities in the past 2 weeks. No, it's not fun, it's exhausting. Sigh...but we are making due because we are in the middle of a huge move for the whole family. We arrived in our nations capital this morning and took a tour of the base, did a little window shopping, drove by our house (we don't get the keys until tomorrow), and then headed to our hotel and took Rachel swimming.

But the highlight of my day was getting to see Marine One (4 of them) take off and land not too far from my house. I know right!?! I am so excited to be starting the newest part of our life. I know posts are few and far between lately but we move into our house tomorrow and hopefully life can start calming down next week. We have been living with friends and relatives for far too long. And while we are incredibly grateful for everyone's sense of accommodation, we are ready to settle down somewhere we can cal our own.

-Pictures of move-in day to come...

Steak Log

Have you ever let your husband decide what you are having for dinner? Well, I did that this week. And this is what came out! Yes, that is a giant hot pocket full of meat and potatoes! No Lie! Matt and E refer to it as "STEAK LOG." But the real name is the Horseradish Beef Strudel. P.S. it was really good and made enough for 2 meals so go and try it (and add mushrooms).

The Fourth

Neil had a little too much water to drink, and couldn't find a lamp shade to put on his head so, I guess, foil was the next best thing. At least he's prepared for an alien invasion.
Maggie ruined my back-up sunglasses and E turned them into an all night Harry Carey impersonation.
Natalia was so sweet with the baby and held her for a long time.
Rach has a new love of Blue's Clues. It really worked out well. We cooked and she watched.

New Video Posted

Rach practiced sitting up for me while I got it on video with my new phone. Yay... for new technology!! Click here to see the video.

Moving Madness

Somehow, not one, but 2 different departments didn't do their job and the paper work wasn't filed to get movers to come last week. I spent the better part of 3 days packing and separating our belongings and packing the last few things into the storage lockers.

We woke up at 5am on Wednesday to pack the car one more time before the packers came. E hung out at the storage facility for about an hour before he finally called to find out what was taking so long. He was informed that no one was coming for another 6 days. Surprisingly, we are both at peace about everything. I was worried about staying at the storage building with the packers all day with the baby and now E can do it ...so really it was a blessing in disguise.

This is what E and I jokingly refer to as the "Hurry Up and Wait" mentality of the military. Want another example? We woke up at 5 am to drive to Houston and be the first one's in line to get new ID's. We walked in the door and sat down at 7:30. Even though we were first in line, we weren't taken care of until noon.

Let's Play Catch Up, Shall We?

Here is Rach practicing to sit up all by herself. We are SO close it's scary! I can't wait!

Our gracious host, Matt, dressed the part of Uncle Sam for our Independence Day Celebration at church. Rach 100% refused to look at him!!!

I am not sure that Uncle Sam wore boat shoes and an iPhone clip.

Where have I been all of this time!

Let's start this post by saying that the Carter Bed and Breakfast (the friends we are currently staying with while we are in transition) had an internet recession. The network cable went on strike and the unemployment numbers didn't come in for a few days. But once the first quarter results were finally posted, there was a bi-partisan resolution reached (both Bailey's and Carter's). We pushed a bill through to get a stimulus package for new cabling and now, just before the break for the summer vacation, we now have internet again. (Pardon my bad political joke but I couldn't resist!)

Yes, we have had a hard few days without the internet. Boy did I realize how dependent I am upon it. Banking, email, entertainment, shopping, YOU NAME IT! There is nothing I can't do online these days. That is why I am so very glad to announce the arrival of our brand spanking new 3G iPhones. It was like God looked down on us in our time of internet needs and smiled.