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.

The Last of our Trip Pictures

After 5 weeks, Rach finally got to see her daddy. She didn't recognize him but she definitely recognized his voice.

Rachel got very interested in Brody towards the end of our trip.

Brody's first outing to go and get greasy Staggs burgers...a hometown favorite.

After we got home, Matt decided to write and record a new song about Rach. Here she is, exhausted, after a long day of recording background vocals.

Did you ever think we were coming home?

Well we finally made it back home. We were gone 5 weeks...5 WEEKS!!! That's a long time. I spent all weekend unpacking, doing laundry, and trying to figure out the organization scheme that I set up for us before I left. I had to completely reorganize everything so I could find things! It was obsessively bad!!

On that note, I am having trouble locating my camera cable to upload my pictures from the last week and since I have been home. Hopefully I will find it tonight so there will be lots of funny stuff to come!!

Our Days in Pictures

New Family Member!

After a very long night for us all, my sister, Blake, finally gave birth last night to her little boy, Brody Lee. She went into the hospital yesterday at 10:30 am and finally had him at 11:30 pm. They kept going back and forth about whether to do a C-section or not since he was turned sideways but in the end, they decided that she could do it. So after about 2 hours of pushing and plenty of Dr.'s and nurses trying to turn him over (what a trooper!!), he finally made his grand appearance.

Everyone is doing well. Blake is good and trying hard to get some rest. Brody is staying in the nursery for now. He had a little bit of fluid in his lungs since he was 3 weeks early so he will be staying in the nursery until tomorrow so he can be monitored. They have an oxygen mask strapped to his face for now but hopefully all will be better tomorrow. Pictures to come...Sorry, after a long night in hospital with a tired and crying baby, my brain doesn't function enough to find the cord for my camera!

Still Hanging in Sweet Home Alabama

Yes, we are still here...waiting for my sister to have her baby already.  We went to visit with my grandparents last week and this week we are back at home with my parents.  We are hopeful my sister, Blake's, new addition will be here in the next few days. E is anxious to have us back home and I am a little anxious to get back home.  In the meantime, we are doing lots of visiting, shopping, traveling, spending quality time with the people we love.  Me and my mom have also been making clothes for the baby and, well, for us too...we like to look pretty too!  The baby dresses are almost done and I will post them in the next few days.  But in the meantime, here are a few pictures from this week. 

E, Nanny, Magpie and Rach enjoying the company of family at the beach over the weekend.

My sweet girl...she looks so old in this picture.  But she posed for us Sunday after church.  She completely pooped through her clothes in a massive way during church.  However, the nursery workers were incredibly kind and hand washed her clothes and had them dry and the baby redressed before we came back to get her after the service was over.  Amazing.  Boy were we grateful.

My cousin-in-law (? is that a word?) held baby and rocked her to sleep after dinner.

A large majority of the family gathered for my cousin Kimberly's birthday this weekend.  Which has also turned into a farewell dinner since she just found out she is moving north (close to us!!!  YAY!) for a new job.  

New Video

Rachel's newest You Tube video was posted yesterday.

Click here to see it!

Our Week at Home in Pictures

Baby Bailey learning to sit on her own. She is doig very well and I think she will be sitting up by next month and rolling over by the end of the week.
Baby tries Sprite for the first time on the tip of my finger. While it did stop her from fussing anymore, I had to keep doing it of she fussed louder. She liked Sprite.

My Dad cutting the neighborhood grass before we left for the beach.

Our last dinner together before my sister has her baby!

All of us girls at home for weekend.

The infamous "BELLY PICTURE" that my Papa has to do with all of the pregnant girls in the family...just for comparison.

My Brother-in-law, Rodney, really took to baby and it honestly surprised me. She laughed and played with him for the longest time.

More cousins and uncles came to the beach to meet us there and see the baby. Here is my cousin, Will, holding Rach for the first time.

Laurel was very helpful all week with the baby, even though Rach pooped and spit-up all over her clothes SEVERAL times! She was a good sport! She just kept coming back for more.

Where in the World is Everyday Bailey

As a surprise, my mom flew me and the baby back home to Alabama for my sister's baby shower. All of the family was there and it was a surprise to them all. But let's start at the beginning...Rachel did really well on the plane. That was honestly my worst fear because you hate to be the mom with a screaming baby on a plane full of people. Turned out, she slept the entire way, however, that may have been the only nap she was able to get the entire day. (that one really bit me in the rump later on) We got there in one peice...however, I can't say the same for my luggage/carseat. The airport gave us a loaner car seat which might as well have been made of paper. It was worthless. Luckily they found our luggage later on that day and delivered it late that evening.

Rachel at 12 weeks

We met all of the family for lunch after they spent the morning shopping, and BOY were they surprised that me and baby showed up. We were all the loudest things ever to hit the Blue Plate Cafe in our town. And we aren't quiet and respectful when we are excited either. Everyone in the restaurant knew how excited we were to see each other. Baby got passed around the table so everyone could spend some time with her...and boy, she was trooper. She didn't get upset at all. She actually seemed to enjoy looking at all of the different faces.

Sunday, we all drove over to my sister's (gigantic) house to have lunch with all of the family once more before they left and attend her baby shower where we got to see old friends and teachers and acquintances. Me and Blake (my sister) never get to hangout. So since the doctor has put her on half days at work until the baby comes so she invited me and baby to spend the night. So we are going to talk BABY today and get a few things ready for her new baby boy, Brody. He should be here anyday now. (And Rach is breaking in all of his toys and bedding for him, just to give you an idea of how tall she is already...if she was an inch longer, she wouldn't fit in his bassinet...I KNOW RIGHT!!)

An Homage to our First House

Goodbye house!  You were a good first house...lots of love, comfort, and good memories were had by all.  

First Memories in our First House:

1. first time to attempt renovations

2. first pet

3. first time to get to know neighbors

4. first baby

5. first time to not have a job

6. first time to sell a house

7. first time to attempt landscaping

Ahhhh...so many memories here.  But now it is time to say goodbye!  We spent all last week with E's parents and all of this week moving furniture and making the last few repairs needed before we close at the end of the week.  Exhaustion is taking a toll on us though.  Even baby is getting tired of being carted around and passed off from neighbor and friends and nursery workers at church.  I think I am already getting mother's guilt!  Just a few more days!!  

Where do we live? With Elizabeth and Matt for the time being!  They are evidently glutens for punishment inviting me and E with baby and Maggie to stay.  But baby sleeps all night and doesn't cry much, so really, it's just Maggie that's the problem.  "Let the Great Experiment Begin!"

Everyday Bailey will be back as soon as life calms down next week.

Accumulation at Light Speed

It's amazing how much baby crap accumulated in my house in the blink of an eye.  I never thought my kids would have so many toys and books everywhere, especially at 8 weeks.  Ha...I know!!  But the books and playyards, and hangings toys and rattles etc. are everywhere and she loves playing with them, she loves to look at books with us and reach for the hanging toys.  But this is the newest addition.  Sydney the kangaroo...and she has a baby too, Sandy, who is in her joey pouch.  I have been looking everywhere for her at the stores here in town with no luck...so yes, I ordered her today for baby!   I am turning into a sucker!!!

New Breakfast

My sweet baby sitting up on her mat this morning.  She holds her head up really well these days but she can only hold her body up for a minute or so until she plants herself face down into the pillow.  Can you see the drool on her chin?  I didn't know that babies don't make drool until about 3 months.  So weird!!  Either way, she can drool now and boy does she!!

E found an article about what the celebrities eat and found one recipe that caught both of our eyes.  I am actually having it for lunch today...what?  I have a newborn baby! Breakfast is a luxury!

Lots of whole grains, soy, protein, omega-3's, and antioxidants!!  It's a hot breakfast that leaves you feeling full all morning, or afternoon in my case!

brown rice

vanilla soymilk

cinnamon

almonds

raisons (I use dried cherries, cranberries or apples)

maple syrup