And We're Back

We've been in our new place for three weeks tomorrow. All of the downstairs boxes are unpacked, with the exception of the garage (does that ever count?), and yesterday I finally did a makeshift reassembly of our hamper (just one of the things our movers didn't move very well). So there's progress. Yesterday I even got two sets of shelves to help me organize our five cupboards they call a kitchen in our floor plan (okay, it's not quite THAT bad, but it's close).

It's great to be back together as a family, and in our own place again.

Lots of stuff going on. Last week I felt pretty back to normal busy while still surrounded by boxes. I was able to help watch two different ladies' children for doctors appointments on Tuesday and Thursday and Wednesday I was able to participate in a missionary discussion with the elders in our ward. It was great.

In the list of most remarkable things of note:

- Rob and Guy's Saturday tradition as of late is to try out donut shops. As a result, Rob discovered the best donuts I've ever had (Bill's) - crispy on the outside and super soft inside. Now, if only he'd stop (kind of). He's down to his high school weight and his smallest pair of jeans is loose on him. I need COT much more than he did, if only I could have gone in his place. He's lifting 3xs a week during lunch, trying to fit in running when he can, and tracking it with the help of his birthday present, a new Garmin Forerunner 305. We all love having him home every night of the week for the first time since he started school in August of 2008.

- Coop has a love affair with food. This six month old could beat any adult anorexic in an all day eating contest, hands down. Yesterday he started the day off with 10 oz. of milk (measured because I was wondering if he's getting enough from nursing), then he ate four large containers of baby food, 2 2x6 inch baby crackers, four large handfuls of baby puffs, one regular sized rice cake, and I can't remember what else, but there was more, I'm positive. Now if only the kid would stop all his drooling and just grow some teeth already. He cries almost every time I wipe his face and take him out of his chair. It seems he's certain that he thinks he is going to starve to death. And the only thing more interesting than food to this little boy is the beloved big brother.

- Guy is occasionally sleeping through the whole night again. With all the changes, he's had it the roughest, I think. And in the upheaval, night terrors began. His first was the worst and it was a full-fledged kicking-and-screaming-it's-unbelievably-scary-what-my-child-is-capable-of tantrum in the middle of the night. It was especially disturbing because I didn't know what it was. My mom was a huge help that night (I woke her up not knowing what else to do), and then she was talking about it with someone the next day and that's when we figured out what it was. He's had a lot of night episodes since then, but nothing nearly as bad, thankfully. Guy is really doing great here. He loves all his new friends - including but not limited to the five boys ages 6 and under in our circle. He's speaking really well - saying tomato and banana as clear as can be (sometimes I hear him practicing to himself, it's darling), and his interaction with all the neighborhood friends is really good, too. We're thrilled to be where we are, but learning the not-so-fun part of the military life fast, as the 2 boys that Guy plays with most will be off to a new assignment in mid-October, probably.

- I get to order PhotoShop tomorrow. That is, IF a paycheck comes through for the FIRST time since Rob made the job change. "Clerical Errors" have been a massive pain in my side for the last month and a half. Last Saturday I did my first paid photography gig. So the short version is that a neighbor/friend asked me to do her family after seeing some of my photos of Guy and Cooper. I said yes on the spot, but didn't think anything of money. Afterwards she offered. In the same sentence I said yes and told her Rob will be thrilled. I want to get better at the whole marketing side of it. I NEED to if I'm going to succeed.

With PhotoShop I'll be catching up a lot more with pictures soon enough. But in the meantime, enjoy this little gem. I love that when my little boys are holding hands it looks like it could be a multicultural/unity/togetherness ad.