Quick update

I think about posting so many things on Facebook (yes I know I post a lot already, but you have no idea how bad it could be...) that I never do. But they stay in my head, punching around and cluttering my thoughts. I think they have completely taken over the "clean your house" section of my brain and that's why it never stays clean. So, in a way, if I get them out of my head and on to my blog I will have a cleaner home :-)

Noah has two teeth.
He can also army crawl with the best of them AND can pull himself up to his knees! Also, he learned how to clap and will gladly put on a show for you if you say "yay!"

Billy has developed slightly more attitude, but much more of an outgoing personality. So i'll take the "bad" with the good :-) He also found his love for climbing. It's the most "dangerous" activity my cautious boy has decided to take part in, so I'm really encouraging him to climb on anything he thinks he should, within reason of course.

Kyle is doing well in training. I'm so proud of him. It has not been easy for him by any means, but he is persevering. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and, although it may be hard to see at times, he is remaining focused on it. This week should be the hardest so far. To give you an idea how hard it is, today he: has a quiz first thing, then a flight, then a simulator, then a test.  That may not sound like a lot, but the flight and sim take up quite a bit of time and energy. And even though flying has its fun moments, they mostly wipe him out. Then he comes home to 2 kids and a wife who are vying for his attention for about an hour. Then he gets a quick meal and goes to his office to study till he goes to bed. And this is just what I know/see...I can't even imagine what his day is REALLY like! Extra prayers for this hard-working daddy if you have 'em!

Me? I'm really enjoying life here in Enid. I already feel like i have made some lifelong friends. I'm getting better at the stay-at-home mommy role (but not as good as I would have thought, given i have been doing it for over 2 years). The house, it's usually very disorganized. Mostly clean, highly cluttered. But my kids and husband are fed, have clean clothes to wear, and they know they are loved. I have to remind myself that some days that may be all that gets done, and that is enough. Also, I realized this past week while kyle's mom was here that i can be a MUCH better mom and wife when i take some time to myself. I took 3 hours and got my hair done while she was here. Those 3 hours have refreshed me for days! I'm gonna try to drop the boys off at the CDC a few hours a week. It's hard because I know kyle doesnt get a break so i feel guilty taking one. But i think i can do a much better job of supporting him if i make myself take some free time.

This has already proven to be the hardest year of our lives both individually and as a couple, but we're doing really well. I am confident we will come out of this experience stronger than ever!

Okay that wasnt so quick after all:-( sorry.

Off he goes, into the wild blue yonder...

I can't think of a different way to say it that could explain it any better than my facebook post, so i'll just quote myself:

"

I saw him fly a plane. A really fast plane. A really fast plane owned by the United States Air Force. I saw him fly a really fast USAF plane all by himself!! And with that I saw another part of his dreams come true. And it was just as awesome as I thought it would be!"

I am truly very proud of my husband. He's incredible. And, though he might doubt himself from time to time, he is well on his way to officially becoming a pilot for the USAF.  Yay kyle! I will forever be your biggest fan :o)

I can't tell you how thrilling it was to watch him take-off and land again and again (12 landings total!!) and perform various maneuvers whose names i cannot remember.  I pointed to him over and over: "Billy, see that airplane? that's daddy!!!"  I was so ecstatic that i can't remember what billy's response was. i'm sure it was something really cute but i just can't remember.  I do remember what he said when i put him back in the car though: "wanna go fly daddy airplane!"  I think he enjoyed it almost as much as i did...almost.

Thanks to my friend Jamie, I was able to listen to him make his radio calls. That made the experience that much cooler. (sidenote: a big thank you to jamie for watching noah in the shade. because of her i was actually able to take pictures!)

Speaking of...I took 354 pictures. 354! insane, right? maybe a little obsessive...but i couldn't stand the thought of missing "the" picture. I was using a new manual-focused lens and i was/am not confident using it. But i am so happy I took as many as i did, because i feel like i got some incredible shots!

One of his touch-and-go's.  Can you see the tail number? It's "901."  My birthday is 9/01. Destiny :o)

Here he is making a turn. I am most proud of this picture! I LOVE it!

I can't remember the name of this maneuver... I know it must have been something at least a little rare b/c his classmates were saying "get a picture of this!" and "wow" and "that's awesome" and stuff. So that's cool :O)

taxiing after his final landing

Pretty darn handsome, if i do say so myself!

One of kyle's classmates took this. Like i said, manual focus on the lens. and this one wasn't focused correctly (it's sort-of a pain). Sadly it is the best of the 3 pictures taken of us :o( 

a little back story on this: The trainees get thrown in a "dunk tank" immediately following their solo flight. If they can make it back into their classroom and touch the back wall, the rest of the class has to buy that person a thing (case? sixer? not sure) of beer. Mention free beer and kyle will run his butt off :o) He came close, but didn't quite make it.

He got some good air!

So there you have it! I had a hard time narrowing 354 pictures down to just a few, but i'm not sure even the proudest of family would tolerate me posting all the pictures!

God just continues to bless us in ways we don't deserve. But we try to remain thankful every day. I was/am incredibly thankful for this day. 

Moose...

...has been called a girl quite a bit lately. In fact yesterday I (very nicely) corrected one lady who kept referring to him as "she." he responded with an exasperated "that's a boy?!? He's so pretty." I said "I think so too. My husband and i make some pretty boys."

I think my boys are pretty stinkin handsome, and i sometimes call them "pretty boys" but i never thougt they were pretty enough to be confused as girls!! It doesn't bug me, but perhaps I should start dressing them in overtly "manly" attire? I don't even know what that would be...butt crack showing and sleeves ripped off their shirts? Too redneck?

Maybe I'll just get their hair cut :-)

Random billy conversations

After I hung some leaf type decor in the guest bedroom: "I yike it! Trees! I yike it!"

After I asked him to get his shoes before we wet outside: "want kiss." *kiss* "high five" *high five* "knuckles" *knuckles*

Driving home, We are stopped at a traffic light and I bend down to scratch my foot: "you okay momma. You fall down?"

As I straddle Noah to suck the snot out Of his nose (they are both wailing): "no more! No more! All done!!!". I stop. Billy comes up to Noah, rubs his hair "its okay, Noah. All done. You okay?"


"I be right back. Go get gamma, ok?"

While sitting in the stroller billy looks back at Noah: "you so handsome"

"look, its sumic." "no billy it's music" *empty look on his face* "can you say mu-sic?" "ok bye!"

Poor sickies

So yesterday I mentioned on Facebook that, against my wishes, both my boys inherited my ability to make an incredible mess in an incredibly short amount of time (although mommy still takes the gold for biggest mess in the shortest amount of time). Turns out they also inherited something from Kyle that i would rather they hadn't: ear infections.

We went to the doctor this morning (I'm really happy with her so far) and I wasn't too surprised to find out they both have ear infections. Noah's is pretty bad in his right ear, while billy's ears are both mildly infected. Amoxicillin 2 times a day for ten days! I'm hoping they feel better soon, especially poor pathetic looking/acting Noah. Billy is business as usual just with more whining :-)

So today will be spent inside watching episodes of yo gabba gabba, pingu, and scout :-) I'm sure billy will get bred and need some playtime, too. So maybe we can sneak outside during Noah's nap if it's not absurdly hot!

Here they are watching a movie after their doc visit, waiting on their prescriptions

It's all over now...

My days of being forgetful and/or purposefully leaving thigs just out of Noah's reach are gone. He is mobile! And go figure, the day after I told his doctor he was nowhere near crawling. I have a feeling the boy will spend his life amazing and surprising me!!

Pics, pics, and more pics...

For the grandparents, aunts, and uncles!

Finally moose gets the spotlight :-)

Noah had his 9month checkup today. I went in fully expecting him to out-weigh billy (who weighed 24lbs at his last appt). He came close!! Here are his stats:

23lbs 14oz (90%)
29.25in (75%)
18.25in head (75%)

So he is still big, but slowly slipping down the chart. To be honest I'm a little glad about that because I don't want him to outgrow billy just yet! Billy needs a fighting chance against moose's...i cant think of a good word. let's just say moose isn't gentle by nature like billy is.

As for abilities, he's slightly behind In various areas. I think Kyle and I are lazy and thus make lazy babies ;-) I was worried about Billy's slow development, but now that I'm an expert in parenting (I hope you catch the sarcasm) I'm not so worried. He will get there. I'd imagine it's pretty hard for young muscles to lift that much weight around:-)

I'm so blessed to have two happy and healthy boys!

Speaking of healthy, we got Billy's neuro referral in! I'm looking forward to seeing his new neurologist and I hope he/she agrees with his previous neuro that he can come off his meds as soon as we feel ready!

Happy Friday!!!

Mommy's little helper

So yesterday was a rough morning. Nothing too terrible, but just enough to frazzle me for a few minutes. Thankfully, i have the world's sweetest little boy to help me out when things get rough :o) Here's the scoop:

Long story short, i had planned our morning out and NOT ONE THING went according to plan. I tried to put noah down for a nap (not on the plan, but totally necessary) but he wasn't having it. He screamed and screamed. So i caved and brought him back out to the playroom, where he continued to scream and scream. He didn't want to eat, didn't want to sleep, holding him wasn't helping either... so i sat on the couch and put my head in my hands and took a mental break. Billy must have felt my frustration because he walked up to me and said "you okay, momma?" (this is a phrase asked at LEAST 5 times a day. he's just the sweetest).  I said "yes. i'm okay. i just need a little break." He then walked around to behind the couch where noah was crying. I heard him mumble something to noah, but i couldn't make out what it was. Noah immediately stopped crying and started playing. Less than a minute later billy came back to me and sat in my lap and said "you okay momma? want hug?" and then just cuddled with me for another 2 minutes. Thanks to him, i was okay. My 2 year old son had taken care of me.

How in the world did i get this lucky?!?!?

Billy went shopping with me the other day and we decided to grab some pretzel M&Ms at the checkout. When we got home we wet into daddy's office, gave him half the bag, then shut the door, leaving him to study in peace (billy has not learned how to open the door). Billy and I went to the couch to enjoy the rest of the bag. This wa the first time (to my knowledge anyway...aunt michelle...) that he had eaten pretzel m&ms, ad he was in LOVE! We finished our fair share (my "fair share" may or may not have been bigger than his...) billy said "more ca-nee?" I said "sorry sweetie, it's all gone" to which he replied "more ca-nee pwease?". I said "thank you for using your manners, but mommy doesn't have anymore. Sorry."  And he said "more daddy ca-nee?" I said "no, dady is studying. We shouldn't bother him." Billy ran up to me, arm outstretched, ready for a hug. I knelt down and he leaned on my shoulder and said "awww, open da door."


He's so stinkin cute!!