Out Popped Tooth Number 5

Yes, Jenna has now popped tooth number 5. It's just barely coming through, but it is there. It is a top tooth just next to the front teeth. At this rate, she will have a full set of choppers by her first birthday.
She and I seem to be getting along well these past few days. Of course, Daddy called last night and he is going to come home in a week. That's right, one week from today! It was very unexpected for him to come back sooo soon, but I am very happy. He will stay for about 4 days, then he will have to return to VA. But he is planning on returned to Indiana before the end of August. There will be a 4 week break between classes and he has around 30 use it or lose it vacation days. (He can only carry over 60) So, this separation won't be so bad. That is if we can keep this up, him coming home twice each month! Of course, once school starts it won't be so tough here in Indiana. Jenna and I will be kept busy by our schedule.

Last night, Jenna and I went to visit my friend Tracy. Her kids met us in the driveway and Jenna was all smiles. Drew even gave Jenna a hug! The family just got a new dog and we met her as well. The dog is a morkie (Maltese Yorkie mix) and they named her Marlee. She is adorable. All black with a little star of white on her chest. Jenna was excited to see her, but not ask excited as I thought she would be. I think Marlee moved too fast for Jenna to really watch her. They did play together a bit, though. They fought over the cat toys and then ended up sharing many of them. And when Marlee "bit" Jenna (as all puppies do) Jenna didn't even seem to notice. I don't know if Marlee didn't bite her as hard as she bit me, or is Jenna is just that much of a trooper. Either way it was nice not to have to worry too much about them as Tracy and I caught up on the local gossip. It waa a very nice evening and Jenna fell asleep on the way home, which is only about a mile! She then proceeded to sleep the whole night through as always. I treated myself last night to a movie. I watched Memoirs of a Geisha. It was a great movie that I have wamted to see for years. If anyone wants to borrow it, let me know.

Found it!

I found this pic of Grandma and Grandpa Morgan at our house and had to post it. I coudn't find it when I was posting before. Lo and behold it was on the other camera. So, her e it is...

Day 2

Okay, the second day of our "new life" and it wasn't too bad. I have resigned myself to the idea that I won't get anything done each day, so that whatever I get done is a treat. Today, I actually got a lot accomplished. I worked in the yard a little bit, pulling weeds and picking up sticks which is never an easy task on our massive hill. I decided to pick up sticks for one hour only and I actually picked up quite a few. Especially since Bean was on my back the whole time. I also got some things moved around in the garage to make it easier for us and I got some things cleaned up and put away in the house. Of course, the best part of my day was going for my massage! Special thanks to Aunt Ashley and Grandma Rosi for watching the Bean while I went to Montgomery. My friend Wanda is my massage therapist and she is quitting at the end of the week. (It's really just a second job and she wants to devote more time to her 4 kids). Anyways, last night out of the blue she calls to tell me whe is leaving and she wants to make good on her promise to give me a freebie once Kelly and I had our baby. So, she has 2 days left to make good on that. promise I jumped at the chance and rearranged my sitter to come in the afternoon so I can get to the massage rather than early to let me do yard work. It was a very special treat being able to see and talk to Wanda and get LOTS of kinks worked out of my back and neck. Especially after carrying Bean around NYC and sitting in the car for hours.

On another note, Kelly has arrived safely to his new location. He says it isn't much of a house, but it will be a roof over his head. He reports tomorrow morning to his post and will see what all his job entails, although I think he knows most of it. He is the CPO at the school where he used to be an instructor. So, it is familiar territory.

And Jenna, she is great as always. She didn't nap much today and I finally resorted to putting her in the car and driving around. But tonight she went down easy, which is always a blessing. She is talking, if you didn't know. She says dada, mama and kitty. The only one she really says and means it is Kitty. She calls every animal a kitty at this point. Bella isn't amused as you can imagine.

Now, off to bed since I have to work tomorrow. Thanks for all the thoughts and phone calls today. I really appreciate knowing people are thinking about us.

Rough day, again

Today was a tough day here at our house. Kelly finished packing the car this afternoon and headed out to Virginia. He is going to be the Chief Petty Officer in charge of the 2M school or something like that. It was tough, I know we all kept hoping for a "stay" or reprieve or something like that. Afterall, he doesn't want to go and the guy who is here didn't want to come here. But, the military doesn't always make sense. And in the end, we were too close to his retirement check to just walk away from it.
I keep thinking that this is the roughest thing I have ever had to go through, but then I remember what he and I have been through and I know it isn't. It still SUCKS though. All I ever wanted was a baby. A child to complete our family. And now, once we have that, Kelly has to leave. I think some people think it isn't as bad since we chose to be apart. Afterall, I could have gone with him. We could have packed up ALL our things, our lives, jobs, pets, and started over yet again. (It would have been my 6th interstate move and Kelly's 6th interstate move as well. Not counting all the smaller moves we made within the states once we got there.) But choosing this doesn't make it easier. He is still gone. He can't help with Bean, take out the trash, eat dinner with us, or even tuck me in at night. Because he is simply not here. He wishes he was here, and so do I, but he isn't. And he won't be here for most of the next three years. Even if he comes back to Crane, that job involves travel. I keep thinking, at least it isn't Iraq or Afghanistan. It's no more dangerous in Virginia than here. And that helps, but only a little. I miss him. He is my best friend as well as my husband and not having him here is like missing my left arm. We love you, Daddy. Come back soon.

Back from Vacation

We are back from our whirlwind tour of the east coast and we had a great time. We saw lots of family, ate great meals with fabulous company and even did some sightseeing in NYC.

We started out around 1 pm and drove the 10+ hours to Maryland to visit my sister Stacie, her husband Paul, niece and nephew Bridgette and Craig. We had to stop more often than usual to let Jenna get out and crawl around. But we made it in about 11:30 or so. We were happy that the drive was uneventful although we were all happy when it was over.

Highlights from the trip include watching Bridgette compete in a 5K race, having some alone time with my hubby while Aunt Stacie, Uncle Paul, Bridgette and friends watched Jenna (dinner and Harry Potter), getting to see my brother's house for the first time (it's a lot bigger than I thought it would be!), playing with Sayer and Miles at their house (such a treat to spend time with them in their own surroundings), staying up late to talk to my brother and sister in law (about everything and nothing), swimming in Aunt Stacie's pool for the first time (if only for a little bit), seeing Stacie and Bridgette's reaction to Times Square (they didn't think it would be so lit up and so busy), hearing about Phantom of the Opera the day after (thank goodness Bridgette said she liked it better than the movie. It is one of my all time favorite musicals. I still cry at certain parts of it), and watching Uncle Paul entertain Jenna while the rest of us ate (she isn't just a lump anymore).

The only bad things about the trip were Sayer waking up in the middle of the night complaining about his ear hurting (turned out he was okay, just swimmer's ear from swimming twice a day at day camp), Craig totaling his car the night Stacie and Bridgette went to Phantom (he is okay too, although I think his pride was injured), and Bridgette coming down with strep on the last day of the vacation (antibiotics seems to have cured that right up). And of course the 28 hours spent in the car in 7 days with an 8 month old.

It was worth it! Thanks to everyone for their hospitality. We had a great time. It was a nice way to spend a week with my family.

more pics

Summer Fun!

This summer we have had a lot going on, as most of you know. We had company on 4 occassions and 2 sets stayed for a week. It started with my step mom Eileen and her new husband Roger. They came and stayed over a long weekend. It was nice because they were very low key. Happy to sit and watch Jenna while I worked in the garden. Or even just sit and watch Kelly work while he was frantically trying to get the wall built. We did get out to eat a few times. Grandma Morgan got her chicken livers she so loves out here! And we did go to the Amish buffet by boat, which is always a treat.

After that, my mom and step dad came for a week. It was nice to have them as well, but unfortunately Kelly had to go on travel while they were here. That threw a small wrench in the plans. Then, when the chest freezer stopped working while they were here, well that just added more fun. I was happy they were here to help me get that taken care of right away. We did take some time to go to French Lick, Indiana and see the new casino and resort that as been built and West Baden Springs resort that has been restored. It was a great time and Jenna enjoyed squealing in the large dome entryway of West Baden Springs.

After they left, my brother, sister in law, and 2 neices came for a week and my sister, brother in law, neice, nephew and their dog came for that first weekend. They all showed up in time for the 4th of July celebration here, which was actually on the 3rd of July. We had fireworks over the lake as well as fireworks on the other side of the house compliments of the Bait shop/fireworks shop out by the main road. It was nice although it was loud! The babies slept through all of it, which was a nice treat.

The older kids were able to catch about 25 fish while we waited for the fireworks to start. This was great to watch and kept Uncle Kelly busy as he was the only adult willing to bait the hooks and release the fish. I tried, but didn't want to touch those catfish!

The following day we had enough sunshine to swim in the morning, but then it turned to rain! The rest of the day was spent indoors, which was tough. We had 6 adults, 3 children, 2 babies, 3 dogs and 2 cats cooped up in one house. Oh yeah, and NO TV!! Although we did have some movies. It started getting rough and then my sister in law suggested bowling. I called and they were open Halleluiah! We headed into town to bowl. The kids had a great time and I think the youngest of the group had the highest score. You might think it was the bumpers in her lane, but my brother and brother in law were also bowling with bumpers and they didn't do so well. Anyways, no one really watched the score, they all just had fun. When it was time to leave, Kelly tipped the owner. He didn't want to take the money, but when Kelly said, "All of us, in one house, while it's raining. We REALLY appreciate you being open!" He laughed and took the money.

The next day the weather was better, although still not great. We did get some more fishing in, which the kids loved! Strangely enough, as soon as my sister and her family left the weather started to improve. WEIRD!

The rest of the week was mostly good. I ended up at the hospital with kidney stones, my neice ended up at the hospital with a possible infection. We went to Holiday World, which my neice loved, but the babies could have done without. Jenna screamed for her entire ride on the carousel, the only ride she could ride. And it wasn't a happy scream.

All in all, it was a great visit with family. My brother and his family left on Friday and although we were sad to see them leave, we were excited to begin plans for our own trip. Jenna and I are heading to Maryland to see my sister Stacie and then with her and her daughter, off to NYC to see my little brother and his family. Since Kelly is still here, he will be joining us on the trip to MD, but he isn't sure about NYC. I guess we will find out. when we get there. There are some pics of family with this LONG post! Enjoy.

FYI: Jenna is crawling everywhere and using eveything to pull herself up and stand. Kelly and I both predict whe will be walking by 9-10 months of age. And she squeals constantly! Mostly just to hear herself talk. It's is ear piercing, but we love her anyways.