just chillin'

I'm always happy when I can catch Caleb on an especially photogenic day. It probably isn't proper to say your own child is good-looking, but I can't help it. He looks so much like his daddy.

Michael's last day

Michael's last day on leave was reserved for just me and Caleb - a little family time before we'd be separated for seven months. Of course, we wanted to make it memorable, so we had a long list of fun activities planned out for the day, and a few back-up ideas in case those didn't work out.

We both wanted to take our time getting around, because it's easier to have a good time when there's no agenda, and you don't feel rushed. Unfortunately, getting to Seattle at 5pm meant that we didn't have time to visit Darin, Deanna, and Daisy, and it was too late to get into the Point Defiance Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Seattle Science Center. In fact, after all our running around (and getting totally lost two or three times), all we had time to do was grab some dinner and catch an IMax movie. The movie being shown was Monsters Vs. Aliens, and it actually ended up being a lot of fun. I'm so glad Caleb got through it alright, even though it was extremely loud.

I love this man so much, and any amount of time away from him is really tough. I know we've spent seven months apart before, but that was before we'd gotten to be with each other [almost] every day, before we built a home together, and before we had a son. We're trying really hard to not focus on the negative and to just get through this the same way we did last time.

sad baby

Caleb's not really liking the road trips as much as he used to, now that he's been stuffed in his car seat for about a week straight. It's usually because he's gassy and for some reason isn't capable of letting it out while he's strapped in. We've been forced to pull over a few times so we can take him out and let him wiggle a bit. If he stays in there too long after he starts fussing, he'll get really upset, and cry until his gas is relieved, and it's so sad to see his big crocodile tears welling up in his eyes . As much as I hate to let him get this upset, I can't deny, he's extra sweet once you calm him down.

little squeals

I had to post this one ASAP. We were laughing and talking to each other for about 15 minutes before we found the camera and a memory card to go in it. Sadly there was only enough room on the card for these 25 seconds.

in Limbo

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately, but it's been a little crazy for us the last couple weeks. Michael finally got orders for his upcoming deployment, and that meant we pretty much had 'til the end of March to sell our stuff, pack up everything else, get the house ready for our move-out inspection, and plan the long journey back to Washington. Since the hubby has been working boucoup overtime doing work-ups and extra training, it was up to me to do all of the above. So between all that and juggling little Caleb, I definitely wasn't able to type out any fun stories or post pictures... or even take many pictures.

Okay, Sierra, we've heard all the excuses, now give us the goods!

Well, we moved out of our house forever and officially on April 1st, and planned to stay at Jess and Ryan's house that night and the next, then we'd leave North Carolina on the 3rd. Spending time at the Hutchison house meant more photo ops of the two babies together, and this time there wasn't a big crying episode.



Turns out it's not much fun to sleep on an air mattress four nights in a row (especially when it has a hole and you find yourself on the ground in the morning) and we both needed a good night's sleep before beginning our journey, so we stayed Thursday night at the Hospitality Inn on base. I've had this camoflauge outfit lying around for months, but it hasn't been the right weather/occasion to dress him in it, but I remembered while picking out our clothes for the trip that I wanted a picture of him and his daddy in matching camo before Michael went overseas. Unfortunately, I didn't communicate these intentions and he ended up changing into civies and packing away his cammies before I got a chance. Drat!

However, I did make sure to take a different picture while I had the opportunity, and this one was important! I just thought it would be fun to get a shot of Caleb in front of the very room in that hotel that Michael and I stayed in when he got back from Iraq, exactly 11 months ago... You can probably do the math.



I almost dropped him on his head trying to take this picture myself, until I tracked down housekeeping and asked her to point and shoot while I held him. He cracked this huge smile right on three. It was great.