Those who wander are not lost.....

That has always been one of my favorite sayings.  I always saw it more as wandering for entertainment, not as packing up all of your belongings and changing states, but that's what military wives do right? 

We have had three major moves since 2009.  When Huston was less than two months old, we moved from TX to OH when Doug PCS'd to WPAFB in Dayton, Ohio.  We were there for almost two years before Doug separated from the Air Force.  We took our last move on the government from OH to CA to live in the Bay area where Doug grew up. 

We put a lot of thought into that decision, as we hoped it would be where we settled and finally get some roots.....unfortunately there is no way to prepare yourself for how expensive CA actually is.  We had a beautiful home and great jobs...but commuting an hour each way in different directions for both of us was not the way to raise a family.  Once we found out that we were going to be the parents of two ::squeal:: it became even more important to make some changes.  On the day Nolan was born a recruiter started calling Doug about a dream job in Bremerton, WA (just outside of Seattle).  We put them off at first but as the calls got more serious, we made the big decision.  By accepting this job, we'd be able to raise our children in a smaller community and I would be able to stay at home with them.  After staying home with Huston his first year, I knew that even though it is a hard, hard job it was what I wanted to do.  Did I mention hard? 

So, with Nolan being less than two months old...do you see a theme here?....we packed up and moved from CA to WA. 

ROAD TRIP!  815 miles to go.

The boys traveled in style in the backseat with a mirror for little Nolan and a DVD player for Huston.

Bert and Ernie, our fish traveled in style as well.

We also had many pit stops for food, stretching our legs, fresh air, gas, etc.... 

We drove about 10 hours the first day and stopped in Eugene, OR to stay the night.  It felt so good to get out of the car and sleep in a comfy hotel bed. 

The second day we only had about a 4 hour drive.  The scenery in the Oregon area was absolutely breathtaking.  I missed the shot that I really wanted, but it is burned in my memory and I will go back to take it.

Do you see the snow?  Huston was so excited to see snow!  Although we had it plenty in Dayton, he didn't really remember it and he insisted we pull over and play in it immediately.

Finally we saw the WA state line.  The second we crossed the bridge, by the way the state line is under water so we were on a bridge, it started snowing.  It was beautiful for about 10 minutes until we got sick of driving on unfamiliar roads in it.

We got into our new city, Silverdale, WA, on New Years Eve about 4pm.  To treat the boys for being so good during the trip, we decided that a stop to Chuck E Cheese was the best way to celebrate our arrival and the New Year.

We stayed in a nice hotel overlooking the water for about a week before our place was ready and our household goods arrived.  It was a treat to not have to clean or have any responsibilities, but it was hard to keep two little boys entertained!  Huston made a game of jumping from bed to bed and heckling people off of the balcony, but even that got old quickly.

Thankfully, I can now report we are completely unpacked and only have a few things left to hang.  I can't believe we have already been here nearly a month.

Doug is settling into his new job and really likes his coworkers.  He had a rough first few days, it's not easy to onboard as contractor on base, but I'm so glad that things are falling into place for him.  He even made the local front page when they wrote an article on the new program.

He is a medical simulation operator for the Naval hospital.  For us non medical people, basically he programs and operates the dummies to do real life situations when training Naval medical staff.  He can make them move, talk, breath, etc.  The hospital and it's view is beautiful too.

We've explored Seattle a little and have started getting into a routine.  I've joined MOPS (I loved my group in Ohio) and we all joined the local YMCA.  So, here's to getting some roots.....

Huston - January 2013

Huston, you have had a busy month.  We celebrated Christmas and moved to a new state.  At 3 years old you have already lived in 4 states.  Most little boys haven't even visited four states by that age.

I think you are in a growth spurt, you eat all day long, sleep in and your pants are getting shorter.  You have also said farewell to naps which makes me a little sad.  You are very helpful with your little brother and are learning to clean up your own messes.  You have also become very safety oriented. Anytime Daddy or I leave you say, "be careful" or "watch the stairs". You like to watch superhero shows, Imagination Movers, Doc McStuffins and Jake.  You love playing with your avengers, angry birds, Jake and the Neverland Pirates and your Toy Story toys have been making a reappearance again.  We also got you a matching/memory game and you are really good at it.  You also still love to read and love Barnes and Noble.

You loved making your Christmas list so much that you are still adding to it.  You tell me, "lets add that to my Christmas list.  Do you want one too?"  You also remembered an item that you didn't get...and let me be clear, you got a lot...and said, "Hey Nama didn't get me my kite!"

Your conversations are so funny, here are a couple recent ones:

Talking about the crosswalk signs:
"What is that orange hand? No, no, it pokes you and pushes you and you get killed and are dead I think. Then you get an owie and go to doctor to get a bandaid. It happens"


Talking about your third birthday party:
"That was a great Spiderman party at Nama's you gave me".

You are such a smart and funny guy and I am so happy that I am getting to stay home with you!

Nolan - 2 Months

Nolan, your first two months have flown by!  During your first two months of life you celebrated your first Christmas and moved states.  You and your brother were both born in one state and moved to another with in months of being born.

You have almost doubled your birth weight and are starting to get some expressions.  You aren't quite as serious and you have a funny little smirk.  You love your binky and are a strong little guy.  If you are having a rough day, I can usually calm you down by taking you in the shower.  You sleep pretty good for two months and only wake up to eat or get changed a few times a night.  You do the funniest thing when you sleep and hold your arms up straight in the air.

You still want to be held a lot and are not a fan of tummy time at all.  But you love playing with your brother and being cuddled.  It is so fun watching your personality develop and getting to know you.  Love you buddy.

Huston - December 2012

Huston, you have had a very busy month.  Both sets of your grandparents came to visit, you have a new little brother at home, you left school to stay home with mommy and we are planning our move to Washington for daddy's new job.

The biggest thing that has happened in the last month is that you can have full conversations with us now.  It's amazing what comes out of your mouth and what you remember.  You also pick up the funniest phrases and know just how to use them in a sentence.  You are a very funny little man.

You had so much fun when your grandparents visited.  Nana Loretta came first, but it rained a lot during her stay.  We mostly stayed home and played and got to know Baby Nolan.  Then Memaw and Papa Lowery came and we had nicer weather and were able to go to the beach and San Francisco.

Christmas preparations were lots of fun, we got the tree and decorations up, you got your Elf on the Shelf (which you named Charlie Brown), we made Christmas cookies and you were so excited about presents and Santa and snowmen.

In addition to you showing signs of becoming a famous chef, you may also be a famous photographer.  You are obsessed with taking pictures and nobody is safe.  I got a new camera so I gave you my old one and you had the battery dead within a few hours of receiving it.  I'm very impressed with some of the shots you get though....you have an eye for getting random things I wouldn't even have noticed.

One of your favorite expressions is "I want a lot a LOT".  You also are learning to express your preference on things....the bath is a teeny bit hot, you like it "warm".  You don't like things to be too loud and you are starting to get a little bit of OCD from your dad and I.

You have always liked what we call "belly on belly".  You lift your shirt up and put it on my belly when your "tummy hurts".  Lately you have really really gotten into it and LOVE to have your back or belly rubbed or tickled.  I'll try to to do it and will stop as I get distracted and you'll tell me "GO!".

You are completely obsessed with soft pretzels.  That is all you want to eat and when looking at Black Friday ads with Gramma, you decided you HAD TO HAVE a pretzel maker they were advertising.

Although it's a little sad watching you grow up so much, I love the little boy that you are becoming and am so proud of you and the relationship that we have.  I also love to watch the relationship you have with Daddy and Nolan.

Nolan - 1 Month

Nolan, I can't believe you have already been with us for a month! 

You are now 9lbs and 7oz and are so alert and strong.  You can already pull your head up and hold it without it wobbling too much and you push so hard with your legs that you've even rolled over twice.

You aren't really a fan of tummy time yet, but you love cuddling, tasty toes, showers and baths.  Most of all, you love to watch your big brother.  You are usually very serious looking, but when you watch him playing with you, you are just in awe. 

Everyone is still deciding who you look like.  You look a lot like Huston did at your age and you have the same hairline, but your hair and eyes are much lighter.  Some people even think you might have a little red in your hair.

You are a very vocal little man and you grunt and moan and coo a lot.  We always know when you are awake!  You get really, really mad when you get the hiccups and you try to fight sleep with all your might.

We are so excited to have you join our family and can't even remember what it was like before you came.  We love you so much little boog!

Huston - November 2012

Huston it has been quite a month.  Not only did we have all the fun of Halloween and fall festivals, but we also had the arrival of your new baby brother!  I feel like you have grown up so much this past month both physically and developmentally.  You are no longer my baby, you are my big boy!

For Halloween you were Spiderman and loved every minute of it.  We had a party at your school and then went trick or treating that night.  You got it down and went to every house and said "Trick or Treating" and "Thank you".  We also went to the Harvest Party at your school and you got up on stage to sing your songs you'd been rehearsing so hard...unfortunately stage fright set in and you stood up there and looked scared to death.  Either way we had lots of fun.

You have become so funny and I can't keep up with all of your funny sayings.  Here are some of my favorites:

• You have started adding "very much" to your "I love yous" - "I love you very much"
• Anytime you see something on tv, you say "Mommy, I want that" or "Mommy, I want to go there".  Now that we took you to Disney, I think you believe we can take you to anywhere you see on tv
• If I say something wrong or misunderstand you, you say "Silly mommy"
• If someone calls you a pet name (i.e. little penguin) you proudly say, "I'm not a penguin, I'm a GROWLY LION!"  That is your classes name at school
• If you don't like something and we ask why, your reply is "It's too yucky"

You are also full of not so cute sayings....you have learned a few curse words and you are starting to talk back.  I knew this day would come but I'm still not ready for it.  I'm torn between laughing and being so mad and embarrassed.  Your favorite right now is replying to anything we ask you to do with "No, YOU, go pick up the toys."  "No, YOU, eat your dinner."  Argh.

I think you know that I am on maternity leave and at home during the days, so you aren't so crazy about school drop off lately. We've changed your enrollment to two days a week, but you still throw a fit when we take you.  Once we are gone, you still love it though.  Your teacher says you are great at tracing, karate and helping set the table during snacks and lunch.  Your favorite color is red and you love to draw H's.  Anytime we see an H on a poster or sign you point it out.  You corrected me the other day when I thought you drew a circle - you said "that is an oval!"  You have been practicing really hard for your Christmas musical and I hope you are excited about performing it.

Daddy and I took you to see "Wreck it Ralph" after weeks of you getting excited over the previews.  It was the first movie that you sat through for it's entirety.  You told everyone for days that you went with your Daddy and spent your birthday gift card buying some figures from the movie. Next on your list is  "Guardians" because you want to see the bunny.

You also learned a new song from Dad - "Down By The Bay" and you sing it with him and finish each verse.  It is so cute and you get so excited when he mixes up what you see in that verse (i.e. Have you ever seen a Moose kissing a Goose...)

Finally, the big thing this month is the arrival of your baby brother.  Our whole pregnancy I have felt you bond with your little brother, you've always wanted to cuddle him via my belly and asked lots of questions about him, but nothing compares to how great you are now that he is here.

You always want to know where he is, want him to sit by you and announce when his eyes are open or when he does something funny.  Anytime I am holding him and he starts looking for food you say "He's Rooting and Tooting!".  I am already so proud of what a good big brother you are and I can't wait to watch you two grow up together.

Even though you won't let me say it now because you want to be a "big boy", you are still my baby, even though I have two baby boys now and you always will be!  Love you baby boy!

Nolan Arrives

Nolan, you have arrived!  We were so excited to meet you that we kept hoping you'd show up a little early, but you stuck to your scheduled date.  Since you brother was delivered Cesarean, the doctors scheduled yours and we checked into the hospital on November 6, 2012 at 10:00am and had you in our arms by 12:51pm. 

Once we got settled into our room, your big brother came to meet you.  I was a little nervous about it, because he was only three and wasn't sure how he would take to a little friendly competition.  He was smiling so big and kissing you and loving on you that my heart just doubled in size.  I could immediately tell that you two were going to have a great relationship.

Since Daddy had to spend the nights at home with Huston, we got some one on one time in the evenings.  You liked to sleep directly on me, but the nurses frown on that, so this is what I would see when I put you in your crib....

.....I pulled you out every second I could and enjoyed the cuddles!

We are so happy to have you home now and are enjoying watching you grow.  Daddy, Huston and I love you so much and are so excited to have you complete our family!