NC UPDATE

We've been in NC for a little over 2 weeks and we've accomplished everything that we wanted to so far.  The day we drove into town I received a call from our realtor in TX saying that we had an offer on the house.  Woo Hoo!!  We were so relieved to be able to sell the house so quickly!  We should close on that house on May 6.  Then after a few days of house hunting and a few days of negotiations, we were able to find our perfect house here in NC.  We close on this house on May 9.  Not too shabby!!!  


Since there isn't much else to do until closing, Alexander and I are taking off tomorrow for the great state of KY.  I'm really excited to get to spend a lot of time with family and friends.  Alexander has grown and changed so much since Christmas and I can't wait to show him off!  I think he's going to have a great time with everyone.  And although we are both going to be missing Chris A LOT, it will be really good to be out of tlf for a few weeks!  


This past weekend we have been house/dog sitting for some good friends and it has been so nice to be able to spread out some.  It makes us very excited about moving into our new home!  Alexander has loved playing with all of the different toys that this house has to offer including the swing set outside and the trampoline.  He hasn't quite figured out how to jump yet (we're working on it), but he loves to run around in circles on the trampoline.  Pretty entertaining!  He also loves to climb up the slide and then go back down again on his bottom.  


However, I think his favorite part about staying here has been Dakota, the dog.  She is a chocolate lab and is just about the best dog I have ever met!  She is so patient and kind to Alexander even when he's pulling her tail, hugging her, chasing her around, eating her food and yes, even kissing her!  It's been really sweet to watch him love her so much.  No, this does not mean that the Troyer family is going to acquire a dog, but it is nice to see him enjoy her so much.  


Tomorrow, I'll be 21 weeks into my pregnancy and I'm feeling really great!  I'm still wearing all of my normal pants, just with a little help from rubber bands or the stretchy belly band.  I am definitely in maternity tops though.  At my appt last week I had gained about 8 pounds.  


Well, if he ever decides to wake up from this 3+ hour nap that he's currently taking, we'll leave and get back to reality in the tlf.  Tomorrow morning, Alexander and I head out for KY.  Wish us luck!!!

ULTRASOUND

Today Chris and I went in for my ultrasound appt and after waiting for our baby to uncurl we found out that we are having a girl.  We are both really, really excited!  I think it will be so wonderful to have both a boy and a girl.  We've been telling Alexander about it and he hasn't said much (obviously), but he did kiss my belly tonight unprompted.  He's such a sweetie and is going to be such a wonderful big brother! 

Well, tomorrow will mark 1 week spent in TLF and even though it is not ideal, it is working.  Alexander has been sleeping like a champ (1 foot away from our bed) and even taking pretty good naps.  He is adjusting to this strange living situation really well.  He is such a trooper.  It's amazing!  We've had to take him to a mother's day out twice since we've been here while we house hunt and he does well for most of the time, but it sounds like he kind of loses it towards the end.  I think 3 hours is kind of his limit right now (the most he has stayed was right under 4).  But up til then they said he played a lot and seemed to have fun.  Today we took him to a friend's house while we went to our appt and he had a great time.  When I walked into the backyard to pick him up he just sort of smiled and kept playing.  He's getting better at being away from me for short periods of time, which is really good. 

We're making progress in the house hunt.  I'll post more when we know more...

NORTH CAROLINA

After a 3 day drive across the country, the 3 of us made it to North Carolina safely.  It was really an uneventful trip, Thank Goodness!  Alexander did much better than I expected him to and the days just kind of flew by.  We had to drive two cars out, so Chris and I would trade cars every few hours and then really seemed to help things for everyone.  

Since our move was sort of last minute, we didn't have time to come out prior to the move to find a new house.  So in the meantime, we are in Temporary Lodging on base.  It's not the best situation, but we're making the best of it.  It's a 1 bedroom with a kitchenette and living room and bathroom.  This means that Alexander is sleeping in a Pack n Play at the foot of our bed.  This is definitely not ideal, but can't really be helped.  At least we'll be even more thankful for a house when we find one.  

We went house hunting first thing Saturday morning with our realtor and spent the entire day with her searching for our dream home (or dream home for the next 3 years!).  After the long day we have some good possibilities and a few more homes to look at on Monday.  Hopefully we'll be able to make an offer by the end of the week!

Fortunately we know quite a few people that are still stationed here including some really good friends of ours.  They had us over for dinner last night and we had so much fun.  This was the first time they were able to meet Alexander!  He loved being out of the car and out of TLF and playing with their kids and their toys.  Plus, mommy and daddy were able to relax and spend some good quality time with our friends.  

So far, North Carolina is really going well. 

WRAPPING THINGS UP IN TEXAS

This is our last weekend in Texas.  Thursday was Chris' fini flight in the T38 and Alexander and I and some other friends met him on the flight line after his flight.  It was a gorgeous day to be outside and Alexander loved seeing all of the planes including seeing his Dad get out of one!  Afterwards we went inside for some food and presentations.  It was really a nice way to say goodbye to the T38. 

Friday night we stayed up really late to cheer on our Kentucky Wildcats while they beat #1 Ohio State.  Then on Saturday some good friends had a farewell bbq for us including a lot of friends.  It was really a great day and a great chance to say goodbye to some good friends. 

The movers will be here tomorrow and Tuesday and then Wednesday we'll be starting the drive East to NC.  I'm not really looking forward to the drive, but as we pack up some of our stuff today, I'm really getting excited about the move. 

And of course I have to say, "Go CATS!"  We just beat UNC and are on our way to the Final Four next weekend.  We look forward to cheer on our Big Blue!!!!

Playing in his fort.

BUBBLES!!!

Popsicles on the patio

Climbing into his high chair

With Daddy at the Wichita Mountains

"Ocho" and "Ork" after his fini flight

The Fam in front of the jet.

Panama Alexander

HAIR CUT, SINUS INFECTION, MONKEYING AROUND

Last week Alexander came down with a sinus infection.  It started as a runny nose, then a low fever, and then when it sounded like it was moving to his chest, I decided that I should take him into the doctor.  We went Friday afternoon and I was so happy that I took him, because he has a sinus infection.  He's now on antibiotics and doing better.  Chris was cross country this weekend, so Alexander and I had a very quiet weekend trying to lay low and keeping him resting.  Not so easy for an active toddler.  He did do a lot of snuggling with me though.  We don't really watch much tv at all, but the other day I saw that Toy Story and Toy Story 2 were going to be on tv so I decided to record them.  I am so glad that I did!  This was a nice distraction for him to sit and rest while he was sick.  He definitely couldn't last through and entire movie, in fact he would really only sit still for about 30 minutes at a time before he would get restless, but it really helped.  He is now feeling better, but not 100% because he is really cranky this morning.  Hopefully I'll get my happy, healthy baby back soon! 

Early last week I took Alexander to get his hair cut.  The last 2 times I've taken him it is a complete disaster.  He cries and screams and I feel like putting him through torture.  So I expected much the same this time around, but he pleasantly surprised me.  If anything, he seemed a bit annoyed that someone was messing with him, but there was not one single tear!  Yay!!!   His hair is still a bit choppy because he's so wiggly in the chair and his hair isn't growing quite evenly yet.  But he looks so darn cute! 

Here are some pics of Alexander at the park. 

Here he is enjoying a snack at the table like a big boy!

And here he is pretending to talk on his "phone".  Which happens to be an old ipod that Chris and I don't use anymore.  It's really cute. 

And here he is climbing on the bookshelves.  He starts out on the sub woofer.

Then he monkeys his way onto the shelf.

And then he lets himself down very gracefully.  It really is amazing to watch.  He is quite careful the entire time.

Lastly, I just realized that I forgot to announce that we found out where we are moving.  We are heading to Seymour Johnson in Goldsboro, NC where Chris will be flying the F-15E again.  We should be there for the next 3 years or so and we are so very happy about this.  It was our first choice.  We really thought about trying to go to England, but with the new baby arriving in August, we decided that it might be a little much to move to a foreign country.  So now we'll only be about 10 hours from our families and closer to a lot of our friends as well.  We leave in 2 weeks!  Crazy, I know!