End of 2010

Well, this has been the end of a very educational year. I've been able to learn so much about life, love and the gospel... and I've been able to see some of my weaknesses turn into strengths. I've lived in small one-bedroom apartment with two people (and then three), enjoyed living in our own home, gained a job, lost a job, and (I think the best of all) helped to create life. Nothing will ever touch that sweet experience of carrying a baby for nine grueling months and then suddenly seeing his eyes blinking up at you. There is absolutely no glimmer of recognition in those eyes (and won't be for several weeks) but you know that this is a spirit that is fresh from the presence of Heavenly Father and that he has a purpose and a mission just like you do and Heavenly Father loves him just as much as He loves you.

Speaking of that precious spirit, we celebrated his birthday a little early. About an hour ago, in fact. :) Here are some pictures his Aunt Sereen took (with video to follow).

Ooo...it moves...pretty

You want me to do WHAT? Blow on it?

You're sure I can touch this?

SCORE!!!

Oh yeah, this is the good stuff...

Why are you all laughing?

Like my beard?

And that's the way the first cake crumbled!!

Thanks for keeping up with our blog! See you next year!!

Holiday Travels

I just did some quick math (on a calculator, haha!). We will be traveling all over Texas in six different stints, covering approximately 2400 miles between three points in two weeks. Guess we don't have to be in the Air Force to travel, huh? :) And definitely a good thing that Derek likes to ride in the car.

I am absolutely so excited to see my family! And, by family, I 'm including in-laws. I think it's funny that lots of people moan and groan about their in-laws but I love mine. Maybe I'm just used to embracing new family because of my...diverse...background, but I found it very easy to assimilate into the Heath side. It's such a cool name, too. When I have to give my name over the phone, it's always pretty much like this...

Operator: Your first name ma'am?
Me: Kadi
Operator: K-A-T-I-E?
Me: No, K-A-D-I.
Operator: T-Y?
Me (frustrated now): No, D as in Delta.
Operator: Oh, ok. Last name?
Me: Heath, like the candy bar.
Operator: Gotcha. Cool!

So much easier.

We've made some awesome friends in Del Rio and I am sooooo going to miss them, but I'm glad that I have things to look forward to in the future. Just because Mitch is out of a job right now doesn't mean life as I know it is over. We have family and friends that rally around us and help keep us emotionally stable, which I think is critically important - sad, stressed, sleepless people don't do well in interviews.

Luckily, there are still husbands, fried clams and 30 Rock in this world. That's become one of my favorite rituals. Once a week, after Derek goes to bed, Mitch and I grab a box of frozen fried clams and sit doen to watch an hour or so of 30 Rock. It's a random half-hour-episode sitcom made by the same people who do Saturday Night Live. For the record: I absolutely hate/loathe/abhor SNL. Refuse to watch it. But 30 Rock is fairly clean and the lead actress is actually believable to a point. Plus Matt Damon guest stars occasionally and I like him. Plus it's funny. I have definitely come to appreciate the life-giving force of a good round of laughs (which is another reason I'm looking forward to going home - our families looooove to laugh).

Derek's New Sound

I swear he pirated this from Isaac - it sounds just like his videos

Being his typical cute self

And even cuter

Mitch tossing Derek up while he kicks (for Jared and Sereen, I know you like it. haha!) and following Derek as he runs off to be quasi independent.

Internet, Derek (of course) and Life

So, our internet is back. Thank heavens. It was out for 4 or 5 days. Mitch called Time Warner and they offered to send a tech out on Sunday. I shook my head and, when he persisted in making the appointment, I put my hands on my hips and glared at him. His response was to tell the operator "I'm getting dirty looks from my wife, can we move the appointment to Monday?" Smart man. :)

I've been participating in physical therapy for my shoulder for the past two weeks and it's been wonderful. the first half our is all heat pad and massage. WHY didn't I go in earlier?! It's been nice to get away from Derek three times a week too. It makes me happy to see him when I come back. :)

Derek has been saying "glig-glig-glig" and I think I know who he got it from - his cousin, Isaac! Mitch and I love to look at pictures and especially video of our adorable little nephews and Isaac makes us laugh every time. In one video, he demonstrates his new sound: "gligagligalig." I always thought Derek was indifferent because he never paid attention, just played with his own toys. I guess I was wrong. :) I can't wait to get them together now to see if they'll "talk" to each other. Toddlers are cuter than babies, I think.

Life is going. I think it's funny that Mitch and I have developed an aversion to a certain phrase - "When God closes a door, he opens a window." There have been times that he almost has to step between me and the person who has just repeated, for the umpteenth thousandth time this phrase. I'm not denying that God does that, I'm just sick and tired of everyone apparently thinking that I don't know this or that it's going to cheer me up. I don't think squeezing through a window is particularly fun.

I do, however, think that this is going to be a fun adventure. I'm reading a book about Queen Guinevere right now and there is one point in the book when, as she's leaving her home to go marry Arther, she offers to let her foster sibling go back to her own family. Her foster sibling points out that adventuring is way more exciting than being in a predictable routine. I kind of agree - it'd be nice to know we were leaving the Air Force and going straight to a job (or another predictable routine), but God really has blessed us: we won't have to worry about food to eat or clothing or a roof over our head because we've been faithful and full tithe payers. We qualify for those blessings of heaven the Lord talks about in Malachi.

Random thing for today - I like to brush Kal. It helps that he likes it too, but I love when I bring out the Furminator, point my finger and say "Bang" and he lays down on his side with a happy sigh and wags his tail. Then I get to brush his coarse fur into something soft. :)

IT WALKS!!

Well, sort of. But it's cute to see him try! He stood right up and walked four steps to me. He did this several more times so that Mitch and I had a blast waiting for tithing settlement after church. haha!

Try #1

Try #2 - next best one



Try #3



Try #4 - best one

Won't be long and he'll be a real toddler! I'm so excited!! Lacey is going to love that. :) Definitely by Christmas though! My little baby is growing up so fast... and I love it, haha!

More Derek Stuff!!!

Being cute in the morning

This kid loves food

FOOD!

Bed hair after his afternoon nap. He slept til dinner! WOO!!

I have GOT to teach him manners, I know

Cute Dogs

Our dogs are just too cute. I had to post these fun pictures. Kal likes to sleep alot, so he's not too terribly photogenic, but the camera loves Lacey.

I'm trying to take my nap, Mom. Please don't take pictures.

What's with the flash? I was dreaming I caught that nasty squirrel that lives next door. So close... so close...

Sigh. Maybe I'll get him this time... Zzzz....Zzzz....

Food? Play? Oh, camera? Strike a pose!!

Can you throw the ball please?

They love each other (long clip)

Halloween and Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving, we got together with a whole bunch of friends here on base and we had a TON of food. We had at least three turkeys and a bunch of sides - and mouth watering desserts. The Forsyths had to hide them in the laundry room so we would eat the other food first, haha! I made my first turkey, which I was very proud of. but THIS...

This was my pride and joy that day - a road kill armadillo that some people thought was a lizard and others thought was a cat. I think it ended up being called the "clizard." Oh well.

It's basically a tupperware container with chili in it surrounded by a painted fondant model. Yes, I made it myself. :)

Looks, it's tongue is sticking out!

We went Trunk or Treating at our ward building. Derek was our live trunk decoration. :) For our costumes, we stuck pillows under 2X and 3X pumpkin shirts aaaaaand....

I looked like I was pregnant with triplets. Gah.

Derek, though, he was just cute! Ain't no junk is this trunk!!

The Post You've All Been Waiting For

Two days ago, the verdict on Mitch's board came back - he's going to be Honorably Discharged within 45 days. Our tentative separation window is mid-January. I think it's mildly funny that, when I posted the news on facebook, a few people actually congratulated us. It's definitely NOT a good thing! We won't have a JOB!! Idiots. Gah.

SIDENOTE: I just saw an article about the DREAM act. If you're not familiar with it, it basically wants to grant citizenship to any illegal who serves at least two years in our military. WHAT?!?!?!?! You just kicked out my amazing husband and you're STILL claiming you're understaffed!!!! **TEARS OUT HAIR** Before you start trying to placate me, I know they're talking about enlistees, but I don't care.

**takes deep breath**
**and another**
**and another**

Ok, back to what we're going to do... no clue. The best thing anyone can do for us is keep us in your prayers. Our world has pretty thoroughly been rocked, but I want everyone to know that Heavenly Father has a definite plan for us and, while he may close a door, he always opens a window and a pint of chocolate ice cream.

I think I'll wrap this post up and go post something cute. I found the camera cradle and charger, so let the updating begin! Haha!

Pictures of Kal and Lacey

I wanted to see what Kal would do unattended in the backyard (since it's entirely possible for him to jump the fence) and these are the photos I snapped through the glass door. He's such a good dog!

Kal and Lacey play

We went to San Antonio today and were able to adopt our new dog, Kalloway. Mitch decided he liked that spelling better than "Callaway." I think it's very original - much better than Prince. He's got a few manners issues, but is an absolute gem otherwise. We're very pleased he could join our family. He's an excellent guard dog, too. :)

I think they're getting along really well.

Terrified

Just found out that Mitch's friend who also didn't pass IFS is being honorably discharged from the Air Force. Mitch's paperwork goes before the board next week. Please keep us and especially the Murrays in your prayers. They have baby number two on the way.

Videopalooza

I couldn't help it, there were so many good ones, I just couldn't choose. These were all taken in the last 72 hours.

Really really long video, but so worth the two minutes, I promise!

Derek likes to explore... and often talk

Standing up....

Background story for this one makes it better: We were messing around with ringtones on Mitch's phone and Derek had been dancing to them. Of course, once the camera came out, the dancing stopped. Derek's facial expression at 0:30 is absolutely priceless... almost worthy of America's Funniest Home Video.

Cuteness, laser-guided vision and the sucka-sucka-sucka face (watch the binkie closely)

The Derek Hat

Derek's evil take-over-the-world laugh

Why I love Sundays.... and why Derek is scary

Baby Crazy

There, I said it. I'm baby crazy again. I miss having a little one to cuddle and I'm super mad that I didn't get to nurse for very long at all. Derek hates cuddling. He's such an independent clinger - it's a little weird. As long as I'm in the room or within reaching distance, he's fine. Pick me up, put me down, pick me up, put me down. He's so cute when he laughs though - you can see his two little fangs and his two little bottom teeth. I just hope my next pregnancy is nice and smooth and labor is just as quick or (hopefully!) quicker than the last one.

On better news... my house is clean. :)

Playing with Daddy - Part 2

Bathtime and the "dead animal"

I finally found the camera cradle. Here are some pictures we took right before we cut Derek's hair. He's just such a cute naked baby!

Look at those cheeks!!

Naked baby!!

Derek has been teething for a while now and I found these little teething tools - they look like a pacifier with a bag instead of the sucking part. Anyway, I put some frozen raspberries in it and figured Derek would love it. He seemed to be doing pretty well with it, keeping it in his mouth for the most part, so I walked away and didn't give it another thought. Here's what I found when I went to check on him a few minutes later...

It looks like he killed a small animal with his bare hands!

What did I do?

By the way...here's an update

I had a great birthday. :) Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes. My good friend, Megan, sat at home with Derek while Mitch and I went to see Legend of the Guardians in 3D. I was seriously surprised that Del Rio had ANY movie in 3D, let alone the one I most wanted to see in 3D. The graphics were amazing, awesome, spectacular and every other less-than-adequate description. I've never felt my gut clench up in a movie theater - usually that feeling is reserved for the huge drop on roller coasters. I'll give kudos to the plot bunnies (aka writers) that put the script together, too. For combining the first three books in a series, they weren't very true to the books (who ever is?) but they made a pretty good stands-by-itself movie. Mitch actually enjoyed himself. I think it made him sad that he won't be a pilot though. Then we went to DQ for blizzards. The pumpkin pie blizzard is DELICIOUS!!! YUMMMMMM!!

Mitch is doing well. "They" decided that Mitch was no longer needed marshaling aircraft on the flight-line so he was reassigned to a desk job working in the base planning office. As he put it: "We have the most responsibility and the least authority." He basically plans all the base's activities. The most recent one was Oktoberfest, which I was bummed to miss (especially the huge pretzels!). Mitch told me later that it was one big keg party for all the LTs here. Glad I missed out on THAT! Mitch wasn't so fortunate. He was pegged to be designated "driver." More like designated babysitter since pretty much all of the LTs live 2 blocks from Oktoberfest fields in the dorm housing. You know you have to be super smashed if you can't walk 2 blocks. Mitch told me yesterday that the wing commander told everyone to go pass out on his enormous lawn rather than drive drunk and possibly lose their wings and their Air Force career. Hugely funny story: one of Mitch's buddies kept telling him that he loved him.

Drunk LT (with a definite slur): Heath, I love you man.
Mitch: Um... thanks.
Patrick (family friend): LT, I thought you loved me!
Drunk LT: Aw, man, you know I love you too. I'm like a whore with my love.

Mitch and Patrick have waaaaay too much fun with the vulnerable drunks. ;) They should have their own show: "Drunks Say the Funniest Things." You know you'd watch it. It'd be like the Anna Nicole Smith show. You just have to watch because you know, someday, she'll have to say something remotely intelligent. *sigh* Such is the life of a Mormon in the military. Rumor has it pubs have the best food though. I'm sure Mitch will find out.

Taps is playing right now. I love this part of my life - I have a daily soundtrack! Revillie sounds at 07:30, a fanfare and the National Anthem at 17:00 and Taps at 22:00. Derek likes to listen to the National Anthem. We go outside and he just stares and stares, trying to find the source (speakers that even I can't spot). He's figured out how to clap his hands this past week. It's so cute! He claps all the time now...changing his diaper, feeding Lacey, Lacey licking his feet while he's in his high chair, whenever he gets food, etc, etc, etc. He's also been making little efforts at standing unassisted. Gone are the days of sitting placidly in his crib or pack N play, now he always pulls himself up and, if I can't get to him fast enough, he bounces and/or cries til I come back into view. Occasionally he'll try to crawl around after me as I move from room to room, but he just can't keep up. Still has some major separation anxiety issues, but definitely not as bad since he's learned to properly crawl instead of look like an injured crab. :) He loves books, too. We'll sit in the rocking chair and read book after book. I'm so glad he inherited that love from both of us. Let's just hope it sticks.

As for me, I'm plugging along. Call me a glutton for punishment but I want to fill our other dog slot. I'd rather train two puppies at once than have to go through this while we have a smaller baby - or heaven forbid while I'm pregnant! It'll be a load off my mind, too. Pretty sure we'll get a German Shepherd or possibly inherit my aunt's boxer puppy. A little Pomeranian puppy got out of it's yard today. Super sweet, didn't bark at me and let me catch it really easily. Part of me would like that kind of dog, but I don't want a yappy dog. Poms are pretty good about that if you train them young though, and they're sooooo cute as puppies. A German Shepherd or Boxer would be more practical at this point though and they're just as cute. I dunno.

So, that's where this branch of the Heath family stands for the moment. I have pictures and video to upload but I lost the camera cradle. Hopefully I find it tomorrow and you get super cute (tasteful) naked baby bath pics. :)

Love you all!

Naptime, how I love thee...

Up before the sun does come,
All around the house I run.
I clean up there, I clean down here,
Grateful that his nap draws near.

I can do anything during naptime.
Those minutes are all mine;
The moments when the sun does shine.
And we all know what happens after bedtime...

I can finally get some Zzzs.

Cats land on their feet...

Dogs don't

BBQ Sauce and Spam

It's good.

Holy HUGE SPIDER, Batman!!

I'm not afraid of spiders and, apparently, neither is Mitch.

Mitch: Oh wow, look what was on me.
Kadi: *thinks* a bug, a hair, a booger...

Nope. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is officially the biggest spider (excluding Rosy the Rose-Haired Tarantula) I've ever seen in any of my dwelling places.

I have no idea what species it is, but it's cool! Maybe a wolf spider.

Next to my Trac phone outside for perspective

I just thought this one was cool...that's Derek eating dinner in his high chair

Make Me Giggle

Derek likes to play in his pack N play and I also like him to play in there. Perfectly baby-proof. Lacey tries to figure out how to get at the goldfish crackers on the floor of the pack N play and Derek gets a kick out of watching her try (everything from trying to bite through the mesh to bouncing off it at full speed)... but that's another story. Mostly Derek plays with his mountain of toys, eats the goldfish crackers and occasionally watches TV. Yesterday he decided to do something different...

Gotta love the dinosaur noise!

He makes me giggle... a lot

The Office

So, one person's cathartic release might be another's torture but since this is my blog, I claim the right to finally vent about The Office.

It's absolutely ridiculous. I'll give it points for some funny things like Jim putting nickels in Dwight's phone and Parcour, but Steve Carrell is the most awkward man on the planet. I can't see him come on screen without wincing in anticipation of the physically painful things that come out of his mouth. And Dwight is just weird. Ugh. The psychologist in me just wants to put him in a lab and study where his parents went wrong.

But Mitch loves it so I keep this post short and we compromise - I'll watch The Office if he watches Bones with me. :) Don't you just love marriage? He let me sleep in again today, which I apparently needed super bad.14 hours of sleep makes anyone feel better. :)

74 days to Christmas... and yes, I'm counting. :)

http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/xmas_cnt.htm

Haircut!

Derek, Derek, Derek

I feel like I need to sing some praises about Mitch today. He's been exceptionally helpful these past few weeks, especially since Derek has become so clingy and fussy. He's been all over the dishes, making dinner, changing almost every diaper when he's home and he let me take a 5-and-a-half hour nap yesterday. Wow. Even when he's playing video games, he'll stop and play with Derek or take the batteries out of the cordless controller and show Derek how to push buttons. It's so cute. Derek tried to climb into his lap today and Mitch paused his game and tossed Derek up for a couple minutes (he loves it when Mitch does that!), put him down and watched him crawl to the next toy before going back to the game. Wow, I really am lucky. How many times have I heard women complain about their husbands getting sucked into games or not spending enough time with them. I'm glad Mitch has something he can do to relieve stress and still stay home.

Here are pictures and videos of Derek. He loves his daddy, too. :)

Fresh diaper!!

He has the goofiest faces!

He was exploring the kitchen last night while I was napping

Derek kept grabbing Mitch's arm hairs. Too funny!

I swear, he rolls his eyes at me at 0:18!!

No phone, but I have a oober cute family :)

Yep, no phone. Gone. Disappeared. Not to be found on this earth. Gah. We're eligible for an upgrade next month though, so I won't have to be without a phone for too long. Only a month. I called TMobile and had them suspend the phone line so nobody can find my phone and use it. Oh well. At least Mitch won't have to deal with my inability to ever resist the phone ringing, especially during our movie dates. Drives him nuts. :) Here are some cute photos from last night to make this a post worth looking at. Enjoy!

All the toys on the floor and he wants the runaround. Ooookay.

Where Lacey started (notice the head smushed against the laundry basket)

Where Lacey ended - she must like to be smushed

Mitch didn't mind company while he played video games

New Living Room!

Gosh I wish I had proper before pictures. The change is absolutely stunning. We finally have a proper living room - which is also fairly well baby-and-puppy-proofed. Derek loves the new rug and is starting to pull himself up on my legs when I sit at the couches. I was really worried he was going to be delayed on that milestone since we really didn't have anything for him to safely pull himself up on. Lacey already knows not to even go near the couches. She's so funny - loves to gnaw on her bones while laying on a corner of the carpet.

Doesn't it just make you want to read a book? :)

Lovely

Derek scoots really quickly now

I swear he was further away when I started to take the picture!

This was too cute. I looked up from my book and Derek had abandoned his toys, draped himself across his Bumbo chair and was kicking his legs and gurgling to himself. I caught him just as he was getting off the Bumbo chair -*snaps fingers* darn. Funny little face though.

Montage

Some of the highlights of the past two days...

"Guess what I just did, Daddy... and YOU get to clean it up!"
"Joy."

These two have so much fun!

Can you see his "hippo" teeth on the top?

Fun!

"Gonna vom...."

Story behind this one: I put Derek down for the night and Mitch and I were setting up a movie. We heard these sounds coming from Derek's room for at least 15 minutes and finally had to get it on video. My sweet little boy is too cute and funny!