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.