Greetings from the USA!!!

So we have safely made it over to the USA!!! We got a space-A flight on an Airforce cargo flight to McChord AFB on last Wednesday morning. Flying on a C-17 was quite the adventure! The seats were the kind that fold down from the wall, there was no insulation, and the plane was full of cargo crates. It was also really really loud, and you could see all the cables etc. running along the ceiling. But you can't argue with FREE airfare. We paid $4 for lunch, and aside from that, slept most of the time, except when Mark was nursing. Earplugs kept the noise down to a dull roar. The flight took a total of 14 hours, with re-fueling in the air after 7. Ben's grandma picked us up from McChord, and we spent two very pleasant days with her. Then my Dad picked us up and took us to his parents, and from there, we drove over to Spokane, where my family lives. It has been soo nice spending time with people I love, and showing Mark off to his grandparents, great-grandparents, and aunts (Brian hasn't met him yet). We plan to take a trip over to Montana to let Mark meet Grampa Bradley, and my Mom's folks (more Greats!), as well as my aunt and uncle. Hopefully it will work out to meet up with some friends too.
It is a whole new experience for me to be able to take a shower without having to listen if Mark is crying... because he is being watched (and loved on and cuddled) by at least one grandparent or aunt. =o) I could get used to this! Right now Mark still believes that 4am is the popular time to wake up and be entertained... but today we actually kept him up until 8pm, so hopefully he will sleep longer tomorrow morning.
Well, let it be said that I am as happy as a clam being here with Mark... the only thing that would make it EVEN better would be to have Ben here with us!!! I love you Sweetie!!!

2- month checkup

Well,I have officially been declared healthy... and I am a big, big boy! I weigh 14 lbs 1 oz (6700g), and am 24.5 inches (62cm)long!!! I got the first set of shots too... that wasn't fun, but after an initial yell of anger and surprise, I just gave the nurse a dirty look and was fine.

Flirt!

Need I say more? Nothing is as charming as a toothless smile! And if I let my blue blue eyes sparkle just so, the girls come a-running! Am I good or what? =o)

Blowing rasberries

Well, we tried to hop on a space A flight to the USA today, but it was cancelled... but I have a new trick! I can foam at the mouth! If you put me down with a perfectly dry face, about 3 minutes later I will have produced a bunch of bubbles, and will have drool running down my chin or cheek. Yummy! I have also figured out how to put my finger in my mouth. Sometimes I still accidently biff myself in the nose with my fist, or it gets stuck on my chin... but whenever I do manage to get that hand to my mouth, I like sucking on it. And then I get really excited, and wave my arms, which *doh* means I lose that finger from my mouth. Sheesh.

I like shiny objects (like cameras!)

I looooove shiny objects! I will stare at them for ages... Right now I also like blowing little bubbles with my saliva... and then smearing them on my Momma's shirt!
We are getting ready to hop on a space-A flight to see my grandparents... my first big trip! Hopefully, I will get to see some of you soon!!!

I Own a Tank!

My dad just sent me a picture of my very own tank! Hopefully one day I'll be able to travel there with the rest of my family and I'll get to actually sit in it!

I slept through the night!!!

Look at me show off my smile during my "sunshine hour"... I coo and kick and smile and then I get tired of it and start crying for food! I wouldn't want to be predictable, would I??!


So after not taking a single nap yesterday, I decided to mix things up a little and slept through the night! My Momma pt me to bed at 9:30pm and I didn't wake up until 5:30am.

Smile please!

So I guess the big question is: am I laughing WITH my Momma or AT her? There she was, propping me up on her legs, balancing the camera on her head with one hand, tickling me under my chin with her other hand, and trying not to let me fall down as I flailed my hands and legs with delight! Now is that funny, or what?!

Little visitors!!!

So Mark has a little friend now! My friend Hanna visited us this week with her 18-month-old son Joel. It was a lot of work, but a ton of fun, too! I look forward to when Mark is big enough to play with Joel. Little buddies. =o)



I am determined to get you guys some good pictures of Mark's smile this week... so check in again in a few days!

Hair!

Look at who I have made friends with! He's furry! He's purr-y, and he's oooooh so soft! I weigh almost exactly as much as the Merlin... hooray for everything MY size! Heheheh, I am even currently shedding almost as much hair as the kitty!
But I have to say that I look rather good with a bald (well, at this point still baldING) noggen!


Speaking of hair, my Momma has short hair now. I like it best when it stands on end and is all fluffy in the morning... and sometimes still at noon if I keep her busy enough!