A slice of graduation pie

I, BRADEN REYNOLDS, HAVING BEEN APPOINTED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC; THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY; WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION; AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE UPON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER, SO HELP ME GOD.

T minus one day

The day before commissioning was spent on base attending activities. It started with spouses orientation at 8 am. Or 8:15 if you're me. I walk in late to the meeting as the commander in a flight suit is saying, "He will deploy. He will spend a year away. He will miss Christmases and birthdays and births. What he does is dangerous. I've buried 14 of my buddies..."

Um, wow. Apparently I missed the ice breaker. I sure hope the first 15 minutes were friendlier and fuzzier. We sat in front of a panel of high ranking officer's wives and asked them questions. It turned out to be a much more sobering experience than I had envisioned. One of the ladies was asked what the hardest part of it was and her answer was that there is a bag packed in their closet that he could grab and leave at any time, should there arise a need. She said she hates seeing that bag in their closet. I can certainly understand that. And at the same time that is part of what makes us so proud to be their wives.

That night we attended what the Air Force calls a "Dining Out". I was a bit frazzled because I had no time to get ready and was feeling like a mess. I lost the strap to my shoe in the hotel and did my makeup on the way in the car. At first I thought it was just an overpriced fancy dinner. And it was that. But it turns out there is a whole history, script and program to it and rules that one must follow. No sitting before the president. No clapping (you must bang spoons on the table). No murdering the queens english. You must follow proper toasting etiquette. And on and on and on. If anyone violates a rule they can be called up to the grog. The grog is a toilet bowl full of nasty rubbish. You approach the grog, FILL a cup, and drink the whole thing without removing the cup from your lips. Then you dump the cup over your head to show that it is empty. If you remove the cup, leave drops, don't turn or salute properly, you must keep doing it until you get it right. In order to call somebody out you must use a clever rhyme. There is a President and Vice President of the mess and they run the program together. Braden was selected to be the Vice, which got us stellar seats. We were at the back of the room on an elevated platform so we could see everybody. As the Vice, Braden had to be the first one to the grog to ensure that it was proper punishment for violations of the mess. He is the only one I think who drank out of the non-alcholic grog bowl.

They had a ceremony for POW's and MIA's as there is a table set for them in the front of the room. It was very moving. Braden whispered to me that he couldn't take this part and I could see him trying not to pay attention as he had to talk afterward. But alas, it didn't work. He stood to propose a toast to the comrades killed or missing in action and he couldn't talk. The whole room was standing silently and staring at us, waiting for him to be able to finish. I told him later I thought it was sweet. He said it's sweet in sacrament meeting, not in front of hundreds of military men. Lucky for me I cut the moment short when my bracelets got caught on my dress at exactly the nipple range. I had a moment to take in the situation as Braden was composing himself and hundreds of eyeballs were staring at me. The trouble was, my glass was raised waiting to toast and that is when the snag occurred. I couldn't move my hand. When it came time to drink I did this akward little head to my chest drink so as to avoid vigorous chest yanks. Way to kill the moment Julie. Oh, and look like an idiot in front of a jillion fancy military people. Really, I should be left at home in sweats on the couch.

It was a very long night- 5 hours I think. Cocktail hours and intermissions and a guest speaker. Not something I want to do often, but a cool experience nonetheless.

Mr. Vice did a fantastic job, even making a crack on the commanding officer who never did work her way up to a smile. Yikes. And might I say, what a hottie. Way to make a $400 dollar tux look like a million bucks, honey.






The dress my friend Stephanie made for me, sans pattern. I love it. If you show up to my house and I'm wearing it while making dinner don't be surprised. Well, be surprised that I'm making dinner...



What we found in our room at the end of the night.

Deep breaths

Walking around the house tonight it started to occur to me just how much I have to do. My list was literally growing every minute and I began to feel overwhelmed and stressed. Braden graduates this week and his whole family is coming to stay. And then we move two days later. There is a lot that goes into that. Over the course of the last hour my mood changed and I started to feel incredibly burdened and irritated. Then while I was sweeping I thought back to bedtime just three hours ago and remembered how I was so absolutely happy. I had FHE with the girls- we sang songs and I told Anabelle several stories from the scriptures. We read from the Book of Mormon and she got it. She grasped the principles and was excited about learning it. We laid in her bed together tickling faces and hair and arms and giving kisses. She said, "Mom, remember the rule: No matter how big I get I will always be your little girl. I will never get too big to hold your hand, or give you kissies or lovies, or tell you love secrets". She told me I was the best and prettiest Mom. She is so tender with me. So nurturing and loving. It was a moment of pure joy. One of those rare moments when you realize you actually have everything in the world- and you feel so complete. So instead of checking things off my list and being efficient around the house I decided that I would come write down how perfectly happy it makes me to be a Mom. How very honored and downright lucky I am to spend my days with these delightful girls. In coming years it won't matter that I didn't accomplish most of the things on my list and that my house doesn't look anything like I want it to. But I want Anabelle to know how these nights with her fill me up in a way I can't describe. I don't ever want these days to end. So at the risk of being totally unprepared for the next insane week, I feel the need to stop and make sure I'm not missing what's really going on here. That I don't get so distracted by all my accomplishing that I forget what it is I'm really trying to do. You know, big picture stuff.

Snack Mom's weekend report

Nothing gets the weekend kicked off to a good start like a surprise party. Especially when you're the surprisee. Our ward had a playgroup baby shower for Golden Diamond (Anabelle's latest name for the babe). It was so perfect and thoughtful. It does not make it easier to leave the Hoover ward. Not at all. They should have thrown trash at me and pointed out my dreadful split ends so I don't have to cry next week when I start saying good bye. I was excited that I actually had my camera in my backpack. I took it out. I set it on the counter. And at the end of the shower I picked it back up. And that is the story of why I have no pictures.

Happily and thankfully, Anabelle had a wild turnaround on Friday afternoon (thanks to Marilyn). There are no words for the gratitude. I was losing it.

When Braden got home Saturday night we ran some errands, went to our favorite restaurant (Costco), and stocked him up on junk food. After the girls went to bed I was sitting at the table and Braden, wearing his AF getup, broke out the impersonation bag and started telling me stories of the last 10 weeks. I think even people who know him pretty well probably don't know how hilarious his voices and impersonations are. It is the talent he stashes under the bushel and only busts it out with a very select few. It is one of my favorite things about being home with him. I had tears rolling down my cheeks, my big belly was shaking like jelly (which makes us laugh harder), I even had to use the double fan. It was medicinal. It was the Braden I miss. Even though we get to talk on the phone sometimes or even see each other, I feel like I rarely get Braden my husband or Braden my childrens' father. It's usually OT Reynolds with a hint of Braden. It was an hour of normalcy and I needed that.

Sunday flew by with me holding a sick Lila. She's even sweeter when she's sick. Melts my heart. Anabelle handled the departure much much better. Here's hoping for a great week. I'm sure Braden is in heaven. We won't talk to him all week because he is on a week long paintball war against the commissioned staff. They arrived at a camp this morning and they get off the bus under enemy fire and have to overtake them. Basically the best week of work ever in his life. Can't wait for these stories.

Survival

Well here I am approaching another weekend. Exciting? Yes, of course. Dreadful? Yep, that too. I still haven't recovered from last weekend. No, really, I mean that.

This week was about survival. I don't want to say survival of the fittest, because that's clearly not how I feel right now. Survival of the hormonal? Survival of the perpetually hungry? At any rate, I found myself just trying to make it to bedtime without absolutely losing it. Big aspirations, I know.

The scene when Braden had to leave last Sunday was just pitiful. Tears all around. Weeping and wailing through the brushing of teeth. This went on for hours. I put Anabelle to bed in his AF undershirt with her new AF bear that he brought home for her. It became clear to me that her increasingly terrible behavior has a lot to do with this whole situation. I knew it was part of the equation but was unsure exactly how much. And now I know. Screams of anger, sobs of sadness, nothing pretty. Now she has this thing where if I am not in her sight she screams her face off and has a little panic attack. Peeing alone? In my dreams. But she is also dreadfully mean to me at all times of the day and night. She is past caring about any form of discipline. She is absolutely not herself. Not sweet, not funny, not happy. It's not good. She tried to make me promise her that when Dad is done with "soldier practice" as she calls it, that he will never ever leave her ever again. Yikes. I promised her that he would spin her around in the laundry basket when he comes home tomorrow. That's pretty much the same thing, right?

But Lila's good with it. She does this fabulous squeal/giggle/scream whenever she hears his voice and otherwise she just drags her dog around the house waiting for bath time and hoping for a cup of juice to get thrown at her.


3 weeks, 3 weeks, 3 weeks, 3 weeks, 3 weeks, 3 weeks, 3 weeks,......



Post-hysterics slumber

...at the mention of "Dad"....

Strong support for sleepovers

Everything is okay again. In fact, another week snuck by somehow. I called upon my sweet friend Jamie after last week's affair and asked her to intervene, for all of our sakes. The girls had a sleepover and went to church with her and I went to Montgomery the next day to go to church with Braden. It was a lovely drive. Peaceful. I chewed gum and applied lipstick. Braden and I ate lunch together after church and I can't say just how enjoyable that was. It was such a wonderful day. Why did I wait 8 weeks to do that?

And now we have approached another weekend, and this one is particularly exciting. Braden finished his last graded academic exams and briefings this week and is coming to our house to have a sleepover tomorrow. He asked permission and was apparently on his best behavior this week. It's funny that we've been a family for almost 6 years now and in a matter of weeks I have begun to think of him as a guest- planning food and cleaning and changing sheets. And then it dawns on me- Oh yeah, this is his house. I do think I'll buy some meat for the guy though.

Yea for sleepovers!

Pee dries

End of week 8 report:

Patience: gone
Nerves: shot

Must find a way to decompress from Mommy-mode. Soon. For every one's sake. Particularly after yesterday.

The day starts with me taking note that I am in fact gaining weight at a more rapid rate than I did with either previous pregnancy. Despite the time I try to exercise, I feel the gooey, gooshey morph happening. It's to be expected but I won't lie, it never feels good. Not a big deal but never ever a good way to start the day.

I need 2 new front tires. I had previously called Costco to find out what time they opened. Knowing that I will have the girls with me, and thinking for some absurd reason that this was a good idea, I decide to get there early, be first, and thus minimize wait time. Five other people shared my plan but apparently did not change a last minute blow-out diaper because they got there before me. The only place to wait is outside and Lila wants to get down and run, as any one year old wants to do. In the street. Anabelle spots a package of fruit snacks in my purse, which I have brought as my last line of defense should things get ugly. She wants them. Not in two hours. She wants them now. It doesn't matter that she ate breakfast a mere 10 minutes ago. Lila is going nuts to be free. Anabelle's begging is turning into quite a scene. Finally we get let inside and the scene in there is no better. And on and on it goes. I realize after 20 minutes that this indeed may have been my stupidest idea yet. Anabelle has to go pee she says. There is no bathroom open. So I take Lila's hand, which she hates, we begin the march all the way around the back of the store so we can pee in a bush. Lila has had enough. She loses it. All body parts are flailing. She is yelling at me. Mean while Anabelle has decided since I am preoccupied that she will just squat and go pee all by herself. She of course just pees all over herself. And there in the back of the Costco parking lot, I had a moment of a maternal breakdown. On any regular day I might have been annoyed or a bit put out, but in my current frazzled, tired, achy state, it was all just a little too much. I didn't say anything but I sat down on the curb and looked at the sky and tried to breathe deeply. And Anabelle in all of her three year old wisdom said, "Mom, it's okay. It's just no biggie. Pee dries". She tried showing me birds flying by and trucks honking to distract me. It's nice that when my maternal abilities fail, hers step right up. We spent the morning trying to pass the time and I hardly cared when they tire guy called and told me I needed four new tires instead of two. Usually $250 dollars will evoke some sort of emotional reaction from me. I only saw it in terms of a longer wait time.

And to wrap it up a man looked at the girls, looked at my stomach, and asked me if I was trying to repopulate the world. There were no words. Just a look.

The day continued in such a fashion. We had an appointment in the afternoon with Marilyn and Anabelle was a complete rascal. By the time we got home at night after all the things we had to do I was no story book Mom. When Lila threw her plate of beans and rice across the kitchen I just nodded. It seemed appropriate.

And now for my very favorite part of the day...

Anabelle crawled into bed after baths and jammies and said, "I'm waiting for Snack Mom to read me a story. You are really good at eating. That's why I named you Snack Mom".

A perfect (and hilarious) end to a perfect day.

A visitor, a very special visitor

Last week was exciting because my pal Kimmy from high school came to visit me. We celebrated her birthday, went to the zoo, a great creamery, the Birmingham Botanical gardens, the Aldridge Botanical gardens, went shopping, discovered a new water aerobics class which I adore, and watched girl movies together at night. I don't think we broke a single rule all week. And we still had fun. Hmmmmm. That's a new one for us Kimmy! Not that I'm in any condition to be hopping fences, but it would have been fun to see if my skills are still intact after all these years (note to Mom- no serious rules were ever broken. Only, or mostly, things pertaining to Colton High School which everyone knows and recognizes as a joke. I feel confident that I am smarter and better for having broken out and gone to the beach as much as I did. Trust me, they were good decisions).

It was nice to have someone else to talk to the last few days who I don't have to talk into going potty or brushing teeth. Thanks for coming Kimmy! See you next spring friend!



All she wants to do all day is run up hills, and run down hills. Her knees are perma scabs because each day she re-opens them. What? What's that you say? Try dressing her in more than a diaper? Hmmmm....that's something to think about....




This part of the zoo looked like heaven. It smelled like heaven. It did not however sound like heaven. Thanks Lila for tantruming and bring me back to reality.

I was feeling a little jealous of the kissing camels.

As the worker steps away for a minute Lila takes the chance to free a goat

Immensely happy

Let it be known that I had a supremely magnificent day today. It of course started at three and didn't quite make the turn until about 9 when we made it to church in Montgomery. The girls were entertaining and delightful in church, there were good talks and good lessons. Then we went back to the base with Braden and I brought ribs and a picnic for his whole flight, plus some. While the grill was heating and the ribs were cooking it was just our family playing together. Braden and I passing the football while chatting about recent happenings, all while Anabelle sings her heart out on a stage. Perfect weather, yummy ribs, a very happy me. Just to spend a precious hour as a family doing just what we would do at home is so satisfying. It fills me up in a tremendous way. Not to mention that I had complete mobility of all parts and pieces previously mentioned and cursed. It was cool to meet his flight mates and hear some stories and put names with faces. Anabelle made the rounds to each table and met every single "soldier" I think. She had been chatting with one guy and when he had to leave she said, "it's okay, I'll just go make a new friend", and she walked to another table of people she hadn't met yet.

Everything took a heart wrenching turn when Braden went to her side of the car to say good-bye. She did the slow lip curl, you could really see all the emotion welling up inside her and then the tears finally came, "Daddy, I don't want you to go. Why do you have to go? Why can't you stay with us?" It was a sad sad scene. I haven't been all choked up like that since I said goodbye to him myself. And it didn't get better. She could see that it was breaking his heart to say goodbye and have to leave so all the way home and throughout bedtime she kept saying through sobs, "He didn't want to leave me either. It's hard for Dad too". I put her to bed in his prized Rocky t-shirt as a consolation. It seems to get harder and harder for her as the weeks go by. I watch her with him in the little play time they get on Sundays and you can see how much she needs that and how it lights her up inside. I'm so grateful that we are this close and get that rare opportunity. Never have I loved Alabama so much. In fact, we had to pay some state taxes and to help me feel better about it I just tell myself that it's money we pay to see Braden on Sundays.

Speaking of how I love Alabama, I finally got a picture tonight of a sign that I've been loving since we got here. Notice that it is not endorsed by any particular church. It would not surprise me if my very tax dollars go to just such causes as this. I always feel safe when I see it because I only pass it on my way home from church. Whew. Except I'm positive Alabama doesn't count my church- I think maybe we are the devil it's warning about. Either way, love this greasy state- Sweet Home Alabama.

What's on our shoulders...

Last Monday morning I was giving Anabelle the rundown of the day's planned activities. One of the last things I mentioned was that we were going to have Family Home Evening (knowing of course that the best way to make sure it happens is to tell her). She says to me, "Oh, yes. Because it has been a LONG time since we had family home levening". It has been about three weeks with our travel to Florida and the start of OTS. I guess she noticed.

When I entered the room with the nursery manual she protested. She did not want me to use "that baby book". I told her it was not a baby book, it was for kids who are three like her. She said,"No. I want you to use the big brown book" (our large family Book of Mormon). So I went and got it and when I returned she asked me if I wanted her to teach me. Of course I said yes....

AB: Jesus went to teach the people. And Jesus said, "Come unto me. And I will give you faith. And believe in me".

ME: Wow buddy. That's good. Did you learn that at church?"

AB: (while rolling her eyes): "No, you guys taught me that".

ME: oh, how great.

AB: And Jesus says, "Come with me and I know the way and you follow. And I will live with you again and I will rise with living breath".

I can tell that part of her Jesus quotes are primary songs, a part is from the movie 'Finding Faith in Christ', and I guess the rest is just her perception of the savior that she has pieced together from discussions and lessons at home and church.

So we opened the scriptures and went through story by story. If she recognized a story she would tell me she already knew that one, to go on. At the end of a story she would say, "Tell me another one". She couldn't get enough. We spent the next hour and a half this way, she was totally engrossed and was the one perpetuating the discussion and length of time. I came to the story in Helaman of Nephi and Lehi being put in prison. Before I had really been paraphrasing most of the stories but for some reason I read this one right from the scriptures. She listened intently, stopping me to say, "Who's voice did they hear?" and "who made the earth shake"? I thought she might get lost in the language of the scriptures but she didn't seem phased by it. After this I had to end it only because it had become late and Lila was going crazy.

I was both touched and overwhelmed. Maybe overwhelmed is not the word. I felt keenly aware of the responsibility that is ours to teach these precious little souls. I was struck with how important consistency is and the need to teach them young. I will always know that if she doesn't understand the gospel and have faith in it, it isn't because she wasn't ready or didn't want to learn. That falls squarely on our shoulders and I was struck tonight with the absolute importance of it all. It was a moment of complete clarity as I had the repeating thought and feeling that, "nothing else matters" since there is no way for us to teach our kids the gospel without living it well ourselves.

Thanks kids, for bringing me moment 213 where I remember what it's all about.

Epiphany

So you know just last night I was pondering over the way I carry the babes and wondering how that could affect the troubles I'm having. This morning it came to me at 5 am in an unexpected way. I heard Lila start to cry her painful sad cry so I went in to find that her little ankle was stuck in between the bars of her bed again (this happens regularly now...what should I do about that? Stop feeding her sticks of butter for lunch? Start using the butter to grease her ankles before bedtime?). Anyway- after I crawled in her crib with her and did some skillful prying she was quite a mess so I brought her back to bed with me. After she did some singing she finally fell back to sleep. Except she was horizontal in the bed instead of vertical, thus taking up all available space (as both girls do every time they come to bed with us). While clinging tightly to the 4 inches she has left me, I notice her form on the bed. Absolutely stretched out from the tops of her duck-like hair and outstretched arms, to her chubby little feet- in the wrong direction. And in that moment I realized: this is what these girls are doing in my uterus. They are stretched out longways lounging their days away while I take painful calculated steps just to make it to the bathroom. I think Anabelle left a note tucked in my utey that says,"Hey, for maximum relaxation, stretch out longways and make yourself at home. 'Fetal position' is totally overrated. Pass it on". It's all coming together now.


Lila was irresistible tonight. I loved the time I spent with her reading, eating and playing. Sweet like sugar, that girl. This picture captures some of her current obsessions: nudity, books, and a rocking chair.

Our day- in non sensical form...

My day started this morning at 3something when I awoke and could no longer sleep. This is now a frequent occurrence. Enter Anabelle, right on time at 4something: "Mom, I'm having a hard time sleeping, can I snuggle you?" She says the exact same thing every morning at around the same time. She then proceeds to tickle my face and hair and sing to me. Who's having a hard time sleeping? She also took off her third dry diaper of the week....please say this is an indication of being dry through the night rather than my malnourishing my children. Diapering three kids at night is looming eerily close in our future.

This morning the girls went to Jackie's while I went to my first appt. with Dr Duke (the dr. I saw while living in the hospital for Lila's post-birth fun). I was actually very impressed with her ( she remembered me/Lila- asked about the seizures). I told her about the rubbish that is occurring in my back and legs (as if I needed to- I walk like an idiot). She thinks it is happening because of the way I carry so straight-out and low (what's in there anyways- a light pole?). She thinks I need to wear one of those fabulous belts to lift the weight off my pelvis so that my legs get some blood. Something about muscles stretching so much to support this awkward shaped load. So she wrote me a prescription for muscle relaxers. Not sure how I feel about that yet. You know how I turn a little hippy when I'm pregnant. But also heavy panting to lift Lila out of the tub seems absurd. Plus Lila thinks I'm playing puppy with her when I'm really just trying to force her into jammies. Anyway, Dr. Duke was genuinely concerned rather than being dismissive like the last gem of a doctor. And she chatted with me in the hallway for a long time about all sorts of stuff (her husband went to Officer Training too).

From there I went to institute and it was my turn to babysit. Jackie told me Lila had a blowout at her house. I asked Lila if she had a blowout and she said yes then blew out (her breath) in my face. At least someone in this house is practical. All the kids were rascals today. And I suppose it might be possible that my reservoir of patience may be dwindling.

We went to the rec center so I could get passed on the track by senior citizens using oxygen machines and Walkmans. Spent a torturous hour and half there- but I listened to the Avett Brothers and thought of you. And the hush puppies we ate before their concert. Yes, all thoughts are circular, they begin and end with food. When I picked the girls up the lady told me how sweet both of them are and that Anabelle is so smart (different from the one who tries to be Anabelle's "girlfriend"). Don't worry, I covered Lila's ears when she said that.

While driving Anabelle asks to see that my seat belt is on, as she does 56 times a day. She says, "If you forget, I will help you remember. I am awesome at that". Awesome is one word for it. Toddler Nag of the universe is another.

At dinner Anabelle apologized for "being so gassy today", shaking her head at herself feigning embarrassment but holding back a grin, because really, it sounded like there was a war documentary on in the other room. It was like she knew she should be embarrassed but she was truly entertaining herself. She thought I ate a hamburger (it was the bbq from Sunday) so she said, "Mom, you just let your baby eat a cow". She has taken to feeding me because it is the only way she can think of to mother this unborn child. Oh little fetus, enjoy your own space now (because your ruining mine) and your big sister/mother is EXCITED to smother you in love. She also tries to sneak toys up my shirt and rest them on my belly for her to have toys to play with.

When Lila goes in the bathroom when Anabelle is using it she yells, "Mom! get Lila out! Before she sees my privacy!!"

Bath was full of uproarious laughter as usual. Floor like a river as usual. I read a very stupid book to Anabelle and wondered why I keep such painful books around, we are the ones that have to read them night after night? Tomorrow I'm doing a clean out of the bookshelf and Pinocchio is the first to go.

Prayers turned a bit competitive tonight. Since you've been gone Lila has decided to join us in prayers by Anabelle's bed. It's about the cutest thing ever. She doesn't have the kneeling thing down so she puts her forehead to the bed and just does a deep bow. Once Anabelle began praying Lila began praying also. As only Lila can- by chanting. Loudly. We've never really prayed that way in this house but Lila is bringing some new stuff to the table.

That's what you missed today. Here are your silly girls...



sweet sweaty slumber

5 weeks later...

Well I sort of did the opposite of blogging with boring frequency. I realized that Braden would never check it and instead inundated him with letters. Oh, plus I'm tired. I have a list that I wrote March 2nd with things that I wanted to get done in Braden's absence. Here I am starting week 6 and at this point I just keep it up on the fridge for comical purposes. Or to have somewhere to remind myself that I need milk. Again. How is it that I always need milk? Sadly my closets remain unorganized, my scrapbooks are a few years behind, and the list of thank-you cards I need to write is actually growing rather than shrinking. Shucks. Turns out this whole single parenting while pregnant gig is a bit exhausting. I won't say it's been terrible. Insanely inconvenient, but I haven't lost my mind. There have been a few days that I shoved those girls in their beds with an "I double dog dare you to come out" look, but that likely would have happened solo or not. On the whole, the girls are being fabulous little critters. Anabelle basically runs this place and I help her reach really high stuff. The sun has been shining, we have a tub of our favorite Publix frozen yogurt in the freezer, and Anabelle buckles herself in her seat now. I'm basically riding the gravy train.

In other magnificent news, we have unexpectedly had the chance to see Braden every Sunday at church. We drive an hour and a half to get there and it's not much interaction because all we do is meet at church and sit next to each other and then he goes back to the base right after it is over. But we get to see his cute little face and this makes me so happy. It has been an intriguing experience to get to do this because I have seen the changes in him week by week. So absolutely fascinating. And yesterday we got to see him after church because his class got a rank promotion. We had a picnic on base and were e there together for five hours. Wahoo!! I wasn't allowed in any facilities (including bathrooms!) and he couldn't leave so we just sat outside in the sun while our kids played on a pollen covered playground. When they were sufficiently yellow, Braden showed us some of the big planes and taught me a little Air Force history. It's funny what a few hot hours in the Alabama sun with your family can mean to you. Seriously pumped me up inside. And I won't lie, it came with good timing- I was beginning to feel it at 5 weeks in.

Braden has done really well on all his tests and things seem to be calming down a bit. I think we were all a bit taken back by the intensity of the beginning. Although I have very little other contact with him, it has helped tremendously to see him on Sundays. One night I tucked Anabelle in and we told each other 'sweet dreams' and then she said, "I'm going to dream about my Dad". I asked her what about her Dad and she said, "just that we are together".

We are missing Braden but so are proud of him. I hope he is enjoying his male roomies because this may be the last time he ever has any. Girl number three to show up August 3rd. Or on another sweltering hot humid southern day.

Word from airman Reynolds is that he can sometimes check this now so I am supposed to get back on the blogging train. Here's to making that happen.