Cambria- almost 11 months

Sleeping in the Jumparoo, this isn't the first time but she was there for at least half an hour before I had to get her up to go get Gavin from school.

Discovering the TV. She is finally pulling up on things more and more and this was the first time she discovered the TV, she seemed impressed. She never watches it or is interested in it until she is really close to it.

Here's a few resent pictures of Cambria and her progress! They were taken right after she took a bath, so no clothes or glasses on yet.

I caught it! I know it's a little blurry, but this was the first time she has pulled to sitting by herself. I laid her on the floor wrapped in a towel (and nothing else) after a bath, I went to get something and when I came back in the room she was pushing up to sit! I grabbed the camera and took a picture right before she noticed me and went down to her tummy to scoot to me. She will sit for a little bit if we put her there, but she has to be kept occupied or she falls over- it is good to see her trying to sit on her own!

sitting with brother and sister

trying to get Mommy

We are so proud!

120 YIKES!!!! and a little snow...

I've been putting off this blog, in hopes that things would change, but it doesn't look like it so here it is. Last Mon. Kyle started his new job as a flight commander in the OSS (don't ask me exactly what he will be doing, but I know it involves being in charge of linguists). He has been in the same squadron for almost 4 years and it was time to move on- we do love the 38th! He finally found a job that would allow him to still go to school, deploy once a year with his old squadron (apparently 0 a year wasn't an option), and fly just a few times a month with his old squadron. He got there on Mon., flew with the 38th on Tues., on Wed. he found out he would probably deploying in Feb. and not it May, on Thur. he broke the news to me, and by Fri. it didn't seem like the 120 day deployment was going anywhere. His deployments were 90 days at first and then they moved them to 60 and now that they are having a shortage of people they have moved it back to 90 days. That is why 120 days came as a shock and not a good one. His plane deploys to several places, but these long deployments are usually to Qatar. He will be the ADO (Assistant Director of Operations) and that position was just moved to 120 days. It is a great position and the Commander is a great guy, but Kyle isn't too concerned right now with his career in the AF, he will make major and Med. school comes shortly after that. His boss in his new squadron was not happy with the news of a 120 so soon, so he was working on finding someone else (that's why not much has been said), but it isn't happening- as of now, and there is nothing he can do, Kyle has to go. This job does interest Kyle and he does look forward to working with the Commander, but he would give it up in a heart beat. We know it is all in God's hands and we will be just fine. On a positive note, Kyle will make more money being deployed for so long (it is tax free pay when you are in a war zone, plus other extra pay) and this will help get us out of debt (paying for Kyle's school at Creighton, MCAT stuff, on top of other things)- we haven't had debt until this year and we look forward to getting rid of it. I think about 4 months and know I can handle it, but then I think about the kids and it makes me sad- they kind of get it now and kind of don't and it is hard for them to understand. It helps to remember in the long scheme of things 4 months is nothing and they haven't been harmed by all the other deployments in the passed. He leaves in the middle of Feb. and will return by the end of June. I will not be heading to Texas till after school gets out (both my sisters are teachers and it works best if they aren't working), so until May I will just be hanging out alone- if you feel like visiting me that would be great! Whenever I think about complaining about 4 months, I always stop myself and remember to be thankful it isn't longer, there are so many troops that are gone for a year at a time and Kyle will not be in the Air Force long enough to see such a deployment. Right now we are trying not to think about things, just enjoy the time we have together now and are looking forward to traveling to Arizona for Christmas. The MCAT is still happening and it is coming up shortly, right now the plan is the end of Jan. but there is a possibility of Kyle being able to take it while he is in Qatar (giving him plenty of alone time to study). Please pray as we prepare for this time, he hasn't been gone longer than 100 days (it was a 90, but the deployments seem to need an extra 10 days on them sometimes). Pray for the kids and my sanity. Pray for Kyle's safety and his upcoming MCAT test that he has been working so hard on. Thank you so much for all your support and prayers!

On a lighter note at the beginning of last week, the kids woke up thrilled to see snow on the ground! They have been asking about it and it finally came, not much but enough to play with for a while. We bundled them up and pushed them out the door to play with what was left of the snow before it melted. It was so cute, they ran outside and threw themselves on the ground and began making snow angels- I of course was not prepared and didn't have the camera ready for their first snow angels this year (I had no clue they knew how to make them). I did get some pictures of them making some more in our neighbors yard (don't worry no one lives there). Shortly after they came in the snow melted and I realized (looking at there wet clothes and shoes) that they needed some snow gear if they were going to play in the snow more this year (last year Avalyn hated it and Gavin only went out a few times to sled with Kyle). I was able to find 2 snow suits and a pair of Stride Rite snow shoes for Avalyn at a resale shop all for $16, now all I need are some snow shoes for Gavin. There are sure to be more snow pictures this year and they will be properly dressed!

What a wonderful time!

My parents (2)+ sisters (2)+ their husbands (2)+ their kids (3)= an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving week. They made the long trip from Texas to spend Thanksgiving with us. Dispite quite a few of us having horrible colds and stomach issues, we had a great time shopping, playing video games, watching movies, eating, and best of all just being together. On the Wed. before Thanksgiving my friend Jana, who is a wonderful photographer here, took our family picture- we haven't all been together in years and have never had a profesional picture taken (I can't wait to see it) http://jselanderphotography.com/jblog/ (there are a few sneak peaks of some of the pictures taken, including Kyle and I, my niece and nephew and little sisters family). Since we will not be together this year for Christmas we celebrated it by putting the tree up on the night before Thanksgiving and then opened presents on Thanksgiving morning before watching the parade on our big screen and cooking our little hearts out for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal just before the Cowboys game. I miss my family so much and the week went by just too fast, someday I look forward to not having to say good by for so long. The kids loved having everyone around, Gavin is still recovering from his favorite big cousin Hayden. Enjoy the pictures and I will begin to stop thinking about how much I miss being with my family and enjoy life as it is!

My little 5 month old nephew Briley!

Beauty parler night- Avalyn got her hair cut by Mau Mau (my mom) and her nails painted by her Aunt Kathryn

Cambria and Briley playing!

"Christmas" morning

Cambria's 1st Christmas present and Avalyn in her new princess outfit (she is still wearing 3 days later)

The babies playing with their new toys!

Gavin's new Leapster and guitar- he was thrilled!

The new kitchen in the play room- Avalyn has been "baking" cupcakes for days now!


Thanksgiving meal! Our 24 pound Turkey and room for everyone at the table (including our friends Andy and Melinda and their little girl Sidney)

Hanging out with Uncle Kevin (or as Avalyn says Kuncle Kevin) and Briley with his daddy Brian.

One last picture before going home! All the cousins!

catching up

Wow, it's been a while. We are doing well and thrilled that the holidays are right upon us. All of us, accept Cambria, have been sick over the last couple of weeks. Gavin had it the worst- I don't understand how we could potty train him in just a couple of days, but to get him to use a bowl or toilet to throw up in was impossible (we have cleaned mattresses, the couch, and of course the carpet- which Kyle steam cleaned just a few days before he got sick). I am glad it is over and we are all feeling much better. Praise the Lord Cambria didn't get sick. Right now I am avoiding laundry and cleaning the house to blog, anything is more fun than laundry. I let it pile up all week, so I only had to fold it and put it away once before my family arrives tommorrow night- I don't know what kind of logic that is since you can barely see the carpet in my room right now, good luck finding socks and it will will probably take me a couple of hours to finish once I begin (yuck).

My attempt at a picture of the 3 today- Cambria would have nothing of it, she was ready for her nap.

A little update on Cambria- can you believe she is already 10 months old! We've notice since the surgery that her left eye is still moving inward quite a bit and after several weeks of seeing no improvement in that eye we called the doctor. Don't worry it isn't serious, they are still much improved since the surgery and she is doing great. The doctor told us to put a patch on her for 90 min. a day till her next appointment on Dec. 2nd. Cambria isn't crazy about the patch, the first time she wore one she cried for the 1st 30 min. She has done better since the first time, but is still not happy about it. She acts really sleepy and messes with her glasses a lot more when she has it on. I am just glad it is for only 90 min.- hopefully that doesn't have to go for longer.

Otherwise she is doing well and is even starting to improve on her sitting skills! Her visual specialist (who visits ever-other week) brought a physical theropist with her on Mon. to see if she could help with her sitting. A few days before they came Cambria started to allow me to put her in the sitting position for a few seconds at a time- with a toy to play with and her legs spread apart. I was so glad to see this since there has been absolutely no improvement on her desire to sit until that time. She did great for the theropist and seems to still be improving slowly. The funny thing was when they were here she was scooting around and actually went to the steps (that she ussually just touches) and pulled herself up on the bottom step for a few shocking moments till she fell back down to scooting position. We were so proud, she has never pulled herself up on anything and ussually just turns herself around when she gets to something too high. She hasn't done it since, but it was a very proud moment for all of us! Sorry there is no picture of it, I didn't have my camera with me quick enough and she has not been thrilled with us when we try to get her do it.

Thanks for the help

Just haven't been feeling too well lately. No, I am not Pregnant- Kyle and Avalyn also had this little bug.

Update on the picture: I was leaning toward #1, 5, or 6. I went with #6. I am with you Jessi, my absolute favorite was the first of the extra, but it didn't seem right for the baby dedication. I needed you to take the picture Jessi or Jana. I know I am spoiled to have such wonderful photographer friends- miss you Jess and Thank you Jana so much for taking pictures in the rain yesterday for our Christmas card.

We had a wonderful weekend with Kyle's parents last weekend. It's always sad to see family leave, it makes you realize how much you miss out on being so far away from family. Now we are gearing up for Thanksgiving with my family. We are so excited to see all of them- just wish we wouldn't have to say goodbye so soon after they arrive (okay I will not think about that, they aren't here yet). We are so Thankful that we will all be able to be together for Thanksgiving and "Christmas" on Thanksgiving night. Then we will be off to SUNNY Arizona for Christmas with Kyle's family. We are looking forward to warmer weather- I know that might sound crazy for Christmas time, but we get enough of the cold stuff around here (at least for this Texas girl). We absolutely LOVE the Holidays and being with family is a huge priority for us during such special times, so traveling with 3 kids is definantly worth it! If you can't tell, I am so happy about the next couple of months!!!

Sorry about no pictures I just haven't taken too many lately, but I promise some to come soon.

Pick your favorite

We are finally going to be in church for baby dedication in Nov. I am so excited we will actually have family there (we haven't for any of our other kids). They put up a picture on the screen of each child. I have to turn it in this week, leaving me no time for a professional picture. My camera is not the best and I am not the best, but I did what I could yesterday after church. None of them are perfect (the colar on her dress bugs me), so I was wanting some other opinions. Please let me know which one you like best! Thanks!

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And just because she is so cute, here are a few extra!