Ripley's Aquarium

Friday morning we went to Ripley's Aquarium. We thought Niran was going to love it. I'm not sure if he loved it and wanted to see everything as fast as he could or he just wanted to get through the aquarium. He went through every exhibit so fast and started dragging us around if we didn't go fast enough. I'm sure one day we'll be able to take him back and he will really be able to enjoy it. I think for now we'll stick to watching videos & movies of fishies.

Manta Rays - Dusty and I both got to touch one. I tried to help Niran touch one, but he freaked out. I think he just wanted to put his hands in the water.

Fishies!

Take a break to play. This is the same fish that Dori & Marlin meet in the deep, dark waters.

Speaking of Marlin & Dori!!

Looking at his "face"

He thought this squid was pretty neat.

A picture with a real shark. He's so cute!

Niran & Calvin Visit the Doctor

When we move to a new installation we are supposed to go visit our doctor within the first 30 days. I waited for paperwork from our doctor to get here, then made the appointment. Here we have to book a month out!! But they did get in and are now all current on shots, which means I can put them on the waiting list for daycare. Calvin's wait for 6weeks to 12 month care is a year...yeah, do the math on that one! I'm going to see about putting him on the waiting list for 15 months so he can continue breastfeeding if he wants until he's one.

Niran - 2/3 year check up
I never got his 2 year check up done in AZ, so they combined it for me. Niran loves his new doctor. She had him giggling like crazy. Her pocket froggy also had a talk with him about going potty like a big boy, which has helped a lot. He got his shots the same day and he now hates being in the immunization room (the doctor & immunizations are in two different rooms. Immunizations does shots for all doctors. You don't need to see the doctor to get shots and you can go in as soon as its time for your shots. Calvin went before his appointment). He ended up having a bad reaction to one of the shots. I had to call the RN and talk her. It's getting better now (2 weeks) and just looks like a bruise. Poor guy was pretty miserable for awhile. Okay, now stats!!

Height: 37 inches (40th percentile)
Weight: 31.8 lbs (60th percentile)
Talking: He's still progressing in his talking. We now have many conversations with him and he can generally tell us what he wants. He's always asking what something is and most of the time will repeat what it is before walking away.


Calvin - 6 month
He's good on seeing the doctor until 12 months, but I'm not sure about shots. They didn't tell me about that so we will go back in 2 months just to double check. He had a great face for shots, he had a scared get out of here fast look. Doctor was very impressed with him and his development. Everything was right on or ahead of schedule (she said not to worry about rolling tummy to back, he'll figure it out eventually). We are just very behind on standing with minimal support (holding his hands while he stands). I never thought to even try yet. He's already doing very well with it. We are also completely done with bottles. He took no more than 10 ounces (probably closer to 5) from bottles in his 7 months of life. Now we're on to sippy cups alone, which so far isn't going well. I haven't been able to convince him to use Niran's starter cups, so we'll be testing some other brands this week. The doctor said not to worry about it too much, which I'm not. It'd just be nice to go out to eat and give him a sippy cup instead of nursing him. It'd be nice to take a break at some point. 7 months down, 5 to go!! Ready for stats? These are approximate since I lost the paperwork =( I'll find it and update this though. His appointment was the day we left for our vacation so it doesn't surprise me it's lost.

Height: 27inches (50-60th percentile) <---yes he's catching up to his brother!
Weight: 17lbs 8 ounce (40th percentile)
He has two teeth (I think more on the way), he can sit up on his own, but still falls over, he's trying to crawl, he's working on that pincer grasp, and he's doing very well with solid foods now that I know he's picky about texture not taste!

They are both growing so quickly. It's amazing! They are still best friends. Niran calls Calvin "bebies." He did say Baby Calvin last night. When we asked him who he was he would say "you" I realized that needed to change so I started with "bubba." He says he's "bubby" now. I never thought we'd have pet names like this for the boys.

Next Milestone: Crawling!

Calvin is a pro at rolling from back to tummy. He started his attempts at only 2 weeks. Freaked me out and I wouldn't let him practice until 4 months which he accomplished as if he had been doing it all along. Well, he was, in his bed at night. And yet this sweet chunk cannot roll from tummy to back. No matter how much I try to encourage him, he just won't. He's been very happy with his current mode of transportation. Scooting backwards and flatspinning. At least that's what I think he does, I don't really ever see him do it.

He magically appeared under there. He's also the one getting into the cables. Just like his big brother did!

This week he has been attempting to get on his hands and knees and he's done it with great success!! Wednesday was the first day I caught him actually make it on his knees. Last night he got up for a good 15 seconds and just held it! I was sooo excited. I got the camera out and was able to get a short video and some pictures. I'm sure its not too surprising that he is very proud of his accomplishment. Niran has been crawling around on the floor showing him his next steps. I need to enjoy this freedom I have now. Any day now I won't be able to keep him in one room any longer!!

Fourth of July Weekend 2011

We kept busy for the 4th of July this year. Friday evening the North Carolina Symphony was putting on a concert in the park to celebrate Fayetteville, NC being named an All-American City this year. They free ice cream & apple pie, but sadly we were too slow to get in on the free treats. But we did get to enjoy our picnic dinner & free concert that evening.

Sunset at the park, reminded us of an Arizona sunset!

The park for the concert, it was a beautiful night. Dusty was dreading going since it had been so hot during the day. But here it cools off at night.

A boy with his balloon & flag. There is a video below you need to watch.

Abella, Dusty works in the shop with him. He used to coach a team of guys the competitively played Halo on the XBox. Do you think they get along? Oh yes, they do!

The Long Family, David is Dusty's team leader. Carrie is one of my good friends here. And little C, well, he's 4 months older than Calvin and the same size, he's a tiny little thing!!

And the fireworks began, he did not like them at all. I eventually laid on the ground with him & he just shook. I guess 2.5 years of watching fireworks from a distance wasn't such a good plan!

Daddy tried to help him enjoy them.

Our sweet family

Saturday & Sunday we cleaned the house, hung out and I attempted to get some blogging done. Saturday the Longs and Abella came over and we went to the neighborhood center swimming pool for awhile. Niran had a ball!!! Every hour we have to get out for 10 minutes and rest, Niran did not like that idea. Calvin loved the water as well. He kicked his feet and splashed the water with his hands. I wish I could take them during the week, but it's too hard for me to watch Niran and Calvin at the same time.

Monday for the 4th we went to the house of a friend, Raleigh, from Dusty's company. He grilled all sorts of deliciousness on the grill. It was like Dusty's Thai family, but with a grill. Sooooo much good food you can't stop eating! We tried to go watch a jump demonstration by the 82nd Airborne, but we were given the wrong time for that. I did get a funny picture from that adventure though

Dusty was copying Niran's look. I think he can do it so well because they have the same look!

We did try to stay at the park to watch the fireworks, but a storm was coming in and we decided to head back to the house and watch them from there. It would have worked if they didn't set the fireworks off an hour early. We ended up watching them from our car & after awhile Niran really opened up and I think he enjoyed watching them.

We met our friends back at our house and set off some sparklers we bought for Niran. I think the boys enjoyed them more than he did. Especially trying to burn the big ol' spider I found in the street. That's a big difference from Arizona, fireworks were going off all weekend and neighbors were out in the street setting them off Monday night. I think everyone that was in town was in the street. That was pretty neat to see.

Daddy showing Niran the sparkler

He thought they were pretty fun

Video of Dusty's First Jump

Video of Dusty's jump

Dusty's First Jump 5/30/2011

Dusty had is first Division (82nd Airborne Division) jump, May 30, 2011. We were able to go to the Drop Zone and watch the whole event. Niran now thinks Dad is on every plane we see.

The plane making it's approach.

Niran taking photos of the plane

This was actually taken on the second fly-by. There are 30 jumpers in two groups of 15. Dusty was the second one out of the first group. This is what it would have looked like. I have a video of Dusty's actual jump below, but it won't upload to Blogger. I'll keep trying.

Slowly they start their way back.

Dusty checking in

Niran heard his Daddy talk and went running. He immediately started telling him what he saw in the sky. Niran thought it was pretty cool!

My favorite picture from the day. A proud boy and his proud Daddy!!!

The move

Here are a few photos from the move when we left Fort Huachuca:

Got to get the motorcycle on the truck somehow. We had syphoned all the fuel and disconnected the battery.

All of our stuff packed in nice and tight!!

The driver let Niran and my friend's boys sit in the cab with him. Niran cried when we let the older boys go first then sat there freaked out when it was his turn.

My friend's son and Niran watching the truck pull away. Niran followed him everywhere.

The start of one tradition for our family. The last night in the house we order take out and watch a movie. Here the boys are hold hands while watching Tangled.

Another tradition we're starting: A photo in front of our home when we move in and when we move out. So we can see how our family has grown. We still need to get the one for our new home!

We stopped in Lousiana to visit some of my daddy's side of the family. I had never met any of them. I only heard stories about them and talked to them on Facebook. It was very neat to finally put faces to these names! We also stopped in New Orleans for a visit. Dusty has those photos on his phone, which I will get when he comes back from the field.

In our new home state!!!

We're there!!!

We stayed with one of Dusty's buddies. His apartment is on a lake so we went for stroll the first night. Daddy taught Niran how to throw rocks in.

Calvin snuggled with his Mama!!!

Our first family photo in North Carolina!!

The New House!!!

I LOVE our house on post!! I would love to have this as my long-term home if it met a few more criteria:

1. It was not attached to another home. Single family home is a must for me. Luckily for now, our neighbors are very nice.

2. It needs to be bigger. I don't want anything huge (ie, Brandi's mansion), but some more space would be nice.

3. A bigger pantry!!! Luckily the utility closet is very big with shelving that I can use for food items, but the close-at-hand items are just so crowded in the little pantry. I think I've been spoiled by our last three homes having large pantries.

Alright, time for the photo tour. I do apologize for this taking so long. I didn't want to take photos while I was unpacking. "Here's a room full of boxes. Now imagine it as the boys room with a bed, crib, dresser, bookcase & Spongebob table." I'm not saying none of our friends and family have imaginations. I'm saying your taste in room layouts might not be the same ;o)

The front of our house. The area outside the front window we can put in whatever vegetation we want. They actually encourage us to do so. We are responsible for that area. Currently it looks like someone wanted every plant possible at the nursery. And the rose bushes are pretty much dead.

Street view to the left: A park, this one is a little too old for Niran still. There is one a little further away that is better for him, but this one is nice and close! He loves riding is trike over here.

Street view to the right: Just some housing. Nothing too special

Back of our house. We want a charcoal grill, a table & 4 chairs, preferrably something that folds up (hint, hint) =) That blue door is our storage closet. It's pretty small and only contains Niran's outside toys. It's too hot to be playing outside right now.

The back yard. We can rent a fence, but in 3 years it will have cost us $2,000 and we won't own it. We can also install our own fence, but it has to come down when we move out, so either it comes with us or we sell it at a loss. We're fine without one for now.

Looking in from the front door: Living room, then dining room and kitchen is in the background. To the left of the kitchen would be the family room, but it's not visible in this shot.

Standing beside the dining room table looking at the front door. Stairs would be to the right of the door.

Standing in the living room. Front door is to the right, coat closet is at the bottom of the stairs

Kitchen. The little window to the dining room is on the other side of the fridge. I want to buy curtains for above the sink. I just forget every time there is a sale at Joann's.

Standing in the kitchen, the family room. Dusty and I didn't agree on what this room should be. He wanted a breakfast nook, I wanted a family room so we didn't have to buy another table. I like this as the family room even more since Niran can play in here while I make dinner. He watches movies on the computer, but loves listening to kids music even more. He can dance that way =) And yes, he has a kitchen and a shopping cart. Some would say those are for girls, but he LOVES to cook. The area in the far left corner is in the next photo!

Doors starting at 9 o'clock: Garage, closet, half bath, utility closet

The garage, until we get a new bookcase I have some more boxes left to be unpacked, as well as stuff we will sell (I was shocked at our weight for this move so I'm trying to drop it) and then we still have the empty boxes from this move, plus stuff that is in "storage."

The boxes on the left include stuff to be sold and the empty boxes from the move. The cubby area to the right is all storage area.

The one mishap from the move. That was twice as high, but we are being refunded by the moving company. It's actually upside down so I might be able to save it in the end as a 3-shelf book case.

*No photo of the half bathroom. It's a toilet, sink and step stool =)

Utitlity closet. It's actually pretty big. We still have plenty of space left for things.

The top of the stairs. To the right is our bedroom. The door at the very top is the closet, to the left of the closet is our spare bedroom and if you make a u-turn to the left you find the boys' bathroom and bedroom.

A shot from our bedroom door. Closet & spare are on the right. Bathroom straight ahead and boys room to the left.

The boys room. I'm looking forward to finishing the decorating of this room. Niran saw some personalized items at a store the other day. Of course they won't have his name. I decided I would make something for him. I've also decided Calvin doesn't get personalized stuff from stores. It's not fair, so his will be custom made as well.

Standing by Niran's bed, their closet & bookcase. As you can see, they really don't need any more books!!

Their bathroom. It's pretty big. Niran's potty seat sits next to the toilet and is out of the way! I'm looking forward to decorating this bathroom more.

Spare bedroom, my craft area & then some toys for the boys to play with. That brown box is a homemade toy box. I took a dish pack from the move, which is very sturdy and cut a lid into it. I'll decorate it at some point. If this room needs to used by a guest we can put the air mattress in here and there is more space in the closet for storage.

Standing by my sewing machine, Dusty music area. I'm still working on this area. I want to put his Wall o' Weezer up & make it look nicer, just haven't gotten there yet.

The linen closet!! Which also includes, games and all of Dusty's gear he currently has. He has nothing compared to what he will have one day.

Our bedroom from the door. Hok sleeps on the far side, next to Dusty. I got the easy exit for when the boys need something.

From the window. Dusty's closet is the left door and the bathroom is the right door

My closet.

Bathroom. Bigger than our last bathroom and more cabinet space =D

That's the tour!!! I hope you enjoyed it and I made enough sense to guide you through the house!! Come visit any time!!