6 Months Old!

I can't believe how old Evan is getting. He turned 6 months on Wednesday. We went to a portrait studio and had picture taken. This was more for Rick's good than myself, since he's not here right now. I spent WAY too much money on pictures, but they will make cute presents for grandmas and great-grandmas on Mother's Day.

Here are some of the pictures. He is too cute! I love this little boy!

Isn't he cute? I love this little boy. He is so stinking handsome and is getting bigger every day. His hair is definitely lightening to more of a strawberry blonde. His eyes are so blue. He's beginning to roll all over the place AND sticking his little butt in the air and army crawling backwards! He loves chewing on his daddy's XBox 360 wires and the computer wires also. He is talking up a storm! I can't wait until I see Rick in 2 weeks! And I can't wait for him to see how big Evan has gotten! LOVE him! Enjoy the pictures!

9 Lbs

That's the amount of weight that I've lost in about 3 weeks. I'm not exercising or doing the HCg diet like my father-in-law. I'm reading Eat This, Not That. It just gives you ideas on the types of food (like brands) that are the best for you. I really enjoy reading it and it's a great reference. I am going to start exercising on Monday. But my first goal was to lose 15 pounds before I went to see Rick at his Air Force Basic Training Graduation. We leave on May 12th. I really hope that I will be able to SURPASS that goal when it's time to go and see him.

Now, about Rick: He is doing really well in Basic Training. Things are getting easier for him. There are a lot of slow, stupid or apathetic people in his training flight, so they bring everybody else down. The first day he was able to call was on Easter, almost three weeks since he's been gone. He wasn't able to write until April 3rd. Crazy.

He is playing trumpet in the band there (band nerd!) and he's the chapel aide as his job. That means that he is basically helping in church all day Sunday. It's so nice to know that he is in a much more peaceful and quiet environment for at least one day of the week. He's doing really well with his physical training and classes. And I believe that he likes being in Basic Training much more than answering phone calls like at his old job.

Evan is doing really well. He is a happy boy that loves to eat and fusses when nobody is holding him, so he is getting really spoiled. I love him to death, but it is really hard being an "acting single mom". I am so grateful to be close to Rick's family. They have been a huge help while Rick has been gone. In fact, Rick's sister Maria is coming over today to help take care of Evan so I can do some cleaning.

Rick's Hair

I never realized how much I loved Rick's hair until I saw this picture. :(

It's okay, because I know it will grow back. Eventually.

March

Rick went away to Basic Training on March 16. I miss him so much!!! He is doing well. He called me on Easter and talked for a few minutes with him. Before he left, we took some family pictures.

Sprained Ankles and Basic Training

When I was around 12, I sprained my ankle while playing soccer. I remember that I just taped it up so that I could keep playing and I went on. I remember that I hated having an ankle sprain because of how much it hurt walking on it afterwards. I didn't rest it like I should have, and now my ankles always snap, crackle and pop!

BUT yesterday, I was going to my friend Christy's baby shower, and a group of us had gone in together for a gift for her, so I was carrying one huge box, one huge bag, one small bag, and one small box down our three flights of stairs. I missed the very last step and landed HARD on my ankle. It was really painful!

NOW, I have a sprained ankle (at least I am sure it's sprained, I just don't know how badly). I can't bear very much weight on it because it will begin to hurt really badly! So, I am just resting and hopefully it will begin feeling better tomorrow so I can go to work and actually teach--- not just sit down.

On the other hand, Rick will be going to Air Force Basic Training in about 9 days. I am so nervous and scared about it, but really excited for him at the same time.

I know it's what we're supposed to be doing, and if we couldn't handle the time apart from each other (Basic Training is two months) then Heavenly Father wouldn't have wanted us so strongly to go forward with this plan.

I'm planning on staying in Phoenix until the school year ends. His graduation from Basic is in the middle of May, so I will get to see him for a few days, and then he has to go to Keesler Air Force Base for his Tech training. Then I will go visit my sister, Sarah for a while and then I am planning on visitng my family for about 3 weeks/ a month. After I visit them, from there I will be going to Mississippi to spend time with Rick during the rest of his training.

We are so excited for this adventure that we are going to be on! Probably in May we should find out where exactly Rick and I will be going as our first base assignment. We have several locations for the domestic US picked out for our wish list, including: Washington state, Colorado, Nevada, Missouri, and Massauchusetts.

And for the international wish list, we've included: England, Japan, Italy, and Germany. We are so very excited. Of course, we could be placed somewhere completely different, but we know that where we end up is where we're supposed to be for that time!

Walk in the Wild 5K

Rick, Evan, our friend Jennifer and I walked a 5K at the Phoenix Zoo today. I was intending on jogging/ running the entire race, but I didn't do so well with training this past month. Evan was good through the first leg of the race around the zoo. And then he began fussing. Rick ran the race and ended up lapping Evan, Jen and I. Then he took Evan so Jen and I could walk and finish the race. And our time was: 54:04! Not bad for walking the entire race!!! Rick's run time was 24:35--Also pretty good. I am stoked that it took me less than an hour to finish the race walking!!
Jen and I before the race.
Rick and I before the race.

Evan happy and smiley before the race.

Jen and I after the race! I made it!

And here are some of the pictures from after the race.

Rick and Evan in front of the rhino.

Evan and I in front of the cheetah. I love cheetahs! And last, but not least, finally a good picture of Evan and his happy smile!!! I love this boy and I absolutely adore him. He is amazing and I can't wait until I can stay at home with him all day long, everyday!

February Flying By!

My mom came to visit last weekend. It was a lot of fun. She spoiled Evan with books, clothes, hugs, cuddles and kisses... but that's what grandmas are for.

I am reading a new series of books called "Enchanted Inc". Such "Chick Lit", but they're a lot of fun. Also enjoying re-reading the Percy Jackson and the Olympians books. I am now on book 4, "Battle of the Labyrinth". but I lent it to my mom and sister in California, so I won't be able to read it for a while.

The past couple of weeks have been crazy. The first week in February we had our annual field trip to the Arizona Science Center. A bunch of 7th graders, with chaperones for 8 1/2 hours at a Science Center is absolutely exhausting. Then I had a reading conference that I went to. Then my mom visited that same weekend.

Last week I had parent teacher conferences and another day off to go over reading materials and plan a reading intervention program for our school. (even though, hopefully I won't have to work next year).

I haven't been working out very well because of how busy we've been, but I am going to still try to jog/run/walk the 5K on the 27th of this month. I also pulled a muscle in the back of my leg, so I guess resting is good for it.

Valentine's Day was fun. We had Romano's Macaroni Grill (yummy!). We had a coupon for a free appetizer so I tried fried calamari for the first time. It just tasted like chewy shrimp. The penne rustica is AMAZING from there. Then we went and saw "The Lightning Thief" movie. It is one of my favorite movies and they totally butchered the story in the movie. So sad. I was very disappointed. Rick was so sweet. He got me writings by Thomas Paine (I am such a history nerd; I squealed in delight!), and a work out DVD that's Jillian Michaels. AND a chocolate caramel apple from Rocky Mountain.

Then on Sunday morning he surprised me with a beautiful leather bound journal (I love writing in a journal and I've been complaining on how I needed a new one). Evan got "Snuggle Puppy" from Rick and I and a Valentine's Sleeper from his nana and papa Carpenter. I got Rick a Marvel Superheroes calendar, a Star Wars T-Shirt, a copy of the LDS bible in Spanish and a beautiful hardback copy of "The Hobbit". So much fun.

Evan update: He's in the 13-14 lb range now. He's getting to be a big boy. He loves reading books with mommy. And he loves his bath time. He loves talking to you and giggling and laughing. He still has huge eyes when his picture is taken. He is always amused when you make "num num num" noises at him, and when he watches his cousins go crazy. He loves being an "airplane" and flying around. He loves it when his mommy dances crazy for him. He also loves checking himself out in the mirror (he's so hot right now). He loves staring at orange colors, including Cheetos bags and canisters.

He is putting everything in his mouth, including all of his blankets, toys and books. He is drooling like crazy. He is staying up for longer periods of time and doesn't fuss as much anymore. He still loves nursing and doesn't take a bottle from mommy at all. He's getting better at taking a bottle and formula from Grandma (when mommy can't pump at work). He is starting to roll to one side, but his butt and arm are getting in the way of him rolling onto his back or tummy. He is holding his head up really well also.

He's in 3 and 6 month size clothes. The 3 month clothes are getting to be too short on him (his long sleeve shirts are now 3/4 length), even though he isn't really filling the clothes out too much. He'll be 4 months on the 28th of this month, and we can start him on rice cereal!

Now, some pictures!

Tummy Time! FAIL!

Evan acting cool with his sunglasses on. I'm surprised he kept them on long enough for me to take the picture.

This is Evan's friend, the snoring dog. Without fail, when Evan gets upset, you press the button in the pillow, and the dog begins snoring. Evan will stop crying when he hears the snores. It is too funny!