Home... Korean style...

Maybe it was because this wasn't my first rodeo. Maybe Koreans just move faster than Germans. Maybe we realized the limitations of our sanity while the four of us co-habitated in a compact hotel room with a crappy continental breakfast. I don't know for sure but what I DO know is that it doesn't matter... because we got our house! 

Moving day folks... the single most exciting yet stressful day for any military spouse! Thankfulness oozed from my pores as box by box, my little home came together. 

I haven't seen my stuff in nearly 6 entire months. It's still the busted up Ikea furniture we bought in Germany but it's here in Korea... in our little apartment... and it's mine, mine, mine!

Even as I walked around taking note of little chips, dents and dings... I felt grateful that I didn't lose everything to a tornado or a hurricane and that's always something to be thankful for. 

Unfortunately, once the movers left and I was surrounded by boxes and bubble wrap... I kind of got overwhelmed so I figured I'd start fresh tomorrow. 

I'm still grateful though....

just with a side of panic.

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Living room...

Rhett's room...

Guest room ( I adore their little sun porches)...

Kitchen, dining room and attached sunroom for laundry and misc...

Kitchen...

Living room with view of balcony and adorable baby...

Rhett on the balcony... 

I have a lot to learn. Once I got in the house, I couldn't get back out. Too high tech for me.

Master bedroom...

Ava's room...

This is a dressing room and vanity area off the master bedroom... and a sun porch.

This plump blue-eyed beauty is VERY excited about the goings on....

Rhett waiting patiently for his "trucks, cars, toys and trains."

No pictures of the 'after delivery.' I hope to erase those from my memories. If you're curious... go back to  this Germany post and use your imagination.

Oh and Mom, no need to bring your coat when you visit... we have yours here.
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So yesterday wasn't very promising...

yeah, about that.

I sincerely planned on blogging yesterday but the weather was so nice that it called us to the park, for a dog walk and a chit chat with our neighbor.

Plus, we have to stock up on our Vitamin D whenever we can here in Stuttgart.

Speaking of nice weather... I'm so happy to still have some sunshine in my life for it would have made the transition from California to Germany that much more difficult if it had been gray.

Rhett & I got incredibly spoiled the last 4 weeks with gobs of gorgeous rays.

We did some lovely day trips but mostly the little man and I were consumed by bubbles, sidewalk chalk, wagon rides and hummingbirds.

Oh and In & Out.

Exactly what comes to mind when I think- California.

Besides family that is.

If Rhett could speak words that don't sound alien and make sense of what he's just been through he'd probably tell you his favorite part of the trip was flying the kite with Papa.

Or playing with his cousins.

Or going outside with Nonni in the mornings.

Actually, I'm not really sure what he'd say because he looked like he enjoyed it all.

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I would like to add here that on this trip Rhett outgrew the pants below and the shoes. All the sunshine maybe?

Oh "home", you were good to us-

but damn, it feels good to be home.

Our New Years 2 weeks into the New Year

Despite having a couple invitations for New Year's Eve, we decided to keep it low key at home. Staying up until midnight had zero appeal to me. In fact, I'll do anything humanly possible to NOT stay up that late if Rhett will allow an early bedtime. So...

we stayed home- just the three of us (and two dogs), made a hormone free steak dinner and watched the fireworks from our third story at midnight.

By 12:15 am I was in bed.

And happy.

And just for kicks, here is a picture of brotherly bonding.

And Rhett eating a dishtowel.

What color are those eyes to you?

Cheers!

hi Grandma! xoxo

2010-

December 2009 brought us a surprise. The promise that 2010 would be an amazing year.

Starting with the realization that we would become a Mom and a Dad.

January covered Stetten in white and took Chad back to the United States for 7 weeks.

February gave us false hope that Spring was on it's way... only to deceive us later on. It also brought with it nausea, fatigue and constipation. Valentine's day meant dinner with a friend, instead of my husband, and a car that was practically snowed in.

March meant Chad returned... just in time for my 26th year on Earth. It also meant a tiny baby bump at 17 weeks and a new baby boy for our friends.

April guaranteed sun... which was thoroughly enjoyed at Stuttgart's spring fest. We also celebrated Chad's quarter of a century birthday. This month also meant we were half way done creating our little one... but still had a long way to go.

May was the busiest month thus far... taking us all over the Adriatic. Italy, Croatia, Greece and Turkey....

For someone who hates flying... I sure did a lot of it, because in June I turned around and headed home to California for the loveliest of baby showers (x 2).

July brought high temperatures for our area which resulted in lots of sweating and swelling. Unfortunately, we celebrated an overcast 4th of July but it was clear enough to see the fireworks. We waited not so patiently for everything our baby needed which was on a barge somewhere between California and Deutschland. We thought we had so much time.

One warm night in late August, at 37.5 weeks pregnant, my water broke and less than 12 hours later we welcomed our little boy, Rhett Charles into the world. Good thing our shipment came just in time ( and brought a case of shingles with it). Whatta month you were, August.

September meant grandparents. Nonni and Nonno to be exact. Day trips and dinner and lots of hugs and kisses for baby Rhett.

October meant Halloween, aka Chad's favorite holiday. We planned a party that fell through when Chad had to work but Rhett got in the spirit as a Bat and we carved our first pumpkins as a family.

November... you brought us visitors. Carly. Oh how we love her. We also had a visitor from Brookside School in Stockton... his name was Stanley. Flat Stanley. I returned to work and Rhett began daycare. We also hosted Thanksgiving... too bad our turkey took 2+ hours more than planned. We can laugh about it now.

And December meant family. A short visit from Papa. And then our family of 5. A Mom and a Dad. One baby. Two dogs. It also meant friends. Another new Mom and Dad. One baby and One dog. We all shared our first Christmas Eve as parents together.

2010- You were a marvelous year. A year full of miracles. You brought us to new places on this Earth. Opened our minds to new things. Opened our hearts to one important thing. Brought us closer as a family, even though we remain far away from those we love. Allowed us to fulfill some dreams and create new ones. Gave us the best gift anyone could ask for. Made us cry, laugh, pray, scream, eat and did I mention cry? But looking back, we wouldn't change a thing.

Wishing you a wonderful closure to the old year and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR, indeed.

Welcome 2011.

Disclaimer: Some dates/months may be off. My May/June started running together a little bit. Pregnancy brain, I think. Forgive me.

where the HECK is my stuff???

It most definitely is not here in Stuttgart.

I hope it hasn't been taken hostage by pirates.

Or isn't busy fostering marine growth in the bottom of the ocean.

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In case you haven't noticed...

I really, really want [read between the lines: need] my shipment.

All our adorable baby stuff. Everything that says BABY to new parents is on a boat somewhere between Germany and California.... and I'm getting anxious.

Nesting is in full effect in these parts and let me tell you... it's one pathetic nest we have on our hands.

The sad thing is, I can't even be upset. The gentleman at Travis Air Force Base told me August 9th at the latest. According to my calculations they still have 2 weeks (exactly) to get it to me.

But the waiting patiently gig is UP. Now my weekends are spent moping around the house imagining what it will look like when not only my shipment arrives... but everything is put together.

::sigh::

Anyways, the good news is that all bottles, sheets, blankets, and pacifiers are cleaned and sanitized. That will allow me to use my hands to cheer on my husband while he assembles gobs of baby goodies.

It also means that in the evenings after dinner is done and the dishes are clean I have absolutely nothing better to do than put up the things I use to refer to as feet and wonder where the HELL is my shipment.

If it comes on August 9th that will give us anywhere from a day to 3 weeks (God willing) to get this place in order.

I hope that ship is in overdrive.

And in case you're wondering what nesting means when you have nothing to nest...

it means you have one nice and organized fridge.

and homemade banana cake.

And tiny pieces of evidence that a baby will soon join us (shipment or not).

And the handsomest dog in the World (absolutely nothing to do with this post).

tschüs!!

(bye!!)

"Home"

You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it's all right.

~Maya Angelou

The following pictures were taken at Phillips Farm in Lodi, California.

Now Chad and I must continue our Saturday with a trip to Echterdingen for ice cream and a stop at Aldi Market.

Hi Grandma!♥

Make sure you take our baby gender POLL top right hand corner. And before you think I've lost my mind those are actual statements that have been made during my pregnancy. That's all...