happy burpay!!!!

we wanted to be sure daddy could be home to enjoy the birthday festivities so we decided to celebrate petes SECOND birthday (oh my goodness, how is it possible?) a day early. he's been saying "happy burpay" all day long and loving every minute. we celebrated with buttermilk chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. opened some lovely gifts sent by lots of people who love him. played hard at the park until we started melting; no really, it was 90 degrees today. had in-and-out burger for lunch. made a second trek to the park this afternoon for more playing and pete got to walk all the way there, pointing out every tree and rock and truck (they are apparently all blue) and stopping to smell every flower (even if they were just bushes with no flowers on them) and feeling the crunch of leaves under his feet. a treat indeed for pete since he's normally stuck riding in the stroller because there's no way i can manage a double-wide buggy with a baby inside, a dog AND a fast-as-lightning toddler who is curious about exploring everything and whose favorite recent trick is to say "fast" and then take off running. tonight we enjoyed pizza for dinner and then had birthday cake. he really REALLY enjoyed the goofy cake and i guess he thought the whole thing was for him. a great birthday indeed. here's the video!

 he found a fabulous homemade fleece blanket and pillow combo inside and is snuggled up with them in bed tonight!

 betsy loves birthday parties!

 i love that he has goofy cake stuck between his teeth!

meeting santa

ho-ho-ho! pete knows that's what santa says. he recognizes santa in some holiday books we've been reading for our holiday book advent (wrapped up 25 children's holiday stories and each day of december we unwrap a new one). however, meeting santa in the flesh at the squadron holiday party on saturday left him completely befuddled. sweet little pete didn't seem to mind being perched up there, he just seemed completely confused about what was supposed to be happening. so, you want me to just sit here and look at this guy's beard? why is he talking to me? can i go back to the bounce house? yep, he was unimpressed. not scared i don't think, just didn't really get the point of wasting his time to say hello to an old hairy man in a red suit.  betsy, on the other hand, was all about it! she got comfy on his lap and immediately grabbed a fistful of his curly white beard and crammed as much of it into her mouth as possible. she LOVED santa!

a new perspective

look who is sitting up! miss betsy has really found her balance over the weekend and is sitting up quite well, only toppling over when petey dashes by and she whips her head around to try and follow him as he darts away. she's also really getting up on her hands and knees - you can just see her there, visualizing herself crawling across the room to peter's monster truck, grabbing it and shoving it into her little toothless mouth. yes, she is just desperate to crawl, but for now she remains quite mobile, pulling and wiggling her way around the room.

 big brother pete is in for a surprise once betsy really gets it all figured out and can move about on the prowl for the most delicious looking toy at her level - and just wait til she pulls up to standing! today she grabbed a monster truck that she managed to roll and wiggle on over to and he got this hurt/shocked look on his face and his hand was flying towards it to retrieve it and dad and i both intervened - its betsy's turn, buddy. and then pure confusion. what do you MEAN its betsy's turn now? yep. welcome to the world of sharing, pete. :)

happy 7 month birth-day, betsy

so we're a little late on this post - we spent the long weekend after daddy's return hanging out and playing and relaxing (as much as possible, the pace of life with 2 littles is never exactly relaxing).  tis so good to have him home again!

 creative couture head wear courtesy of daddy

 this is my insanity-happy face

 i'm siiiiiiiinging!

 look at me sitting up like a big girl!

our hike @ iron mountain

we are whole again

 today was easily one of the most exciting days of my life - homecomings are the most magic-filled thing to experience! we had so many friends there to support us and wait with us until reid arrived after a quick repair in texas this morning. my heart was pounding, i was sweating bullets and i was so full of adrenaline i ran halfway across the flight line carrying two babies while wearing 4 inch heels. i felt like i was floating. 

 man, he is surely the most handsome guy EVER.

 they are now inseparable.

 the last 6 jets arrived about an hour after reid so we stayed and waited with my girls to reunite with their hubbies.  three of my beautiful friends had babies while their men were away so they had the joy of introducing their babies to their daddies for the first time in person. now THAT was something special!

 anabelle, meet your daddy!

 aiden, meet your daddy!

sophie, meet your daddy!

going places

betsy is quite mobile - not crawling officially yet, but rolling and pulling and scootching her way around the room. her favorite destination is under the christmas tree!