June 2008 Update

So much to tell so little time to write it all down! June seemed to zip right on by us. We had figured that it would be our last busy month here before we got Jim’s oh so coveted orders and we’d be packing up and moving. I completed two of my level 2 courses and passed those with flying colors. I’m now a Certified Living Foods Instructor/Raw Chef and have been bumped up to Wellness Counselor. It was pretty exciting. Coop completed (I use the term loosely) his football session with the Rec Center and we made our own little playground in front of our apartment.

So here we are in July and the calls are coming in asking are we still here??? Unfortunately the answer is yes we are still in Raleigh and I’ve just called the apartment office asking for yet another work order and also to extend our lease until the end of October. If anyone cares for the details please feel free to call Jim but my non-Army speak version is he’s STILL waiting on some medical waiver (after 5 attempts just to get a physical) for his previous asthma diagnosis. Once that get’s approved his “packet” will be sent to the Active Army Re-Appointment Board (no clue if that’s really their name) and they will then determine our future. Turns out the last packet he submitted was for the Reserve Board and they told him he was accepted into the Military Police Branch or the MP3 Branch as Jamie and I call it. Jim’s not keen on that option so he’s holding out for the Active Army Board or he’s now talking to a National Guard Unit here. (Did I mention the Guard Unit here deploys next year???? Sigh….)

So onto more fun things- the boys are a just a blast. Bear’s favorite phrase is, “Here you go!” as he slings the toy at you. He now thinks its fun to hit and pinch and he hates his naughty corner with a passion. But he sits there which is amazing now. Bear is a happy camper now that he and Coop share a room. If I get Coop out though while Bear is still sleeping every time within 5 minutes he wakes up! He hates being alone. He has finally gotten over the tantrum phase at the gym and just RUNS in now without giving me a second thought.

Potty training- well let’s just say I’m holding on to the fact that all the other mom’s at the gym are in the same boat I am- It’s not working out that well. He knows what to do he’s just not doing it. In fact he now has an aversion to the potty and is finding other “potties”. He filled up his sand bucket a few times and my personal favorite was when he filled up a ¼ measuring cup. Good news is we know the boy has aim and he ALWAYS cleans up after himself. He takes whatever he’s filled up and put it in the toilet, flushes it and then washes it out. I continue to call Jamie and ask, now what do I try??? All the women at the gym bribe their kids with chocolate treats or with a choice of characters on underwear. We spent 30 minutes choosing which ones he wanted at Target and he was so excited to put the Little Einstein underwear on but as soon as it was on he started sobbing that it was, “broken!”

I have so many pictures to put up this week. We realized July 4^th was coming up and decided we had to get out of here. So we found this cute little condo at Carolina Beach and had a quick 4 day trip that was so wonderful. (You may hear more about Carolina Beach as we think we may open a business down there in the next few years.) We went to a local kid’s museum called Marbles that was a hoot and we even had a puddle day where I joined in. They’ve even started to play patty cake together now- I will definitely get that on video! We finally heard from Poppi (Chris) today and we are so grateful that he’s back up and had a smile on his face again. Please send him your love right now he really needs it.

Hope everyone is doing well!!