Overdue Update From Ohio

Sorry for the short hiatus!  We are alive and well and safe in Ohio!  This is the end of our second week here and we are pretty much settled into the house and are still exploring the area. 

The drive here from Virginia was supposed to take about 8 1/2 hours, and it ended up taking us 11 hours.  Oh the joys of traveling with a 5 month old baby! 

Packed in like a sardine!

Pennsylvania rest stop!

Sure he looks happy in those photos, but don't be fooled!  Andrew wanted out of that carseat so bad.  Not that we didn't stop multiple times and take him out, feed him, and change his diaper each time.  He was pretty restless.  I had the privilege of having him crying in the backseat for the last leg of the trip, while Matt had the 'perfect travel companion' (Pooh, our cat) with him.  Ha!  In addition to stopping extra to try to soothe Andrew, we got in HEAVY rain several times and hit traffic in Columbus.  We finally arrived around 7:30pm the day we left.  The home we are renting is very nice, which is good, since we didn't get to see it in person before we moved here. 

Our home for the next few years

The back of the house

I was so worried about Pooh adjusting, and he has made himself at home more quickly than any of the rest of us!  The weather was nice enough for the first 5 days or so that we were able to just have the windows open.  Pooh's cat tower is in the window looking out to the backyard and it is his new favorite spot.  He loves laying in the sun and being able to see all the birds coming to the feeder.

Pooh's Spot in the Window

The area isn't quite what we were expecting.  I knew it wouldn't be like Northern Virginia which is why I was so excited to get here, but this wasn't anything like I imagined it would be.  Of course every town has areas that aren't as great as others; it has just been a HUGE culture shock even with me being born and raised in Florida.  I haven't seen a single farm [booooo!].  There are all sorts of people here (I'll leave it at that, just use your imagination) but in general everyone seems a lot nicer than they did in Northern Virginia.  I know we still need to give it time to get really adjusted, so we are trying to keep a positive attitude about it, and it least make the best of it while we are here. 

The base is HUGE and Matt has a wee 9-minute commute to and from work.  He is LOVING that.  :)  Most of the military spouse groups meet for an activity once a month, and I missed the ones for June, so I hope to get involved next month. 

Andrew is doing well - he has finished all of the 'orange' veggies (carrots, sweet potatoes, and squash) and loved all of them.  We started green veggies the other day with peas and he wasn't such a fan of those (I can't say I blame him) but he will eat them like a good boy.  Today we'll try green beans.........  :)  We are starting to get him on a schedule of napping and he is doing well with it.  We never thought we'd get him to sleep in the crib, and now we've been able to get him to nap in it, as well as sleep through the night there (which he had been doing for a month or so already).  Matt started back to work on Wednesday and having Andrew on my own has been a challenge to say the least; but I know he is probably adjusting to the new environment and Daddy not being home like he has been for the past few weeks.  It's amazing how quickly he learns something new.  He now reaches for and grabs things (toys or Mommy's hair or Daddy's nose), and loves to smile and giggle.  I think he'll be crawling any day now.  We will keep you posted.  I know I'm a day early, but Happy 1st Father's Day to my wonderful husband ~ Andrew is so lucky to have such a loving and devoted Daddy, and I'm so blessed to be married to you!  We love you! 

Oh how I love these two.

]

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!