5 months down & 8 months old

I would say that this month has passed by more quickly than those before it; I am hoping that this is a trend that continues!  Since arriving home from California and Indiana, we have been keeping busy on the homefront!  FRG commitments, visits, meals, projects, e-mail business and care package making has been a major time filler as have been the usual household chores and errands.  I suppose caring for my little peanut takes up a decent chunk of my day, too!  I have also been blowing off some steam on my treadmill and waging war with the nasty swallows who have overtaken my front porch. (That's a story for another blog post, though.  I hate them.)  Emmy and I have completely enjoyed visiting, eating, shopping and swimming with our friends lately!  We can thank them for making this past month one of the most fun! I guess the old adage that time flies when your having fun holds true.

Nick has been "chugging along." That's a direct facebook status quote.  He has told me that it often feels like Groundhog's Day over there, and instead of 5 months, it feels like he's been there for 10 years.  I suspect that feeling could be attributed to each work day averaging around 15 hours.  He spends his days running around to PT, various command and company meetings, counseling his soldiers, completing awards, evaluations and promotions, overseeing aircraft maintenance, mission planning and execution.  Operation Pick-Me-Up has been warmly embraced by our families, and our soldiers are responding as well!  The steak dinner was a booming success!  Everyone was in disbelief as to how Nick was able to pull it off and were so very grateful for a delicious break from the gross chow hall fare.  Nick said that the nearest chow hall to his office recently "revamped" their menu by removing everything that was good from it.  I kind of think that's a pretty decent illustration of how the big army operates, but I will save that rant for another day.

Nick's company is spread incredibly thin as they cover all of their different mission sets, particularly with the R&R leave schedule in full swing.  Because he has such a young group of soldiers, they have a shortage of pilots in command, making it necessary for Nick to be included in the flight schedule.  He must fit these missions in between his endless administrative responsibilities.  Truth be told, he would much rather be out flying than stuck behind his desk.  He needs a clone to complete his workload, and that might still be pushing it.  I am so deeply moved knowing that my Nick loves Emmy and I so much that he is willing to work this hard to provide for us.  How lucky are we?!

Emmy continues to hone the art of flirtation.  She shares a big smile and a squeal with anyone and everyone who crosses her path.  She sits up like a pro now and is practicing sliding down to the floor to then roll wherever she feels like going (like off the bed :-/.)  She is working really hard at getting to the sitting position from a laying down position.  She forces her way to a half sit up and holds it until her face turns red and she's shaking from muscle fatigue.  Pretty much exactly how I would look if I attempted a sit-up.  Her determination is commendable!  She's going to get it in no time!

I can get some big belly laughs out of her by blowing on her tummy and giving her lots of kisses on the nape of her neck.  I think that's where she is ticklish :).  She LOVES tormenting the dogs, and giggles uncontrollably when she sneaks up behind and startles Molly (it doesn't take much.)   Just the other night we were sticking out our tongues at eachother in the bathroom mirror and laughing hysterically each time the other did it.  It makes me smile thinking about how playful she's become.  Lately, we have spent some time cuddled up in my bed reading books before her nap time, she literally has a voracious appetite for books.  I have resorted to reading only those made of thick cardboard because they are less likely to be destroyed in the process :-P.  She has proven to be a champion sleeper, knocking out at least two quality naps during the day and is down for the count by 6:30 each night.  I'm very hopeful that I didn't just jinx a good thing by typing that.  I've said it so many times, that God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave me my Emmy.  I couldn't have dreamt up a more perfect companion for this year, aside from my Nick, of course.