Flying By

If you've been outside in the high desert recently, you may have noticed that it is one giant tornado of dust.  Yesterday marked the worst weather day since we moved here over two years ago.  The winds were gusting to 75 mph, and all the major highways into town (well one actual highway and a sketchy rural hobo road) closed due to blowing dust and multiple vehicle accidents.  Our neighbors' gross old mattress that has been sitting in their driveway for weeks blew into our yard five or six times.  Each time we dutifully picked it up, put it back in their yard, and used copious amounts of hand sanitizer.  Luckily we had no damage, only some small fallen tree branches and a traumatized labrador retriever.  Today seems much more tranquil.  I am thankful for any day without dirt in my contacts.

We took D to two sporting events this past week. It was a little anxiety inducing, because I generally don't like to drag him all over town, but he did so great.  At the Kings/Wild hockey game in LA, he sported T's giant ear protectors.  Our hometown team, the Wild, played horribly.  There were many drunken Kings fans, some spouting obscenities.  It's funny how being a mother changes your perspective.  That never used to bother me before, but now I'm more sensitive to it, as I know soon I will have a son who will repeat whatever negative language he hears.  I wish people could have a little more respect in the presence of families.  Many an intoxicated lady hit on D and his handsome blue eyes, including a woman who started crying in the restroom when she saw him, saying it made her miss her baby who'd she'd left at home.  It was disappointing that we didn't get to see a better game, but going to the Staples Center is always an interesting outing if nothing else.  Our second event was the Jethawks baseball game in Lancaster.  We went with several other families and saw a great game.  The wind was already swirling though, so we were all huddled together under blankets, teeth chattering.  D was in an energetic mood and didn't really feel like sitting.  His big new thing is pulling himself up, standing, and bouncing up and down.  He finally passed out before the 7th inning stretch.  We checked baseball and hockey off the list, now we just need to get D to a football game!

D has recently begun to challenge his nighttime sleep routine.  After being a champ for the first months, he no longer feels he should have to sleep in his crib.  I know there are many schools of thought on letting them cry it out versus soothing them.  We've been operating somewhere in between, which may be our problem.  I can't stand hearing that cry, like most mothers.  And last night when I checked on him, he was wailing and put his arms up to be picked up, one of the first times he's done that.  I melted.  We do try to let him go 5-10 minutes at a time before rocking him and putting him back in, and do not let him sleep in our bed.  I'll keep you posted on who wins the war, pretty sure I lost the battle last night though.  I have the dark circles under my eyes to prove it.  He's also become temperamental with solid foods after eating well for a month.  Some days he's ravenous, other days he all out boycotts it.  I sort of suspect he may be teething, or perhaps it is just a phase he's going through.  Even taking into account the hard moments, D is overall a joy to be around.  He smiles a million times a day, and has a deep belly giggle that is infectious.  His favorite book is A Monster At The End of this Book featuring Grover.  He likes Elmo's World on Sesame Street.  He calls Buster "Baba," but we're still working on Mama and Dada.  He's sort of crawled once, but went backwards.  His favorite item is Mommy's cell phone.  D is over 7 months old already, I can't believe it!

Time is flying by.  We only have a little over two months left here in the desert.  It is certainly not the most attractive locale in the world.  But it has been an amazing two years.  We've seen the Grand Canyon, Vegas, San Diego, LA, San Francisco, Monterey, White Sands, and much more.  We've been a part of an amazing AF family and have made great new friends.  We had our first son which is a fun adventure that has only just begun. When we go back to Ohio, I will be sure to correct those who say negative things about this assignment.  I will tell them that it is what you make of it, and for our family, it was a wonderful, memorable chapter.