Pictures!

So until this past week since we have been on vacation I hadn't posted many pics.  I had been taking lots but just not of Micah! I had some friends and family want to get some shots of them so we came, shot, and conquered, getting some great pics!  In case you are curious here are a few of my favs!

The Best Easter!

The best Easter is one you get to spend with your family and although many would never think it would be any other way, the military way is to expect to spend most holidays, birthdays and anniversaries apart.  It was such a special treat for us to spend this holiday weekend with Brad after not seeing him for 2 months.

On Friday night Micah ran to Brad and it was obvious just how much both had missed each other.  My heart was so full watching them play together in a simple way that I know I would take for granted if we had a different life.  Dad was quickly re-established as the cooler parent and all hand holding, and playing was preferably with him, which was just what made me so happy! At this age even though Micah cannot express his feelings in words, I know that he understands more than we give him credit for.  He is a happy and wonderful child and we are blessed by his ability to adjust to so many new situations.  Brad was amazed at how much more cognitively advanced he was since the last time he had seen him.  I try to explain it but there is point where words are not enough and the experience says it all.

Saturday we started out the day with Easter Brunch at the Mandalay Bay Buffet.  It was fun to offer Micah new foods that I would never make at home although his preference was still to have all the bananas he could eat!  He loved the experience though as we sat by the windows overlooking lush landscaping.  He spent quite awhile looking out the windows and pointing.

After the Buffet, Micah showed off his walking/running skills as he held dad's hand and led him all the way through the entire Mandalay Bay (not a short walk!)  We ended up at the aquarium and got tickets to see the only aquarium in the world based on predators (read: sharks and other creepy animals with lots of teeth!)  Micah was in heaven!  He absolutely loved the aquarium.  I wouldn't have guessed that he would have nearly as much fun as he did but he ran around and pointed out all of the different fish that he saw!





















After the aquarium we headed back to base for nap time for all. Micah was very tuckered out from all the activities as well as staying up much longer than normal so he slept for almost 3 hours!  After nap time we went to the playground on base and let Micah drag Daddy around some more!  We ended the day with bath time which is the only downside of our visit.  There is no hot water in Brad's room right now so we have to trek half way across base to another lodging area and go to a room that they have given the guys to share for when they need to shower.  Not my favorite thing for sure.  But overall what a great Saturday!

Sunday morning we decided to go to the 8 am service on base since it would work best with Micah's nap schedule.  We ended up attending the Gospel service!  To think we have lived in South Carolina all this time and our first Gospel worship experience was in Las Vegas!  That is the great and amazing thing about America though, you have the freedom to worship God however it is that best strikes your fancy and we had a fun time celebrating Easter in a way new to us!





After the Service we went down the road to Blueberry Hill, which is our absolute favorite breakfast place.  It is absolutely scrumptious! We ordered food and shared it with Micah and had plenty to spare!  If you are traveling to Vegas don't miss out on this local jewel for a great breakfast! 

The rest of the day we hung out and played.  Micah thinks having his daddy around is pretty much the best thing ever!  We got dinner and ice cream to finish off the day and Micah thought it was more fun to run around the ice cream store than to eat ice cream! 

What a wonderful weekend!

Fun times in Phoenix!

Our visit to Phoenix had to be one of the best weeks we have had since Brad has been gone!  We both have had a blast hanging out with our friends. 

This was a very popular toy with the boys.  Micah even thought he could push Shaun around in it.  Shaun wasn't so sure about this arrangement!



Micah climbed in and out of the truck all by himself.  He is really growing up!


Since we got asked so much if the boys were twins we decided to play it up with matching outfits!  No, they still don't look like twins to me!




I have mentioned all the teeth that Micah has been getting.  He has gotten two more just in this week for a total of 12 teeth now.  Here is an accidental good shot of the molars!


Micah took Avery on a date to the grocery store and drove her around in style in the car cart!




Micah's silly hair do!


With temps in the mid 90's we decided to take the kiddos to the splash pad down the street.  It was a first for both of the kids but a HUGE hit!  Also note Micah's new hair cut.  Notice the difference from the top pics to these.






There were many different water activities on the splash pad with all sorts of fountains and various water squirting toys.  They had one that had 6 buckets of water that would fill up and then dump out and repeat.  Avery was begging to get dumped on and after getting her close several times she finally got her wish and LOVED it!  This girl is a little braver than Micah when it comes to water!

So proud!

Micah amazes me pretty much every day.  He is just a sponge soaking up absolutely everything around him and I have the bad habit of constantly underestimating him!  I could go on for pages about every thing new he is doing.  The last 8 weeks he has jumped cognitively by leaps and bounds.  One big surprise and proud moment happened last night.  For the past 3 weeks we have been going to swimming lessons.  Micah likes the water, but he doesn't LOVE the water.  He enjoys splashing around but isn't much into getting it splashed in his face and gets shaken up if he loses his balance in the water. (the pool is like a shoreline where it goes from about 3 feet very gradually to nothing.)  He does have fun though playing with the toys and splashing around. One of the skills we have worked on is blowing bubbles in the water.  They have a cup that you can get water in and blow bubbles in or I will put my face in the water and show him how.  He didn't really seem to be wanting or trying to catch on and I really wasn't even sure he was old enough to learn this. Yesterday, we had the boys in the big bath tub at Micheale's house and they were having a blast playing!  I hadn't even thought about bubbles since our last swimming lesson and out of nowhere Micah leaned over, put his own face in the water and blew the best bubbles I had ever seen!  I mean champion bubbles!  I was so surprised and so proud!  Here I was thinking he was too young to even understand what we were doing and he was just soaking it all in and pulled out the perfect bubble blowing to show off to Mom and his friends!  Like I said, he amazes me every day!

Fun for Micah, Fun for Mommy!

We left on our grand trip to see Brad last Friday.  We flew into Phoenix first to visit my dear friend Micheale for her birthday.  Her husband was out of town so of course we had to help her celebrate in style! Shaun, her son, and Micah were born a week apart and have been best friends for life.  They were so happy to be reunited! It was a great weekend for both of us!

My dates... Sarah and Micheale!

Happy Birthday to you!

The boys also had a great time playing together.  The first day we were there we went to Phoenix and put them in one of the double carts.  We got stopped by no less than three people and asked if they were twins.  Really people?!



Micah also enjoyed playing with Avery, Sarah's little girl while we went out to dinner the next day.

Ohhh... did someone say snacks!?

Let me in there!

I don't think so buddy!  Pick on someone your own size!!!

Yesterday morning while I was fixing breakfast, Micheale was being super mom, juggling both boys while googling some info!

This is why we have two arms right?

Run, Micah, Run!

While Brad is away I try to keep him as updated as possible with what Micah is up to.  I keep telling him that Micah was running around and he stops me and says "Was he running, or walking?"  and I think about it and usually respond, "well he was moving pretty fast!"  I don't know exactly what qualifys running but I think he is pretty close.  Check out this picture:



What do you think???  Here are a few more fun pics of my favorite little man.