Homecoming/Vacation

Well, at the beginning of May, my husband came home after being gone for 4 months!  It was a really exciting day!  They came in around 11am, so I didn't have to wait all day.  Although, I was ready really early just sitting around wondering what to do.  Anyway, all of the spouses (and everyone else) met up at the passenger terminal on base.  When the plane arrived we went outside and they taxied the plane (almost) right up to where we were.  I was not sure I was going to be able to spot Kyle, seeing as they were all wearing the same thing (their uniform) and they kind of all look alike.  But nope.  I saw him.  He was maybe the 10th or so person off the plane.  Even from far away his height makes him pretty recognizable.  It was a sweet moment when I was finally able to give him a big hug after so long.  He then had to go into a secure area to in-process and give some blood, but after we got his bags, he was all mine for 2 weeks!

Here at last!

The welcoming party

A couple of days after he got home, I had another doctor appointment, and he got to go with me for the first time (with this baby).  They were nice enough to give us an ultrasound, even though I wasn't scheduled for one so that he could see our little guy.  It was really special that they did that for us, and we even got to see his face!  (At my 20 week, he was a little stubborn about showing his face, so I hadn't even seen that before - that is where the picture below came from).

A day or two after that, we left on a week and a half-ish vacation.  We went to DC for a few days, just the 2 of us, and then we headed down to Texas to see family.  It was a whirlwind, but totally fun.  In DC, we did all of the things that one would typically do on their first visit.  Well, it was my first visit, Kyle had been there before.  The afternoon we arrived, a friend of Kyle's happened to be in town, so we met him for dinner and hung out.  On our first full day there, we walked through a little farmers market, toured the Capitol, went to the Library of Congress (which was really cool by the way), and did a night monument tour.  The second day, we went to 2 museums, Natural Science and American History.  We both liked the American History one much better.  The natural science museum was cool, and we saw a 3D Imax film, and it would be great for kiddos, but it seemed to push the theory of evolution pretty heavily, so that was a little not appealing.  But we saw the Hope Diamond and some other really pretty jewelry, and next to the movie, that was probably my favorite part.  At the American History museum, they had a little bit of everything.  A lot of information about the different wars we have participated in, the progression of technology in our country and some other cool stuff like THE red slippers Judy Garland aka Dorothy wore in the Wizard of Oz, a replica of Julia Child's kitchen and some of the inaugural ball dresses worn by the first ladies.  And I do have to say, whatever you think of our current first lady, her dress was beautiful in person!  It may not have suited her body type the best, but none the less, the dress was beautiful and I would wear it.  Behind that one, Nancy Reagan's dress was also really pretty.  After the museums, we went by the White House on our way to go up in the tower of the old post office building.  That had some really great views of the whole area.  We then went back to the hotel, and since it was our last evening there, we went out to a nice dinner in Georgetown.  Actually, this place was suggested by friends, and it was amazing!  I still think about the pasta dish I ordered.  Soooo yummy!  Here are just a few of the many pictures we took:

Us in front of the Library of Congress with the Capitol building in the background

One of my husband's many good pictures.  He's a really good photographer!

Kyle with Thomas Jefferson

Me "in" Julia Childs kitchen

The White House

We then headed to Houston to do all sorts of family activities.  We had a cookout with Kyle's side of the family, my brothers' last final review for the Corps, my mom and mother in law threw me a baby shower, and we celebrated Kyle's sister's birthday a day early.  Plus, my mom and I had some shopping to do while Kyle and his dad brushed up on their golf game ;).  That is a brief summary, but it was a really special time with lots of family!  Shower pictures:

The beautiful (and delicious) cake

Kyle aka Daddy with his mom (name tbd)

My mom cutting the cake

Me

What the men did during the shower.  See, guys can have fun at a baby shower too ;)

And, after making this post, I really am resolving to be better about taking pictures.  I didn't even get a picture with me and the 2 hostesses.  Keep me accountable people!