The answer to the big question for today...

I haven't scanned any pictures to share, but I had an ultrasound today where everything looked great. And, we found out that we are going to have a little girl! Yeah for pink!

First Haircut!

Before:

Today (August 12th, 2009) Alex finally got his first haircut--at nearly 18 months old! I was kind of sad to cut off his cute little curls, but the hair over the ears and into his eyes was just too much to take. Alex was fine until the lady tried to put a cape on him, then he gripped onto mom and wouldn't let go. So, we took his shirt off, put a cape on me, and put him in my lap. He did ok, but was better entertained once daddy showed up. So, it took the hairdresser, another lady to take pictures, me to hold him, and Andy to entertain him...4 adults to get one toddler's hair cut. It looks cute, and definitely makes him look a little more grown up--still as studly as ever. Here's the before and after, and the rest of the pictures have some of the in-between!

After:

Grandma Brooke's Pictures from Her Visit

Here's the link to some great pictures my mom took while she and my stepdad were visiting in July!

You'll see some of his favorites antics, like putting on shoes (he always picks a matching pair), swinging, and mopping/sweeping. Enjoy!

Andy did another triathlon this weekend and placed 3rd overall in the beginner's category!!

Alex seems to be getting 4, yes, 4 new teeth. That will make a total of 16 when they all come in.

Finally--a new post with lots of news!

Well, since we've been in Montgomery for over a month now, I suppose I can't claim that I'm moving as an excuse for not updating the blog--so here you go!

Since our last post...we went to Ames, IA to visit Andy's college, Iowa State, over Memorial weekend, meeting up with his friends from school and his mom. While there, we toured the campus and went to the Des Moines zoo. We flew our plane there and back. After that, we pretty much focused on moving. We did have Andy's fini-flight (last flight in the B-52 at this assignment), where we got to douse him in the traditional fire bottle and champagne bath. We took a short trip to Bottineau so Andy could wakeboard behind our old boat, which we sold to friends a few years ago. Alex didn't enjoy the boat, but enjoyed getting his picture taken at the beach area. We saw several of our other friends from Minot off, since so many of us were leaving. I picked up Andy's mom (met his dad with her in Yankton, SD in the plane) to help us with the move--mostly with Alex. We left on June 22nd. From Minot, we went to Willmar, MN, where I left the airplane to get its annual inspection and went on to Andy's hometown in IL where we spent a week of visiting friends and family. It would have been a better trip but we were all exhausted due to a trip to the emergency room for Alex's high temperature which revealed another dual ear infection. His fever and lack of sleep meant a tough week for all of us. All in all, he didn't do too bad with the trip considering how sick he was. We continued on to AL to arrive on June 30th, again with Andy's mom along for help. The movers brought our stuff on July 1st, and since then we've been getting moved in while hosting visitors. Instead of going to TN as planned to see Andrea's mom and stepdad, they offered to come visit us to avoid us having to put Alex back into the car and pack-and-play. So they spent a week here, enjoying Alex (or was it the other way around?). We took a short overnight trip to Carrollton, GA to see Andy do his first triathlon. He did great, placing 3rd in his age division. His next one is this coming Saturday north of Birmingham. While there, we took Alex to the Atlanta Children's Museum which he enjoyed a lot. We had one more week of Andy on leave before he had to sign in with his assignment, and that same day Andrea's dad and his friend Jean arrived for a visit for the week. Alex loved having all the company and grandparents to play with him and revel in his every move--he's quite a little showman--always dancing, acting silly, and wanting to show you something. He's been saying new words--his favorites are hot, up, off, yes, ba (for bus or ball), and juice. He loves going to the pool and splashpark, and playing in the little backyard pool, with his sprinkler ball, and on his swingset (that came with our house). We really like our new neighborhood. It's pretty, has a great loop for walking, running, biking, etc, and is close to lots of shopping and restaurants. We've joined the YMCA to have an indoor pool this winter and lots of workout opportunities. Andy's been meeting a local group of triathletes to do some training. We've gotten to spend time with our friends from Minot who also moved here. Andrea finally got the airplane down here the last weekend in July and so she got to take her dad flying. We've taken Alex to the Montgomery zoo, the Blount Cultural Park museum and Shakespeare gardens. We've enjoyed Andy's leave but he actually starts school tomorrow, so it is back to the "real world" for us all. The last, but not least, of our news is that we are expecting again! We are 16 weeks along, and due January 14th, 2010. The fatigue and nausea plagued Andrea throughout the first trimester and still are hanging on a little, making all the moving a challenge, but other than that, mom and baby are doing great according to the doctors, and next ultrasound is August 20th, when we should be able to determine if it is a boy or girl. I think that's finally it for news. Lots of Alex pictures from the past few months. Enjoy!