Numero Ocho!

Another month has come and gone. Oaklie is not a little baby anymore, she is well on her way to becoming a toddler. I cant complain much because following Oaklie around the house is giving me a good work out. Andrew and I are having so much fun with her. She is learning to interact with us more and more. She can say "da" for daddy and I think she is trying to say mom when she goes "mmmmm..." She says it when she wants me so I will take it. She now answers to her name and realizes that we are talking to her or about her when we say it. And she wants to eat every meal she possibly can with us. She likes to feel included.

I've come to see that with every milestone she achieves, her personality changes. She loves to interact and talk to people but only from a distance. She is becoming a little shy. She will smile and talk but only if she is by mine or Andrew's side. But when we are home with just us, she is a little ball of energy. She loves to hear herself talk and go wherever she wants and get into whatever she wants. Oaklie has recently learned to clap with her hands and she is learning how to walk using the furniture. I won't be surprised by next month, she will start walking on her own. Until then we enjoy playing with her and watching her grow. Being a mom and having a family is the best thing in the world. I wouldn't change mine for anything. <3

(Popsicles help her with teething)

We're back!!

Tonight is my first official night home from Idaho. I flew back late last night and boy are Oaklie and I wiped out. It was such a good visit. I wish Andrew could have came for a couple of weeks so we could have worked it out where we could stay longer. I could not believe how fast the month flew by. It felt like I was only home for a couple of weeks. But I sure am happy to be back with my husband. I cant imagine deployment because a month was long enough for the both of us. 

So a lot has changed since I was last on. Oaklie is now 7 months, almost 8 and she is getting into everything. She has perfected crawling and can now stand up using furniture. Next will be walking. She will walk if you are holding her hands so I don't think it will take too long until she figures out how to balance on her feet. 

Oaklie was a little shocked when we first got to Idaho. She was not sure about the family since she was only 2 months when she saw them last. It took her a little bit to warm up to everyone but she did. She especially bonded with my dad. She sure loves her grandpa because he would always take her out on walks or I like to call them little adventures. Every time he would come home from work, Oaklie would look around for him and call him over to her so he would take her away. She loved her Aunt Courtney and Grandma too, but Oaklie is not one to cuddle. And that is all Courtney and Grandma wanted to do, was hold her and cuddle her. Oaklie had a lot of firsts while we were home. She tried different foods, went on four wheeler rides, and got to ride in a boat which was probably her favorite part of the whole trip. She would just lay there in her little corner and relax which is rare with her. She loves to be constantly on the go. So it was nice to see her relax and sit back for once. 

We tried to get around and see as much family as we could. Sadly, we didn't get around to everyone. My dad was really busy with work so that made things hard to leave. But we got to spend a lot of time with all of my nieces and nephews. It breaks my heart every time I have to say goodbye to them. They were amazing with "Baby O" (nickname they gave her) and she loved being around them just as much as they liked being around her. But probably the highlight of the trip for me was going to City Creek with all my sisters, where we spent the whole day shopping together. It is so hard to get all of us together so it was nice spending time and catching up with them. As sad as it was for me to leave, it was time for me to come home. I hate saying goodbye. I always tell them I will see them later because it is never goodbye for too long. Crossing our fingers we will be home for another month during Christmas and Oaklie's first birthday. And the best part is, Andrew will be coming with us. I do not recommend anyone to fly alone with a baby. It was tiring. I wont fly alone with Oaklie again unless I absolutely have to. She didn't cry, she just wanted to play and talk. So you can imagine how it was for the people next to me trying to sleep. But luckily for me they were all good sports about it and just smiled at Oaklie. But for now, I am going to bed. We are a bit jet lagged so I hope everyone has a good night. :)