It's a . . .

 

GIRL!  We are having a girl, I am due October 19th, and we are so excited.  Alex had to make sure the ultra sound table was nice and cozy.

OCS - The NYC Leg

Whitney and I went to Adam's OCS graduation on May 25 but we made a few stops before and after the event.  Patrese met up with us too.  Whitney and I met up in the Newark Airport and took a cab to the apartment we were going to stay in for a few days.  We found it on airbnb.com and it was an awesome location, just a block from Times Square and much cheaper than a ritzy hotel. 

The first night we walked up and down Times Square and had a late dinner at Carnegie Deli.  Patrese came in on bus from D.C. somewhere around 5am.  Over the next couple days we rode the subway to the financial district and walked all day exploring sights including Lombardis (best pizza ever) and Rice to Riches. We tried the Wicked Lottery with no luck and went to see it anyway buying cheap tickets that were never claimed by the original buyers. We walked all the way up through Central Park and down 5th Ave. After a few days and many adventures we hopped on a Mega Bus that took us to Rhode Island.

OCS - The Boston leg

After Newport we drove to Boston, a beloved city to us. Our main goal in going was to see our awesome friend Ellen along with others, and to show Whitney a bit of the city. We spent time touring Boston, making trips to the airport as our group members started leaving one by one, and staying up late chatting with each other and EP.  We also got to go to church and see old friends that we miss so much.  I had such a good trip with these two and wish we all lived closer.

 

We stayed with Ellen so we were able to get a lot of good catching up time.  Adam and I were the last of our group to leave and we had so much stuff due to Adam's navy gear.  The big suitcase is covering up another suitcase behind it and Paige had already left with another large military pack of Adams.  It was crazy. 

 

 

OCS - The Newport leg

After arriving in Rhode Island and renting our car, we (Whitney, Patrese, and I) went straight to the base in Newport to see Adam.  I was so excited.  It had been 3 months since we had seen each other, with very little phone communication, but luckily Adam did a stellar job sending letters.

During our time in Newport besides seeing the Vanderbilt Mansion most of our time was spent going to Adam's events.  Randy and Paige also met up with in Newport to attend the activities.  The first night was the "Hi Moms" dinner.  It was held at a Yacht Club which was very fancy and nice. 

 

 

Adam received one of two fitness awards. 

 

 

We witnessed early morning PT (physical training)

 

 

and the chow hall procedures.

 

 

Finally graduation.  Adam graduated and became a naval officer on May 25th.  New officers are also called ensigns (pronounced en-zin) for the first 2 years.  Adam is on the 4th row up, 4th person from the right, so basically unseen. 

 

 

Although Adam was all too ready to be done with OCS, he made some life-long friends there . . . and he knows how to do hospital corners. 



Dentist

Last week I took Jacob to the orthodontist to get his braces on.  Alex was with me and was completely enthralled with the whole process and kept saying to me, "Braces, me too, pees mama."  Today I took Alex to his first dentist appointment.  He told Mammie he was going to the dentist and informed her he was getting braces. 

Grandma Sipherd told me a few years ago how she prepared Adam's dad for his first visit to the dentist, so I used a similar approach with Alex.  I got a small spoon and told him it was like the mirror the dentist was going to use and I also got a fork and said it was like a pick.  Then I had him lay down on the couch and open his mouth.  I put the spoon in his mouth against his cheek and used the fork to tap and pick at his teeth.  He kept asking for more.

When we got to the dentist he walked in and said hello.  After playing with the buttons for the chair he climbed up and was ready.  The hygienist showed him all the tools and asked if she could put them in his mouth.  He was very excited.  She asked if he wanted cotton candy toothpaste or strawberry.  I am pretty sure all he heard was candy and he immediately exclaimed, "cotton candy!"  He put the head phones on for the TV and settled back.  I am pretty sure he took it as another pampering time.  He loved every minute of it, from the teeth picking to the electric tooth brush to the flossing. 

Thanks to a phone picture blogger will not accept a rotated photo!

 

When we were walking out he looked in the mirror and smiled and he said, "Awww, no braces" in a very disappointed voice.

Candio

Adam became a Candidate Officer on May 2nd.  In military lingo he is now a "Candio."  He is over the new class (the indocs) that started May 6th.  The first few days they were there he was in charge of helping the indocs prepare to meet their drill instructor by teaching them how to dress, talk, respond, act, etc.  He was very excited for a change of pace and his new privileges that came with being a Candio, one of which was being able to call me every night.

Feeding Grandpa

This morning Alex insisted on helping my dad get his breakfast.  My mom had made eggs.  Alex scooped one up on the spatula and in a very professional manner flipped it onto my dad's plate like he was flipping pancakes.  Next he wanted to put the ketchup on my dad's plate.  Then he cut a bite of egg with a fork, dipped it into the ketchup, and fed it to my dad.  It was hilarious.  I then had to tell him that Grandpa had to finish on his own so that he would let my dad be.  Before Alex got down off the chair he turned to my dad and said, "Need a hug" and leaned into my dad and gave him a big hug. 

Paige took these pictures a few weeks ago of my dad and Alex.  Ales loves to be around my dad.  Every morning he asks my dad, "where you going?"  My dad will say "To work" and Alex asks, "Shop, come too?"  Alex also has a song he likes to sing when he first sees my dad in the morning and when my dad gets home from work.  He sings "coo, coo, coo, coo, coo" using different notes and just repeating the same word. 

Horses

"Only cowboys ride horses," or so Alex says.