July-August Catch-up

Where should I start? Most anyone that reads this is probably fairly caught up on the Alvey happenings, but I'll give a quick recap. Rudi took leave from working in the Naval Hosp. Guam emergency dept for most of July to get ready for deployment. I continued working part-time, but 3 days a week instead of 2. So, Rudi spent a lot of time caring for Samuel at home while I worked...our roles were reversed for a little bit.
We flew out of Guam on July 29 in the early AM. Samuel (then 13 months) hardly slept AT ALL during the entire 21 hour flight. Yikes!
We arrived in Charlotte, NC and I have been staying at my sister's (Charis) place the entire time. Rudi reported to Camp Lejeune (Jacksonville, NC--a 5 hour drive from Charlotte) at the beginning of August for his pre-deployment training. The best part about August is that Rudi got to come back to where Samuel and I are staying every weekend this month. We were able to spend some really sweet family time together that we would not have had if Samuel and I stayed behind on Guam during this time.
The other nice thing about August is that we got to see tons of extended family!! Charis, Mick, and Candace (3 of my siblings) all live in Charlotte and we have spent lots of time together. Charis and her husband Bobby (and daughter Keely, 4-1/2) have been gracious enough to host not only multiple nights of visits from local family, but also MANY out-of-town guests. The first weekend of August, Rudi's father and brother Eugene came in from Nebraska, and Rudi's brother Bevan & family came up from Atlanta. The next weekend, Rudi's mom and stepdad came in from Minneapolis, and again Rudi's brother Bevan came up from Atlanta. Then, this past week, my mom came in from Pennsylvania to spend the week! All of this visiting has kept me busy and my mind off of the upcoming separation.
Speaking of separation, here are the details on the deployment (the details we have, at least, which are surprisingly sparse!). Rudi is leaving TONIGHT to fly to Iraq. Not flying directly there...I'm sure he's stopping somewhere in Europe or Kuwait or something first. He's arriving at a base in Iraq, then supposedly going to the base where he'll be stationed for the next 7 months (he's due back in early April). However, it's not all that simple...Since the US's involvement in Iraq is ramping down, they are closing down bases so Rudi thinks that no one really knows where he and his team (a shock/trauma platoon) will be needed. So while he was given the name of a base where he's headed, he's not sure that's where he'll end up.
Hopefully, wherever he ends up, he is SAFE. Also, a bonus would be Skype capabilities so we can stay in touch and Samuel can see his Daddy.
I have posted a BUNCH of pictures below. As an aside: Samuel is now almost 15 months and says about 30 words! He still does not sleep through the night, but otherwise he is growing and developing really well. He is very social, but has quite an attachment to his mommy. He loves being outside, playing with balls, and playing with his Uncle Bobby and Cousin Keely.
Oh yes, one more thing: Keely and Samuel are so adorable together. Their age difference is 3-1/2 years. Keely is used to playing with cousins her own age and is working on understanding how Samuel is different (I am sure it is hard to understand why she gets in trouble for taking his toys, but he can take hers and not get in trouble. However, he is old enough to walk around, destroy things, and play peek-a-boo, or chase with her). It is so sweet to watch Keely make Samuel laugh by tickling him. One day she says she is his "Aunt" because she is so much older, but the next she'll say he's her best friend.

Chronologically, below are a bunch of pix, starting from right before we left Guam.


On Guam: Samuel hiding in the shower curtains from me. He gets so much joy out of playing peek-a-boo and will hide anywhere there's a curtain.

On Guam: Samuel smiling at Daddy. 13 months old.

On Guam: Samuel with Daddy, who has on his prescription gas-mask glasses.

A few days after arriving in Charlotte: Bobby, Samuel, me. I included this pic because Samuel LOVES to be carried around in the sling you see here. Sometimes if he's fussy, I'll pull out the sling and he gets giddy with joy.

At Monkey Joe's in Charlotte: Natalia (Mick's girlfriend), Charis (38 weeks pregnant), Candace, Andrew (Candace's boyfriend). We all met up there and let Keely and Samuel run around and play.

Mick and Samuel at Monkey Joe's. Samuel has a lot of "stranger anxiety" and is pretty slow to warm up to new people. However, he warms up to men much faster than women. Mick was able to hold Samuel (just a few days after arriving in Charlotte), while Candace and Charis are still trying to win Samuel's trust.

Random picture of Bobby and Rudi. I think Bobby's making the funniest face, and Rudi is just smiling...

3 generation picture. Rudi's dad, Rudi & Samuel

Family pic at Charis's house

Eugene and Samuel playing with a mini laundry basket--how fun! Eugene (almost 15) was wonderful with his nephew

Samuel and Daddy

Playing ball in Charis's backyard. I love this picture, even though Rudi's eyes are closed. Couldn't get a picture of them both with their eyes open & looking at the camera.

Samuel & me in Charis's backyard

Again, Samuel has been bonding with men so much more easily. Here he is naked with his Uncle Bobby (who he calls "Bahbob")

Samuel allowed Rudi's mom (Grossmama) to hold him on her 3rd and final day visiting. Here is their breakthrough moment, when Samuel decided to brush her hair.

Again, Samuel LOVES to hid in any curtain and play peek-a-boo.

Had to include this one.

Samuel, me, Sally (Grossmama)

Samuel crying because someone other than mommy/daddy is holding him.

Charis, me, Samuel

Samuel and Grossmama on her last night here. He allows her to hold him now!

Samuel, Dave, Sally being goofy

Samuel and Daddy before a walk

Samuel and Mommy before that same walk....The pictures below are also from the same walk. I had to include them because I think they are so sweet.

Samuel will often find the largest thing around and try to pick it up and walk around with it. He is often see walking with enormous push-brooms, etc. This night, he found a large bag of recycling.

A very pregnant Charis reading bedtime stories to Samuel and Keely.

Sorry, I have no pictures of my mom's visit yet. I have had problems uploading pics from my camera onto Charis's computer. Something with the software. So, I have been unable to upload pictures from this past week. The visit was fun--always awesome to see my parents!