recent & Halloween pictures

Hello again from North Carolina! Samuel and I are still based at my sister Charis' house (along with her husband, 5 year old daughter, and 2 month old daughter). We plan to return to Guam at the beginning of December. Soon after we return to Guam, I'll start working part-time again, but this time we'll have a part-time nanny!! We are going to be completely spoiled, but I'm so excited about the help!

Here are a couple recent photos of Samuel. He is now 17 months old and it seems like he is changing faster than even when he was an infant.

He has well over 100 words that he uses fairly regularly, he runs, loves trying to use utensils by himself, and is just a complete toddler now. I realized this a few weeks ago when we were in Target and he saw kids playing with trucks, and he cried to be able to get down and play with toys in the toy aisle. Here he is holding his toothbrush (one of his favorite activities--he has to sit down to do it).

He is standing on a stool here. Endless fun!

He still has pretty severe stranger anxiety. He loves interacting with people, but doesn't like anyone except immediate family to hold him. It is really hard for me to leave him at the daycare at the YMCA for even an hour while I try to work out--he cries pretty much the whole time.

However, I will say we had a major breakthrough regarding this when we visited Minnesota in October. He stayed with Rudi's mom (Grossmama) without any problems. I was able to visit with friends, leave the condo, or take a nap whenever I wanted and Samuel did not cry with his Grossmama. She was even able to put Samuel to bed one night without my being there.

Speaking of the Minnesota trip, again those pictures are on my camera, so I can't upload them until I return to Guam. However, we had a great time visiting Sally, Rudi's childhood friends (Robyn, Molly, Jim, and many of Sally's friends), and my college friends, Anne & Sarah. It was fun to introduce Samuel to everyone, and also fun to be able to leave him with his Grossmama!

Here are a couple pictures of Samuel at Saturday morning coffee with Rudi's family friends that he's had since he can remember (pictures compliments of Molly Repya--thanks!!).

Carol, Joyce, Sally, Molly, Jim, Samuel, me having coffee on Saturday morning (around Oct. 10)

Samuel crying because someone other than Mommy is holding him

HALLOWEEN

This was our first Halloween night together. Last year we missed it as we were flying back from Hawaii to Guam...plus Samuel was only almost 5 months old.

So this year, my brother Mick & his wife Natalia, along with my sister Candace and her friend Andrew all came over to Charis' house. From there, we caravaned over to Natalia's parents' neighborhood (a less than 10 min. drive away). We started trick-or-treating at Natalia's parents', then went to about 5 other houses before calling it a night. Samuel took candy out of people's bowls when offered, but if someone tried to give him candy, he'd throw it on the ground! I guess I don't have to teach him about taking candy from strangers! His favorite part about the candy was just holding it. He held onto a milky way candy bar for about 30 min (wrapped--he had no interest in unwrapping it) and did everything one-handed b/c he had to hold on to that milky way.

After trick-or-treating, we spent a few minutes at Natalia's parents' place, where Samuel had a great time playing their piano!

The only pics I have posted are of Samuel dressed up at home before leaving for trick-or-treating. The pictures of the actual "event" are on my camera, so I can't upload them until we get back to Guam and our own computer.

As a cowboy for Halloween. His hat stayed on for about 3 seconds.

Taking his hat off.

Minneapolis and Rudi update

Quick update. The last time I updated the blog, Rudi was en route to Iraq. He arrived safely on his assigned base I guess late Aug/early Sept. We weren't sure where he was going to end up, and sure enough, he didn't go where they originally thought he would. He is stationed at Camp Korean Village (when you click on this link, scroll halfway down the page under the heading "Camp Korean Village" to read about it). Rudi is part of the "shock trauma platoon," though there hasn't been much for him to do with the dwindling of combat over there (a good thing!). However, I know they have to be there because anything could happen anytime, so understandably, the military wants to be ready to handle anything.

I am very happy for Rudi. Let me explain: It is hard for us to be separated, and I know it breaks his heart to be away from Samuel during a time when he is changing so much. Obviously Rudi and I miss each other, but we worry Samuel won't remember Rudi at all. But, with that being said, Rudi is getting some quality guy time in while deployed. He is working out every day, reading books for pleasure, playing basketball, etc. He has lots of free time. I think he really needed it--we went from residency directly into parenthood and moved halfway around the world right after that. And since we arrived on Guam, Rudi has been working pretty hard in the naval hosp ED. And when he wasn't working there, he was at home with Samuel so that I could start to work part-time. We did no daycare, so we were stretched pretty thin trading off taking care of Samuel and working. And, to top it off, we live far from a gym (and things close early on Guam), so he didn't get the workouts in that he wanted, or get to play ball with the guys that often. Anyway, Rudi and I DO look back on the past year fondly--don't get me wrong. We've enjoyed being a family of three on Guam. BUT, I am very glad that this deployment has brought him the time and freedom to do some of the things he loves and on which he thrives. If we have to be separated, any positives are good, right?

Below are a couple pics that Rudi has sent me from his deployment thus far. Yes, he is growing a mustache. All the guys working with Rudi are, apparently, just for fun. Not sure if he will come home with that thing on or not :)

Rudi by a truck--not sure what this picture is.

Rudi doing a workout with some of the other guys. They run sprints, flip these huge tires end-over-end, then run more....He says it's fun. Most days there are the same for him, and the tire days seem to be a favorite.

more of the tire workout

Rudi in the trauma bay

Rudi with approaching dust storm behind.

Quickly, Samuel and I are heading to Minneapolis for the next 2 weeks. We'll be there Oct. 7-20. Hopefully I'll get to post some pics of us there. We'll be wearing winter clothing (first time ever for Samuel and first time in 18 months for me!). I will be staying with my mother-in-law at her condo (she is flying in from Montana to join me and to spend time with her grandson). I am also looking forward to visiting Anne and Sarah (Purdue pals)! Anne lives in Minneapolis, and Sarah is flying in from Austin, TX to join us. How fun!

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!