I can't believe it's been a week since I posted ... things were running through my head all week that I wanted to post, but I never got around to it.

One of this weeks big news items is that I started watching a 6 week old for about 5 hours, 4 days a week (so about 20 hours a week). It's so fun to have a baby around again and is giving me baby fever! I thought it would help me want to put it off, but no. She's adorable and the boys LOVE her! She's quickly adapted to taking a bottle from me and to the new faces and sleeping in a pack'n'play. Charley gives her the most gentle kisses and says, "it's ok sweetheart," when she cries, and Ben says, "hi, hi, hi," over and over to her, it's so cute!! My biggest relief is the boys are being absolutely amazing with her. They're so gentle and caring. They want to hold her and give her toys and even feed her, although that doesn't go so well. When she's in the swing, I have to make sure they don't swing her hard, they can get wound up and carried away at times, but usually they're great, even running to get things for me to give the baby. It made me think how much easier a third will be. I'm also glad that the boys are a little older and can enjoy having her around instead of feeling robbed for time by her.

On OUR baby front, it looks like we're going to have to wait a little while b/c of the ship Will is assigned to. To make a long story short, we both agree that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to have a baby right after he leaves for 6 months. We're going to try to time it for a pregnancy while he's gone. Although, if God decides that's not the plan, I'd be perfectly happy with that (hint hint). :)

Also, Will got orders to a different ship in Norfolk with a job he's more interested in; however, his detailers are still trying to get him the Ops job (Operations officer) he'd prefer, so things may still change. The good thing is that they probably won't take us out of Norfolk b/c it's cheaper for them to move us there than anywhere else and b/c there are more ships there to choose from for jobs, so these new orders still don't feel final. I'm fine with that, but I just wish I at least knew for certain which city we were going to end up in. I think it will be Norfolk, but I hesitate to celebrate yet in case it changes. More evidence that I need to remember the verses in the Bible about not planning too far ahead and remembering that God has everything planned already. :)

I'm feeling better too, that's nice. I think I've finally coughed up the gallons of mucus in my lungs and can almost sing again. I tried choir practice on Wednesday and did fine for a little while, then just started coughing again and getting flushed and had to leave, ugh. At least the boys stayed well.

Will and Charley are taking a road trip today to Danbury, CT to get some parts for the Mazda. Charley talks about fixing the Mazda a lot and since Will found a cherry picker to lift the engine out in order to work on it, we can start buying the parts we need. Will is so excited and giddy when he finds time to work on it and it's turned into a fun hobby for him. Will and I had our first official date in that car and I look forward to the day when Charley and Ben are zipping around in it! :)

Anyway, that's a brief update on us!

Mazda RX-7

Yay!! Will got his old car back! We're all excited because we now own (again)the car that Will's grandfather bought new back in '83, a Silver Mazda RX-7. Will's dad bought it when Will's grandfather was unable to drive it and then Will got to take it to the Academy as his own. He has memories of this car since he was 5.

Anyway, it was broken at the end of his time at the Academy and was told by a repair shop that it would cost more to fix than the car was worth. So, he donated it to charity, but instead of giving it to charity, the car shop sold it. It has changed hands a few times since then (2001) and a couple of weeks ago we got a call from a friend of the current owner who was looking for the title. They traced it back to Will, who had lost it somewhere along the way. Will got to thinking about the car and all it's memories and got excited about just knowing where it was . . . so he called the guy back and asked if he could buy it back. To make a long story short, this passed Saturday, Will drove our Suburban down to Maryland, rented a trailer and hauled his Mazda back up here on Sunday. Long trip! but at least he missed a lot of Memorial Day traffic. He was so giddy and we're all so excited for him. His grandfather has since passed away, but he called his grandmother to let her know he got it back and she was trilled too! She said she was going to go tell Wayne (his grandfather who used to own it). :)

Now we just have to get it running. The carburetor and transmission are out so we have a lot of work to do! Hopefully it will be done within this next year so he can drive it to his ship next June when we move (to Norfolk as of right now, but who knows where, it's always changing) :)


Congrats Baby! I'm so excited for you!