Well Hello Again!

I'm back! I want to apologize for not updating like I should, but things have been crazy busy around here, not to mention that we just got back from the States. I've gotten a few requests to please update everyone on what's been happening, so although I'll need to break it up into smaller bits, here's the basic rundown:

We are in the new apartment and we love it. I should give my husband all the credit; he coordinated the entire move and got everything done while I was in the States. We are one of two American families in the building. The rest are all Italian, so I get to practice and brush up on my language skills. It's 15 minutes from Post, we have an automatic drive-through gate, it's super quiet, and Jericho has a place to play! Since we got a third bedroom, Michael and I picked a room, took the door off the hinges, set up carpet and a baby gate and voila! Instant toddler heaven! He loves it, and now I can take a shower/do dishes/cook/whatever without having to hover over Jericho to make sure he's ok. I can hear everything he does because he's babbling like crazy - hand and arm gestures included - so when he's talking, he's ok. We're still in the process of getting things straightened out, such as furniture placement, food in cabinets, my china cabinet organized, etc. And Housing has requested that the landlord install cabinets in the kitchen, so I'm excited about that. Who gets thrilled over cabinets?! You do, when you've gone three years without them.

Our visit to the States was a wonderful one. I flew home with Jericho on June 10th and stayed with my mom for three weeks. Jericho got to meet his extended family in NC, and my mom and stepdad got in some good Meme and Pop time. He also got to meet his Papa, my dad, and got to sit on his motorcycle! We had first-year portraits done, took lots of pictures, had playdates, and did lots of shopping. It was pure Heaven! After our NC visit was up, we met Michael in Iowa on July 2nd for two weeks with Grandma and Grandpa, the great-grandparents and all the aunts, uncles and cousins. Jericho had a huge house to explore and he had a blast! There were lots of cousins to play with and "talk" to, and he got tons of attention and love from everyone. Not to mention the walking he got to do in the HUGE backyard! I dream of a backyard like that someday. On July 5th, Jericho and I were baptized at Michael's church. It felt really special to be baptized at the same time as my son. It was a very nice service and ceremony, and we both received tons of beautiful gifts to help us remember it.

Jericho is walking and talking like crazy! He even does hand gestures and arm movements when he's talking, and in his head I'm sure he's telling me something so very important. Everyone back home got a kick out of hearing him talk.

I do have lots of pictures to post, because while I was in NC I was able to get the camera I've waited 10 years for. I took a ton of photos during our visit to NC and IA, so look for those soon. We don't have Internet at the house yet; that process is a long, slow one. That's what I'm tackling now, besides gradually getting us unpacked and settled in.

My Italian neighbor is playing instrumental Italian music, so it's nice to sit with the windows open here. Feels like home already.