Wow, I can't believe it's been nearly a month since I updated this...SO much has happened! At the end of October, Samuel and I made the three-day trip from Omaha to St. Augustine, which was quite the adventure! My mom flew out to Omaha to make the drive with me, and thank goodness...I wouldn't have made it without her! Along the way, we stopped overnight in St. Louis and Atlanta, where we got to see David's family. They are always so gracious and welcoming, and this particular visit was truly phenomenal, because his grandmother introduced me to the sinfully delicious Paula Deen Gooey Butter Cake (Google it, seriously...it will change your life).
We got back to St. Augustine in early November, and spent a couple of days getting settled before I went back to work full-time for the Florida National Guard on the 4th. That was Samuel's first full day at daycare (he went for about four hours the day before, in an effort to "ease him in"), and a hard one for me! But the transition back to work has gradually gotten easier, and it really makes it so much easier knowing that I have him in such a good place...all that research my mom and I did really paid off! The Village Academy is a great place, and the ladies in his classroom are completely sweet and patient and love babies to bits...exactly the kind of people I want my little man with all day! They have this curriculum, and are always playing and singing songs and doing projects. In fact, Samuel already had his first homework assignment -- to create a "feather" that depicts the things he is thankful for this fall. A picture of it is below -- as you can see, he is thankful for his family (me, David and our dogs...and for the fact that he recently got to dress up for his first Halloween!). The teacher's in his classroom hung up all the feather's as part of the Thanksgiving Turkey's tail...it's so cute!
Other than that, we are getting closer and closer to finishing the house we're building here (we have our closing set for Wednesday, Dec. 17th), and David is (hopefully!) just MOMENTS away from getting a job as a navigator in the Florida National Guard's Counterdrug program (stationed in Jacksonville). Being apart has been especially hard this time...we're used to separations, but now that Samuel is here, it seems much harder. David misses him like crazy, and we're so anxious to be all together again. If everything goes according to plan, he could be down here in early January, and we could start the new year with our new baby in our new home -- in Florida!! It would be so fantastic...what we've been hoping and praying for all this time. Keep us in your thoughts, and keep your fingers crossed for us.
Now Samuel and I are just counting the days until we get to see David for Thanksgiving (only four days now!). We can't wait to spend time together...even if it is only for three days. After all, when you only get to see each other for three days every two months, every moment counts! It will be a beautiful thing to see David hold his son again...
I hope this catches everyone up, and once again -- I'm SORRY for how long it took me! Although really...I have an infant, I work full time, I'm building a house, and I'm doing it all on my own since I'm separated from my husband! I'm overworked, overstressed and overtired...cut me some slack, people!! ;) Seriously, I'll try to do better from now on...stay tuned for some photos!!
Here's Sam's feather -- it was definitely one of the most colorful! :)
