Back in the groove

Life is so wonderful! Having Aaron home has been so incredible. It's like he never left. Clara has instantly become a "Daddy's Girl". He's the first person she asks for when she gets up in the morning and when she gets home in the afternoon. She's adjusted quite well to having him around. She even lets him pick her up from daycare and do the whole morning routine without mommy around without a problem.

We have been spending a lot of time hanging out with each other and some friends. We went to a barbecue at a friends house this weekend. Other than that, there's not really much else going on. Aaron and I are enjoying watching Clara amaze us and make us laugh. I'm enjoying having someone to help with the household chores and snuggle with on the couch at night. And Aaron's enjoying being able to sleep more than a handful of hours at a time. And, if she could, I'm sure Clara would say she's enjoying having a second person around to help pick up after her!

Chilling with Daddy, after a messy dinner (hence the nakedness!)

Testing the limits during snack time

Clara and I started our Mom & Tot swim classes last Friday. She was a bit whiny but did alright. She was bit whiny today, too. Her molars are coming in and they are really bothering her I think. Besides the teething, Clara continues to make us smile. Her sense of humor is so goofy. She has discovered the joy of "ring around the rosie" and doing somersaults. The problem with the somersaults is she can't propel herself over all the way so she just bends over with her head on the floor and waits for someone to flip her over! Clara also got her first pair of Nike's! She loves them! And she looks stinking cute walking around in them. :)

Having fun in the pool

Running around in her first "real" sneakers

We are planning a trip up north to visit everyone in July & August. We will be having welcome home parties for Aaron in both South Bend and Detroit. The SB party will be on July 25 and the Detroit one on August 1. We are really looking forward to seeing everyone.

Enjoy the pictures from the last couple of weeks. :)

Lots of love
xoxoxox

Welcome Home Sgt Barrett!

He's home, he's home, he's home! My husband, my friend, Clara's Daddy, it doesn't matter what you call him, he's home! Aaron's plane landed at Ft. Hood/Killeen airport at around 10 pm on Wednesday night. His call saying they had touched down was by far the best phone call I've had in a long time. It was also my cue to go wake munchkin up. We had to be at the gym on post no later than 11 pm to make sure we didn't miss the welcome home ceremony.

Clara enjoying a sucker while she waits for Daddy.

At around 12 midnight the emcee announce that the buses were pulling up outside the gym. You should have heard the crowd! There were about 120 soldiers on Aaron's flight (the first to arrive home, after the advance party). The gym wasn't terribly crowded but if you closed your eyes and only listened you wouldn't have known. The music, the smoke, the cheers and screams were a bit overwhelming for Clara. She was such a trooper, despite the lateness and having had her peaceful sleep interrupted. But all it took was seeing the face of my handsome soldier, right there in front of Clara and I, and I didn't hear or see anything else.

My handsome soldier, front and center, with a big smile

as he sees Clara and I waiting for him!

The reunion was simple and quick, we were all anxious to load the car up and get home. Clara went right back to sleep as soon as she was back in her pj's and crib. And after sleeping til 8:30 the next morning was back on her schedule. Have I mentioned how lucky we are to have such a flexible, easy going daughter! :)

We have had a very nice weekend. I took Thursday off of work and Clara and I stayed home with Aaron, though he did have to go in to work for a couple hours that afternoon. We've spent Friday, Saturday, and today just enjoying having our family back together again and getting back into the swing of normal life.

Aaron and I would very much like to thank each and everyone of you for your enduring love and support over the past 12 months. We are truly grateful to have such amazing family and friends. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, they must have worked because our family is back together safe and sound.

xoxoxox

He's coming home!!!!

He's on his way, he's on his way! Aaron is leaving Chicago soon and will be in Killeen/Ft. Hood tonight! We are so excited!!!! Can you tell? Maybe I should use more exclamation points :) It's been a long trip home for him and I'm sure we'll be getting home late tonight, I'm glad I took tomorrow off of work. We will have 4 days to start catching up before we each will have to return to work on Monday. I will post again sometime this weekend with some pictures (that is if I'm not so excited I forget to take any) and word that he is HOME safe and sound.

xoxoxox to all!

Kim's Birthday Weekend!

Yep, a whole weekend, not just a birth"day"! Hey, when life is as busy as it is at the Barrett house mommy gets to celebrate all weekend long! On Friday, my actual birthday, Clara let me sleep in until 7:00 am! I did what all people should do on their birthday and went to the dentist. :) Clara and I spent the afternoon on the patio playing in the pool, pulling and playing with the grass and chasing bugs! It was marvelous! On Saturday we went to visit my friends and their new baby. Clara had a blast playing with their dogs and kissing baby Owen. On Sunday we went to church and then went to another friends' house to have fun in their pool. After that we got messy and creative! Clara and I painted a "Welcome Home" poster for Aaron. It was so messy and Clara loved every minute of it! I got some great pictures, but not too many because it was hard to stop her from painting the patio door and eating the paint and take pictures at the same time.

Our patriotic munchkin!

Hmmm? Somethings missing...It is complete! And I look like a masterpiece, too!

Keeping busy has been part of my "staying sane" plan. As the countdown for Aaron's homecoming enters it's final days it's getting harder to stay calm. It seems that with each minute that passes the next moves even more slowly. Staying at home and watching the clock tick tock at a snails pace is not an option! I spoke with him on Friday and he is doing well and is as anxious as me, if not more so, to come home. He can't wait to see Clara in person and witness all the amazing things she's achieved since he was home in February.

I will be sure to let you know when Aaron gets home. It should be soon, so very, very soon!

xoxoxoxox