On the Road Again

This week has been eventful! On Monday Avery and I took a Key Caller class at ACS (Army Community Service). I've been wanting to get more involved and this is a great start. The job entails calling other spouses in Maintenance to let them know what's going on. I started calling people immediately because we had an FRG (family readiness group) meeting the next night. Avery kept us pretty distracted during the meeting but dinner was provided so it wasn't all bad :)

I left Avery with a baby sitter for the first time this week, it was awful leaving her! We left her with my friend Pagi while I took care of some things for my license. I was only gone 2 hours but it felt like forever. Afterwards I went back to Pagi's. We ate pizza and watched a movie then baked cookies for the company BBQ. Pagi and I went on base at 3 to get my license but silly me forgot the stroller and had to lug Avery's car seat around. My first destination as a licensed woman was Starbucks :D It was a good day for the Lyon family. Steven had spent the day doing a mission so he got to ride around in a Black Hawk.

Friday was the company BBQ. Steven went into work for a few hours in civilians and then got released. The BBQ was at the Super Park (well the pavilion next to the Super Park). It was a warm sunny day :) Pagi and I got iced beverages from Starbucks to stay cool. After a few hours at the BBQ the 5 of us (Pagi, her husband Eric, Steven, Avery and I) headed to Osan AB, our goal: cute baby clothes. I'm smaller than I was when I got married which I love but it also means my rings don't fit anymore. My wedding band is very loose and my diamond ring (which Steven gave me at 9 months pregnant) is 2 sizes too big now. After we shopped in Osan's BX we headed out to the ville to get my diamond ring re-sized. I get it back on Wed, my finger feels bare without it. Avery was amazing during our Friday adventure. She slept through clothes shopping, the ville and most of the drive home!

Watching TV while Steven makes home improvements - iPad win

My husband turned 23 this week! I made him pancakes and eggs although he had to come make my over easy eggs for me <3 Last year for Steven's birthday we found out I was pregnant. Its only been a year since I knew of Avery's existence but it feels like she's been a part of our lives forever. This year I went with actual presents which Steven had opened several days beforehand when they arrived in the mail lol. We decided to go bowling with Pagi and Eric. It worked out great because it was also Eric's birthday. Steven annihilated us! The boys wanted to see Avengers. I was hesitant because we had Avery but she had fallen asleep in the bowling alley so we chanced it. We headed to AK Plaza and had dinner at Kraze Burger then played in the arcade for a bit waiting for the movie. Avery had stayed asleep up until the preview then freaked out. I immediately left the theater but after 30 minutes of trying to calm her down I gave up and went to the truck. Once I got Avery back to sleep I spent the next 2 hours playing Bejeweled. My game was interrupted by some [insert bad word here] backing into my truck. I got out to check for damage, the driver glanced at me then walked away. Ugh Korean drivers make me so mad. At 11pm Steven, Pagi and Eric got out of the movie. Apparently it was awesome so hopefully it comes out soon. 

Avery and I slept in until 11:30 on Sunday (well the motherhood version of sleeping in: wake, nurse, fall back asleep, wake, nurse, fall back asleep, etc etc). Once we finally dragged ourselves out of bed we had a mountain of chores waiting for us. We went on base to do our laundry and while the clothes were in the dryer we did our grocery shopping. When we got home Steven did the dishes while I folded clothes. We were very productive. Avery refused to go to sleep so we stuck her in the stroller and took a family walk. I love my family <3

Avery Quinn - 16 weeks old

Milestones

This week started off a little rocky. Steven came home from PT looking awful and complaining that his left arm hurt. We ended up going to the after hours clinic on base. Thinking it would be a quick visit Avery and I stayed in the waiting room so we wouldn't be in the way. The soldier on duty said Steven was requesting me and escorted us to his room. Steven was covered in electrodes, getting an EKG, it scared the hell out of me but thankfully came back normal. He was given a bag of fluids and discharged. I had gotten blood drawn that morning so we matched :) Avery was a perfect baby the entire time.

Avery is growing so quickly and our visit to WIC proves it. At 3 months Avery weighs 12lbs 15oz and is 25in tall! The nurse said she was tall and skinny. Avery was in the 75th percentile for weight and the 95th percentile for height <3. All parents think their kid is advanced but hearing it from medical professionals is wonderful. At 3 months Avery is hitting all of the 4th month milestones, 4 of her 5th month milestones and 1 of the 6th month milestones! She may be started on rice cereal after her appointment in 2 weeks. Breastfeeding is treating us both well because I am 2lbs lighter than I was before I got pregnant :)

Avery Quinn - 15 weeks

This week's Lunch with the Ladies was at Casa Burrito, their food was no bueno but I had a really great time. There are 3 women due in October so Avery won't be the baby of the group for much longer. After lunch Pagi and I rode the bus to the PX. The bus started taking off with my stroller and mean Randi came out for a moment. At Starbucks the woman told us it was 1/2 price frappuchino week!! Pagi and I hung out for a bit until Avery started being a grump. We decided to walk to the hanger since it was almost the end of the work day and Pagi had never been. I strapped Avery onto my chest and we began walking. Our husbands were still working but it was such a nice day out that I didn't mind waiting.   

Thursday sucked. Avery was cranky all day long.

On Friday Steven got a phone call at 5am :( He was on CQ (charge of quarters) which is a 24hr shift so getting up earlier than necessary wasn't pleasant. Friday is play group day and this week's play group was at the Super Park on base. My friend Niki was kind enough to pick up Avery and I. Avery slept through play group which gave me a chance to sit back and work on my tan. Karina (another friend of mine), Niki, and I grabbed some lunch at the PX. We all have baby girls so the conversation is never lacking. Pagi met us there and the 7 of us (well 9 if you count the unborn little ones) walked around the PX for a bit. Niki and Karina left so Pagi and I hung out in Starbucks waiting for 1/2 price frappuchinos to begin. Pagi's husband, Eric, gave me a ride home afterwards. Avery took a 4 hour nap which allowed me to finally power clean our bedroom. It was Steven's first night away from home since Avery was born, it was weird for all of us. When he got home on Saturday we took a family nap :)

Avery telling Pappy Happy Birthday via Skype

Sunday morning Avery skyped her grandma and grandpa, she had lots to say. We had lunch at Chilis, Pagi and Eric followed us to Osan AB. Nguyen and his family met us there and we had a great meal. Our group migrated to the BX. Steven bought Avery a new outfit :) We then all went grocery shopping haha. Steven and I stopped at Pagi's house on the way back. Steven helped Eric carry their new crib up 3 flights of stairs. For the first time in 5 months we got to see Sam (his new owner lives in the building across from Pagi). He is HUGE!   

Korea: One Year Later

Monday the 9th marked my 1 year Korea-versary and what an adventure this past year has been. We started TTC, moved 3 times, flew internationally 5 times (roughly 80 hours on a plane!), got our first car after 5 car-less months, explored Korea and became parents to an amazing little girl all in a year's time. I spent my Korea-versary having lunch with friends while Steven was making the 2 hour drive to get someone from Incheon airport.

Tummy Time :)

One difficult aspect of Army life is moving away from friends and family. I am lucky enough to have made good friends here in Korea. Every Wednesday a group of Army wives meet up for lunch somewhere new, we call it Lunch with the Ladies. This week's LWTL was conveniently right across the street from base at Puffins so Steven dropped Avery and I off on his way back to work. I managed to record Avery laughing but my phone is being a pain so I've yet to upload it. After lunch my friend Pagi and I hopped on the base bus and rode to the PX. Our husband's have the same birthday so we searched for presents. Afterwards we hung out in Starbucks for hours talking and enjoying each other's company until our husband's got off work and picked us up :) Pagi just got here a few months ago and I already consider her a good friend. She leaves Korea before we do so that will be a sad day.

Up from her nap
Avery Quinn - 14 weeks

Avery and I have tourist passports which means we can only stay in Korea for 90 days unless we have a SOFA stamp. On Thursday we got the paperwork we'd been waiting on to go get the stamp. We made the roughly 20-30 minute drive to Osan AB. When we got there we were told we needed Avery's report of birth from the consulate. We didn't think we needed that so we didn't have it and had to make the drive back home to Humphreys. By the time we made it back to Osan there was a different man working the desk who informed us that we didn't need the report of birth... We turned in the paperwork but alas another road block. Steven's DEROS (date eligible for return from overseas) was wrong...by two years. Since we couldn't get the stamps we decided to eat at Chilis (which is on Osan) but as we pulled into the parking lot Steven got called back into work. Another long drive back to Humphreys this time with empty bellies. Steven was in the hanger for all of 45 seconds before being allowed to leave. We were done with this day haha. We gave someone a ride to the barracks and checked the mail room for packages before heading home for the night.

Avery enjoying the app for babies Steven downloaded

Friday was seemingly uneventful but I was pleasantly surprised by a taxi driver. As I walked towards his cab he hopped out and helped me with my bags and even broke down the stroller while I strapped Avery's car seat in. When we got to my apartment he brought the stroller to my door and put my things into the bottom bin :)

This weekend we were incredibly lazy. It was the first really nice warm day and we didn't want to waste it doing chores. We took a nice family walk in the sunshine <3 

There's a first time for everything

Three months ago Avery Quinn graced us with her presence. I can't believe how quickly the time is passing. Avery gets bigger everyday and this week experienced many firsts.

04.03.12
Avery's first laugh. Steven was telling me about his day while Avery sat in his lap. He was using a lot of hand movements which Avery found very amusing. She let out a high pitch laugh :)
04.04.12
Avery is on the move. She digs her heels into the ground to push herself upwards and curls into a ball to slightly roll around on her play gym. Avery has been rolling onto her side like a pro. She can also spin in a circle on her back although she spins clockwise.
04.04.12
Avery slept through the night! All that moving around really tires a girl out. Avery slept in her crib from 9pm-5am. She is responding well to our new bedtime routine: bath, lotion, nursing, story & snuggles.
04.06.12
Avery's first status update. Avery was sitting in my lap while we were at the laundrette. I was FBing on the iPad and Avery wanted to help. She began touching the screen and eventually composed a status update: Cobb .:,,.,, Cobb. V

Happy Easter!
Avery Quinn - 13 weeks

Photos from our March vacation:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/randilyon/sets/72157629706172111/