Let the race begin!

So as of right now, we are still planning on moving to Alaska in early May of this year. It just didn't hit me how fast time is moving and how much we have to do between now and then, until I realized Audra was 8 months old last Saturday.

We have so many things to check off our to do list before we even start packing, it's ridiculous. Those of you that are familiar with military moves, this is nothing close to the normal rigmarole that you go through with moving. It's as if a thousand people need to be notified and given a step by step plan on how you're going to get there, what you're taking, who you're taking, where you'll live when you arrive, and so on and so forth. We have to visit all sorts of offices ranging from transportation to EFMP screenings to amending Joe's orders to add Audra and myself on there, it just seems impossible right now. The mountain is way to large to even think about climbing but I know it will all get done... somehow.

As of right now, the things we can accomplish are selling Joe's car, selling extras in a yard sale (old entertainment center, old books, old clothes, etc), getting the taxes filed, and planning the move itself as far as travel plans and Audra's birthday.

AUDRA'S BIRTHDAY. That blows my mind. It feels like it was last week when Audra's birthday was the day that she would first be coming into the world, the first time I would meet my precious baby girl. And now it's a day that we will be celebrating for the rest of our lives as the day she changed our world for the better. My little girl is turning one in 3 months... my sweet, once 9 lbs 5 ounces and 20 and a half inches baby girl. Incredible! We have already started thinking about it and planning it because, well partially because that's just what I do. But mostly because we'll be in the middle of trying to move so we need to plan some kind of party for her before we pack up our lives and head 4000+ miles away. So far the plan is this: we will have a party at a park some where near by, zoo themed (this girl LOVES animals) and will close friends and family. We're going to be making a pit stop in Ohio to see Joe's family, so we'll have another little party for her there too, say between May 12th and 15th. This way everyone will get to participate :)

Audra by the way is crawling! As of about the last week of her 7th month she is working on becoming the master of mobility and doing a fantastic job keeping me on my toes. This girl can go go go! Her little personality (if you can call it little) becomes more pronounced every day. She has started little mimicking games with me and Joe and it's absolutely hilarious. After she's done eating, she'll turn to Joe and wave and laugh, she is definitely going to be a daddy's girl! Zeke and Muffin are being big time tortured by her now since she can move around now. They look at her with this look that Joe calls the "oh crap, it crawls now!" look. Muffin is a big fan of Audra and does just about anything to be near her, and tolerates all the pulling and screeching. Zeke, not so much. He is more of her protector and would rather stand guard or just lay near me. He's 4 years old now, as of January 22nd <3 so he's an old man now!

Speaking of Zeke's birthday, Happy Birthday Zeke Zeke! He is such a big part of our lives, and he is definitely my soul dog. He was my first furbaby and I have a lot of love for my 53 lbs baby! My world would be so different without him, I'm so grateful my mom gave him to me and so grateful he has been my loyal companion these past few years. I insist he live forever.

I've started school, I was apprehensive since we have so much going on right now. I'm only taking two courses though, and one doesn't even require a book! Hooray! There's nothing a college student likes better, except for graduation.

Joe is healing well from his ankle surgery, on Friday they will remove the initial dressing they put on after surgery. He's on strict no weight bearing orders so you can imagine how he's taking that! He's spending most of his time on the couch watching movies, playing xbox, and playing xbox. Baths were a joke in the beginning, but now that he's figured it out they're a little less complicated. I will be glad when he can walk on both feet with at least a cane though! It's been hard keeping things cleaned up around here when he can't really get down on the floor and play with Audra or get his own food. Not that I mind, it's just a lot harder to do all these things with an 8 month old that needs attention too.

For all these challenges and blessings I am grateful though, even though some of them are both! And even though this spring is going to be hectic and super eventful, let the race begin!