What we've been up to since arriving in SC

It has been a whirlwind since we got home! The days fly by as time seems to escapes us as each day passes. We seemingly are still functioning on MST time zone as we are staying up late and not wanting to get up in the morning which makes our days start later than we would like. But this will change soon with time. Baker is sleeping in everyday which is great but he is also staying up too late than we would like. I know his system is confused with the time and routine change as well. We have been home 4 full days now and have done so much in a short time frame.

• We have returned our Penske truck and car trailer. Hallelujah! It felt so good to see that thing go away. It was the final piece to being done with our move. I won't go into what a big fiasco that was but just so you know don't try to return one in Columbia at the storage units located at 3400 Broad River Road.
• Baker has successfully drank out of a cup by himself! I worked really hard with him everyday while we were on the trip trying to make him get used to a regular cup drinking water and juice. We still are using a bottle for his milk though. However, on 9 December he wanted to hold the cup himself and drink!
  
  
  He's to the point where he now perches his lips together so no liquid comes out - he's such a quick learner!
  
  
• Baker also had another first on 9 December - he finally had his first taste of cow's milk! He drank 7 oz down well but when I gave him something to eat an hour after it all came right back up. I'm not sure if the noodle from his ravioli made him gag and that's why it came up or what. I'm hoping that's all it was. He got a little rash on his cheek after he drank the milk but he's had that happen before when he ate peaches and now can handle those fine.
  
  Hey Mama - I'll open the door so you can get me some milk!
  
  First taste of cow's milk!
  
  
• We have eaten dinner at Lizard's Thicket (as all of you know, I have really missed their southern cookin'! The sweet tea was to die for and although Baker didn't behave, we still enjoyed it despite us having to play musical laps so he wouldn't squeal. He drank cow's milk before we left for dinner (2nd time eating it) and he was a little fussy afterward. I'm not sure if his tummy isn't handling cow's milk well right now or what. We'll just have to wait and see.
• We've been bouncing back between Irmo and Camden visiting family and seeing all of them has been so wonderful!
• We celebrated my Dad's birthday with the fam a little late at Texas Roadhouse. As you know this is a favorite of ours and it was just as delicious here as it has been out in Utah.
• We also organized and mailed our travel voucher for our DITY move so the AF can reimburse us our moving expenses. Things have been a little crazy and the AF threw a wrench in things as they always do. We were supposed to get our travel advance days ago. We filed for it about 10 days before we left Utah. It supposedly takes 7-10 business days to process. When Gordie out processed the finance guy told us he saw it in the system but hadn't seent that the advance was processed yet so he said it would probably be a few more days. Well, we waited and waited and of course being in hotels we never had a hard wire connection so we didn't get to look in our bank account to see if we received it. All expenses for the rental truck, trailer, gas, food, hotel, etc. went on our credit card. We arrive home to find the money was never deposited. Go figure! We call to only find out that someone lost the paperwork and it was NEVER submitted! UGHHHHH! Their solution was to not worry about the advance now and just file for the final reimbursement. So that's what we did and spent nearly 2 hours in Kinko's trying to get all our receipts organized, dated with name and SSN, and taped to paper. We had a check list of all the things we needed to submit and once we had it all in order we made a final copy for ourselves and headed to the Post Office to get it mailed out. Thank the Lord that is finally done.
• Baker played the piano! It was the sweetest thing I've seen. We were at Gordie's parent's house on Friday night (12/10) and we let Baker sit on the bench and figured we'd see what he would do. We weren't sure if he would touch the keys or if he would slam his hands down on them. We'll he didn't do either! He delicately pressed the keys and made several chords in a row. It was so sweet - music to our ears. He is definitely our talented boy. Gordie's dad is the best and I mean BEST piano player so maybe Baker has taken after him! Let's hope!
  
  I think he's a natural!
  
  Click Here to see a video of him playing.
  
• We attended the Camden Christmas Parade on Saturday 11 Dec. Baker LOVED it. It was a little chilly but we had him bundled up. He loved the lights, sirens, and all the people. He is currently napping as the cold air and now warm house made him sleepy! Baker kept pointing at Santa - it was so cute. The spirit of the Christmas season and the birth of Jesus is in the air!
  
  Daddy & Baker in Camden @ the Parade
  
  I thought these tacos were funny - a taco in a Christmas Parade?
  
  Merry Christmas!
  
  Daddy & Baker (for some reason he kept licking his coat?)
  
  Click here to see a video of Baker @ the parade
  

Side Note: Christmas Countdown - 14 days...eeekkkk I gotta get up on getting our shopping done. I haven't even started!

We can't wait to get settled and see everyone. I know all our friends are anxious to see us and Baker so hopefully time will slow down so we can get it all in! The holidays are just a busy time in general. There is so much going on during Christmas that it is always a rushed time. However, we are SO happy to be able to celebrate the holidays at home and we are so thankful that we aren't on a time schedule since we are home for good. We just want to do it all and see everyone so fast that we are going to have to slow down and realize that we have time - we are here to stay!!