There and Back Again

From Wikipedia: The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), also known as the palmetto bug or waterbug, particularly in the southern United States, is the largest species of common cockroach, and often considered a pest. American cockroach adults grow to an average length of around 4 centimetres (1.6 in) and about 7 millimetres (0.28 in) tall. The insect can travel quickly, often darting out of sight when someone enters a room, and can fit into small cracks and under doors despite its fairly large size. It is considered one of the fastest running insects. The adult American cockroach can also fly.

Yep, we have these. On the upside, they were bigger in Texas - but then, isn't everything? Fortunately, we get free fumigation here at the apartments. I've signed up for twice a month.

Moving is hard. It's not just the packing, cleaning, driving, spending, etc., etc. For me, more than anything, it's trying to become myself in a new place with new people. I'm really good at meeting the new person and trying to help them feel welcome. I am not very good at being the new person. I find it overwhelming and intimidating. Our new ward (congregation) is very friendly and everyone has been kind, but I don't feel like I really know anyone. Baylie doesn't have any little friends to play with. I know it is my responsibility to reach out and make this happen, but it is not easy for me. David is much better at it than me. So far he is loving the ward, school and basically everything else.

We finally found a playground with swings. It is right behind our house. It's behind the Methodist church, but they don't care who uses it. I've given up on finding play-worthy grass, but swings are a big plus.

Jalen is expanding his diet. He enjoys mashed potatoes, pizza crust, bread and anything he can get his hands on. Unfortunately, that includes Baylie's hair.

Baylie has become a great little helper around the house. Here she demonstrates using my dishtowel to mop the floor. My mom learned about her cleaning during our recent visit when Baylie changed the toilet paper roll by throwing a new roll into the toilet. She has also started taking off her clothes just because she can (meaning, Baylie, not my mom). This would not be such a big deal if she were potty trained.

Since the kids and I have such limited use of the car, Jalen has discovered alternate methods of transportation. Seriously though, the kid gets around. He's become a speedy crawler and gets wherever he wants to go. Baylie didn't crawl until 11 months, so having a 7 month old cruising around is new for us.

And best of all, we have flight benefits, which allowed us to come home for the weekend and cheer on the T-birds. Actually we went for the third birthday party of Lauryn and Clara, our adorable nieces. It was a princess party, so Baylie was in heaven. She was so happy to play with her cousins for four days. The first one she saw was Camden. When he walked in the room, she ran to him and about knocked him down with her big hug. I admit I got teary eyed.

Probably the best thing about the move is that it's just me and David again, without lots of family. Hard as it is for me, I think it's good for our marriage when it's just us for a while.