Update

Well, just got back from the airport. We dropped our good friend Julie off. It was really nice having her here. She spoiled the kids and helped keep me sane for the first rough week. This next month will truthfully be rough, but we have each other and we will get through.

Update on Brian. We got a call on the 25th (on the tape machine as we missed it) from him saying he was in Kuwait. Just now I got an email from him and he is already in Iraq. He said I should google a spider called a camel spider. If you didn't know, my husbands one "fear" is of spiders and he says this is one of the biggest he has ever seen. "They" briefed him on it and he saw a picture, but he hasn't actually seen a live one yet. If he does he told us he'd take a pic and send it. I googled it and above is what I got.

Well, I will add more to this blogger more often probably now. Like Paul Harvey says "Good day."

Saying Goodbye to Daddy

Though Brian hasn't left country yet, we did say our goodbye's to him yesterday (the 21st-and side note, today the 22nd is our 12th anniversary). We will not get to see him again until he comes home for two weeks on R&R (it looks like September). The ceremony was very nice, and after it was over we had about 2 1/2 hours to visit, then it was time for us to go home (the farewell was about a 3 hour drive from here). Though it was rough and some tears were shed, we are all doing fine. Now we will just stay in touch with Dad as best we can, in part by sending lots of carepackages, and we will be praying all the time. I have posted a bunch more pictures again on the website of the last 3 days with dad here. The website again:

http://www.msnusers.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

In the one with us all eating you will see our good friends Tina and Eric. You may also notice another "new" face. That is my best friend Julie. She arrived two days ago and has thankfully been here to help us get through this time. She has been a great help, good company and wonderful distraction.

In the pictures of the ceremony, Brian is impossible to find... except for the one where Tristan is waving... look into the fuzzy background and you will see Daddy waving back. The bazzillion of pictures of Avery during the ceremony are of her making funny faces at Julie. The one of Avery in the pink shirt is not so great, but it was the evening of her ONE MONTH "birthday" (can you BELIEVE IT????) and I had almost forgotten to take a picture. She was hungry and fussy but I had to get the one month (and thanks again Laura). The last pic's I want to mention are of Tristan and Keagan sleeping in the bed. That was the last night Brian was home (we had the beds rearranged because Julie was here). Keagan had never done this before, but after Tristan had gone to sleep, he crept in and laid down next to him, then fell asleep too. I thought it was adorable.

Well, I hope your days are sunny and bright and when you think of it, I would appreciate some prayers for my husband. Thanks so much!

--Meghan

Brian's Address

Nope, Brian hasn't left us yet but I do have his downrange mailing address. Here it is:

Brian W. Pilch (DO NOT USE RANK)
2 BN 3rd Commando Brigade SPTT
APO AE 09348


Additionally, there are some new photo's on our picture page

http://www.msnusers.com/PilchFamilyPhotos/

The ones of Avery in a stripe outfit with Daddy are her laying in her "niche." Whenever Avery needs to sleep, we place her there on Daddy and she goes right to sleep. There are a few pictures of Avery in the shower with me (she loves the shower) but don't worry they are strictly G rated!

In the above picture Avery is in a lovely outfit given to us by Brian's Mom. I thought maybe she would like to see her baby holding our baby in the outfit she got.

Here's to you having more than a "G-rated" shower in your future... wait did I just say that??? LOL!

Sammi's Party

Sammi's birthday is on February 14th, but yesterday (the 11th) we had her party. Once again we made a castle cake. I am not very "right brained" so it is not a "lovely" castle, but Sam and I had fun making it. Her party went pretty well. Little girls can be very easy. I set up a craft project for them (making valentines cards for mom and pop), fed them diner (pizza) and served cake and ice cream. The boys stayed back in my room watching movies (coming out for food and sweets). So, I spent most of the party reading a good book. Thankfully Avery was really good. It was funny when it was time to feed her though, while I was certainly covered by a blanket I had a few inquisitive girls wondering what the baby was doing under the blanket... lol!

Our great news of the day is the Daddy is coming home today for his last "visit" then he is off (the visit part is the great news not the "off" part...lol). So, probably my next post will not be until he has left.

Well, I have deleted all the old and put up some new pictures on our family photo website. Check 'em out at your leisure!

http://www.msnusers.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

Hope your february is filled with sweets from your sweetie!

Baby's Doc Appointment

Well, little love had an appointment yesterday (too busy to post about it yesterday though). She now weighs in at 8.3 lbs. So, she is a good little eater, already gained over a pound from her birthweight! Doctor said she is doing fine. This lil' squirt eats every two hours during the day like clockwork... but I get long breaks at night (most times) so it is worth it. Plus she and I have the hang of it now, so feedings on the go are no problem. Well, not much else going on with us... I hope you have more to talk about!

Picture

OKay I finally got the picture upload to work! Well, here's Daddy and Avery. Daddy left very early this morning, he should actually already be back at training. He comes back for one final visit here shortly and then he will deploy. I am just greatful he doesn't mind coming home for such a short period when he has to drive 3 hours one way to get here (or 2 1/2 if traffic is good as he is a speed demon). We enjoyed out short visit and look forward to the time he will be home again. Well, Avery needs fed.

Enjoy your day... I comand thee! LOL

Side note... I must be having difficulties, because I sure did post yesterday and the post is gone (and I sure didn't delete it). Anyway, in it I said how we had another quick surprise visit from daddy (late fri night until early sun morn) and that he was up early and ran around taking care of all the "man" jobs around the house. Well, perhaps one day that post will magically reappear?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I would like to take a moment to congratulate our friends Scott and Debbie on their great news. Debbie is pregnant!!!! Yeah!!! Congrats!!! This new little guy/gal will be joining older siblings Jack, Shea and Maddox. Congrats to the whole family. Now Debbie, you told me how far along you are, but please don't make me do the math... when is baby due to arrive?

A little note about us, last night Avery did sleep for a five hour stretch, so I am slightly more rested today!

Congrats again guys!

Wow a New Post

Well, as you can imagine, I have been quite busy! But I thought I should take a moment to post a new blog for all my adoring fans. In case you are wondering, that is suposed to be funny... it's okay if you want to chuckle. Well, maybe only I find it funny... anyway...

We are all doing really well. Tristan, Sammi and Keagan are amazing older siblings, Avery is one lucky girl. They all dote on her so much, sometimes I feel like I am just her feed bag...lol. Avery was sleeping really well; however that changed last night, but I hope it is not a permanent change. She was sleeping anywhere from 5-7 hours a night. Last night she wanted to eat every two hours! Ah well, at least she went right back to sleep after eating. I am SOOOOO hoping that we don't have a repeat tonight as I am VERY tired. I posted a few new pictures on my picture website, though I couldn't bring myself to delete all the old ones. Check 'em out at:

http://www.msnusers.com/PilchFamilyPhotos

The very last picture I just took moments ago and it is Avery's favorite way to go to sleep (well, her favorite way is latched on to me, but I try to prevent that as my philosophy is a baby should be laid down awake-but that's just me). She loves to have a blanket on her head, a binkie in her mouth and a soft teddy bear next to her nose. Picky kid I know, but hey she is a red headed Pilch, and Pilch's know exactly what they want! Avery is a joy. She is a peaceful baby and of course she is so smart. I have sent out the birth announcements, you should be getting one soon. I hope you enjoy the pictures, I took them myself and then had them printed in wallet size.

Brian is doing well, he is in the field shooting all sorts of weapons and will be doing that for a total of 2 weeks I believe, though he is at the tail end of that now. We are fast approaching his farewell and while it will be a difficult time for all of us, we are all confident that everything will work out as it should and we will all be just fine.

Again thanks for stopping in, I hope I have satisfied all my fans.... nope still not funny... darn!