Fort Worth: Day 5–7

Saturday, August 21
Mark Herbst, one of Matt's friends from high school, and his wife and daughter live in Houston and invited us visit. We took the babes to a pool near their home, and later that evening Mark and Kyra took us to dinner (thanks, guys!) at Pappasito's. The food—and the company—did not disappoint.

Sunday, August 22
Following church and a delicious dinner, we left Houston well-fed and trekked back to Fort Worth. Thanks Mark and Kyra for letting us come visit!

Kyra, Mark, Brielle, Matt, Skylie, and Erin

Monday, August 23
After failing at our attempts to check out some museums (Who knew most museums were closed on Mondays?!), we window-shopped, swam, and got ready for Skylie's big day.

Swiming
Most of the time is spent playing out of the water.

When Matt is gone and it's either too hot or too rainy to be outdoors, Sky and I find nearby hotels to play in. Who knew walking down a straight hall could be so amusing!?

Fort Worth: Day 1–4

Tuesday, August 17
Sky and I arrived in Fort Worth with no major problems on the flight here. Skylie was a champ on both flights and only had a few small melt downs. On the last leg of our trip, she eventually conked out with her head on my lap. I loved it!

Though timid around Matt the first night, it took no time for her to warm up to him the next day once she was well-rested.

Our extended-stay hotel room is tiny! Skylie sleeps in the bathroom, which makes for interesting nights, mornings, and naps for Matt and me. But, we're all together, so it's totally worth it. Due to our small living quarters, we spend a lot of time outside our hotel room.

Wednesday, August 18
- Playing at the play area of a nearby mall
- Playing at Trinity Park (The park paled in comparison to the beautiful, green parks we have in Des Moines.)
- Dinner at a pizza place near TCU called Mellow Mushroom in celebration of Matt completing boards. Skylie got a birthday treat out of it, which Matt and I probably enjoyed more than she did.

Matt and Skylie

Erin and Skylie eating Skylie's birthday brownie and ice-cream

Erin and Skylie outside Mellow Mushroom

- Touring the botanical gardens

Thursday, August 19
- Visiting the Stalkyards
- Taking Skylie to a nearby park to play

Skylie playing outside our hotel

When did my baby get so big?

Friday, August 20
- Swimming at a nearby pool
- Picnicking at the botanical gardens

Sheer delight!
I love her cheesy smile.
Skylie pushed her stroller around for about a half a mile. It was hilarious! She is one strong and determined little girl.

Checking the wheel alignment

Refueling after a hard day's work

Skylie and Matt

Skylie exploring

So Excited

As I type, Matt is taking boards. Fhew! This is his second-to-last test as a medical student. How cool is that?

Skylie and I are flying out to see him this afternoon. So excited! But, we won't get there until 10:15 tonight, and I'm so scared of how Skylie will handle the 3 1/2 hours of flying and 2 hour layover.

Wish us luck!

We'll need it.

Maybe when she sees her Daddy she'll stop calling ever poster and picture of a male "Dada".

Girls' Night

My dear friend Cassie is moving at the end of the month, so after the kids were tucked in bed Thursday night we spent the evening at Java Joes—eating ice cream, sipping smoothies, and having some quality girl time.

Five hotties, if you ask me. (Sorry, guys. We're taken.)

Erin Pitcher, Cassie Larsen, Nathalie Beeston, Amber Olsen, and Michelle Barrett
Cassie, Erin, Amber, Nathalie, Michelle

We were invited to join the swing dancing, but our better judgment got the best of us. Even if we look—and sometimes act—like we're 17, we are all married after all. Who knew the matronly look could be so cute!? ;)

Cassie,
Thank you for your friendship! All the play dates, walks, murder mystery dinners, and girls' nights with you have been the best! You are one of the most genuine, down-to-earth people I know, and it's always been so easy for me to talk to you. We moved here at the same time, and after three years, I have yet to hear you say an unkind word about anyone. (Seriously, do you have to put the rest of us to shame!?) You are always thinking about other people, and I love that about you. Thankfully, you will only be an hour and a half away, so you can't escape me completely, quite yet! I am already planning our outing to the apple orchard.

Friday's Confessions

• Stayed up way too late last night.
• But now Skylie has a rockin' DVD of her first year of life.
• Left makeup bag at work on Monday, so I went without make up for three entire days.
• I won't lie. It was nice!
• Eaten...ummm...about a dozen mini candy bars today.
• Got a free kids meal for Skylie--with the cookie included--knowing full well I'd be the one eating the cookie.
• Watched final episode of The Bachelorette. Twice.
• Been eating quesadillas for dinner all week.
• Last week eggs and toast was my meal of choice.
• Contemplating taking Skylie to Costco for "dinner" (aka samples) tonight...
• Even though we no longer have a membership.
• Only spent $5 for all of Skylie's birthday presents. (Is that total child-deprivation?)
• I miss Matt.
• But Skylie is so stinkin' cute, it almost makes it totally a-okay.

Daddy's Girl

The first thing Skylie asks for in the morning is "Da-da". She gazes longingly at our bed, where she used to see him early in the morning, and acts a bit put out when pillows and blankets are all she finds.

Thanks to Web cam, she gets to see her favorite man every day. "Da-da" has become the voice on the phone and the face on the computer. Even from four states away, he's still able to make her laugh and smile. I love that about him!

When he appears on the computer, she lunges off my lap and climbs onto the desk to smash her lips onto the computer screen.

Seriously, does it get any cuter than this?!

He's also taught her the new game of sticking out her tongue.

I, meanwhile, am attempting to teach her to blow out her birthday candle. Fifteen days and counting...

Playing "chase" on the stairs is her new favorite game.

Day 1

Three years ago Matt and I made the 1,000 mile trek across the country in a moving truck with our sights set on Des Moines, Iowa.

Matt was to begin medical school.

I was to find a job.

My memory of those first few days in Iowa is fading, but some details remain crystal clear.

1. It was humid.
2. It was hot.

But what I remember most is how we immediately felt an outpouring of love from the good people here in Iowa. We felt so welcomed by:

• A land lord that accommodated to our needs above and beyond what we expected.
• Neighbors helping us unload the hour we arrived.
• Friends inviting us to dinner the first Sunday.
• The bishop inviting us to his home for dessert the first Sunday.
• The Relief Society president visiting me days after we moved in.
• Ward members giving advice on where I should look for jobs.
• Students at school answering any of Matt's concerns.
• Many, many people going out of their way to get to know us at church.
• Invitations to cooking clubs, book clubs, game nights...

And that's just the tip of the list.

Three years later, I still think as highly of the Midwest hospitality. Des Moines is home to me. (If only family were closer, it'd be perfect!)

Today, on what could have been a tough day, I've felt surrounded by many thoughtful friends who:

• Asked how I was doing and genuinely wanted to know.
• Said to call if I ever needed anything--and I knew they meant it. (Perhaps more significant is the fact that I knew I really would call if needed.)
• Cared and played with my daughter during church.
• Recognized that my husband had left to travel for months and empathized with me.
• Played games with me.
• Brought me flowers and stayed to keep me company for some girl talk long after the little ones were in bed.

Iowa, you have been good to me. Thank you. I have ten more months to call you "Home".

Let's make it the best year yet.

The Rugrat and her favorite man on their last evening together for a while:

How she loves kissing her Dada.

Daddy likes the slobbery tongue on his eyelashes, too.

P.S. Matt arrived safe and sound in Texas this evening. Nothing compares to a Web cam kiss.