Kick-starting labor aka geocaching

 

Getting ready to log our find

 

Waiting for Daddy



We somehow walked right by this cache at first

This was a particularly hard spot to squeeze a 9 months plus pregnant body through

Helping Abigail over some roots

Searching for which treasure to take

Ethan not surprisingly ended up the most muddy

Our last family photo as a family of four - Elise was born approximately 24 hours after this was taken.

Maui Trip

Before baby arrived and life got really complicated we took a quick trip to Maui during block leave.  Three days was not long enough especially because we spent most of our time at the pool.  We looked at extending our stay but it just became more of a hassle than we were willing to deal with.  So we missed out on seeing a lot of the island.  We did drive around part of the road to Hana which was beautiful but harrowing at times with all the one lane sections and drops offs.  If we have extra time or another tour here in Hawaii then I hope we'll get to go back but I'm at least able to cross Maui off my "Hawaii bucket list" as my friend Jacquelynn refers to it.

Homecoming 2012

Excitedly waiting with Autumn



He's here! 

I'm always fine until his plane actually lands, once those wheels hit the ground I start crying.

So excited for Daddy to come home!

"Do you see him?  There he is!"

Nothing like getting to experience "another" first kiss!

Yep, a lot has changed since you left almost seven months ago.

Taking on life hand in hand again.

Ethan was fascinated by Wil's five o'clock shadow

 

Mommy can't provide this level of rough-housing - even when she's not pregnant =)

 

A big thank you to Noelle Wild Photography who took all these amazing photos - she did such a wonderful job and was great working with us through the date and time changes!

Ethan's Birthday

 

Opening presents

 

Ethan wanted a piggy bank like his big sister.  Only we couldn't find one that wasn't breakable.  So I cut a slot into the lid of an old peanut butter jar.  Then Abigail decorated it with stickers as her birthday present for him.  She was so proud.

Blowing out the candles - I should have checked to see what colors were left in the candle box before I decided to forgo buying more

As you can see he got into the cake while I was getting the camera out

Hard to believe our little man is already 3 years old!