To the U.S. and back!

This is Parker helping us close our big rolling duffle on Thursday, April 29th, the night before we left for the U.S. We took one huge bag and 2 carry-ons because we knew we were going to do some shopping! It was a crazy trip. Our awesome neighbor Karen drove us to the airport (which is close to 40 minutes away via the expressway) so that Parker could ride in her daughter's car seat. We planned to bring 2 new huge car seats back and would have never made it on the return trip from the airport had we driven one of our cars.

The airport in Okinawa is small. Very small. We waited (with all of the other passengers on our flight) close to an hour to get our boarding passes. We only had about 30 minutes at that point to pass security and get to the gate for our flight to Tokyo. In Japan, you have to check your stroller with your baggage, so I carried Parker through Okinawa and Tokyo and finally saw our stroller again in customs in San Francisco.

Parker did amazingly well on the flights, especially since I noticed that she was getting all 4 maxillary incisors when we boarded the plane in Tokyo. Yep, by the time we got to the states, all 4 little guys were poking through. She slept well and was very good crammed by the window for 10 hours. I didn't sleep much since she slept on my lap laying in the boppy and I kept worrying that she would fall. However, I have been tired for about 10 months now so what's a few more days without sleep?

Here's our big girl feeding herself some breakfast somewhere over the Pacific ocean. It was actually light outside the entire flight, but they turned the lights out and tried to help us get adjusted. Too bad it didn't work for any of us!
Here's Mommy and Parker on our way from San Francisco to Dallas. As an aside, thank goodness I took leave before the boards. The Navy only gives you one travel day and one day to adjust when you are flying from overseas back to the US. I decided I needed more time than that and added 2 days of leave to adjust, but this resulted in me losing my travel day AND day of adjustment, so I had to take more leave just to fly. Anyway, I don't know how people do it. In San Francisco, we had to de-plane and they almost cancelled our flight. Can you imagine what would have happened if they did? If I had done what the Navy allows for, I may have missed the boards! I can't believe that they made me take leave to travel (especially since the Air Force arranged things so much better for Corey), but I am so glad I did it. I don't know what I would have done if I had missed a flight or the boards. Crazy.
We ordered this little tent for Parker to sleep in on our trip. Unfortunately, she would only sleep in it for a few hours at a time. Also, Parker (and Corey and I) had horrible jet-lag. It took her close to 5 days to adjust. My parents saved us! We reserved adjacent rooms and my mom and dad watched Parker all night (and she was wide awake due to the 14 hour time difference) for 3 nights so that we could rest before the boards. We still had a hard time - Corey only slept about 2 hours the night before his, and I managed to get about 4 hours in the next night on the eve of my boards.

Parker adjusted very well to eating and sleeping in strange places. She loved to entertain the morning crowd in the hotel dining area and did really well with her finger foods. I think she is eating mandarin oranges in this shot.

After Corey took the exam, he came back to the hotel and seemed pretty relaxed. This helped me relax and we decided to go to Pappasito's for dinner (one of our favorite places to eat in Texas). Parker was all smiles at that point.
In the course of just a few days, she began to play peek-a-boo with us. At first, she would just put her hands on her head, and then fling her arms down and smile when we said "peek-a-boo, we see you!"
After dinner, we also went by the Nordstrom Rack that my dad had taken me and Parker to the night before when Corey was frantically reviewing. I had done the same Monday morning while he was testing and wanted to go back and check on a few things for Parker. It was SOOOO nice to be in a store other than the BX. I almost didn't know what to do.

The night before I tested, Corey started making me nervous saying things like, "now I am wondering if I should have asked more questions" or "now that I think about it, maybe they were hinting at something" and then I got nervous. Fortunately, I took the test the next day and didn't have too much time to worry. Both of us feel that if the scoring is reasonable, we should be okay, but we are still anxious to see the results.

When I got back from the test, this is how I found Miss P:
We quickly packed up and checked into our new hotel located closer to the airport and more shopping! Then we headed out to the Fort Worth Zoo. It was an awesome zoo. I would love to take Parker back again when she is older!

First we saw Parker's favorite - the gorillas and monkeys :)
She knows what these are and what noises they make - my mom brought her a cute stuffed monkey in February when she visited Japan, and we distract Parker with it all of the time while making silly monkey sounds :)

Daddy, Mommy, Parker and the zebras :)
Here's another family shot on our way to see the elephants.
We had to make a quick detour, however, when my mom spotted the meerkats. My mom has (an almost unhealthy) obsession with the show "Meerkat Manor" on Animal Planet. She knows their names and was explaining to us the differences and similarities between the meerkats on TV (whose names I cannot remember other than Flower, who I know was killed in action) and the meerkats at the zoo. I think it made her day :)
Here's the only picture of the elephants we got. We did get to see them playing with tires, but then the zookeeper brought out food in another area and they all started heading towards him.
Here's a big family picture with my parents. It was so much fun to spend time with them and watch them with their first grandchild. Parker loves them!
Here's my dad with Parker and the lion. Again, this was a great zoo and I would love to take her back, especially after she's seen some Disney movies and can make some parallels. Mufasa, anyone?
Here's the "Nala" of the zoo. I took these with my little Cannon powershot. It was pretty warm so the animals were taking it easy, but it would have been great if they were up and moving because they blended in so well that we weren't sure Parker knew what she was seeing.
Parker and her Pop Pop.
Here's me and my little 'roo.
There was a little educational area near the gator/croc area on littering. Parker wasn't too sure what to think about these guys.
Mommy and Parker
Parker looks like a sweet little snack :)

After the zoo, we met Dr. Mealey (my program director from UT) for dinner. It was great to see him and catch up. At the exam, I got to see Dr. Mills, but only for a second. For some reason, I didn't think he would be in Dallas, but after Corey came home and said he saw him, I was hoping we could get together with him, too. I even tracked down his cell phone number from Shirley, but every evening when I planned to call, we were either exhausted or running out for some last-minute trip to the store. I am disappointed, but it was nice to see both of them briefly and I hope we can catch up again in the future.
Corey and Parker were passed out after a long day at the zoo!
We did a ton of shopping the next two days. We went to a great outlet center one day and Corey and I got some new clothes and Parker got a ton of cute outfits from Gymboree and Baby Gap. The next day we went to DSW, Target (yay!), Nordstrom Rack (a different one, got tons of stuff there too), TJ Maxx and Costco (YAY!). We actually had lunch at Costco, went TJ Maxx, and then we back and picked up a Costco pizza for dinner at the hotel. Both nights I went over to the mall next to our hotel. The first night my mom and I went to Marshalls - I remember feeling almost paralyzed when I walked in. It was so strange to be back in a store in the states, and I really had this moment where I had to think about which direction I would start walking! The next night, Corey and I went back to look for a 2nd piece of luggage (we knew we might buy) and also found a few more cute things at Gymboree.

One of our purchases were these cute fairy wings for Parker to dress up in when she gets older. She wasn't too sure about them!
On Friday, May 7th, we took off for Mobile, AL to visit my grandparents. It was sad to say goodbye to my parents, but we were ready for a few days of hanging out in Mobile.
Here's Parker the night before we left Dallas. She had so much fun with my dad.
Who's number one?
Pop Pop, Murphy (sorry Murph, not a great picture), Nana and Parker.
We were sitting the kitchen having lunch when I realized Parker wasn't in sight. Good thing I caught her - she seriously almost went out the doggie door!
Here's my uncle Pat (dad's brother) with his first great-niece (right? pretty sure that's how it works).
Parker, Uncle Pat and Aunt Dottie. Great to see them - I hadn't seen them in 8 years!
Here's Pop Pop and Parker. She was so good despite the long day of flying and visiting with everyone.
Parker's progression of Peekaboo. Now she's started to actually cover her eyes. My crazy Aunt Bridget showered Parker with gifts. My Aunt Dottie gave Parker (very appropriately) a Peekaboo book and Aunt Beth sent her 2 dresses and a Parker the Penguin toy. Bridget gave her 3 Peekaboo books (which she LOVES), this hilarious Auburn Tigers cheerleader costume (WAR EAGLE), and 2 crazy/annoying toys that Parker thinks are too funny. One is a monkey that can't stop rolling over laughing, and one is Donald Duck dressed up as the Easter bunny. Parker especially loves Donald and loves to bounce to his music and then pick him up by the ears (to which he automatically replies "put me down!")
Parker and Aunt Bridget. She is awesome. She watched Parker while Corey and I went to the movies for the first time since before Parker was born. We got to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D, which we never get to experience out here. We love Johnny Depp, so it was really fun.
After the movie, Nana and Aunt Bridget took me to a little baby boutique and Nana got Parker this cute little outfit that I picked out. I think they were a little skeptical at first when I chose it, but Parker looks so cute in blue. Nana also got her this darling little bow which we unfortunately lost, but Pop Pop already emailed me the contact info so I can order more. She was too cute.
Four generations after Mass: Nana, me, Parker and Bridget!
Here are Corey and Parker (again) sleeping at Nana's. Corey would like me to point out that the sheet had a sateen border and emphasize that he is not wearing any kind of peach satin pajama :) We eventually gave up on the tent because it was easier to get Parker to sleep between us.
Happy Mother's day! Parker got me a beautiful necklace with her birthstone, peridot. Corey did a great job picking it out, and I wear it whenever I can (but not when I am working, because necklaces, like earrings, are not allowed with the USMC uniform!).
On Sunday, May 9th, we left Mobile and headed to Salt Lake City to visit Corey's family. Here's our final picture with Murphy, Pop Pop, Mommy, Parker and Nana.
At this point, Parker was a flying pro. Here she is hanging out at the gate waiting to board and having a quick snack.
Parker finally got to meet her cousins! This is Parker and cousin Drew, Nate and Katie's little boy.
These 2 were already scheming 30 minutes after they met!
The day after we got in to SLC, we had breakfast with everyone at Corey's parents house. The food was great and it was nice to see everyone! After breakfast, we went to see Brooke's new studio, which is still under construction. We also stopped so I could get a fountain drink (I miss gas stations in the states sometimes - I was hooked on Valero when I was pregnant with Parker). Then we continued our eating :) We had gourmet cookies, great sandwiches and did some more shopping. It was fun to shop with my sister-in-laws Tasha, Brooke and Katie. I never really go shopping here, and it certainly isn't really a social activity to go to the BX! After a full afternoon, we made a quick pit-stop at our hotel and then took Parker to Corey's parents so Ed and Lorna could watch her for a few hours. It was almost surreal to go out again without her!
Here is Corey with his sibilings; Nate, Corey, Tasha, and Brooke (hat).
Parker and Drew having a very serious exchange.
For dinner, we all met at Cafe Rio and had some quick but tasty food. From left to right: Matt and Tasha, Corey and me, Brooke and Jason, Nate and Katie. After dinner, everyone except Matt (don't worry, we don't hold it against you - he went to a Jazz game) went to see Iron Man 2. Corey and I were almost in a daze - going to 2 movies in just 3 days. Crazy. Who knows when that will happen again!
The next day we went back over to Ed and Lorna's for breakfast and then headed out to see Grandpa Ted. We had seen him at breakfast the day before, but we wanted another chance to visit before we left. Parker was having a little bit of a melt down, and unfortunately, this is the best picture we got! We also went to another Nordstrom Rack (our new favorite store - how sad that we can't go back) and got another huge rolling duffle bag at Macys.

Before the big grandkids photo, we stopped at Leatherby's so Corey could have his favorite ice cream soda. He only gets one every few years, and it was a huge treat. I got mine to go and left it at my in-laws, but never went back, so Corey got to eat it the next morning after he took me to the airport :(
Then it was time for the big photo. Parker was really cranky at this point and I think she was ready to come back to her house, her stuff and her routine. Nonetheless, I think she looked really cute!
Addie, Tasha, Parker and Corey. Parker wasn't ready to put on her dress yet :)
After the picture, Parker changed and was a much happier girl. Here are Parker and Drew playing while some other kids get their pics taken.
We all went to eat at a pizza buffet and Parker just couldn't take it anymore. There was a little window seat, and I laid her next to our table and she just passed out. Poor baby!
Parker woke up as we were leaving - Tasha, me and Parker. I do wish we lived closer to Tasha because we have a ton of common interests! I used to be able to call her a lot more often when we lived in Texas, but with the time difference it is so hard now :(
The next morning, Parker and I flew back to Dallas to meet my mom and our cat Jack Bauer. Corey stayed in SLC since the Air Force was able to more efficiently arrange his flights. Parker, my mom and I went to a tex-mex place by our hotel and then called it a night. This is Parker in her last hotel bed for a while! We had to leave for the airport at 4:30 am, so we didn't get much sleep. My mom got up with Parker for a few hours and let me sleep, which was awesome since I didn't sleep again for almost 30 hours.
Parker and my mom at about 3:30 AM in Dallas.
My mom and Parker at our gate in the DFW airport. Parker flew in her jammies to San Francisco, where we met up with Corey. Thank goodness for my mom. She helped me get Jack and Parker and our luggage to the airport, and because she was in the same terminal, she even helped us to our gate. It was crazy. Since Parker wasn't on my TAD orders, the agent wasn't going to let her come back to Japan with me and I didn't have a copy of our original orders from our move. However, she told me if I couldn't produce them, I had to get Parker some kind of visa within 90 days. Whatever. We are back now, but from this point on, I am taking Corey's original orders with us!
Here is Parker upon arrival in Tokyo. They lent us an airline stroller since I had to check my stroller once again. And gross - Parker is chewing on it. I wiped it down, but still! We looked like a circus. 2 huge rolling duffle bags, one car seat still in the box (huge) and another in a travel bag - these things are huge - they are the convertible ones that she uses until she is 65 lbs., Jack in his kennel (medium sized dog kennel, by the way, since he is HUGE), 2 carry-on suit cases, a backpack and a diaper bag, plus Parker in this stroller. Getting Jack through the quarantine agency was kind of a pain, but we made it. He has to go to the vet once per month for 6 months since his rabies shot lapsed by 13 days. Not a huge deal and hopefully won't be too much of a problem for going back to the states.
Here's Parker with her BFF, Bailey. She loves him. Loves him. He must live forever now. She crawls over to him, throws her hands across him and buries her face in his fur. He is so tolerant. She calls both cats "Duh" and loves to chase them. She went up the entire staircase last Saturday, May 22nd and Jack runs away every time now. When I go in to get her out of her crib in the mornings, she looks past me and says "duh" over and over until she sees one of the cats. Even though Jack is still cautious, both of the boys are waiting in the hallway when she gets up.
Here's Miss P in a cute outfit my mom got her. She is getting so big. She is between 9 - 12 month clothing and I got her a ton (translation: an entire rolling-duffle bag full) of clothes on our trip. She has new Lucky Jeans and a Lucky hoodie, tons of cute stuff from Gymboree, and several cute Carter's outfits for wearing to the CDC (they are comfy and I think it helps her crawl around and climb on things.)
Here's our funny girl in her high chair. She now tests us by dangling her sippy cup over the edge and looking at us. If I say "no, don't drop that" she smiles and then drops it. It is actually hard for me not to smile back because she has a little twinkle in her eye when she does it, but I've resisted with my best effort. She is so funny sometimes!
One of Parker's favorite meals: peas, carrots, puffs and cheerios. She LOVES fruit too, and can now pick up a big section of a banana and eat the entire thing. She also loves apples, peaches and mandarin oranges. We're working on meat.
Here is Parker helping me in the kitchen. Often when I am washing dishes or working on the counter, I'll give her a bit spoon and she'll keep herself busy. Lately, she's been getting into the cabinets or the trash and it's not as cute, but we're working through it. Check out the puff stuck to her bum :) I swear those things multiply in the seat of her high chair.
Parker is making tons of progress and goes everywhere with her walker. We went outside one afternoon to hang out with Karen and her kiddos and Parker was cruising around our little compound yard.
Bailey, me and Parker. I'm not sure why I was sitting on the kitchen floor, but I find myself on the floor a lot lately playing with her. I've noticed that I am sore more often. check out our ugly floors. Gotta love our base housing (or as we like to call it around here, The Compound.)
Our lovely house has a doorway that is 1 inch too narrow for the standard baby gate. And of course, they don't sell one here that fits. Corey came up with this solution, and Parker took it to an entirely new level by crawling inside the legs of the chair and imprisoning herself. She is so entertaining to watch.
Last weekend we went out to breakfast with our friend Amy and Parker's boyfriend Makai at cute little coffee shop. I ALMOST felt like I was in the states, except that all of the employees were Japanese and everything was super-expensive. ***bubble bursts*** Parker was in a great mood and it was good to catch up with Amy and Makai. We are bummed that they are PCSing in August.
Me, Parker, Makai (check out the drool) and Amy. Until our trip, I was continuing to lose weight and was back to my pre-Parker weight. I did well on the run for my fitness test (for me - 1.5 miles in 12:05) so it was sad to see this photo and realize that I still have several pounds to go until I am at my pre-residency (or pre-marriage??) weight.

We are hoping that I get pregnant again soon, so I am juggling eating well with weaning Parker and losing more weight in a healthy manner. We went to a fertility specialist here, and after having new labs done, he thinks we should be able to get pregnant on our own. He told me to call back if I don't get pregnant in the next 6 months. I keep wondering if someone mixed up the labs because we had them done FOUR times in San Antonio, but Corey is very positive and hopefully we can get pregnant soon. I won't hesitate to do IVF again, and in someways it's harder to wait to see if I'll get pregnant naturally because after going through months and months without success before Parker, it makes me dread the possibility of that disappointment again.
One day last week when I picked up Parker, the girls in the CDC had a dance music CD playing, and all of the little kids in Parker's room (including Parker) were boppin' along to the music. Corey and I decided to hook up his laptop to our tv and play some music for her. We started with "Who let the dogs out?" and moved to "Push It," which is Parker's all-time favorite song. Seriously. All you have to do is get the beat going and she smiles. We are probably horrible parents because we made a video of her dancing and scooting to it and will likely use it to embarrass her at a later date :)

Today is the last day of my 96 (four day weekend) and I am home alone. It has taken me 3 hours of my precious time to update this blog, but it was a long time coming! Now I am off to work on my cake for my tech. Tomorrow is her re-enlistment ceremony, and she has asked me to do her oath. I feel very honored although I have no idea how this works :) She is a great girl and I am glad she got accepted for hygiene school. She is a good kid and is so normal at 20 years old out here with all of these crazy marines. I hate to see her go, but I know she'll do well. I am getting a new tech and he's been shadowing my surgeries for a few weeks. I think he'll do well too, although I think most of it works out because I am not as demanding. Having never really had my own assistant before, I still tend to keep most of my instruments on my side of the chair and while this is probably a bad habit, things run smoothly, so I'll just keep it up.

In other news, we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary on May 19th. Yay :)

Anyway, I am side-tracking, but I will update soon. I am trying a fondant recipe Tasha gave me and practicing so I can make Parker's cake in 2 months. I am learning about baking to keep me occupied while we wait for a pregnancy. I also joined a book club with my neighbors Karen and Tara and it is a lot of fun. If we passed boards, we will be ecstatic and sleep much better at night. Maybe we will also finally get out and explore. Hopefully I will have some good news soon!