First Tooth

First Tooth
Originally uploaded by Dinkins - Made in Japan.

I hope this isn't uninteresting to you, but I am proud to announce I discovered Roxy's first tooth in the bottom middle of her mouth. She has been a bit crabby so that is probably why.

Cousins

Cousins
Originally uploaded by Dinkins - Made in Japan.

This is Michael Joseph Long, Roxy�s four-day-younger cousin. He and Sheila have been staying here with us at the Bundy residence for the past week so it has been great for us to see them together. These are the first Bundy grandchildren so you can imagine how elated the grandparents are. The babies are quite different, the most notable thing being their voices. MJ has a cute, raspy boy voice and Roxy has a wee girl voice in which I would never have realized it�s femininity without hearing MJ.

20/20

20/20
Originally uploaded by Dinkins - Made in Japan.

On Friday, Trish had LASIK surgery. Technology is amazing and the eye is amazing! It is incredible what man can accomplish. God created such an awesome creature. Anyway, after about a 3-hour pre-op appointment two days before and a half-hour of preparation that day Trish went under the laser. I got to watch the whole thing on a television. They gave us a video so we�ll be glad to show you if you dare. (They peel back a flap on your cornea.)



The next day at her follow-up she could read the bottom line on the chart and before she couldn�t even read the top.

Not always happy

Not always happy
Originally uploaded by Dinkins - Made in Japan.

I realized I always post pictures of happy Roxy, but for a more balanced perspective, here she is in all her fury. Still makes you "awe" though?

So Roxy is a genius. She can already hold her own bottle and we can get her to talk by tapping her mouth. Quite the trick for a four and a half month old.

Last Day

Last Day
Originally uploaded by Dinkins - Made in Japan.

Today was my last day in uniform. There are so many things over the past five and a half years that have become part of my daily life. This represents one of the most obvious and burdensome. I won't miss it.

We have out-processed. All left to do is collect a pay check till August 5th (we're on terminal leave) and then turn in our ID cards and a travel claim. Still hasn't sunk in!

Crossing Over

Crossing Over
Originally uploaded by Dinkins - Made in Japan.

While out-processing we had to take leave Weds-Sun so we decided to stay on the �Eastside� of the metro-Seattle which is where we will be living and to which you either have to take a ferry (from whence the picture came: arriving in Seattle) or drive an obscene amount of time around the Puget Sound to get to. It worked out well because we needed all that time to find an apt and car.

Living a Dream

After quite the hectic week, we are ready to live in Seattle. I will spare the gory details, but the leased is signed and the vehicle is in the parking lot. After much deliberation, we settled on an apartment Avalon Brandemoor. And, we purchased a 2000 Ford Windstar. That's right, a minivan and I love it. It's fully loaded and ready for the road. Now we're just waiting it out till we can finish our out-processing on Tuesday. On the 19th we're leaving for St. Louis and then we'll be in Florida August 3-22.

We will move in to our apartment on Aug 25th and my school starts Sept 5th. We are still excited about this new chapter, but it still doesn't seem like reality.

Checking it out

We arrived in Seattle on Friday, checked in to the Navy base, and have been too busy too sleep since. The plane ride was average and Roxy was awake for most of the time. She didn't have any long spells of crying so that was good. We're going off about 4 hours sleep a night the last five, save one of ten hours. We've spent most of the time researching apartments and driving around to look at them. We're staying in Bremerton at a Hampton Inn on the opposite side of the Puget Sound from where we want to live so we took the ferry (with rental car) to the other side on Saturday and Sunday. Fun experience.

Today we start our out-processing from the Navy. It's supposed to take 5-10 days, but can be done in four. I'm interested to find out why they had to send us to Seattle to do this so I have no idea what to expect this week.

Yes, Four

Yes, Four
Originally uploaded by Dinkins - Made in Japan.

Roxy is four months now. She is a 16 lb 11 oz, 26 inch bundle of joy (as of July 6th at her Dr appt). What a wonder to watch her mature! She started rolling over last weekend so that is the big first for the month. We tried to feed her her first food toady, but it didn't work out so well. She still smiles and laughs a lot. She also does this spitting thing that is kind of cute, but hopefully only a short phase. She also began the grabbing and putting everything in reach in her mouth reflex. She still loves being able to see all around. I think she is going to be an adventurer. Of course, maybe I'm only projecting. Either way, we'll do lots of exploring together.

Hang On

Hang On
Originally uploaded by Dinkins - Made in Japan.

I hope to see all who are reading this very soon. I will write with our trip details when I have them next week, but the tenative plan is to be in Missouri July 16-30 and Florida July 30-Aug 18. We are going on a three day cruise Aug 5th. It will be a first for both of us.



For those we won't see this trip, we're moving quite a few time zones closer so hopefully we will still see you soon.

Waiting it Out

Waiting it Out
Originally uploaded by Dinkins - Made in Japan.

Two more days. The last few days have actually been kind of relaxing hanging out in the "Misawa Inn." I sold my Land Cruiser so that is a relief. Trish got a Power of Attorney for a friend to sell hers today. I have wireless Internet so I am sitting here in the Food Court giving you an update. I hope to see you soon.