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If there's been one constant this month, it has been the snow. It falls, it falls more, it melts, and then falls again. The road conditions were the worst I've seen in my time in Germany, and it's still only January.While I've had to trudge through it to get to work, Vanessa has - unfortunately - been "snowed in." I understand, I mean, I'd get cabin fever too if I were holed up indoors for weeks at a time. She just doesn't have the opportunity to go out much, being tied to Aurora the way she is.
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And speaking of Aurora...
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She is growing ever bigger, and she has begun to recognize Mommy and Daddy's faces...even to the point of facial expressions. For example, when we smile at her, and she "sees" it, she will smile back. And she has the most adorable smile...half-toothless grin/half full-faced laughter. Sometimes we know it's just gas tickling her belly, but most of the time, it's true glee we see in her face. Just take a look:
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How can you not melt when you see this...and you should see it in person. A-DOR-A-BLE!!!
She is gaining weight at an acceptable rate (had a scare that she might be lactose intolerant for about two weeks, but that turned out to be a false alarm), and she's already three inches longer than she was at birth. Pretty soon, she'll be asking for my car keys! It's great watching her grow day-to-day. I like looking at her and seeing her notice something for the first time. And at night (or during naps) Vanessa and I enjoy just looking at her. She has begun dreaming, and the emotions roll across her face from smile to worry-face back to smile. We've had our fun moments with her (just because she can't stop us yet!), and I've posted some random shots form January at the bottom of this post. Enjoy!
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My work situation is steadily declining. There's so much I'd like to write, but my coworkers have access to this site, and I don't want to put anything specific out there. I will simply say that I am happy to have a job in this economy, even one that I am no longer finding myself enjoying. I actually find myself missing my deployment most days, and if it weren't for my wonderful wife and darling daughter, I'd request to be permamently reassigned back there. Is that crazy or what? Ah well, the family motto kicks in, and I'm good again.
"I can do anything for a year."
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I've been getting nostalgic lately, and missing my friends from back home in the U.S.A. There are so many great memories, and I know we'd be abe to do many things we used to do - family lives not withstanding. I miss going to Rocky Horror shows, being introduced to new theater expereinces, reliving my darker college days, late nights at 24-hour diners, and so much more.
"You can never go home again," but you can enjoy the memories you have of it.
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I realized the other day that I should start writing a book of advice and memoriws fo my daughter - because let's face it, I won't always be here. I think it would be nice to have a "BOOK OF THINGS MY FATHER TAUGHT ME" for her to go through in her youth, her teen years, and her adulthood. I know I would have enjoyed one from either or both of my parents. They both say they'll tell me anyhting I want to know, but it's hard to know what to want to know. So, I may become an author soon...
...or it could be just another thing to procrastinate about until it's too late.
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Anyway, enough chatter, here's the reason you really logged on to this post...more pictures of Aurora Celeste Heinzelman.
