Finn Davis is here! and other tidbits from home

Karl and I are back in Arizona from an awesome whirlwind trip home! We had like, a million reasons to go home, however, the #1 reason was to be there for the arrival of Baby Finn!!

Let me begin, for my memory's sake, by quickly recapping our drive home... after having my A/C repaired the Friday before we left, it quit working a mere 6 hours into our 15 hour drive home.  At lunchtime.  In El Paso, Texas.  Picture Karl & I driving 85 mph for 9 hours with the windows down through west Texas.  I could've died.  One of the most terrible things was that I couldn't find a ponytail holder for the first 3 hours of the ordeal so my hair was literally whipping my face.  Our marriage could've died.  It was like a 9 hour workout, a couples therapy session, and a 1940's psychology experiment all rolled in to one terrible day. We miraculously made it home and to make a long story short, our car is still sitting in my parent's driveway sans A/C.

Anywayz. The A/C debacle was WORTH IT for the fun we had at home.  My parent's house is basically a revolving door of babies and sisters at all times.  It is an absolute joy to be home, especially for the birth of another nephew!  We had some special sister/mom time sans babies to catch up and shop before Finn's arrival and Emma's departure for her sophomore year, celebrated my birthday, celebrated Baby Finn & Callie at a really sweet luncheon, spent way too much time trying to get my car fixed, Karl helped my parents on a home improvement project, we helped watch Oliver for a couple of days while Callie & Jeremy were in the hospital with Finn, got to see our besties for the resties, & we squeezed in as much time as humanly possible with the man of the hour (Finn, duh) and Karl had a great interview for a job! Packed, huh?

Look at this little duckling's furry red head!!

Ollie was SUCH a good little boy while his momma and daddy were away at the hospital!! Also Lucy had a serious problem with face mask night.

I spy a little Lucy sleeping in one of these pictures

Oliver got lots of gifts from Baby Finn before his arrival.  While he appreciated the presents, he has absolutely zero interest in the baby.  Oh well.  At least he isn't mean to him.

Finn was born on Wednesday, August 7th at 12:58 pm after Callie labored for 5 hours- exactly 8 months after Lucy and about 17 months after Oliver! He weighs a little more than Oliver did at 8 lbs. 6 oz. and is the exact same length that Ollie was- 20 inches!  He is totally adorable and seems like he might be quiet and relaxed... maybe.  We'll hope so because his momma needs all the energy she can muster for big brother Ollie ;)

We had such a good time at home and wish we could have been there longer.  Karl & I can't wait until we are home for good and can see ALL our family and friends on the regular.  I can't stop thinking about how thankful I am for Finn and Callie's health and the health of all the adorable tiny humans in my life!! God is so good.

Aunt Hannah

Alaska

So this is a long overdue post but one that I didn't want to go unposted!  Last year when Karl was in Korea he had a temporary duty assignment in Alaska that fell over Labor Day Weekend.  We made a last minute decision for me to go up and spend the long weekend with him and it was the BEST DECISION EVERRRR!

My time with Karl was so fulfilling and needed for us after such long periods of time apart.  Beyond that, Alaska was and is one of the most beautiful places Karl & I have ever seen.  The air is so fresh and crisp and the view was different in each town we went to but equally beautiful no matter where we were!  I cannot express how much I loved that weekend!  It felt like such a long trip, even though it was just 4 days.  We saw so much but both of us would love to go back!

We rode the train all day to a super cute town called Talkeetna (which is apparently where most people start their climb of Denali) and stayed there that night in a little apartment over a bakery and cafe.  It was adorable.  Next time, we want to take the train one stop farther to Wasilla and go whale watching!  The whole train experience felt like we were in a movie or a dream or something out of this world.  The mountains, greenery, the snow, the cabins in the middle of nowhere.  There was a car with a glass-dome roof that we sat in on-and-off for the whole train ride that gave us a 360 degree view, the train had great food and hot drinks... I could go on and on.  I would never have thought that a long spontaneous weekend in Alaska would end up being one of my favorite vacations ever!  God is good and so fun!!

Then we went on a hike.  We were in Denali National Park and we chose a "strenuous" trail.  I was feeling really confident.  I don't work out.  Ever.  I have the endurance of a large, mouth-breathing lap dog.  But I figured, like, there were A TON of old people and kids at the park so surely they mark the trails based off the physical capabilities of the weakest human.  The trail was 2 miles, each way.  I haven't walked a mile since my freshman year of high school.  WHY DID MY HUSBAND AGREE TO THIS??  I will boil the whole thing down to 3 points:
1) I literally thought I was going to die on that mountain.  Die of cold.  Die of exhaustion.  Die because I did smell bears.
2) My legs did stop working.  They stopped over and over and over again.
3) While he didn't say anything even remotely close to this, I knew 100% for a fact in my mind that if I didn't make it to the top of the mountain my husband would be crushed.  His soul would die.  Right then and there.  He was counting on me for the absolute greatest moment of his life.  What is wrong with me??
But we made it!  It was literally the coldest I have EVER been at the top.  And going down was possibly worse than going up.  And I felt SO ACCOMPLISHED when we made it!  But not accomplished enough to ever do it again.  ever.  That mountain owned me.  Here is picture proof, in chronological order...

 ...and there is my mule of a husband who didn't break a sweat and Richard Simmonsed me up that mountain.

Then the weekend was over. I remember how hard it was to leave him.  It always is.  But if I remember right, we only had to endure about 6 more weeks before he was home for good!  Since then, I have only been separated from him once- for Lucy's birth.  When we say goodbye it feels like we are saying bye for months and months.  It is the worst feeling.  My mind cannot comprehend a short-term separation.  I say to myself over and over, "it's just a weekend," or "it's just one week," but literally in my mind it's months!!  It's like a weird form of PTSD or something.  IDK.  A weird after-effect of 6 years of goodbyes.  I cannot wait until November, when we feel safe that we don't have to say goodbye anymore.  Goodbye is so lame. Alaska is so cool.

Hannah K.C. Burton

weekend away and fun things ahead

Two weekends ago Karl & I got a last minute opportunity to spend the weekend away in Sedona, Arizona.  We had already decided that we definitely wanted to spend a weekend there before we move away so we were super excited to go!  We went on an all expense paid Air Force marriage retreat and I am so glad we did!  Sedona is absolutely breathtaking!!  It is a pretty small town with these huge red rocks surrounding the whole town.  It is the coolest thing!  Driving in was beautiful but all of a sudden those red rocks just appear and it really does take your breath away!  The resort we stayed at was awesome, all the food we ate was delicious, and Karl & I had so much fun exploring the town.  The retreat was nice... it wasn't Christ centered and catered to couples in all stages and states of marriage as well as religions or lack thereof but the time we spent in the different sessions was really limited... so basically it was just a good weekend away :)

This snow is what we woke up to Saturday morning.  We expected nice cool weather but not quite this!  While it did cloud the views for the rest of the weekend, it was a welcomed change from the Phoenix heat!  I LOVE the cold!

Loved having quiet time in front of a fire and with Karl!  He has been on a weird shift at work for several weeks and it's made time with him sparse.  

In PRESENT DAY news: shoutout to two of mine and Karl's besties for the resties, Jacki & Abe and brand new Baby Keagan!!  It sounds run-of-the-mill, but Jacki has been battling pre-term labor for almost 4 months.  Keagan's pefect birth and health is nothing short of God's faithfulness, provision, love, and grace wrapped up in a gender-neutral hospital blanket :)  I am so excited for them!! Karl & I are itching to meet him!

SUCH a great weekend!!  Now we are getting pumped up for all the visitors we are expecting!  First up: THE BAILEYS!!!!!!  And to excite everyone: here is the video I cannot stop watching.

{cookie is my mom and that growling is how Oliver complains/cries... it's normal}

Love,

Hannah K.C. Burton

I mean, it's like, what do you want me to say

For like the millionth time in my blogging career, I'm here rolling my eyes after a blogging hiatus.  Here is what happens: I feel bored and like I have nothing to blog about, then a million blog-worthy things happen and I feel blogwhelmed {blog overwhelmed, duh}.  So blogwhelmed that I'm like, "what's the point?!  I can't cover it all!"  Then I'm annoyed with myself for not blogging.  So I don't blog.

This sounds like the pattern of an eating disorder.

So I'm here.  Notice I didn't say I'm back.  I make no promises.  It's like a shady relative that pops in a and out of your life just when he needs something. And what I need is to document my life so I don't forget.

So here is what is going on in life, in no particular order but definitely in the form of snapshops and snippets:

Karl has learned to sew!  It's like the whole world is our oyster!!!  I see something I like and he's like, "I'LL MAKE IT!"  And I'm like, "YES!  LET'S GO TO JOANNS!!!"  Y'all, he is literally Jack of all trades, master of all.  We've been painting canvases for the walls, sewing pillows for the couch, hemming curtains, fixing the coffee table, gold foiling everything in sight (yes, my only contribution).  I'm thinking next weekend we're going to hole up until Karl teaches me how to sew.  idontknow, the last sewing teacher I had walked away from me sooooo, we'll see.

I have been missing Lucy and Oliver like crazy.  This sounds so ridiculous, I know, but it needs to be acknowledged that if I look at a picture of either of them for too long my arms start to twitch.  Karl thinks I'm insane.  But it's true.  Like I actually need to hold them if I think about them too much... moving on {but not without pictures}...

These two are my favorite things to take pictures of without a doubt!

We have been exploring and trying to find cool and fun things to do around here!  Especially before it starts reaching the mid 100's {April/May} LAME!  We are enjoying national parks and trails, TONS of shopping, trying local food, and planning for some fun trips and visitors!!

We are really loving our apartment {except for having upstairs neighbors kids with lead feet that make me want to die} and I am loving decorating with our next house in mind!  I get on realtor.com at least twice a week and look at houses for sale in DFW.  What?

There is an Ikea like 30 minutes away that I have enjoyed perusing while Karl is at work annnnd I go to Target about, oh, every day.

Karl & I decided we are going to take social media breaks on the weekends and so far we are loving it! It is a challenge.  I find myself reaching for my phone out of habit first thing Saturday morning {and then my husband lovingly reminds me}.  It is a needed break for us.  Anytime I am bored {which is all the time if Karl is at work} I am reaching for my phone for some social media and that is lame.

I am bored.  Really bored.  I could wah wah complain about this and tell you how I am MAJ wrestling with God on this but I'll keep it at this: I'm praying for friends here, and a church body, and a job, and literally anything shy of illegal to do during the day.  I have seen every episode of every TV show produced in the last 3 years, I know who all the up and coming musicians are, I have budgets made for the next 12 months.  I have an empty planner and I do not like it.

I am declaring with expectation that soon I will blog about all the fun stuff I'm doing with awesome people in cool places and everything that God has been teaching me in my solitude... right??

Hannah K.C. Burton

p.s.: I swear I tried my darndest to chock this full of pics.  They don't exist.  Will work on that.

Hello from Arizona!

Hi there, friends!  I'm writing from the nastiest hotel room EVER (negative) but my husband is laying on the bed in front of me (positive) so those two things cancel each other out, right?  We are in Arizona and staying on Luke Air Force Base, Karl's new duty station, until our new apartment is ready to move in to on Friday.  By the time we check out of this dump place, we will have spent 10 lovely nights here.  I have never been more excited to live in an apartment.  I feel like I've flashed back to that two weeks where Karl & I shared a twin size bed when I visited him in Korea, except we are sharing a full size bed, which may as well be a twin size bed when it is 85 degrees in the room and you can basically see the germs closing in on you from every side.  But who's complaining about really little lame things :)  See paragraph #4.

The drive here was really nice!  While we are basically in the desert, the view from anywhere here is breathtaking!  We are in a valley so there is mountain range in all direction!  Every sunrise (which I have seen, see: bed situation) and sunset are glorious.  There are huge Gumby-esque cactus everywhere.  Beautiful flowers, awesome parks and trails, TONS to do- shopping, outdoor activities, restaurants- this really is a great place to be stationed!!  I definitely don't feel like I'm in the South.  Women dress differently, I've definitely not heard any "y'alls,"and I had the only top knot in sight at church on Sunday... but it's cool, I won't let anyone bring that down.  While people are definitely not rude, I don't feel like I've really had any experiences with people going out of there way to be friendly like I experience regularly in Texas & Arkansas.  I'm excited to be here!  Excited to be a light in a place that may not be as "Christian" as the other places we've lived, excited for Karl to be at a base with easier work hours, excited to be close to California (holla at you, Ardis'!!) and other fun weekend destinations!

In addition to all of that, being reunited with Karl is awe.some.  Reality from Karl & I: it is hard to get reacquainted after a year apart and independent living for both of us.  Welcome to an often overlooked aspect of military life.  We are getting back into a groove while continuing to allow God to use this past year to draw us both nearer to Him and each other.  More honesty: I love him more than ever and cannot wait for this year of adventure with him!!

his homecoming :)

In keeping consistent with this post being all over the place: shoutout to my bestie Jacki, reading this here blog from a hospital bed.  I intend on keeping this thing interesting so she has something juicy to read everyday while Baby K keeps growing. And I can't mention Baby K without asking for some extra special prayers for them- for Baby to stay right where he is for much longer!!

So everyone plan your vacation to see us!  We can see the Grand Canyon, shop & spa in Scottsdale, road trip to wine country, head a couple hours north and ski... I mean, honestly, lets do this people!

And because this was a VERY wordy post and that is lame to not include some pictures...

Our attempt at a family picture this summer.

This is literally as good as it got.  

Emma's Bid Day... yes I know, I've already blogged her initiation.  

Best Pi Phi day ever, every single year!!

Love it!!  

and a random adorable picture of my BIL Jeremy blowing out his 30th candles and Oliver having the time of his life.

On the docket for this week: mine and Karl's unconventional hotel Thanksgiving, Family Weekend in Fayetteville, Baby Lucy and her expected arrival in no more than 3 weeks, our Friday move-in and some apartment deets, and me and Karl's weekend rendezvous in Alaska (which occurred approximately 3 months ago.  Suit me.).  Sounds juicy, right?  Especially the Alaskan rendezvous.  You'll like the rendezvous.

From the state that doesn't observe daylight savings (sounds snobby, right?),

Hannah K.C. Burton

Oliver Ryan is here!

Oliver Ryan is here!!!  He was born at 6:48 pm, weighs 7.10 lbs and is 20 inches long!  He is absolutely perfect and I am such a proud mom aunt!!  We had a long day at the hospital and Callie was an absolute rockstar!  Callie labored for 12 hours and went over 24 without food.  And that is icing on the cake that is the past 2 weeks that I have literally and honestly spent questioning my desire for children.  We paced, panicked, prayed, waited, paced more, peeked thru windows, paced more, texted, fixed Callie's hair, couldn't sit, couldn't sit still, paced, and then rejoiced.  So, without further ado, let me introduce you to my precious, perfect, tiny little nephew guy!  Uncle Karl, I miss you more than ever and am aching for you to be here to meet our new nephew- he loves you, as do I, and this late-night-blog is certainly for you because I am SO EXCITED for you to see this little man!

HALLELUJAH!
Aunt Hannah K.C. Burton

I can't wait to see the pictures from the professional photographer that was there! YAY!