Skype

Children make terrible skypers!  Children make terrible skypers because first they are easily distracted, second they don't manage their time to talk very well, and third they don't share the screen and siblings will fight over the computer.

The computer can be very distracting, there is so much to look at and play with.  When Skypeing I find that my children are easily distracted by the picture in picture.  They like to look at their faces and then to see their dad's reaction.  Most of the time this will occur and the conversation will go something like this,
kids:  "Dad can you see us?"
dad:  "Yes, I see you"
kids:  dead silence for at least 1 minute
           "Dad did you see my face?"
dad:  "Yes, I saw"
This will continue for 5-10 minutes.  The whole time Dustin will try to ask the boys questions that may or may not be answered.

As you can see from the conversation above the boys just can't focus on actually talking to their dad.  The kids will just play while "talking" to their dad.  Time that if they would actually talk to their dad I wouldn't mind sharing, but since they just play, it makes me sad that I'm not able to get a turn.

The boys will carry on with all of this for the entire time we have to skype.  The only thing missing is the constant bickering between the boys about who gets to have their face on the computer next or that the screen is not being shared equally.

At some point, usually the last couple minutes of our Skype time, I will kick the boys off the computer. I then get my turn to talk which will inevitably get cut short because our connection will drop.  Dustin and I will try to reconnect via Skype and we'll end up just talking on the phone.

In all of our Skypeing attempts Dustin has been able to see Benjamin, I have been able to see Dustin and where he is living.  I am grateful for the communication we do get to have with him and will be glad to have him home once again.  I think the boys will like having him home too.

Benjamin Ray Hinton

Due to some complications that arose during the last week I ended up delivery Benjamin 3 weeks early.  He is tiny but cute and healthy.  Because of the early delivery we were unable to Skype it with Dustin because he had a scheduled exam at the same time I was going into surgery.  We were able to talk at lunch and Dustin received many, many texted pictures.

Benjamin Ray Hinton

April 24, 2013

5 lb. 13 oz.

6:52am

The Big Brothers excited to hold their new baby

Family Picture 

(even though Dustin is missing just pretend he's there)

*also, this was before I could sit up all the way but Benjamin is in my arms*

Going Home

Friday, April 26, 2013

We have all been doing well.  We are adjusting to having a little baby in the house, Matthew is adjusting to having to share Mommy, David is adjusting to having to help out a little more.  My mom has been here to help me but she'll be leaving early Tuesday - then I'm on my own for a while- wish us luck!

David and Matthew really do like having Benjamin home, they like to hold him and look at him, and watch him.  I send Dustin a picture of Benjamin almost daily and we were able to Skype yesterday so that Dustin could see Benjamin.  Benjamin has his eyes opened and was moving around for Dustin so it was good for Dustin to see.

We are so glad for our little family.  We are glad that it has grown by a couple of feet and we're excited to be together forever!

So Proud!

This week I was all on my own.

David and Matthew left with Sharon (Dustin's mom) on Saturday to begin the long trip to Missouri for Dustin's BCT graduation.  From Pocatello to Fort Leonard Wood is a 21 hour drive.  It was broken up across three days going out so that the boys would be able to see their dad for family day and graduation.

The boys just after finding Dustin on Wednesday - family day  

Dustin was so surprised to find a little blonde kid hugging his leg.  Matthew loved the uniform and took a little while to talk to Dustin.  David was just excited to see his dad.  They were both so excited to see him, they had been telling everyone about getting to see their dad for the past week and half.

Dustin in his ASU (Army Service Uniform)

He is so handsome.  I wish I could have been there and look forward to seeing him in June.  Right now he has a marksman badge and hopes to be able to get it up to a sharpshooter.  The glasses are keepers although he can see without them, he just sees better with them than without.

I am so proud of all that he has accomplished in a short amount of time.  I know that we have both grown and learned much while he has been away.  Our relationship has also developed and strengthened across the miles.  Despite how hard it is at times to be separated for so long this has really been a good move for our family.  We look forward to the many adventures the Army will provide us.

*If you are interested in sending Dustin letters his address has changed.  Just email me and I'll send it to you.

Pictures for Dustin

Dustin had been asking for pictures of the boys and me from one of the very first letters we got from him.  I would send a picture here and there because I had this photo shoot planned with Jen Simmons.  We got the disc back and I love the pictures we got from it.  The boys didn't last long so all of these were done in about 30 minutes total (10 minutes of which was with the boys).  These are some of the pictures I had printed to send to Dustin.  I hope he likes them.  The boys will leave on Saturday to start their trip to see Dustin for his BCT graduation.  I can't believe it's almost been 10 weeks since he left!  AIT should be so much easier, since it's shorter and he'll get to have his phone.

I have never done maternity pictures before now.  Dustin isn't here for this one and I know he wants to be a part of this so...this was my favorite maternity shot.

These are my two favorite pictures of the boys individually.  They are such handsome boys, if I do say so myself.

 Typical of our boys

I love the way all of our pictures turned out.  I really have to thank Jen Simmons for a job well done.  I am hoping that while Dustin is home for a few days in June that we can do family pictures with Jen.

Dustin graduates in about a week and a half from Basic Combat Training.  I can't believe that we have really been apart for almost 10 weeks already.  The boys will be leaving this coming Saturday to begin their journey to see Dustin graduate.  I am so proud of him for doing what he is doing and for how well he is doing it.