The Kings of King County Washington

Hello all. Thank you for your patience while the King family relocated. Before we get started on the update I want to thank all of the family and friends that helped us get ready to move, to move and then to settle into our new home. Wow, you all are so awesome and Rich and I have discussed at length how loved we feel. Thank you so much!

In short: We are mostly settled in to our new digs in Bellevue, WA; with only a few boxes left to unpack. Rich has finished his first week of fellowship and has already learned some new stuff. I will be starting a job as a Walgreen’s pharmacist soon. Since the last blog Mitchell has sprouted a tooth, is beginning to pull himself upright on objects, is rolling over and over and is about ready to crawl.

Last we left you, Mitch had just returned from a visit to Vegas. He took in some sites, mostly the pool, and visited with the Giordanos. He did very well on the flight out there and back much to the delight of our fellow passengers.

Upon returning to Albuquerque we continued to pack up and say, “Good-bye for now,” to friends and family.

Mitch visited his first zoo in Albuquerque. He didn’t seem too impressed by anything until we stopped at the Seal and Sea Lion exhibit. Here Auntie Rosie and Mitch stare in awe of the playful animals.

I gathered with some girlfriends for a brunch to help raise money for Auntie Rosie’s breast cancer 3-day walk, while the boys hung out at home having some quality time. Click here to make a donation

Here we are at Mitch’s first baseball game hanging with Miss Staci and Miss Ilnaz. He didn’t seem to like the crowd much and he quickly became “the crying baby”. You know your life has changed when a baby starts crying and the person holding the baby begins handing him to you. It’s official, we’re parents.

Mitchell met the last set of Grandparents at the beginning of June when Grandpa John and Grandmother Gloria stopped by on their Summer Tour 2009.

Grandpa John explained to Mitch the finer points of pizza eating, beer drinking and pool playing. The grandparents helped pack up some items and break down some furniture as the moving date to the Pacific Northwest was quickly approaching.

Moving day arrived and Grammy (Grandma Jane) and Uncle Marshall (Niki’s brother) arrived to help finish packing the truck. On June 13^th My mom, brother and I waved goodbye as we began the 2.5 day drive to Washington.

Mitch stayed behind with Rich and flew up to Grandpa Skip and Nana’s the following day. Unfortunately for the other passengers on that flight Mitch had lost the binky before getting on the plane and so descent was not pretty. Mom and Dad have since acquired more binkies.

Mitch and Rich played with Grandpa Skip and Nana and met some more Aunts, Uncles and cousins while Mom, Marsh and I trekked through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Oregon and finally Washington. Here we found Rich and Mitch happily playing on the beautiful property at Skip and Nita’s.

We enjoyed a delicious meal and a good night’s rest before hitting the road for our final 3 hour trek to our new home.

We (Rich, Mom, Marsh, Mitch and I) arrived to Grandmamma and Grandpa Steve’s on the morning of June 15^th. Mitch hung out with the grandmothers and practiced holding his bottle. Grandpa Steve put together a musical mobile that Mitch instantly loved. Rich and I spent the next few days putting furniture together and unpacking boxes while Mitch hung out with the grandparents and enjoyed all the new sights and sounds.

Rich still had a week left of residency and so had to fly back to Albuquerque. During his absence Grammy, Grandmamma, Grandpa Steve and Mommy tried to fill in as best they could. Mitch seemed to miss his daddy a lot as he was up during the night almost every hour and not eating well during the day. Of course this could have been due to all the new changes or possibly to an incoming tooth (more on that soon) as well.

Mitch met some more of the family from Grandpa Skip’s side (Niki’s step dad) and enjoyed his first balloon.

Mitch hung out in downtown Seattle with Mommy and Grammy.

Rich and Skip left for their own road trip from Albuquerque to Washington though we don’t have any pictures of that. (Probably because they are incriminating.)

Finally our family was in one place again. Now it was time to get back to business and a new food was introduced: squash. He loved it so much that he wanted to wear some.

We are still doing some of the old stuff too. Here Mitch and Mommy enjoy “Where the Wild Things Are”.

And here is Mitchell working on his crawling fundamentals.

For the 4^th of July, and Mitchell’s half birthday, the family packed up and drove down to Amboy, WA to visit the other King family and the Creigans. Mommy was busy packing herself for the trip and so asked Daddy, “Will you please pack up Mitchell?” meaning "please get Mitchell's stuff packed". Next time she will be more specific.

Once we arrived Mitch was lovingly cuddled by nearly everyone with reach.

And he enjoyed petting his first dog.

We awoke on the morning of the 5^th to see that during the night Mitch had sprouted a tooth.

There will be more to follow soon. Much love all!