"I'll be home for Christmas"- next year.

So, our plans to be home for Christmas this year did not work out.  In a perfect world, Baby #2 would be born around Dec 1st giving us 3 weeks to get baby's passport- landing us at the grandparent's door Dec 25th.  After working with the passport office on base, the only way we can expedite the passport is via a Red Cross emergency.  Since we are military, we have to process the 10-14 week application paperwork through the military office, no exceptions.   Not even I can talk our way out of this one. Surprising, huh? 
 
When Carter was born, we were able to work with the Embassy in Turkey because the base was much smaller.  We got Carter's passport in about 4 weeks allowing us to leave the country while on Paula's maternity leave.   Paula's plan for Baby #2 was to take 8 weeks off work, spending alot of her maternity leave in the States.   Since it's not an option, she's considering taking 6 weeks off work, go back to work for about 2 months and then we'll fly home.  Tentatively, we are looking at being home February 21-March 6.   If 6 weeks is not long enough for maternity leave, we'll likely prolong our travel home until later Spring. 
 
There's the short of it.  It's been a long and frustrating couple weeks as we've been battling passport roadblocks, no potential job interviews, daycare for Carter when the baby is born, blah, blah .   But, as Ellen from Christmas Vacation would say "It's the holidays- we're all in misery".   Just kidding.  Though we are completely bummed we won't be home this year, you all will simply have to buy your Christmas trees REALLY late and keep them up until February.