January Photo A Day and update...

Well here we are. Its February and when was the last time I posted? Before I had Phillip?! Wow! Its been a whirlwind since then. I had the little man, then we were beginning to organize our huge move to Virginia, throw in a couple holidays and I had gall bladder surgery. I know, how many things can happen in just a few short months. Now we are here in Virginia and life is finally starting to settle down. We aren't 100% moved in yet. The rest of everything should be moved into the house this weekend. Once that happens I think life will finally settle down into normalcy. Christopher is loving his job and that couldn't make me happier. The kids have so much room and we have a great backyard. The neighborhood is wonderful and I am close to my mom's family and several friends. Its really the best way to pick up and move your family across the US from your family and friends, where you grew up, fell in love, got married, had your children and pretty much everything else of significance. But I couldn't be happier. I haven't felt a huge sadness yet. I don't know if I will or if that's good or bad. I think we've just been waiting for this for so many years that I was 100% ready for it to happen. We are making our lists of places we want to see, and picking out historical churches to visit, family to see, friends to meet. Its crazy, I know, but there it is. I have plans for here too. I want to get Phillip's birth story posted, I'll be writing about the sites we'll see, the house and my decorating fun. Pictures and all sorts of things you won't see anywhere else. This is just a private place for friends and family to see our life and stay really updated on everything, more than just a status update. Here's a little peek. I've been doing a Photo-a-Day challenge, which has been great. Christopher surprised me with an IPhone for Christmas (we weren't supposed to do gifts, and I totally cried, lame!) and I found an app through some blogging ladies and we are all doing a Photo challenge. I love it. Capturing the little things you might not capture otherwise :)

38 weeks already!

Well, I've officially decided I'm going crazy. And I think I've come to the definite conclusion that having your third child is entirely different than having your first. I just simply can't do things like I used to. The preparations are different because I'm so busy with the raising of two other children. And With a hubby that is hardly around (by no fault of his own) that only increases the stress. And forget about nesting! I mean seriously? I feel like every time I organize something it is undone, either because its sort of "in their way" or they are curious and get into it. Like the changing table in their room. It was a bookshelf and some storage for them. It still has their DVDs, videos and books on the bottom shelves but I'm preparing the top for its actual original purpose. So, its the first time in awhile that it is available for them to climb all over. And of course, its there...they must climb.

I'd say its been an adjustment and something new and exciting. I would say I'm way more tired and a little more snappy then I like to be...but what are you going to do.

its almost over! I'm just getting anxious and excited now. I have come to this peaceful place where I could care less about the organizing and the cleaning. I'm just so excited to see my little babe and finally figure out if its a he or she.

My son is 5!!!

I've become worse at worse at this blogging thing of mine. Pregnancy really throws a doosy your way. And let me just say that having done this two times before really makes no difference. I was just lamenting to one of my biffs last night how remembering things concerning others and staying organzied that way has proven 10x easier then just like the day to day with me...or what I said, when I said it, did my question get answered, and so on and so on. I mean, seriously! But really the point of this post is another lamenting....the fact that my handsome Brian man is now five. I really can't believe that he's five now. It really does seem like only yesterday that we were having him, finding out we were pregnant, trying to figure out life as a married couple and as a military family.
Brian is named after a friend of ours who was tragically killed in 2004, about a month after we were married. Christopher actually knew him in high school and I knew him from church and then we realized we both knew him and we had been friends since High School. Our Brian's middle name is Christopher, after his Daddy.



Me and Brian's namesake

Brian is a five year old boy and that's really all I can say about that, LOL! He's super smart, super physical, always moving and has the attention span of maybe a fly now, instead of a knat. I love that he's 1000% boy ALL THE TIME!! He's always taking things apart, putting them back together, or wanting to. First it was an obsession with cars, and now we've moved on to bigger things like the physics of fire and how does the air conditioning work. He always is saying something funny and his baby book is just chaulk full of funny things. And now that he's five I've filled out the last of his baby book and I'm going to have to get another book where we just write down the funny things that he is saying.

And now as we are ready to add number 3 to our brood I feel myself getting sentimental about the fact that he was once in tummy. Where does time go? I feel like I've been savoring every moment but its just flying by so fast!

What moments have been flying by so fast for you? What are you needing to savor more in life?



Brian's "BIRTH" day




Brian - August 2011

Preggie Fashion.....

So I've come to the conclusion that I'm not alone in my dread of shopping while pregnant....and frankly it doesn't rate that much higher than Bra shopping. Ick. My amazingly comfy maternity capris recently took a turn for the worse. Lasting through one more pregnancy (as this will probably be it for us) just wasn't in the cards. I mean, really, you couldn't just last for one more!! Now, I have to go shopping for some. This was partly an inspiration for my newest endeavor, which I kind of explained on my first youtube video. I'm hoping to do a video series like many you see out there...where these girls go shopping or looking around for fashion, what's hot, what's not, what they bought, what they think is amazing.....except I wanna do it for Maternity clothing! I know, kinda of crazy, but we'll see. I think its kind of fun. And if it totally is lame and doesn't go anywhere, oh well!

So in celebration of the 4th I wanted to share some cute patriotic clothing that I just recently got. We are taking some family pictures with my husband in his uniforms, so i was looking for something that would go with that, be patriotic, without being PATRIOTIC!! If that makes any sense.

I know that sweet and feminine clothing is really big right now. I just love it. I think its all darling. Flowers, and soft prints, flowing fabric - all of it I love! What's cool about this style is that alot of it can work for your pregnant body, most of the way through. Flowy and forgiving tops that aren't maternity work amazingly well at keeping you all covered.

I found this top at Target, and right now its on sale for like thirteen bucks! The color is a really good true red, not orangie or pinky at all! The rouching on the side is very flattering and I simply can't get enough of all the elegant detailing on it, with the flowers and such!

and I'm pairing it with a beautiful soft grey tiered skirt from Old Navy, which is no longer listed on their website but you should still be able to find it in the store. Last night when I went on my failed expedition for capri's (they only had like 10 size 2's....sorry, lol) there were still some on the rack in grey, lavender, black...so go and check them out. its extremely comfortable and darling.

I'll be posting a video and pictures later! thanks for stopping by! WHAT I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU RIGHT NOW IS YOUR ONE MUST HAVE PIECE OF MATERNITY CLOTHING, BE IT ITEM, BRAND, WHATEVER! PLEASE SHARE!

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill-In June 24th

Once again its time for the Friday Fill-in, hosted by the lovely "Wife of a Sailor"....so check her out!

check out this weeks questions, join the blog roll, and meet some great wives! And as always, I'd love for you to stop by and check out my little private forum Love and Dog Tags. I also have a great tab up top with tons and tons of links and info for the military s/o. I'm a fountain of info (slightly obsessive in my research, lol) so if you ever have any questions, please post them here or come on over to the forum!!!

Are you a different person than you were five years ago?
I wouldn't say I'm a different person, in the sense that people wouldn't know me, but I definitely think I've experienced things in the past five years that have caused me to grow as a person, learning some difficult lessons, and experiencing wonderful things along the way.

If you could go on Amazing Race, who would you take with you as your partner and why?
For sure my hubby! I almost feel bad that I would be his partner, lol. He's mr. camping, outdoorsey, boy scout. He keeps me balanced and centered and focused. I think that would be so fun!

Does Facebook or Twitter actually bring more stress or good in to your life?
LOL, i've actually posted about this on my blog. I have a total love/hate relationship with social media. Its good and bad. I'm really old fashioned, so some of the things it brings to the table bother me. I love that i've been able to connect with people from the past, from far away and stuff like that...but i think its taken away realness in people, intimacy, and gives people some false bravado.

June is National Soul Food Month- what’s your soul food?
oh man, good 'ole southern food! my mom is from the south. meat, potatoes and greenbeans...yummy

If you could live in any other era than the current, which one would it be and why?
well, this pertains to the post about twitter and facebook. LOL. I think I would love to be in the 40's. the clothing, the hats.....really anywhere in the late 30s all the way into the early 50s. love it!

Week 20

Hello friends! I know, its been, well.....way too long since I've posted. This pregnancy has been full of sickness, sickness, sickness.....similar to Ami, but different. This time around we aren't finding out the sex of the baby and I'm kind of excited about that. Christopher has never wanted to, but of course I wanted to be prepared with pink and blue if I needed it. So now that we have one of each I'm all on board for the surprise. As the weeks go on I've become more and more excited about it! Next week I'm going in for a doctor's appointment and ultra sound and it may be really hard for me to not wanna take a peak, especially since christopher won't be able to be there at this one. But I'm going to be a good girl, Scout's honor.

So here's a look at week 20

This week you're carrying around 10.5 inches and 10.5 ounces of solid magical baby goodness!

Your fantastic fetus' fragile tiny bones continue to ossify and toughen while their itsy bitsy finger and toe pads (and unique finger prints) are finishing up.

Your little womb-dancer also has teeth buds sprouting beneath their gum line.

And finally! Your wee one's limbs have reached their relative proportions — no more bobble-head!

Head on over to Wife of a Sailor to join in with all the MilSpouses!!

Do you or your {spouse} ever wish your {spouse} was in a different branch of the military? submitted by The Turner Family
Nah, for awhile he had considered the Army but he loves what he does for the Air Force

What duty station(s) are on your “No Way, Hell No, Not Going, Have Fun Unaccompanied” list and why? submitted by Every Branch
Honestly I can't really think of anywhere that i would be allowed to go that I wouldn't. I'm pretty much a go anywhere, do anything, i signed up for this too kinda gal ;)

If you could be one age forever, what age would you choose and why? submitted by Three Krakens
Gosh, i dunno. I really enjoyed 21 right after we got married. It was such a fun time and if I could go there are spend some more time soaking that in before the craziness I think I might.

If you were a breakfast cereal, which one would you be? submitted by the C.W.
I think i'd be the Special K with the chocolate pieces

What is your morning beverage of choice and why? submitted by NH Girl Displaced
coffee, coffee, coffeeeee - coffee bowl, coffee vat, coffee in an iv (gilmore girls reference)


Sorry this is so late! Been a crazy weekend. Please also stop by The Lily Pad
for this week's round-up! and next week, join us at Three Hands Full.

Also, if you're looking for support and like a small group please stop by my forum. We're a laid back bunch and some of my greatest friends (that now help me run it) have been made. Stop by Love and Dog Tags.