Month In Review - #9 {December 2011}

Month In Review - #9 {December 2011}

-Had a few "girls" nights + Bennett.  I LOVE having Bennett and getting to hang out with my friends at the same time.  It's the greatest life.

-Attended an assortment of Christmas parties.  This month is always the busiest of the year with so many events planned!  I feel like we were non-stop, but it was oh-so-fun!

-I was able to get dressed up and enjoy a night out to dinner with my girlfriends while Bennett stayed with Greg's parents.  It was so perfect and I am soooo very thankful to have people here who love my son and take care of him the way I would.  Those nights out are just what I need to put a little more pep in my step and get through another month of this deployment!

-Bennett had his onstage debut when he played Baby Jesus at my parent's church Christmas program.  There was a real live baby goat next to Bennett and let's just say, Bennett was not fond of it!  He cried a little, but nothing that would make me embarassed.  I was extremely nervous!

-Took Bennett to see Santa and it didn't even phase him!  We ended up visiting 2 Santas because I had a serious Mom Fail.  The first pic with Santa was good, but I realized AFTER the pic was printed that you could only read part of Bennett's shirt.  I purchased the shirt for his pic with Santa so I was very disappointed in myself! 

 Soooo, off we go to a second shopping mall and a second Santa. This pic turned out sooooo much better..shirt AND smile! 

-Found out I am going to be an Aunt to another healthy NEPHEW! Bring on the sports, camo, and overalls! 

- Traveled to Tennessee on the day before Christmas Eve and visited family.  Spent Christmas Eve celebrating Tash's birthday and having a big meal/opening presents with family.

-Continued the tradition of pj's/presents/pancakes with Bennett on Christmas morning.  We had a great time checking out what Santa brought my good little boy and it made me estatic for the years to come! 

-Celebrated Christmas Day by attending church, lunch with my family, and dinner/presents with Greg's family.  It was a busy, busy day and we are both still recovering!

-Bennett turned SIX months old and I threw him a little birthday bash!  My family and close friends will not be in AK to celebrate his first birthday so why not celebrate the halfway point?  I never need an excuse to party.  It was SUCH a great time and everything turned out exactly like I had visioned it.

-Bennett met his Great Memere and Pepere on Greg's side for the first time.  They travel down from Maine every winter.

-Bennett got his very first TOOTH on the last day of December!  The second one is not far behind!  He had been having a time with it so I was so glad when he woke up and it had finally broke the skin! He looks so cute with it in his little mouth..but just another sign that he's growing up!

-We celebrated the New Year together at Aunt Laura's house with friends.  Ok, technically Bennett was a party pooper and left the scene early when Nana came and got him and put him to bed.  But we still had a great few hours together leading up to 2012...the year we've been WAITING on forever!  New Years also made me even more thankful for friends who help fill the lonely moments.  I can honestly say I had SUCH a great time and I think that that is so important during this deployment!

wasn't Bennett such a stud on the very last day of 2011?!?

Now...as if my sweet son wasn't eye candy enough...

 This looks soooooooo good to me!  Today, we hit the 100 day mark until exactly one year from when Greg left! Bring on the double digits!

January:
-Celebrating family birthdays
-Bennett's 6 month well-visit at the doctor, which also means shots!
-MORE girls nights..I promise, they never get old!
-Celebrating Abby's 1st Birthday!
-Bennett turning 7 months old.
-{Hopefully} visiting our great friends Aubree and Brandt who are in the south from Alaska!  We miss them!!

Happy 2012, friends!  It is going to be BEAUTIFUL!



Month In Review: #8 {November 2011}

Month In Review: #8 {November 2011}

-Bennett had his first encounters with Rice Cereal, Oatmeal Cereal, Bananas & Pears (mixed in cereal), Green Beans, Peas, Carrots, Squash, & Sweet Potatoes.

-He ate a whole jar of Sweet Potatoes on Thanksgiving and broke out in a rash about 20 minutes after.  I was afraid of this when the Dr. put him on hypo-allergenic formula.  I had horrible food allergies growing up, to include, pork, potatoes, eggs, turkey, chicken, and nuts.  It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I discovered I had outgrown them all.  I am really upset about passing these on to my son, but I know, his health could be much worse.  So food allergies are minor and we'll get through it.

-Went to dinner & lunches with sweet friends.  I'm amazed at how lucky I am to have these people in my life.  I truly have the greatest support system here in NC, even if they don't understand the military life.  They understand me...and that's far more than I can ask for.

-Walked at the Mall. You know...those elderly people who go there just for that. Yea, I was one of them! ha! Laura Beth and Maeg are both school teachers and were off work for Veteran's Day so we loaded up the cars and took Bennett & Kylie on a little stroll, indoors. I'm not going to lie, I loved it! I think Greg enjoyed it too because I actually went to mall and didn't spend money! Yay for a win-win!

-Went to see Breaking Dawn with Laura Beth.  Oh my word.  I want to see it again..and again.  And again.

 

-Celebrated Thanksgiving with lunch with my family and then a visit with Greg's family! Bennett did great on his first Thanksgiving and was cuter than ever in his Turkey Shirt.  I'm a little partial though...

  

-Black Friday.  Mom and I sat outside for 3 hours just waiting for the gates of heaven, I mean...Target, to open.  We were so close to the beginning of the line, it felt like pure victory!  Both of us got what we had wanted and then some.  After Target we stood in the checkout line for 2 hours at Khols, ran in Wal-Mart & didn't buy a single thing, then the mall.  At the mall I was crashing and burning.  Sadly, I just can't hang like I used to!  Mom and I would take turns going in stores and the other would sit in the floor outside of it.  Floor..me..sitting down.  Really must have been hurting.  I couldn't even see straight so we decided to call it quits.  We grabbed a biscuit and I was off to retrieve my son who was sound asleep at Grandpa & Memere's.

-As mentioned, Bennett had his first overnight stay at Grandpa & Memere's {Greg's parents} without mommy.  I was pretty emotional, especially since the rash issue had occurred that evening.  But he seemed better and I knew he was in great hands.  I think, more than anything, it was just another sign that he is growing up.  Breaks my heart!  However, I put him to bed at 7:30pm and when I arrived back at 6:30am he was still fast asleep.  He finally woke up at 7:15 and I was able to scoop him up for some kisses! I missed him so much...and he didn't even know I was gone.  I think this might happen many times in his life...his first sleepover with friends, college, and dare we even talk about marriage. ha!  

- Saw Disney On Ice!  One is never too old for such an event, but having a 5 month old gave me a great excuse to go without receiving dirty looks from concerned parents! :) No surprises, I loved it! So did Benny!  He sat soooo still on my lap or my mom's and eventually, I felt his little head go limp.  He had been fighting his afternoon nap and "It's a Small World" just did him in.  No worries, he woke up just in time for the Grand Finale.

-Celebrated the birth of Ashley! I adore that girl..she's so great and I'm so glad I was able to join in on the birthday fun this year!

-Celebrated Bennett turning 5 months old!  Plans for a 1/2 Birthday Party are in full swing, my friend!

There's always a different little saying under this pic everytime I open it and today it read, "Excited Yet?".  Why yes, yes I am!  Thanks for asking!

December...

*Taking Bennett to his first Parade!

*More dinners with friends. Adore.

*The obvious...CHRISTMAS & all the perfectness that it is.

*Bennett's 6 month pics with Colleen.

*Throwing my baby a 1/2 Birthday Party! I never really need an excuse to party, but this just seemed like the perfect opportunity.  We'll be in AK for his 1st Birthday, so why not celebrate with family & NC friends while we can? :) 

*And this little boy may or may not have a daddy who will be sporting a Big Red Suit soon!  Oh yes!  I promise to share pictures when I get them.  It will be too hilarious not to share!

Happy last month of 2011! :)

Month In Review: #7 {October 2011}

Month In Review: #7 {October 2011}

-Attended the Pisgah vs. Tuscola game.  Haven't been back to one since I was in school...8 YEARS ago! Good grief, I'm getting old.  They were way more fun when I was a cheerleader and enjoyed sleepovers/sign-making/Tuscola bashing.

-Had Bennett's pics made with the amazing Colleen Hannah! She captured some of the most priceless memories..most of which happened with just Bennett and I interacting like we do on a day-to-day basis.  Can't wait to hang them in our home!

-Moved into my old room at my parent's house.  Rick and Hil have their house up on the market so it was just easier for Bennett and I to come here for the rest of our time in NC.  Reading my high school yearbooks and looking at old pics of course came with the territory of moving back in! :)

-Went to P.F. Changs and to see Footloose with the girls.  I miss simple nights out like that!  Cannot wait to go on a date when my husband gets home! 

-Took Bennett to the pumpkin patch!  Of course he had no idea what was going on, but we had so much fun!  My mom went with me and helped capture the perfect photo-opp.  Bennett may or may not have face-planted in the grass trying to get said perfect photo. ;)  I'll never tell...

-Celebrated the twins turning TWO! Goodness! 

-Attended WCU Homecoming!  I've got so many cute pictures of Bennett dressed in his Catamount attire so I'm going to try to do a seperate post on this event one day!

-Enjoyed Abigail's Wedding Celebration!  It was such a perfect night...beautiful people, comfy location, yummy food, and sweet friends!  {Bennett stayed at home with Nana and slept the night away}

-Watched Benny roll over from back to tummy.  He gets a little camera shy when I try to get him to do it when Greg's on Skype.  I'll keep trying..Daddy wants to see!

-Went to Landon's Preschool Program...hilarious!  Being able to attend an event such as this was so special for me.  I knew when Greg decided to go active and we took off to Alaska I would miss so many programs, performances, ballgames, etc.  I was so glad to be able to watch him sing his songs, do the arm motions aka: put hands in pockets, and shine that sweet little personality.  It also got me thinking about who would be at Bennett's performances.  Sometimes his Daddy and I...and sometimes just me.  I think some people who live near family take stuff like this for granted...

-Celebrated my sweet Baby turning 4 months old!  He is the sweetest thing every time I take him to the doctor!  He smiles and giggles and loves it when the nurses and doctor pay attention to him!  Such a people person!  Shots didn't go so bad either...a few cries when they were happening and some wimpering, but then knocked right out as soon as we got in the car! :)

-Halloweennnnnnn!  Sunday evening we had truck-or-treating at my parent's church.  Then, Monday, we had trunk-or-treating at Rick and Hil's church and visiting Greg's parents.  Landon was a referee, the twins were football players and Bennett was the football!  Bennett wasn't in the greatest of moods Monday because of the shots{that was a mean trick Mommy played to schedule his dr appt on Halloween}..he was sooooo sleepy after sleeping the majority of the day!  We still had such a great time and got so many cute pics of my little football!

-Bennett had rice cereal for the first time..overall, I think it was a success!  No tears were involved and he was happy as a little lark with it smeared all over his face and body.  Daddy got to watch on Skype and it was a fun experience!  We'll keep trying! :)

On to...NOVEMBER! Wow! Here's what we have coming up:

-"Falling" Backwards and gaining an hour of sleep!  Sleep=Good.

-Christmas Shopping.  I am SO ridiculous about my shopping list and being organized.  I adore marking someone's name off once I've completed their gift. It's the little things in life...

-Thanksgiving! It's no secret I love food.

-Black Friday.  I feel as if I could have just put this one item on this list and it would have done the whole month justice.  This one day of the year is enough to excite me for months.  The thrill..the deals...all of it.  Makes.me.so.happy. Makes.my.husband.so.nervous.

-My little boy turning 5 months and starting some Baby Food...Veggies on the menu! :) 

Be Blessed!  

hallelujah.

Let's count down..shall we? :)

Month(s) In Review: #3, 4, 5, 6 {June, July, August, September 2011}

Month(s) In Review: #3, 4, 5, 6 {June-September 2011}

[Attempting to catch this back up so I can post monthly again...]

-Had lots of fun "girl time" in AK with my also pregnant friend, Aubree..including meals out, discussing babies, sunbathing, and swatting bugs :)

-Adopted "a chore a day" to give me something to do each day while also getting the house ready for Greg and visitors!

-Did everything possible to keep myself from going into labor...to include driving to the mailbox.

-Welcomed my lifelong BFF to Alaska for a visit..Laura Beth!

-Almost had a panic attack while anxiously awaiting Greg's arrival

-Welcomed my handsome husband back to the US of A with open arms, a homemade sign, & the biggest belly you've ever seen!

-Spent Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday day feeling like a newlywed again :)

-Guzzled some castor oil and started contracting...

-Welcomed our sweet little boy into the world on a Monday.

-Spent 10 full days at home with my little family of 3..activities to include napping, peeing our pants..yes, both Bennett and I {tmi?}, laughing at my hilarious husband, cooking out, running errands, dr. appts, newborn pictures, ice cream trips, and soaking up every moment.

-Said "see ya soon" to my husband again..but this time with a little boy in my arms. Saddest.day.ever.

-Welcomed my mom to Alaska for a visit

-Helped my sweet friend Aubree welcome her baby into the world...Baby Brandt. What a precious gift he is!

-Welcomed Hil and Landon to Alaska for a visit

-Traveled to Anchorage...Bennett's 1st road trip!

-Battled & Fought some serious Postpartum Depression...I mean, serious.

-Welcomed my Mother-In-Law to Alaska for a visit

-Traveled to North Carolina..Bennett's First Plane Ride!

-Bennett met a lot of his family..and so many of my close friends.  I can't tell you how good it feels to be home and around people who care for you, no matter what you are dealing with.

-Bennett got his first shots...I cried worse than him.

-Traveled to South Carolina for Homecoming at a church my Dad used to pastor...Bennett's 2nd Road Trip!

-Went to the Apple Festival, Canton Labor Day Festival, and The Mountain State Fair

-Met sweet friends for lunch...I ADORE the people I have in my life. So thankful God knows exactly who to place in my path. {and who to take out!}

-Shopping, shopping, shopping...Target=Heaven on Earth!

-Traveled to Knoxville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg Tennessee...Bennett's 3rd Road Trip!

-Attended Pisgah Football Games for the first time in YEARS..so thankful to have gone to high school there.  There's just nothing like it! Saw many Blast from the Past and loved it!

-Celebrated Greg's 30th birthday with a Skype Birthday Party..just the three of us!  So much fun!

Now.....HOW good does THIS look?!?

Looks pretty darn good to me! :)  Just 10 more days and we will be at the halfway point! Thank you baby Jesus!

Here's what I have to look forward to during the month of October:

*3-month Pictures of my sweet little boy with the amazing Colleen Hannah!

*HALFWAY point of this deployment=Big Party!

*Celebrating the twins turning TWO! Didn't I just post about them, here?? Sidenote: I found out I was pregnant with Benny on the day of their 1st Birthday party!

*Abigail's wedding celebration...all of my sweet friends in one location, please and thank you!

*Bennett turning 4 months old!

*Halloween and all of the festivities that come with it!

Sooo excited..Happy Fall, y'all!

Month In Review: #2 {May 2011}

Month In Review: #2 {May 2011}

- Visited North Carolina and enjoyed days full of sunshine, shopping, family and friends!

- Received beautiful Mother-To-Be Flowers for Mother's Day from my sweet husband..via Hil! :)

-Celebrated Mother's Day with my Mom and Mother-In-Law! 

- Attended 2 baby showers for my sweet friends having babies within a week of me!  I LOVE that we are all pregnant at the same time...we must have all had nothing else to do in September! ;) TMI??

- Received news of three soldiers KIA from my husband's brigade.  Heart Breaking does the feeling justice.  Their families will always have a special place in my heart!

- Read TWO books in TWO weeks!  Something Borrowed and Something Blue. Both were incredible!

- Got a rockin' suntan sitting outside reading above books! I feel soooo much better about myself when I have a tan.  Cheesy, I know, but tan fat is prettier than pale fat!  I'm actually pretty pumped about giving birth during the summer so I can have a little color on my skin when I feel like a whale!

- Had a "Girls Weekend" with my college besties in Hickory!  The older we get, the more and more proud I am of my girlfriends!  They are all doing such great things with their lives and I adore the time we get to spend together catching up.  I may or may not have ALMOST went into labor from all the laughing.  Seriously, I haven't cried while laughing in such a long time...it was just what I needed!  From snorts in the movie theater, a grand parking entrance to Buffalo Wild Wings, pink headphones, tums, and grease stain(s) on Baby Bennett..I am already counting down until we can do it again! October!

- Experienced some crazy Braxton Hicks!  The 14 hour flight to NC nearly killed me!  Poor little Bennett was stuck in my ribs the whole way, plus sitting beside extremely large people, plus swollen tingly feet makes for one uncomfortable pregnant girl!  I was miserable for about 2 weeks after...and the contractions continued to happen all month! Even a trip to Wal-Mart turned into an ordeal where I had to put my feet up!

- Got reallyyyyyyy good at decoding my husband's "language".  We were able to communicate quite regularly this past month and I became a pro at figuring out his "unspoken" words since he cannot give me exact details due to OSPEC. Sometimes, that's not so great and creates extremely high anxiety, but the moment I hear from him again is the MOST relieving feeling in the entire world! I love that man and it is becoming more and more overwhelming each passing day!

 - Turned 26 years old and although I wasn't very excited about the day because my husband isn't here..my family, girlfriends, and an incredible amount of facebook friends made the day special.  Greg got me some real pearl earrings that I ADORE! (via Hil..sensing a theme here?)

-Celebrated Landon's 3rd Birthday!  How that's possible...I'll never know!  He had a great day eating pancakes for dinner on his actual birthday and then celebrating big with his friends on Saturday!  The kid is the sweetest boy ever!  I kept telling myself that this time next year he will be 4 and I will have an *almost* 1 year old!  Crazy Life! :)

- Celebrated Memorial Day...it had an extra special meaning for me this year!  I even spoke at church and at a Memorial Day cookout. {The speech is posted below}  And for those of you that know me during this season of my life..that was extremely difficult for me to do!  Normally, I don't mind doing things like this..I've always been great at improv and being in front of a crowd, but man..being 4 weeks away from giving birth and a husband at war makes for some crazy horomonal emotional outburts! ha!  Thank goodness that is over!

Next up...JUNE!  I'm so, soooo excited!  Here's what I have to look forward to this month:

- "Couch Rest"...I'm putting myself on it until the end of the month!  I do not want to do anything that will put me into labor before my husband gets home!  I'm going to enjoy catching up on my DVR, books, and lots and lots of movies...possibly a nap or two! :)

- Basking in the sunshine!  It may not be a couch..but it's at least a chair! :) We are enjoying temps in the 80's and I am loving every minute of it because I know they won't last long!

- Packing my hospital bags!

- Welcoming my BFF, Laura Beth, to Alaska.  She's coming to be with me the last week before Greg gets home!  Heaven-forbid I go into labor early, she'll be my "push" person! ha!

- Celebrating Summer Solstice!  Possibly from my couch..ha!

- I saved the best for last: HUGGING my husband's neck and kissing his sweet face!!!!  He's chosen to take an early R&R to try to be here for the birth of Bennett!  Now you know why "couch rest" is a must!  I want nothing more in life than to have him next to me as we welcome our first baby into the world!  I daydream about it alllll the time..how awesome it would be to have him drive us home from the hospital as a family of "3"! Ahh, I can barely wait to see him!!

I already adore June and it's only day 1! Have a great month!

Month In Review: #1 {April 2011}

Happy May!  I've seen a lot of bloggers do this to help recap their time during the Big "D".  I think it will be great for me to see what I accomplish each month and what exciting things I have to look forward to in the month ahead!  Soo, I'm officially starting:

Month In Review: #1 {April 2011}

-Went on our last Date Night "just the two of us"...next time I see my husband we will have a baby boy tag along! :)

-Said "see you soon" to the one man on this earth who is my absolute best friend.  A long year awaits...

-Began eating my 1 Hersey Kiss for breakfast each morning.

-Had a girls day at Aubree's the day after our husbands left and consumed almost a whole plate of brownies!  Thankfully, I had already passed my glucose test!

-Received my first phone call and almost peed my pants!  Take note, there is a baby on my bladder and I get overly excited at any chance my husband is on the other end! Thank goodness for cordless phones and being at home when emergency strikes. :)

-Mailed off 2 Care Packages along with a Letter.

-Walked in two 5k's..or should I say waddled?

-Finished up shopping for the nursery..humidifier=check!

-Learned what it was like to not even go to the bathroom without my cell phone attached to my hand...or what it felt like to realize you weren't signed onto skype or facebook the entire night and had missed a chance to chat with your husband.  

-Got an Easter Basket full of flowers on my front porch the day before Easter...the Easter Bunny came all the way from a war zone!! :) 

-Celebrated Easter at my amazing church and then lunch with sweet friends afterwards

-Got to see my sweet husband's face and all of the worry and anxiety I had been feeling for 2 weeks was completely washed away for those 20 minutes.

-Went to a dentist appt for a cleaning and discovered that my gums are bleeding so bad from this pregnancy!

-Began having nightmares...

-Read Behind the Blue Star Banner in 2 days flat! Best Book EVER! If you are the wife of a deploying husband..and especially if you're pregnant...Run to get this book!

-Began turning officially crazy when I jumped up out of bed smiling because I had just heard my husband come home from PT one morning...nut job, this girl!

-Went to my 31wk Doctor's Appt and heard Bennett's heartbeat..adore that sound!

-Celebrated Aubree's 23rd Birthday with a surprise dinner at Silver Gulch! Such a good night!

{how fabulous is that going to be when it's all green??}

Overall, I'm glad this month is over! Not to wish my life away or anything..but I think the change in calendar will do me some good!  A new month..a new start..and a new opportunity to grow! Here's what I have to look forward to in the Month of May:

-A trip to NC..family, friends, sunshine, getting a tan, shopping..JOY!

-Attending 2 baby showers..I LOVE celebrations with friends.  I think every day should be celebrated when you have such wonderful people in your life!

-A roadtrip to see my college bestie, Britty! Girls Weekend = Long Overdue!

-Celebrating my birth as I turn the big 2-6!

-Celebrating my nephew's 3rd birthday..that can't be right?  He was JUST born!

Happy May, friends! xoxo