Picking up the pieces.

This blog...this poor, poor blog.  I have a love/hate relationship with it.  I love it because it is such an awesome outlet and platform for me.  Hate is a strong word, so maybe I don't hate it.  But I dislike the fact that I felt pressured to write (or not write) certain things on this blog.

I haven't signed-in to this account in about a year and half.  Last week I had a request on instagram telling me that she used to read my blog and was so excited to see me on IG.  I couldn't believe I still had followers.  Then, just today, I decided to log in and who would have thought I had comments of people checking in on me and my family.  SO wild.  You guys are the best! 

So, let's pick up the pieces, shall we?

Greg returned home from overseas safe and sound and I'm still praising Jesus for it.  I want to write a post about the deployment.  My thoughts on it now that we've lived through it.  I have a lot to say about it.

Here's my family.

That's right, there's 4 of us now!  When I left off back in 2012 Greg and I had one little boy and Greg was about to arrive home from deployment.  Guess what happens when your husband gets home from a year-long stint overseas?  Anderson Krew happens.

Who is now this happy, joyful, darling, perfect addition to our family, 9 month old.  

I can't fathom my life without these little pieces of me.  They are THE best.

  

We are no longer living in Alaska.  We've moved twice already since our time in AK!  I need a new blog name.  I'm still an Army Wife and so incredibly grateful for this journey.  

We bought our first house..it's gorgeous and we are slowly making it home.  We joined the "real Army" here at our new duty station and are slowly adjusting to long work hours, airborne jumps, commuting 30+ minutes to post, and rapid deployments.  Wouldn't change it for the world though...I'd live here forever if we could, but more on that later.  

Bennett is now a wild and cray-cray toddler.  No really, wild.  That boy is high strung and I must admit, he comes by it honest.  I love that quote on pinterest that mentions that moment when you realize you just yelled at your child for acting just like YOU! ha!  These terrible twos are rough on this mama...more on that later also.  But regardless, I'm crazy over him and know he's going to do big things in this world.  

To all of you who still check-in from time to time, thank you!  I love this little blog for not only connecting with all of you, but for the large part it plays in documenting our life.  I'm not promising I'll most every day, or even every week.  But I am hoping to take a little more time for me and pick back up some hobbies that I enjoy, including writing here. Blessings! 

Month In Review - #12 {March 2012}

Month In Review - #12 {March 2012}

This will be LAST Month In Review!  Holy Cow!

-Had some Girls Nights and had to say "see you soon" to some of my very best friends.  I have no words for how grateful I am to have these people in my life, especially during the deployment.  Being around them was hands down the BEST decision I could have made for myself and Bennett!

-Traveled to Tennessee to visit with my family one last time.  Bittersweet, but such a great time!

-Bennett got both of his top teeth in and they are adorable!  We did have a few rough days from them, but well worth it! 

-Traveled a long way :)

-Celebrated St. Patrick's Day by running in my first 5k since having Bennett.  I cannot tell you how much I love running.  I always have and it feels sooooo good to be back after taking over a year off with my pregnancy and Bennett's first few months.  A day without getting to run kinda feels like a waste.  I'm SO excited about the Mommy & Me gym here on post.  Bennett and I have found a great time to go each day and it's worked out wonderful so far!

-Went to watch the Dog Sled Races!  That was fun, but so so cold!  Bennett only tolerated about 10 minutes of it!

-Bennett and I both came down with a nasty cold/flu.  It was horrible!  I am so thankful it only lasted a week and we are both much better!

-Celebrated my baby turning 9 months old!  So crazy!  He was perfect at his 9-month well visit..post about that coming soon!

-Bennett started really attempting to crawl.  He would do it randomly, but never when I had the video camera out! Typical!

-We've gotten into a swing of things here in AK and it feels amazing!  It's so hard to believe that the last time we were here was during his first couple of months and I was going through PPD.  I keep having flashbacks of how life was then and it is something that I do not care to remember.  But I'm loving being back and it feels so good to be in our HOME!

Now, for such a pretty sight...

Happy Spring, Friends!!



Month In Review - #11 {February 2012}

Month In Review - #11 {February 2012}

(I'm a little bit late on this post..but better late than never.)

-Bennett started his first class at The Little Gym.  We went once a week for the month of February and each time he got more and more comfortable.  I do believe he would have enjoyed it more if he was crawling already.  Being in a class with other babies who crawled was frustrating for him because he wanted to GO!

-Bennett also took swim lessons once a week and graduated.  Can you tell I'm a proud Mommy?  We had lots of fun together splashing and playing.  I know he is young, but I do not want him to have a fear of water and I think the best way to avoid that is to give him lots of experience in it.  He loves bath time equally as much as the pool.  We are going to have so much fun this summer!

-Enjoyed some beautiful days at the park. The kid loves to swing.

-Enjoyed some fabulous Girls Nights to include an over-night sleepover with the Bests and Britty coming to town! 

-Celebrated Valentine's Day with my sweet little man.  We had a great day together and are looking forward to Daddy being home for the next one!

-I began a lifestyle change of eating healthier and running again!  It has been the greatest.thing.i.have.done.for.myself. this deployment.  I have missed running and I'm so excited to get back into it!

-Bennett started to TALK!  His voice is the sweetest sound I've ever heard!  His first word was "Dada" and the following week he began saying "Mama".  He can also say "Nana" which is my mom.  I could listen to him all day!

-I also began tanning again.  Operation: Greg is Coming Home is in full force!

-Attended a WCU Basketball Game with some fellow Dance Alum and had the greatest time!  Bennett loved the game, but was so exhausted after.  He had his first O'Malleys experience and I'm so excited to take him back in the years to come!  Especially for Homecoming!  I do love my alma mater.

-Bennett turned 8 months old!  2/3 of a year!  Not ready for this.

This is what the donut looked like the beginning of March...

On to MARCH:

-A few more Girls Nights.  I have no idea how to survive without them.

-Traveling :)

-St Patrick's Day!  And running in my 1st 5k since having Bennett. 

-Bennett turning 9 months old!

So excited! I honestly couldn't imagine my days getting any better..but I know when Greg returns home they will!  I am so blessed!

And lastly...found this quote on pinterest and had to share:

"Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight.  Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can possibly muster, and do it with no thought of any reward.  Your life will never be the same again."  - Og Mandino

Profound, huh?

Month In Review - #10 {January 2012}

Month In Review - #10 {January 2012}

-Bennett got his 2nd tooth on the 2nd day of the year!

-Went to Bennett's 6-month well visit and all looked great!  My baby weighed in at 16lbs 5ozs and 27 3/4 inches! 25th percentile for weight and 75th for height.  Long and lean. :)  These shots were by far the worst because I think he knew what was coming.  The crying didn't last long and he was knocked out as soon as we hit the road.

-We booked our plane tickets!  That means the time is getting closer!

-Visited our sweet friends Aubree and Brandt who are in the South from Alaska.  We can't wait to see them everyday again and have lots of playdates!  I think the boys are going to have so much fun together...maybe as much fun as us Mommys have!  I feel so lucky to have met such great people.

-Had a few Girls Dinners.  We love those.

-Celebrated Bennett's Nana's Birthday {my mom} by going out to lunch.  Bennett was such a sweetheart the entire time. 

-Celebrated Abby turning ONE!  We had a great time at her party and Bennett crashed as soon as we got in the car.  We love being here for moments like those.

-Bennett began Physical Therapy for his arms.  Very long story, but he's having a harder time learning to put weight on them.  We love our therapist and we are hoping to get him caught up to speed soon!

-He finally got the hang of sitting up on his own...this makes my Mommy heart soooo happy!

-Bennett turned SEVEN months old!

Overall, January was a VERY slow month for us!  I think with all the hustle and bustle of the Holidays being over, it leaves everyone wondering what to do with their time!  It certainly did for us, but we are so excited to have another month marked off the calendar!!  Look at our donut!!  It's a pretty sight...

February has a lot in store...

-Bennett starting his class at The Little Gym.  We are going to the Mommy & Me Class for 4-10 month olds!

-Bennett starting Swim Lessons.  I am SO excited about this!  Even if it means I have to get in a swim suit.

-A few Girls Nights on the calendar.

-Britty coming to town!  Soooo excited to see her!

-Valentine's Day.  And even though Greg's gone, I have the sweetest little Valentine you ever did see!

-Going to a WCU Basketball Game.  Let's be honest, I will be watching the Dance Team mostly.

-Celebrating Bennett turning 8 months old.  That's 2/3 of a year!!

Happy {Love} Month! But really, shouldn't they all be?

Loving...Not Loving.

I'm LOVING how long my hair is getting. I participated in the post-wedding chop as most newlyweds do and have regretted it ever since!  I am just NOT a short-hair person.  You combine my frizz with short and it is a recipe for disaster.

I'm NOT LOVING the fact that I cannot find any cute, decent priced camel colored riding boots!  I've had my trusty boots since fall of 2009 and they are really starting to show the wear.  I basically live in these boots during fall/winter and am so disappointed that I cannot find a replacement.

I'm LOVING my new pixie pants!  I found them at the most random place..Khols!  I have never been a Khols shopper, but seeing as how they carry Jennifer Lopez and Lauren Conrad I thought I would give it a try.  The ones I ended up buying were from Lauren Conrad and I am obsessed!  I want to go back and buy every single one of her pants..they fit me so well!

I'm NOT LOVING that Vampire Diaries only comes on once a week. How am I supposed to make it to the next Thursday?

I'm LOVING the fact that the sheer thought of how close we are to the end of this deployment puts me in tears! I daydream about Greg returning home 99.9% of my day.

I'm NOT LOVING that my son is growing up so fast on me and it's breaking my heart.  I packed away some of his clothes from when he was only a couple months old and it was emotionally exhausting! ha!

I'm LOVING Essie's fingernail polish in Marshmallow.  Doesn't everybody spend their Christmas money on finger nail polish?

I'm NOT LOVING how pale I am.

I'm LOVING my new Toms. Actually, I think I'm obsessed with my new Toms.

I'm NOT LOVING my "Mom Arms".  They need to go away, quick.

I'm LOVING that I gave Bennett his first comb-over. Makes me laugh so hard.

I'm NOT LOVING the fact that if I even have a sip of caffeine past lunch time then I am up.ALL.night.long! When will I ever learn?  I am a sweet tea addict apparently because my willpower to say "no" to it if I'm out to dinner is impossible.

I'm LOVING watching sweet Baby Bennett sit up on his own and explore.  His mind is so full of wonder.

I'm NOT LOVING that I'm really starting to just get downright SICK of being alone.  At the beginning of deployment I was scared to be alone.  In the middle, I was proud of myself for doing so well alone.  And now, I'm just sick of being alone. I'm ready to have someone to eat dinner with again.

I'm LOVING that there are swimsuits on the racks.  That means we are closer to warm weather and that means our first family vacation! So excited!

I'm NOT LOVING that I only have a few weeks left to shop at Target. Anxiety.

I'm LOVING my son's personality.  It gets no better.

bye bye.

2012. The Year of Impact.

I've mentioned it to several people, but I don't feel that becoming a Mother has changed me.  I do feel, however, that it has made me a MUCH better version of myself.  I still enjoy all the things I did before I had Bennett...shopping, going out with friends, blogging, crafting, cooking, etc.  The only difference is that now, those things take a backseat to my responsibilities as Bennett's mom...as it should!  I feel this way about my relationship with Greg too.  I don't feel that being married to him has changed the person I am..only upgraded me.  He took a girl that was broken, had trust issues, self-esteem issues and loved me.  Loved me like there was no tomorrow.  And because of that, I'm a much better version of myself.

I was thinking back on our New Years celebration last year.  I wrote this post here about the events.  We enjoyed a quiet night in with some great friends and their children that we've met along the Army Journey.  Greg and I had a conversation on the way home about how big of a year 2011 was going to be for us...how challenging it was going to be.  I told him, that no matter what, we would grow together as a family!  He told me that he was "excited about us".  Such a true statement.  I'm so excited to say now that 2011 is over, we've done just that!  We are such a close family...no matter the miles between us.

As I watch my son nap on the monitor and write this blog post, I want to share my feelings on what I want 2012 to be for me.  This year, I want to make an impact.  A big one..on someone's life.

My growth through becoming a Wife and Mom and the strength I've gained through this deployment have given me the tools to relate to people on a very personal level.  A level where most people dare not go.  A level where others get annoyed.  A level where others feel that a pity party is being thrown.  A level where I once was during my postpartum depression. 

When I scroll through my facebook news feed daily, I see so many people struggling.  Struggling with loneliness, parenting, finances, infertility, employment, happiness. 

I want to take it upon myself to help make these people feel better.  An encouraging word can make a lasting impression and turn a day around for someone.  I know, because I've had people do that for me my whole life.  I say all the time that I know the GREATEST people.  I do!  For every negative or hurtful person in my life, God has replaced them with a handful of encouraging, uplifting people.  It has been astonishing to sit back and watch His faithfulness at work in my life. 

I want to be the eyes, hands, voice, and heart who let people know how much they are loved.  Or how great of a job they are doing at something.  Or just how wonderful of a person they are. 

So, forget new years resolutions to lose weight. To save money. To travel more. To get a 6-pack.

I want to focus on what's really important.  And be a first class role model for the person I want my son to become.

2012. The Year of Impact.

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!