Flight Suits and Fairytales

Address Change

2013-07-24T12:18:00.000-07:00

Hi sweet friends! I know it's been quite awhile since I last posted, and for that I apologize. It seems that I just pressed pause after Micah turned 1! Truth be told, I wish it were that easy. Our babes are constantly growing & changing and sometimes it feels as if life zips by faster every day. As birthday season quickly approaches this year (AKA Fall!), I've decided to start blogging again...chronicling our life through pictures and stories. I hope to share with you some new adventures (Advocare & Homeschooling!!) and, as always, I suspect I'll be inspired and encouraged by your advice & suggestions!

And because things don't change quite often enough for me, I decided to change our blog address as well!! I've always called this blog "Flight Suits and Fairytales" because I think it is a perfectly accurate description of this season of life for our family. To reflect that title, I've changed the blog address to:

www.flightsuitsandfairytales.blogspot.com

It's still a work in progress. I hope to have it completely "prettified" by mid-August, but for now I'm just happy to be writing again! Please join me at the new address...I'd love to have you stop by and stay awhile!!

Blessings & Love,

Amy

M Turns ONE!!!

2012-11-09T07:14:00.000-08:00

I'm sensing a trend here. I feel like I'm a broken record...but where does the time go?! How is my precious boy baby already ONE?! I'm so thankful that he's thriving, growing, learning, changing, etc...but really...I'd like for him to stay my sweet little baby forever!

The hubs is gone again, so it was just the me, the little guy and Miss E on Micah's actual birthday. We headed to Krispy Kreme that morning for Micah's very first donut. I brought a little candle and we sang "Happy Birthday" to him right there in the store. It was pretty sweet, actually. E helped him blow out his candle and he dug right into the sprinkled up sugar confection. Honestly, he wasn't that impressed with the donut, much to my surprise. This kid can throw down some food...but donuts definitely aren't his fave.

After I dropped E off at a little play place in our town, I took Micah out to capture some 1st birthday pictures. I chose to take them at the same place I had my maternity shots made, just to make it a little bit more special. He is such a smiley kid, so happy and laid back. Taking his picture was so much fun. He crawled all over the place, chasing the camera (and the balloons). I think I really captured his personality, his beautiful blue eyes, and his sweet spirit.

I'm not a professional photographer by any means, which is why this picture is a little blown out. BUT, I think it's my favorite shot of the day. His eyes are truly THAT blue, you can see his precious little bottom teeth, his sweet little ever-so-curled-out ears, the swoop of his hair, and the hint of a smile. I just love him. Every.single.bit of him.

Micah is getting SO big. He wears 18 month clothes, size 4 diapers, and a size 3 1/2 shoe. Unless he's overly hungry, you can bet he's in a good mood. He jabbers a lot, but I when he's getting into stuff he's quiet like a ninja! Turn around for a second, and he'll be hiding under the table or 1/2 way up the stairs. He loves the water, almost all food, playing with cars, and his sister. He's curious and is very interested in how things work. He studies things, beats them on the ground, throws them around, tastes them and then will finally move on...it's a process :) He's much more snuggly than Elli was, but once he's had his fill he's on the move again. He's not really into books, he's much too busy for that, but he does love it when I sing to him. He'll sit and listen until the song is finished, and then he's off! M has the most adoring eyes. I think they'll get him in plenty of trouble when he's grown! Ha! He's tender-hearted like Elli, and really does not like to be scolded at all...it's like I break his heart when I tell him "no"! Now, don't get me wrong...he goes right back to doing whatever it was I told him to stop, but it hurts his little feelings in the meantime :)

When I found out I was having a little boy, I have to admit that I was a little bit nervous. C isn't around just a whole lot, and I was scared that maybe I wouldn't know what to do with a son. In case you didn't know, I'm not really the "getting dirty/outdoorsy" type! But I have found that this precious boy has brought more joy to my life than I could have ever imagined. He's totally different than Elli...much more rough & tumble, inquisitive & mischievous (in a perfectly precious way). But those differences are what makes him so special, and I can't imagine what my life would be like without him in it. Everyone told me that there is something truly wonderful about mothers and sons...and now I believe it. We have something great together, he & I. Something unique. I treasure him, my no-longer-a-baby boy. He holds my heart in his hands.

Happy birthday, Micah. You are so very loved.

Progress

2012-10-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

Baby Steps. Baby Steps. That's what I keep telling myself! The first two weeks of truly "trying" to lose weight and be healthier have been going really well. Thank you all so much for the encouragement on my last post. I've only missed 2 days of working out, and even controlled myself when the hubs and I went out to eat at Outback! Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to order broccoli instead of a baked sweet potato loaded up with cinnamon butter and brown sugar? HARD. But I did it, and I actually felt really good about it. And, just a side note...I haven't been impressed with their food the past few times we've gone (over the past year), but someone must have gotten that memo because the food ROCKED this time. Yes, even the broccoli.

I also tried Zumba for the first time in my life. And I'm still here typing about it, so I'd count that as a success in itself! I did realize, mid-way through, that the shirt I was wearing was (very unfortunately) one of the ones that had "lingered" in the washing machine for a tad too long. Yeah, it stunk. REALLY bad. And that gross mildewy smell does not mesh well with sweat. It was pretty funky. I trucked it out of there the second the music stopped. I'm hoping my next attempt is a little less smelly. But on the bright side, it was sooo fun. I laughed the entire time. Chris did ask me if it was because I could see myself in the mirror, but I just let little comment slide :) I am not the most coordinated girl on the planet, and I admittedly looked like a complete idiot. But, still...super fun. I definitely plan on going again.

I've also decided that while I don't WANT to give up Dr. Pepper, and I don't want to change too many things for fear of giving up altogether b/c it's just too hard to stay committed, drinking 150-300 of my calories a day is just not going to work. So, I will be limiting that. Day 1 of no Dr. Pepper has been successful so far. But...it's only 1pm. Hmmmm.

My progress is this:

5 lbs lost

My clothes fit! No, they're not too big. They just fit again. Yay!!

I can do the elliptical machine for 30 min straight without dying.

I went to Zumba by myself and didn't run out the door during the first break.

I'm motivated, more energetic & feeling happier.

I can do this.

Dream Vacation

2012-10-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

Last Christmas, Chris and I decided that we'd go on a trip this year instead of really getting each other "presents". Originally, we thought Hawaii would be our destination (we think BIG!). We downsized a little, and changed the plan to the Napa Valley. That quickly changed to Fredricksburg, TX (the Texas Wine Country), and now... his leave was cancelled so we won't be going anywhere. Such is military life in all it's glory! Ha!

Though I'm sad that we won't be going to Texas (we planned on celebrating Micah's 1st birthday with family while we were there), I think it was actually a blessing in disguise. As much as I feel like I need a "break" sometimes, I think I'd miss the kiddo's if we were away for too long. And it'd be even harder since Micah's not quite a year yet and is still taking bottles, and 2 naps, and is on a pretty regular schedule. I mean, of course the grandparents (all 7 of them!!) would still LOVE it...but it will be a lot easier (on everyone!) when he crosses the threshold of a year :)

We haven't given up hope though, just changed the plan a little bit...such is the story of my life! We've decided to try again in late April or early May. But, where should we go??? Where would YOU go??? We'll have a babysitter (fingers-crossed), some money saved up (YAY for tax-free deployments! It's the only thing about deployments that I can say YAY about!!), and a plethora of options. Don't you love that word? Plethora. I think it's fab!!

So here's my top 6 choices, in no particular order. And remember, they are DREAM places...not necessarily true options at the moment!

1. Peru ~ I want to go to Macchu Picchu so bad I can taste it! It is my absolute TOP choice of dream destinations. Someday I WILL go. Someday.

2. Canada ~ Toronto/Vancouver or Montreal. I just think those would be fun places to visit. Plus, I love cold weather and I'm pretty sure those cities would fit the bill :)

3. Napa Valley ~ I think it would mix romance & fun seamlessly.

4. Seattle, WA ~ I've just always wanted to see Seattle, it's so different than anywhere we've ever been.

5. Grand Cayman Cruise ~ I love cruises, and I've heard that Grand Cayman is gorgeous!

6. An Alaskan Cruise ~ This should probably be closer to the top. Actually, it's right up there with Peru. But, like Peru, it's way too expensive & would take us away from our babies for far too long. But, one day. It's definitely a bucket list bullet :)

Where would your dream vacation be? Have you already been there, done that? If so...where was it? I know we've been blessed by the military, and have already been able to see so many amazingly beautiful places. To this day, my favorite vacation was the one we took to Bavaria. I'm not sure that any other place could top the experience we had there. But living overseas definitely gave me a longing to travel, to see the world and to experience different cultures and types of people. We, for sure, can't do Peru this time...or Alaska, or Grand Cayman. But, we may make it to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, or up to a little cabin in Vermont. Wherever it is, I'm sure we'll love it because, let's be honest, it'll be a vacation....and I've never had a BAD one of those :)

Raleigh Days

2012-10-08T11:59:00.002-07:00

We went to Raleigh a few weeks ago for a street fair type event. It was pretty cool, different...but cool. People camped out all weekend to do chalk drawings up and down Fayetteville Street. I'm sure there was a "cause", we just never found out what it was :)

The above-right picture is a huge 3-sided chalkboard that said:

"Before I die I want to________________"

My personal favorite was "be a ninja!"

What would you put??????

This was such a fun craft that we copied it for Elli's birthday party. You get to paper plates and decorate the underside of them. You then fill one plate up with dried beans and rice and place the other plate on top. Then you just staple all the way around the plate and you've made your very own "shaker". We also added crepe paper streamers...super fun!

Next up was brunch at Beasley's...yummmmm!! And yes, I know it looks super unhealthy....and it was, but WOW was it good :) And then onto Pullen Park to ride the train, the mini-boats and the carousel. I LOVE Pullen Park, it's such an awesome place for kids (and parents)!!

And then we finished up the day with some ice cream at the Raleigh Farmer's Market. I love that place. We have so much fun every time we visit! All in all, it was a great day out to the "big city"...as Elli likes to call it :)

County Fair

2012-10-07T11:15:00.003-07:00

I got a date with a girl, a pretty ranchers daughter,
Green eyes and golden hair.
Gonna pick her up at 8 after some soap and water,
And we're headin' to the county fair.

~ Chris Ledoux ~

I remember listening to that song in High School, and I couldn't help but sing it to myself yesterday when we headed to the County Fair. Fairs are so much fun. Something about the lights, the people, the food, and sounds...it just makes me miss being a kid.

A quick picture before we left :)

Someone's excited!!

And there it is....

Nothing says County Fair like milking a fake cow!!

Mr. REALLY liked the goats. He thought they were hilarious!

Elli thought this was pretty cool.

Gearing up to go on the Ferris Wheel...when did it get to be so expensive!! Geez!!

There they go....

Elli got to ride the Wiggly Worm all by herself :)

At this point, Micah was DONE. He almost never cries, and about 2 seconds after this picture, he started bawling. And about 2 seconds after we got in the car...he was OUT!

It was a great day! We had so much fun making memories with our kids...well, memories that "we'll" remember :) Ha! Can't wait for next year!

You Are My Sunshine (A Birthday Montage!)

2012-10-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

You Are My Sunshine,

My 1st born Sunshine,

You make me HAPPY,

When skies are grey.

You'll never know dear,

How much I love you,

Please don't take my Sunshine away.

Just in case you were wondering...here are some vendors/tutorials:

All Paper Goods ~ Totful Memories

Yellow "Lemon Head" Wreath ~ The Crafty Scientist

Cupcakes, Cake Pops, & Cookie Favors (not shown) ~ Bake My Day Bakery

Centerpieces (Super easy!!!) ~ You Tube

Princess Bounce House ~ Ram Rent All

32 by 32

2012-10-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

I have a birthday coming up. Well, in a little under 6 months, but still...it's coming. And I will be 32. I remember thinking 30 was old. Actually, I remember thinking 25 was old. Oh, it'll all be downhill from there, I thought! Geez. And now that I'm a year past 30, I can honestly say that I see things completely differently now. I can't really think of an age that's "old". I mean, I think there is truly something to be said for the adage that, "you're as old as you feel". And that leads me to my point...

I can't ever remember being really happy with the way I look. I'm not looking for sympathy, pity or even support with that statement, it's merely the truth. Even in High School, when I was thin-ish, I remember being very uncomfortable in my skin. I always felt big, whether I was or not, I felt that way. I'm a picky eater. And when I say picky, I mean...I like fried chicken. A LOT. And fried okra, and fried pickles, and fried onions. All relatively okay things...until you fry them! And my love of all things fried, combined with my obsession with Dr. Pepper, has helped me gain a significant amount of weight over the past 7 years.

And now, on this 6 month-ish eve of my 32nd birthday, I am finally ready to change. I don't feel old. I look at my children, and sometimes feel as if my life is just beginning. I'm not an outdoorsy kinda girl, but I want to go outside to explore with them. I've never liked to run, but my daughter LOVES to...and I want to encourage that. I ate horribly for the first, well, 31 years of my life, and I don't want my kids to go down that road. I want to model confidence for Elli, not self-destructive behavior/eating habits or poor self-esteem. (And let me just say that I think that's a very slippery slope, and there's enough to be said about that one seemingly small topic to fill up many, many more blog posts!). I want Micah to see me participating in activities, not just sitting on the sidelines. And if I'm honest with myself, I don't think I can do any of those things with confidence until I get my weight under control.

I'm not trying to blow the situation out of proportion. I know I'm not huge and, to some, it may not even seem like I have that much of a problem. But I know how I feel when I step on the scale. I know the agony of trying to decide what to wear every day. I know that my eating habits are FAR from healthy, and that I absolutely loathe working out because I'm so out of shape. So it doesn't really matter what it looks like from the outside...I know in my heart that I need to change.

And finally...3 paragraphs later...my point! I have decided, committed, promised myself to lose 32 lbs by the time I'm 32 years old. It's a number that is attainable, maybe not easily attainable, but attainable nonetheless. It's a good weight for my height, it will bring me down a few pant sizes (maybe?!), and I think it will honestly change.my.life. I won't be dieting, per se', just making better food choices. Cutting out Dr. Pepper's just won't work for me...so I'll be limiting them. I love me some chocolate, so I'm not planning on cutting that out either...just making it more of a treat than an every night indulgence :) And I've joined a gym and have succeeded in working out (however grudgingly) 4 out of 5 days this week. I've committed myself to 5x/week, so I'll be going on Saturday to make up the day I missed. I think it's just as much about making time for myself (in a healthy way), as it is about losing the weight. I want to stay "young" by feeling young...and I'd love your support as I start this journey :)

My Girl

2012-09-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

There is a special moment that will forever be imprinted on my heart. It was the moment, almost four years ago now, that I finally gave my deepest longing over to the Lord. I was sitting with a very dear friend, pouring my heart out to her about my desire to be a mother. I was frustrated, sad and feeling helpless. I cried, she hugged me, and we prayed. And then, in that moment, I let go.

So many women struggle with infertility. Looking back, I know now that my brief season of waiting for a child paled in comparison to the long wait (sometimes endless wait) of some. But for me, that moment and that season was hard. I will never forget the release I felt when I gave up my feeling of entitlement. When I gave up trying to control every. single. detail. of the whole pregnancy process. If you're a woman, chances are that you know what I'm talking about :) I let go of the "me" part, and started embracing the "God" part. Life, pregnancy and childbirth are all miracles, after all. And by the Lord's amazing grace, I was sharing the wonderfully happy news of my pregnancy with that same friend about 9 weeks later.

I think I've written about why I chose the name Elliana for my first daughter before, but the short version is that it means "God's Answer". In so many ways my sweet baby girl is truly an answered prayer. There is simply no other name that would fit. And as she turned THREE just a few short weeks ago, I started reflecting on her precious life. How can it have already been three years? Where has the time gone?

In that short time she's lived in two states and in three different houses. She's traveled to 11 states, been on several airplanes, weathered her Daddy's deployment, and become a big sister. She started pre-school this year, loves dance, "plays" soccer, participates in AWANA, and is obsessed with all things mermaid :)

She is smart, oh-so-smart, silly, sweet and extremely cautious. She may not be the first to give you a laugh, or a smile, but when she does it lights up the room. She loves to sing, play dress up, hear stories, run with her Daddy, play hide-and-go-seek (she hides in the same spot every time!), ride in her Daddy's car (are you sensing the theme here?!), help me cook, and make her brother laugh. She likes for things to match, wants braids in her hair every day (like Rapunzel), and takes books to bed with her. She snuggles with me every.single.morning, and always wakes up with a smile on her face. She'd pick muffins for breakfast all the time if given a choice, and loves her some grilled cheese sandwiches. She gets the hiccups every time she laughs (hard), will always order vanilla ice cream but then eat all of my chocolate, has a sensitive heart (just like me), and wants to be Strawberry Shortcake for Halloween.

My girl has been such a blessing to me. Every day is new and exciting to her, a fresh start and a joy. What a way to live! I think we could all stand to take some cues from a three year old. I couldn't imagine my life without her, those big blue eyes and that sweet spirit. I'm so thankful for my precious friend. Thankful that she was there 4 years ago to listen to me, encourage me, and most of all, to pray with me. Letting go was the best thing I have ever done. It led to an open heart, and a precious, priceless, perfect gift...my daughter.

E-ism's

2012-07-03T20:48:00.001-07:00

I love E's little personality. She is growing so quickly, and her language skills just seem to get better and better every day (and funnier, too!). Here are some of my favorite E-ism's...

Strawberry THE Shortcake instead of just Strawberry Shortcake

Flounder THE Fish instead of just Flounder

I need "my" songs...when she wants to listen to her CD in the car.

I'm such a silly goose.

There are mommies in my room and I'm scared of them! (Meaning mummies, I guess; however, I have no idea where she's ever seen or heard about mummies!)

Daddy loves me to the moon and back TWICE. (I'm sure Chris had NOTHING to do with that one! Ha!)

I swim her around ~when talking about her Ariel mermaid doll which she swims around A LOT.

When asked where her grandparents live, she responds "Texas, YeeHaw!"

"What's his name? What's her name? Who's That?" About Every. Single. Person we come in contact with :)

Can we eat at "the place" ~ meaning any restaurant. I guess she's trying to tell me she doesn't like my cooking!

Because ~ in between almost every phrase she says. So funny!

I can do it myself!! ~ This is, by far, her favorite sentence at the moment.

I love you sooooo much, Mommy. ~ This is, by far, my favorite sentence of the moment.

A New Look :)

2012-07-03T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well hello there, bloggy friends! I have a tendency to stay up way too late when Chris isn't around, and tonight has been no different. What do I do when I can't go to sleep, you ask? Ummm, re-do my blog template, that's what! It felt like it needed a change, and when I saw this one it just made me happy...so here it is :) Hope you guys like it, too!

What's New??

2012-04-29T12:13:00.002-07:00

A lot has changed in the past 6 months. Our babies are growing, we're settling into our new home, we've finally found a church home that we absolutely LOVE, we're making friends in our community (not just military ones), and I feel like we're finally getting into the groove of being parents of two. That last part is still a work in progress! I thought I'd share a little bit about where we are individually...so here it goes:

Little Man....

Our little guy isn't so little anymore! It's so funny when people meet him and find out that he's not quite 6 months old yet, the first thing they ask is how big he was when he was born. They're always kinda shocked when I tell them a measly 7lbs 12 oz! I'm anxious to see what he weighs at his next Dr's appt...at his 4 month check-up he was almost 17lbs, and I'd guess he's gained at least 1.5 since then! If nothing else, his cheeks alone have doubled in size :)

I could tell from an early age that E was going to be super sensitive (just like her Mama). In the same way, I think M is going to be a super happy & very cuddly little boy. He has the biggest smile, and his little eyes just light up when he starts to play. He's eating 6 oz about 5 times a day, and we've been doing oatmeal in the morning and baby food at night. So far he has liked everything we've tried...totally different from his sister! He can roll both ways, LOVES his bounce-a-roo, sticks everything he can get his hands on in his mouth (we've had to really watch E with her goldfish. She wants to share with him so bad she can't hardly stand it!), and he likes it when I sing to him. He takes 2.5 naps a day (usually), and he's still working on the whole sleeping through the night thing. And when I say "working on it", I mean he's not quite sure he likes the idea. At. All. At first it was frustrating. Now it's just gotten to be my routine, I guess. No worries...I just got new under-eye concealer, so I'm all good :)

E girl...

My precious girl is getting to be so big! She's a huge help w/ her brother, and loves to make him laugh. She seems to surprise us with something new she's learned every day, and her new mantra is "all by myself"! I try to encourage her as much as I can, but I find myself trying to hurry her along every now and then b/c her speed is a snails pace most of the time...par for the course in toddlers :) She's never satisfied with the number of books we read at night, and always wants "just one more story peas?". It's pretty cute, and super hard to say "no" to! She's been completely potty-trained for about 3 months now, and though we were really anxious about giving in to her request for "big girl panties" during the night, she's never had an accident. That's kind of her style though, she decides what she wants and by-golly, she's going to make it happen!

Miss Priss will be starting swimming lessons in about a week, and we're both super excited! Me, because I love to swim and I'm anxious to see if she'll feel the same way. Her, because she found her new swimsuit the other day and it has sailboats on it...and she's pretty stoked to put it on! Ha! She'll also be starting pre-school in September, and after lots of searching, I think I've found the perfect one for her. I want her to learn and to be engaged, but to have fun and form good relationships most of all! I think the one we chose will provide opportunity for all of those things, so I'm really looking forward to seeing how she does :) And she'll only go 3x per week in the mornings, so I won't miss her too much! All in all, she's a really happy little girl who loves to sing & talk & dance & have tea parties...and I wouldn't change that for the world :)

My hubs...

C has been in his squadron for about 4 months now, and the pace is about what we expected...pretty intense. There's definitely never a dull moment! We've been fortunate lately about getting to spend little snippets of time with him throughout the day. There's nothing worse than having him leave for work before the kids wake up, and not get home until well after they're in bed, so we take all the little moments together that we can get!

He found out about 2 weeks ago that he got selected to promote to Major!! WooHoo! We're pretty proud of him :) And about a week ago he got to be the Wingman of the Base Commander (so the #2 jet) in an "Elephant Walk" that our base did to commemorate its role in WWII. Pretty awesome! After lots of thought and prayer, he's decided to go ahead and pursue his Master's degree (I like to think I had a little bit of an encouraging role in that decision!), and he's in the process of narrowing down his school selection.

Me...

(With Wendy in DC)

Hmm, well the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about myself is that I'm really, really, REALLY tired! Ha! Funny, but oh-so-true! But to take the edge off, I've gotten back into doing things that I really enjoy: sewing, crafting, reading and writing. I recently taught the squadron ladies how to make headbands/hairpieces for the Warrior Banquet that we had last night. So fun! I don't know what happened, but I kind of went on a sewing hiatus when we moved here. Now that I'm back in the crafting groove, I've taught myself how to do applique, made gifts for 5 friends who are pregnant,

made 2 birthday gifts, and made a spring wreath for our front door out of yarn & felt (sounds weird, but it turned out super cute!). I'm happy when I'm creating things, and I gotta be honest...I've been super happy lately :)

Hope you've all had a wonderful weekend! The weather here in NC is gorgeous, and I'm looking forward to enjoying it this afternoon. Blessings for a great week, friends!

The "D" Word

2012-04-26T08:50:00.001-07:00

Deployment.

Yuck, I hate that word. No seriously, I hate it. It's a word that strikes fear and dread in the heart of every military spouse. Well, every military spouse I know, at least :) But it comes with the territory, I guess. And so, as hard as it is, I have to gear up & accept it. Embrace it...no. But, accept it...I guess I can do that. Which brings me to the planning part. Honestly, it's the part I like the most if there's such a thing. I like looking at the calendar and planning out things to fill our days while C is away. I've never gone through a deployment with kids before. Some people say it's easier because the time goes by so much faster (they never mention that it's because the work you do seems doubled!). Some people say it's harder because you have these sweet littles who continuously ask where their daddy is. I think it's the same whether you have kids or not. Deployments. Just. Stink.

My quest lately has been to find things that will make this one coming up a little bit easier on E. It will be her first, and I want to start out on the right foot. I want to be intentional, to have a plan, to have some answers for the questions that I know are coming. C & I recently took at little mini-vacation and left the kiddo's with their grandparents for 2 nights. When we got back, we quickly realized that Elli has major separation anxiety. To my utter dismay her new favorite words are, "don't leave me". Add big blue eyes, and little blonde ringlet curls to that and well, it's hard not to just throw in the towel! Ha! But seriously, it's made me very anxious about the time that her daddy will be away. To be completely honest, it breaks my heart.

But, the best way to tackle that (in my opinion) is to plan! Chris is taking her to make a Build-a-Bear that will have his voice recorded in it, we're going to get her a Daddy Doll (which I've heard is all the rage!), we'll be video taping her reading some bedtime stories so that they can still "read" together at night and we're doing the recordable books as well. We'll be heading back to Texas for a big portion of the time that he's away, or we'd do a count-down chain...I think it'd be kinda hard to travel with it. Do you guys have any other suggestions? I'd love to hear about some things that you've done with your kids, or that you've heard have worked with other kids! I've been scouring the internet in my search of all things deployment related, but I'd really like to consider some tried & true things that worked for "real people/kids" :)

We're still a ways away from C leaving, and we're cherishing every single moment with him until the time comes for him to go. I guess that's another "good" thing about deployments...it teaches you that there is really no time to take things for granted. If only I could remember that the next time I get frustrated that his clothes didn't quite make it into the laundry basket...again!

Ephesians 4:32

2012-04-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

My friend Wendy posted something on FB recently that really intrigued me. It was a link to a website called Kindness Girl, and the topic was Guerilla Goodness. Think random acts of kindness, but funner! (Yes, I know funner isn't a word, but it works in this case!). If there is one thing that I want to teach my children (besides to love the Lord), it is to be kind. It's an attribute that I hope people think of when they think of me, and it's a legacy I pray that I'll leave with my kids. Kindness. So simple, yet so lacking in society...if you ask me. And this girls website is AWESOME! Totally inspirational. In fact, as soon as I wiped my eyes after watching the videos (I'm a emotional crier), I told Wendy that our little town was about to be taken by storm, DDD style. Oh, you'll have to watch some of the videos if you want to know what DDD is :) See how sneaky I am?!

So, my first mission is to spread some thankfulness to those who aren't thanked often enough. This morning, as I watched the trash men working their way down the street at 7am, I got an idea. Next Wednesday (that's our trash day), E and I will be waiting outside with a box of donuts, a carton of OJ and a big 'ole thank-you card. I'll let you know how it goes :)

My plan is to spread a little love once or twice a month to some people who least expect it. The gate-gaurds, the DMV workers (if anyone needs a little smile, it's them!), and the people who work at the Social Security office (I had to go there 2x last month and I'm thinking they are some of the worst treated people ever!) are all on my list. Do you have any other ideas? Any people working in jobs that you think are thankless that might deserve a little smile? I'm all ears. I think that will be part of the fun...trying to think of something that will make a particular job-group happy. I was thinking a bouquet of daisies for the DMV...just something bright and happy :) Let me know what y'all come up with...and better yet, if you decide to do it in your town, blog about it so I can see!!

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

Christmas 2012

2012-03-21T11:16:00.005-07:00

Christmas was awesome this year...seriously, the best one yet! We decorated for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, and this year I was pumped b/c Chris got us a new tree! I'm a HUGE nerd, and super allergic to real trees, so ours was fake...but FABULOUS! It was pre-lit, had a button that you push to turn the lights on, was the perfect height, and it looked awesome in our front window. But, I digress...enough about the tree!

Christmas was so great this year because we started (and continued) some of our very own traditions. Not the ones that we necessarily had when we were kids, but special ones just for our family. We have a snowman advent calendar that we bought in Germany a few years ago that we talked about every night (we even made up a song, but my hubs would KILL me if I told you about it!). I got out all of the Christmas books that my mom has collected for me over the years and those were the ones that we read to Elli at bedtime. We got dressed up and went to the Christmas Eve service at a church we had never been to before. We woke up on Christmas morning and sipped hot chocolate while we opened our stockings, ate some yummy monkey bread, and then opened presents around the tree while listening to carols. It was like a dream for me, just the way I imagined it would be for my children. And I remember just looking at both of them in awe, praying that they treasure these times when we're all together because I know that Chris's job makes holidays as a family a little bit uncertain. We let the kids play with their toys all day, and then I made a birthday steak dinner for Chris that evening. We don't do the traditional turkey at Christmas yet...I'm still a little bit intimidated!

We have a HUGE family. The kids have four sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles, great-grandparents, and then us...it makes for quite a lot of presents! Now I'm not anti-present or anything, but I want to make sure that in the midst of all the holiday hoopla, the kids understand the REAL reason that we're celebrating. This year we (Chris and I) decided to do 3 "Santa" gifts to represent the 3 wisemen's gifts to Christ. We then did 4 smaller presents sticking the the theme of: Want It, Wear It, Need It, Read It. Micah was so young that we didn't really do it for him, but Elli got a microphone, a dress, some big-girl panties, and 3 books. She was thrilled, and it's definitely a tradition that we'll continue!

Here's some pics from our holiday season...

Guess who loves Santa?!

The kids first picture with Mr. Claus

My little guy and I at the Kids Christmas Party on base.

Our little family

Elli's present from Grandma & Granddad...can you tell that she LOVES Cinderella?!

My precious girl ready for church

Mall Santa...I might have cried :)

This might be my favorite picture of the season! I love Elli's face, and how Micah is just laying there...I want to remember it forever!

Merry Christmas from The Duncan's!

Micah soaking it all up on Christmas morning.

I know it was awhile ago, but what are some of your favorite holiday traditions??

Graduation!

2012-03-20T10:53:00.002-07:00

Chris has spent the last 2.5 years in training. When we came back from England, he went straight into Pilot Training. From there, he completed an officer's school and then we moved to NC where he started training in his specific plane. Well, it was a long ride...but he's finally finished!! A lot of people think that it would be rough spending that much time training...both for the one actually doing it, and the family supporting them. At times, I would agree. But you know what? That was 2.5 years that I had my husband home almost every single night. 2.5 years that he was able to spend with Elli, and 2.5 years that he did not deploy...not.one.time. And I think that's pretty great!

Elli on Chris's graduation day...sportin' her "do I HAVE to?!" smile :)

Our little family getting ready for Red Carpet Day

My handsome pilot husband and I...I'm so very proud of him!

Cheesin' at Graduation Dinner

Yay!!! He did it!! He's officially a Fighter Pilot!!

**I have to add, because I'm so stinkin' proud, that he won quite a few awards that night!! I have pictures, but I thought that might just be rubbing it in :) Ha! And, at one point I actually DID a fist pump. Yep, I admit it!**

Micah accompanied us to the dinner b/c, well...he was only a few weeks old!

Chris's Dad & Donna were able to celebrate his graduation with us! What a blessing it was to share that night with them.

The Duncan Clan (minus a very cute Elli Girl!)

A Growing Boy...and more visitors!!

2012-03-18T18:17:00.003-07:00

December definitely held some challenges for our little family. Micah had really bad reflux/colic, but he also wasn't getting enough to eat (which I would learn at about the 6 week point). It was hard to see him so uncomfortable, especially since we couldn't do anything to help him!

But, my favorite holiday is in December so it wasn't ALL hard!! We put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving (a tradition of ours), and it was so much fun watching Elli really get into it. It was the first year that she "understood" the whole Christmas thing, and we did our best to talk to her about it every single day.

She LOVED the lights!

PaPa and Micah hangin' on the sidelines :)

My sweet boy and my Daddy...love them!

I love this picture!! Elli wanted to be just like me, so she wrapped a towel around herself and put her stuffed reindeer in it. She's precious :)

I'm 1 Month Old!!!

Our last set of visitors, Chris's Dad & Step-mom...this was Donna getting some snuggles from our boy :)

Our kids LOVE Grandma!

Heehee!! Where's Micah?!

I can hold my head up...kinda :)

His first vest...I thought it was important to capture!

Is this not the most beautiful smile?! He started doing it around 6 weeks, and it just lights up a room!

Month 1 with Little Man

2012-03-18T17:58:00.004-07:00

Admittedly, we might have had a few too many things on our plate the month that Micah was born. Looking back, I'm surprised that I survived it! Ha! In all seriousness, we had some MAJOR life changes that month, and it was really hard at times. Thankfully we had a lot of help, and the sweet Lord brought us some peace :)

Nana & Micah

This was taken at our old house. The one that was being packed up the week that Micah was due b/c we were in the middle of buying a house. It wouldn't have been so bad, but Miss Naive' over here thought that all movers were like military movers. You know, the kind that pack your whole house up one day, come back the next day to load it into the truck, and then deliver it and unpack on the third day. (If you're not military, you probably think I'm crazy b/c this is NOT how it's done in the civilian world!). So a week, yes 1 WEEK, before we're supposed to move I wise up to the situation and we face either paying an obscene amount to hire someone to pack and move our stuff, or we do it ourselves. Guess what we chose? Well...it wasn't QUITE as bad as doing it all ourselves, we hired someone to help with a truck, but Chris & his mom (yep, she's a saint!) did most of the packing and hauling to the garage!

So, in November we packed up our old house, I had a C-Section (and was literally NO help at all during the moving process!), we signed on our new house, we moved in, we had 3 different sets of visitors, we had Thanksgiving Dinner, and I totally lost my mind :) Ha! I didn't really, but at times I totally felt like it!

A sweet daddy-son moment captured.

After Micah's very 1st Bath

Precious? I think YES!

Gobble, Gobble!
Us w/ Elli
Brother & Sister
Our first Thanksgiving in our NEW HOME!!!

GG & her little turkey :)

BIG News!

2012-03-18T17:33:00.004-07:00

Well, we have some pretty big news....we had our son!! And it's only taken me a little over 4 months to blog about it! I sometimes look at him and wonder where the time has gone. And then again, these past 4 months seem like the longest of my entire life :) HA!

So, here's the story in pictures...

Our last picture as parents of just 1 child. I was remarkably calm that morning. Excited, but calm. Not totally freaking out like I thought I would be! We got to the hospital at about 5am, and they wheeled me back to the OR at around 7:30am. The only really scary part was the first 5 minutes or so when Chris wasn't with me in the room. They gave me the spinal and got me situated, and I was relieved to see his face when everything was ready to go!

Note the barf bucket beside my head...nice, huh?! Glad that's in the picture! I get super nauseous when I'm nervous, and my nerves had really hit hard! Also of note, my trusty iphone. I was allowed to play music on it, and got to listen to the same songs that I listened to when Elliana was born. It was really special, and I'm so glad we were able to do it!

And....HE'S HERE!!!

Micah James Duncan

7lbs 12 oz & 22inches

7:53am

**Now there is a wet rag on my forehead...yeah, it was getting bad!**

Ahhh, my own room with my new son. It felt great to hold him, and I was so glad to be done with the whole C-Section thing!

Our first picture as a family of FOUR!!! One of the best moments of my life!

Elli and Daddy loving on "Baby Micah"...it's what E STILL calls him :)

Sweet Boy

Nana getting some sugar from her grandson!

Little Snugglebug

M in his "Going Home" outfit...love it!

Heading Home

My 2 precious blessings. I am so very, very thankful.

Final Stretch

2011-10-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

It's been forever since I've blogged! It's easy to blame our cute little toddler, or the fact that I'm exhausted...but really, I just sometimes feel like I don't have much to say. Our lives have settled into a pretty normal routine, and while there are definitely days that are out of the ordinary, most of the time it's pretty even keeled around here :)

My wonderful friend, Tara of TLohse Photography, did a photo shoot for us recently, and I think the pics turned out really lovely. We wanted to document E's 2nd birthday, my pregnancy, and get some family shots as well. Tara has a gift for capturing people's emotions, and when I look at the work she did for us, all I see is LOVE.

Nothing much to report on the pregnancy; however, after much consideration and prayer we have decided to go ahead and schedule a C-Section for early November. I didn't have Elli via C-Section, so this has been a totally new (and quite overwhelming) experience. There are many extenuating circumstances behind our decision, and we definitely feel like it's the right choice for our family...it's just that the unknown can be kind of scary sometimes.

We're also in the process of house-hunting. Exciting, right?! After extensively looking into the possibility of building, we've decided to switch gears and look for a house that is already complete. I think the process would go much more smoothly if we weren't so darn picky...oh, and if we could wrap our heads around housing prices out here! They are crazy! So, while we've found a few that we're really interested in, I'm not sure we'll be homeowners anytime soon. We'll just have to see what God has in store for us :)

I just can't get over this picture. Truly, I can't. I just love these two. And I can't wait to see our sweet little boy added to that mix of emotions!

My cup runneth over.

Discipline & Love

2011-08-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine is having her third baby, and as a gift to her another friend is putting together an inspirational book full of quotes/stories/memories that she gathered from the women who know her. Four questions were sent out to a group of us to answer, and my favorite one was:

What do you love most about being a Mom??

This was my answer:

I love almost everything about being a mom (minus the sleepless nights for the first few months! Ha!). I love that God chose me (specifically) to be Elliana's mother. I love that when I look at her I see my husband and I's love for each other. I love that I get to explore with her, guide her & teach her about all of the wonderful things that God created. I love the snuggles, the laughs, the hugs and kisses, and the sweet way that she says "Amen". But in this season of discipline (she's nearly 2!), I also love watching as she learns life lessons about forgiveness & consequences. Delicate, heart matters. I love that I get to be the one who demonstrates those things to her...and that the Lord trusted me with that call.

I'm one of those people who just sits down and starts writing. And one who, most of the time, is surprised at how whatever it is that I write turns out in the end. This time was no different. I wrote from my heart, and I was honestly a little bit surprised about what came out. But it's the truth. This time, this season of motherhood, is hard. Chris and I have had many discussions about discipline, about how to deal with certain behavior, and about how we hope to steer Elli as she grows. We're not perfect, and neither is she (though her grandparents might disagree with me there!). She throws fits sometimes, she screams, she cries, I react, 2nd guess and sometimes regret the way I handled the situation. But each and every night I pray that the Lord guides me to do the "right" thing during those times. I pray that I'll have a mere second of clarity amidst the chaos and be able to truly see my precious little girl who can't yet explain/communicate correctly yet, and make the decision that best teaches/disciplines her in that moment.

But the crazy thing, the thing I wouldn't have expected from her at such a young age, is that she honestly seems to thrive when we discipline her. Maybe "thrive" isn't the right word. What I mean is that she looks in our eyes when we firmly explain why her choices were wrong/bad/hurtful. She wants to give us a hug and a kiss before we put her back down on the ground (we usually have her in our lap when we're talking to her about fits/tantrums/etc). She wants to know that we forgive her, that we love her, that no matter what she does...nothing will ever change those things. Such an amazing parallel to what (I think) adults want to feel/know. Even though she will continue to make bad choices sometimes, I am starting to see the wheels turning in her head when she's faced with a decision. "Should I run away and laugh when Mommy is calling for me?" or "Should I come when I'm called?" or "This oven looks really fun...maybe I should play with the handle just one more time!". Of course I know she won't always pick the better option, but I can see her growing, learning, analyzing her options now. And it makes me so happy, fills me with such joy, that I'm the one who gets to watch such an important transition in her life! And the responsibility of that has been pretty cool for me as well. I don't think I lose it NEARLY as often as I used to (hmmm...don't ask my husband about that one though! Ha!), and I'm learning that some things really are small potatoes when compared to the big picture. Ummm, that's HUGE for me :)

How about y'all? What's your favorite thing about motherhood? How do you feel about discipline? Has it been a struggle, or pretty easy going? How do your children react? I think sometimes it depends on age, too. Well, all the time really! E is almost 2, but I've heard 3's are pretty rough! I might be singing a different song this time next year! Heehee!! But I'd love to hear some of your thoughts...it's always great to get different perspectives!

Pregnancy Update

2011-08-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

So...here are the pics :) I probably should have asked Chris to take them b/c I just look awkward with the camera/phone!! I think I look bigger in week 24, but I guess it's the shirt. Weird!

24 Weeks Pregnant

25 Weeks Pregnant

How far along? 26 weeks!

Total weight gain/loss: 8 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes, definitely!

Sleep: Pretty good. I've been waking up a lot more lately though.

Best moment this week: Getting the nursery bedding!! So fun :)

Movement: Lots of kicking and moving!

Food cravings: Sugar and Asian Food...weird!

Gender: BOY!!!!!!!! So excited :)

Labor Signs: None

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach and cold ham sandwiches.

What I am looking forward to this week: Nothing really baby-wise this week.

Weekly Wisdom: I think I need to revisit my previous Tums investment :)

22 Weeks and Counting

2011-06-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

This little baby is rockin' and rollin', so I thought I'd give y'all a little update :) I really wish I had a picture of myself...but not enough to go in the bathroom and take one! I'll see what I can do this weekend. Poor 2nd child, we already don't have as many pictures as we did the 1st go 'round!

How far along? 22 weeks...new due date is early November!

Total weight gain/loss: 5 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yep! And I have to share what happened the other day when trying on a bathing suit at Motherhood Maternity! So, I was dreading purchasing said suit (for obvious reasons!), but when I put it on I thought to myself, "wow, my belly doesn't look half bad....but what the heck happened to my legs?!!" Needless to say, I gained a little insight into why my pants have been a little bit tight lately! My 1st baby was all belly...my 2nd seems to want to "spread the wealth" of weight gain a little lower!

Sleep: Still pretty good, thankfully!

Best moment this week: Rocking Elli one night, and feeling the baby kick at the same time. So fun!

Movement: Some kicking, but mostly a rolling feeling.

Food cravings: Sugar!!!

Gender: BOY!!!!!!!! So excited :)

Labor Signs: None

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach...and a glass of wine sounds really good at the end of a long day!

What I am looking forward to this week: Celebrating the 4th!!

Weekly Wisdom: Elli is going to be the greatest big sister ever!! I can't wait to see my two babies together :)

Summertime

2011-06-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

I forgot how hot it is in NC. Add pregnancy to the heat and humidity, and it's almost more than I can take! Poor Elli, her favorite thing to do is play with bubbles outside and it takes just about all the energy I can muster to sit out there and watch her in the afternoons. Whew!! It sure puts England weather into perspective...maybe it wasn't so bad living over there after all :)

Chris is just trucking along in his training. **That's him on the left!** He's flying now, so he's happy. He's pretty easy to please that way :) We'll find out sometime in September where we're heading next. We only have 3 options (and one is back to England!!), but the hard part is narrowing down where the best place for our family is going to be. Right now, we're really struggling with that decision. There are deployments to think about, and a brand-new baby coming along about 5 weeks before we will be scheduled to move. Not the greatest timing, but I know in my heart that it will all work out in the end. It's just getting to that point that is hard!

Elli is doing great as well. She's at such a fun stage, and it's exciting to watch her learn and grow so quickly these days. She's finally starting to put words together. I think she was a little delayed in that area, but she's definitely making up for it now. She loves her baby dolls, and wants to rock them, feed them & change their clothes constantly. I'm thrilled b/c she's so sweet and gentle with them, and I'm really hoping that it's a little window into how she will be when we bring home the new baby. We're also working on the alphabet, which has really been quite comical. Every word she sees is "ABC". Every letter you show her is "ABC". A toothbrush is "ABC" (b/c we sing the alphabet song when we brush our teeth). Funny!! Needless to say, we're a ways off from knowing our letters! Ha!

She's still a big fan of the water, and we try to go the Spray Park in our area at least once a week. In fact, she loves it so much that we're going to do her birthday party there! I think she'll have a blast! And we're heading to the beach to spend July 4th with my family, so she'll have plenty of fun in the sun over the next few weeks!

As for me, I think I'm really starting to settle in here in North Carolina. Sometimes it takes awhile to really get acclimated to a place, and though we've been here before I think I struggled more than I thought I would. But we finally found a church that we really like, I started volunteering again, and we've been blessed with great friends who have helped along the way. I'm in a good place now, and I'm anxious to meet our new little bundle...a BOY, by the way!!

WooHOO!!!!!!!!

Movie & Book Reviews

2011-06-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

Hey bloggy friends! It's been a long time since I've written about anything not pertaining to mommy-hood. Funny how that happens sometimes! So I thought I'd share some of the things that I've been reading & watching lately...and get some suggestions from y'all as well :)

True Grit:

Hmmm, where do I begin? I know a LOT of people really, really liked this movie. It was recommended by quite a few friends and family members. I; however, was not a fan. Something about Maddie...I just found her to be, well, annoying. I actually really like Westerns usually, but I just couldn't get into this one. And to me, Matt Damon just didn't fit somehow...especially as someone from Texas! When the movie ended I couldn't help feeling perplexed. Both Chris and I felt like it was a waste of 2 hours. Sad, I know.

The Company Men:

I didn't love this movie either. In it's defense, it was the 2nd movie of the night and we (I...Chris was asleep!) didn't start it until almost 11. So, maybe it's a little unfair to judge it so harshly since I could barely hold my eyes open for it! But, I'm one of those people who HAS to see the end if I start it. Worst movie ever? I'll stick it out to the credits. I just can't help it.

Anyway, back to the movie. Again, I just didn't get into it. I really liked the actors, and the previews made it look really interesting. But, in the end, I think it just fell flat. Maybe it was an accurate portrayal of how it feels to lose your job, especially as an executive...I don't know. But even so, there was no really "gripping" part. None of the characters really made you "feel" for them. One was a jerk (in the beginning), one was having an affair (sooo, jerk), and the other was just pitiful. Sad, yes. Memorable? No.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo:

Wow. There really are no words. It's a short book that I finished in about 1.5 days because I just couldn't put it down. It was engaging, heart-tugging and remarkable. I thought it was sincere in its message, and I just couldn't help but feel a little bit more joyful when I finished it. Death is daunting to me. I felt like this was a little glimpse of what is in store for us (in heaven), in an easy-to-understand, and vivid version. That's what this book is, I guess. Many books in the Bible explain what heaven will look like, some in great detail, but sometimes the language and wording is difficult to wrap my head around. This book, coming from a 4 year old, isn't difficult at all. It stays true to what I've read in scripture but somehow enhances the images in my mind. I'd highly recommend it to anyone :)

What I'm Currently Reading:

The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodie Berndt

Do you have any good book or movie recommendations?? I'm really not picky about movies (though my reviews might say otherwise!). I usually like anything :) And while I don't have a whole lot of time to read anymore, I LOVE to do it when I get the chance! So any suggestions would be great!

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!