Day 1

A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

This is a picture of me and my momma. On our way to the Lady Antebellum concert while I was in Arkansas.

The picture was the easy part, now for the 15 random facts:

1> Nick and I were both 20 when we got married. Although I am 11 months older so he just turned 20 and I was turning 21 in a month. Lol.

2> I have all my pre-reqs for Nursing school, then we got orders to Italy and I had to put that on hold( I don't do well online classes) After being here and being able to really think about it, I don't think I'll go back to that. I'd rather take some photography and photoshop classes and one day maybe have a little studio/be a freelance photographer professionally. That way I can still be at home with my kid(s) and make my own schedule and so on. And I really love photography. Always have, its just become more a part of me since being here.

3> I was born in Upper Heyford RAF England. Moved to Mt. Home AFB Idaho. Then Luke AFB Arizona. Then Misawa AB Japan. Then back to Luke. Then to Arkansas with my grandparents while my dad was in Korea. Then back to Luke. And now Aviano AB Italy.

4> The longest I've lived in one place was 5 years. Shortest was 2 years.

5> If I go on vacation, or somewhere remotely fun. I don't have as much fun if Nick isn't with me. He's my best friend and I hate not being with him. Yes, we're military so I know its gonna happen, but I can still voice that I love him so much I'd rather stay home with him then go on a trip without him.

6> I take a picture from every major vaction/city we've been to and blow it up bigger then an 11 by 14 at least and hang it in our room. Our next house we'll hopefully have somewhere better to display them so people can see them, lol. The biggest 2 we have are 20 by 30s. One from Florence and one from Venice. I love them!

7> My first children were Kodi and Kaci- our fur babies. Kodi will be 4 this month and Kaci was just 2 this past summer. Kaci is actually Kodi's daughter, although we call them brother and sister, since they don't know any different.

8> Speaking of my fur babies. Brynlee LOVES them and laughs at them a lot throughout our day!

9> I am very spoiled. Let me explain. What I mean is, I am very spoiled with Brynlee. She rarely cries.(My grandparents actually never heard her cry in the 10 days I was there) Can sit on the floor alone and be just fine playing. Sleeps 10-12 hrs a night. Takes 4 naps a day, shortest being about 45 mins, longest being 2 1/2 hours. Loves car rides. Loves to be in her stroller(worked out well when I was stuck in Baltimore!) She is definatly a very good baby. I'm hoping this keeps up....otherwise we're in for it!

10> I can watch the movie Because I said So...over and over again. Not sure why, its just one of those movies for me.

11> I've only owned 2 cars since I was 16 and still have the one I bought when I was 18. Getting ready to get a new one when we move to the states. By new, I mean new to me, not to the blacktop.

12> I'm scared of birds and fish. More so birds. Fish, only if I'm IN the water with them. Even though I still would love to go snorking in Hawaii, which I've done before and it was no fun...I think I can muster up the guts to do it with Nick...it would be so pretty! I can't stand birds in general. I've been picked, pecked, chased, and so on. So yeah. Venice is fun with all the pigeons....NOT!

13> I've never been a civilan. Air Force brat to Air Force wife! Its my life, I've never known anything else. I wouldn't change it for anything!

14> I am NOT a phone person. If I know you cool. To call companies or stores to order stuff, or even housing to fix our dryer door...I hate doing. I will wait till I absolutely have to or Nick can do it. Not sure why, could be cause I'm more on the shy side but who knows. I've gotten better with the years but still have room for improvement!

15> I am drawing a blank here...so we'll go with something not so interesting. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I love the fall weather and colors and all the food! This year will be great because Brynlee will be able to eat with us! I'm pretty excited!

Me. For a little change.

I stole this from Mandee's blog and figured why not, like she said: most blog posts are about our little ones..so heres to 30 days about me! Here is the titles...or whatever you wanna call them. Hopefully I can keep up with this, as there has been past posts that I have said I was going to keep up with something and never did!
30 days of me
Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends
Day 12- How you found out about Blogger and why you made one
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- A picture of you and your family
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Another picture of yourself
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future or about your spouse.
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned
Day 30- Your favorite song.

Messy Girl

We finally started solids! After 6 1/2 months of just bottle feeding she welcomed rice cereal with an OK attitude, hehe. By ok I mean she did the normal, sour faces, tongue sticking out...and mine and Nick's favorite face; she closed her eyes tightly and shut her mouth when she saw the spoon coming. Lol. I got it on video but we didn't get a picture.

Honestly that first time she did better when I would put some on the spoon and give it to her. It worked for a couple bites.

All in all, she did great for the first time. She didn't finish it, even though I didn't make much. She was ready for that good ole trusty bottle that she loves so much. These were taken on Monday the 18th. We did it again for breakfast on Tues and dinner. She did ok again for breakfast but did remarkably well for dinner last night. At the end she stopped the squinty face and just started opening her mouth. This morning, she never even made the face! She just ate it! Man she's getting big too fast!

Yummy Fruit!

I love this teether! As does Brynlee. The picture above is the first time she was using it. I put a semi frozen apple in it. By the time she was done, I took it and there wasn't much left in there but a tiny mushed up apple. I knew she'd like the apple because I've given her apple juice (very watered down) and she loves to drink that.

This face is after I put a kiwi in there. Lol. I figured she wouldn't like it, but its what we had in the frig so I was like why not. She kept on sucking though, but still making sour faces.

I have also put a frozen plum and a banana. She loved both, although I won't be doing the banana again, as its SO very hard to clean that thing with the mushy banana in it! Lol.

Couple days late...

I cannot believe that I have a 6 month old! Its so crazy! I have loved the last few months, she has learned so much its insane! Here is whats going on in Brynlee's world:

*Size 2 diapers

*She still wears some 0-3 months clothes and she can wear 3-6 months(except most pants-little waist and short legs)

*I love putting shoes on her but she has TINY feet! I bought her some black dress shoes for this winter, 0-3month size...super big! All I can say is they better fit by Christmas because they complete her outfit!

*Rolls & Rolls & Rolls. All. Over. The. Place. (I'm gonna miss all this carpet, our house is ALL tile!)

*Sits up all by herself. She was doing good at my dads, but conquered it here in Arkansas about a week ago.

*Loves to stand!

*Loves her sleep. Takes 4 naps a day. They just vary in time. One long one, the others are short.

*Eating 6 oz 4 times a day.

*Still no solids. We are starting once we get back in Italy. Daddy didn't wanna miss that mess.

*Still smiles all the time and is a VERY happy baby.

*No teeth. Although she drools tons, has been since 3m, and there are no signs of teeth soon.

*World Traveler; Italy, Czech Republic, America-then all the little places in between!

Thats pretty much the update of Brynlee. She is growing too fast for words really. I love her so much. We've had a great little vacation visiting family and introducing her to the people that hadn't met her yet. Next time they see her, she'll be so different! Getting closer to our time to find out where our next home will be! We are super excited!

P.S. I've done some of B's 6 month pictures here, but I don't have my big camera's cord, so they'll have to wait!

The US of A

Well Brynlee and I are in good ole America. We've been here for about a week and a half. Its been going really good. We are in Arizona with my dad and sister, and today my grandparents (dads parents) flew in today! So Brynlee got to meet her great grandparents on my dads side! They are in so awe of her its insane. I mean, honestly sometimes I don't feel like I have a baby with all these people loving in her and wanting her every second of the day! With that, I hope she isn't spoiled rotten by the end of this little vacay we're on. Nah, they don't always hold her and cuddle her, they have been playing on the floor with her too, so hopefully that will be better.




The flight over here was great. As good as a 9 hour flight can get. B did great. There were tons of kids on that flight and she was one of the quieter ones, thank goodness! The first take off she was iffy...I had some water for her...just in case her ears bothered her. She was good, then once we got in the air, but were still climbing...you know when your ears still keep popping randomly..she got a but fussy. So I just made her a small bottle and that worked. Of course then she fell asleep and then we were landing in Ramstein (germany) which we were to get off the plane for like an hour then head back into sercurity and wait about an hour to get back on the plane. Luckily we didn't have to take anything but our boarding passes with us. I really didn't want to lug the car seat and the backpack and such for no real reason. I was smart and since it was just me, I brought the baby carrier...so once we landed I strapped B on my belly and we were good. We walked around, change her diaper in a bigger bathroom than the plane has to offer one last time. Then headed back into security and waited to get back on.


This take off she did just fine. I still gave her a full bottle, her normal 6oz, and once we got up..I got her out to burp her and then she played a bit in her carseat (on this flight they require everyone to have their own seat and carseat, which I liked) then she fell asleep. She did really well on this one. Slept a bit, ate, played...and repeat. I did wake her a couple times just so she would sleep a little better with the time difference. When we landed in Baltimore, she got fussy but it was almost over so all the kids were getting antsy! My friend Kimberly, whom I went to school with when we were in Japan in '95-'98.. she and her hubby live in Balt so we crashed at their house that night, since our flight to Phx wasn't till the next morning. It was sooo nice to be able to sleep without worry and get a shower. Brynlee slept pretty good. She stayed awake till about 7p Balt time....which was 1a Italy time. I was shocked! She slept till midnight and then I put her in bed with me, then slept till about 430a and she ate, the fell back asleep for another hour or so. Then we got up to get ready for our next flight....


Boy did I like that 9hr flight compared to the 5hr flight! One; B didn't have her own seat and we gate checked her carseat with her stroller...the plane was hot cold hot cold, she was sick of me holding her and I was getting tired of holding her. I was so tire but she wouldn't go to sleep...oh was I glad when that seatbelt sign came on saying we are making our decent! And I know she was too. Once I put her in her carseat/stroller she was as happy as can be!


My dad and sister picked us up, and that night Brynlee stayed awake till about 6-7p Az time which is even more behind Italy..9hrs! Woke up to eat then slept a little more. By Sunday night she was totally back on her normal schedule! I was so worried about how the time change would be with her. She is such a good sleeper I was worried she'd be back to being a newborn, and even that wasn't bad but it wasn't as good as it is now! She goes to bed at her normal time, about 9p and sleeps till 8-9a. I am very blessed!


We head out to Little Rock on Friday afternoon. I am sooo glad that this flight is only 2ish hours. Since she again doesn't have her own seat! I know my mom and grandparents are dying to see/meet her! And of course I love showing my chubby baby off! Then we are there till about Oct 4th then head back to Balt and then off to Italy to see daddy whom we wish was with us so very much! Soon after we get back we should have an idea as to where we will be going in Feb!

5 months

Yup.
Can you believe it?!

I can't, but I say that with each month that passes us by!

So here's the stats.

*14lbs

*Size 2 diaper

*0-3 month clothes & some 3-6 month clothes.

*I haven't measured her length, so I'm not sure there.

*Still eating 6oz every 4 hours

*No solids yet

*Sleeps roughly 10-12 hrs at night, without waking!

*She grabs at everything she can reach.

*She has figured out the sippy cup, and can do it herself.

*She LOVES to stand!

*The last 2 days has been rolling from back to tummy a lot.

*Still doesn't roll from tummy to back a ton.

*Loves her daddy so very much. Her eyes get wide and smiles instantly when he comes home.

*Started giggling a lot, mainly for daddy of course.

*Getting closer each day to sitting up somewhat by herself.

Well that is our update. Keep praying we get on both flights, Space Available, next week and then on the way back. I am very much looking forward to our family seeing the changes in Brynlee and the family and friends who have yet to meet her! Nick will be here with the dogs, he was originally going to be gone TDY but he isn't anymore but Brynlee and I are still hoping to get a trip in before we PCS in Feb. Matter of fact, we find out next month where we can be goin and then the begining of November where we are going! I can't wait! Ciao!

How big's Brynlee?

*4 months old*

Isn't she gorgeous?! I know I am biased, but still.

13lbs

24.5 inches long

Size 1 diapers

Still in 0-3 month clothes(but her length will move her up soon)

She has tons of control with her hands now. Its so recent. She grabs toys all the time. And if I'm holding her and I have the remote in my hand, oh she wants that thing! I think my last post, I wrote a lot of what I would say here, so I am not going to say much more. Ciao!

Single~~~~For Now.

You know. Nick has only been gone for 5 days, and I must say, I am not too fond of this single parent thing. No, I'm not complaing, mainly because I have a super good baby. Even the little things though. For instance, this morning. Usually this is how our Sunday morning goes:

-One of us gets up and feeds Brynlee
-The other lets the dogs out and feeds them
-Also they take a shower
-Brynlee is done
-Person who is already showered gets B changed and dressed
-While the un-showered takes a shower

Those are the main parts of our morning...sometimes we eat breakfast sometimes we don't. I know thats bad. But my point, we were a tad late to Sunday School this morning. Silly me forgot to wake up early to get all ready before Brynlee was ready to get up and eat and so on. We managed though! We were really only about 10 minutes late. Better late then never right!


All in all, I give those single parents out there props. I mean its tough stuff being the only one to do everything. Thank goodness noone has come over to my house. Haha. Nah its not that bad. Ever since Nick left though, we have been go go go. VBS was this last week, and we skipped Mon & Tues to spend time with daddy but we helped Wed and Thurs. Its in the evenings this year too so we weren't getting home till 930p. Then Friday we skipped(they had tons of volunteers, we didn't leave 'em hanging!) and hung out with some other girls that are husband-less and played games and just visited together. Then Saturday morning was the VBS picnic and so we were there all morning and then went to the movies with some girls. Then of course, Sunday's are always full. So, its been a busy week really and its not stopping till at least tomorrow night! We have Brynlee's 4 month well baby check up tomorrow morning then Bible study tomorrow night. Whew.

Tuesday, we don't have anything planned but to go to the track in the am. I love being outside and exercising. My friend Holly told me what she is going to be doing to pass the time-her hubs is with mine-she is going to be deep cleaning each room of her house. One room a night. So I think I am gonna do the same, maybe it will help when we have to move and get things inspected! Who knows.

Brynlee is learning so much so fast. She rolled over the other day from her belly to her back. Has yet to do it again, but seems like she will be doing the back to belly pretty soon here. She has not started to grab everything! As we were sitting in church tonight, she was on my lap and she was grabbing the hymnal. Then later on my face, and my lips and my nose. So yeah it has begun! I am not sure if I'm ready for the training of a child, haha.
Thats all I have for now. Ciao!

A couple 3 month pictures..

This is a bit late, but I can't believe she is 3 months old! And by now, she is almost 4 months old! Ah! I can't get enough of her! I love her snuggles and her smiles! Not to fond of her grabbing my hair and not letting go of it though, but I can deal!

3 months:

~Hates her belly. Or when she tolerates it, its in short amounts.

~Smiles ALL. THE. TIME.

~Loves to suck on her fingers.

~Figuring out how to grab things and play with toys.

~Has been sleeping in her crib for the last 4 nights in a row!(Go Me!)

~Weighs 11lbs

~Wears size 1 diapers & 0-3 mo clothes

~Always has the biggest grin ever when Daddy walks through that door to say hi!

~Loves her bath and even the pool!

~Finally an American Citizen!

~Wants to sit up, all the time! (Loves her Bumbo!)

Thats pretty much the jist of it I think. I will update her stats when we go to her well baby check up for her 4months....crazy! Hope everyone is doing great!

Photo Challenge of the day!

So I've done a bit of blog hopping lately and have come across some pretty neat photo challenges and so forth. I've only done one so far, but saw this one over at The Paper Mama and decided that it looked pretty fun and super easy since I have sooo many pictures of my baby girl and my puppies! Lol.

This weeks contest is: Favorite Toy

Here is B in her play gym. She just now started playing with a few toys here and there, and she loved this lately!

4th of July

I've always wanted to make one of these Flag Cakes, and this past Sunday was the perfect opportunity! I think it came out rather nice!

Our Independence Day was pretty fun. We got up and went to church and then had a late lunch BBQ at our friends house. Just hung out and waited for the festivities to start on base...but of course it rained, and hailed for that matter...so we hung around at the BBQ longer and then come 9pm we decided to pack up and head to base for the fireworks...and it was still raining...so we did indeed watch fireworks from the car! They were very awesome though! Hope everyone had a great 4th!

This is who I am....

I was reading my friend Ashley's blog and saw her post about a new creative workshop she was doing. So I went to Divas and Dreams Blog to check it out. I too decided to join in on the fun! Each Thurs there is a new assignment both a photo and a written assignment. Anyone can join in, and you aren't obligated to participate every Thursday either!

This first assignment was to grab things around your house that show who you are. Take a picture and then explain why you chose these items.

Here is me:

Ok, and to explain a few things in written form:

My Bible: I have been raised by it, and live by it, and will teach it to my children.

My daughter & My husband(the yellow ribbon): They both are my life. I love them both dearly and couldn't imagine life without them. My husband serves this country we are blessed to call ours. I am a very proud Military Wife and a proud mommy.

My camera: I love photography. I always have a camera with me. I take so many pictures! Especially living overseas and traveling to all the places we get to visit, example: The Paris Picture behind it!

Summer begins..

Brynlee is getting so big! I know its gonna happen but it seems to go too fast already! Sooner than we know it, we'll be celebrating her first birthday! But right now, lets not think about that!


Now that its just Me, Nick and Brynlee...well and the dogs...I wanted to start to get some sort of schedule going. Granted I know its not always gonna be possible, but its a guide I guess I will say. Haha. She now sleeps roughly 10-12 hours. I am blessed. She goes to bed around 930-945...she is so good too, because she can be wide awake after eating and I go lay her down, give her her pacifier and she's good to go for the night. Then she wakes up around 8 or 9...give or take the day. Either way, I'm not complaining at all! We get up then she eats 6oz. She then goes till noon then after that eats 4oz every 3 hrs till bedtime and we do it all again.


I've been trying to get her to take her naps in her crib. Yes, she is still in our room. Lol. Only because she starts to move around and such around 6 and just needs her pacifier...and she does that a few times then gets fully back to sleep. Now since she isnt' actually waking up, why do I need to get up. Hehe. Reason for her still being in our room. If she was in her room, I'd have to get up to find her paci and who knows she might of woke herself up by the time I realize she needs it then we would get up. And I'm all about staying in bed till 8...I'm not a 6am-er!


Anyway, we've started napping in the crib. Her morning nap, she's got it down...come 945...she's ready, I really just put her in her crib and she's good for the most part. The other naps...not as easy. She likes to fight them. Even though I can hold her and she'll fall asleep with me rocking her...which a lot of times I have to do...but I can't hold her every nap! I got things to do! Slowly but surely we'll get there, I hope.


When my mom and sister were here, they played in an all night softball tourny with Nick. That was the first time Nick has really played softball and is now playing on his shops team. He loves it. Although he says he isn't very good, he surely isn't bad! They lost their game last night but they have 2 tomorrow. I've grown up at the fields, so I love being there. It feels so homey to me!


We don't have much planned as of now. The month of June was a relax and get back to normal month..after family left. Then July who knows. Lots of pool time and beach time! Brynlee loves laying on the beach, or so I think since she falls alseep! Oh and with that, she sleeps ten times better and more sound outside...crazy girl. guess it was all our on the go trips when she was so tiny. In August we are going to London for a couple days. I'm pretty excited for that since I was born in England but I do not remember any of it. I know, I wasn't born in London but still. Plus the base I was born at is no more...Then in Sept Brynlee and I plan on flying Space A to the states to spend 2 weeks in Arizona and 2 weeks in Arkansas then back to Italia.


Then its Thanksgiving and Christmas and then PCS time! Which, next month our list of available bases comes out, I'm very curious! Then in the fall we should get our assignment, which I am very excited about. I love moving and new things and decorating again! Although I am leary about this move, we've added...2 dogs and a baby, start praying now! lol. I will miss my awesome friends here though!! I think thats all I have for now!


Have a blessed week!

So big!

Here are some pics of Brynlee from the last couple of weeks. She's growing like a weed and doesn't listen when I tell her to slow down some!

Mommy and Brynlee
Mimi & Brynlee swinging at the park

I love her!

Smiles!

In Milano

Sunday Morning Smiles

I believe I have a beach bum!

Loves to be on the go!

Kisses for Mimi

She has a love for the water!

2 months already.

Well, I can't believe it...can you!? Brynlee is already 2 months old. She is doing great. We had her check up today and she weighs 10lbs exactly and is 23inches long. She is in the 20% for her weight and the 40% for her height, so she's great!

She can hold her head up very well...still some wobbles but she catches it. She smiles all the time. The huge gummy smile. She follows me around the room with her eyes, and responds to her name. She loves to sit at the table during dinner time instead of being in her swing. She LOVES for someone just to sit next to her and talk to her. You don't even have to be holding her. Her hair is growing in so good, and gettin a little lighter. She drinks 4oz every 3hours and sleeps from 9p-6a. Which I love. Most times she will eat at 6a and if I really want, she will go back to sleep till 9a. LOL. I'm kinda spoiled by my newborn!

She isn't that fond of her tummy time, she use to like it more than she does now, hopefully she'll like it soon so she can really get some strength in those tiny arms of hers. She got her shots today, oh I didn't realize how hard that was going to be for me! Thankfully my mom was here and she held her while I wiped my own tears. I know, it'll only get worse, especially when she knows she is going to get them and looks at me with her beautiful eyes! She has a fussy time from 6-8p and all you can do is cuddle her. All in all, she is a great baby.

Thats pretty much the update on Miss B. I love watching her grow, but yet want her to stay like this forever. My mom and sister leave this Wed so I will be updating more and putting up pictures. Have a great week!

Random Pics

Mommy & Brynlee
Mimi & Brynlee

Chillin in the tub, feet hanging over and all.

Right before the bath.

Baby Corn

Vineyard

Kylie in the Grapes

Us at the Mother Daughter Banquet

Sistas

Mom & Kylie

Rome~the Eternal City

Just a few pictures from our Rome trip. It was pretty awesome to see all these historical sites in person, we would definatly do this trip again!

St. Peter's Square

Trevi Fountain

The Arch of Constantine.

The Pantheon.