A Little Christmas Cheer

Since they're getting ready to renovate our building in January, we are being forced to move to another house, which means that I haven't been able to do any decorating for Christmas. We move next Tuesday and I plan on immediately putting up our tree (maybe even before the furniture is in place!).

Since I can't put up our tree yet, I decided to wrap a few gifts. I sat down, put on my favorite Christmas CD, and drank a cup of hot cocoa. It was enough to put me in a holly, jolly mood...

And I hope it spreads a little holiday cheer to you!

Thanksgiving '09

Today was a wonderful, special day for our family!

Not only was Buck home to share this holiday with us, but we were able to spend it in the company of some very special friends.

Early in the afternoon, we went to the barracks and spent a while with Buck's company and some of our Black Jack families. So many people went to great lengths to make sure that those soldiers had a fantastic Thanksgiving meal...and the spread was fantastic!

It just did my heart good to see all of those single soldiers, who are so far away from family and home, laughing, and eating and having a wonderful time. It was a very special thing to see and I'm so thankful that we were able to be a part of it and spread a little holiday cheer.

Afterwards, we came back home and to our very dear friends, who have become family. We had A LOT of food and it was the perfect ending to the day! After dinner and dessert, (because what's Thanksgiving without a big piece of pecan pie?) we shared a few more minutes with the Andrews' before they headed off to their hotel room. (They're moving back to the states on Tuesday, so this was one of our last opportunities to share a special meal with them.)

Though we did miss our family back home, we were able to share this day with people who I can honestly say I love just as much as my family! Monica, Keith, Elizabeth Anne, Mary Catherine and Will...thank you for being with us today! We love you all! I hope this day was a special for you as it was for us!

And I hope that all of you had a very special time with family or friends, and that your Thanksgiving gave you as much to be thankful for as ours did for us!

2 in 1: 26 Weeks and Thanksgiving Eve

I'm now 26 weeks and 2 days! I can finally get by without the Zofran! I still suffer from occasional waves of nausea, but the horrible sickness is gone...

As is my waist!
As you can see, Noah is growing and thriving in his little home!

And Brady becomes more of a ham every day! He raided my jewlery box as I was getting dressed and was showing off his loot.

Today, the DFAC served the annual Thanksgiving meal. One Army tradition that I really think is cool is that all of the senior NCO's and officers wear their blues and go and serve the soldiers and their families dinner. Buck went before Brady and I and served dinner and then we all met and ate dinner together.

I was pleasantly surprised with dinner! The food was wonderful! Kudos to the cooks who worked so hard and prepared a special meal! I was expecting something like bad cafeteria food. Instead, we had a fantastic, home cooked tasting, Thanksgiving meal, complete with all the trimmings and then some!

As you can see B was pleased with the food too! We all ate more than we should have, but hey, Thanksgiving is only once a year, right?

It was a lovely evening and a tradition that we plan to continue as a family.

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Until We Meet Again

"Never shall I forget the days I've spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours." Ludwig van Beethoven
Oh, Monica...

Where do I start?

What can I say?

I can't find the words to do you justice.

In life I have found that there are many people who I have met and attempted to call friend, but so very few who remained so.

You are an exception.

I know we haven't known one another for that long, but already you are one of those "old" friends...the ones who you wouldn't trade for gold.

You have been there for me EVERY time I called day or night.

You have made me laugh, and listened to me cry.

You embody every quality that a friend should be:

Loyal...

Loving...

Patient...

Selfless...

Giving...

Kind...

Trustworthy...

Dependable...

A woman with a heart for her family, friends and most importantly for Christ.

I really can't imagine life here without you.

All I know is that the days you have been here have made my life better, richer.

And that every time I think of you, I'll thank God for the way he made you: distinct, special, unique.

You my friend are not from the common mold.

I wish we had more time.

I wish that we could be there to celebrate together the little lives we have growing inside.

I wish that somehow, seeing you go would be easier.

Just know that you and your beautiful family are always in my thoughts, my prayers, my heart.

I don't believe in goodbyes.

They're too final.

So my dear friend, until we meet again...

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

We've been experiencing a pretty mild winter here in Germany so far (it hasn't snowed yet), but the temperatures have been falling.

And B loves the cold weather! It seems to invigorate him. He could stay out there and play all day! So, on the weekends or when Buck has a few minutes to spare at lunch time, we bundle him up and let him go!

Last weekend I stayed upstairs to get some cleaning done and Buck and Brady went out. I snapped these few pictures from our 3rd floor window.

In the last one you can't tell, but Brady's picking berries. He always comes back up with a handful for me, or if I'm really lucky, a Ziploc bag full of berries and acorns!

Monkey Shiner

I swear this kid is always monkey shining!

He's either smiling, laughing or trying to make someone else laugh!

I just love, love, love his fun spirit and personality!

It helps keep me young, that's for sure!

I hope that he's always this way...

That he will choose to not let life steal that little spark...

That he will always have joy and laughter in his heart.

I wish that somehow I could preserve his innocent spirit for him.

It's a beautiful thing to see!

Thankfulness

I love how this time of year things seem to slow down, just a bit, and allow us to take inventory of our lives. It seems that so many of us end up asking the question of ourselves, "What am I thankful for?", as if we actually have to stop and think hard for something to give thanks for.

For me the question is not, "For what am I thankful?", but rather "Why would I NOT be thankful?". God's blessings are poured over me every single day. There are too many wonderful, beautiful things in my life for me to NOT be thankful!

First and foremost, I am thankful for the love of Jesus Christ. Every day He covers me with His undeserved grace and mercy. I am thankful that that grace has carried me through a world that is not always kind.

I am thankful that every day I get to wake up next to my best friend. Not so long ago I was waking up to an empty, cold bed. God's provision brought my husband safely home, just 6 short months ago.

I am thankful for the smiling face of my beautiful, healthy, thriving son that greets me each day.

I am thankful for the joy that that little boy brings to our home.

I am thankful that God has chosen me to assist him in a miracle...the miracle of life. And not once, but twice.

I am thankful that for the last 25 weeks God has seen that my body stay strong to support the life growing inside of me.

I am thankful that Noah is strong and healthy and that I can feel him growing stronger every day.

I am thankful to have the love and support of my family. There are days when it is their encouraging words that get me through. It's as if they know how to reach across the miles and wrap me in their love.

I am thankful for the friends in my life...the ones here with me, the ones in the states and the one all the way in Korea (Yes, Mini, I mean you! You have no idea how much I miss you and our long, thoughtful walks!) Those friends at times, have become my family.

I am thankful that my husband and I have built a home of more than just brick and mortar. We have built a home on the rock of Christ. A home of love and patience, forgiveness and laughter.

I am thankful for each day that God grants me.

I know that life is not always beautiful. There are times of difficulty and pain, suffering and sorrow. But I know, that because I have the love of Christ, family and friends, I will ALWAYS have something for which to be thankful.

A Sad Realization

Last night, as Buck was perusing the Internet for a Christmas gift for his little brother, and practically drooling over the hunting knives he was trying to decide between, I came to a sad realization.

In a few short years, I won't be shopping for cute little toys, or adorable outfits, or cute gifts from Pottery Barn Kids to have personalized.

Nope. I have boys.

I'll be shopping for hunting equipment, video games, electronics, knives, and the latest from Bass Pro.

For some reason, those things just aren't as fun to look at, or to buy.

I suppose at some point I'll be wanting a little diva after all!

Booster Seat Breakdown

Lately, Brady has not been eating well in his high chair. He'll pick at his food for a few minutes and then ask to get down.

After getting down he has been wanting to sit in one of the big chairs or in my lap and he'll eat a little more before going off to play. He's also been wanting to eat his snacks sitting at the breakfast table in the kitchen.

I took it as a sign that he was ready to make the transition into a booster seat and sit at the table with us for his meals.

Turns out, maybe I was wrong.

His booster seat arrived today, and we decided to try it out for lunch.

Immediately upon putting his little behind in the chair he started crying and asking his Daddy to get him down. We tried to comfort him and took him out of the chair and let him see it and touch it and play with the straps for a minute, thinking that it was just the unfamiliarity that scared him a bit.

We put him back in the seat for a second time with the same result...
Begging to be taken out.

Which quickly turned into a full blown booster seat breakdown.

Luckily, all ended well. After about 5 minutes of the previous, he saw that his world was not coming to an end and he chilled out. He even ate most of his food and a little of his Daddy's.

Hopefully, dinner time will go a little smoother.

As The Tractor Drives By

The rainy season has set in here in Baumholder and it's been raining...a lot!

So, B's been doing a lot of looking outside and not so much playing outside.

He loves to climb in the chair at our breakfast table and look out the window. I catch him in there many times a day.

Last week a tractor was going through the yards picking up the leaves...

(Funny thing with the leaves here...they fall off of the trees overnight. Literally! One night we went to bed with trees full of leaves. The next morning we awoke to virtually leafless trees and being able to see into our neighbors living room! )

Anyway...Brady loved watching the tractor. I think he stood there for 30 minutes watching it go back and forth, pointing out the window and excitedly repeating, "tractor" non-stop.

Luckily, at lunch time, the rain let up and the tractor driver went on his lunch break and decided to leave the tractor parked right around the corner. Buck was able to take B out for a few minutes to get a closer look! (And since I didn't go out we have no pictures of that!)

He's A Man's Man

Lately B's been sneaking into Buck's closet and dragging out all sorts of things we didn't even know were in there (which has prompted me to child proof the door). He is drawn to all things man...Daddy's clothes, Daddy's cologne, Daddy's boots, Daddy's uniforms...

Last week, he apparently found some old cigars. 21 month old cigars. Buck bought them to pass out when Brady was born and had a few left over. He threw them on a shelf in his closet and forgot they were there.

You quickly learn, however, when you have children, you don't forget anything for very long.

B comes into the living room with one in this mouth! How the child knew to put it in his mouth, (and to strategically place his fingers as if smoking it) I don't know! But the resulting pictures, in my opinion, are hysterical!

I know some of you must think I stage some of these pictures with B, but I swear, I don't! This kid's just got a mind of his own!!