A Day Out with Thomas

On April 2nd I was in Birmingham and we took Harrison, AJ, and Sarah to see Thomas. The bigger boys were at their dad's house so it gave us a little time to do something that they wouldn't enjoy! I think the kids had fun. We rode on Thomas, we met Sir Tophamm Hatt, we went to the little petting zoo, played in the sand etc. We could've spent all day out there because there was so much to do!














I know I'm biased, but I absolutely love this little girl! She is so smart and beautiful! I'm so glad God blessed us with her. She truly is a blessing...even when she is having one of her days! I hate to say it, but even though I have been away from her for 3 years, she acts a lot like me!

Morgan's Nursery Part 1

Mom, Dad, Katie and the kids came down for the kids' Spring Break and mom and dad got so much done! They moved the kids furniture for me, they painted Morgan's room, replaced blinds, cleaned my house, etc! It was great. I grew up with a house full of people and I have to say I still love having a house full! Here are a few pictures of her room. It's still a work in progress so I'll post again when it's finished!

Where to start????

Well it's been 3 months since I updated this blog. Life has been a little hectic but I do have many posts that I want to catch up on. We are officially over the hump with this deployment meaning we are half way done! Some days it goes by so fast and others it seems to be at a stand still. Ben is still doing well in Spain. We have some major life decisions to make, but that's for another post! I'm 32 weeks prego with Miss Priss and it's still going well. I'm tired and have horrible back pain, but it's still easier than my pregnancy with Harrison! Speaking of Harrison he is doing well. He doesn't like to talk about Morgan so it should be interesting when she gets here to see what he thinks! I decided to have a c-section so we will be scheduling it soon. My next appt is May 6th and I will schedule it then. Somehow I don't think I'll make it that long, but we will have to see! I guess one of the most life changing things that has happened since I last updated is that I lost my job. I was fired and I have to say it was a very humiliating experience. I don't miss the job and the goals or dress code, but I do miss going to work everyday and all the girls! I have been substitute teaching which has allowed me to keep Harrison in school 3 days a week. Hopefully after Morgan is born, I'll start looking for something else. Ideally I would like to work at their school where I would get free daycare and still bring home more than I would have at Navy Federal. We will see if that works out!

Saying Goodbye to 2010

Ben said my last post was really depressing. Sorry about that...just how I felt that day! Harrison and I are making it. We aren't back into a great routine yet, but we are getting there. 2010 was pretty hectic for our little family! Here's the run down:

January- Ben and mine anniversary...3 years! I turned 30.
February- Nothing I really remember.
March- Ben turned 30 and we took our trip to Ireland (PRICELESS!!!)
April- Harrison and I moved back to the states! Also, we became home owners.
May- I started working again and Harrison started daycare.
June- Still trying to get adjusted to living in the states! Harrison turned 18 months.
July- Ben joined us!
August- Took Harrison to Auburn for the first time
September- Found out we were pregnant
October- Ben was gone to FEX for a week.
November- Got to spend Thanksgiving at home for the 1st time in 3 years!
December- Harrison turned 2! Ben deployed! Spent Christmas at home. So much fun to be with our families since living overseas!

2011 will be a special year for our family! We will be adding a new little person and Ben will finally get to come home in August! We are excited to see what else 2011 will bring!

Deployment

Deployment isn't fun! That's just it...no sugar coating it, no pretending it is, it's not! If you saw me out in public, I "appear" to have it together, but most days I don't. Most days a sappy country song I hear on my way to work brings me to tears. Thinking about coming home to an empty house, brings tears. Yes I work a full time job, have a 2 year old, I'm prego, and my husband is deployed! I'm very thankful he isn't somewhere dangerous because I just don't think I could handle that stress of worrying about him too. He's only been gone for 2 weeks. The first month is by far the hardest so that's what I'm waiting on to come and go! Ben left December 10th and won't be back until August. August seems like an eternity! Yes, this baby will be born without him here and no he isn't going to try to take leave. At some point during this deployment, he will be going to Africa so he can't come home. It's kind of sad for this baby. It will all work out! That's what I have to keep telling myself. I'm in Gulfport surrounded by people that love me and are so willing to help me and for that I'm very thankful!

Here are some pictures of Harrison telling dada bye. He didn't understand and still doesn't now. Some days he is mad. Some he is sad. We say our prayer for him every night though. We watch our home videos with dada in them. We listen to the recordable books Ben made for him before he left, but it's still not the same. It's not the same as having him here...





Sorry to vent, but I do feel better! Christmas posts tomorrow. I have to try and get some sleep!

Harrison's 2nd Birthday

This year we knew Ben was deploying so we wanted to go ahead and give him his birthday gift a little early, so Ben could be there, and go ahead and have his party. Every year it seems like this little guy's birthday drags on most the month of December and this year was no exception! I'm not complaining, but I hope he doesn't get used to it and expect it! Before his birthday party we gave him his gift. It was fun!







He wasn't too sure about it at first, but now he calls it "his yellow." He's starting to learn to stear it and not run into anything!

We had his birthday party at iJump on 280. It was a very easy birthday party. I was worried he would be scared of all the jumpy things, but not at all!





Of course his daddy had to get in on the action!


His buddy, and cousin, he calls "Pat Pat"




His Elmo cake!


Ben's mom and grandma








We didn't open presents at his birthday party. He's just too slow at it! We waited until we got home! He is definitely one loved little guy!

Time to play catch-up

I guess we should start back with Thanksgiving. That seems so long ago now! After 3 years of living overseas, we got to spend Thanksgiving with our family this year! It was so nice! Thanksgiving day we ate with Ben's family, Friday we ate with the Ford side of the family, and Saturday we had Harrison's birthday party. It was a fun filled weekend!

Outside at Ben's parent's house...we both look very tired!


Going to feed the horses with his Grandaddy


Just him being cute!


Love this little guy more than words can say!


The little boys, Harrison and A.J., getting the big boys!


Harrison and Sarah ready to eat!




Mom with 2 of her 7 grandbabies! These two are only 4 months apart and a handful!


Harrison eating dessert!


More on Harrison's birthday in the next post!