Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Happy Birthday Ava Ryan!
2 years ago today, I woke up and went shopping with my husband. We bought a new vacuum cleaner (I'm addicted to vacuums!) I was 9 months pregnant with Ava, due within the next two weeks. I brought my new vacuum home, and proceeded to "nest." I sucked up every speck of dirt in every nook and cranny of our two bedroom apartment. Every cat hair was gone! I was pleased with my purchase.
We had plans that evening to have dinner at my boss's house. He and his wife were meeting Stevie for the first time, as we'd arranged for them to take care of her when the time came for us to head to the hospital to have Ava. Good thing they liked her... they wouldn't need a second meeting!
Before we left the house that evening, I went to the bathroom for my routine pee... and when I got up to pull my pants up, I started walking down the hall and felt a trickle. I thought to myself "eww, surely I wiped good enough!" A couple more steps and a few more trickles... I didn't want to alarm Nico, so I simply asked him to wait while I made an "adjustment." I went back to the bathroom and put a pad on and headed out the door for dinner. Not without grabbing my "What to Expect..." book first.
I had to walk down three flights of stairs to get to the parking lot. With each step down, I felt more and more "trickle!" A couple of gushes here and there. I'd confirmed what I suspected... my water had broke. I went to my boss's house, full intending to eat dinner before I went anywhere! After all, the book said I had a few hours before contractions would start! But my boss's wife convinced me to call the hospital for advice, and the hospital said "nope, come immediately." :( No dinner!? Maaaan Ava!
We quickly came home and packed a bag for Stevie, and quickly packed a hospital bag for me... then off we went.
Longer story short - I delivered around 0130am after a VERY quick labor and an even faster delivery. We nicknamed her the "crotch rocket" as she literally flew out (before the epidural kicked in!) While I loved her... I couldn't help but want to kick her tiny little butt for not holding out 2 more weeks to be a November baby like she was supposed to be. But she was awesome... a tiny 6 lbs 8 oz. My days in the hospital with her will always be my favorite. She slept curled up against my stomach under the blankets... never making a sound. Just content.
We had plans that evening to have dinner at my boss's house. He and his wife were meeting Stevie for the first time, as we'd arranged for them to take care of her when the time came for us to head to the hospital to have Ava. Good thing they liked her... they wouldn't need a second meeting!
Before we left the house that evening, I went to the bathroom for my routine pee... and when I got up to pull my pants up, I started walking down the hall and felt a trickle. I thought to myself "eww, surely I wiped good enough!" A couple more steps and a few more trickles... I didn't want to alarm Nico, so I simply asked him to wait while I made an "adjustment." I went back to the bathroom and put a pad on and headed out the door for dinner. Not without grabbing my "What to Expect..." book first.
I had to walk down three flights of stairs to get to the parking lot. With each step down, I felt more and more "trickle!" A couple of gushes here and there. I'd confirmed what I suspected... my water had broke. I went to my boss's house, full intending to eat dinner before I went anywhere! After all, the book said I had a few hours before contractions would start! But my boss's wife convinced me to call the hospital for advice, and the hospital said "nope, come immediately." :( No dinner!? Maaaan Ava!
We quickly came home and packed a bag for Stevie, and quickly packed a hospital bag for me... then off we went.
Longer story short - I delivered around 0130am after a VERY quick labor and an even faster delivery. We nicknamed her the "crotch rocket" as she literally flew out (before the epidural kicked in!) While I loved her... I couldn't help but want to kick her tiny little butt for not holding out 2 more weeks to be a November baby like she was supposed to be. But she was awesome... a tiny 6 lbs 8 oz. My days in the hospital with her will always be my favorite. She slept curled up against my stomach under the blankets... never making a sound. Just content.
Ava - Age New
I was faced with so many unknowns when I got pregnant with my husband's baby. With Stevie, I was a single parent. I didn't have to compromise on a name for her... She was always Stevie Lynn... Nicolas and I didn't have too much conflict over a girl's name. It was the boy's name that we couldn't agree on.
I didn't know how his family would be about visiting so soon after the baby was born. I was worried I'd have overwhelming support, and in all reality I just wanted to be alone with my new family. Little did I know that his family knew EXACTLY how to be. They were wonderful support... They came, they saw, they loved... They've never stopped loving.
I was faced with so many unknowns when I got pregnant with my husband's baby. With Stevie, I was a single parent. I didn't have to compromise on a name for her... She was always Stevie Lynn... Nicolas and I didn't have too much conflict over a girl's name. It was the boy's name that we couldn't agree on.I didn't know how his family would be about visiting so soon after the baby was born. I was worried I'd have overwhelming support, and in all reality I just wanted to be alone with my new family. Little did I know that his family knew EXACTLY how to be. They were wonderful support... They came, they saw, they loved... They've never stopped loving.
Ava - Age One
I knew from the beginning that Ava would be a difficult child. Boy has she been! Not anything like Stevie was. When I was pregnant, and the first days when I could feel her kick... she would be fluttering and kicking and I would grab Nico's hand so he could feel, and as soon as his hand was there, she'd stop. EVERY time. At the ultrasound to confirm the sex, she'd cross her legs and turn away... only partially revealing that she was a girl. So we were never 100% sure. At least I wasn't. Then she arrives 2 weeks early, on her terms. Too fast for modern medicine to numb the pain! (brat...)
She's defiant... stubborn x2 (she gets it from BOTH sides of our family!) She makes the rules in THIS house, that's for sure... see picture below for perfect example of Princess Ava (we weren't bringing her birthday cupcake fast enough I guess....)
I knew from the beginning that Ava would be a difficult child. Boy has she been! Not anything like Stevie was. When I was pregnant, and the first days when I could feel her kick... she would be fluttering and kicking and I would grab Nico's hand so he could feel, and as soon as his hand was there, she'd stop. EVERY time. At the ultrasound to confirm the sex, she'd cross her legs and turn away... only partially revealing that she was a girl. So we were never 100% sure. At least I wasn't. Then she arrives 2 weeks early, on her terms. Too fast for modern medicine to numb the pain! (brat...)
She's defiant... stubborn x2 (she gets it from BOTH sides of our family!) She makes the rules in THIS house, that's for sure... see picture below for perfect example of Princess Ava (we weren't bringing her birthday cupcake fast enough I guess....)
Ava - Stubborn!
2 years ago today... This was the baby that God put in my tummy. She was the link that tied our family together. Stevie's sister... our daughter.
2 years ago today... This was the baby that God put in my tummy. She was the link that tied our family together. Stevie's sister... our daughter.
Ava - Age Two
I dwell on how stubborn and hard headed and defiant our little Ava is... I've forgotten to write about how full of life and personality she is as well! She's always doing something to make us laugh. Peek a boos... Harrassing her big sister... Treating the cats like her little babies. She's truly added a vibrant color to our lives. Ava, we love you. Happy Birthday baby!!
I dwell on how stubborn and hard headed and defiant our little Ava is... I've forgotten to write about how full of life and personality she is as well! She's always doing something to make us laugh. Peek a boos... Harrassing her big sister... Treating the cats like her little babies. She's truly added a vibrant color to our lives. Ava, we love you. Happy Birthday baby!!
Ava - Sweet Dreams....
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Still Kickin'
Just a quick note to say I haven't stopped blogging... I've just started WORKING! ugh.
Hectic hours this week. I've got to be in at 0515am, and I worked a 14 hour day on Tuesday cause I had to cover for my boss who was ill.
Headed to France this weekend to visit the family and celebrate the October birthdays and then I'll have more pictures to share :)
Too much to blog about, so little time. Ahh, the joys of being me.
Oh yeah! More travel on for next year... YIPPEEEE!!! Poland, maybe Turkey, and possibly Utah!
Hectic hours this week. I've got to be in at 0515am, and I worked a 14 hour day on Tuesday cause I had to cover for my boss who was ill.
Headed to France this weekend to visit the family and celebrate the October birthdays and then I'll have more pictures to share :)
Too much to blog about, so little time. Ahh, the joys of being me.
Oh yeah! More travel on for next year... YIPPEEEE!!! Poland, maybe Turkey, and possibly Utah!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Happy Birthday Stevie!
I remember it like it was yesterday... becoming a single mom at the age of 22. Heck, I remember the day I found out I was pregnant! Crazy how I didn't freak out like some people do. Sitting in that bathroom stall, (and not by myself!) Holding onto that positive test result and I smiled an evil little smile to myself... All the while thinking that never again would I have to conquer life alone. God had finally given me someone to share things with. I knew from the very beginning that we'd be ok, because I would make it ok.
9 months later, and 2 days before my due date, my labor was induced. My best friend at the time, Keri, stood by my side as my contractions grew heavier and heavier. At 2:59pm, Stevie entered the world, and my heart swelled so large that it came out my throat. It was more than just tears of happiness... I couldn't contain myself! I sobbed at how beautiful my little girl was, and I cried and filled with self pride that I'd DONE it. I'd finished a 9 month race to bake such a beautiful little girl. Poor Keri - I think the site of all the "stuff" everywhere just kind of made her want to gag. But I guess it didn't repel her too much - she went on to have a little girl of her own a few years later :)
While I was deployed to Diego Garcia, I put in for an assignment to Germany so that I could move closer to Nicolas and give our relationship a real chance to get off the ground. You see, I met Nicolas on the internet in 1998, and in 2005 - just after Stevie turned 3, we met in real life. Stevie was so... distant from him. He'd try to put her in her carseat and buckle her and she'd look at him so mean and say "MOMMY DO IT!" It took her some time, but she's finally accepted him with open arms!
ANYWAY, I put in for an assignment to Germany, and it was approved. So when I returned from Diego Garcia, we moved in with friends for the summer and we made the trek to Germany in August 2006. Nicolas was waiting for us on this side of the world, and he's been with us ever since.
Stevie had asked me when I picked her up after my deployment "Mommy, where is my daddy?" For you see... she'd spent all summer with my friends, and everyone she knew had a daddy except her. Well, little did she know that in a matter of months, she'd have one of her very own. And not just ANY daddy, but the best!
9 months later, and 2 days before my due date, my labor was induced. My best friend at the time, Keri, stood by my side as my contractions grew heavier and heavier. At 2:59pm, Stevie entered the world, and my heart swelled so large that it came out my throat. It was more than just tears of happiness... I couldn't contain myself! I sobbed at how beautiful my little girl was, and I cried and filled with self pride that I'd DONE it. I'd finished a 9 month race to bake such a beautiful little girl. Poor Keri - I think the site of all the "stuff" everywhere just kind of made her want to gag. But I guess it didn't repel her too much - she went on to have a little girl of her own a few years later :)
Stevie - Age New
Stevie was absolutely PERFECT. I'm not exaggerating either. She never cried. She squeaked these cute little noises, and squirmed, and sucked on her fists when she got hungry. She was so quiet, and always curious - wide eyed and looking around. I had to laugh to see my married friends struggling with raising their "normal" children. They always wondered how I did it. How did I hold a full time job AND raise a child with no help at all?? (Well, now you know. My child was PERFECT!)
Another question I was often faced with was "what's the hardest part of being a single parent?" You want to know the answer? The hardest part was getting to experience all of the wonderful things that babies do when they grow, and having absolutely no one to share them with. Stevie's first steps, witnessed only by me. Her first laughs and giggles. When she learned to crawl. My heart would swell, and I'd look around and there was no one but me. How can one contain such emotion??? Fortunately I had a GREAT friend in Emily, who had a daughter just 5 weeks older than Stevie. We were inseparable for a while, so I took every advantage to share all of Stevie's firsts with her... and she shared most of Jillian's with me :)
Another question I was often faced with was "what's the hardest part of being a single parent?" You want to know the answer? The hardest part was getting to experience all of the wonderful things that babies do when they grow, and having absolutely no one to share them with. Stevie's first steps, witnessed only by me. Her first laughs and giggles. When she learned to crawl. My heart would swell, and I'd look around and there was no one but me. How can one contain such emotion??? Fortunately I had a GREAT friend in Emily, who had a daughter just 5 weeks older than Stevie. We were inseparable for a while, so I took every advantage to share all of Stevie's firsts with her... and she shared most of Jillian's with me :)
Stevie - Age One
Emily was a sister to me... a best friend, and sometimes even a mother. To this day I turn to her for advice. My only regret is that we didn't get to STAY living in the same region of the world for longer. She left Shreveport to move to Virginia, and she eventually settled in Georgia with her husband Tony, and her three children Jillian, Max and Gabby. Em, if you're reading this, I MISS YOU! Below is a picture of Stevie at her 2nd birthday party which she shared with Jillian in Shreveport :)
Emily was a sister to me... a best friend, and sometimes even a mother. To this day I turn to her for advice. My only regret is that we didn't get to STAY living in the same region of the world for longer. She left Shreveport to move to Virginia, and she eventually settled in Georgia with her husband Tony, and her three children Jillian, Max and Gabby. Em, if you're reading this, I MISS YOU! Below is a picture of Stevie at her 2nd birthday party which she shared with Jillian in Shreveport :)
Stevie - Age Two
Our lives would forever change in Stevie's 3rd year of life. Emily would move, and we'd end up retreating into our home, venturing out alone together as a team. We did make other good friends, but none as good as Emily! Shortly after Stevie turned 3, I was faced with my first deployment where I would leave her behind for 4 months. She would go to TX to stay with a friend, and I would fly across the world to Diego Garcia. I can't tell you how strong my daughter is. The adversities she's faced in life, and how little they've affected her over the years. It's to be said that parents are the examples for their children... but I'm not so sure in this case. Stevie has often been my example!
Our lives would forever change in Stevie's 3rd year of life. Emily would move, and we'd end up retreating into our home, venturing out alone together as a team. We did make other good friends, but none as good as Emily! Shortly after Stevie turned 3, I was faced with my first deployment where I would leave her behind for 4 months. She would go to TX to stay with a friend, and I would fly across the world to Diego Garcia. I can't tell you how strong my daughter is. The adversities she's faced in life, and how little they've affected her over the years. It's to be said that parents are the examples for their children... but I'm not so sure in this case. Stevie has often been my example!
Stevie - Age Three
ANYWAY, I put in for an assignment to Germany, and it was approved. So when I returned from Diego Garcia, we moved in with friends for the summer and we made the trek to Germany in August 2006. Nicolas was waiting for us on this side of the world, and he's been with us ever since.
Stevie had asked me when I picked her up after my deployment "Mommy, where is my daddy?" For you see... she'd spent all summer with my friends, and everyone she knew had a daddy except her. Well, little did she know that in a matter of months, she'd have one of her very own. And not just ANY daddy, but the best!
Stevie - Age Four
Since moving to Europe, life has been BUSY ever since. Stevie's 4th year would be her last as an only child. Nicolas and I got married in December and in February, we were pregnant with Ava. I remember telling Stevie that she was going to be a big sister. "Stevie guess what!!" She says "what mommy?" I said "God put a baby in mommy's tummy last night!" She took one look at me and said "nuh uh, you're lying!" HAHA!
Since moving to Europe, life has been BUSY ever since. Stevie's 4th year would be her last as an only child. Nicolas and I got married in December and in February, we were pregnant with Ava. I remember telling Stevie that she was going to be a big sister. "Stevie guess what!!" She says "what mommy?" I said "God put a baby in mommy's tummy last night!" She took one look at me and said "nuh uh, you're lying!" HAHA!Stevie - Age Five
With age 5 came kindergarten. I tried to be strong on her first day of school. I knew she wouldn't cry about it... she's always been so eager to charge ahead and see what's behind all the doors in her life. I wasn't prepared for her independence though. I offered to stand in the hall with her like the other mothers, but she urged me to leave - she'd be fine. As I kissed her goodbye and walked away, I felt my heart strings breaking! Like those on a guitar, the farther I walked from her the more the strings popped! I started the car and turned down the street towards work and I just cried. My little girl is growing up!
With age 5 came kindergarten. I tried to be strong on her first day of school. I knew she wouldn't cry about it... she's always been so eager to charge ahead and see what's behind all the doors in her life. I wasn't prepared for her independence though. I offered to stand in the hall with her like the other mothers, but she urged me to leave - she'd be fine. As I kissed her goodbye and walked away, I felt my heart strings breaking! Like those on a guitar, the farther I walked from her the more the strings popped! I started the car and turned down the street towards work and I just cried. My little girl is growing up!Stevie - Age Six
7 years ago, I brought this blessing into the world with God's grace. She was the start of a million great things to come in my life, and even as I type this the memories overtake me and I get a small lump in my throat. What would my life have been like without her? No wait, I don't even want to know. I know that my life, with her in it, is the best I could ask for. Stevie Lynn is so mature, and stable, and educationally advanced... She's 7 on some days, 17 on others, and 27 when she needs to be. My little 2nd grade wonder. The biggest pain in my butt... Yet the best thing that has ever happened to me. Because of her, my cup runneth over.
7 years ago, I brought this blessing into the world with God's grace. She was the start of a million great things to come in my life, and even as I type this the memories overtake me and I get a small lump in my throat. What would my life have been like without her? No wait, I don't even want to know. I know that my life, with her in it, is the best I could ask for. Stevie Lynn is so mature, and stable, and educationally advanced... She's 7 on some days, 17 on others, and 27 when she needs to be. My little 2nd grade wonder. The biggest pain in my butt... Yet the best thing that has ever happened to me. Because of her, my cup runneth over.Stevie Lynn - Age Seven
Happy Birthday Stevie Lynn! I'll Always Love You!
Happy Birthday Stevie Lynn! I'll Always Love You!Friday, October 16, 2009
Heaven on Earth
God never falls through on creating spectactular sunrises and sunsets on a daily basis. Each morning, if I leave the house right at 0740, I get to my FAVORITE parts of the drive to work at just the right time and it all comes together perfectly... the sun is at just the right point on it's way up to cast a flaming pink lining under all the silver clouds from the night. This morning was no different... BEAUTIFUL colors graced the sky, and it literally makes my heart swell and puts a lump in my throat to get to witness it EVERY day. Winter sunrises are my favorite... to see the brilliant pinks, fiery oranges, and silver clouds over a carpet of white fields and snow dusted trees. It's amazing.
But for now it's Autumn. Today, I took my camera to work to capture some of my coworkers receiving awards for things, and on the way home I had the crazy idea to just start shooting the sunset and see what it would get me. I did it... I captured Heaven on Earth on the way home. It's a shame that each of you can't ride with me on the way home... The sky isn't the only BEAUTIFUL thing about my drive. I love when the flat, farmed plains give way to deep valleys and forests, and the stream that runs through the bottom... Not to mention all the autumn leaves that are changing on the hillsides. Unfortunately, I can't capture ALL of it, because there's just too much to put in a picture.
For the stuff I could capture, here they are to share :)
But for now it's Autumn. Today, I took my camera to work to capture some of my coworkers receiving awards for things, and on the way home I had the crazy idea to just start shooting the sunset and see what it would get me. I did it... I captured Heaven on Earth on the way home. It's a shame that each of you can't ride with me on the way home... The sky isn't the only BEAUTIFUL thing about my drive. I love when the flat, farmed plains give way to deep valleys and forests, and the stream that runs through the bottom... Not to mention all the autumn leaves that are changing on the hillsides. Unfortunately, I can't capture ALL of it, because there's just too much to put in a picture.
For the stuff I could capture, here they are to share :)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Nanny Athena
Who would have thought that when I brought this clown home 5 years ago, she'd turn out to be such a sweet little nanny to the girls! A thoughtful sidekick who follows me EVERYWHERE, always ensuring my well being. Who am I talking about? ATHENA of course!
I remember when we first brought her home. She was so shy, and scared. She actually HID from us when we picked her out of her litter. She cried loudly in the car all the way home, and stayed under my bed the entire first day. She eventually adopted Stevie's pillow however, and to this day can still be found sleeping there, as if keeping a watchful eye over her best friend :)
Another thing I really loved about Athena was her eyes! Stevie was the one who noticed them when we were picking out a kitten. I wanted one of the ALL white kittens, and Athena had this silly little gray patch on her head... I never knew cats could outgrow their spots... but Athena did! She's completely white now!
Athena's character shined through within weeks of being in our home. She did all the great stuff that kittens do... the sideways crab walk, attacking herself in the mirror... flipping upside down... and yes, even discovering new ways of sitting on the furniture!
Yep... I'm glad we decided to stick with Nanny Athena. She's a great "girlfriend" for our other cat Zeus. She whips him into shape when he gets out of line. She loves on him, cuddles up with him, plays with him... they're SO fun to watch and play with.
She's a GREAT cat for the girls. She never gets rough with Ava and her tiny, grabbing hands. She never scratches or bites or anything like that. She's just SUCH a sweet cat. Anyway, I'm rambling... I just wanted to share a little on my sweet girl. I'll post on Zeus later :)
I remember when we first brought her home. She was so shy, and scared. She actually HID from us when we picked her out of her litter. She cried loudly in the car all the way home, and stayed under my bed the entire first day. She eventually adopted Stevie's pillow however, and to this day can still be found sleeping there, as if keeping a watchful eye over her best friend :)
Another thing I really loved about Athena was her eyes! Stevie was the one who noticed them when we were picking out a kitten. I wanted one of the ALL white kittens, and Athena had this silly little gray patch on her head... I never knew cats could outgrow their spots... but Athena did! She's completely white now!
Athena's character shined through within weeks of being in our home. She did all the great stuff that kittens do... the sideways crab walk, attacking herself in the mirror... flipping upside down... and yes, even discovering new ways of sitting on the furniture!
Yep... I'm glad we decided to stick with Nanny Athena. She's a great "girlfriend" for our other cat Zeus. She whips him into shape when he gets out of line. She loves on him, cuddles up with him, plays with him... they're SO fun to watch and play with.
She's a GREAT cat for the girls. She never gets rough with Ava and her tiny, grabbing hands. She never scratches or bites or anything like that. She's just SUCH a sweet cat. Anyway, I'm rambling... I just wanted to share a little on my sweet girl. I'll post on Zeus later :)
Monday, October 12, 2009
BAH!! I LUL U!
So I woke up this morning to get Stevie ready for school (Nico's morning to sleep in.) I was sitting here on the couch with my laptop, catching up on weekend email and news sites and time came for Stevie to put her shoes and jacket on and get headed out the door. Ava was sitting beside me on the couch, zoned out to cartoons.
Stevie called out from the hallway "Bye mom, I'll see you after school!" Ava beat me to the punch in responding "BUH SIS! LUL U!" (bye sis, love you!) After which she proceeds to run down the hall and give sister a big bye kiss.
It's so cute watching Ava's little language emerge. Just this weekend she started saying "Ready... Set... GO!" However, she can't say ready... so she says Set 2x :P I'll have to admit, I was worried about her delay in speech development. I KNOW "they" tell you not to compare your children... but it's so hard not to! Big mistake in our kids case. Stevie was WAY advanced for her age, even now. And Ava... she's always been one to do things when she gets good and ready. With Ava's speech, she's also a bit slow due to learning both French and English at the same time ;)
Anyway... while slow in starting, she's picking up quickly!
Here's some other stuff she can say:
Mama - "Maaaa Maaaa!"
Daddy - "Daaaaaadddy!"
Stevie - "Stee"
Sister - "Sis"
Kitty - "ki-y"
Cow - "Cow"
Car - "Ca"
Puppy - "Pup"
Shirt - "Shu"
Pants - "Pa"
Shoes - "Shoos"
Diaper - "By-pu"
I love you - "Lul Uuuu!"
Ready, Set, Go! - "Set, Set, Go!"
Moo - "MOOOOOOOO!"
Meow - "Eeeow!"
Bye - "Buh!"
Juice - "Joosh"
Ball - "Ba"
Stevie called out from the hallway "Bye mom, I'll see you after school!" Ava beat me to the punch in responding "BUH SIS! LUL U!" (bye sis, love you!) After which she proceeds to run down the hall and give sister a big bye kiss.
It's so cute watching Ava's little language emerge. Just this weekend she started saying "Ready... Set... GO!" However, she can't say ready... so she says Set 2x :P I'll have to admit, I was worried about her delay in speech development. I KNOW "they" tell you not to compare your children... but it's so hard not to! Big mistake in our kids case. Stevie was WAY advanced for her age, even now. And Ava... she's always been one to do things when she gets good and ready. With Ava's speech, she's also a bit slow due to learning both French and English at the same time ;)
Anyway... while slow in starting, she's picking up quickly!
Here's some other stuff she can say:
Mama - "Maaaa Maaaa!"
Daddy - "Daaaaaadddy!"
Stevie - "Stee"
Sister - "Sis"
Kitty - "ki-y"
Cow - "Cow"
Car - "Ca"
Puppy - "Pup"
Shirt - "Shu"
Pants - "Pa"
Shoes - "Shoos"
Diaper - "By-pu"
I love you - "Lul Uuuu!"
Ready, Set, Go! - "Set, Set, Go!"
Moo - "MOOOOOOOO!"
Meow - "Eeeow!"
Bye - "Buh!"
Juice - "Joosh"
Ball - "Ba"
WHAT? No pictures?!
That's right people... 4 days at a leisure park in France with our two gorgeous daughters and no pictures to share. Well, I take that back... we have like 3 or 4 of Stevie playing putt putt golf, but I'm not sharing them :) It's actually even more relaxing to go on a vacation and not take a camera! I don't have to worry about "blog worthy" captures that I can hurry home and post!
We arrived at Center Parc on Friday afternoon. It was a long drive, as daddy had some military history stuff he'd been wanting to see, so we detoured slightly to enjoy some of his festiveness. World War I history places. He tried to get me to see the trenches and bloody battlefields, but all my little eyes could see were grassy hills and forests. Sorry babe. Ava wasn't too excited by the fact that the monuments didn't have any playgrounds nearby either.
We got to our little cabin and unpacked everything and settled in for the evening because we knew we'd be up early and off to the indoor water park early on the Saturday. Early was right. 0430 and Ava Ryan was on the floor in the girls room sobbing. I can't imagine how strange it must be to wake up someplace completely new! SO back in bed she went until 7am and then it was time for mini muffins and juice. 10am, and we were off to the water park.
Much fun to be had on all the slides and waterfalls and floating on the river that takes you outside. It's weird to be floating IN warm water while going outside the indoor water park! A couple of times around that and Ava was too cold to carry on.
Many minutes spent inside Baluba, the indoor playground. Ava conquered the stairs and sliding down both the little AND big slides! There was even a slide outside that was rather quite HUGE and she loved it. Climbing the three flights of stairs to the top a few times and barreling down head first each time, laughing her little head off.
Stevie enjoyed a game of putt putt golf with daddy, and romping on the man-made beach while Ava and I strolled over to the petting zoo where a mad goat tried to attack me, and Ava took to lickin the nasty fence by the pig. Can anyone say swine flu? haha
Monday morning, and a trip home took us through the battlefields of Verdun and more military history. We even passed by a French cemetary, and saw a tomb with 100,000+ unknown soldiers inside. As I walked Ava back to the car to escape the chill in the air, I looked inside the windows under the crypt and saw thousands upon thousands of human bones. I couldn't help but stop and think of all those soldiers endured so many years ago. (shh, don't tell my husband that I gave a second thought to "military history." For all he knows, the subject is a waste of time with me! hehe)
What a wonderful weekend spent with my little family. I'm so richly blessed, and I thank God every day for the opportunities He gives me to be with them.
Next... work begins on Thursday. *CRY!*
We arrived at Center Parc on Friday afternoon. It was a long drive, as daddy had some military history stuff he'd been wanting to see, so we detoured slightly to enjoy some of his festiveness. World War I history places. He tried to get me to see the trenches and bloody battlefields, but all my little eyes could see were grassy hills and forests. Sorry babe. Ava wasn't too excited by the fact that the monuments didn't have any playgrounds nearby either.
We got to our little cabin and unpacked everything and settled in for the evening because we knew we'd be up early and off to the indoor water park early on the Saturday. Early was right. 0430 and Ava Ryan was on the floor in the girls room sobbing. I can't imagine how strange it must be to wake up someplace completely new! SO back in bed she went until 7am and then it was time for mini muffins and juice. 10am, and we were off to the water park.
Much fun to be had on all the slides and waterfalls and floating on the river that takes you outside. It's weird to be floating IN warm water while going outside the indoor water park! A couple of times around that and Ava was too cold to carry on.
Many minutes spent inside Baluba, the indoor playground. Ava conquered the stairs and sliding down both the little AND big slides! There was even a slide outside that was rather quite HUGE and she loved it. Climbing the three flights of stairs to the top a few times and barreling down head first each time, laughing her little head off.
Stevie enjoyed a game of putt putt golf with daddy, and romping on the man-made beach while Ava and I strolled over to the petting zoo where a mad goat tried to attack me, and Ava took to lickin the nasty fence by the pig. Can anyone say swine flu? haha
Monday morning, and a trip home took us through the battlefields of Verdun and more military history. We even passed by a French cemetary, and saw a tomb with 100,000+ unknown soldiers inside. As I walked Ava back to the car to escape the chill in the air, I looked inside the windows under the crypt and saw thousands upon thousands of human bones. I couldn't help but stop and think of all those soldiers endured so many years ago. (shh, don't tell my husband that I gave a second thought to "military history." For all he knows, the subject is a waste of time with me! hehe)
What a wonderful weekend spent with my little family. I'm so richly blessed, and I thank God every day for the opportunities He gives me to be with them.
Next... work begins on Thursday. *CRY!*
Thursday, October 8, 2009
A Note From the Teacher
Dear Parents of Stevie Stroud,
Your child, Stevie, has been referred for enrichment services offered through our Gifted Education Support. This enrichment class allows an opportunity to monitor the learning styles and abilities of students in their early childhood years. Your student was recommended by their teacher as having high ability and need for extensions outside the classroom. This class will be offered one day per week and your student will be pulled out of the regular classroom to attend these sessions. The theme of the class will rotate on an 8-week basis. Your child's placement in this enrichment class does not signify a gifted education formal identification. No formal testing measures will be administered.
Comments and feedback on how they are progressing is welcome. Thank you in advance for your interest in your child's curriculum.
(and to think I thought this was going to be some kind of "bad" note when I pulled it out of her bag!) WAY TO GO STEVIE! YEAH!!
Your child, Stevie, has been referred for enrichment services offered through our Gifted Education Support. This enrichment class allows an opportunity to monitor the learning styles and abilities of students in their early childhood years. Your student was recommended by their teacher as having high ability and need for extensions outside the classroom. This class will be offered one day per week and your student will be pulled out of the regular classroom to attend these sessions. The theme of the class will rotate on an 8-week basis. Your child's placement in this enrichment class does not signify a gifted education formal identification. No formal testing measures will be administered.
Comments and feedback on how they are progressing is welcome. Thank you in advance for your interest in your child's curriculum.
(and to think I thought this was going to be some kind of "bad" note when I pulled it out of her bag!) WAY TO GO STEVIE! YEAH!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Fall is in Bloom
Autumn colors are in full bloom, and today we decided to take the girls down to the French Casserne and try to get some pictures of them. Unfortunately, Ava was HIGHLY uncooperative as usual, but I did manage to get a couple of good shots of both of them. Enjoy!!
Uncooperative, but it's ok! -
My big girl :) -
Happy Autumn! -
Stevie and Ava - October 2009
Posing -
Hey Ava, Look! -
Stevie Lynn -
Ava Ryan -
Uncooperative, but it's ok! -
My big girl :) -
Happy Autumn! -
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
A Day With Doofus!
So today, I enjoyed myself some Ava time! I woke up early with the girls cause it was my day to. Daddy got an extra hour and a half of shut-eye. Stevie had blueberry pop tarts and orange juice for breakfast... and Ava took after her daddy (she's not a breakfast eater.) She prefers a mid morning snack of blueberry mini muffins and a handful of grapes!
We watched some Mickey Mouse together. Put together her puzzles a zillion times. Made her bed and sister's bed. Then DADDY woke up! DADDY!! and with Daddy awake, Mommy could make her own bed and get dressed! Although I did get sidetracked in the middle of getting dressed cause someone decided to play peek a boo with the closet doors :P
Where is Ava?? - There she is!!!
After mommy was all dressed and done taking pictures of little DOofus, we went for a ride in the car. We had to pick up some ingredients for Stevie's French cuisine for school on Thursday. We also indulged in some yummy chinese food at the restaurant on base! Ava LOVES mini eggrolls! Then, a tiny catnap in the car on the way home, followed by some scrumptious grapes! (this child is going to turn into one!) We're also trying to master the "big girl" cup - but she has a ways to go on this one!
Well, I better wrap this up. DoOfus #2 is on her way home from school any minute and then we're off to pick up my newly resized wedding rings (to fit my smaller fingers!) 4 months in Iraq was good for something! hehe...
We watched some Mickey Mouse together. Put together her puzzles a zillion times. Made her bed and sister's bed. Then DADDY woke up! DADDY!! and with Daddy awake, Mommy could make her own bed and get dressed! Although I did get sidetracked in the middle of getting dressed cause someone decided to play peek a boo with the closet doors :P
Where is Ava?? - There she is!!!
After mommy was all dressed and done taking pictures of little DOofus, we went for a ride in the car. We had to pick up some ingredients for Stevie's French cuisine for school on Thursday. We also indulged in some yummy chinese food at the restaurant on base! Ava LOVES mini eggrolls! Then, a tiny catnap in the car on the way home, followed by some scrumptious grapes! (this child is going to turn into one!) We're also trying to master the "big girl" cup - but she has a ways to go on this one!
Well, I better wrap this up. DoOfus #2 is on her way home from school any minute and then we're off to pick up my newly resized wedding rings (to fit my smaller fingers!) 4 months in Iraq was good for something! hehe...
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Crazy Things Kids Say...
I just wanted to take a minute to reflect on a few of the numbskull things that have fallen out of Stevie's mouth over the years... Join me?
~On our flight over to Germany in 2006 (Stevie was almost 4 years old and on her very first plane ride) upon reaching cruising altitude, she looked down at the clouds and up at the big sky and whispered to me "Mommy, are we going to see God?" Man... I hope not sweetie... Not this trip!
~A discussion with daddy about the number of fingers we have on our hand... Stevie proudly pronounced 3! Puzzled, we asked for clarity... "You know... Finger, Finger, Finger, Pinky, Thumb!"
~During a discussion about license plates in our region in Germany... many of the license plates around our town start with BIT because the city name is Bitburg. Well, at the time, most of the American license plates started with HK (don't ask me why...) Ours started with HK. Stevie says "but mom, we don't live in Hick!"
....unfortunately, those are the big ones that come to mind. I thought I had more! Might have to edit this post later as they come to me! I can remember two numbskull things from my childhood worth posting:
~Watching wheel of fortune with my father around age 5, I noticed an African American man had won a nice set of lawn chairs, and some poolside stuff. I looked at dad and said "but daddy, he doesn't need a tan! He's dark enough!"
~My father had his teeth pulled at an early age and had to have dentures, and I remember wondering why it was that he could still talk when his teeth were all out... but babies couldn't!
Crazy kids...
Sunday, October 4, 2009
I Have Overcome...
A couple of weeks ago, I was having a conversation with my mother from Iraq, on facebook (of all places.) We'd been talking for quite a while, and I realized that at 4am, I should be getting to bed. As conversation drew to a close, I was about to say goodnight, but instead... without hesitation, I said "Hey mom?" She said "Yeah?" I said "I'm sorry for everything..."For more years than necessary, I've carried around a lot of anger, and I've pointed the finger at my mother, and I've claimed myself the victim so many times... I never stopped to think how the death of my father affected her life... how losing EVERYTHING changed her and made her who she was. This blog would last for hours if I could list out all of our faults, and all the things that we shouldn't have done that we did. But I don't need to. For in 4 simple words, I let it all go.
After our conversation ended, I went back to my room with this HUGE weight lifted. I laid down in my bed, and I felt this overwhelming need to cry. I'd never let myself cry over my mother before. I always told myself I was too good and she didn't deserve my tears. But that night, or early morning rather, I let myself cry. A huge release. I spoke to God in those early hours and apologized endlessly for being selfish and angry. I'd cried myself to sleep.
There will always be things about my mother that I'll roll my eyes out. I'll cringe with frustration when she does or says things that have always driven me up the wall. But mothers are supposed to be like that right? Daughters too, no? But I can't let myself be angry about the past anymore. I owe it to the lives we have left to make the best of things, and to embrace and support the relationship we have left. My mother will ALWAYS be my mother...
Friday, October 2, 2009
Polka Dots and a Monkey
We recently put the finishing touches on Ava's new room. She made the transition into her big girl bed a while back - and I couldn't bare to part with the brown/pink theme I had going on in her room, just cause I loved it so much. While I was deployed, I did some net surfing, and found the perfect bedding for her. Bobby Jack! Ava's a monkey, and so is Bobby Jack. Monkeys are brown, and this particular bedding had the monkey blowing big pink bubbles with his gum. SO perfect for her!
It took a little coaxing to get Nico to part with the old wall border (men... they don't understand the need to redecorate!) Hopefully he's just as pleased as I am with all the polka dots!
Anyway, here's a few pictures to show her new room :)
(I always thought these were so cheesy... but I had to have them for Ava's wall!) -
Her dresser and new mirror -
Her comforter on her twin size daybed from IKEA! -
Her little corner all set up for reading -
It took a little coaxing to get Nico to part with the old wall border (men... they don't understand the need to redecorate!) Hopefully he's just as pleased as I am with all the polka dots!
Anyway, here's a few pictures to show her new room :)
(I always thought these were so cheesy... but I had to have them for Ava's wall!) -
Her dresser and new mirror -
Her comforter on her twin size daybed from IKEA! -
Her little corner all set up for reading -
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Welcome Home Mommy
So it is with great joy that I've started this blogspot. It took four months in Iraq to realize that my internet addiction was taking time away from my family. I had a myspace account, and a facebook account, and 3 email accounts, and a spangdahlemyardsales.com account, and photography and foxnews.com, and blogspots of others that I followed on a daily basis. . . I can admit that I was selfish (heck, I've spent the greater part of this evening telling the girls to go play so I could get this up and running!) But it's for their benefit. Once I get the blog going, then I can rest knowing that friends and family back home will stay up to date with pictures and stories... and then I only have ONE account to check daily rather than 100 :)
So my first post is about my homecoming. On May 18th, I set sail on my first combat tour in Iraq. I can say without hesitation that I'm glad that I went. Yep, it was the worst 4 months of my life... living in a one room "pod" with no kitchen or bathroom. Having to get fully dressed at 3am to walk a block to take a dump and hike back, hoping mortars wouldn't hit during that time. 120 degree heat, 5 day at a time sandstorms that turned a normally sunny day into life on Mars, the red planet... not to mention, that growing absence in my soul... my two girls and Nico miles away in Germany :(
I counted down every second to finishing. Coming home this time would be the first time in almost 10 years that I'd return home to my FAMILY. No more walking through an airport watching other people receive hugs and tears... This was my day :)
So after days of delayed flights, and cancellations and undeniable heat in the middle of the desert... our plane touched down in Germany. 2 more hours through customs and inprocessing and then there they were :) All smiles and joyous hugs. Man - life is good. I've been home since Sunday, Sept 27th and I can honestly say that there's no place I'd rather be. HOME.
(PRE footnote - Nico isn't in any of these pictures because he's the one taking them hehehe.)
Goofing off while waiting -
Showing some support -
Mommy's almost here! -
The Big Doors are Opened -
HERE COMES MOMMY!! -
Ava's Trying to Remember -
Ahhh... My Girls! Finally Together Again! -
So my first post is about my homecoming. On May 18th, I set sail on my first combat tour in Iraq. I can say without hesitation that I'm glad that I went. Yep, it was the worst 4 months of my life... living in a one room "pod" with no kitchen or bathroom. Having to get fully dressed at 3am to walk a block to take a dump and hike back, hoping mortars wouldn't hit during that time. 120 degree heat, 5 day at a time sandstorms that turned a normally sunny day into life on Mars, the red planet... not to mention, that growing absence in my soul... my two girls and Nico miles away in Germany :(
I counted down every second to finishing. Coming home this time would be the first time in almost 10 years that I'd return home to my FAMILY. No more walking through an airport watching other people receive hugs and tears... This was my day :)
So after days of delayed flights, and cancellations and undeniable heat in the middle of the desert... our plane touched down in Germany. 2 more hours through customs and inprocessing and then there they were :) All smiles and joyous hugs. Man - life is good. I've been home since Sunday, Sept 27th and I can honestly say that there's no place I'd rather be. HOME.
(PRE footnote - Nico isn't in any of these pictures because he's the one taking them hehehe.)
Goofing off while waiting -
Showing some support -
Mommy's almost here! -
The Big Doors are Opened -
HERE COMES MOMMY!! -
Ava's Trying to Remember -
Ahhh... My Girls! Finally Together Again! -
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