What Im looking forward to

I CANNOT believe today is January 1st of 2009. This past year has been a wild ride, and even though my hubby is leaving for most of this new year, I am still looking forward to it. Im looking forward to our marriage getting stronger with each passing day apart. Im looking forward to the excitment building as his return comes closer. Im looking forward to running to the computer every morning to see an email from him. Im looking forward to sending him care packages filled with love from myself AND his daughter. Im looking forward to sending him cards and letters and wondering if he is on the other end of the phone that is ringing. I HATE the first month that he gone, but after the first phase of adjustment, it gets better.

Im also looking forward to tons of Kayla's first this year. Her first words, her first crawls, her first steps, her first real foods, her first Easter, her first 4th of July fireworks, her first birthday...so many firsts to look forward to.

Im also looking forward to seeing my parents in law. Im hoping to fly back to PA for the month of June. I want them to see what I see every morning again. I want them to be able to look into Kayla's big brown eyes and fall in love even more than they already have. I want her to know them.

Im also looking forward to seeing my sister and seeing her turn the big sweet 16.

So much in the future.

2 days ago on Kayla's 5 month birthday she got even steadier with sitting by herself. Here is a shot of her playing with her baby!

She is also talking up storms not only at home in private, but now in front of strangers and other babies!

She is also now eating an entire jar of baby food twice a day!

She now knows how to move around and get where she wants to go. We havent quite figured out how she does this since she isnt crawling yet, but she gets the idea of what shes supposed to do. She pushes her feet on the floor and turns herself to face which ever direction she wants to.

In the last 2 weeks, this baby girl has grown A LOT.

Ahh, well...time for breakfast.

I hope you all have a Happy New Year!

Just pictures

Nothing new going on over here. Just some pictures to share and a video from our beach day yesterday. We are going again tomorrow as long as the rain holds out!

I have several videos from this day, but they arent uploaded yet. A couple are of Kayla and I in the water. So stay tunned!

Little Ladies, Sweet Potatoes and a video

Yesterday these 2 pretty little ladies spent some quality time together. Soon pretty little lady in orange, along with her Mommy will be headed back their home state. In about 10 days or less. They will stay there for the duration of the Daddy's deployments. So these 2 pretty little ladies wont get to see each other until atleast October 2009. By then, they will both be totally different little ladies. Unless, pretty Little Lady in yellow and her Mommy get to back to their home state to visit Grammy and Grandpa. Then, these 2 pretty little ladies might be able to meet each other since the 2 home states are next to each other.

This morning Kayla had sweet potatoes for the first time. They were a big hit. She loved them. She has now mastered Applesauce, Carrots, Green Beans, Pears, Peaches and Sweet Potatoes...with Squash still being her favorite and I think the Sweet Potatoes will be a close second favorite. After Sweet Potatoes we will try either Bananas or Peas.

Today we are going to try to to venture to the beach again, in hopes that we wont get rained out like last time.

And for a happy ending to my post, here is a video of my little lady. It isnt of her doing any fancy trick...just her chewing on a toy on Christmas Eve.

Went for a walk

The day after Christmas we wanted to escape the house. Nick had a brillant idea. He wanted to take Kayla and I on a walk that he's been meaning to take us for months. There is a path on base through the jungle that the group runs on. Except they never go the whole way to the very tippy end of this path. But we did. And the sight was breath taking. The end of the path is a cliff that dropped down a couple hundred feet over some more land and then ALL water. Guam sits very very high over the ocean. When your at an edge of the island ALL you see for as far as the eyes can see, is water. It is truly one of the most beautiful sights that person can see. I wish everyone had the chance to see this. Life is beautiful.









I took this quiz and I think its pretty right on for me.

Your Spiritual Number is Eight

You bring inspiration and success into people's lives. You understand how the world works, and you have a knack for money. Right now, your life is all about goals and progress. This is nothing new though - you're always moving forward. You have a lot of perspective in life. You are able to remove your emotions and see the big picture. You usually bet right in life. You have are intuitive and win often.

What's Your Spiritual Number?

Thank you Birth Father

We got a package today. I was expecting it, but wasnt expecting what was in it. Kayla's Birth Father sent Kayla 3 Christmas presents, and Christmas card for us all that means a lot to us. I will keep the card for her in her memory box. I am so Thankful that we, and Kayla has a Birth Father that cares and wants to be part of her life. This I think, will be great for Kayla when she is older and can truly understand the love that we all have for her.

Here are the pictures above. Kayla got from him, a beautiful gold bracelet with her name on it and a butterfly on it. And a pair of earrings that are butterflies, and her very first pair of pink, white and brown Nike shoes that are so stinkin adorable! All of which are too big for her right now, but soon she will have grown into them.

I (We) am(are) so incredibly thankful and lucky.

Also, yesterday the 3 of us went for a walk through the jungle just about when we cam upon a cliff over looking the blue as blue can be tropical pacific ocean, where I took stunning pictures of my baby girl and her Daddy. Pictures to come soon.

Please say a prayer for Emilie's family, plus slideshow of pictures

"Lemmondrops" Emilie passed away last night. Please say a prayer for her family or even sent them a comment to let them know your thoughts are with them. This is not what I wanted to read this morning, on Christmas Day.

You can visit them here:
http://lemmondrops.blogspot.com/



Some brighter news...Christmas was fantastic. We got to see my parents in law over the webcam. They got to watch Kayla open her gifts and we got to watch them open their gifts. I must admit, I miss them so much and wish more and more everyday they could look this baby girl in her eyes and fall more in love just like we do.

Hoping we get to see them soon!
Enjoy our slideshow. We took more pictures then I cant count, but here are some favorites.

While Im waiting to go to bed here in a few, I wasted some time and took this quiz.

Your Blogging Type is Logical and Principled

You like to voice your well thought out opinions on your blog. And if someone doesn't what you write, you really don't care! Serious and blunt, sometimes people take your blog the wrong way. But you're a true and loyal friend to those who truly get you.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

Nick rapelling, Kayla sitting!

Thanks everyone for the teeth tablets advice. Im going to look for those next time Im at the BX. My neighbor suggested those too. She has a 14 month old.

On Monday Nick had to repel down a 90 foot tower. With nothing to catch his fall. He is part of a team that must have special capabilites 'just in case'. One of those capabilites is to do a 12 mile ruck march with 30 lbs on his back. I wont even show you the pictures of his feet after that march. The other capability is to be able to repel...ya know, 'just in case.' Here is a video of one of his team members doing the repel from the tower at the Navy base not too far from us. Nick is the one recording the video so there is no video of him. But here, you can get the idea.



Also, Kayla had another first yesterday! Sitting by herself for the longest time yet. It as only about 20 seconds...but its longer than usual! We spent some time outside yesterday in the front yard and she got a kick out of the grass and really enjoyed her self. Also, Nick got to come home early from work yesterday so she got to spend some extra time with him. Today is Christmas Eve. We are hoping that after P.T. this morning, he is let go for the day.






And this morning....Kayla woke up covered in pee pee. Im so terrible. I forgot to change her diaper last night. Usually I will change it once in the middle of the night during gone of her feedings...and I forgot. And we BOTH paid the price. My poor girl...sleeping in pee. I feel so terrbile. We dont need any pictures of that.

I probably wont be back to blog for a few days, so Im wishing everyone to have a very Merry Christmas! Cant wait to see everyones pictures!

Guess what Kayla did!!!

Yesterday was rough for my baby. Her teeth are hurting her. She hasnt been crying, but hasnt been her happy self either. She is fussy and wont sleep and was rubbing her ear and jaw and chewing her fingers all day long. Tylenol seems to give her some relief for a couple hours, baby orajel seems to work great for her. She falls alseep within seconds of my putting it on her gums. My poor girl. Here are some pictures of her NOT taking a nap yesterday. And also pictures of her doing something for the first time.....HOLDING HER OWN BOTTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! At only 4 months and 3 weeks old!

update and pics

SO this weekend was very eventful which we needed because the past 3 weekends we've done nothing but relax.

Friday-The Christmas party was pretty boring unless you were one of the people drinking. Kayla was perfect. We stopped at the sitter's house and she was all giggles. Sitter has a 3 year old son and Kayla just loved him. I cried, Kayla didnt. The whole time at the party of course she was on my mind but I wouldnt let myself call to check on her. I thought sitter has our number, if something was wrong she would call. We got to the party a little before 6 and I lasted until 8:45 before I left that party as fast as I could to go get my little girl. Nick stayed a little later. I got to sitter's house and Kayla was fast asleep. Sitter said she played for about an hour on the floor and then took a bottle and went to sleep the rest of the night. She didnt cry at all! And here I was, so worried about her.

Saturday- Kayla woke up not feeling good. I figured it was from the shots she had yesterday. She just wasnt her happy, smiley, talking self. More like a lump on a log just sitting around. Our friends called and invited us to the beach for a cookout and swim. Got there a little after 11 am, took a dip in the water and then realized we forgot Kayla's bottles. So back home I went to get the bottles. AndI found 2 packages at our door! :) On the way back to the beach it downpoured. So we packed up the back and took this party to our friends house where we hung out for the day. I gave Kayla some tylenol and she was feeling better for a little bit. Long enough to play with friends' dogs.

Saturday night we went to see Christmas lights. In base housing there is a Rota Walk. Its when all the base commanders set up there house in Christmas lights to represent their squadron. It was really neat. Kayla slept the whole time and didnt get to see a single Christmas light.

Sunday- We just relaxed at home. I started off by going to the store and getting some things we need for Christmas dinner. I thought we would be getting together with friends but it seems everyone wants to just stay home and have dinner with their family, which is totally fine with me. So I didnt have ANYTHING to make but the Ham. So I went for stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and whatnot. Then I cleaned up the house, did some laundry, chatted with my sister on messenger and then we decided to open one Grammy and Grandpa's Christmas gifts to Kayla early. Her bouncy chair! Nick put that together and Kayla enjoyed it for a little bit. She still wasnt feeling that great so it didnt last long. Then we decided to make our gingerbread house. Nick had a blast with that. Kayla tasted her first candy cane. I know...Im terrible. But how can I deny my pretty little baby a taste of candy cane during the holidays? I cant.
She loved it. She didnt even make a funny face at all. hehe!

Sunday night we figured out we think it's her teeth that bothering her. After her bath she kept rubbing on her left ear. My poor baby.

Well, I must get going. I need to make little girl some cereal for breakfast.

Enjoy the pics from the weekend and the video!

What does my Christmas say about me?

Details of our weekend are coming soon. As soon I feel like typing. Kayla woke me up before I was ready this morning, so Im tired as of right now.

Your Christmas is Modern

Your wish for the New Year is more happiness. For you, Christmas is secular holiday. Religion doesn't play a big part in it. You are patient when it comes to Christmas. You don't celebrate too early, and you don't like seeing holiday decorations in October. You like Christmas traditions, but you're not uptight about them. You do things your way. You have some preferred ways of celebrating Christmas, but you're open to compromise. You love Christmas. You enjoy almost every aspect and tradition of the holidays. You give a big during the holidays but nowhere near as much as you'd like to.

What Does Your Christmas Say About You?

Family picture

Here is a picture of us last night at the sitter's house before our Christmas party. All turned out a thousand times better than I was imagining to happen. I will give details later. Right now, I have to get us ready for a beach cook out at 11 am.

Another PERFECT report

We just got back from Kayla's 4 month well baby check up. We got another Perfect report. Each and every one of her well baby checks, and even for her swollen eye last week, we have gotten the "She's perfect!" from each physician.

Nothing warms our hearts more than knowing Kayla is perfect, happy and healthy little girl.

She is now 15 pounds 12 ounces and 25 1/4 inches long with a head circumference of 17 centimeters.

Perfect.

We couldn't ask for a better gift.

She got 3 shots and an oral and only cried for 30 seconds with NO tears. She is now passed out on the couch in her boppy pillow.

Aunt Deb would call her one tough cookie.

Now I gotta go cut my hair and find a skirt or pants to go with my top for the Christmas party that I still don't want to go to.

I dont want to

I am so tired today. Ugh. Tomorrow is Kayla's 4 month well baby check up even though she is a week away from being 5 months old. She will get shots tomorrow. I am dreading this because tomorrow is also our Christmas Party. This will be the first time I leave my little girl with a baby sitter. Im scared. I left her with our neighbor last week to get some rest while I was sick. She lasted about an hour before crying for me, and she literally never cries. It hurts to think about leaving her. I dont want to do it. I dont want to go to this Christmas Party. I dont want to try to find something to wear. Its island style casual but sandals are not allowed. I dont want to get my hair cut. I dont want to do my hair. I dont want to put make-up on. I dont want to leave my baby and I dont want to go. I wish I could fly Kayla's Grammy ( My Mother In Law) here to care for her while we attend this stupid Christmas Party.

Its Nick's squadron Christmas Party. We have to go. But I dont want to.

Really?

OK, so time really isn't going to stand still until November 2009? The deployment really isn't going to be cancelled is it? Guess not. This week so far, (and its only Wednesday morning) Nick got shots, got his blood drawn, had a couple deployment briefings, and this morning at 3 am ran/walked 12 miles with a 30 pound sack on his back.
Will he REALLY be gone for AT LEAST 222 days to Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa???? Really?? Oh no. Do we really only have the rest of December and all of January left together? That's it?? Yuck.

This time I should be able to take the deployment more in stride for my baby girl. But this time, I think is going to be the most difficult time. How am I ever going to make it the whole year without him?

Thankful for friends

When I joined the NW chat room back in 2006 and the blogging world shortly after in the same year, I NEVER thought that I would gain true, thoughtul, generous, kind, loving, FRIENDS. Who would have thought that the internet would be a place for meeting real friends that are there for and understand and in the time of need of support for whatever reasons, they are there an email away. It just melts me heart to know that these girls are my friends. Not just any girls, but THESE girls. Each and every one of them.

Yesterday we got 2 packages in the mail form 2 of these friends, for Kayla. Here are some pictures.
Thank you Kate! Thank you Tina!

Our electricity was out!

Saturday early afternoon we left the house to take the 45 minute drive down to the Navy base. Nick got lunch, I got a smoothie and we found 1 toy for Kayla for Christmas. We drove the 45 minutes back home. Its a great drive. We drive right along the water so the long drive goes incredibly fast. We got home to no electricity. This happens often on Guam. I dont know why. It never lasts anymore than a couple hours. So what does does a Daddy and Daughter do on a Saturday afternoon with no tv, no playstation, no internet? Entertain each other while Mommy takes pictures!

Sunday night Kayla had pears for the first time and they were a huge hit. She loved them. Pears went so much faster than green beans, thats for sure. Kayla'a Aunt Malissa, my sister was able to watch this unfold via our webcam.

Also, today is Kayla's birth father's birthday so I took a special picture for him of Kayla today and sent it to me. He loved it.