Getting Ready to Leave Virginia..For Good.

I'm very sad to say that our time is Virginia is nearing its end.We'll only be here for another week! We've been here for just under two years, and in doing so we've met some of the most wonderful people. People who've become great friends and people who've become like family. I will always be thankful that these people have come into our lives. I cherish them and what their friendships have given me, and hopefully I've brought something to the table as well. This part of the journy as a Navy Wife always brings heartache. Unforunately I can't stay...I think Ian would start to notice I wasn't around lol darn it. Thankfully there's the internet to make it easier to keep in touch and who's up for a girls trip?!?! Hawaii anyone? So I'll close for now...since I am already in tears. I'm sure this last week will only bring many many more. Crap, I need a beer. lol

Trip Down Memory Lane

While Diapers and Wine didn't technically tag me I'm going to go ahead and take on this "challenge" most to see if and what I can actually remember. So here goes nothing...

Reveal 7 things about the First Month of Motherhood

1. I was convinced this "child" or milk sucking vampire whichever you prefer would never leave my boob and I would become a permante milk bar. For ever.

2. I insisted she sleep with me, not just with me but right on top of me. Because should she stop breathing suddenly I would be right there. Therefore I got very little sleep and felt like I had a constant heater on top of me.

3. Sleep deprivation makes me crazy. Not just crazy haha but I was convinced more like paranoid that things were always going to happen to me. And us.

4. When she would cry and Ian couldn't comfort her I was secretly happy that she needed me more. Shh...horrible huh?!

5. I constantly feared and worried about my maternal and comforting skills.

6. I LOVED the baby smell. You know the REAL baby smell, the sweaty milky smell. Yes that one. It's my favorite.

7. I rarely had a second to myself, when Ian was at work she would come with me to the bathroom, in the shower, you name it there she was. And I would talk to her like she would respond to me. lol


There it is. Nothing special or great, its just nice to think about these things since we're 3 months anyway from 4....time to go cry now. lol

Trick or Treat...Smell My Feet..Give me something Good to eat

We're here in the Northwest visiting family and having a great time. We're here for roughly three weeks before we head back to Virginia and begin our pack out to move back to Hawaii.

This year I took Isabella to downtown Poulsbo, every year the close off the downtown area from cars and all of the shops decorate and sit outside giving out candy. The kids go crazy running from side to the other but its a great place to take the kids. Thankfully they celebrated from 4-6pm and it was still light out. Isabella choose to be Snow White this year and I dress up as a 50's girl. Check out the pictures.

Washington DC, August 2008

We made a drive up to Washington DC (roughly 3 1/2 hours) for an overnight trip. We weren't sure when we'd live within driving distance of where the LA Dodgers (yes that's right the baseball team) plays so we figured we'd take advantage of it one last time. I love DC, I would really LOVE to live there one day. We drove up after Ian got off work...well when I say we I really mean I drove up which I don't mind. We really hit NO traffic on the way up, and our hotel was a 10 minute walk from the Stadium and our room itself had a view of the Capitol building (neat huh!?). No true fan misses batting practice...it's by far one of the best parts of going TO a game. We and this time when I saw WE I mean Ian are true fans. Last year when we went to a game in DC Isabella was lucky enough to get a baseball from one of the LA Dodger's pitchers. Ian has been to OVER 20 games and to this day has YET to get a baseball. It's something special. We're hanging out in the bleachers until our team is practicing, then Isabella and I move to the side. Mostly to get out of Ian's way so he can try and get a ball rather than protect our child from future brain damage due to a baseball hitting her in the head. We go by the pitchers and watch them warm up, meanwhile Isabella is SHOUTING, "I love the dodgers!!!" as loud as her lungs will let her. This catches the attention of one of the pitchers who proceeds to come over and give her a ball! I think, NO way! How lucky is this child to get another baseball at her second game. She's estactic and we just keep hanging out. Less than 10 minutes later Chan Ho Park (one of LA's pitchers, he's been around awhile) comes up and give her ANOTHER ball. She says Thank You and he goes about his business. We're just watching when the sign I made for Isabella blows onto the field and into a corner. The sign said "LA's BIGGEST little Fan" Isabella is so upset, and I think there is NO way we're getting our sign back. After Chan Ho Park is done stretching he kindly picks up our sign and reads it. It must have amused him because he giggled (yes giggled) he tells Isabella he'll only return the sign on one condition, she has to blow him a kiss. She looked at me cautiously like Mom? I just want my sign...she blows him a kiss and gets her sign back. She also got 3 autographs from different LA players. Overall it was a very eventful batting practice. Unfortunately the game itself wasn't as active after the 1st inning and Manny's homer. Oh well...So that is 2 balls and 3 autographs for Isabella and 0 for Ian. Here's some pictures from the game.

It's been a while...

Bad blogger...bad bad blogger. I know it's been WAY too long since I have updated our blog. Oops! We have been preparing for our move (which is about a month away) and spending what limited family time we have together. And trying to declutter as much as possible.

Isabella and I had some fun baking recently. She truly enjoy spending time with me in the kitchen doing whatever! And I enjoy it just as much. Here's some pictures of us baking our muffins.

Girls Night - Mother Daughter Style

The local YMCA we're apart of hosted a Mother Daughter Cafe. We played with temporary tattoo's, bubbles, made crowns and painted each other's nails. I made sure it was a surprise for Isabella and the look on her face was PRICELESS! She really had a blast doing everything and having that special time together. I even let her paint my nails...brave I know. But she tried her best and was so concentrated the entire time. As you can see in the last picture that was the outcome. I love doing special things like this with Isabella because she's always so excited and so grateful. We had a blast.

Family Pictures

It's been a while since we've had Family pictures taken. We were able to get a good deal through a photographer who's apart of my playgroup. Check out some of my faves.

Adventure to West Virginia

Isabella and I had a mini adventure the last two days. My friend Chrissy is moving back to West Virginia and needed someone to help move her car, which was the start of our adventure. Isabella is not fully potty trained, we're about 90% there but her ability to hold for long amounts of time is questioned. And was definitely tested during the trip, I even cleaned and brought along our tiny potty. What is usually a 5 hour trip for Chrissy turned into an 8 1/2 hour trip in the car. With 2 kids. 8 1/2 hours...tired and sore bum. I did however manage to keep myself entertained by seeing trees...and more trees...and oh wait..more trees. But I did see from funny signs such as Goochland Co., Cowpasture River, ComeonIwannalaya..ok so I lied about the last one but the first 2 are true. It was drive into the country, our trip was short since we had a mission and a deadline. We needed to unload Chrissy's Uhaul and organize a few things, then the following day we were off to go back home. Isabella's favorite part was the trip home, we needed to take Chrissy's dad's truck so she could pack the rest of the stuff home that wouldn't fit. It's a standard pick up truck after we turned off the air bags and loaded her booster seat we were off. She giggled with excitement that she could see EVERYTHING. We also managed to make 9 truckdrivers honk their horns at us. This was her favorite by far. We would roll down the window and Isabella was pump her arm in the air to signal the blow the horn. Seeing her laugh and be so very excited was the funniest and best thing to watch. She insisted that we track down every Semitruck thereafter. She's now in bed and I'll be soon to follow. That's our Adventure.

YAY for Me!!

As most of you know I became a Pampered Chef Consultant earlier this year. It's been an adjustment, I'm not really the sales person type. But more and more its become something I enjoy. I love to cook, share food with people and kitchen tools well they excite me. I had an awesome month in May, I sold almost 1500 dollars! Which made me the Top Performer in our Cluster Group. Here's a picture of me with my director Bonny.

Fun in the Sun

We had an awesome weekend! Although a horrible heat wave has been passing through it just meant all the more reason to go to the beach and the pool. Ian had to go into work for a few hours on Saturday then shortly after he got home we headed to Chrissy's House. It was her daughter's (Kailey) 6th Birthday Beach Party. We headed to Buckroe Beach which was very kid friendly, it had little to no waves and not overly crowded. The kids had a blast playing in the water and the sand. We had a yummy picnic and made sure the kids were worn out. Later that evening we had a Parent's Night Out courtesy via the YMCA that we go to regularly. It was a good deal, 3 hours for 6 dollars and you know your kids will be safe and entertained. We had Sushi for dinner (yum-o) and went to the mall to exchange a few things. Overall nothing too exciting for our 3 hours of freedom but nonetheless it was nice. Isabella was really tired and ready for bed so I'd say it was a very successful day.

Sunday after sleeping in for a bit, well except for Isabella she was up at 6:30 which means Mom was too. We had lunch and headed to Gator Pool. It's this little water park on one of the local Naval Bases here in Hampton Roads. Isabella has been alot more confident in the water since starting her swim lessons a few months ago. We're currently on a month break from swim lessons but plan on starting up again in July. They have a gated area for the kiddie pool and a bunch of varying slides. A few that are kid friendly and that Isabella enjoyed. She really loved going down the slides, especially after she grew more confident going down them. I'm sure we'll be there a few times this summer. Now we're vegging out at home waiting for my yummy pot roast to finish in the crock pot. Then I'm off to see Sex in the City with one of my bff's Chrissy! I can not wait!!

Perfect Words

I read this blog and truly cried like a baby! Just the thought of the PERFECT WORDS it expresses melts my heart. I thought maybe we were the only ones that did this, we sneak into Isabella's room every night before we turn in ourselves. Kissing her sweet face, saying I love you and watching her sleep, those few moments she isn't a 3 year old she's just our baby. Our sweet baby girl. Our World.

So check out this blog.

http://badladies.blogspot.com/2008/05/she.html

*Warning Tissue May Be Needed*

Memorial Day Activities

We lucked out and Ian didn't have to work all of Memorial Day Weekend! Rare for the Navy, especially the Tucson. So we went to First Landing State Park. Sounds nice right? Here's what I pictured...open fields, close to the ocean, Plymouth Rock. What I got?? Was something else, WOODS, tons of trees, a tiny play structure. So we enjoyed our picnic lunch, let the kids (my friend and her two kids came with us) and set off on the many hiking trails available. Well....I wouldn't go as far as saying they were "trails" more like paths in the woods with no specific direction. We went along for a bit, the kids had fun hugging treeds and running around. Then we discovered the real trails. More like paved paths in the woods. Then it got hot and humid (it is Virginia afterall) and headed home. Not at all what I pictured for the place where Virginia was suppose to be settled. If I was disappointed I can only imagine what the first settlers thought....this is it?? Holy crap I'm going back on the boat. Forget this place.

Update!

Whoa it's been a LONG time since I've updated this thing. I'm a horrible blogger. So here's the low down on what's new.

Isabella is now 3 years old (shock!), she has learned her numbers (1-10) and is a sassy pants. I have no clue where she gets that from. She is fond of coloring, running around, swimming and not so fond of naps. Which she is fighting as I type.

I am working out like a mad woman. Slaving away at the gym, with some results. Not as fast as I would hope for. I became a Pampered Chef Consultant in January. While I'm not much of a sales person it gives me something to do outside of the home.

Ian has been working alot lately. His hours haven't been very stable. But tell me who has a stable work hours in the navy? The Boat is getting ready to leave soon and then Isabella and I will be off on our Journey to visit friends and family before we get back to the Island.