Resolutions & Traveling to America

On New Years Eve, I told my sweet friend Jen that I really didn't have any resolutions this year. I think January is as good a time as any for making changes and setting goals, but I didn't have any in mind. But by the end of the month I had already started making some changes and had several goals in mind. So, I take it back Jen! Among my goals for 2014 is this: Be transparent.

I want to live for the Lord, let Him grow me & change me, & love others better. I am realizing that while doing these things, it is so important to let people in and let them see your heart. I used to think that I should always be strong, never show my pain, and never complain. I have learned in the last few years that being strong means letting the Lord work & continuing to love others even if I am going through something difficult. And that I don't need to share my heart with everyone, but my close friends do care and want to know me. Humility & transparency let us see that none of us really have it all together.

So that's that. God is growing me. Need to be transparent. SO thankful for the people he has placed in our lives in Sicily. Love y'all! I was starting to miss home recently though. Which brings me to our trip to America. I considered making this 2 posts, but since I am absolutely terrible about posting and haven't posted in months, I thought it was best to go ahead and squeeze it all in!

Carleigh Bug & I are in Georgia right now. I have missed good old humid GA! Traveling over 5 thousand miles for 25 hours with a 15 month old was fun :) Seriously, the Lord was with me. I jotted down some notes along the way. They are kind of random but here they are:

• Right before it was time to head to the terminal, I was rushing to repack my carry on and get Carleigh dressed. I asked Rob to help so he was changing her and he started yelling because she pulled her poopy diaper off and across her body and there was poop on her hands, body, and face! Lots of poop! I put her right in the tub and then changed my poopy shirt! It was time to walk out the door.. I think I said "I can't believe this is happening" like 5 times. Daddy is not good with poop. At first I was mad that he let it happen but I should have been glad he was willing to touch the poop to help bathe her.

• Leaving the terminal in Sigonella (on base) they didn't care how much I brought for Carleigh to drink. They just made me taste her milk and water!!! I was laughing!! Guess they had to make sure I was willing to do it and I didn't lace it with something dangerous!

• Although the time leading up to our flight was a bit stressful, the flight so far has been great. Carleigh has been a little crazy but super sweet. We are still on the shorter flight to Spain and so far she has had a bottle of milk, ate some snacks, played on the iPad, listened to music, flirted, ate some ice, and cuddled her bear (glad I brought that guy). Now she is nursing/sleeping. There is so much turbulence, I haven't had to even rock her. I love nursing her. It is so easy, natural, comfortable now. So thankful for that blessing. And thankful for little miss Carleigh Grace! Love this little girl.

 

Hanging out in her own seat like a big kid

• Things are still going well after the 3 hours to Spain. Carleigh is sleeping great and I even slept for an hour. So far I prefer the military rotator over commercial flights. They don't play around, they feed you, they are concerned about actual safety not just following rules. I think I LOVE traveling at night. Also love having 3 seats to ourselves. Waiting for the plane to refuel. Ready to get this show on the road!

• When we arrive in Norfolk I will call my friend Sheila to give us a ride from base to the commercial airport. Then I will get a ticket to either Atlanta or Jacksonville. Excited about seeing Sheila and her sweet baby Xavier!

• Note to self.. Always take book bag & leave at feet if space so no need to put carry on above head and deal with that hassle with kids/ no hands/ no space. Hoping we have these 3 seats to ourselves on the way to Norfolk!

We did in fact keep our 3 seats and Carleigh slept for about 10 hours. Thank you Lord!! I laid her on 2 seats wrapped in my jacket and put my legs up against her and dozed off for a while again. Once she was awake, she did get bored fast. She played with everything I brought for fun which was: play dough, crayons, coloring book, stickers, play phone, snacks, iPad, headphones (she wanted to eat them), & probably some more stuff. I think the play dough will be more appropriate in a few months. I was trying to roll it and show her and she just kept yelling "ball!" & trying to eat it.

We also did see Sheila, Jon, & little Xavier. Thank you Huffmans!!! They took us from base in Norfolk to the commercial airport. God provided again by letting me get the last seat on the plane to Atlanta. There my mom picked us up & we drove to Columbus. I wasn't as drained as I thought I would be on the drive. Probably had something to do with the large cappuccino I got as soon as we landed :)

I am so thankful for the wonderful military families we have met and kept in touch with. I wasn't thinking in too much detail about what I would do in Norfolk when we landed. I just thought we would be in America so the hard part would be over and who cares what happens! Really I planned on calling a cab to get to the airport. But after our friends reminded me, we know 3 sweet families in Norfolk that would be willing to help us, & I would be happy to see all of them! We are blessed. After being at an overseas duty station we have learned the importance of helping each other.

Now we have been here for one week & Carleigh has seen all of her grandparents and great-grandparents but we have lots more family & friends to get together with. She absolutely loves the horses, so when she is going crazy from teething we just go outside and we have a happy baby!

Carleigh with Grammie & Cody

Carleigh with Nana & PawPaw

 Now we are looking forward to Rob's arrival in March. Carleigh is missing her Daddy!

Thanks to everyone who has prayed for us!! We love y'all!

Scala dei Turchi & a wonderful few days

Rob is on leave this week! It has been so nice to have some family time these last few days. Lately it's been easy to get a bit overwhelmed but this week I am feeling thankful & refreshed. I have been reading John daily on my Bible app while rocking Carleigh during her morning naps & that has also touched my heart & helped me to feel closer to Jesus. And walks along the Mediterranean are always good for the soul!

Yesterday, we went with some friends to Scala dei Turchi (the Turkish Steps) near Agrigento. It was a 2 hour drive to a beautiful beach & awesome rocks that make up the steps. According to a few sites, like this one, the name came from the belief that Turkish pirates used the area as a landing place.

This was the first time I carried Carleigh in the carrier on my back. I wore her & Rob wore a back pack so we were hands-free & able to take pictures & climb the rocks. I love our carrier (it's similar to this.) We also played in the water and looked for fish & crabs. We all had a blast!

 

 

 

After a few hours of fun, we stopped at a great beach restaurant. We sat on the sandy deck & enjoyed some fruit & pasta before heading home. What a wonderful day!

 

Our friend Danny is a photographer. Some of the great photos he captured are on the DOE Photography facebook page.

It's almost Fall

It's almost Fall! & Carleigh is almost 10 months.

This time last year, I was counting down the days until the first day of Fall. I was crazy pinning & loving fall things on Pinterest. This year I have been so busy chasing Carleigh Grace that I have hardly noticed that Sept. 22 (first day of Fall) is just around the corner!

By the way, have I mentioned lately how much I love being Carleigh's mama?! My heart is full!

I recently saw this on a mommy blog & saved it.

I love this quote! It applies to me in a different way than other mamas. I don't have lots of piles of laundry from multiple kids or teens. But I do have laundry piling up from my little family of three because I can hardly find time to get it done! Carleigh is at a stage where she is really pushing her limits and I want to play with her or watch her most of the time. Of course sometimes she naps, plays in her play pen, or buzzes around eating Kix in her walker.. but the list of things to do during that time is just too long to fit it all in! I know it sounds crazy. She is just one sweet little baby. There is no reason that I can't get everything done around the house. HA! She is a little ninja with lots of energy! That is why I also love this next quote.

This month Carleigh has developed a few more skills. She is walking a few steps, now. She has tons of confidence, but is still lacking in coordination. Which leads to lots of bumps and falls. So I run around behind her as she is crawling, pulling up, cruising, and trying to walk- to catch her little head before it hits the coffee table/tv table/end table/wall/floor/etc.

She is also waving hi & bye, blowing kisses (just learned this one, its so cute!), dancing, clapping at everything, and saying mama, dada, nana, barking & growling like the dogs!

This little bug loves to swing at the playground! (pictures later). Her little kicks, squeals, and laughs are so cute. 

Of course, with Fall comes football! Last night Rob realized what he was doing and meant to say- "When football is on, I really don't listen to you, do I?" but he accidentally said "When football season is on, I really don't listen to you, do I?" Ha! You had it right the first time, hunny! But its ok. I know he loves us more than Auburn :) And for all of my GA friends who want to see Bug in red & black. Rob is a force to be reckoned with. I am giving up on this one.

More sweet Carleigh moments....

    

 I know I dropped some Kix over here somewhere...

Yep, these are delicious.

What we've been doing..

We have been so busy! I don't even know where to start to catch up. Carleigh and I made a month-long trip to GA & back, she has grown & reached several milestones, and my mommy brain has gotten even crazier! This little Bug is currently climbing all over me saying "da-da-da.." I continue to wonder how any mommies keep up with blogging. I have written many blog posts in my head.. while leaning on Carleigh's crib rail & patting her back, or while sitting in the dark & nursing her in the rocking chair, or while doing the dishes, or doing the laundry, or driving to church, etc.

Our trip to Columbus deserves a post all to itself! That post would be all about snake-shootin, baby kissin, eatin, singin, playin, family time, lovin on horses, church, Aunt Natty's wedding, many visits, and takin lots of pictures.

I am thankful that Grammie took so many pictures & that Great Aunt Karoline put together this sweet collage of memories for Carleigh.

I spent some time working on Carleigh's baby book this week. I couldn't hold back the tears when I read over her birth story again. What a sweet blessing, to be this little girl's Mama.

Catching up on Carleigh...

5 mo:
(at the airport)
First time in America
Laughing
Eating puffs

6 mo:
Rolling over
Sitting up
2 bottom teeth

7 mo:
Crawling
Pulling up
Clapping
2 top teeth
Doing great in the church nursery

8 months is just a few days away.

The last year

This time last year I was...

In the states with family, helping to care for my dad.
Going to chemo & radiation treatments.
Meeting with doctors & hospice workers.
Visiting with a million sweet friends & family who brought over meals.
Preparing for Daddy going to be with Jesus.

Daddy's graduation from chemo

 

Excited to walk again this year in Relay for Life, remembering my sweet Daddy & the laughter/warmth/craziness he brought into our lives :) 

 

I was also... 

 



Finding out I was pregnant with Carleigh!
Going to ultrasound appointments.
Buying maternity clothes.

Ah! This is for real!

about 11 weeks

 

The following are never before seen photos from a maternity-clothes-buying session at Motherhood Maternity in Columbus, GA with Grammie:

 

I hope you enjoyed that!

 

A few moments from the following months (in case you missed anything!):

back to Sicily we go

summertime at fontane bianche

it's a girl!

decided on Carleigh Grace

getting bigger...

oh the days of sleeping in

Maternity photos at the farm

Baby shower in Taormina :)

Maternity shots with Rob

 

39 wks
heading to the hospital

Carleigh is here!

Birth Story

 

4 months old!

 

Random things this month:

 

Carleigh pets Linc now. So. Stinkin. Cute.

 

She also loves playing with her feet. And drooling. And talking. And screaming. And smiling.

 

This mommy got a new vacuum. & just learned that HIGH & LOW are not settings for how good you want your vacuum too work. They refer to how close the vacuum is to the floor. So HIGH isn't HIGHest level of clean. Its too HIGH to reach the dirt! & almost the LOWest setting works best on Carleigh's carpet. Important life lesson.

 

Carleigh really loves to eat! We just started oatmeal, mushed up bananas, baby food, etc & are still also breastfeeding.

 

We love our church home Calvary Baptist. We are growing closer to the Lord as a family & learning about how to raise children & teach them about Jesus.

 

Carleigh & I will be heading back to the states for a visit. Getting excited & trying to prepare.

 

4 months is fun

 

Thanks Pinterest for the homemade headband idea

 

That's all for now!