Beach Family Updates

All about Isaac....

2012-01-30T14:51:00.000-05:00

I finally did it....I dumped all the pictures from my iphone onto the computer! So here I am catching y'all up on what Isaac has been up to in the past few months....

He likes to use our old phones to call us and send us messages.

He loves on our animals the most out of anyone (besides me!) in the family!

He is over the moon for Toy Story!

He loves the edible crafts from school!

He is the perfect mix of rough & tumble plus sweetness

He has an adorable smile!

He has this thing with his toungue....

He's really into firemen....we read about them just about everyday. He even said that is what he wants to be when he grows up!

He is still a big snuggler even if he sometimes tells me...
"That enough kisses mama!"

Pure sweet boy!

Loves daddy's hats

Oh yeah he is into robots too....

Sits well through 3D movies!

Lovin' on Geronimo

I think I need to hide his robot shirt for awhile......

Daddy has been working to gain more qualifications for his job.
He has been taking over rough housing with Isaac since mama just can't these days!!

They also like to draw spaceships together

Daddy likes to be silly too!

Sex, Marriage, & Fairytales || Spoken Word

2012-01-27T14:19:00.001-05:00

I had to share this. So very powerful and I plan on saving it (if you tube and the internet survives this government) this for the kids to see when they are old enough!
It is so very worth watching even for the seasoned married couples!!

NC Christmas Memories (2011)

2012-01-27T09:24:00.000-05:00

Hello family and friends!

Oh yes, I am being a blog slacker again! I am so sorry. It seems like I cannot get caught up for the life of me but then again I have been crazy busy with life!

I am trying to post once a day until I have all the pictures and videos caught up. (And praying that will occur before Miss Kymber makes her grand appearance!)

Today, I am going to share a few of the shots of our family celebrating Christmas here in NC.

The kiddos before we opened our gifts to one another!

Sweet Kendall Bug and her new tutu

One of the very few shots I have of him looking at the camera!

Geronimo seems to think that his place is climbing on top of me so that he can rest his head on sweet baby Kymber

Jordan is ready to play with their new Christmas toys!

You mean there are more presents in our stockings?!

Sweet Jordan
10 years old

The tunnel/tents were the kiddos favorite gift from us this year.

My new favorite Isaac song!

2012-01-26T08:47:00.001-05:00

Christmas 2011 Memories: Part 1

2012-01-03T08:54:00.000-05:00

We traveled to Pennsylvania to see my family this Christmas. Our normal schedule!

It was a very relaxing time. We only got to see family but I think we all needed to rest instead of running around.

Here are a few of the best shots that I got.....

Sweet Kendall bug on Christmas Eve
5 years and 6 months old

Crazy Isaac on Christmas morning
3 years and 4 months old

the family until Kymber gets here

smooshing Ben with my preggo self!

Comparing bellies with my dad

Finally getting better with Santa!

A hug for Santa?! I almost passed out!

8 years in the making

2011-12-31T03:13:00.103-05:00

This was supposed to post yesterday on our anniversary but it didn't....not sure what I did wrong but here it is!!
Today we celebrate the beginning of a new year but also more importantly, our 8 year wedding anniversary.

When I think of all of the things that we have been through in the last eight years (good & bad,) it really makes my head spin! In a good way......

Here are just a few of our 8 year stats.....

*3 states/4 houses

*2 cross country moves

*2 in town moves

*3 deployments

*countless seperations due to training

*2 Beautiful babies with the third to also occur this year!
In honor of all these milestones, I wanted to share a little arcostic on Ben....
I also must say that I stole this idea from my friend, Katy's, blog.

B- Believer, brave, bright (Ben believes in Jesus first & foremost but will constantly believe in others as well! He is brave because well that is just the type of man that he is....you can't do his job without a little bit of bravery! Ben is so bright that he just has to walk into the room and all my problems are fixed without him ever laying a hand on what I was working on. )

E- energetic (Ben is usually doing something ALWAYS. It seems like he has to have his body, hands, or mind working in some type of fashion. I admire that because I need downtime/naptime more than I really would like!)

N- Nice (Don't kid yourself this really matters! One of the first things that attracted me to this man was the fact that he was unfailingly nice to me, my friends, my animals, and everyone else that he encountered.

J-Just perfect (Ok so I know that is corny and I am not saying that he is without fault but I seriously never could have imagined a better mate. Thank goodness that God knows WAY better than what I do!)

A-adventurous (I love this about Ben because it pushes me out of my comfort zone. There is not a sport on earth that he is not ready to try. His job also has quite a bit more advenutre in it than I would like but it seems to please him!)

M-manly (Don't laugh...I think that this is an admirable quality and makes for a good leader!)

I-Intelligence (Ben knows so much even though he would deny this if you asked him!)

N- Not willing to give up...(ok I have preggo brain but I think that this is an important quality to have!)

Babe, I love you so much and pray that the next 80 years will be just as crazy!
Happy anniversary love.

Christmas Concerts/Parties for the kiddos

2011-12-17T11:57:00.000-05:00

For my family that is Facebook incomplete, I am going to try as much as I can to get caught up with blogging our pictures from Thanksgiving on before we leave Wednesday so that y'all can see what we have been up to!

At Kendall's party after her concert

Isaac at his performance

Kendall at her performance

She loved having us in her classroom!

Daddy was able to get off work for Kendall and Isaac's concerts!

Hi Mom!

Christmas Party

2011-12-14T13:11:00.000-05:00

Each year, it seems like we are bombarded with Christmas parties. (This year has been no exception....except for the fact that we haven't gone to but 2 out of 7! Of course that will go to 3 out of 8 come Saturday night but who's counting!)

It hasn't been an easy pregnancy so unfortunately we have cut out some "fun" stuff so that we can concentrate on all the things that need done around the house!

Ben has been a huge helper with wrapping presents & shopping. Christmas cards are slowly being mailed.(I think I may take Ben up on printing labels next year!)

Christmas orders for my business are also slowly being filled.

And I am slowly starting to get back into the Spirit of Christmas.

I wanted to share a little bit of Christmas joy in form of our visit with Santa at Ben's work party for MAG-29.

Still afraid of the Man in red!

But at least we gave high 5's

And hugs which is a huge improvement over last year!

Before my family disowns me.......

2011-12-13T13:34:00.000-05:00

A little bit of Christmas fun from our house!

Pennsylvania Family and Friends

2011-12-05T11:57:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to let those of you that read this blog know that...

Ben, kids, & I will be coming to Pennsylvania on the 21st (probably late afternoon/evening arrival time) and will be leaving on the 27th to come back home.

We would love to visit with y'all! Shoot me an email if you want to link up.

jamielynnrn13@yahoo.com

Baby Names

2011-12-02T12:19:00.000-05:00

So Ben and I spent a large majority of our travel time in Texas discussing baby names.

We are having a hard time finding the "right" one for us both. So we are going to ask family and friends to help us out!

I am going to put some of our favorites out there and we wanted to see what y'all think you like the best!

I am hoping to make a little voting box for the blog or you can comment/email us too!

We would appreciate it :)

Ok so here are our favorites so far!

Kimberlynn Mae

Harper Mae

Piper Mae

Dusty Mae

Tristan Mae

Taitum Mae

(So her middle name is Mae just in case you didn't get that one!)

Looking forward to hearing from y'all!

Some more bloggy love and catch-up

2011-11-21T06:01:00.000-05:00

I am finding myself with a rare moment of quiet time this morning so I thought that I would blog some more memories especially since we will be boarding a plane today to make more memories in Texas!

The past few weeks have been a FURY of sewing and prepwork for the Fall Craft fair that I participated in. I love the hustle and bustle of everyone appreciating the craftiness of many individuals!

I will begin Christmas sewing and Christmas shopping on our return from Texas so the poor blog (and those family and friends that check the blog will probably be a little neglected but I will try to post when I can!)

Anyway, on with the memories!

Our whole "Heider" family at Ross and Sarah's wedding

A break from dancing at the reception

Isaac's infamous thumbs up at the wedding

Kendall with her soccer coach

Yellowjackets U-6
Fall 2011

Having a little fun with my friend, Beth at the party!

Some of the best girlfriends that I could ask for!

He just makes me laugh!

Kendall went to her fall parade at school dressed as Belle!

Everyone had a turn wearing this blonde wig this year!

We also were able to take the canoe out and fish a little on our camping trip!
Happy Thanksgiving!
May your time be blessed with family, friends, good food, laughter, & love.
I also wanted to share this from a friend's facebook post....
The people who decided to set aside a day of Thanksgiving were the most underprivileged to ever step foot on American soil. They had no housing, no food beyond what they could find in the forest or catch in the sea, no healthcare, no contact with the loved ones they left behind, no government support or protection. They were lucky to have their lives. They gave thanks to God for simply being their God. The true meaning of Thanksgiving.

1 year ago today....

2011-11-18T21:47:00.000-05:00

I woke up at 4:45 a.m. with severe abdominal & back cramps. I knew what was happening even though I tried to will it away. I cried almost the whole way to the ER and a lot of my time in the ER. I was at the Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital praying to hear/see some life on an ultrasound.

Today, I woke up at 4:45 am (no alarm clock and I don't think that it was a coincidence...just God's perfect timing) to little flutter kicks. I spent quiet time in a bath filled with bubbles, I listened to the tall tales of my 2 children, I cried a little bit, I enjoyed feeling this little girl moving inside of me, and I went to Camp Lejeune for an OB check. What perfect music to hear the baby's heartbeat today.

It still hurts but I understand that I am not meant to understand until some glorious day when I meet that little one.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

Jacksonville, New Bern, & Wilmington Peeps.....

2011-11-17T17:07:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to come out this weekend to support your local crafters!

www.facebook.com/skidzwifecreations

http://www.skidzwifecreations.weebly.com/

21 weeks

2011-11-16T05:20:00.000-05:00

Your baby's blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture the baby. The placenta is now almost equal in size to the baby.

Your baby will be getting much larger during the second half of your pregnancy. Your baby's crown-to-rump length at this time is 7.2 inches and she weighs approximately 10.5 ounces. Your growing baby is about the size of a large banana. You should be able to feel your uterus about a half of an inch above your navel. Your weight gain so far will be around 10 to 15 pounds.

As your baby begins to lay down more fat, your weight will also increase. During the next 10 weeks, you will gain about half of the total gain for your entire pregnancy. Strangers can now tell that you are pregnant! You might notice an increase in appetite because you need 500 more calories a day to support your charged up metabolism. It is best to avoid processed foods or foods high in fat, calories or sugar. Some women also get strong cravings for foods. If you notice a craving for something unhealthy, you should contact your doctor. Craving for unusual things is known as pica. Some women crave cigarette ashes, charcoal, beer and other non-food items during this time.
Your baby's different organs and systems are maturing. The fetal digestive system is functioning in a simple way and your baby can swallow amniotic fluid. After your baby swallows the amniotic fluid, she is able to absorb water and sugars from the fluid and then the waste is passed as far as the large bowel. Your baby swallows the amniotic fluid in order to prepare itself for life outside of the womb. Some babies consume as much as 17 ounces of amniotic fluid in a 24-hour period. Your baby already has a high number of red blood cells and the white blood cells are beginning to be produced. Taste buds are being formed on your baby's tongue this week also.
Don't be surprised if your legs and feet become swollen throughout the day. You should try to get off of your feet some throughout the day and prop your legs up. If you notice a substantial amount of swelling, you should contact your healthcare provider for evaluation.

Your Baby

Chances are good you're feeling someone performing a round-off back handspring in your uterus by now. Is there any other feeling this cool? Other highlights this week:
By now your baby looks like a mini-version of what she'll look like when she's born. All her facial features are formed and hair is growing on her head. She's even acting like a baby and will occasionally suck her thumb or yawn. Aww ...
Baby's heartbeat is getting stronger and can be heard using a good old-fashioned stethoscope. Ask for a listen at your next prenatal visit! By 21 weeks, fetal bone marrow starts making blood cells—previously done by the liver and spleen. This may not sound that exciting, but it's good news.
The amniotic fluid that has been cushioning your little bean now serves another purpose: Your baby uses it to "practice" chowing down. Yes, it sounds gross (as many aspects of pregnancy do), but it's an important step for your baby toward being able to chow down in the real world. Your baby has been swallowing amniotic fluid for a while now, but now the intestines are finally developed enough that she's absorbing small amounts of sugars from it. And let's face it, being able to effectively digest sugar is important at every stage of life.
Your baby now weighs between 10 and 11 ounces and is approximately 7 inches long—the size of a delicious, cold, frothy bottle of root beer. Float anyone?

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

Your beautiful little miracle-gro baby will be putting on a full ounce and a half this week.

And that's just the beginning! Within the next five weeks, they'll really be packin' it on as they start to gain fat!
For now, we’re pleased to report the addition of rapid eye movement (REM); a key component to any healthy baby's sleep schedule, that indicates they're now capable of dreaming.
Over in the dermatology department: your sweet lil bun's thin soft skin is very red, rather translucent, and a bit wrinkled.
Not to worry, it’s not some creepy premature aging disease. It's just their clever little body setting them up with extra space that will smooth out once your little one starts packing on the baby-fat. That won’t be for a few more weeks, though.
So, for the time being, your munchkin is still a little lean mean growing machine!
Lastly, the beginnings of what is commonly called “brown fat” is just starting to fill in to help your baby retain some body heat, which is crucial as they’re not yet capable of regulating their own body temperature.
And how's mom doing?
We're smack in the middle of trimester two and you're in the full swing of baby-growin'.You can feel fluttering little kicks, but your womb-hijacker hasn't yet grown to their full-sized unholy proportions that'll leave you feeling like a pregnant whale with legs
Most moms are feeling pretty good right about now. You can feel fluttering little kicks, but your womb-hijacker hasn't yet grown to their full-sized unholy proportions that'll leave you feeling like a pregnant whale with legs.
You may already be noticing some mild uterine contractions — don’t panic, this is completely normal. It's also normal not to have them.
Actually, your uterus contracts throughout your whole life — only now that there’s enough pressure on the uterine muscles can you feel the contractions.

A little bloggy TLC

2011-11-15T20:36:00.000-05:00

I am not even going to look at the date of the last post....ok I already did and I know that I am a few weeks overdue in posting!

We have been BUSY!!

-Trip to West Virgina for my cousin's wedding

-Halloween/all the parties & festivals that come with it

-The Marine Corps Birthday Ball

-Trips to the maternal/fetal specialist

-a camping trip with our Life Group

-CRAZY prep work for my upcoming craft fair

So I will give those family and friends who follow this because they don't have facebook a glimpse of some of the happy memories!

Kendall as Rapunzel with a little face paint mixed in!

Isaac as Iron-man with a batman face

18 weeks pregnant being whatever would fit me!

19 weeks pregnant and man did that dress not hide anything!

Before the Marine Corps Birthday ball

My crazy Benny trying to keep my belly button from poking out! (It will eventually flatten out and disappear before this pregnancy is over!)

We were lucky to have great friends at the ball this year!

Hard to believe it is our 9th ball together!

We found out at 20 weeks that we are having another little girl!

She is breech right now but we are hoping that will change!
HR 153 beats per minute

We are still trying to come up with names right now.
Her middle name will be Mae in honor of my Grammy Heider (Shirley May)

I really like the names
Kimberlynn
&
Harper.....
waiting on Daddy to approve!

She definitely did not want to be disturbed. Kept putting her sweet little hand over her face.

Isaac was so excited to see her waving at him!

Her sweet little feet

Kendall's kindergarten picture
This mama is not liking how grown-up she looks already!

Loving life on our camping trip!
More memories to follow as our schedule allows!

17 weeks

2011-10-19T16:47:00.000-04:00

Hello little one!
We had another check-up today for you. Your heart beart was 160 BPM. Big Brother Isaac came along and helped point out where the doctor should listen for you!
We are looking forward to seeing you again the first week on November and hopefully finding out if you are a girl or boy for real!
(Although many people say that you are indeed a girl by the way mommy is carrying you....and I have to tend to agree!)

Your baby's weight has doubled in two weeks and now weighs about 3.5 ounces! The crown-to-rump length of your growing baby is 4.4 to 4.8 inches. If you spread your hand out opened wide, you can see about how big your baby is.

Your uterus is moving up and is now approximately 1.5 to 2 inches below your navel. You are showing more now and there is a noticeable swelling in your abdomen. At this point in your pregnancy, a 5 to 10 pound weight gain is normal. Other people can probably feel the difference in your lower abdomen if they were to rub your tummy. To be the most comfortable, you should be wearing maternity clothes or clothing that is too large for you. You may have felt your baby move already. However, you might not feel it move every day at this point. As your pregnancy progresses, movements become stronger and more frequent. Feeling your baby move can help reassure you that your baby is doing well. You might also notice that your gums or nose bleed occasionally. This is from the increased blood volume that puts pressure on small blood vessels and capillaries.
Huge changes continue to take place within your developing baby. This week fat begins to form and will continue to do so until he is born. Fat is important to the body's heat production and metabolism. Right now, at 17 weeks, water makes up about 3 ounces and fat 0.018 ounces of your baby's body. In a baby at term, fat makes up about 5.25 pounds of the total average weight of 7.7 pounds. The placenta is continuing to grow at an amazing rate. The placenta will continue to develop in tandem with the fetus and it will weigh more than a pound at birth! By this week, the placenta is large and well established with a network of blood vessels that exchange nutrients and waste.
The eyes are facing more forward. The ears are now close to their final position.
Your baby is more flexible with ability to move head, mouth, lips, arms, wrists, hands, legs, feet, and toes.
Fingerprints are forming now.

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

Around this time your baby's ears pop from his head and Baby-to-be can now sense sounds. After all, he has plenty to listen to in utero! He's accustomed to the strong beating of your heart, blood rushing through your veins, and your stomach grumbling. He can also discern sounds outside the uterus, like your voice and music. Although, according to the Mayo Clinic, whether he can distinguish the sound of your voice versus other sounds is not yet clear.

On average, most moms are feeling fetal movement by week 17. Kick, little one, kick!
How Big Is Baby?

This week your little one weighs in at around 5 ounces and stretches to just over 5 inches (crown to rump). He is about the size of a red onion.

Changes that occur in the fetus when you are 17 weeks pregnant

In week 17 of pregnancy, your 17 week fetus is about the size of 5 inches long and weighs about 5 ounces.

Your baby is the size of your palm now.

Your baby’s little limbs reach to their relative proportions and they continue their development after this week.

Even though your baby’s ears are not structurally completed and fully functional, they can hear actively.

Various parts of the baby’s brain start to develop in order to progress the hearing and other senses.

When you are 17 weeks pregnant, your baby’s bones are getting stronger by the day.

Unique finger prints and toe prints begin to develop.

The baby’s first bowel movements called ‘meconium’ is stored in the colon. Your baby is able to digest the amniotic fluid and deposit the fat under the skin; this process continues for the upcoming weeks as well. This fat helps to regulate their body’s temperature after the birth.

Your baby is very mobile now and will move almost all parts of its body, which is visible in 17 weeks pregnant ultrasound.

The umbilical cord becomes long and thick in response to the increased needs of your baby. During the first baby movement happening this week, the baby will “play” with the umbilical cord holding it and even biting it. Still you should not worry about this since the umbilical cord is protected by a membrane acting as a shield so the baby cannot hurt it.

Promises of a military couple

2011-10-18T19:37:00.000-04:00

I saw this today on facebook and so had to share it! Semper Fi!

A Marine's Promise ...

I cannot promise you every night of my life. I cannot promise to be beside you for every difficult moment, every trial, every hardship. In truth, I can promise you that I will not be with you for most. I will leave you at inconvenient times. I may miss the births of our children. Any special date to us may be tainted with the anniversary of the death of one of my friends. I will ask you to take over whatever life we have built together for months and years at a time. And will then crash back into that life that you have used your sweat and your tears and your heartache to keep together and try to take it back as I knew it before. I will shut you out at times because it will be the best way for me to hold it together at that moment. I will lie to you. I will tell you I don't know things when I do. I will not always tell you where I am going, when I will be back, or who I am with. I may not call you for weeks and months and you will not be able to call me. You will ask questions that I won't answer. You will know answers to questions that you will hope you never need. I will share things with my brothers that you will never understand. They will know things about me that you never will. They will be a support to me in some things that you cannot be. I will miss birthdays. I will miss anniversaries. I will have to get to know our children over and over again. I may need time to process things that seem natural to everyone else. It will seem that someone - or something - will always take precedence over you. You may lose me long before you ever thought possible. I will uproot you and ask you to re-establish our family anywhere in the world, in any season, at any time - over and over again. Sand and mud will be tracked through your halls from the boots I am too tired to take off. I will leave you when you beg me not to. I will stand at attention while you cry beside me. I will not turn my head and I will walk away. I will knowingly break your heart. And I will do it again - and again.

I cannot promise you all of me. I cannot promise that to our children. I cannot promise you much of anything.
But if you will have me, I can promise that as I march away from you it is not without sharing your heartache. I promise you that every time I break your heart I will be breaking mine. Every time that I cannot answer you I will be protecting you. Whenever you want to call and you have no number to dial I will be wanting to do the same. I will protect everything that we have created together with every fiber of my being while you do the same back at home. I will honor you in everything - every moment that we are apart and every moment that I am with you. I will fight harder and push further knowing that I do so for you. I will see the faces of our children in every life that I protect. And I will carry you with me in everything until my sandy boots once again sit just inside our door.

A Marine Wife's promise ...

I cannot promise that I will not become frustrated when you leave me and the world seems to fall apart around me. I cannot promise that I will not curse those who sent you when the dryer breaks, and the transmission needs to be replaced, and the dog eats the couch all in the same week - most likely the week after you deploy. I cannot promise that the sand and mud that cakes my floor will not cause me to give you harsh looks and rude thoughts. I cannot promise that my heart will not be torn in twelve different ways when you march away from me. I cannot promise that I will not let my anger show when you refuse to answer questions. I cannot promise to understand why you share things with your comrades that you will not share with me. I cannot promise that there won't be times when my heartache makes its presence known before my pride can mask it. I cannot promise that I will not show my worry and my concern when it is best for you not to see it. I cannot promise to understand why you do so many of the things you do.
But I can promise that for as many tears of sadness and frustration and anger that are shed there will be double that of tears of pride. I can promise you that for every time you are away from me, I will learn to cherish the times that you are with me. In everything I will honor you and honor your sacrifice. I can promise to teach our children to do the same. I will use every moment that you are not with them to show them the amazing man that you are through my actions and my pride. I can promise that there will never be a night where you are not the subject of my final prayer and the keeper of my dreams. I promise to try to be understanding that there are many things I will never understand. I promise to keep you with me in everything and to do my best to keep grace in this life. I will be strong for you as you are strong for me and I will carry you with me in every moment until your sandy boots again sit just inside our door.

Oh Isaac.....

2011-10-17T10:50:00.000-04:00

Just in case you were wondering why there seems to be more pictures of Kendall.......

Because I have to be fast to nab shots of Isaac....
He is normally doing something like this.

Or this.

Or this.......

When I do get a few good shots it is by pure trickery that I get Isaac to sit still!

Man is he one cute little boy though!

I love his living large personality.
All or nothing

And that mischievious little grin

Now to get him to slow down just a little for his tired old mama!

These times are few and far between!

Love to kick back and relax with this little man!

Marriage Monday

2011-10-17T10:06:00.000-04:00

I have been so busy that I haven't been able to keep up with some of my favorite blogs but today I am dedicating some time to do just that....not to mention procrastinating a little bit on organization of the house.
I love Julie's Marriage Monday posts and I wanted to share part of today's and one from back in September.
You can check out her blog at www.comehaveapeace.blogspot.com/
As usual, I will chime in with a few thoughts of my own highlighted in another color.
October 17, 2011
Sometimes our vows are not easy to live out. It's in "sickness" when we show that love is an ACTION, a CHOICE, not simply a feeling.

Now I know that Ben & I said those same vows "in sickness and in health...." Unfortunately for Ben, I seem to be the one who is sick more often.
Although this pregnancy is a great joy to us, it is also a "sickness" as I do not do well during pregnancy. It takes an extreme sacrifice to keep us running on a "normal" schedule.
So did you mean it? When you promised to "love, honor, and cherish" in "sickness and in health"?

We can not know our future, but we can remember the vows we made and re-commit to being a "Marriage Survivor" no matter what the future holds
So thankful that Ben meant his vows and if he ever gets sick (I can count on 1 hand the times he has been sick in the last 8 years) I pray that I continue to do the same!
September 26, 2011
Marriage Mondays ~ 5 Sec Touch Challenge

If you knew you could do something guaranteed to reduce your husband's stress load and increase satisfaction in your relationship, would you do it? What if it was as simple as spreading your hand and touching your man?
Last year the New York Times published a report by Benedict Carey about how touch, the first means of communication we learn, affects our relationships. Findings at the Touch Research Institute, "found that a massage from a loved one can not only ease pain but also soothe depression and strengthen a relationship."
I am not so good at back rubs....in fact truth be known I am horrible at giving them. I love to rub Ben's head so I am hoping that massage does the same for him....maybe I should get in some practice on the back rubs :)

A research team explored how physical touch in the National Basketball Association (Our men will listen to this sports tidbit, ladies ..) reflected how successful the teams are, and "with a few exceptions, good teams tended to be touchier than bad ones."
"Players who made contact with teammates most consistently and longest tended to rate highest on measures of performance, and the teams with those players seemed to get the most out of their talent." When the same test was applied to 69 couples, researchers found that couples who touched more were also more satisfied.

When we open our hands and take time to touch, we're more "successful" in our relationships and we encourage each other to be our best. We can actually impact our husband's stress level by touching consistently and often.
This makes me think of my Grammy and Pappy as I see and have seen most of my life them touching each other. 60 some years later they are still going strong!
1.When was the last time you held your husband's hand? Did you initiate?
We like to do this a lot while watching our tv at night. But the last time was this morning after our morning devotional & yes I did initiate it!
2.When was the last time you put your arms around your husband?
At least every morning when we walk him out and hug/kiss him goodbye before work.
3.How often do you touch your husband's face? (Wiping off food doesn't count ;) )
I would like to say everyday but it is probably every other day
4.Do you ever lay your open hand on your husband's leg?
Yes, most definately!
5.Have you put your hand on your husband's chest this week?
Hmmm.....not quite sure?
Ever since Genesis 3 men have been toiling in the world and experiencing stress; a wife's touch can be a wonderful cure. "A warm touch seems to set off the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps create a sensation of trust, and to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol." This is one way an excellent wife can help the heart of her husband to trust in her, so that "She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life," (Prov. 31:11-12). Touching reinforces mutual trust and helps lower stress levels.

What does your touch or your lack of touch say to your man? Does it speak trust, support, and confidence? Does it speak affection, desire, and encouragement? Or is it silent and cold? It's saying SOMETHING, but what? Sometimes I have a wake up moment and realize I've become distant or cold or just busy ... and I've stopped touching like I should. It doesn't always happen naturally. Like anything else, our touch can become distorted.What a powerful message we can send through reaching out to touch our man.
I pray to never be too distant, cold or busy for this simple pleasure!

"In effect, the body interprets supportive touch as 'I'll share the load.'"

I want to challenge myself and you this week. Sometimes the caress of a fingertip is enough to speak volumes, but why not open your hand and lay it on your man and just let it rest for 5 seconds? It may not sound like a long time, but in our hurried pace of life, it often takes an intentional decision to stop what we're doing, (kids, work, computer, whatever...) reach out, spread our hand, and let it rest while we count to 5. I also have a feeling it may do beautiful things.

Go ahead. Take the 5 Second Touch Challenge, and see what God gives you to enjoy!

I also like to read Courtney's posts over at http://womenlivingwell.org/
Back on October 9, 2011, She wrote in the 31 day fall challenge about Having Fun in your home....I need work on this! So I am sharing it as well!

Last week we had a two-fold challenge, “light a candle and every time you see the glimmer of it pray for peace in your home“. I want to encourage you to keep your candles and prayers going.

This week’s challenge is two-fold also:

Play soft music everyday in your home. Choose music that the family enjoys.

Then, focus on using peaceful words and maintaining peaceful relationships. Role model gentleness with your words this week and while you’re add it have a little fun. Since the music is going, grab your husband or children and dance!

1. When you feel tempted to raise your voice, use a child’s name in a snarl, furrow your brow into a scowl or speak rapidly in anger…purposely lower your voice to just above a whisper.

Proverbs 15:1 says “A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Focus on gentle words, facial expressions, and touches.

2. Purpose to not let someone else’s anger make you angry.
Many times as a wife and mom, I find myself responding to other’s emotions. Someone in the family is grumpy and two minutes later I’m grumpy too. Someone in the family is speaking harshly and two minutes later I’m speaking harshly too. Purpose to stay in control of your emotions and not let the other members of your family dictate your mood.

3. Yelling at a bud won’t make it bloom.
Your home will not blossom into a haven if you are not controlling your temper.

4. Continue to light your candle and pray for peace in your home.

Persevere in prayer for your family. James 5:16b says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Amongst the hustle and bustle....

2011-10-15T13:21:00.000-04:00

I am taking a few minutes to remember someone who was precious to us. Who remains precious. Who we will not meet until we are called home.

Before last night, I didn't know that there was a day of rememberance for infant and pregnancy loss. A good friend sent me this picture and a simple "I'm thinking about you." I wanted to do that for my friends and family who have also suffered the loss of a pregnancy or infant.

Everyone grieves in their own time and in their own way. I have friends who still can't talk about their loss without tears filling their eyes...

It's been 10 months 3 weeks & 6 days since I found out that we lost our baby.

And some days I still think about what might have been and who that little one might have become.

But I trust that God had other plans for our little one much greater than I can even imagaine.

Our little lost love would have been around 3 months old right now. Wow how different our lives would be!

And I am keeping in perspective that without the loss of that little one.....that we would not have the precious child that is growing inside of me right now.

Praying for all of those that have loved and lost.

Beach Baby at 16 weeks and a Huey....

2011-10-13T16:39:00.000-04:00

Best I could do with a timer and 2 little ones....

The first time we got to see Ben fly the UH-1Y!
So very cool but SO different sounding!

16 weeks

2011-10-12T14:21:00.000-04:00

Don't faint but I am actually posting this on my 16 week date!

It is a stormy day here in Jacksonville & my little boy is sleeping away so I thought that I would catch up on some computer work.

(I am also not feeling up to working on the upstairs organization project!)

I am anxiously awaiting my next OB appointment which will be next Wednesday before we head to West Virgina for my cousin's wedding.

At this point of your pregnancy, your baby is approximately 4.3 to 4.6 inches long and weighs 2.8 ounces. Not only is your baby growing, your uterus and placenta continue to grow to accommodate the growing baby inside of you! Just six weeks ago, your uterus weighed about 5 ounces. This week it now weighs 8.75 ounces! The amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby is increasing and there is about 7.5 ounces of fluid.
Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.

At this time, your baby is holding her head erect. Because her muscles are developing, she can make some faces now. Your baby is able to squint, frown and open its mouth. There is enough calcium in the bones that they will show up on an x-ray. Your baby's fingernails are well formed now and the legs are longer than the arms. Because your baby is moving well now, you may begin to feel his movements! Some women say that the early movements feel like gas bubbles or a slight flutter. If you have not yet felt the baby move, don't worry. Fetal movements are usually felt between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy.

You may feel your heart beating 'louder'. This is because there is a lot more blood in your body than normal. (about 20-25% more)

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well.

A little scary but still neat!

An exciting development at 16 weeks pregnant – your baby's facial muscles are developed enough that your future child can grimace, frown, and make other faces in the womb. Although your baby has no control over his or her expressions right now, this will change in the weeks ahead.

At 16 weeks pregnant, your baby is able to hold his or her head slightly straighter than before. Your little one's eyes are finally moving into their final position in the front of baby's head. The ears are also moving to their final location on the side of the head.

Your baby's hair is starting to grow at 16 weeks pregnant. While you won't be able to tell his or her hair color until after birth, this is still an interesting development.

For the first time ever in fetal development, your baby's body is longer than his or her head. Your little bundle of joy is getting more proportional with each passing day.

Fun Fact:

Even if your baby is born with a full head of hair, his or her hair may fall out and change colors completely within the first few months of life.

By 16 weeks pregnant, your baby's umbilical cord is firmly attached to his or her belly at this point. The umbilical cord provides vital nutrients to your baby.

From pregnancy week 16 onward, your baby will be focusing his or her attention on complicated circulatory matters. For example, your little bundle of joy's heart is pumping around 25 quarts of blood every day. That's pretty impressive for someone that's smaller than a grapefruit!

No 16 week picture of me yet. Kendall and Daddy are at school & work plus Isaac is shady at best for getting me in the picture :) Maybe a double one next week!

Memories from the last 2 weeks.....

2011-10-12T13:48:00.000-04:00

Kendall would say "Girl Power!"
Just enjoying a little cuddle time

Pretending to be asleep seems to be the new fun game!

Soccer, soccer, soccer......

Isaac loves to practice soccer with sissy and daddy

End of game tunnel!

The Yankees are here!!

2011-10-08T04:47:00.029-04:00

September 29, 2011 marked another milestone for Marine Corps aviation. The first three UH-1Y (Yankee, Venom, & a few other nicknames for the newest huey) landed at MCAS New River.

Ben just returned from California a few weeks ago from his training on the new "bird." Just a few short years ago, he had voiced the aspiration of flying this new aircraft before his career was over. Little did we know that he would be getting orders to do just that A LOT sooner than we expected!

Ben has a few more months of completing the syallbus on these bad boys then he will be transitioning the UH-1N pilots to the new aircraft.

Sometimes I let the blog get to be much more about the kids and I, then I neglect to let you know what is going on in Ben's life. Since this is a HUGE part of it, I thought I would blog on it for posterity sake!

Here are a few of the local articles on the fly-in!

ONSLOW COUNTY -- Three advanced choppers touched down at New River Air Station Thursday, giving the Marine base the first UH-1Y helicopters on the East Coast.

The new helicopters, nicknamed "Yankees," arrived at the base in formation and touched down before a crowd of thrilled Marines.
"You can definitely feel the power when you're piloting the aircraft," Major Christopher Chown said. "The Yankees are a huge improvement over their predecessors."
The UH-1Y is the latest Huey class helicopter, capable of carrying more than 18,000 pounds. The older UH-1N helicopters, known as "Novembers," cannot lift as much weight, and often had to carry supplies and troops separately.
"Now we can do both tasks simultaneously," Captain Patrick Sise said. "We can carry rockets and guns as well as troops. Missions are now easier, more efficient, and the Yankee is more fun to fly."
The Yankees will eventually replace the Novembers, choppers that were built shortly after the Vietnam War. Pilots said they can feel the difference in the new chopper's capabilities as soon as they take flight.
"It's a smoother aircraft to fly," Sise said. "It has better power, and that allows us to better support the Marines on the ground."
The Yankee can travel 230 miles per hour and carry up to 13 Marines in addition to the crew. Yankees are used to guide troops on the ground, fly reconnaissance missions and target terrorists.
"We'll go out armed with guns and rockets and prosecute targets the ground commander wants us to shoot," Chowan said.
The Yankees are now part of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167. No date has been set for the new choppers to be deployed overseas. Each Yankee costs $21 million.

15 Weeks with Baby Beach #3

2011-10-07T08:03:00.000-04:00

Here I am 2 days late again.....I think that maybe Friday might just be our "normal" posting day until I get more caught up here at the house and with my business!
It seems that there are a lot of different comparisons to what size the baby is this week. (From softball to apple to pear!) I think that they are fascinating & since this is the last baby for us, I am including them all for posterity sake.

Dear Baby,
Daddy and I have 2 boy names picked out and will probably have an easy decision if you are a boy.
We do not have anything but a LONG list of girls names. It will probably be another long struggle just like it was when we picked out sissy's name!
You have Mommy craving ANYTHING pumpkin pie related BUT especially pumpkin pie milk shakes from Sonic. There has only been a few other occassional cravings.....onion rings (which mommy doesn't eat normally), Wendy's french fries, and a few other odds & ends.
Mommy is EXTREMELY grateful to be off of the plain spaghetti noodles, ramen noodles, rice, & butter toast diet that we were on earlier!
We are looking forward to the next 5 weeks flying by so we can see you again and hopefully clear your heart!
Love you already!!
I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart.....Jeremiah 1:5

Your baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 4 inches and she now weighs approximately 1.75 ounces. Your baby is close to the size of a softball and you can easily tell that you are pregnant now! If you wear maternity clothes or a swimming suit, other people will be able to tell that you are pregnant also. You can probably feel your uterus about three to four inches below your bellybutton.

Your baby is growing at an amazing rate and looking more like a human every day. Because your baby's skin is so thin, you are able to see blood vessels through the skin. Lanugo hair covers your baby's body, but it will be gone when your baby is born. The hair on the eyebrows and head continues to grow. Some babies are born with little or no hair and others have a head full of hair! If you have an ultrasound at this point, you might be able to see your baby sucking its thumb. Even though the eyes continue to move to the front of the face, they are still widely separated. Your baby's ears look like normal ears and continue to develop externally. The bones that have already formed continue to get harder and retain calcium. The baby is very mobile and flexible at this point. She can bend her arms at the elbows and wrists and she can also make a fist with her hands.

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple).

She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds.

At 15 weeks pregnant, your baby is 4 inches long from crown to rump - approximately the length of a large pear. He or she weighs more than 2.4 ounces now!

If you were to peek inside your uterus this week, you would still be able to see your baby's blood vessels through his or her paper-thin skin. In fact, the blood vessels forming in your baby's body may closely resemble a road map!

At 15 weeks pregnant, your baby will start producing lanugo, which is fine hair that will cover your baby's body up until a few weeks before birth. Lanugo covers every part of your baby in utero, except for the palms, soles of the feet, lips, penis, nails, and inner fingers and toes. Typically babies will shed this hair by the eighth month of pregnancy, but it can persist in some newborns for a short period of time. Pre-term babies are more likely to be born with lanugo than full term babies.
The bones in your baby's body are also starting to get harder at 15 weeks pregnant, and they will continue to do so throughout your pregnancy. This is called "ossification."
At 15 weeks pregnant, your baby is passing the time with practicing breathing, by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid. Believe it or not, the very act of doing so will help your baby's air sacs develop during pregnancy. Your little one may even be sucking his or her thumb, while the tongue is continuing to form taste buds.

She thinks we're just fishin.....

2011-10-05T17:35:00.000-04:00

I love this song & the message behind it.

I have heard it several times the past few days and it always brings a few tears, memories of my Dad, Pappy, Great-grandpap, countless uncles, & great-uncles and a great nostaglia.

All the times I went fishing, hunting, to camp with the guys, on the tractor with my great-grandpa, & countless other excursions that come to mind.

I pray that my kids will some day know these memories with their relatives too!

Happy Wednesday to y'all!

Pawpaw visits NC

2011-10-02T14:52:00.000-04:00

Ben's dad came last week for a visit before he had to go back to work in October.

It was a short visit but we managed to stay busy between ultrasound appointments, school visitations, household projects, and Chick-fil-a night for Kendall's school.

Here are the pics I got the day that Pawpaw had to leave to go back to Texas.

Gig Em Aggies!

14 weeks

2011-09-30T13:54:00.000-04:00

Ok,ok so I am 2 days late in posting....Sorry!

Wednesdays are notriously crazy busy for our family and Thursday is a busy day for me.

Take it when you can get it right?!

Monday, I went to see the maternal-fetal specialist in Wilmington, NC. I have to see him until he clears the baby's heart which will hopefully be at my next appointment in 6 weeks. I have a rhythm problem with my heart which causes Naval Hospital some concern so I normally have to have myself and the baby cleared so that I can be deemed "safe" to deliver at Naval.

I am pleased to say that as of right now, the baby's heart looks perfect! Dr. Wright said that at 14 weeks you should not be able to see all 4 chambers of the heart but we were able to on Monday! He even said that he could take the ultrasound photo and put it in a textbook! (Ahhh....makes this worried mama's heart glad!)

Due to my (AHEM) "advanced maternal age," they did a few other measurements on ultrasound to check for chromosomal abnormalities. They were all normal as well as the additional bloodwork that I had to do.

Good report!

The baby was moving around ALOT and the heart rate was at 155 BPM.

14 weeks is very early as far as determining the sex of the baby but the early indication is Girl.

I am gonna go with that for now but Ben is holding out for the next ultrasound in 6 weeks.

Here are a few of our views of the baby.....

I am hoping this is not our first thumbsucker!

Less cute but still cool!

Close-up

Other examples of babies in their 14th week......

You are now in your second trimester! Your baby's crown to rump length is 3.2 to 4.5 inches long and he weighs approximately 1 ounce now. Your baby is about the size of the average fist.
At this time, your baby's face is becoming more developed. The cheeks and bridge of his nose appear and the ears move from the sides of his neck to much higher on his head. The eyes continue to come closer together. A big development from this week onward is the development of lanugo. Lanugo is the fine hair that grows over almost your entire baby. The hairs grow in whirled patterns that follow the grain of his skin. These patterns later give way to your baby's fingerprints. The lanugo will be shed before birth and replaced by thicker, coarser hairs. Your baby's thyroid gland has matured and starts to produce hormones. If your baby is a boy, the prostate will appear and the ovaries descend from the abdomen into the pelvis in baby girls.
The embryo`s soft cartilage is now being replaced with ` real` chalk bones.
Your baby has eyebrows, but no eyelashes.

At about 3.5 inches long, your peach-sized baby's little body and limber limbs are coordinated enough for loads of complicated motions.

In fact, it's very likely that they're in the middle of some fancy break-dance moves right now!

Unfortunately, you're not going to feel their fancy moves until sometime after week 18 because they're still too small to trigger sensations in your uterus. Their movements are recognizable on an ultrasound, though.
Think of it this way: You're a third of the way through and baby's a third of the way cooked. Now that the "big stuff" (like skeletal and organ development) is taken care of, your baby starts a period of rapid brain growth, fat buildup and detail work. Highlights this week include:

Your baby now has fingerprints! Book 'em, Danno! Believe it or not, he actually created them himself while swimming around in the amniotic fluid. As he moved his hands, the skin on the tips of his fingers formed unique ridges and folds. That's why no one on earth has the same fingerprints, not even identical twins! Cool, right? Baby's arms are now in proportion to his tiny body, but his legs are still on the short size in comparison.

Meconium, that tar-like, sticky first baby poop, is now loading up your baby's intestines, which means you might want to set aside a bottle of olive oil, one of the few things that will get the gooey poop off of baby's bottom.

Your baby continues to gain new and impressive skills such as practicing and controlling voluntary muscle movements (this will help him fling food across the room later in life). Your tiny dancer's movements are no longer the jerky, uncontrollable twitches of yore—he now moves with graceful control.

Your baby is now weighs about an ounce and is the length of a flip phone, or roughly 3 1/2 inches—he's tripled in size from a mere three weeks ago! Luckily, you haven't done the same.

Off guard 14 weeks shot

Little man saying, "Hi baby"

Some more catch-up for the family!

2011-09-27T19:34:00.000-04:00

The Beach clan is in full swing back to school mode.

It is very interesting now to try to juggle just one child's extra-curricular activities. I might just be grumpy about it because I am SO grumpy and tired right now too!

Kendall has 1 evening of a ballet/tap combo class as well as 2 a week soccer practice with game on Saturdays! It makes for interesting scheduling.

Isaac is fortunately NOT old enough to join in on any sports just quite yet. (Although he has been tumbling through the house, I have thought about gymnastics but figured that Ben would not be a happy camper with that!)

He has voiced interest in soccer (which he has picked up really well....he has surprised me with his coordination!) and GASP football. (And they start at age 4 here!)

We just had their first back to school night yesterday. It helped to see all the projects that Kendall and I have worked on up in the classroom. I like to be able to visualize where she is and what she is doing!

Fall Season
U-6 JASA team
Yellowjackets again! (And of course Mama's volleyball #13!)

Soccer with sass!

Team huddle

These are Kendall's soccer proofs. (Hence the reason that they aren't of great quality!)

Had a really good time working with the photographer!

For any of you Jacksonville peeps reading this.....

http://www.runyonphotography.com/

www.facebook.com//RunyonPhotography

Kendall's Family Tree project

How Isaac sometimes watches Kendall's soccer games

Isaac is in love with Super Heroes!

My sweet boys

Spy glasses at Miss Kelly's

Benny during training out in the California
I think that he has really enjoyed transitioning to the new Hueys
Stay tuned for more!!

3 Years old!!!

2011-09-23T17:01:00.000-04:00

My little Isaac man turned 3 years old on September 7. (ok,ok some of you are thinking that he has never been little but.....)

He was fortunate to have his birthday buddy, Grammy, here with him for their special day. I won't tell you how old she is now. (You can thank me later mom!)

I am feeling like a bad mom but I didn't get a post out on the actual day because I didn't want to rush the post and for two I felt like poo-poo from Isaac's little sibling!

So now that he has had his 3 year well check-up today,

I thought that I would share his stats and some pictures!

38 pounds (90% for weight!)

38.3 inches (73% for height)

and 1 mean shot that they added into the new vaccinations at age 3!

Isaac is loving 2 day a week pre-school with Mrs. Sharp at St. Anne's.

This past week they learned about their sense of taste. They made "Monkey Munchies."

You love all things Super Hero and dinosaurs!

Oh and you really love Tow Mater too!

Your dinosaur cake that you picked out!

Grammy and you share a birthday!
How special!!

Grammy and Isaac

A Chuck E Cheese kind of celebration

What a happy day when you arrived!
7:11 a.m.
September 7, 2008

Sissy's first meeting with you!

You love to laugh and live life to its fullest

1 year old

2 years old

Love you so much little man!
Happy 3rd birthday and many more.

California Adventure 2011- Part One

2011-09-22T14:25:00.001-04:00

In August, We journeyed out to San Diego for a family vacation of sorts. (Ben was also doing training so it was a little business mixed with pleasure!)

We enjoyed being together and showing the kids some of the sights. I wish that it could have been more but I was fully in the nausea/barfing mode!

A little sass on Del Mar Beach

After the birds attacked our food and tried to carry it away!

Isaac with Papa Vince

Kendall fell in love with Rosie!

Guess where we are?!

Kendall's favorite ride!

Can't beat the Muppets in 3D!

Right before Isaac asked Mickey, "Where are Buzz and Woody?"

I must say she is Quite the Catch!

We LOVED the Aladdin show!

The Mickey/Minnie attire was of course made by me for our special trip!

http://www.skidzwifecreations.blogspot.com/

13 weeks

2011-09-21T18:05:00.000-04:00

Your Baby

Buckle up folks, we're about to heading into trimester two!

Your little womb tenant is getting bigger and smarter every day! Their skin is paper-thin and rather see-through, showing off all their shiny new functioning and still-developing organs.

Their sense of taste and smell are more developed and refined while their cozy amniotic sac continues to increase in size and mass and fill with more fluid.

As we embark on the second trimester, it's time for your manatee-to-alien-to-tiny-weird-human to evolve into monkey baby!

Little hairs, known as lanugo, will start to cover your baby's body this week, which will eventually be shed some time after birth.

Of all the trimesters, this one has been the most critical to ensuring your baby's development is on the right track.

The current size of our little one.....

Your baby can make a fist and even suck his or her thumb this week—both skills that are über-cute during infancy ... and not so much at the age of 9. If you're really lucky, you might catch a glimpse of baby's thumb sucking on an ultrasound photo. That's a framer! Other exciting developments include:

Your baby's eyelids are fused shut to protect his eyes as they develop. His bones and skull are solidifying and soon itsy-bitsy ribs may appear. (Baby ribs! How cute is that?!) Baby's intestines are finally right where you want them—in his or her belly instead of poking out into the umbilical cord. Baby's tooth sockets are all loaded and ready to pop out baby teeth six or seven months after baby is born (causing baby a lot of pain and you a lot of lost sleep).

Who's that singing? Elton John? Could be your baby: His vocal cords and larynx are completed now.

Your baby-to-be now weighs about 20 grams and is nearly 3 inches long, or about the size of a Nutter Butter, covered in chocolate. OK, it doesn't have to be covered in chocolate, but isn't everything better that way?

Tissue that will form your baby's bones is being laid down, especially around the head and limbs. The nose and chin are becoming more prominent. Your baby's eyelids meet and fuse together and they will not open again for nearly four months. The eyes started out on the side of your baby's head and they are now moving closer together on the face. The ears come to lie in their normal position on the sides of the head. If examined outside of the womb, you will be able to distinguish male from female at this time.

The sockets for all twenty teeth are formed in the gums, and vocal cords are beginning to form.

12 Weeks down

2011-09-15T15:41:00.000-04:00

I am feeling a little bit better this week. I still have my days but compared to the last 11 weeks....Shew!

Since this is our last pregnancy/baby, I want to be better about keeping a good log for our future stories.

So far little one.....you seem to like chicken noodle soup, plain spaghetti noodles, rice, apple sauce, and ramen noodles. Yeah mommy is bored with this diet too!

Week 11

Week 12

Week 6
This was a fun shirt given to me as a joke by my sister-in-law, Sarah. The front says "Beach Babe" I think that I will try to take pictures in it every once in awhile so that you can see how we are growing!

Week 12
Photo taken by Isaac
(Creatively edited by Mommy!)

•Vocal cords begin to form - While perhaps not quite ready to be introduced to the nearest opera stage, your infant will use these immediately following the moment of birth. Bet you can't wait to hear that first cry!

•Those precious eyes begin to move closer together - Are you wondering if he will have mommy's crystal green eyes, daddy's laughing brown ones, or maybe out of the gene pool will emerge grandma's clear blue!

•Ears shift to their normal place on the side of the head

•Intestines move farther in to your child's body

•His or her liver begins to function - Responsible for cleansing the blood, storing nutrients, and providing needed chemicals, this is an important event!

•The pancreas begins to produce insulin

•Guess what? Your baby's average size is now at a whopping length: 2.13 inches (5.4cm) and weight: 0.49 ounce (14gm)

How Big Is Baby?

At 12 weeks, your baby weighs in around .49 ounces and measures about 2.13 inches in length (from crown to rump).
She's about the size of a kiwi.

2011 Heider Reunion

2011-09-15T08:17:00.000-04:00

Can I just say wow I can't believe that it has been 10 years since I went to the Heider Family Reunion?!

I enjoyed being able to catch up with long lost family (and of course try to figure out how some people fit in the family!)

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the reunion which was also on my birthday this year!

Kendall Bug with my Pappy
I still can't believe that he was picking her up!

The kids with my Grammy and Pappy
Every little snapshot that I can take is precious to me since we live so far away from our families!

Trying to use the kids to hide my belly bump!

YUM there is chocolate here!

So silly!

First day of School

2011-09-13T10:14:00.000-04:00

Kendall's First day of Kindergarten

Parkwood Elementary

Jacksonville, NC

Jump for joy!

So excited for the bus!

Isaac's first day of Pre-school

St. Anne's

Jacksonville, NC

Goofy boy!

Daddy's cover for extra courage!

A little nervous....

All in all, the kids have been doing great in school. Isaac has had a few potty accidents but I think partly because he is super shy to ask about it and he said that he is afraid.

Kendall loves her specials the most. Well with the exception of P.E......the jury is still out on that one!

Becoming Bloggy official....

2011-09-12T20:11:00.000-04:00

We went immediate family official in mid to late July.

We went extended family official about a week or so ago.

Became Facebook official last week....

So now it is blog world time!

Ben and I are due March 28, 2012!
We are very excited.

I couldn't believe it so I took a few different tests just to make sure!

The signs that Kendall and Isaac greeted Daddy with to break the news.
(I have a video that I will have to work on uploading soon!)

I am doing ok. The first trimester has been pretty rough. I have been non-stop nauseous. (Even during middle of the night bathroom breaks) I had a pinched nerve in my left hip (which has mostly resolved and I pray stays away)
And of course I have been the MOST exhausted out of any of my pregnancies. Perfect timing since Ben is not here to wear these kiddos out!
I am very much looking forward to the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.
I found out last week that I will also have to see the maternal fetal specialist this time as well. I hope that he can clear me fast so that I am not doubled up on appointments.

It is very interesting to note, that I was actually pregnant on what should have been my due date with the baby I lost but didn't know it.
I believe that God knew I needed that final time to have closure with "what could have been" in order to move forward with no regrets.
I am looking at it like this....if I would have had that baby, this baby would not exist. It is really mind boggling to me.
I love this precious little one and can't wait to meet him/her. I will try to share more later on when I am not so tired!

Time for Marriage Mondays!

2011-09-12T08:19:00.000-04:00

Ok so I am posting this week's Marriage Monday (may I just say OUCH Julie! But yes a great reminder!) and last weeks as well. I read Julie's Labor day post and was particularly inspired and wanted to share it with y'all as well! Without any further ado...

http://www.comehaveapeace.blogspot.com/

September 12, 2011
How are you coming to bed at night? What message does your "condition" send to your bedmate? While real love and life are a far cry from the image reality tv shows attempt to sell us, we can't turn a blind eye (with bags under it, mind you) to God's standard for keeping ourselves and what we "say" to our lover by our "self keeping."

(Fortunately for me, my husband has been TAD for the past few weeks as I have not been in great condition when I have come to bed!)

When Proverbs challenges a husband to find satisfaction in his wife, we catch a glimpse of God's plan for how a woman prepares and presents herself to her mate:

"Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love." (From Proverbs 5:15-19)

Lovely? Graceful? Delight? Intoxicating? This picture is one of beauty and preparation, presenting your best self in a way that is to be enjoyed. The fountain of the blessed marriage is a far cry from the stagnate, frayed, and worn bride that many of us drag to bed each night.
Isn't it tough to put your marriage first (after God of course) when you have the care of children, your home, friends, serving at church, insert your daily obligation here___________ It makes it really tough at the end of the day to really care about being pleasing to your mate.
Maybe it's time to get rid of my tank top ... and shave under my arms ... and use a little makeup remover. I would be a lot more "intoxicating." Maybe it's time to prepare myself to be beautiful at one of the sweetest times of the day, the end.
You?
September 6, 2011
And Last week in Marriage Mondays......
Along the way of marriage, some stop working, some grit their teeth and tackle the challenges, others give up, and some bail out altogether. The sweetness of marriage is never realized without a lot of work.

In honor of Labor Day in my country, I want to remind myself (and let you listen in...)

10 Ways to Work on My Marriage

1.Ask my husband if I'm meeting his needs and how I could do better.
And try not to be afraid of the answer or suggestions!
2.Ask a trusted friend what our marriage "looks like" from the outside.
Someone who is going to tell you the truth!
3.Read a marriage book written from a biblical perspective.

4.Attend a conference, workshop or class about growing a stronger marriage.

5.Go away together overnight without your children.
Amen! I am looking forward to my cousin's wedding (not only because I love her) because my parents have graciously said that they will take our children to their room to spend the night. We will have 3 nights alone!!!
6.Pray for my husband and write down what I'm praying.
And ask him in specific what he wants me to pray about.
7.Read what God says in the Bible about marriage, re-read, re-read, & memorize.

8.Make your bedroom someplace special, instead of a storage room/family room/ironing room.
Ahem....yeah gotta work on that before Ben gets home!
9.Set aside money in your budget to invest in one "work on your marriage" idea.

10.Carve out time for conversation with each other to listen and share without interruption.
I am looking forward to reinstating our date nights when Benny gets home!

•Are you surprised at how much work marriage takes?

•What are you doing to "labor" at having a marriage that's better next year than today?

Also last week, Courtney at http://www.womenlivingwell.org/ posted 14 things that she has learned about marriage in the last 14 years. They were too good not to share!

But first, Here’s 14 things I’ve learned in 14 years of marriage!

1. My husband is not Jesus! He cannot fulfill all my emotional, spiritual or even physical needs.
And when you start to rely on your husband like that it puts UN-needed and un-wanted expectations on your spouse.
2. I married a sinner. My husband married a sinner too. Grace – grace MUST be a part of a good marriage.
And there is no hierarchy of sin.....
3. We must forgive each other over and over and over if we are going to have peace and joy in our marriage. “A good marriage is made up of two good forgivers.” ~ Spurgeon
Ahhhh....a work in progress
4. Fighting is normal. I must admit it sure doesn’t feel normal when it’s happening. It’s miserable to fight with the one you love most.

5. Marriage is a tool of sanctification in my life. There is no other relationship on this planet that has challenged me more to the core, as mariage. It has shown me many of my weaknesses and spiritual short comings and has brought me closer to Christ.

6. Do the harder things. It’s easier to criticize and nag than it is encourage and build up.

7. We reap what we sow in marriage. The longer I live the more I can see clearly – the grass IS NOT greener. When my grass looks brown – and someone elses looks greener – I simply need to water my grass everyday till it’s green again!

8. I’m not really that great to be married to. I’d like to think I’m the bomb diggity and my hubby lucked out in scoring a wife like me to be married to (*wink) - but to be honest I have blindspots…things I don’t see that he very clearly does see and those things are annoying.

9. My husband doesn’t always show his love by his words or affection but often it’s through his faithfulness, his provision for the family, taking the trash out or taking the kids on a bike ride so I can have a quiet moment to myself.

10. My husband needs attention. He needs to be heard. He needs back rubs. He needs a cold drink when he’s been out in the heat. He needs me to be “into” him and “into” whatever he’s interested in…ie. politics, Ohio State Football, his business, airplanes… this is what MY husband is “into” therefore, this is what I’M “into”.

11. Giving my husband respect changes the way my husband sees me. Submission is like a muscle…the more I practice it, the stronger and easier it becomes.

12. My husband needs s*x…a lot! lol!

13. Reading good Christian books on marriage has helped me to understand my husband better. I want to continually be a student learning and growing in wisdom as a wife.

14. Marriage is hard work and can be a bumpy road at times. But if I hang on tight to the hem of Jesus and the hand of my husband – I’ll have the best ride of my life!

Praying for you and your spouse today! I hope that Julie and Courtney's wisdom brought you the same joy (and things to work on in your marriage) as it did to me!
Happy Monday!

Reflecting on 10 years past......

2011-09-11T19:48:00.000-04:00

September 11, 2001.

It is a day that will forever be etched into many memories for a variety of different reasons.

Today, September 11, 2011, I am sure that my daughter will probably remember. Today is the day that she sat with her mama, who was still crying uncontrollably watching footage from that day, on the couch. I haven't let them watch anything on 9/11 because well they are way too young but today I let her sit and wrap her arms around me. It took me quite awhile to explain through my tears what I was watching.

Kendall uttered 1 simple five year old question.

"But why would somebody do something so mean?"

How can you really explain hatred to a 5 year old?

10 years later all of the images and footage still sickens and shocks me.

I remember what I was doing. A simple, daily task....I was cleaning my apartment in Pensacola, Florida. I received a phone call & then turned on the news. I couldn't do anything but sit and watch everything unfold. I somehow gathered my wits about me and called my best friend (who worked in DC at the time) to make sure she was ok. I tried to reach my parents but was unable to at the time.

It seems kind of crazy now to think at how much these events have changed and shaped my life.

I am married to a Marine.

Fighting terrorism is part of his job description.

It has lead him to Iraq on 3 different occassions. It has meant missing the birth of his first child. Also, countless birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, many firsts of his children, funerals for loved ones, and a large variety of other things.

It has made me worry for his safety as well as our children's safety.

What gives me comfort is seeing the patriotism of American citizens that have drawn together for support.

For the civilian neighbors & friends that always seem willing to help whenever Ben has to be away.

The military members that are sent away from their families time and time again but still come back to serve for the greater good.

And of course knowing that God has a greater purpose & will defend us from our enemies.

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Ben's first half-marathon

2011-09-11T10:28:00.000-04:00

Ben with his buddy AJ.

Heartbreak Ridge Half marathon.

(Ben's first half-marathon!)

All his training must have paid off.....

1 hour 40 minutes and 23 seconds

10 out of 87 for his age group (Men 30-34)

131 out of 1449 (Overall Military)

We are so proud of you love!

Girls Night Out

2011-08-11T10:26:00.000-04:00

I have been very blessed to work on my own this past week while my parents have had my sweet kiddos.

It has also been a great time to catch up with friends without having the constant interruptions.

Some of the most fabulous women that I know met up for dinner last night. This still picture cannot contain all the laughter & fellowship that happened at that dinner table!

Here's to Ladies night out.

Mish Mash

2011-08-08T12:26:00.000-04:00

My sweet kiddos went to my parents house for a week so I find myself taking a break from some major household organization. (Try our entire second floor!) I am enjoying the quiet to blog a little bit and also read some of my favorite blogs!

Here is Monday Mugs: Quiet

Even though this may not look like a quiet scene to you.....it was for me since I could sit on a lounge chair and watch the kiddos instead of participating in swim lessons!

Isaac jumping into daddy

Waving to her adoring fans.....

Julie at http://www.comehaveapeace.blogspot.com/ is talking today about our "love wallets."

I think that in today's society it is very hard to submit to your husband especially in the realm of finances. I know that in the past 8 years....ok well almost 8 years it has been super hard for me to do this with Ben. Head on over to see the whole article!

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he wanted them to understand that married couples are called to live in an attitude of mutual yielding to each other. Specifically, encourage wives to:

"... submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior." (Eph. 5:22-23)

Even in the use of funds we share, we have the opportunity to be "submissive," to have a voluntary attitude of cooperation, honoring his desires and leadership, even in his absence. It means:

•We don't go home with prepared apologies for excess store receipts.

•We don't use the grocery money for cute shirts and accessories and try to cover up.

•We don't withhold receipts and hope he won't find out.

•We don't hide bags in the car and bring them out one every few days.

•We don't ignore the budget we've established together.

•We don't allow ourselves to buy by impulse ... despite clearance % & cuteness.

•We don't speak bitterly about what our husband provides or our family standard.

•We don't let our children drive our decisions, instead of our spouse.

•We don't forget that we're stewards of what the Lord gave us.

•We don't tell ourselves we owe it "to us" because "he bought ..."

Even our attitude about spending is meant to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

There are so many times our husbands aren't with us to "agree" with each spending decision. Internet shopping has made it easier than ever to spend in private and instantly. How tempting. It's like "stealth shopping." Even charitable giving can be as easy as hitting a "donate" button, but when we do it apart from our husband's headship, we risk undermining his leadership and hurting his trust in us. As people give through the S.O.S. Somalia on Saturdays project, I hope married women who give will do it with the blessing of their husband.
We can't put a price tag on honoring our husband's leadership in the way we shop.

Are you loving your husband from your wallet?

With your checkbook?

With your PayPal?

With your credit card?

Today over at Women Living Well, they are talking about social media. Those who know me well know that I love Facebook and I really agreed with alot of what was mentioned today!

I LOVE social media because I love to be social! I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know many of my friends in new ways through their daily status updates, links to things they find interesting, verses they post, pictures from their daily life and interaction in my comments. I have connected with strangers on Facebook and Twitter, and those strangers – turned friends - have become real life meaningful friendships off-line! I LOVE that!

To be honest, it has nearly eliminated all my phone time in the home. If I have something to say to a friend, I hop onto Facebook and Twitter to “chat”. I miss my friends who are not on Facebook (but respect their reasons) simply because I feel like I have less access to them. I have to remember to be sensitive to their feelings of being “left out”. I have gotten closer to some of my acquaintances who are regulars on Facebook and Twitter – cause that’s where I hang out when I need a break from cleaning, homeschooling or parenting lol!

But it comes with some dangers.

1. Hurt feelings – I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve read a comment and have thought “What does she mean? Is she mad at me? Is she joking around? Am I being too sensitive?” Facebook comments are dangerous – beware and think before you type! I am sure that I am guilty of this too! Proverbs 26:18,19 says ”Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” Beware of comments that are sarcastic – you could lose a friendship over it!

2. Judging- I have friends who have quit Facebook because they struggled with the status updates of friends who they thought lived one way but they discovered lived a very different way. This is where sin and matters of liberty and conscience come into play. We must call sin - sin but give grace to our friends on matters of liberty. I will admit that when I see a swear word pop up – it mars my dear friend! Oh and those bikini photos – I’ll never understand…do you see how ugly those thoughts are that ooze so easily out of me. I must admit - I struggle at times. I have to continually consider – is it worth confronting or will I let it go – let it completely go. I am not on Facebook to be everyones Holy Spirit! That’s a really quick friendship killer! Which Satan thoroughly enjoys! John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Satan would love to use social media to destroy our friendships – but Jesus came to give us an abundant life. Do not let sinful judgement of friends destroy your friendships. Remember, we are all human on the journey toward sanctification and we are all in different places on our journey.

3. Public embarrassment -I will raise my hand first and say I’ve embarrassed myself publically on many occassions because of my loose lips. In the moment, a status update or comment feels right – but sometimes the next day I wonder – what in the world was I thinking? Words carry power – and I feel like it’s been a learning and maturing process on what to say publically and what not to say publically. Proverbs 10:19 says “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”

4. Jealousy – The comparison trap is just that – a trap! Pictures of vacations, new homes, new cars, or fun nights out with friends are a breeding ground for jealousy. There are two sides to this coin. First there’s the person putting the information out there. Is it wrong to show your vacation or fun night out? NO…but can we be sensitive to those who weren’t invited or who can’t afford a vacation this year. We don’t have to post every picture or every night out. Philippians 2:4 says “ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” This is one reason why I did not post my pictures from our Myrtle Beach trip or Willliamsburg trip this year on the blog. I want to be sensitive to the fact that not everyone will be happy to see those pictures.

On the flip side, jealousy is all throughout the Bible and we see how deadly it is to all friendships. Remember Cain and Abel, Joseph and the coat of many colors, Haman and Mordecai, Sarah and Hagar, Saul and David, the Pharisees and Jesus. These are just to name a few, if we looked into it further we’d find many more relationships in the Bible that were ruined by jealousy. Jealousy comes when we take our eyes off of Jesus.

When I feel discouraged by things happening in the social media world I always come to a point of realizing…I have taken my eyes off of Jesus. Hebrews 12:2,3 are some of my FAVORITE verses and they say, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Who for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

5. Inappropriate Relationships with men. I am in NO way suggesting that women cannot have healthy relationships with men. But for me – (again I am just saying this as my personal conviction) I have decided to not have friends on facebook who are male. I wrote an entire blog post here about this decision if you are interested.

One rule of thumb I follow for the words I type on the internet is this:

If your pastor put all the words you said on-line this week, up on a screen for your entire church to view…is there anything you’d be embarrassed of? If something comes to mind…delete it…and remember Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”

Social Media has GREATLY impacted my women friendships. We were created for relationship. God created Eve because it was not good for Adam to be alone. Outside of our husbands, we long for deeper friendships with women but sin has entered our relationships simply because we are all sinners. Some women hide behind the computer and chat all day on-line but never make real life friendships. I do it the opposite way. I take my on-line friendships and go deeper with them by having women into my home for bible study, creating Good Morning Girls groups where we email each other daily about the deeper things of God, I skype my on-line friends who are too far away to get together. I pursue real life friendship through Girls Night Outs and playdates in my home. My life is fuller because of my women friendships. I encourage you to pursue taking your on-line friendships off-line.

Now it’s your turn – tell me – how has social media affected your friendships?

A cousin filled Fourth of July

2011-07-28T14:31:00.000-04:00

I figured that while we are still in the month of July that maybe I should get on the ball and post some of our fun memories from it!

I thought that I would continue to post some from the visit with Ben's sister, Sarah, and her family.

We took a ferry and visited Bear Island.
It was obivously full of fun and headstands!

Oh and lots of eating!

It was a fun ferry ride with 4 adults and 6 children under the age of 8!

Trying to catch some of the fireworks from Camp Lejeune without actually going onto Camp Lejeune!

Precious Gabrielle (Our 2nd niece)

Happy 3rd Birthday Bethany!
(Our 3rd niece)

Lily
(Our 4th niece)

Our oldest niece Naomi....so hard to believe that she was born the month before Ben and I got married. Now here she is a little lady!

Holding my little man in a rare shot of me NOT behind the camera!

Ben doing some ground fireworks at home

Visiting the Aviation Memorial on MCAS New River
Of course posing with Ben's old aircraft
The UH-1N Huey

Our boating excursion

The end.....for today at least!

Wednesday

2011-07-21T06:57:00.000-04:00

Wednesday on a Thursday!

I am partcipating in Wordless Wednesday, Wordful Wednesday, and Women Living Well Wednesday. WHEW that is a lot of W's!

These photos were taken yesterday during swim lessons.

The kids are at the end of their first week of two weeks of swim lessons.

I love that they love to be active.

I also want them to be able to do things that I haven't been able to do. (I don't know how to swim but I am hopeful that with a very patient instructor & strength from the Lord that I will some day learn.)

Learning how to be brave in the deep end.
Psalm 56:3-4

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.

Mischief in the making
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
I pray that these lessons give him discipline in his future pursuits.

The jetpack that keeps her afloat.
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. Isaiah 40: 31
I hope that someday she realizes her strength comes from one source alone

Trusting that blowing bubbles under the water will not hurt him

Marriage Monday

2011-07-18T16:48:00.000-04:00

So Julie will usually have a great tidbit on marriage and advice to make it practical. I love reading her Marriage Mondays and take the advice to heart. This week it felt like she was talking directly to me.
Last week, I expected Ben to be so much more than he could be. He (and no one else for that matter) could soothe or take away the pain that I felt last week as my due date approached. I was angry at a lot of things and Ben was included in that.
Even though in my head and heart, I knew that it was wrong to be so angry, I just could not stop myself from being so.
I am in a better frame of mind this week but still craving what only God can give me now..... peace & comfort from my grief.
Anyway, I wanted to share part of Julie's post and if you want to hear more about her vacation mistake then check out her blog!
Julie wrote:
Sometimes I ask for/expect/demand something of my husband that he never promised me and can't produce. He promised a lot of things, but he didn't promise everything. He didn't promise to be able to satisfy all of my needs, yet I often put those expectations on him.

Imagine trying to order a burger at Chick-fil-A or asking for a life jacket at a ski slope. Imagine demanding to have your hair colored at the dentist office or insisting on college credit at your child's kindergarten graduation. Imagine telling the Avis agent you want to see their supervisor to give you your Dollar Rent-A-Car vehicle. (Humbling ........ ) Imagine expecting your husband to be your source of joy, satisfy all of your emotional needs, give you total peace, and keep you safe wherever you are.

Sometimes I stand before my husband wanting something he was never intended or equipped to give me. He wants to meet my needs and make me happy, but he must get frustrated as I stand there insisting he must give me what I want from him, even if they are legitimate needs. Just one "desk" away, Jesus stands waiting to give me joy, peace, and safety in abundance. I don't want to miss out! I have to go to the "right desk!"

Let's free our husbands from wrong expectations, and let's allow the Lord to give us what only He can give. We'll enjoy them both more when we go to the "right one" for what we need.

Have you found yourself trying to get something from your husband or another friend that the Lord wants to be the One to give you?

Our recent date night

Dread day

2011-07-14T04:22:00.039-04:00

So I have known that this day is coming for several long months (dreading it coming) and now that it is here, well it is still weighing on me.

I have had so many thoughts, feelings, and emotional outbursts since July 1st that I figured I had better write it all out and try to get it off of my chest, off my mind, off my heart.

Today was supposed to be the "due date" of our third child. We were so excited that it also fell on my father-in-law's birthday. I know in my heart of hearts that this little one probably would have been early like his/her big sister and brother but I am still clinging to this date because it was/is a tangible time for me.

I have been falling into the "what if's" again even though I have tried not to go there. I even what if'd my way to looking at a Chinese birth chart because I thought that maybe it would make me feel better to "know" what my baby's sex could have been. (Now for those of you that know me well don't think that I have gone off the deep-end because I know that there will be a time when I meet this little one face-to-face & ONLY then will I know the person that he/she was.)

I have been trying different things that were suggested to me from dear friends who have also been through miscarriage. Some of them bandaid the pain for a little bit but it seems to migrate back to me.

It seems compounded when each month I wind up not pregnant yet. It makes me question God's timing. It makes me want to demand that God bend to my time-line. Maybe that is what this very hard life lesson is about.....learning to accept God's timing and ultimate authority over my life. It is a very hard pill to swallow when you want something so very much.

Perhaps some day I will be able to look back on this season of my life and say, "Oh that is why." Perhaps not.

In the meantime, I am thankful that I have a husband who is supporting of my major mood swings in reagards to this topic and that I have two precious babies that also need me to be in the here and now. And remembering.....

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

5 years old!

2011-07-13T06:53:00.000-04:00

Kendall had her 5 year physical/kindergarten physical yesterday. I thought that I would post a few of her stats and of course a few pictures!

She is 42 inches tall.

Weighing in at 41 pounds.

One of her birthday celebrations

When given the choice of her birthday garb to wear to VBS, Kendall chose thise button and this pirate hat!

Listening to us sing Happy Birthday!

She loved having her cousins in for another birthday celebration!

Boating twice too

Waiting on her second cake

Waiting on the fireworks

Cementing my marriage together

2011-07-12T14:22:00.000-04:00

I have done a little research in talking with really good friends and have found that most have a unique story of how their marriage really became "cemented" together.

Now we all know that marriage is meant to be forever and that in our current culture it seems easy to just walk away rather than work through the hard times and heartache.

Ben and I have had some really wonderful times and also some pretty horrible ones as well. I have never questioned that God brought us together for a particular purpose. I am so glad that I let God lead me to the right man instead of "choosing" on my own.

Anyway back to my cement talk, with what was supposed to be my due date for our third child only 2 days away, I have been pretty emotional to say the least. I am so very thankful that Ben has been so steadfast for me through the past 8 months.

I was just sharing with a very close friend and last week with my sister-in-law that I feel like this miscarriage really cemented our marriage together. We have suffered through our hard times & leaned on each other. We have grown through it but I really feel that this experience bonded us together. (And still continues to do so as I am traveling on this road.)

It felt fitting to share a little bit about how I have been coping with the loss of our baby. My parents bought me a ruby ring for Christmas to remember the little one that was to be joining us this month. It is a daily reminder that some day I have a sweet bundle of joy to meet when I greet my maker.

I began to wear it under my wedding set (after speaking with Ben to make sure that he was ok with it) since it did not fit on any other finger & I could not bear to part with it to have it sized. For whatever reason, it just never looked or felt quite right. I was playing with it one day during my quiet time and slipped it on in between my engagement ring and wedding band. It instantly felt so right.

Thus in my mind, our cement being formed and refined. Some days I can look at it and smile knowing that a sweet baby has brought such a love between Ben and I.

And other days I try to be at peace with our current situation because I just might not be meant to understand God's ways.

I pray that some day I will again experience the joy of another pregnancy and baby but until then I am trying to take comfort in God's timing, love, and comfort.

Big Kid kind of fun.....

2011-07-09T08:30:00.000-04:00

Who said that parks were just for kids?

Certainly not us!

This is at the New River Marina playground where we stopped to dry off after our recent boating experience!

Of Course Isaac wasn't going to let us have all the fun!

I didn't get a picture of Kendall on the playground but she had lots of big kids fun herself. Here she is with her turtle (before it blew away and had to be rescued) on the New River.

Relaxing and Maxing with the kiddos

2011-07-08T17:20:00.000-04:00

The kids are always begging to practice with our old point and shoot camera so the other day this is what we got (with a little editing from mommy!)

Sneak Peek of Cousin Fun!

2011-07-07T07:14:00.000-04:00

We had a very fun-filled few days with Ben's sister, Sarah, and her family. Here is a few teasers of the photos!

Happy 4th of July
and
Happy Birtday Bethany!

Now this is a sleepover!

Poor Lily couldn't stay!

Nobody move in the tub!

It's all about Kendall

2011-06-30T08:24:00.000-04:00

Happy 5th Birthday Kendall Bug!

Wow, how could 5 years already pass us by?

It feels like it was just yesterday that I was in the hospital (at this time waiting for your arrival since technically you were not born at this point!)

You were such a fun & happy baby. And Kendall you are growing up into such an amusing little lady too. There is not a day that goes by that you don't crack me up with your facial expressions or something that you say.

Remember that we love you so much and are SO very BLESSED to call you Daughter!

2.5 weeks before you were born

6 days old

A daughter is a gift of love. ~Author Unknown

A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. ~Author Unknown

A mother's treasure is her daughter. ~Catherine Pulsifer

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~Author Unknown

A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend. ~Author Unknown

You have become such a great big sister

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future. ~Author Unknown

A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~Author Unknown

A daughter is a mother's gender partner, her closest ally in the family confederacy, an extension of her self. ~Author Unknown

Daughters are like flowers, they fill the world with beauty, and sometimes attract pests. ~Author Unknown

3rd Birthday

A son is a son till he takes him a wife, a daughter is a daughter all of her life. ~Irish Saying

4th Birthday

You have become such a beautiful, young lady!

Living Room Transformation

2011-06-28T07:18:00.000-04:00

Recently, we decided to transform our formal living room (which we have never used as a formal living room) into a playroom for the kids. They are always in there when they watch t.v. and call it "their room." So why not?

Here is what I have been working on so far.....

It is not done yet but I will be completing it when my kiddos go to stay with Grammy & Pappy this August.

Notice Kendall on the phone....
The curtains that they have broken.....
Yeah lots of work still to be done!

Kendall Bug's Ear Piercing

2011-06-28T06:58:00.000-04:00

Kendall has been asking for over a year to get her ears pierced. We wanted to make sure that she knew what she was getting into prior to actually doing it.

She worked very hard learning her upper and lower case letters this year AND her birthday is on Thursday. So our birthday gift this year was getting her ears pierced. (And a few extra sets of earrings for after they heal)

The local mall unfortunately doesn't always have 2 people on duty to pierce at the same time so we celebrated this past weekend with her gift.

Sitting in Daddy's lap for courage

Excited and Nervous

The less than 30 seconds of crying

So tickled with her Hello Kitty earrings

Chocolate ice-cream afterwards!

What birthday present would be complete without riding in a space ship with your little brother?

The loot for after the Hello Kitty studs come out

Flowers for Kendall and I from Ben for the past couple of crazy months
And
My farewell gift from HMLA 467

Farewell HMLA 467

2011-06-24T04:09:00.014-04:00

Today is our farewell to HMLA 467, to Ben flying the UH-1N huey, some good friends, a LONG commute, and to an "active" squadron.

It is hello to Ben learning to fly the UH-1Y venom huey, a training schedule (not sure what that will bring but at least Ben won't have a 2.5 hour commute time added to his long day!), and a new set of faces to learn.

Ben will still be at the squadron until mid to end July finishing up then he will be sent to California to learn the new huey.

We are excited to be on this new journey!