giving thanks

First of all, I hope this finds you all happy, healthy and enjoying your holiday. I thought I would just take a moment to note just a few things I am thankful for this year.

Number 1 would be the wonderful wives of the 2D Radio Battalion.  I know I haven't seen much of any of you since the deployment started, but all the chats here and there, and even just your own updates on Facebook have helped me get through knowing I'm not alone.  So thank you ladies!

Number 2 would be my best friends in the whole world.  AKA my Wolfe Street Family.  I would not be who I am today without the influences (good and bad, ha) of you girls!  I love you all so much thank you all for being who you are, and always being there for me.

Number 3 would undoubtedly be my family.  They are truly unbelievable.  All the love and support I've gotten from them throughout my life is more than greatly appreciated.  I don't know what I'd do without you.  I love you all!

Number 4 goes to my dogs.  For so long it was just me and them.  Even when Patrick wasn't deployed, I could go entire days not talking to any humans.  Just them.  And they don't love me any less for having a baby.  And they still love to play with me.  They are the best.  If you are an avid reader of mine, you already know how much I adore them.  Thank you boys for your sloppy kisses!

And since I am equally thankful for both of these guys, number 5 is my husband and son.  I count my blessings everyday that this is my family.  I am the luckiest girl to have married my best friend, and my hero.  What better role model for our son who has so quickly completely stolen both of our hearts.  I can't say I don't remember life before him, because I do.  But I certainly don't want to go back there.  These 2 are my everything.  Thank you for being you Patrick and Gunnar. XO

thanks for all the laughs, my love

and thanks for being so sweet

and thanks for giving my this little guy

and sonny boy, thanks for that smile

Last but not least, I am thankful for the days passing quickly and that this deployment is more than half way over with.  I am thankful that Patrick has stayed busy (to help him pass the time) and most importantly safe.  I am thankful for each phone call, and every email.  Each one is one more closer to seeing him again.  Counting down the days...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  

my best friend's wedding

One of my very best friends got married last weekend, and I must say... she was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.  Myself included!  Carly and I played hockey together at Mary Wash, and lived together for 3 years there.  She married Justin, also a Mary Wash alum, but who we have grown closer to because he is also a Marine, went through TBS with Patrick, and then they were both stationed at Camp Lejeune.  These two are very near and dear to our hearts and we really could not be happier for them.

Now, I'm sure she had some stresses on her big day (because don't we all) but from an outsider's view, it seemed that everything about her day was perfect!  It was the most gorgeous fall day, in the cutest little town.  Us girls had a funfilled morning and afternoon of mimosas, baby talk, the most wonderful pumpkin cookies, and feeling like models.  Guns came along for the ride, and he was a trooper!  Here are some of my favorite photos from the day:

Patrick was there all day too!

getting ready... isn't that dress stunning?!

 loving her finger waves

 champagne in the church pre-ceremony

 baby love (10 seconds before walking down the aisle)

 "my mom's going to kill me for wearing a denim jacket"

"but you're really pulling it off"

walking to the reception

 all of the girls

 checking out the groom's new accessory

 I love how happy he looks looking down at his ring

 bride about to be serenaded by the groom

 groom getting ready to entertain us with some Lynard Skynard

the bride and groom headed back to the b&b after a fabulous celebration

Congratulations Carly and Justin!  We are so excited for you and can't wait for the many years of double dates ahead of us!  Enjoy Belize!  XOXO

three weeks

My Gunny boy is now three whole weeks old!  Okay so I should have posted this yesterday, but the serious lack of sleep is starting to get to me...  We had a very busy week.

This week we ushered in October, and fall weather.  And we had the appropriate outfit, thanks to Aunt Kelly!

Some of our cousins came to visit!  Pat's sister and her family stopped by to meet Gunnar and introduce him to their Mackenzie and David (who is just about a month older then Guns)!

We also spent this week cheering on Dad's favorite baseball team - the Cardinals!  They are playing in the NLDS, and as of last night the series is tied up and we are going to game 5!

Big news is that his belly button arrived (sounds so much better then "his umbilical cord fell off"), so he got his first bath!  He loves the warm water, and doesn't fuss at all until he has to get out.  A waterpolo star in the making, just like Dad.

My favorite part about this week is the he is smiling SO much!  I can't get over it!  It's hard to catch on film mostly because I don't want to stop watching him to get the camera... but I did manage to get this one:

He also took a nap in his own crib, instead of the pack 'n play (or my bed).  The nap may or may not have lasted only about 10 minutes because he may or may not have peed all over himself (and the sheets).

 So a quick wardrobe/linen change, but he was wide awake, and wouldn't stop staring at his Daddy doll!

We also made our first outings.  He came with me to run errands, which of course included picking up some new things for him.  I mean honestly, how can I resist that face?!  And the big trip was all the way up to DC for Auntie Carly's bachelorette party!  Way to go Guns for holding it down in a group of 20 crazy, dance partying women.  I thought that was the appropriate first social outing for a newborn, don't you agree?

Oh, and we started tummy time!  Just for a few minutes at a time, he seems to really love it.  Too bad I can't put him to sleep on his stomach, I think he would prefer it that way!  Then at least I could get some shut eye.  Oh well...  People do survive the sleepless nights, right?!

you don't choose your family...

... they are God's gift to you.  And so blessed are we that we have such a wonderful, thoughtful, giving and caring family!  Little Sharkbait has already been the recipient of so much love, and for that we are forever grateful.  So we just wanted to give some shoutouts where they were due, and because baby things are so cute...

Aunt Kelly, Uncle Kevin (and all 7 cousins) sent along this fun countdown calendar and an adorable puppy blankey (No, Winston, it's not a chew toy)

***They also sent Patrick a recordable storybook for his birthday.  The story is "Guess How Much I Love You" and I can't wait for him to get home and read it out loud the exact same way Sharkbait will hear it every night while Dad is off being a hero.***

 Grandma & Grandpa gave us our first little outfit (jammies!) and a super soft blanket

Aunt Christy and Aunt Jamie sent a cute ultrasound frame that can be personalized (right now it says "coming soon") and "The Belly Book" a tradition they are sharing with me (in which I immediately filled with info from the past 3 months)

Meanwhile, Mimi and Bepa are busy at their new house building an apartment for me and Sharkbait to move into when Patrick leaves, whenever that may be... We've already picked out paint colors!  Don't know what we'd do without them... and everyone else who loves us so much!  Thank you times infinity to everyone :)

Oh, and I can't forget all of the Wolfe St. Aunties who insisted couldn't resist rubbing my "belly" when they visited.  And our dear friend Ms. Eileen gave us a sweet (and authenticated) Peter Rabbit stuffie, plus the first funds towards Sharkbait's first piggy bank (which was won in a card game... and I am under strict instructions to only add to the piggy bank money that I win gambling... I am mother of the year already)

Disclaimer:  If I failed to mention your personal outpouring of love for us, I am sincerely sorry.  Pregnancy Brain is not a myth as I am coming to find out.  I am more and more frequently forgetting things, the scariest of these 'things' would be forgetting to finish my sentences.  So it is not that you are not loved, it is simply that I forgot you.  No offense.

honoring ireland

Every year Emerald Isle, NC pays homage to its namesake, the original "Emerald Isle", in a big way.  This year was the 20th annual St. Patrick's Day Festival on the island.  And also this year, some of my bestest friends came down for the party!  Four of my fellow Wolfe St. roomies trekked down south for the extravaganza, and I hope that we showed them a good time!  We missed you three that couldn't make it.

The festival seemed bigger this year then it was last year, and it included everything from a beer tent/garden (don't worry I didn't partake) to 3 stages with live music (one of which being karaoke), tons of food and booths with everything under the sun you could buy.  My favorite part, not surprisingly, was the petting zoo!

My favorite parts of the weekend, include (but aren't limited to) the shark attack at the E Club, and our group nap...  I quickly jumped in there on the end with the dogs (and Patrick too!)

Love you girls!

meet sharkbait (oh ha ha)

For those of you who aren't die hard Finding Nemo fans (basically if you weren't my roommate in college) you might not know who Sharkbait is.  Well he is actually Nemo.  Sharkbait is the name given to Nemo at his "induction ceremony" in the dentist's tank.  This little clip shows the scene (which is a Wolfe Street fave).  I know it's long, but if you skip to 1:50 in the video you'll get the general idea...

Now this post isn't really about Finding Nemo.  It's about our own Sharkbait.  With me loving this animated classic, and both of us being saltwater fish enthusiasts, the nickname Sharkbait just seemed right.  The following photos document Jack and Winston meeting Sharkbait.

In typical Jack fashion, he licked it (can you see his tongue?)

And in typical Winston fashion he gave it a little nose bump

The piece of paper isn't actually Sharkbait; it is a picture of Sharkbait.  Or rather, and ultrasound of Sharkbait.  Yep, that's right, I said ultrasound.  Sharkbait just so happens to be our baby!  We are very excited about this little addition, who should make his/her appearance sometime between September 13-17 (the Dr's have changed it on us).  Not that the change matters, Dad still won't be here.  Sadface.  But he will be off keeping our country safe, and we are proud of him for that!

In the meantime, we have lots of things going on, and I have a feeling that these next 6 months are going to fly by and we'll be meeting little Sharkbait in no time!

Sharkbait ooh bap ah doo...

productivity

Yesterday was one of my most productive days in a while. I didn't go back to sleep after Patrick left for work and I was able to get so much done! I got in a 3 mile run (part of my half marathon training... more on that later) and took the dogs to the beach (also, more on the later).

Then I cleaned the WHOLE downstairs of the house. I'm talking 'under the couch cushions' clean. I made a serious dent in the ever growing pile of laundry we have. And just in the knick of time for a break Carly called me and asked if I wanted to bring the boys for another walk in the National Forest.

Side note - Carly found the nicest walking path in the woods and it's just a mile off the island! Gorgeous scenery, very peaceful and full of lots of lizards for the pups to chase!

So back to my training. I've been looking for a good long distance run to train for for a while now. To get me motivated and really back into running. I have chosen a half marathon in Wilmington

next March. This was my first week and I haven't been lazy about a workout yet, we'll see how the next 17 weeks play out!

And now for the best, perhaps distasteful, part. I took the dogs down to the beach to let them run and get some energy out. All was going well until Winston decided to chase birds again. He takes off into the ocean after them and doesn't realize he's not going to ever catch them until he can't feel the ground anymore. Well this time on his way out he decided to take a potty break.

That's right, folks. He pooped right in the ocean. If you recall from this post this isn't the first time he's done this. It looks like he's knocking out bodies of water to use as a toilet. But really, after the ocean, there's no where to go but down. Sorry Win, you're too much of an overachiever. And sorry readers if you're offended or grossed out by this post/photo. I just think it's hysterical.

birthday chronicles

I have the best husband. He planned a whole week of birthday surprises for me :) First we started out last Tuesday Nov 9 at the 2d Rad Bn Birthday Ball with our new friends who I can't wait to hang out with again! And I'm pretty sure one of them got a picture of the 2 of us, as soon as I track one down I'll post it!

As we were leaving the hotel the morning of my birthday, I was handed this piece of paper...

and the real celebrating started! In case you can't see... Patrick made clues to figure out each word of my surprise! This one says: Dinner in DC with our best friends. Hooray! We ended up going to Carly & Mo's house for a surprise birthday cake celebration with all of Wolfe St. (we missed you Stef!) then on to Mr. Smith's for dinner! Mr. Smith's is in Georgetown, and it is the home of the $1,000 burger! Literally... it's one thousand dollars. It comes with some crazy bottle of wine. We stuck to chili, nachos and champagne. And it was wonderful!

After dinner, we went to experience some local nightlife, and on the way stopped to get my palm read! Crazy experience, it was in someone's living room. There were cats, and a tiny dog that may or may not have peed on the ridiculously red carpet while we were there. She told me that I have a good aura, and I care about people. I apparently need to move to California for financial benefits. Also, one of my friends is jealous and doesn't want to see me happy. And that there is something keeping me up at night and I'm having trouble sleeping. It was weird and I don't think I'll do it again, but it provided some entertainment for the night!

The next morning at breakfast at our favorite diner, Bob & Edith's (see surprise #1) I got my clue for surprise #2

and it was on to MD to celebrate with Pat's family! The surprise is dinner at lewnes with grandma Dee and grandpa Bob. For the record, we don't call Pat's parents that, the boys do. The boys being the dogs. And, I actually never figured out the name of the restaurant. I filled in the blank after we ate there. Pat insisted I had been there, but he was wrong. I hadn't. But it was so delicious! And they gave us a tasty birthday brownie ice cream sprinkled in goodness. Again, the next morning, I was presented with clues for surprise #3

and we were off to NC again! The surprise is the wkd (weekend) at the farm with Mimi and Bepa. Again, it's Jack and Win who call my parents Mimi and Bepa, ha! And boy did they have fun running and running and running down on the farm. My Dad arrived about an hour and a half after us, and he was toting a half bushel of real live MD crabs! He steamed them for us, and we had a nice crab feast birthday dinner! We rounded out the night playing 500 rummy or something like that.

All in all, FABULOUS birthday! Good job hubby! My only wish is that we could've spent more time with everyone. But when is there ever enough time? Well, happy birthday to me! Now it's back home with laundry, dishes, and flowers. Oh, and I get to pick out linens for our NEW bed that is being ordered! Yay!

this one's for the girls...

I am lucky enough to have had 6 amazing, and beautiful roommates in college. If you include (which I do) our honorary roommate, and my soulmate (no, not Pat) then the count comes to 9 (including me).

This is a tribute to my very best friends, who have shared all the very best and very worst times with each other, and who are like sisters to me. I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for you girls these past 6 years! I love you all (we missed you SO much Kiki)!

Here's most of us (Chels, where were you?)

Sarah, Stef, Mo, me, Mer, Car & Em

I like this one because we're not ready and Car looks gorgeous

just like family - the girls with my Mom
in case you were wondering we are always classy

love there's Chels!

2 words: magic eyelashes ;)

xoxo, bias