1 year well check

Isaac weighed in at 24 pounds 12 ounces
He was 29 3/4 inches tall.

And he is just so handsome I can't stand it!

He has 2 full teeth and 2 that are halfway decended. Isaac loves to throw things in the potty, unravel toilet paper, climb anything and everything, cuddle (ah I am enjoying it while I can), take long baths, and just about anything that involves his Mama!

Take a well deserved break....

Let's just say that today was hmmmm.....trying. I am not going to go into any details but it was not a fun day. My friend posted this on Facebook and I really enjoyed it so I am throwing it out there for my friends (but esp. those of you that I have met through this crazy military lifestyle!) Take a well deserved break and God Bless!

Take a Well-Deserved Break
Krista Wells September 08, 2009


Let’s just start off by saying that there is nothing selfish about putting yourself first or “self care,” especially for military families. Self care is not only healthy, but also one of the best ways to show support for those who serve because the more self sufficient we are, the more energy we have for ourselves and others.
Lisa Earle McCleod gracefully reminds us of this in her book, Forget Perfect. And we all know that military life isn’t “perfect,” but if we can learn to look beyond immediate struggles and accept that it’s through our sacrifices that life has much of its deeper meaning, we can learn to step back, appreciate, and honor ourselves.
And don’t feel guilty for pursing an interest outside of military life or for taking time to accomplish a personal goal. Think of it like this: When we board an airplane the flight attendant reminds us that in an emergency we must adjust our own oxygen before assisting others.
The more we treat ourselves to what we love, the easier we can breathe, and in turn, be that breath of fresh air for others. Here are four self-care tips to keep you relaxed, focused and at your best:
Spoil Yourself Rotten: Life Coach Talane Miedaner shares that we can actually spoil ourselves silly on a shoestring in her book Coach Yourself to Success. One military girlfriend shared that she did this by getting her make-up professionally done at the department store for a minimal purchase. She also used some savvy and left with a free sample of a new perfume to go with her new look.
Another spouse implemented one of her tips and volunteered at a local playhouse as an usher, which is a great way for her to give back to her community while enjoying free shows during her spouse’s deployment.
Creative Ways to Splurge: Miedaner also shares how to turn the most mundane activities into luxuries with a little creativity. Her suggestions include things such as serving cereal in a fancy bowl adorned with fresh fruit, adding Epson salts to a hot bath, upgrading the dull pencils in your junk drawer to an expensive pen, or adding a candle to the family dinner table.
Schedule Regular Rejuvenation: Block out time in your calendar for yourself and your goals. Numerous examples of pursuing personal goals are presented by authors Kathie Hightower and Holly Scherer in Help I’m a Military Spouse; I Want A Life Too We all do a great job at keeping lists of what we should do, but make sure that scattered throughout your to-do list is some permission to just do nothing.
Give the Gift of Grace: We should never feel guilty about taking time for ourselves, and the more we tend to our own needs the more energy we have to handle life’s stressors with ease. Our country relies on the military, which relies on the support from the home front. We all know that a servicemember’s career advancement is correlated with the well being of the family. The more your servicemember knows you are taking care of yourself, the more they can focus on their mission.

ABC's and the bathtub

A new award for me!

Thank-you to Kim over at http://pairslices.blogspot.com/ for my award! I so enjoy looking at your blog and your wonderful comments on mine! So glad to get to know you over blog world! It just goes to show you what a small world it is!

The rules here are to pass the award on to 7 bloggers who I think are honest in their blogging and to list 10 honest things about myself. Here goes:

1. I am feeling slightly overwhelmed right now but I am steadily praying to God & giving it over to him.
2. I miss my job and patients but wouldn't trade being at home with my kids for anything.
3. I am getting excited about facilitating my small group for ladies bible study even if I am pretty nervous about it as well.
4. I patrolled my house at 230 in the morning last night with my husbands ka-bar because I woke up with a weird sensation. (Your mind can seriously play tricks on you!)
5. I am terrified of one of our dogs dying. (My in laws have just lost one of their pups and I think that is where it is stemming from!)

6. I am hoping to get Lasik when I am done with braces. (I can only take so much change at once!) I am right there with you Kim!
7. I am tired of having cereal for dinner. (A staple for us when my honey isn't home!)
8. I want to find time to take a signing class at our local community college.
9. I am tempted to pull my husbands jalapeno plants out before he gets home because I have nothing to do with them while he is gone!
10. We have take a tithing challenge at church and I would like for you to pray for us as we try to manage the finances to do this!

Ok so here are the ladies that I am tagging!

1. Maria at http://personalizedsketchesandsentiments.blogspot.com/

2.Lindsay at http://macmanusfamily.blogspot.com/

3. Jennifer at http://welcometoourreality.blogspot.com/

4. Marianne at http://familyamericanstyle.blogspot.com/

5. Rachel at http://troyandthemrs.blogspot.com/

6.Andrea at http://kevin-andreaturner.blogspot.com/

7. Yonca at http://yoncaskitchen.blogspot.com/

You'e going to miss this.....

Visit Pam at http://pramom26.blogspot.com/2009/09/your-gonna-miss-this-moment-week-50.html to see more on the blog canival!

Isaac wanted me to pick him up so bad this morning but as usual I was running around crazy. (You know the life of "single" parenting is taking a toll on me) I had to snap this shot just to remember his little fits!

Daily bible verse

A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. Proverbs 12:16

This is today's bible verse. I love this one and I thought that I would share. Plus, I need to remind myself on a daily basis of this verse.

Show and share day

Second day of pre-school & Fridays are show and share days.

Can you guess what Kendall took to school to share?
She misses her daddy so much & it breaks my heart I didn't get a voice recorder for her daddy doll.

It's official....I have my first "winter" cold. I am fighting it with all I can so hopefully I can get rid of it soon! I promise to get myself organized on some more posts here soon!

Ben has made it to 29 palms. They have no cell phone service out there so are phone calls are going to be extremely limited for the next 4 weeks. We are able to email at least once a day so thank goodness for that!

This is from a few months ago when they had the volunteer appreciation party for Ben's squadron.

May God hold you in his hands always

First day of pre-school/PMO

Ok,ok so I lied but I was waiting for a phone call so I figured what the heck! Hope you enjoy :-)
Kendall is going M/W/F from 8:30-11:30 to Mrs. Sharp's class.
Isaac is going M/W from 8:30-12:30 to Miss Jessica's class.

They both had a great day!

Prayer requests

I promise to post the pictures of the kids first day soon & Isaac 1 year portraits. Man I feel like I am slacking! Sorry things have been super crazy around here!
I did want to pop in and ask all of my christian readers and friends to pray for a few things.

• Our good friends (JT & Kelly) son is having a bad staph skin infection. He is going to see the surgeon tomorrow so please lift them up for a speedy recovery.
• Isaac's room assistant for PMO (also Kendall's old one) is 32 weeks pregnant with super high blood pressures. She was sent to Greenville (the baby also has a suspicious spot behind her heart so the OB wants her to be in specialized care which we don't have here in J'ville.) and is being monitored. They are hoping to make it another 2 weeks and take the baby at 34 weeks giving her lungs a better chance.
• Thirdly, for me tomorrow. I am stepping way out of my comfort zone and facilitating a ladies bible study. Please pray for wisdom, guidance, and that I may teach these ladies something (or that they teach me!)

Saying goodbye is hard to do.....

Happy Labor day

Birthday!

Happy Birthday Isaac!

We went to ChickFilA for lunch to celebrate. (I was going to take the kids to ChuckECheese but chickfila was having a free sandwich giveaway for wearing your favorite sports team shirt.) A good time was had by all on this rainy labor day!

Up to no Good as usual!
Posing together afterward while we were still a little soaked!

We also wanted to wish my mom a Happy 55th Birthday today as well!

Blog hop...remembering 9/11

Before a tribute ceremony on September 11, 2003 in Pensacola, FL.

This week's blog hop is a somber one but one that deserves the upmost respect. What were you doing when the terrorist attacks happened on September 11, 2001?
I remember waking up glad that I was off shift at the hospital. I didn't turn on the tv as I sometimes get sucked into it instead of doing what needs to be done. I started blaring my music and cleaning my apartment. I received a phone call from a friend, who broke the news to me. I remember sitting down on the couch, turning the tv on, & then crying. It also began to dawn on me that the city I was living in at the time (Pensacola, FL) might be a target. I also was worried about my parents who live about 45 minutes to an hour away from Shanksville, PA. It then crossed my mind that my best friend was in D.C. I can't even begin to put into words what I was feeling besides extreme grief, worry, anger, and hurt. So to all of those affected on September 11 God bless you & know that you will never be forgotten.

Happy first Birthday Isaac!

Play time

The kids enjoying some play time with each other. Sorry for the lack of posts. Ben leaves early tomorrow morning so we are trying to spend as much time together as we can & Ben can fit in with work. I will post more later on this weekend.

City of Champions

This was too awesome not to post. Go Pittsburgh!!!

What would your children say? Wednesday

Head on over to http://familyamericanstyle.blogspot.com/ to participate in What would your children say & see what other kids are doing to their parents!

Now Kendall has had some wing dingers the past 2 weeks so hold onto your seats!

#1- We are on the road on the way home to NC from PA. I am sleepy but don't do well with caffeine due to some health conditions. (I have it about 2-3 times per month if that tells you how unused to it my body is....) I have a Mt. Dew from my parents house in the morning and then got a gas station cappuccino at one of our stops midday. I was starting to feel some GI distress but we had already had 3 30 minutes stops so I was thankful when Kendall had to stop to pee. I let her go to the bathroom then it was my turn. (This is one of those lock the door no stall kind of bathrooms so there were people waiting outside.) Kendall has a loud booming voice like her daddy so believe me when she said "You go poopy on the potty mommy like a big girl! GOOD JOB! You get a treat when we get home." all of the people waiting heard her as well!

#2-We have been working on manners with Kendall for about the last 2 years. She is pretty good a lot of the time but needs some gentle help some days. I had really had it the other day when she came to me for the 40th time & said "I want juice." So I told her, "I want a million dollars but you don't see me getting it by asking impolitely." She held out her hand and said "Here's your million dollars mom now can I have my juice?"

blog hop...baby pictures

Kendall- 6 months old

Isaac-2months old
Yours truly- age ?

Hop on over to see the blog hop today! http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com/

Isaac's 1st Birthday video