He's HOME!!!

To see pictures of our reunion go to my facebook page and scroll down until you see Kacy Bowe's entry with all of the pictures! She did an amazing job!

Iraq NO MORE!!

Matt will be home from Iraq tomorrow at 9:15 am!!!!!

Pictures

It has been nearly a month and I haven't posted anything! So much has happened. Matt's parents came a few days after I had Ella and then a few days after Matt arrived home for R & R. We packed up and went to a fun little tourist town named Fredricksburg and stayed in a rustic bed and breakfast. We played horseshoes and dominoes and let Grace stay up WAY too late! It was a lot of fun..stray cats and donkeys were also guests at the inn. (No joke!) Matt blessed Ella on Fast Sunday and we took some new family pictures with Ella.

Matt and his dad did some projects to clean up the outdoors and organize the house and we celebrated Grace's birthday a bit early so Grams and Gramps could watch her open their presents. She was given a two week long birthday this year! Crazy, but she had a lot of fun. Matt took her on an official Daddy-Daughter date to lunch and WalMart to pick out some birthday presents. She came home loaded with sugar, chicken nuggets and toys! He bought her a cool swimming pool, nail polish, books and clothes.

We had a lot of great family time while Matt was home and Grace's imagination grew about a million times over. (Daddy is the imaginative/creative play parent!) She now enjoys being chased by the "Monster", putting on imaginary make-up (sound effects and all!) and she misses her daddy like crazy all over again. Can't say I blame her. They played in the sprinklers (see below) and built an art table together. Daddy is just so much more fun!

Matt left and my mom came again. We didn't do house projects this time...instead we made baby announcements and played with the kiddos. We watched movies and had a lot of great conversation. A great time for all. Grace misses Grandma now, too.

Lots of changes...now we're about to enter the last three months without Matty and I am trying my best not to countdown and make it seem longer. I will try to post more often, but I am not going to make promises...I don't need another item on my weekly "To Do" list right now! :)

Ella Sofia

Ella Sofia joined our family on Wednesday, July 22nd at 5:56 am. She weighed 7 Lb 5 oz and was 20 inches long. She was in a rush to get here...I was only at the hospital for just over 2 1/2 hours before she was born. What a wonder! I'm in love again!

This is short because I have found myself with much more to do these past few days...but I promise I will elaborate and share my "unfortunate" yet fortunate birthing story with all of you.

Visitors and New Pics

My mom just went back to Phoenix on Wednesday. She was here for 8 days and we kept busy the entire time! I can't post pictures of the projects we did, because they are a surprise for Matty when he gets home in a few weeks. But we did a LOT!



Grace started Kindermusik last week and it is so much fun to see her in class. She dances and loves to watch the older kids. I can't wait for Daddy to take her to the class. She loves the musical instruments!



I finally have a few pics of me with the "Ella Addition." I haven't had many opportunities to have my picture taken during this pregnancy...being alone in TX and all. But, my mom took a few, so I thought I'd share the pregnancy glory. Ha ha ha.



This is us getting ready for Jazzercise!

July 4th Pictures!

Out with the Old

It has been too long since my last post, but life has been CRAZY! My business, swim lessons, Jazzercise, Grace, Ella, house, planning for the inevitable! (The list could go on forever!!!)

Anyhow, a few fun things have been going on lately. Grace took two weeks of Mom and Tot swim lessons and finished them yesterday. She is pretty good about being in the pool for a bit, then she wants to get out and run around. Scares me to death. We spent a lot of time in the 1 ft pool. Of course, I had to be in the pool with her, so that meant an 8 month pregnant woman in a bathing suit...not one of my best looks :)I avoided the camera and took pictures with her swim instructor helping her instead.

I was able to dunk her under and she didn't cry...she will kick her legs ferociously and she loves to try and blow bubbles. We'll be working on that in the bathtub from now on until the skill is mastered. She loves to splash. Though, like every kid her age, she refused to put her head back in the water. She won't even do it in the tub, so I knew it was going to happen. But, overall she loves the water and she can't wait to show Daddy all her new big girl skills.

As for the title of the blog... My friends in Texas already know that we purchased all new appliances, but I thought I would post the pics! I was Lowe's on Memorial Day and saw the insane sale they were having on Energy Star rated appliances and then they were giving a MILITARY DISCOUNT on top of it! Talk about crazy good prices. We saved over $500 on our appliances and they installed them for free! (Even the dishwasher!) I used my dishwasher for the first time tonight and could not believe that it actually washed AND dried the entire load and it didn't sound like it was going to catch fire like the last one. The fridge has 2 cubic feet more space and an ice maker...going to do wonders for me this summer! The stove heats so fast and I can't wait to bake cookies and make yummy Sunday dinner casseroles when Matty comes home.

Old Fridge


New Fridge


Old Dishwasher


New Dishwasher


Old Stove


New Stove

New Additions

This is her new playset I bought last week. She now has her very own slide, though she is scared to go down at times. She likes when we go down the big slide at the playground (as long as I'm sitting beside her!) She loves to go in the backyard. Thanks goodness for craigslist!



This is Grace's new "big girl bed." She has a hard time staying in it! She doesn't sleep well yet, so we are taking it slow. Some nights she sleeps in her crib.




Grace has a new found love for her blocks. We sit and build towers and then take them apart every day. It's funny because I have taught her the "Clean Up" song and she always says "Clean up, clean up, clean up the blocks" when I sing it. Future architect?

Recently...

Our Ella

Our little family has been changing a lot this past few months. Grace is suddenly seeking complete autonomy in public, Ella is growing stronger each and every day, I am growing larger each and every day, and Matt is being worked to death!

I mentioned in a previous post that Grace is really starting to talk more. Her new favorite words are outside, lips, yes, and help. Of course, there are the most prominent words which are always Mommy and Daddy. But, I must say that she will repeat just about anything I say. Funny how you become a whole lot more aware of saying "crap" when there are little ears listening. Granted, people say a whole lot worse things, but I don't want mine picking anything up from ME.

I am now 30 weeks pregnant! And as I mentioned, Ella is growing stronger. I have an aweful lot of Braxton Hicks contractions and it seems she is always kicking a foot out so I have an assymetrical stomach. I'm the only one who seems to notice, of course.

Matt is doing as well as can be expected. Usually exhausted when we talk to him, but I am so incredibly happy we are able to Skype with him. Grace still knows him and they play and she gives him kisses all the time. She's pretty blessed to have a daddy like Matty. I can't wait until they get to go on Daddy-Daughter dates to get ice cream. I know he's looking forward to it also.

Other than that, life is filled with a whole lot of hodgepodge days that seem to escape me at times. The days when time stands still prove difficult, because my mind wanders to how far away our Matty/Daddy is. Sure love that guy.

Grace is growing up!

I have been so crazy busy getting back into my life here in Texas and I have so much to say! Grace has really been learning a lot lately and saying so much more. She has a few new favorite words, which include: mess, vaccuum, rain, morning, cookie, and the list goes on! She started talking more in Utah, but since we have been home she has nearly doubled her vocabulary. Sometimes I can tell she is trying to say an entire sentence and I can't understand a word of it...all in good time.

I took her on the "big girl" slide yesterday at the park and she giggled and squealed so much it was hilarious! Every time her feet hit the ground, she took off to go up the stairs for another turn. I could hardly keep up with her...this belly is really starting to change how fast I move!

She also had her hair in a ponytail for the first time yesterday. Even though her hairstyles last about ten minutes it was adorable. Her hair is finally getting long enough to try new things. Matt insists that I keep trying to do her hair so she'll get used to it...I think he's right. She looks a bit like a boy when her hair is down.

Matt is doing as well as can be expected. He is often very tired and calls pretty late in Iraq time, but he is always so happy to see us as we are him. These five months have really had ups and downs for me emotionally, but since I've been home and we have seen and talked to him a bit more, I have felt a lot better. I truly love him more than I did when he left. What a guy, my Matty! He puts up with my whining a lot and still loves me! He can't get enough of Grace when he calls, either. She lights up and runs to the office when he calls.

I am now 28 weeks pregnant and Ella is kicking my gut! She is incredibly active and I have Braxton Hicks contractions so often that I am usually short of breath. But I'm still going to Jazzercise and loving every minute of it. Maybe I'll be an instructor when all my kids are in school. That's a bit down the road...

The Texas heat and humidity are rapidly approaching and I am not looking forward to watering the lawn this summer. I think I'll be waking up at 5 am to avoid the heat. I have finally hired someone to take care of the yardwork and I am sad to see the extra money go, but being pregnant and having Matt gone has brought this decision to the forefront of my mind. I had a hard time mowing the entire thing BEFORE I got pregnant...not really a good idea while in my 3rd trimester. Oh well.

Matt and I decided it is soon time for Potty Training to begin. I don't want two in diapers while he is away and she is excited when she sees the potty in the bathroom. Crossing my fingers that once she catches on, when Ella is born she won't revert back to diapers.

Home again

Just a quick post to say that yes indeed, we are in Texas once again. I will post more once I catch up on sleep and unpacking.

Long Time no Post

Just a little hello from Utah. Grace and I have been making the rounds of staying with family and friends for nearly a month now and I am EXHAUSTED! Grace has absolutely loved being around all of our family and especially being the center of attention.

We were able to hide that we are expecting our second daughter until we arrived here in Utah. So, we had a lot of fun letting everyone in on our big secret. Ella is due July 28th, only a few months to go! It was so hard not to slip up about doctor appointments, morning sickness, growing bigger every day... but Matt and I pulled it off. I'll post a video a bit later.

We stayed in Brigham City with Matt's parents first and Grace warmed up to Grandma and Grandpa Merrill very fast. She is Grandpa's girl, no doubt about it. We went shopping, made cards, played with cousins, and helped Grandma get around with a bad knee. She had surgery last week. Grace was showered with kisses and we both enjoyed our time there a lot.

We spent a few days in Idaho with our good friends, the Allen family. We met them at Utah State while living in our cinderblock palace. Abigail and Grace are a few months apart, and they have been friends ever since. They followed each other around and Grace learned how to maneuver the stairs. We went to JCPenney and had adorable pictures taken, shopped, and watched movies. Grace and I really hope we live near the Allen's again soon.

Then we went to my grandparents house (Dad's parents). Grace loved discovering all of the kitchen drawers and throwing everything down the stairs. She showed off all of her dance moves and she sang songs for them. She grew very attached to Aunt Toni who lives across the street. Often chasing her down when she went to leave. She also enjoyed playing with all of my cousins. We also shopped a lot and enjoyed our time there very much.

We are now at my other Grandma's house (who lives with Uncle Rexy, who adores Grace!). My sister Mistie and mom from Phoenix flew in this weekend and we cooked up a storm the past few days to get ready for an Easter picnic in Logan with my other sister Crystal (whose baby was blessed today). It was the first time all of us were together (minus Matty, of course) since May last year. It was a beautiful day and it made me homesick for Logan all over again. Matty and I really loved living in Cache Valley. Maybe we'll end up there again someday.

Grace is going to have a hard time going home with just me around to play with. She loves the family and I will definitely miss all of the help and fun I've had, too. Being nearly 6 months pregnant with an active 20 month old is tougher than I thought. Especially since Matty is so far away.

By the way, Matty is still doing pretty well. He's a platoon leader now and works just as hard as he did before. He calls at all hours of the night (Iraq time) and I worry that he'll work himself sick. But, he is always so excited to hear about Gracie's new talents and hearing her talk in the background. We haven't been able to see him through Skype for weeks now...problems with computer compatibility and webcams. But hopefully she'll be able to see her Daddy soon. We miss him terribly.

Ode to the Brown Album

This post is for Matty.

When we met, (oh so long ago!), Matt owned a brown '95 Subaru Legacy which he absolutely loved. He often took it up the mountains to go camping, fishing, hunting, and on road trips from Oregon, Georgia, Kentucky, and now Texas. Honestly, he and I have a lot of memories that involve that car. Even some which involve push-starting it! He has loved and adored that car for over 10 years, but when he left we made the decision to either donate it or sell it. Matt had a hard time coming to that decision, but we both knew it was best for our family. It has been started regularly for the past few months, and Matt cared for it well while it was in our care.

When there came on opportunity for someone to benefit from our beloved Brown Album, (also known as Donkey to our other Sub, Shrek)...we were prompted to hand over the keys. So Wednesday afternoon it became another family's cherished car. A good family, at that. So this is a sort of epitaph for Matthew's beloved Subaru. Thank you for being so reliable and for keeping memories alive of our early dating life. We have appreciated your companionship as we started our family and now we wish you the best with your next family.



Now our Green Outback, so appropriately named Shrek, is without a sidekick. But not for long, because I have since decided that Matt's motorcycle will be named Princess Fiona! (He just doesn't know it yet!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is the "I Love Lucy" dress! I think it is about the cutest thing she has ever worn! It is also very cute for V-Day!

Just a quick family update-

Grace is still exploring all sorts of new things. Yesterday it was warm enough to go to the park, so she got to enjoy the swings and she giggled the whole time. (She's going to be an adrenaline junkie one day!) She got a little too close to a little girl and was bumped over...can't even really call it knocked over. She cried a little too long so we left and came home to take a nap.

She is currently testing boundaries. She tends to get upset quickly and screams for no apparent reason at times. I have no idea how long this phase lasts...but I usually have a headache from the screaming. I'm learning patience!

Matt is still doing pretty good. He will be changing areas soon and we don't know what that will mean for him and our ability to communicate with him. We pray daily that we'll be able to at least have some sort of contact. Mostly to ease my mind and let me know he's safe and sound.

I am still going to Jazzercise and my business has actually picked up quite a bit lately. Lots of parties coming up before my big month-long trip to Utah in March/April. I month and 2 days away! I have been counting down since I bought my ticket last month.

Other than that...not a whole lot of news. I'll write more later!

(My new haircut!)

Missing Matty.

I have been a little down lately, no real mystery as to why. He has been gone for 2 months now. Though I will probably not mention his absence often, (due to security reasons for our family), I feel it is important to talk about trials and our everyday dealings as both Grace and I miss him terribly.

I have always been in love with my husband. Now that he is worlds away from us, I love him more. I appreciate the things he does for me. He is the only one to truly save me from myself when I have a breakdown. He is the one who adds life and laughter to my otherwise quiet life. He appreciates the things I do on a daily basis for our family. Dishes, laundry, caring for Grace, cooking, cleaning, yadda yadda yadda. Grace hardly says three words clearly so she hardly says "Thanks". He is my favorite person to be with. Simple conversations before settling in for bed... Kisses hello and goodbye... I just miss it all too much. Now I know that distance can make some things harder, but I also know how my love and admiration for him has increased as he has been away. We are able to talk to/see him through Skype most days for a while before he goes to bed. Which is usually so late for him that I feel bad for keeping him up any later. But I know that he needs time with us just as much as we do with him.

I miss my Matty.

As for Grace- she has been a little sick today. Wimpery and lethargic... I think she'll be better tomorrow. She has been on a vegetable strike lately. When she first started eating solids, I couldn't get fruit to stay in her mouth and now it is reversed. But at least I can feed her plenty of fruit to make up for it. She loves apples, bananas, oranges, raisins, and dried cranberries. Then there's her favorite food which is cheese! She eats a string cheese a day and if she sees me slicing some for myself, she is at my feet begging! She is trying to say a few more things lately. (i.e. cookie, milk, dog, car, star) I can catch a few of them, but she gets pretty mad when I don't do it quickly. She turns 18 months tomorrow. She has already started nursery and loves it. The teacher adores her, too.

Myself- I have been working out a lot lately. I joined Jazzercise with my friend Jana and it is getting me into pretty good shape. I have a lot more endurance than I used to and am toning up. I used to work out all the time, but I stopped for a long time after I had Grace. Never again. I was in pretty bad shape when I started up again.

My Scentsy business is still trucking along. I have lots of parties booked and hope it keeps me a little distracted until Matt comes home. Between Grace, the house, my job and Jazzercise...I think that should shave off a few hours a day! :) (By the way, if any of my friends need anything...Feb is 10% off month so just e-mail/call me. It only happens twice a year!)

Matt is hanging in there. He is being worked to the bone and is often completely worn out when I talk to him. He is changing jobs in about a month and we'll have to see how it works out for him. He is safe, and that's my biggest concern right now. We are hoping he can be home for both his and Grace's birthday this year during R & R. We have to be apart for our Anniversary and V-Day for the second year in a row...so if he can come celebrate at least a little, I will be satisfied.

Webcam ROCKS!!!

I just had to share my excitement over getting to SEE Matthew today for the first time in nearly 2 months. I always knew I loved the Internet, but now I can't imagine my life without it! Matt was able to see Grace and how much bigger she is getting. She kept trying to give him kisses and danced for him a whole lot. The best part was her enthusiasm when she saw him come up on the screen. She yelled "Daddy!" as clear as day and he was so happy to see that she remembers him. I love my husband! Grace and I are so blessed to have him to call our own.

Dexter

While Matt and I were in Utah in November we took Grace to Build-a-Bear and we picked out a monkey for her. Matt was able to record a little message for her so she could hear his voice and he could tell her he loves her every day while he is away. This is a short video of Grace with Dexter, as named by Matt!