Baby B's First Steps!!!

Look out world! Mikey-man is mobile in more than one way! Last night he decided to wobble his way over to his Big Brother after our movie night and during their play time together before bed!!! Of course I was in complete shock sitting there watching him, tried to get video at the last second instead of pictures... :( But we had some fun getting him to do so again and again! :) After several rounds he was spent! But big brother was so very excited!!!! We sent the video clips to daddy too! He was excited but at the same time wish he could have waited until he got home... Ha! No keeping the little dude from getting to his big brother!

30 Before 30

I love this idea! 9 days ago I turned the big 2-9.... With 30 {gasp} being, now, less than a year away, I've put together a list of 30 things I want to do before I hit the big 3 OH!

1. Introduce my husband to my WHOLE Family! (That's right, with everything gone as it has in the past year, he has still not met my brothers, mom, S.Dad, S.Mom, grandparents, etc.... Only my Dad!) 

2. Spend a whole weekend alone with the hubby at the beach or mountains or both!

3. Master 5 new dinner dishes.

4. Go to a concert.

5. Organize and backup (3rd type of backup) ALL of my pictures.

6. Read 30 books.

7. Complete the remodeling projects inside our home.

8. Attend a White Sox game at their home stadium.

9. Attend a Steelers game- ANYWHERE!

10. Go to San Francisco and drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. 

11. Have $20,000 or more in just savings.

12. Visit the Grand Canyon.

13. Watch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean.

14. Go horseback riding for the first time.

15. Go to a day spa.

16. Visit 5 different wineries.

17. Go to Germany to visit my best friend who I've known since I was 2.

18. Watch the Rose Parade in person with my children and hubby (if he's not deployed).

19. Go gold panning with my oldest.

20. Start and finish an entire year scrapbook of our baby.

21. Take my oldest on his first seadoo ride.

22. Eat at a restaurant that serves 5 course meals.

23. Complete 10 projects from Pinterest.

24. Go skiing! (Haven't done so in 8 years and I miss it!)

25. TONE my body instead of just losing weight.

26. Paint a large canvas with hubby and our boys.

27. Help 50 Military Spouse, Veteran and Military Supporting Businesses get noticed!

28. Go to a musical/play

29. Fully understand the operations of my camera and go out to enjoy my hobby of photography.

30. Get a bigger house that fits our family!

Military Love Stories Wanted At Trials and Triumphs of Loving My Sailor!!!

One of my really good bloggy friends Amy at Trials and Triumphs of Loving My Sailor wants YOUR Military Love Story!

She has only FIVE spots left open to Celebrate YOU & YOUR LOVED ONE for the Month of February! 

 Four amazing Military Spouses who submit their stories will win one of four wonderful gifts!

Please go by and check out her post about it HERE! 

Catching Up with Many Thanks!

I've neglected much on my blog this past month. I'm so grateful with how everyone is so understanding/has continued to pray for my MIL and our family.

Thank you ALL for your love and support!

Leaving Chicago and returning home yesterday was bitter sweet.... Saying "see you later" to my husband for I Don't Know How Long, knowing the night before will possibly be the last time I will see my MIL alive..... Coming home to the dogs and it being just me and the baby, until next weekend when my oldest returns from California, has afforded me time to get things back in running order... I've gotten a few things accomplished today but my brain is scattered. A list of what needs to be accomplished has been created, but it really seems a bit too overwhelming for me at the moment. 

My top on the to-do-list with my blog is to show TONS of LOVE to my Secret Santa, New Year's Cocktail Glass Exchange Partner, a close friend (sister) and a couple AWESOME sponsor's!!!!

Let the Love Begin!!!

Prior to leaving I was signed up for a Blogger's Secret Santa exchange through Boys Oh Boys. I was the Secret Santa to ...With Love, Jesika  and sent sent her a wooden sign, nail polish, ornament and a card! 

My Secret Santa was Jen from Grown In Southern Ground. Her gifts are amazing! Festive nail polish and lip balm that I used while in Chicago. A cupcake kit (baking is definitely on the to-do list), an adorable scarf, and a chocolate face masque (mama needs to take some down time)! Thank you Jen!!

For the New Year's Cocktail Glass Exchange I was paired up with Sabrina at Bre-Naturally who is currently stationed in Japan! I sent her a personalized glass from one of my awesome sponsor's Wine With RobYnWitha-Y and she sent me a BEAUTIFUL hand-blown Ryukyu Glass. It is exquisite! Thank you Sabrina!!!

Stay tuned for a big CHEERS post from us all this evening to ring in 2013!

As a thank you from two of my amazing sponsor's I received some wonderful goodies!

From Michelle at Patriot Farms I received this lovely personalized ornament with our last name on one side and 2012 on the other! 

Thank you Michelle!

From Angela at Quotable Life I received 3 prints of my choice in any size! The 2 side prints will be framed and go to two friends and the middle 8x10 I Love You print I will be framing and hanging up in my home.  LOVE them! 

Thank you Angela! 

I returned home to a clean smelling house.... I mean spotless. Floors swept and mopped, no residual dog smell, and mail and packages neatly stacked. Dogs alive, fish alive, and only broken things were what the great Mother Nature decided to break with her strong winds (our outdoor umbrella and gate). A big huge thanks to my friend Britni who, for the past 3 weeks, has been taking care of our animals and house allowing us to be worry free after rushing to Chicago and being there for so long.

Yesterday she gave me a Christmas present that I just adore! The fact that she kept it as a secret for so long is also pretty amazing! (We are terrible with gift giving).

It is a silver necklace that has "True Friends Are Joined At The Heart" stamped into it!

♥ OSC's 2012 Ornament Exchange ♥ (Lots of pics)

Last night was the second event with the Officer Spouse Club that I attended. The first was a fun little play date with our little monkey butt and other mom's with kiddo's that are right around his same age! Loved that and am looking forward to many more!

Last night I walked into the beautifully festive house of Mrs. and Mr. Maj. Gen. Walters. 

Being that I am one a very few new girls there I found myself wandering around a bit more checking out the decor, layout of the house and bar area that had many of the General's plaques from prior units he had been attached to. I was introduced to Mrs. Walters. And was told that Maj.Gen. Walters was the bartender for the evening. 

Upon stepping up to the bar he looked at the wine glass in my hand and asked if I was ready for a "Big Girl" drink.... I gawked. Challenge Accepted! I did not pay attention to what was put into an Apple-tini (vodka) and once home later on it hit me like a ton of bricks.... :-/ Vodka and I do not get along at all.

 

  Talked to the Event Committee Coordinator Maggie, who I'll be volunteering with. Then found myself lingering toward a few of the awesome mommy's I had met at the play date, Katie, Angela and Catherine. 

 After socializing the event kicked off.

Mrs. Walters made an announcement that I want to share here and will share on my FB page as well.

Currently there is an Angel Tree in the Exchange aboard Cherry Point. This tree has angels with children's ages and gender with item that they Need and an item that they Want. These are solely children of Military Members aboard Cherry Point E-5 and below. The combined total for the items are $25 or less for each child. This is being run by the Sgt. Majors of each unit and the Chaplains aboard the base. What a wonderful way to help make a child's (who is right here) Christmas a little better!

My number was 57...Out of 60! I got to see what everyone was getting and try to plan my attack for what to snag if something came up that wasn't frozen by my turn. Lot's of things I loved but so did others! :) This leg lamp ornament came up, and at my turn I stole it!

However the last person, number 60, had her eyes on it too, and stole it from me!!! :(( I was heart broken... LOL, and ended up with two cute penguin ornaments. :)

Once it was over I was introduced to Amy who runs her own business out of her home making awesome collages! Of course I had to network with her about my blog and am working with her on hosting a giveaway of one her pieces of work!

The hubby swung by and picked me up to take me home, lots of wine, and a martini, I'm so glad we planned for him to take me there and pick me up! ;)

♥ MORE PICTURES FROM THE NIGHT! ♥

This is one of the items that I brought with an ornament, she had it stolen from her and then was able to steal it back for the last steal, she was a happy camper!

I loved this apron! So wanted to steal it but it was frozen by the time my number came up.

Happy Halloween!