Gracias my lovely friend!

I want to also publicly thank my wonderful friend Jessica for working so hard to help me 'redecorate' my blog. I'm nowhere near as technically savy as she is and I'm SO impressed with not only her creative talent but her computer skills as well. She'll probably laugh at me when she sees I couldn't even manage to get the new font right in the previous post but I'll hopefully get it one day! I'm so happy to have met you Jess and like we always talk about...of all the places we could have gone, we're here together and were MEANT to be friends. I love you!

Jess and I at Sophia's birthday shindig!

Growing up, I fought every battle there was to fight. I believed that I should die on every hill and by GOD, I was going to do things MY way. And then I became a mother...and I realized that part of having children was about showing an example of unwavering strength and perseverance...not one of anger, rebellion and haste. I'd much rather teach my girls that some things in life are worth fighting for...like your faith, your family, your true friends and your reputation...and others just simply aren't. What truly matters amidst the crazyness of life is laying your head down at night knowing that you did everything you could do be better than yesterday, despite how other people tried to make you feel. What matters most is that despite life's obstacles, you found strength and comfort in the simple blessings that most people take for granted...a roof under your head and a family that loves you. What really matters is that you realize that God doesn't give us what we can handle, God helps us handle what we are given and that you turn to Him when you just can't take it anymore. This has been a tough lesson for me to learn over these passed few years, most especially over this last month that Chris has been gone. I can't afford to be anything less than my very best because I've got two little girls who look to me as an example, an irreplaceable teacher in this lesson called life. I tell myself at the end of every day, that that's all that really matters anyway.

This past month has been anything but peaceful for my girls and I, but you know what? Despite the many obstacles, January has come and is now almost gone in what feels like a blink of an eye. And our oldest girl had a birthday amidst it all. Sophia is three and as beautiful as ever. We had a wonderful week spent with friends and family and I am forever grateful for the people who helped celebrate Sophia's special day. I did my darndest to distract my girl from the fact her Daddy was so far away and other than a few hiccups (Sophia crying hysterically when her friends sang her happy birthday! Go figure!), I think the day(s) went great. We spent her actual birthday with her best little friends at Chuck-e-Cheese and had a low-key birthday get together that following weekend. It was just as I'd hoped. I had my mom and sister Mary in town to celebrate with us and my wonderful girl friends made me feel so lucky, yet again, to have such a great support system. They picked me up when the emotions of the day hit me and were the ears that I needed when I saw more than ever that empty seat at the dinner table on such a momentous day. But you know what I realized most? I tucked Sophia into bed the night of her birthday and I felt my eyes welling with tears. I thought, was it really three years ago that I sat in my hospital room, with Chris far, far away, as he is now, and snuggled with my new beauty? Sophia saw me start to cry and that made her cry. She told me that she loved me and that she 'missed Daddy'. It broke my heart but I felt my Mama bear strength kick in as I told her that her Daddy loves her more than anything else in this world. I know I'll never be able to say that she won't ever see me cry...but like I mentioned earlier...I am her example and she will always know that because I have her in my life...I am always so happy. Yes, we miss dad but we are strong and Dad wouldn't want us to be sad. Never underestimate yourselves Mamas. Our children watch us more than we know. I've learned so much over these past three years...these past few months really. Motherhood and the Marine Corps have taught me how to be a better woman. 'While we spend our whole loves teaching our children about life, our children teach us what life is all about' and because of my Marine and my girls, I'll forever keep on truckin'.

Finally, no tears and some smiles to blow out her candles!

Playdoh! Sophia's favorite! Thanks Hunter!

Her own I-pad we call it...from Daddy! Where were these cool gadgets when I was young?



My beauties...taken by my wonderful friend Jessica. 

Well here it is. 2011. We're not even a month in and I feel like I've run a marathon and a half, emotionally and physically. We've said our goodbyes and sent Chris off on his third deployment.

We've shuffled through our first New Year's Eve alone and made it through the first two weeks of what will be a long 7 months. We've heard from Chris and can breathe a sigh of relief that he is as settled as he's going to be and doing well. And now, knee deep in the middle of January amidst all the crazyness that is life, we're settling into a routine, just us girls. It's around this time every year where I crave a new beginning, a fresh start. There's an extra sense of motivation starting off with a clean slate. This year will be different. It will be difficult and trying at times but it will be better than the rest because I will make it that way for my girls. It'll be the first year that we spend as a family of four and there are so many blessings that come from watching our 'sisters' grow up together.

I think one of the most beautiful things about life is that among the hardtimes, there is always a brighside...a brightside to everything. Sometimes all we can do is search for that brightside and the slightest glimpse of light forces us to change our way of thinking, turning things around to see from a different perspective. I see the brightside in our heartwrenching goodbye to our Marine when I think about how spectacular it wil be to reunite again. I see the brightside in going at this parenting thing alone when I think about how it is worth every single sacrifice to be the wife of a Marine making a difference in this world. Yes, 2011 will be our year of overcoming challenges. It'll force us to grow even more as a family and that will be all worth it in the end. I will show my girls what it means to be strong even when the world around them seems to be falling apart. I will appreciate what being together as a family truly means instead of taking the little blessings in life for granted. I will make this year the best yet for my family. I am an active duty Marine wife you know? And we can do just about anything!

I am infatuated with Christmas. I love every single thing about it and somehow, this year, I love it even more.

This year Sophia understands the magic of Christmas and to see it unfold in her eyes makes it all the more amazing. And today Huntsville had it's first snowfall of the season leaving a nice little dusting on our back deck and picnic table. It seems like forever since I actually saw the snow fall and I don't believe that Sophia ever has. I hope it comes again...the small flurries, I mean. I'm definitely hoping for our first Christmas in the south to be a white one!

Can you believe Alessandra is a month old!? I can't! Maybe it's because I've been living in a haze, still in the

'waking-up-every 4 hours stage' of little babe-hood and just crawling through each day hoping to catch a five minute nap here and there. You know, actually, I can't really complain. I remember being so anxious those final weeks of my pregnancy anticipating a huge fiasco when I tried to settle into life with two kids. And where yes, there have been moments where I have to fight to not pull my hair out, overall, the transition has been relatively smooth. I heard a quote somewhere that went something like, one child takes up 100 percent of your time so if you think about it, two children can't take up anymore...and I would agree with that. The key is getting into a routine and sticking

to it, all the while multitasking, making sure everyone's needs are taken care of. And I'm there. Nights are becoming more predictable and naps during the day are on a more regular schedule. Alessandra is truly a wonderfully easy baby. She's so content just soaking up the world around her and cries only when she 'needs' something. I've figured out a way to have a little time solely for my Sophia and on the flipside of that have time for just me, usually at the end of the night with a nice glass of red wine. It's been a little different around here with Chris coming and going, training, working and preparing. We were so, so

blessed to have him home for ten days after we brought miss Alessandra home but since then, he's been off training and he'll be out the door again sooner than we'd all like. But enough talking about him leaving...for now, we have him home on predeployment leave and Christmas is just around the corner. I hope this post finds each and every one of you enjoying your family and friends and soaking up all the wonderful things about the season.

Remember that this Christmas; when you're eating Christmas dinners, smiling and laughing, in another house there's an empty chair where a hero should be sitting.

....And I'll leave it at that! Merry Christmas!

Oh December...the most wonderful month of the year!

Sigh...I'm here. I'm where I've wanted to be for what was almost the entire year of2010. As I write to you, I'm surrounded by

not one but two breathtakingly beautiful little girls who I'm so lucky to call mine. It's been a tumultuous month but it doesn't matter how I got to this place...what matters is that I'm here and I couldn't be happier.

It's hard to believe that I've got an almost one month old baby on my hands when my due date was only just a couple of weeks ago. To make a long story short, my so-thankfully-on-top-of-things doctor was worried about my blood pressure which began creeping up as I hit 36 weeks. After almost a week of monitering it closely and a few dangerous spikes, my doc took no chances and induced me just shy of 38 weeks. Thanks to some beyond wonderful friends and their incredible support while Chris was away, they carried me through to when Chris arrived home, just in time to begin the induction. November 11th, 2010 at 11:12am, our little Alessandra Marie made her grand entrance in true American style on Veteran's Day.

It was a nice little present for her Marine dad (who was here and was incredible!!!! YAY!!!) and we are so grateful that everything went smoothly. Alessandra is wonderful. She reminds me so much of her sister. She fits into our family perfectly as I could

have only hoped and our now BIG SISTER Sophia has grown into this mature little lady almost instantaniously. It's all so lovely to see and with the added background of the holiday season...well...it makes for a lovely end to a great year. We've got some more big changes ahead of us for 2011 but right now, I'm thankful for two very healthy baby girls and a dedicated husband who works so hard, no matter what the cost. Merry Christmas!

November 1st. Wow. I woke up this morning with an anxiety I don't remember feeling when I was pregnant with Sophia. It was probably because I was too wrapped up in actually being pregnant and getting Chris ready for his deployment that I was less aware of all the details of Sophia making her entrance into the world. Going into labor and really becoming a mama were beyond

anything I could imagine at that point. Now I can't stop thinking about what life is going to be like with the four of us. I've had this nagging feeling, the one that you try to ignore but you can't, that's telling me to 'get ready, be prepared, it could happen sooner this time' when all I really want to do is put my feet up and snuggle with my first born until the time comes where we can just add our second little love to the mix. I told Chris yesterday that it's been bittersweet for me

...wanting so badly to be soaking up every second with Sophia but knowing that I in a way have to take a step back, not hindering her growth and ever-growing independence but guiding her differently these days. It's been hard to wrap my head around how I will possibly be able to divide my attention between my two girls but seasoned mama's tell me not to worry, it'll happen and it'll be perfect. So I wait. I wait for all the changes that are to come, nesting and organizing, checking to-do lists and preparing a home fit for two little princesses. Fall is the season of change right? So amidst my puttering, I've changed the mantle and the little nook

where I like to read and have a cup of tea while I watch Sophia ride her bike. I've been on a mission to add to Sophia's non existant winter wardrobe desperately trying to get her in anything other than

a spaghetti strap dress (Thank goodness for Old Navy and their wondrous coupons!). I've changed the lengths that Sophia and I walk around the neighborhood slowing down to show her the

piles of fallen leaves and listen to her talk in great length about where baby sister will fit in to our Mama & Sophia walks. It's a nice thought, how baby sister will fit into our lives...a lot like getting lost in the clouds if you ask me. I appreciate a lot these days especially when I stop and daydream about having two girls. I am so happy to be at the end of a very long journey and at the beginning of something even more wonderful than I could ever fathom. So here's to the end of October, the end of me really being able to paint my swollen toes and the beginning of what I've been looking forward to for SUCH a long time! Happy November!

'We all possess the thunder of pure fury and the calm breeze of tranquility. If it wasn't for tomorrow, how much would we get done today? Whatever your purpose... embrace it completely. Get lost in the clouds every now and then so you never lose sight of God's wonder.' ~Paul Vitale

Get lost in the clouds...I like the thought of that and could always use a little reminder to appreciate all of God's many blessings!