OK . . . so am I overwhelmed??

I mean one posting a year . . . HA! Well what is new! For starts Gracie is now 2!! YES . . . 2!!!! where did the time go. It seems like just yesterday my water was breaking all the way down the maternity ward hallway! TMI! Now she is the funniest, most amazing, smartest (I might be biased all though my ENT today did tell me how smart she is and he is a doctor!), hard headed little monkey in the world.

She makes me laugh on a daily basis. She also makes me use her full name on a daily basis too! Most of all she has taught me to be appreciative. We all know life is not easy and before her I felt a little broken inside. Family issues can do that . . . but she literally piece by piece has put me back together and I feel stronger then ever. Well besides for the broken nose, knocked out teeth, ruptured ear drum, and broken foot all caused by motherhood!! HA!

The last couple of months have been hard with Jeff currently deployed. He is flying "over there" a lot and very busy. The bright side is I have a lot more time to watch reality TV and other "teenybopper" shows he can't stand! He is still my hero and I am so thankful for him and every other military service member serving our beautiful country!!

So here are some updated photos! The 1st is Jeff getting ready to land on "the boat". The rest are of our princess this month! I will work better to update more. OK who are we kidding? See you in 2011!! HA!

Is it November? OPPS!

So I vowed to update this more and yet I have been very bad about it!! We have had weddings, trips, sicknesses, you name it!

Well I will pick up from here and try to catch up from there! Does that make sense? Probably not but I haven't had enough coffee!!

Gracie went to her 1st Fall festival and had her 1st pony ride, 1st petting zoo, and 1st time picking out her own pumpkin! I had my 300th funnel cake only after throwing a tantrum that they were out of the fried oreos!! Jeff left Gracie just help herself to walking around (thus also falling down) into the muddy field that smelled suspiciously like horse poop. All in all a great time!!

Beach Day with Daddy!!

We all headed out to the beach before Jeff left again! Gracie loves the beach but more then anything loves her daddy holding her!! We are so lucky to have the beach only 5 minutes away!

Daddy and his little girl!

Those eyelashes!!

Back off. I'm Starving!I love this . . . can you spy a baby AND A nose from a dog?

I know . . . I know!!

Oh my goodness! It has been since March since I have posted anything! Gracie-Bear even had her 1st birthday!!! I am horrible! I really didn't think anyone cared that much until the requests have been pouring in!! So . . . This is my word that I will re-start my blog! I only stopped because I have been busy at the spa, jet setting, going out to 5 star restaurants every night . . . etc. HA!! I wish!

Mostly our days consist of changing diapers (ummm why didn't someone tell me they get WORSE with age. Seriously, why does corn not digest . . . TMI? Sorry!), feeding the lioness (I have already started shopping Fat Camps because this child eats until she gets sick!), playing with every toy in the toy box only for mommy to clean up, and wonderful play dates with our amazing friends that keep mommy sane while daddy is always gone!

Gracie now has this personality that cracks me up! She says "bye-bye" every 2 minutes even if someone is saying "hello". Apparently she doesn't have time to talk to everyone so she stops the conversation before it begins! She says Coooooper and baby. She loves music and is going to Kindermusik once a week! It is her obsession. She also loves Yo Gabba Gabba (stop your judging! I need 30 minutes of a break everyday :-) She also has learned what is off limits and shakes her finger at me to tell me it is a "no-no". Which was so adorable UNTIL she shook her finger at me the other to say no when I tried to wash her face! If she does something funny and you laugh she laughs even harder along with you.

So needless to say . . . I am still in love! Even more each day! She is my partner in crime and my best friend in every way! Even when I am exhausted, swearing to the teething gods, making my 8th meal of the day for her, and wondering if I will start showering daily when she goes off to college. I added a couple of pics and my promise to restart the blog! After all, Gracie does seem to have a following and for that we feel blessed to have so many that care for her!! Love to you all! Kitty

Then Mommy tried to bite me . . .

I mean really . . . Gracie was so sweet and cute this AM that I had to grab these shots! I just want to nibble on those cheeks!! I actually do and then she squeals with delight. Best sound in the world! This was right before we left for Mommy and Me BootCamp. Ummmmm this was the 1st time I worked out since Gracie was born and literally they almost had to wheel me out! Gracie sat in her stroller for the whole hour being sweet as can be!

We are working on saying Mama . . . well that is if you call working on it when I say "Mama" and she replies with "dadadada"! Sigh! One of these days!

Don't Be Jealous!!!!!!

Some people spend hundreds of dollars on Broadway Shows . . . they get all dressed up and go to a fabulous dinner and then are entertained by the best of the best! I guess you could say I get to experience this too . . . but I never have to leave the house! HAAAAAA! Enjoy! Gracie will never forgive me for the 2nd video. Note to self: Save this for her first date. That is if Jeff with a shotgun on the front porch doesn't scare the guy off first! MAKE SURE YOU SCROLL TO BOTTOM TO TURN MUSIC OFF!

BIG thanks to the two best sets of grandparents ever!

Just some shots at 7 months! Mommy went out of town for Auntie Kathryn's Bachelorette Weekend (those pictures to come, apparently Mommy thinks it is ok to wear 80's gear to the bars . . . leotards, leg warmers, and all!) and I hung out with Grandma and Grandpa Harper! We had a blast and Mommy and I are so appreciative that they even drove 11 hours to help out!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING!

I am wearing my fave dress below with my fave red shoes because I know the importance of good shoes!! I also think they taste amazing because I spend most of my day trying to cram them in my mouth!And GiGi gave me my Easter basket early . . . so although I am not allowed to have any of the loot until Easter mommy thought these pictures are priceless! Mommy Note: Although I will say that when I asked my mom if mine was arriving later in the mail she said "once you have a baby you don't get Easter baskets anymore". Well . . . nobody told me that before, I didn't remember reading that in the "Once you have a baby" document. Apparently when you gain 100lbs and go through labor on top of that you get your basket privileges revoked! I mean I expected my Reese's peanut butter eggs fair and square! Give me my pink stuffed bunny and candy, lady! HA!

"FOR ME???" REALLY? I CAN HAVE THIS?
JUST IN CASE I AM REALLY NOT SUPPOSED TO I AM GOING TO BE SNEAKY!
Here are some pictures of daddy on one of his recent flights!

More February Birthday Wishes!

A HUGE birthday shout out to Aunt Jenny, Jeff's sister!!! She turned a big 30 this past weekend!! We love you lots and hope you had an amazing weekend in Edisto! The pictures look like you did! Gracie wants to know why your behind is next to the cake in all the pictures! HA! We can't wait to see you soon! Only one more month till your and Uncle Kari's big day!! XOXO!

More birthday shout outs to the rest of our birthdays!! Betsy, Nicky, Butters, Jess, Maeve, & Michelle!! Maeve we got to celebrate your 1st bday with you this weekend! what a doll you are! For all the other birthdays . . . we miss you all so much and wish we lived closer! You are all such special people and we are blessed to have you as friends!!!Hope you had amazing ones!

Happy Valentine's Day!

What a fun couple of days it has been! Jeff is on a break from work-ups and we actually get to spend the long weekend together!! Yippppee!! We kicked the weekend off with a playdate on Thursday with our friend Stacie hosting! Her daughter Quinn is so sweet and adorable! I have no doubt that Gracie and her will be amazing friends! Gracie also flirted up a storm with her new friends Daniel and Mitchell. then she went back to staring at her shoes again . . . she is her mothers daughter.

Then we had dinner with the squadron on Friday night and then swung by to say good bye to Bradley before he deploys! Thanks Colin and Christina for babysitting! It was the 1st time i have ever left her except with the grandparents and you guys really eased my anxiety!

Then Saturday day Cooper had a playdate and met some of our neighbors to be! Gracie and i both wore out matching peacoats from Gigi and her sunglasses from her Aunt Jenny! We made quite the fashion statement! Jeff spoiled me rotten by drawing me a bath, pouring me wine, and taking Gracie to the grocery store with him! I didn't know what to do with myself! Then he cooked me an amazing meal! He even made me dirty martinis with blue cheese stuffed olives! YUUMMMMM!! Enjoy the pics! Gracie says HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Also a big birthday shout out! We had 3 important birthdays yesterday! Baby Ella, Baby Mason, and Auntie Kacee! Baby Ella and Baby Mason . . . we miss you and your parents so much and we are so blessed to know you! We love you!

Kacee . . . I still remember the 1st day i met you at the club almost 5 years ago! Who would have thought that since that time you would be one of my strongest and sweetest shoulder to lean on, a source of endless advice, the share-er of baby clothes, the one who keeps my phone company in business ("I will keep calling till you answer"), the contributor of all that is innaprop., the "who is right" fight ender, my TV guide, and the guru of all products on the market, and just about all the is good in the world! I love you!

I love dress up!

Some new pictures from this week! Gracie 6 months

Life's chchchchchanges . . . I am changing my view.

I am sitting alone at home at 9pm because I am pretty sure my husband has a mistress. Actually he does. One of my favorite quotes is "The navy is my husbands mistress and that b*tch gets all the attention!" HAAAAAA! Anyway . . .sitting here I started wanting to go over all the reasons why the Navy life sucks. there are lots. Watching a friend lose her husband when she was 8 months pregnant, cheating a friend out of moving to Japan and oh by the way your husband leaves in 2 days for 7 months(Patsy you are being a rock!), deployments back to back, Jeff missing every important wedding, missing Gracie's 1st birthday, Christmas, all holidays, the last 5 birthdays together etc. Even when they are home they work insane hours and you are just thankful to get to sleep in the same bed for a couple a nights a week. Just when I started wanting to get really mad about the had we have been dealt it hit me

Without my husband's mistress:
- I would never had known what being proud was if it wasn't for the Navy. Yes, I was always proud of being an American. I cry at "Where were you" . . . OK sob. However, on a very sad day, watching a missing man formation fly over our squadron it hit me like a ton of bricks. I don't think I could ever be more proud of anything in my life then to say Jeff is a United States Navy Pilot. He still takes my breath away everyday of my life in his flight suit and I have never been prouder of who he is as a person.
- I wouldn't have known fear. Real fear. Like that which puts things into perspective. Caroline says it best when she tells me not to sweat the small stuff or things that can't be changed. I fear spiders, serial killers, random airborne illnesses. However, the fear of the job and his friends do puts real fear in me. Why am I happy about that? Because I will never ever ever let Jeff leave this house or go to sleep at night angry. I have seen how life has been ripped away from others so quickly and that fear keeps me remembering that life is too short and my job is to love Jeff even more then the day before. Yes his drive to work is more dangerous then flying the plane but I take no chances.
- I wouldn't know how badly it hurts when they leave but how amazing it is when they come home. The joy and butterflies I get after 9 years of being with Jeff even if he has been gone 2 days or 7 months is an amazing feeling.
- I wouldn't have known some of the most remarkable people in the world. These friendships I have made on this 7 year journey are simply. . .AMAZING. Maybe it is because you are forced to handle so may emotions together or maybe it is because all of a sudden "outside" people don't get how lonely this life can be(like saying things like " I wish my husband would go away for a while!"). Maybe it is just that that when you least think you need new friends you meet girls that will forever change your life for the better and you can't imagine what you would have done without them.
- I wouldn't have lived in Pensacola, Kingsville, San Diego, Jacksonville, and now VA. I wouldn't have picked up and traveled to Asia or hopped on a plane to fly to Tahoe for 12 hours (HA!).

So in ending . . . there are a lot of negatives. There are. It is just fact. It is a dangerous job that takes the person you love more then life itself away for long periods of time. You subtract years to your life worrying. You spend a lot of special time sin life alone. It isn't glamorous. But being a navy wife . . . well I guess I realized the pros outweigh the cons. Here's to more travels, more memories, great friends, being so proud you could burst and letting tears flow when they need to . . . because sometimes that is part of the job description.

So in close I post one of my favorite things I have ever read. IF JEFF COULD DO HIS MARRIAGE PROPOSAL OVER THIS IS WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE SAID . . .AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE SAID BACK SEE THE BOTTOM :-)

Military Spouses Should Come with a Warning Label
By Sarah Smiley

If I could rewrite my military man's marriage proposal to me, making it more fair and forewarning, this what I would have had him say:

My dear Sarah -- dear, sweet, perfect, wonderful Sarah -- would you do the honor of being my wife and sharing your life with me?

But wait, before you answer, let me tell you a little about the job. First of all, I am a Navy pilot and I move often. We will have very little control over when or where we go, and sometimes we will be told we are moving one place, only to find out at the last minute we are going somewhere else. Are you good with flexibility? Can you pack and unpack quickly?There will be times you have to handle our moves by yourself because I go out to sea for six months at a time. Now, judging by your reaction to this, I won't go into detail about the additional months I'll spend on detachments and assignments because I really want you to say 'yes' today.

Are you a sentimental person at all, Sarah? I'll probably miss a lot of Christmases, birthdays and anniversaries. But we can always celebrate when I get back, and I'll be sure to call you from the boat on Valentine's Day. (Keep in mind, however, that calls from the ship are expensive, so we'll have to keep it short.) Oh, and don't count on me being there when you have our babies either.

How good are you with home repairs and handling crises? Since I will be gone 60% of our life, you will be responsible for fixing toilets, fertilizing the lawn, and dealing with hurricanes, tornadoes, and any other natural disaster that comes your way.You will also be responsible for coming up with new and inventive ways to remove the smell of JP5 (jet fuel) from the clothes I bring home from the boat, and you will spend a lot of time washing and drying dingy flight suits as well.How quick are you with the iron, and can you hem pants? There will be times I forget to tell you I need my uniform for certain events, and at the last minute I will depend on you to pick it up from the cleaners. Are you good at finding lost covers (military hats), belts, and uniform T-shirts?

Are you attached to your career plans at all? It may be hard for you to build a career as we move from place to place. And are you a worrier? My job is dangerous, and when I'm on deployment you might not hear from me for long stretches at a time. Sometimes I may not be able to tell you where I am at all. You will need to handle these situations with grace and dignity and try to go on with your normal life without crying every time you see someone else's husband coming home daily for dinner.

Try not to dwell on the magnitude of my job or the commitment I have made to the country. I am at the mercy of my command, and though I will treasure you and our family above all things, at times it will seem like I am married to the Navy and that I spend more time on the boat than I do at home. But you will get used to the feeling of being alone. Trust me.Lastly let me say this: Through our time and travels with the Navy you will meet some of the best friends of your life, and you will see and do things you never thought possible. You will join the ranks of all other military spouses who are some of the strongest women in the world. You will have the personal satisfaction that as my wife you have made enormous sacrifices (with little reward or commendation), but you have helped me to serve our country and protect its freedom. For that, I (and others) will always be grateful.

So if all of this sounds good to you, I'll need your answer soon; I have to report to duty in ten minutes. Oh, and can you plan a quick wedding?We'll be moving next month. And Sarah, Don't say I didn't warn you."
Copyright Sarah Smiley.

SO YES EVEN IF JEFF HAD SAID IT THIS WAY . . . I WOULD HAVE SAID YES.

Happy 6 month Birthday My Sweet Baby Girl!!

I can not believe that 6 months ago this AM at 6am my life changed forever and the little angel know as Gracie-Bear came into our lives. What a six months it has been!

Gracie-bear, when you read this someday I want you to look back and know that you are by far the most amazing thing i have ever witnessed. I love you more than I can put into words. You are not only my daughter but also one of my best friends. Daddy has to be gone a lot now and the other day when he left and I sat on the bed and cried but I looked at you in your bouncer and it was the first time in my life I realized I am not alone and with you by my side there is no reason but to smile. Thank you for squealing when Cooper comes in the room! Thank you for giggling uncontrollably when he licks your hand. Thank you for spitting up on me 5 times a day! Thank you for the sigh you let out when you are sleepy or when you are done eating and content! Thank you for bouncing harder with excitement when you are in your jumper and you see me! Thank you for the faces you make every time you try a new veggie! Thank you for saying "mmmmooooooooommmm" even though no one else can hear it!" Thank you for all that you are and all that you will become. I love you my little girl.

Pictures of Gracie, anyone? anyone?

Well, I haven't received picture requests for Gracie at all! I mean from no one! HA!!!! OK . . .OK I have been a horrible blogger and am in trouble with many friends and family. So cut me some slack a new house and a baby is hard work :-) Here are some recent pictures of Amazing Gracie (what her Gigi calls her). The one in the feather outfit is from 2 days before Christmas and her Aunt Jenny sent her that adorable outfit! The rest are from the last week so she is 5 months in them!! So scary! Enjoy!

Just so you know at 5 months my likes are:
-eating
-eating some more
-enjoying cereal
-sticking my toes in my mouth (which daddy gets ssssooooo grossed out about!)
-screeeecching as loud as humanly possible so everyone will look my way and then a smile very sweetly
- jumping in my jumperoo
- reaching for Cooper and getting very excited when I see him!
- blowing raspberries
-saying "mmmooooommooooooomm" but Daddy says he can't hear it all!
- watching TV, so sad but the child is fascinated by it!
- wearing my sunglasses! I love them so much!

My dislikes are:
- being hungry
- being ignored
- teething and we are starting!
- bows with metal clips! My mommy can't find the velcro ones anywhere!!
- my car seat at first but then it is off to sleepyland!

I will be back to post the rest!

Mommy and Daddy in our new house! I was sleeping already!

Ready to go in my cool jacket, hat, and mittens from GiGi!

Collars popped for my outing to the Oyster Roast!


watching TV with Daddy!

Don't I look like a doll baby here?

In my hat from Auntie cougie! My BFF Mailee has a matching one! We have matching bun-buns and glow warms too!!

I love my new bumbo tray and knocking toys off so my mommy has to get them over and over again!