The Cryer Family

He's Here!

2010-09-02T14:59:00.006-05:00

Fletcher Joseph Cryer arrived on 1 August 2010 at 5:14 am weighing a whopping 7 lbs, 14 oz and was 20 inches long.

We're settling in well and I'll be posting more soon!

Sneak Peak

2010-06-26T18:37:00.004-05:00

We had a maternity photo session done this morning and our photographer sent us a few "teasers". Enjoy!

This one is a recreation of...

this one. =) I was about 37 weeks pregnant with Caroline here.

And I seriously think this is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Ever.

Biergarten

2010-05-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Our friends Brian and Katie found a German restaurant and biergarten in the middle of nowhere. They invited us to join them for dinner and the place was really a diamond in the rough! We all had a great time!

Stompin' to the live band's music

Dan and Brian

From L to R: Katie, Alison and Mandy

Dancing on the dance floor!

Happiness

2010-05-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

We weren't the only ones that missed Ryan...

Spending Tantrum

2010-05-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Ryan arrived at 10:45 on the morning of April 19th and we purchased this later that evening...

We'd been talking about buying one of these while he was home on R&R, but the talk became much more serious when we found out I was pregnant again. We've been shopping online for a while for a used Honda Odyssey, but we found that it wasn't very much more to buy a new one. We had been dealing with a local dealership over the phone (and Ryan was dealing with them via email) and we managed to make a deal. Ryan was excited to get it done and insisted that we head to Round Rock (just outside Austin) to pick it up THE DAY HE GOT BACK. Motivated, huh?

Anyway, we LOVE it. I never thought I'd be a mini-van Mom, but I'm seriously hooked. Caroline loves it, too. =)

Shooo-wee!

2010-05-06T11:10:00.006-05:00

Man, its been a while...sorry about that! The past month or so has been a bit of a whirlwind and we've enjoyed EVERY second (well, almost every second). Here's a recap:

Ryan was due to come home in mid-April, but thanks to Mt. Eyjafjallajokull (don't ask me how to pronounce that) erupting in Iceland and closing ALL of northern European airspace, he was delayed day after day after day. It was frustrating, to say the least. He finally made it home on Monday, April 19. I got 3 phone calls during the night delaying his welcome home ceremony, but we FINALLY got to get him mid-morning. I don't think there were 2 happier girls anywhere. =)

A few pics of the field as we impatiently awaited wrapping our arms around Ryan...

When they said to "CHARGE", Ryan didn't see us...but we sure saw him!

Pardon my tear-stained face...

Caroline took a little time to warm up to Daddy...

WELCOME HOME, DADDY!!!!!!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T14:30:00.005-05:00

The Easter Bunny came!

All this stuff is for me?!

I got a baby!

Feeding the baby

Taste-testing the baby's bottle

Making her first masterpiece

Caroline all dressed up for church in her new Easter dress! She would NOT stand still for these shots!

HAPPY EASTER from the Cryer girls!

Conversations with Caroline

2010-03-30T22:14:00.003-05:00

This is how most of our conversations go these days.

I probably shouldn't laugh, but I really do think its hilarious. Don't you? =)

Boo Boo

2010-03-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

While walking home from our playdate, Caroline fell in the street and scraped her knee. She stood up, rubbed her knee and said "uh oh"...then looked up at me like "what happened?" It broke my heart, but she was braver than Mommy and shed no tears. I'm sure this is just the first of many skinned knees. =)

Playdates

2010-03-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

We are so lucky to have great neighbors (Ali and Nicci) with kids Caroline's age (Allison and Riley). We have playdates almost every day during the week! Ali is pregnant, too and due only 6 weeks before me. Sadly, she and her husband and son(s?) will be moving to Fort Leavenworth shortly after their baby's birth. Fletch would've had an instant friend! Boo, Army!

Allison

Riley

And you all know Caroline...

YAY for playdates!

Giving "fives" to Ms. Nicci

The kids with Kode the doggie, or "goggie" as Caroline says

The Park

2010-03-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

I took Caroline to the park since it was such a beautiful day here in central Texas. She loved it! The slide was by far her favorite thing, but unfortunately I couldn't get any pictures since I was catching her at the bottom! Maybe next time!

21 Weeks

2010-03-27T15:13:00.003-05:00

Man, I'm 21 weeks pregnant today. I want to enjoy this pregnancy as much as I can since it will most likely be my last, but its going by too quickly! I'd love to slooooooow things down...does anyone know where the "pause" button is?

Fletch at 21 weeks

For comparison, Caroline at 21 weeks

Its true what they say...the second baby really does jump on you with both feet! Holy big belly, Batman! =)

Spring

2010-03-20T21:45:00.003-05:00

It was finally warm enough for Caroline to wear a dress! This was also the first time she didn't yank the bow out of her hair. =)

Little Exhibitionist

2010-03-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

Caroline is learning to take off her own clothes...

See the onesie around her waist? I hope she doesn't try doing this in public!

Its Official...

2010-03-19T14:39:00.007-05:00

Caroline is getting a baby BROTHER!

This little guy wasn't a bit shy and was proud to show us his parts! ;)

As a matter of fact, the very second the ultrasound technician placed the thing on my belly the "money shot" was the first thing we saw! She said she normally saved that part for last, but our baby boy wasn't willing to hold off on the surprise.

The "money shot"

We have decided to name our son Fletcher Joseph in honor of several special men. Fletcher was my paternal grandfather's name and I never got to meet him. I've grown up hearing stories about how wonderful a man he was and thought it would be a great tribute to him to name our son after him. Joseph (Joe) Miller was my sister's fantastic husband and sadly, he passed away of cancer almost 5 years ago. Joe has been a part of the family since I was a very little girl and I miss him terribly. I know how much he would've loved his niece and nephew and I'm sad that they won't get to meet him. Joseph is also a special name to us for another reason: it was the middle name of our dear friend CPT Timothy Moshier who was killed in action on April 1, 2006 while fighting the War on Terror in Iraq. These three men were taken from us too early and are all greatly missed. If Fletch grows up to be nearly as strong and noble as these men, Ryan and I will be very proud parents.

Now that I've introduced him to you, I'm sure you'd like to see more of his first photos. =)

A frontal shot of his face

His sweet profile - the technician had trouble getting this shot because he wouldn't take his thumb out of his mouth. It looks like he's gonna be a thumb sucker like his big sister!

His cute little feet

We're so excited to know you, little man, and we can't wait to meet you face to face!

Love, Sweet Love

2010-03-07T14:26:00.003-06:00

Before you read any further, let me apologize for the photo quality...I took these with my phone.

Caroline still torments our kitties on occasion, but she has also learned to show them love.

See?

Man, I love that little girl. So do Baxter and Sasha...when she isn't pulling their tails. =)

A Day Out

2010-02-25T06:00:00.001-06:00

We always go to story time on Wednesday mornings with our friends and I had to do a quick errand to Target afterwards. Our friends are great and tagged along with us. =)

Waiting for the story to start...we visited the snack bar beforehand. =)

Nicci insisted she try on this hat...

Riley (the lone boy in this group of girls) sure looks handsome in this hat!

New Poll

2010-02-25T06:00:00.000-06:00

If you haven't noticed, I've added a poll to the right side of the page. I have an ultrasound coming up and I wondered what y'all were guessing Baby #2 will be. Boy? Girl? Go vote! =)

Squeaky Clean Fun

2010-02-24T20:17:00.004-06:00

How big is Caroline?

SO BIG!!!

Snow in Texas?!

2010-02-23T20:41:00.006-06:00

Our weatherman was forecasting snow for our area, but I didn't believe we'd ever get any.

I was wrong.

It continued to fall ALL DAY LONG.

Our friend's backyard.

Our house.

I took Caroline out after her nap to play in the snow.

Her friends even came over.

Did Caroline enjoy the snow?

Nope. Not so much. She IS a Texan, after all. =)

One of my favorites from the day.

Late Night Visitor

2010-01-31T17:05:00.006-06:00

This little guy has been hanging around the neighborhood for a little while, but this was the first time he came to visit us.
Caroline enjoyed visiting with him, but I can assure you that Baxter and Sasha did not. =)

Numero Dos

2010-01-28T14:11:00.003-06:00

I had my first appointment with my midwife last Wednesday and she established a due date of 7 August. I'm now into my second trimester at almost 13 weeks and I'm feeling MUCH better! I still can't believe we have another baby on the way! WOW!

Our baby's first official photo

Santa

2010-01-21T06:00:00.000-06:00

Christmas in Alabama

2010-01-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

Caroline and I got the heck out of Texas for the month of December and headed home to Alabama. It was nice to spend time with the family, though I didn't feel much like doing anything other than lying around. Thanks, morning sickness...thanks a lot. Here are some pics from our time at home.

At Outback for Grammy and Grampy's 41st Wedding Anniversary

At Christmas Spectacular in Wicksburg

Caroline and her Grammy on Christmas Eve

Sharing breakfast (AND SWEET TEA!) with her Uncle Shawn

Playing in the new tent with Uncle Eric

15 Month Well Baby Check-up

2010-01-19T06:00:00.001-06:00

Caroline went in for her 15 Month Well Baby Check-up and here are her stats:

12 Month Stats for Comparison:

Weight: 19 lbs, 6 oz - 25%

Height: 30 inches - 75%

15 Month Stats:

Weight: 20 lbs, 3 oz - 25%

Length: 32 inches - 90%

Head Circumference - 45 1/2 cm - 50%

Her pediatrician is happy with her growth and tickled with her development (thanks to Caroline's showing off during her appointment). =) My big girl got 4 shots and I got one, too.

I can't believe she's so big already...where did my tiny baby go?

Your Attention Please....

2010-01-18T14:27:00.005-06:00

If you'll remember, I described how we had an amazing time over Ryan's R&R back in November. Maybe this will jog your memory...

Amazing? Yes, it was. Memorable? You bet your bottom dollar. So memorable, in fact, that we'll NEVER be able to forget it. See why?

Yep, you read correctly. Our little Caroline is going to be a BIG SISTER! As surprised as you may be, believe me when I say that no one was as surprised as we were! I'm unsure of my exact due date, but I'm guessing we'll be welcoming the newest Cryer in mid-August. This pregnancy has been much more taxing than my first and I'm impatiently awaiting the burst of energy and the absence of nausea that the second trimester usually brings.

I'll update our peanut's progress as time goes by, but in the meantime, please say a prayer for a healthy baby and endurance for me! Thanks!

Creative Storage Solution

2009-12-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

Who needs a block bucket when I have my sweater to store my blocks in?

Special Delivery

2009-12-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

Caroline got a very special Fed Ex delivery a few days after Ryan left.
See? Addressed to her and everything.

It was a special DVD of Daddy reading Pinnochio!

Caroline read along with him.

These last two aren't real great, but atleast you can see Ryan on the TV.

War Eagle!

2009-12-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

The game didn't end well for us Auburn fans, but they sure did play a good game!

Its great to be an Auburn tiger!

R & R

2009-12-05T06:00:00.000-06:00

Ryan came home in early November for his 15 day R&R and we enjoyed every cotton pickin' second of our time together! Caroline was only shy for a few minutes before she was loving all over her Daddy like he'd never even been gone. We all had a wonderful time getting reacquainted. Here are a few pics...

Playing in Daddy's shoes...

Family portrait...one of my favorites!

Notice Ryan's cell phone in her hand...that's gonna be a hard habit to break!

Caroline even let Daddy put her to bed a few times!

At the airport at the crack of dawn

Saying goodbye for 5 more months...

p.s. Caroline always seemed to be wearing these monkey jammies when pictures were taken. I promise she doesn't wear them every day! =)

October in Review

2009-12-04T15:43:00.006-06:00

OK, I know it looks as if my blog has been abandoned, but I assure you it hasn't! We have been busy busy in the Cryer house and I just haven't taken the time to update. To avoid 20 posts, I'll try to update as succinctly as possible. =)

Some Things We Did in October...
I know you can't tell from these pics, but we went to the zoo with our neighbors...

These babies were all born within a two week span!

We also went to the Pumpkin patch with our neighbors Nicci and Allison

Survived Caroline's first stomach flu

Got a new stroller (WHICH WE LOVE!!!)

Visited our dear friends the McMahans in San Antonio...
-where we saw John get promoted to LTC

-and where we went Trick or Treating with Hope, John and Aubrey!

Coming Soon

2009-11-22T15:08:00.002-06:00

Sorry there hasn't been a post in almost a month (seriously? a WHOLE month?!? where'd the time go?). Ryan has been home on R&R and we've been enjoying our time as a family. I promise to post very soon! Stay tuned!

Welcome to NYC!

2009-10-27T06:00:00.001-05:00

More NY pics...

We were surprised to find a parade to celebrate Hispanic Heritage. It was our lucky day!

The Big Apple

2009-10-26T06:00:00.001-05:00

Katie drove us into the city for a day of sightseeing and we had so much fun! She found a deal online for a parking garage right off of 5th avenue ($30 for the whole day) which put us right next to FAO Schwartz.

The floor piano from Big (you know, the one Tom Hanks played) is here and we got to watch a show. I tried to rotate the video, but couldn't figure out how. Please excuse the funky angle!

Tubby Time!

2009-10-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

The girls had a great time in the tub...even though Caroline hogged it. She also loved Nat's princesses...especially chewing on them. =)

Pumpkins

2009-10-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

We decided to pick up a few pumpkins for the girls to carve. Well, for us to carve and for them to enjoy. =)
Caroline wasn't a fan at first...

but perked up and had fun!

Nick made apple slinkies when we got home

Look at the size of those apples!

Caroline was a big help while carving the pumpkins

However, one of them wasn't feeling so hot and got sick on the table. =)

Apple Picking

2009-10-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

We headed to Indian Ladder Farm on Saturday to go apple picking. I'd never had Dunkin' Donuts before, so we stopped on the way and picked up coffee and donuts (move over, Starbucks!). It was chilly, but the apples were plentiful and the scenery was breathtaking! Thanks to Nick and Katie for taking us!

Nick carrying our bounty (notice the coffee!)

Big Family Feast

2009-10-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

Katie's mom organized and cooked a big family feast while we were there. The Moshiers (Tim's sister Lauren and neice included), the McKees (Ali, too!) and the Suhrs were all there. On our way, we stopped at the cemetary to visit Timmy. His spot was beautiful!

After our visit we went to the grocery store and picked up a Mrs. Smith's apple pie in Tim's honor. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't get many pics during dinner...we were all too busy enjoying each other's company! I did, however get pics of the desserts. There was Tim's apple pie, cannolis and whoopie pies (both of which I'd never had). Man, oh man were they good! =)

Yes, Caroline had some, too. =)

Brrrrrr

2009-10-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

It was a bit chilly in NY and Caroline got to wear her new coat (THANKS BRIAN AND KATIE!) I think she looks a bit like Paddington Bear. Cute, dontcha think?

Tumbling Tots

2009-10-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Friday in NY was a rainy one, so we weren't able to venture outside. Instead, we took the girls to Tumbling Tots to burn off some energy. They had a great time! I need to find a place like this down here...

I know its a bit blurry, but I loved her facial expression...she LOVED bouncing on the trampoline!

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

2009-10-19T14:09:00.003-05:00

Caroline and I flew to Albany, NY last week to visit our dear friends Katie and Natalie (ok, and Nick, too). =) The trip was long as the airline routed us all over the stinkin' country, but Caroline was a fabulous traveler. She especially liked the turbulence and had so much fun playing peek-a-boo with one of the flight attendants. =)

Playing Catch-up Again...

2009-10-18T12:59:00.002-05:00

We Cryer girls have been very busy lately! I will be posting quite a bit over the next several days, but here's an update:

Caroline is 13 months old now! She's a sweet little chatterbox who is now walking all over the place. She has a very healthy appetite and still loves to sleep. She's got 6 teeth and is working on more. She's a friendly little thing and we stay busy each week with story times, music time and playdates with our neighbors.

Ryan has been gone for about 5 days shy of 6 months. The time has passed by very quickly, but we are so excited to see him next month for R&R! I can't wait for him to see how much our little girl has grown. =)

Here's a little video clip of one of Caroline's first days toddling around. Enjoy!

Vacuuming

2009-09-26T23:01:00.003-05:00

Grammy and Grampy sent Caroline a toy vacuum cleaner for her birthday. The child cracks me up at how much she loves cleaning tools...I hope the obsession lasts!!! =)

Farewell

2009-09-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

My least favorite part of living the Gypsy lifestyle (AKA the Army lifestyle) is saying goodbye to good friends. Maria and I met 3 1/2 years ago when we said goodbye to Tim Moshier. We reconnected (thanks to Katie) when Ryan and I moved to Fort Hood last June. Maria made me get out of the house once a week before and after Caroline's birth and I so enjoyed that. Her family has grown to be an extension of my own and I'm going to miss her greatly.

Dear Maria, John Paul, Arthur and Noah,

I do hope that this new chapter in your lives is a good one and I hope the transition to being civilians goes smoothly. Our home is always open to you wherever that home happens to be! We miss you already and can't wait to see you again! We love you!

Caroline and Noah...I love her face in this one. =)

Self portrait

Arthur

Getting one last hug

Maria and the kids

John Paul and Caroline (giving a thumbs up!)

Birthday #1

2009-09-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

More pictures from my big girl's first birthday...

p.s. RockYou was acting weird, so some of these pictures are out of order and not all of them got labeled. Sorry!

1 year well baby exam

2009-09-22T15:39:00.004-05:00

Caroline had her one year exam last week and it was a doozy! Here are her stats:

9 Month Stats for comparison:

Weight: 18 lbs, 2 oz - 50%

Height: 28 inches - 50%

12 Month Stats:

Weight: 19 lbs, 6 oz - 25%

Height: 30 inches - 75%

The doc says she's a tall and skinny girl, but she's happy with the peanut's growth. =) Caroline showed off her skills and impressed the doc. The poor girl had 4 shots, a finger prick and a TB skin test (which was negative), so needless to say, she wasn't the happiest of campers. She only cried for a few seconds and was tickled to get a lollipop (sugar free, of course) for her trouble.

Getting her ears checked

Lollipop!

That thing must've been yummy...she had it everywhere! =)

Smashing

2009-09-13T19:36:00.003-05:00

Caroline had a smashing time eating her birthday cake. Literally. Check it out...it is kinda long...=)

p.s. If you listen, you can hear Ryan laughing. He was able to watch the whole party via webcam. I love technology (when it works!)! =)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

2009-09-13T18:07:00.002-05:00

Simply unbelievable. The tiny baby I brought home on what seems like only yesterday turned one today. Caroline, you've brought more joy to my life in your short year than I've experienced the other years of my life combined. You're the greatest blessing and I feel honored to have been a part of watching you grow! Happy Birthday, sweet girl and best wishes for MANY more!

Sneak Peek

2009-09-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

I bought Caroline's Halloween costume a little early and couldn't resist trying it on her...

Absolutely the cutest little lion I've ever seen! She's even got the roar down pat. =)

Dancing

2009-09-09T21:55:00.003-05:00

I'm gonna have to enroll this kid in ballet or something. Seriously. =)

Sunday Best

2009-09-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

All dressed for church.

Do I have to wear the bow?

OK, Mom, if you insist...

Bubble Bath

2009-09-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Caroline's first bubble bath:

Not too sure about these bubbles...

Sasha had to check it out, too.

What bath would complete without a shampoo mohawk?

Creative transportation

2009-09-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

When we want to move something from one place to another, we use our hands. Or a moving men. Or something along those lines. Not Caroline...she puts things in her mouth and crawls away! I've been trying to capture this with my camera, but this is the closest I've gotten.

Bookworm

2009-09-05T21:44:00.005-05:00

Caroline really enjoys storytime. She also enjoys carting around her little books. And chewing on them. =)

She still enjoys our kitties, too. =)

And these were just too cute not to post.

Playgroup

2009-08-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

We ventured out to Fort Hood's playgroup last week and had lots of fun! There were lots of kids, lots of Mommy's and LOTS of toys! We'll have to go again!

And my new favorite...

Bedhead

2009-08-22T06:00:00.002-05:00

My sweet baby has woken up from her nap these past few days with this...

Nothing I do makes it lay down! Nad, should I just use gel?

I must say...she still looks cute...sticky-up hair and all!

Teething

2009-08-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

So that beautiful, expensive crib we bought for our firstborn daughter? It's been broken in...

To prevent more of the same, I made this:

So far its working like a charm! =)

Vacation Extension

2009-08-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

I decided to extend my trip by a couple weeks to see these two...

Ryan's Auntie Carol and cousin Jenny passed through on their way to Ocala from Illinois. It sure was nice to see them! I'm so glad I stayed! See you soon (I hope)!!!

Farewell Dinner

2009-08-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

The family gathered together at McLin's to bid us farewell. Our dear friend Adam Sabourin (from flight school) is at Mother Rucker for some training and I'm so happy he could join us and meet our sweet Caroline! He, his wife Erica and their daughter Wesley will be welcoming a baby boy soon. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of Adam. =( My sister, nephew and in-laws were all there to enjoy some deep-fried goodness. Mmmm...I miss the food already...

Checking out Aunt Jaki's eye

And giving her some eskimo kisses

With her big cousin, Alex

Not quite sure how to hold a baby...

Now we've got the hang of it!

I can't believe my sister posed for a picture...too bad Caroline wouldn't!

The Burgess Family

2009-08-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

I got a surprise phone call from Jeremy while I was home...he, Meri-Ann and Alexander just happened to be passing through town. Caroline and I met up with them at the Aviation Museum to spend a little time with them and to let them meet our newest addition. Jeremy and I have been friends for many years and I consider his family to be part of my own! It was soooo good to see y'all...

Meeting Uncle Jeremy

In a Chinook (aren't you proud, Daddy?!?!) with Alexander

Smiles

I'm not sure which one would be the copilot!

Silly babies!

Silly Mommies!

Meri-Ann with Alexander and Caroline. She's buff to be able to hold both!

Playtime at the Duncan house

2009-08-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

I took Caroline to play with Vera and Charlie while Nadia cut my hair. She loved chewing on Charlie's wooden blocks...

but didn't enjoy the ball pit so much...

I had a great time catching up with Nadia. It was like old times...watching Army Wives and having to pause 372 times because we were too busy talking to watch the show. I also got a smokin' haircut! =) Can't wait to see y'all again at Christmas!

Goin' for a ride

2009-08-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Caroline is fascinated with all things cleaning related (including laundry), so Uncle Eric took Caroline for a ride in the laundry basket. She didn't enjoy it so much, but it sure made us adults laugh.

Can you tell she's crying?

Lisa

2009-08-16T06:00:00.002-05:00

Lisa Santorelli Ferguson and I went to high school together, but thanks to facebook we've become good friends. Her sister recently moved back to Enterprise and Lisa and her family were able to join us for lunch while she was down for a short visit. We relived our high school days and ate greasy (but oh-so-delicious) Southern cookin' at Cutt's. I could feel my arteries harden with each bite, but that dressing was Heaven on Earth...

Laura P.

2009-08-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

Laura P. and I became good friends while in Korea, but we're from the same hometown! She's at Rucker for the Captain's Career Course and the Maintenance Managers Course and was able to meet up with us girls for lunch. It was great seeing you and we hope you enjoy Germany!

Daphne and Rusty

2009-08-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

Caroline got lots of lovin' (and a bite or two of ice cream) from Daphne and Rusty. I'm so glad we got to see them and wish I'd been able to see Rusty race. We hope they'll be having a sweet baby of their own soon. Caroline needs a playmate when we visit! =) We'll see you at Christmas!

Independence Day

2009-08-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed the 4th twice! Fort Rucker held their fireworks show on the 3rd and Dothan had one on the 4th. I was afraid that Caroline would be afraid of the fireworks (Jayme, I was afraid she'd be like Caeleb was on his first 4th of July!), but she really enjoyed them. We spent Saturday in Dothan with my sister and had a ball catching up and just spending time together. Caroline sure did love her aunt! =)

Fort Rucker:

Dothan:

She discovered straws...

Giving eskimo kisses

Do you have Prince Albert in a can?

2009-08-13T15:24:00.005-05:00

I do. =) I've been searching for a while for an old tin can to make into a lamp. After looking at several antique stores, I stumbled upon two old cans. They stacked together nicely to make this:

My Father-in-law did most of the work, but I did help a little. I drilled a hole in the Velvet can and used a big grinder to enlarge the hole. I also put the lamp base inside and helped put it all together.

The frame also came from the antique store. I just LOVE how it all turned out, don't you? =)

11 Months

2009-08-13T13:58:00.004-05:00

Eleven months ago today I was lying in a hospital bed recovering from the traumas of birth and staring into the face of an angel. In eleven short months that sweet girl has learned to roll over, crawl, feed herself and has taken her first step. One thing she hasn't had to learn, however is how to capture hearts. She has certainly run away with mine.

Happy 11 Monthiversary, sweet angel!

Care Package

2009-08-13T06:00:00.002-05:00

Caroline decided to help us pack up a box of goodies for Ryan. I'm sure he wishes we could pack her up and send her over so he could hug and kiss on his baby girl!

Shark

2009-08-12T23:07:00.001-05:00

Caroline found a new favorite toy while we were at Grammy's house. This shark (though not the stuffed variety) provided hours of enjoyment for my sweet baby (and for the rest of us, too!). I know Grammy loved having the "help", but I'm sure she's able to finish this chore much quicker now that we're gone!

Puppy Love

2009-08-12T22:21:00.004-05:00

Caroline got to play with some puppies while we were home and she LOVED it! Daddy keeps telling me to remind Caroline that she can't have a puppy since we have kitties...=)

On the road again...

2009-08-12T22:05:00.003-05:00

On Wednesday, June 23rd, Caroline and I hit the road heading for Sweet Home Alabama. We traveled all day on Wednesday (Caroline was a fabulous traveler). I got caught in traffic in Louisiana and sat for an hour and a half, but made it all the way to Mobile. We spent the night there and let's just say it didn't go as well as I'd hoped. Neither one of us got much sleep. I'll be avoiding hotels for a while. She was desperate to crawl around since she'd been cooped up in the car all day. See?

p.s. I HATED letting her crawl on that floor...I had to wash her hands and feet really well when she was done!

Auntie Sarah

2009-08-12T21:59:00.003-05:00

Auntie Sarah came and spent a few days with us right before we left for Alabama. It was great to have her here! I came down with a weird fever and wasn't feeling so hot for the first few days, but thankfully she was here to look after Caroline. We did manage to get out and head to Austin for the day. We did some shopping and had some delicious BBQ at Rudy's! We miss you, Sarah...come back SOON!

Caroline was very excited to see her Godmother!

Sadly, I only took 4 pictures the whole time she was here...=( So sad to see her go!

Playing Catch-Up

2009-08-12T21:58:00.002-05:00

Whew! Thanks to a long vacation, its been a while since I've done a real post. I'm going to try to keep these in chronological order and may do more than one post a day for a while. Check back often and try to keep up! =)

Update

2009-07-22T15:16:00.002-05:00

I know, I know...I promised a post with pictures, but haven't gotten around to doing that yet. I may be a slacker for the rest of our stay here in Sweet Home Alabama, but I promise to back to my blogging self once we return to Texas.

Anyway, I'm doing this post to update all of you on Ryan. As you all know, he's currently deployed to ~~hell on Earth~~ Iraq. We've been able to communicate VERY regularly as the internet in his room isn't horrible (notice I didn't say it was great). I spoke to him on Monday and he said he wasn't feeling very well. He'd had an upset tummy all day and was going to rest. I didn't talk to him at all yesterday, but assumed that the internet was down. I got an email this morning from my wonderful friend Alina (who is deployed with him) that said he was under the weather. She and another friend forced him to go to the clinic this morning as he couldn't even talk and was white as a sheet. He's been very sick...vomiting, etc for 48 hours. They gave him 4 bags of IV fluid as he was very dehydrated and gave him some phenergan for the vomiting and immodium for the "etc". =) He hasn't eaten since Monday and is trying very hard to stay hydrated and we're all hoping he's on the mend.

Basically I shared all of this to ask for your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. If you know Ryan well you know that he's NEVER sick. I just wish he was here so I could baby him. =) We sent him two care packages last week full of food and he hasn't been able to eat it yet...let's hope he can dig into it soon! Thanks!

Fired

2009-07-08T23:06:00.002-05:00

My mother-in-law told me a few nights ago that I was fired. Fired for not posting anything new to the blog in 2 (TWO!) whole weeks. The funny part about that is that I'm home and she's seeing it all live! =) That's right...Caroline and I drove 800 miles to Alabama 2 weeks ago and have been enjoying ourselves too much to worry about the blog. Sorry! I also got a new computer today and it may be a few days before I can get things copied over. Don't give up on me...check back in a few days for a NEW post complete with pics!

p.s. If any of you in Sweet Home Alabama want to see us while we're here, hit me up!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T13:45:00.003-05:00

Happy FIRST Father's Day, Ryan! You are the center of our home, a wonderful husband, provider and the best Daddy little Caroline could ever ask for! We miss and love you so much and can't wait to have you home again where you belong! XOXO

Newborn snuggles

Pictures with ~~Daddy~~ Santa

At Seaworld

One last snuggle for a while...

Laundry

2009-06-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

I had some help folding laundry the other day. As a matter of fact, I was stuffing her diapers. Its only fair that she help, right? =)

Snack Time

2009-06-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

Miss Priss has mastered the pincer grasp and has begun to feed herself. Gerber makes some flavored puffs that she especially loves. They dissolve very quickly...this is a good thing except when her first attempt at getting them into her mouth fails.

They become pretty sticky when wet!

p.s. I think she must've been trying to save some for later...I found quite a few in her highchair. Midnight snack, perhaps?

6 Month Photoshoot

2009-06-18T12:51:00.001-05:00

I'm way late in putting these up...sorry! With Ryan deploying and us adjusting to his absence, it just slipped my mind. Please keep in mind that these images are copyrighted, so do not copy them. If you'd like a copy of one, email me and I'll share details on how you can get one. Enjoy!

p.s. There are 42 images in this slideshow, so it will take a while to see them all! =)

Hurricane Caroline

2009-06-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hurricane Caroline blew through Killeen, Texas Monday evening. In her wake was left a good bit of debris.

The worst damage caused by this storm was a literal hole in the wall. See exhibit A:

The storm ~~blew~~ pushed the door open forcefully and caused this:

No worries, ~~our insurance company~~ her Daddy has agreed to repair the damage.

Mama

2009-06-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

My little babbling beauty can say "Mama" and "Dada", as well as "baba" (whatever that means...baby? bye bye? baxter?). I tried to capture some of this for Ryan and here's what she gave me. Hang in there...its kinda long.

9 Months

2009-06-16T12:02:00.004-05:00

Caroline turned 9 months old on Saturday. I can't believe a whole month has passed since I did her 8 month post. As much as I hate to wish our lives away, I'm glad its moving quickly. We're 2 months into the deployment and I'm very ready to have my husband home safely!

I took Caroline for her well baby exam yesterday and here are the stats:

For comparison...

6 Month Well Baby
Weight: 16 lbs, 3 oz. - 50%
Head Circumference: 43 cm - 50%
Length: 26 inches - 50%

9 Month Well Baby
Weight: 18 lbs, 2 oz. - 50%
Head Circumference: The doc didn't write this one down for me...sorry!
Length: 28 inches - 50%

As you can see, she's growing like a cute little weed. She's crawling (very quickly!), cruising along furniture and climbing things, too. I don't think it will be too terribly long before she's walking! =( She also has three teeth and a head full of hair. She's a sassy, squirming, smiling social butterfly who's sweet as sugar (how's that for alliteration?). I'm blessed to have such a good-natured baby and I'm so glad to have her...especially while Ryan's away. She's great company!

She was far too busy to smile for the camera...

Little Fish

2009-06-07T22:00:00.003-05:00

I took Caroline to the pool today for her first swim and discovered that she is a little fish! She had such a good time splashing, kicking and laughing! I bought a little baby float with a canopy and she floated around and splashed in that for a while, but I think she enjoyed me swimming her around more. We'll be spending LOTS of time in the water this summer, that's for sure. Here are some pictures of the fun we had. =)

Doing her Daddy's "signature wave"

As you can tell from the thumb, we were dangerously close to naptime...

But she was happy anyway! This one's my favorite...

Gary Sinise & the LT Dan Band

2009-06-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

Saturday was a fun day! Gary Sinise (of Forrest Gump and CSI:NY fame) visited Fort Hood and performed with the Lt. Dan Band. An outdoor showing of Forrest Gump was scheduled for 4:00 with the concert beginning at 7:00. We (Caroline and myself with a large-ish group of ladies and kids) showed up at 3:30 to see the movie. They had it set up in a small tent that would hold about 50 people, so we obviously didn't get to watch it. We opted to sit on our blankets and hang out until the concert started. It turned out to be a blast. Hanging out with adults and enjoying the sunshine was wonderful. Don't worry, we were all slathered in sunscreen (SPF 70!). The concert was amazing...Gary Sinise really has a heart for military members and their families. A bit of trivia for you...his is the voice on the Army commercials. =) Here is a slideshow of our fun-filled, hot-dog eatin', diet pepsi drinkin', baby playin', booty-shakin' good time!

She's a Little Troublemaking Blast from the Past

2009-06-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

My mother gave me some things that were mine when I was a baby. The shirt Caroline is wearing in these pictures is one of them. Babies must've been a LOT smaller 30 years ago...I think this is supposed to be a dress (and the bloomers wouldn't fit)! Here are some pictures just so she can say she wore some of her Mommy's baby clothes. =)

This face cracks me up...

Also, here are some pictures proving what a little troublemaker she's becoming. She definitely keeps me on my toes!

Sasha had to investigate. =)

Playing with her Favorite Toy's Favorite Toy

2009-06-03T11:18:00.000-05:00

Sasha is Caroline's favorite toy. The door stopper is Sasha's favorite toy. Here's a clip of Caroline playing with her favorite toy's favorite toy. If you listen closely, you can hear Sasha purring. I guess she didn't mind sharing her toy. =)

Jailbird

2009-06-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

I had to get a baby gate to keep Caroline out of the laundry room (where the kitties' litter box is). She's fascinated with the bars!

Just Like Daddy...

2009-06-02T09:20:00.000-05:00

...always wants the remote.

Working on her first top tooth.

Cruisin'

2009-06-01T06:00:00.003-05:00

Caroline is now walking along the furniture. Where's the pause button on her development?

Waiting for Mommy

2009-05-31T06:00:00.001-05:00

This is what I find every morning...

p.s. These pictures were taken before I lowered the crib to its lowest setting.

Riding in Cars Bathing in Tubs with Boys

2009-05-30T08:57:00.004-05:00

Caroline and Gavyn took their first bath together. It was Caroline's first time in our big tub (instead of the ducky tub) and she was crawling all over. Gavyn was terrified of the shower sprayer, but I think they had fun anyway. =)

Busy, busy...

2009-05-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

I put a padded thing on the edge of the fireplace to cushion it in case Caroline slips and bumps her head. I think she thinks its a new toy. She keeps trying to pull it off. Little stinker...

Turbo

2009-05-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

I've been calling Caroline "Turbo" lately (one of her many nicknames) because she's just learning things far too quickly! In less than 2 weeks she has learned to crawl, cut her first two teeth and is now pulling up on things! The doctor said she'd probably walk early, but I want to ease into it. =) A girl can dream, right?

I came in to get her from her nap and she was pulling up on her crib.

Sorry for the cut-off head...I was so excited that she was only holding on with one hand! So adventurous!

Gosh, I love this kid!

Can you see my tooth? =)

I'm 8 Months Old!

2009-05-13T12:26:00.003-05:00

Can you believe I'm 8 months old already? The time sure has flown by! I can sit up, crawl, and pull myself up. I also have 2 teeth and I'm working on the third! I'm eating almost everything (I sit like a puppy and beg at Mommy's feet for whatever she's eating) and I drink pretty well from a sippy cup. Sasha (the cat) is my favorite toy, but my shape sorter (that my Uncle Eric gave me for Christmas) runs a close second. My favorite song is "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and Mommy sings it to me a lot! I really really really miss my Daddy and I can't wait until he comes home again! I love you, Daddy!

I have two chompers!

Me and my favorite toy...

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-13T11:25:00.003-05:00

My first Mother's Day was a good one. Having Ryan home to celebrate with me would've made it infinitely better, but Caroline and I enjoyed it nonetheless. We ventured out to Temple with Tammie and the boys and did a little shopping at the mall. I can't wait til next year! I hope all you Moms out there had a great day!

I was putting away some clothes in Caroline's room and she was pulling up and chewing on the laundry basket. I decided to give her a ride to show her how much fun the laundry basket could be!

I'm so not ready for this...

2009-05-06T22:32:00.004-05:00

Caroline is officially crawling. She went from scooting backwards to doing the worm to crawling! I caught some video. She gets so excited and starts doing her Lamaze breathing. Listen for it...too funny. Enjoy. =)

p.s. Caroline got her first tooth last week and 2 more are coming in as ~~we speak~~ I type. Fun times.

Swing

2009-05-01T09:45:00.003-05:00

I mentioned in a previous post that Ryan and Grampy built Caroline a swing. Well, here's a video of her enjoying it. =)

Finally!

2009-05-01T09:19:00.002-05:00

Finally, Caroline has a tooth! I wanted to post a picture, but she's not letting me anywhere near her mouth with the camera. I'll keep trying...

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

2009-04-30T00:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday, dear Ryan....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!

Happy 33rd Birthday, sweetie pie! We hope you find a way to enjoy it even though you're far far away from us. We love and miss you soooooooo much! This will serve as a gift certificate for one yellow cake with chocolate frosting and all the kisses you can handle!

To everyone else: these are pictures from the early birthday dinner we had for Ryan before he left. Enchilada pie, cake, presents and friends...it was a fun night!

Eric, Shawn and Wanda sent Ryan a yummy Edible Arrangement

See the 33 made of pineapple? Neat, huh?!

Opening some gifts after dinner