The time has come

Yesterday our Lydia turned 9 months. She is growing so fast. She now weighs 20 pounds, is in 9-12 month clothing, a size 2 shoe, and 3 diapers. Her little personality seems to shine through more and more each day. She is truly a gentle spirit. She loves to be held and to be played with. Does not like when anyone yells, she starts crying herself. She has learned to make a tight fist, stretch out her arms to her sides, and then puts on this big cheesy, gummy, grin, that half the times leaves her and I both laughing. Whenever she gets excited or so over joyed that's what she does. I need to her record her doing her 'happy face.'
Now the time has come, and as of 4:51 am this morning, I am no longer breast feeding. I want to cry as I type. I don't HAVE to stop, it's a choice I am making due to some issues that I just don't feel like sharing at this point. They are selfish reasons...but I know I can't beat myself up for them. Easier said than done. For now I will say I have simply had my fill and am looking forward to sleeping through the night. I only breast fed Isabelle till 4 and a half months and wished I could have made it longer. So I am happy I made this far with Lydia. I will miss breast feeding my little girl, but know that formula isn't the end of the world. I will miss the bond that I share with her, it has been wonderful! Breast feeding is one of the best gifts you can give your child (if you can stick with it.) Maybe I will make it to one year with our next child, but I will only know when I get to that point. Kudos to you mothers out there who do it to 12 months and beyond; I think it's so awesome.
Jake is looking forward to being able to feed her now, he was getting pretty bummed that he couldn't help out. He likes those little moments of feeding her and burping her, and having her fall asleep in his arms. Even Isabelle asks to help now with the bottle and she does a pretty good job.
I can't think of much else to say about this topic, except that Lydia has taken to her bottle pretty well. The last 2 weeks I have been weening her and the first 2 days were rough and then she caught on. Before I know it, she won't even be on formula but milk...time really does fly when you're having fun.

oh so true

As an Army wife, I had to share this after reading.
I got this on a Military.com email and thought I'd share a laugh. These are all SO true! I think I need to save this email and send it out to family and friends for future deployment(s)!







We all know our own, personal list of “to-do’s” for a military homecoming (take day off work, get hair done, create vacuum tracks, find cutie clothes for kids, lose 20 pounds, ditch three gallon tub of Rocky Road from freezer, dodge calls from M-I-L).

But do we know our list of Homecoming Don’ts? Here are some suggestions:

1) Don’t assume you know what Homecoming elements your service member has been dreaming of. Ask so no one will be, well, surprised.

2) Don’t think of Homecoming as a deadline. Think of Homecoming like a due date – you never really know what day it will get here.

3) Don’t wear “club clothes.” It’s 10 a.m.

4) Don’t bring your fur baby — even if Mr. Wubbles fits in your handbag.

5) Don’t make Homecoming an extended family reunion — in-laws may attend only if they take the kids and/or leave by nightfall.

6) Don’t go for a Brazilian wax the day before (allow 3- 5 days).

7) Don’t trample your own offspring. Let the kids go first!

8) Don’t write an X-rated banner for the front gate. Keep it for the bedroom mirror.

9) Don’t get so excited that you get hit by the bus (It happens).

10) Don’t fly into the arms of a stranger. Bring your glasses and make sure this guy really belongs to you.

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Saturday

The girls and I have been having fun at some parks this week. Lydia really gets excited and lights up when I actually put her on the park equipment, letting her kneel or go down the slide. Normally her and I hang out on a blanket or towel or just swing. So since I have noticed this I have been letting her get dirty and play...hoping it encourages her to want to move more. She is really just a content girl. As always, Isabelle loves her some park time. :)

Another windy day in the border lands...hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Hiking, a new found love

My brother came to visit over Easter from Dallas. Which was wonderful and so nice to have family here for a Holiday. We enjoyed taking him to our church, climbing some mountains, picnic lunch, Jake and him went to Carlsbad, Tx for some awesome cave adventures, (Google it!)and we had a delicious meal at Cattleman's (Google it). This time around we were able to see some of the animals at the Ranch and Isabelle bonded with Chico, the spotted horse near the entrance. Such a fun Easter.
We finally stopped at one of the mountains and climbed it, almost all of it. I had Lydia and Isabelle so us girls hung back while the boys went higher. I do NOT have any clue why we haven't done this sooner. Such an awesome work out and such cool scenery.

(Isabelle found her Easter basket!)

(Lydia had Bunny pj's that are adorable and since I was so out of it I forgot to put them on her...way to go MOM!)

(Gracious, Isabelle was wearing a penguin pj top, oh epic fail...)

(Isabelle was very sad when Daddy and Uncle 'yo-siah' kept climbing with out her.)

Lydia's up from her nap so I can't indulge much more....enjoy the pics!

Sharks and Tulips

Can April slow down please? I am not ready for the heat and my man to be gone for 7 weeks. Any who, we have been recovering still from last week and weekends endeavors. A sinus infection I got from the hubs knocked me on my butt, but I pushed on and am finally feeling better 10 days later!
Last week was Lydia's 2nd SB clinic. It went so smoothly, so thank you family and friends for your prayers before the appointment. It really does make a difference when you have prepared your mind and heart for what is to come. We knew what to expect this time, Jake even snuck away with Isabelle back to our hotel for a nap mid day. Normally her clinic day is until 4 pm but we were done by 2:30! When you have been seeing doctors, having x-rays, and ultra sounds since 7:15 am, well 2:30 we still had time to relax and enjoy the day.
Lydia is doing so well. She will continue to wear her hip brace part time, x-rays with it on show that it's helping her left hip stay aligned and not pop out...so that's good. We also learned more details for down the road and what to expect with potty training and things in the urology department.
Her feet do need surgery, so end of summer it looks like she will be starting her casting and then a small surgery to help her with standing and firmly being able to plant both her feet down so she can walk. Yes, walk! It was so encouraging to speak with other mom's and have questions answered about walking and see their children, same as Lydia up and about walking at our clinic day.
Her shunt is doing what it's supposed to, keeping her ventricles small. No swelling, and she shouldn't need an MRI for a few more years. Yay! I am so happy to say that Lydia did NOT have to be sedated. They have a new machine out that allows the nurse, or mom or dad to hold her head and do the work, with no sedatives needed. Ahh the technology these days. I have all ready begun a relationship with Vanderpoole's Children's Hospital which is in Nashville. That will be where Lydia's new clinic will be when we move. Again, prayers answered that it's only a little over an hour away. So when her surgery takes place we can go home that same day, such a relief.
While in Albuquerque, we ate delicious Mexican food. The best burritos and enchiladas we've EVER had. Even the tortilla's were amazing. Our hotel room was right by the pool, fitness room and the outside courtyard. We enjoyed it all, despite my aching head,scratchy throat,stuffed up nose, and nasty cough. :)
Isabelle was so excited and to see the shark exhibit at the Aquarium and all the tulips. We pretty much raced through the Aquarium because Isabelle wanted to see the sharks, and well the sharks were at the end. We are definetley going back on our next trip so we can enjoy more of the Aquarium and not just the sharks. :) Tulips are the first flower Izzy has learned about so it has stuck with her and she was in heaven smelling all the flowers. In the botanical gardens, we felt like we were closer to Wisconsin with all the flowers in bloom and seeing the ducks on the pond. It really was a great little family vacation. Oh and the eel exhibit was crazy! They are such scary creatures, but upon reading are supposed to be very timid; ugh I never want to find out if that's true or not.

our pretty tree just outside of our room.

(out to eat at Sadie's, best enchiladas and sopapillas ever!)

It was fun to have a break from 80 degree weather and enjoy the cool spring, with snow capped mountains in the distance.It was such a nice mini vaca, and we are looking forward to one more trip back to NM before we PCS to Ft. Campbell, KY.