Vacation over!

I've officially been away from blogging for way too long! It stopped abruptly right before Eric came home from his deployment last November. It definitely kept me busy while he was away, but even though he is back, it shouldn't stop! The more events that went by undocumented the more guilty I felt. Not only is it a way to inform loved ones, it also acts as a diary. So i am going to pick it up now and give you an abridged version of the last 3 months....

Since then our little Emmelyn has turned the big ONE on Christmas day. We celebrated the holidays by traveling to California to visit Eric's family. While there, I was able to meet my beautiful Niece, Claire and see Nicole and my brother Doug! She is the most loving adorable baby ever! My sister, Meredith was able to come to LA to see me while there. We had planned to see the tonight show with Conan O'Brien. I, personally was SO excited to see him, I'm a huuuuuuge fan of that guy and watch his show every night. Unbeknown-est to us, we found out weeks after going to his show that NBC decided to cancel him!!! So while we were there I was a kid in a candy store! It was an amazing experience =). Eric, Ashlee, Meredith, and myself were able to go! Grandma and Grandpa Jaeger watched Emmerson while we went for the day. Right after the show we left to drive to the River with Eric's Dad and Step-Mom, Debbie. We spent a good few days there having a blast with the doon buggies but most importantly celebrating Emme's First Birthday!! Grandma Jaeger baked her a cake and she opened some birthday gifts on Christmas Eve. It was very special and emotional for Mom! I couldn't believe how fast the first birthday came. I know everyone tells you it goes fast and I knew it myself but geez! =). So the next morning was Christmas day and we drove from the river to see more family in Phoenix! Eric's parents and his brother and sister and his Grandma were all there to celebrate another birthday bash for Emme! Lot's of loving gifts and a cake was made for her and she loved it all! Later that day we celebrated Christmas and opened gifts and stocking then later that night we had an amazing meal Eric's Mom prepared. We spent the new year with them then headed home new years day.

Since the new year, we have had some life changing decisions happen. Right before Christmas time, Eric approached me with the idea for him to go Weather Special Forces for the AF. This would be a big step for his Career and it's something that has always been in the back of his mind. After some deliberation and some great back rubs that didn't hurt, we decided as a family that's the direction we will head for the next 4 years or less. The process still takes some time to complete though. Eric has been training like crazy in preparation for the SF PAST test. Eric put in two sessions a day for a month straight and continues to do so. He ended up passing the test and now we're on to the paperwork part. He still has to complete some schooling before we go to the base where it all happens. If all goes on track, we should be to our next station by September. The base is in Florida and it was voted best AF to live last year. The base housing has its own beach front view! Nice! So that little tid bit does help the "pro" list. Since we have all along planned on him becoming an Officer, he still will put in his package to do so within a year or two of being SF. From there we will see what the AF has to offer us! This is something Eric is very passionate about and the idea definitely took some getting used to, but at the end of the day it's something that he can cross off his list of life experiences. All in all, if my family is happy- then i am.

Also, on a lighter note- guess who has reached her goal weight??? THIS GUY! That's right! Since the beginning of this tediously long journey starting May 09' all the way till February 10', I have lost a total of 55 lbs! Most days it was bearable, but some were down right evil! Through the humbling experience, I have learned a lifestyle that I am comfortable with and is achievable. I love love love my gym and the classes! I will continue to go to the gym daily and eat a sensible diet. I am now able to raise my calorie intake to be human again! I am proud to say I went from an embarrassing 16 to a fabulous 8! I did it and is so happy to say it's over! =)

Emme has said her first few words! She can say Da-da and Ma-ma- (every now and then) and Baby!! She is so cute when she says them too! She is a pro at walking and loves to give high fives and kisses. Her favorite is still her doggy, Ace. I bring him in all the time to take over for me! He is cheap entertainment...

Well, I hope that covers enough at the moment. I will from now on keep up to date these important milestones in my family's life. Stay tuned!

HOLY COW!

AFTER 6 LOOONG MONTHS, ERIC FINALLY COMES HOME ON MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We've got a 10 month old!

It's true... when the heck did that happen, I'm wondering. It's been a great month with lots of great memories to record! Here are some of them that are definitely worth mentioning...

* She has 8 teeth now! Poor baby had to pop 4 more since last month!

* Still sleeping and eating wonderfully

* LOVES the gym daycare! I knew the day would come and it has finally arrived. When I drop her off, Mom is officially chopped liver! =)

* Took her first steps towards Mom just a few days ago. She still uses the furniture for her cruisin needs though.

* She wears shoes daily now. She looks adorable in her outfits!

* Mom went online and bought a bunch of head gear (and made some of her own) for little Missy. She can't look any cuter... it's official.

* She waves bye-bye gives kisses. Of course she only does those things when she's in one of her giving moods.

* Babbling more than ever. She is now making "sentences" with her da-das and na-nas.

* Only watches the Noggin- nick Jr. channel. She also turns her head and totally stops what she's doing whenever she hears music on the TV. It's the cutest thing. I knew she was going to be into music!

Here's the evidence...

Halloweenie

What a full and exciting week this has been! Lots of festivities! This year we did things right... it was Emme's first Halloween after all...

Showing Emme the innards

"You didn't say you were gonna kill it!"

I guess it's okay now...

Taking some peeps

Just sittin back watching Mama

Being cuter than ever!

All in one scrape

Whoops out of order...

The finished products.. Emme's is sitting on a diaper. Holly's is in the middle. Mine is the pin-up looking one...

We carved the teeth of the pumpkin to match the ones Emme had. The length and everything!

Holly's

Liz's

We washed all the seeds then roasted them. Yummers.

Made Dinner in a pumpkin for Halloween din din

Keeping the tradition alive

Right before we headed out Trick-or-Treating!

Aunt Holly, Emme, and Mommy!

Filling up the lamb's little basket...

It was a great night. Lots of suckers for Emme!

Pumpkins for my Punkin

This is a wonderful time of year! Halloween in my second favorite holiday! (it would be #1 but for obvious reasons *cough Christmas cough* it's second). My sister, Holly, Emmers, and I were really looking forward to finding a great pumpkin patch out here.. We were determined! We ended up going to two. The first one was very much more little kid oriented and way to much chaos going on for my taste. We tried another the very next day. It was in Marble Falls, TX and it's called Sweet Berry Farm. It was so cute but very packed. We didn't mind that part though. We ended up getting one Cinderella pumpkin, a few gourds, a scarecrow, and 4 pumpkins... don't ask how we got everything home. I plan on making dinner in a pumpkin with one of them =). That's one of my favorite Halloween memories when i was a kid. Below are the pics of our days at the pumpkin patch!

Day one at the first pumpkin patch (thumbs down)

Emme and Mommy infront of the only cool thing there... the Silo.

Day two: Just getting to Sweet Berry Farm

Very festive, I think.

Emme getting into the spirit, too.

Cutie Pumpkin Pie!

Checking them out

My sweetie and I

She loved it!

Aunt Holly and Emme

She is such a cheeser.
Stuffing a Scarecrow!

Holly and her new man Jack.

Emme decided the pumpkins scared her! =)

About to leave. We had an awesome day!

Here's to 25+ years to come!

I wanted to start by saying that I love my Husband very much. He is the reason I am the person I am today. Not only is he the best Husband a wife could ask for, with our new daughter, he has shown me the father figure I've always dreamed for my children. We have always adored the type of relationship we have built together. Having a baby has made it that much healthier. Although he is currently not with us on his birthday, I hope he feels the love and appreciation his family feels for him at home. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and are aching for him to return to us fast and safe. I thank the Lord everyday for the blessings He has shown our family and for keeping us safe. I know there isn't a lot I can do for him on this special day, but I hope the following will do... I have dug up 25 of my favorite memories with Eric over the years. (there are so many more i could have posted... ill save that for his 75th or something..). Sorry, some of them are not in chronological order. He knows when they took place and this is for him anyway...=) Hope you enjoy the stroll through the years and know that Emme and I love you very very much and cant wait to celebrate many many more birthdays with you. The best way to go through the pics is looking at them from the bottom -up.

HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY MY LOVE.... Daddy and 7 week old Emmelyn
Playing with Daddy

Good times, Babe.

My whole world

New Daddy with new Emme

Sky Diving!

Our snow hustler we built

My first time seeing snow.

Monster Truck in Alabama.

We know how to have a good time

New York City Valentines Day 03'

Coming home from Iraq 07'

Welcoming him off the bus from Iraq

I missed you too, baby.

Welcome Home Sweewee - Iraq 07'

Honeymoon in Florida on our way to Emerils for Dinner 05'

After dinner we found a little volleyball court and decided to play for a bit... In our Sundays best!

Mr. Incredible at Disney World on our Honeymoon 05'

Disneyland

Hello Handsome

In our first home with our first doggy, Butters.

Las Vegas 05'

Yup.

Smoochies

Taking engagement pics....=)