It's best to listen to mommy!

Yup Maddison learned a hard lesson a few days ago. I feel awful for her the way she had to learn but it happens. We were making cookies this past Saturday and I had pulled them out of the oven, sat the stone on the counter to cool and told her to be careful, to not touch it because it's hot and it will BURN her. I turn around and she is walking away and then started freaking out and grabbing her chin saying she thinks she burnt it. I asked her to move her hand and yup she had. I immediately put burn creme on it and then I asked her what did she do! She first tried to tell me she was trying to get her stickers (which were in her hand because I had just given them to her) and I was like no mommy already have given them to you so what were you really trying to get Maddison?  A cookie that I told her she could have once we ate dinner and they had cooled down! Sigh I always tell her she should listen to me :) Poor thing I wanted to punish her for lying but I then felt like her burn was a consequence enough for her action...poor thing! I know this will be the first of many things. She is a great kid and I hope she really does listen to me LOL I know the teenage years will be fun but I do know a little bit about life not much but a little. 4 years old is a hard age!

Catch up time!

Wow it's been awhile since I last posted on here! It's been busy here though. For starters Maddison is now in preschool!!!! I know I know she can't be already but sigh my baby is growing up! I got a phone call on August 9, 2012 letting me know a spot opened up and that she could start that following day on Friday the 10th! I was so excited for her but not going to lie I cried and cried! She on the other hand could not wait! And she is doing amazing there! She loves her class and her teachers, which I too love them! They are for one and most important teaching my child and helping her grow and I will be forever thankful for that! I can never tell teacher's thank you enough!

She picked out her outfit for her first day of school. Already had a book bag, packed it as we were asked and she was ready to go! I walked her in and met her teachers, saw the classroom, and got all info needed. I gave her a hug and into the world she was! She didn't even look back, no crying, and I left....I didn't cry I think I had cried so much the day before. I couldn't wait to pick her up!!!! She had a blast that day and has loved school ever since! She is doing well in school, loves her teachers, and had her first ever school picture the other day!

Molly is a hot mess LOL :D She is almost a year old and has a whole mouth full of teeth, walking everywhere since she was around 9 months old, and getting into everything!!! She is so much fun though! Her little personality is just so awesome! She is a very busy little girl! I took her binky away and it was much easier than I ever thought it would be with her. She LOVED her binky so the fact it was like a piece of cake still amazes me. They are both such a blessing!

Matt has been gone since the 22 of August. Not gonna lie I was a little nervous about doing this all alone and in a place we hadn't even been a year but I think I've done quite well. If we didn't have a routine down I'd probably be pulling my hair out! Not much else been going on here other than the crazyness of being a family!

Saturday's go by way too fast!

Not much been going on these days other than our normal routines! We got home last Saturday from being up in Kentucky for about 10 days. It was a rough drive up there for me but after being up there and able to rest and not do anything since the girls went between the grandparents! I was just able to relax and lay around and I know that is what my body needed from my surgery! Shew that was rough! Since being home I've been able to work out the whole past week! Which has really made me happy because I feel like I really may be able to run my Disney race after all! Plus I'm like way more motivated than I have ever been before! We also go to go to Ohio to see Aunts and Uncles and my great grandma! That's always a blessing! As was seeing Matt's grandma! I love those two old ladies! We got to see Nana and Papaw and Maddie even stayed a night with them! It was just a nice trip!

Maddison is doing her thing! She is all about dressing herself and even putting in her own headbands! Love this girl! She is my little helper and I love her with all my heart! I can't believe she is 4! I know I will cry my eyes out when she goes to kindergarten next year! Matt and I just look at her and smile! She is just so amazing! And the kid LOVES to dance LOL :) Any tunes come on and you can just see it in her eyes then the hips start swing!!!! She is so funny! She is also a little repeat and has been saying things we know we have not said...she says she hears them from other people in walmart!!! Humm ok!

Mollybug is 9 months old!!! WHAT! Where did that time go???? She has 8 teeth already, we just had to move her crib down one level, she is in to EVERYTHING, and the past few days been standing a lot on her own and even taking a few steps! At her 9 month check up this past Wednesday she was 19.6 lbs, 28.25 inches long, rotten!!! LOL :) She is starting to mock people too and the sounds you make. She loves LOVES her sister and her daddy, she says dada and baba...she is just such a fun baby! We thought she was our last but...we shall see!

Matt is of course super busy with work! He will be leaving us next month though to start his new journey in the AF. He will have 3 tech schools to go to then we will be moving which we are getting excited about! We have decided we are over the apartment thing and we will be finding the perfect house to rent! I've been praying a lot here lately....I truly believe in the power of prayer and I know God hears me! I have seen the results of my talks with God! Sometimes I wish I could just go have a coffee with him! Wouldn't that be great!

Living this crazy thing called life!

Yup it's been about a month since I last posted! For starters, Maddison is now 4 years old! I can't even begin to believe it! Time really does fly when you start having kids and each moment with them is so precious. Before I know it she will be graduating high school and moving on with her life! I can only hope and pray and do my best to raise her to be the woman God intends for her to be.

I remember the night we found out we were expecting! Matt was playing his xbox and I had gone on a walk with some neighbors of mine while we were in Japan. It was a beautiful night out and while on our walk we were talking about kids and what not. It dawned on me that I was late LOL and they both look at me and was like I'd take a test when we get home. Sooo I drove to the shoppett and got home and well took the test and I couldn't believe what I held in my hand....Pregnant! WOW I am having a baby!!! MATT MATT and he knew and with out even taking our time and waiting we were calling family and a few friends in Japan! 9 LONG months passed by and she was born on my due date May 25, 2008 at 11:02 pm weight 6 lbs 11.2 ounces and 19.5 inches long. The day she was born didn't go any way that I had expected but was I ever so blessed that Matt never left  my side! Both of our mom's flew over to see her too. They were only there for 2 weeks and the first week both of myself and Maddison were in the hospital but they didn't care! As long as they could see her they were fine. 4 years later and she is just a vibrant, independent, outgoing, fun, loving, energetic, happy, outspoken, FULL of attitude 4 year old! I love her so much and so honored and blessed to be her mommy! She is growing up so fast! Next fall she will be in kindergarten!!!! Shew, not sure I am ready for that! She loves her daddy to the moon and beyond! She can't wait for him to get home and is always the first to get to him which I don't mind. I love to see her love him!!! She is just so awesome!

Mollybug is doing what all 8 month olds do!!! She is into EVERYTHING! Such a fast crawler! She also stands up on her own now and has taken a few steps! She doesn't like to hear the word No, she beats up on Maddion even bit her toe the other day which was sooo funny!!! She has 6 teeth all the way through her gums and two more on the way! She loves, LOVES, loves Maddison. Loves to play in her room which most of the time Maddison doesn't mind! I love seeing them together! She also LOVES her daddy!!! She makes all the noises she can, her two new words are Dadda and Baba for her bottle! She loves the park which makes it so easy to go there! Maddison does her thing and Molly swings and here lately she likes the slides! She is just so awesome!



I was doing great until June 7. I woke up in the middle of the night at 1 am or a little later with the worst abdominal pain I have ever felt in my life. I went to the restroom thinking it would get better after I peed however it continually got worse and worse FAST! I followed the base protocol and then the vomiting began and I couldn't get to the ER fast enough. Poor Matthew kick into super dad mode (which is one thing I LOVE about my man! He really steps up in time of need) he had the girls up, dressed, diaper bag packed, and himself all together while I was trying to get myself to the car! I love my husband so flipping much! That man hung the moon! As soon as I got there I began puking in the er waiting room (go figure) and they got me back there kinda fast! Gave me meds for nausea and the pain I was in. Blood work, urine test, ultrasound (not the fun one either), and a CT later I was diagnosed with a really bad case of appendicitis and it was coming out NOW! Matt got the girls to a friend of ours which I am forever grateful for at 6 am that took both the girls while Matt was with me at the hospital. After surgery I was not in the best mood, anaesthesia does horrible things to me! It takes a while to wear off before I feel "normal" again. I couldn't eat and all I wanted what my pain button. I hurt so bad. I have also found out that morphine gives me really dry mouth. I couldn't drink enough water! Which then in turn made me have to get up and go to the restroom ALL THE TIME! I ended up with one long incision on my right side, I had an open appendectomy which has a longer recovery time than having it done laparoscopic. I was discharged the next day in the worst pain ever and well Matt ended up having to take the whole next week off. I was not allowed to pick up Maddison, Molly, or anything heavier than a gallon of milk, no sex, no running around, all kinds of restrictions. I slept in our lazyboy for a few nights. I couldn't stretch out. It was horrible. It's now been two weeks to the day that I had my surgery and I was doing great until my follow up yesterday. I hadn't taken any pain meds yesterday wasn't having any pain or soreness and then he pushed around and done all he had to do to make sure I was healing properly and well I have been hurting again ever since! I still have pain and I hurt almost all day. I'm allowed to pick up the girls but  nothing heavier. No running yet. I'm just so over it! I can't stretch out without it feeling like I just had it removed! I am healing though and healing well so I shouldn't and won't complain. I am blessed it was caught right before it ruptured. I was with hours of that happening that is how huge and swollen it was. Matt is amazing and still taking great care of me and helping me out so much with the girls!

Matt is doing great and as usual busy with work. He will be leaving us in August for his first two tech schools and then after that will be finding out about his last school will be. I am planning on flying out to Texas in between his first two (he has a week off) so we can celebrate Molly's first bday a few weeks early with him. Plus I know Maddison is going to be so heartbroken when he leaves! She has a daddy doll and I will be getting Molly one as well! Matt is truly a blessing to me. I am ever so reminded when situations happen like my appendix. He really just takes it all on and does it amazingly. He loves me and has seen me at my absolute worst and at my best. He loves me no matter what and I am so thankful for him. While I was stuck in the lazyboy he was up with the girls taking care of me and them. He just flowed! I know the girls enjoyed their extra time with him!

The pugs are well...being pugs!

And that is how we have been! I plan to work better at updating these better. I do have a crazy life that keeps me busy and on my toes! I'd have it no other way though! I hope everyone else is doing great and creating your own life memories!!!!

Throwback Thursday!

AWWWW lol this is Maddison 2 years ago right before her 2nd birthday! She looks like a baby here LOL :) At this time we still lived on Kadena AB in Okinawa Japan in Marek Park 10327 C :) She was playing in our bedroom (looks like daddy was laying in bed) I can't believe she is almost 4!!!! She loved playing with my stethoscope (which she still has and does) she was such a fun toddler! And girl loved Dora LOL So much including her has changed since this picture! We ended up having to move like two months after this picture to Camp Foster a little bit after this due to them renovating this house. It so crazy I look at some of these pictures from May 2010 and I see Molly!!! Like this one!

 LOL I just see Molly in these expressions pictures also from May 2010! It's funny I don't remember her in diapers. My my how things have changed :) Happy Throwback Thursday!

Evening with Maddicakes...

Well now that Molly is on a normal schedule and sleeps at night, I get to have some one on one time with Maddison in the evenings. Tonight we colored, made a map, she helped me make dinner, she helped me do dishes, and now we are chilaxin watching "The Big Bang Theory" LOL She was telling me about her monkeys and I painted her toe nails (of course with her Biddidi Bobbidi Boutique nail polish) she is something! I still can't believe she is about to be 4 years old. I was asked today if she was 6!?! I was like umm no she isn't even 4 yet LOL I am kinda happy she didn't get selected for preschool one more year with her all the time will fly by! Plus Matt will be leaving soon for tech school so she will have a lot of change. I am hoping and praying that Pampered Chef will really start going so I can put her in this christian preschool on my terms of what days and times. She is such a great little person! I can't wait too see the person she grows up to be!!! She is so loving to Molly which just makes my heart smile! I know that won't always be the case but for now it's great! We have been thinking about them sharing a room next house but we shall see :) for now I'm going to continue to enjoy my evening with my girl before bed!!!

7 months already...

Shew can't time just slooooowww down for a few! Today we celebrate Molly Elizabeth being 7 months old and I can hardly believe it. October 4 at 8 o'clock my water broke here at home and I kinda had an "are you serious" moment because I was only 37 weeks preggo and NONE of our house hold good's were here yet from Okinawa!!!! I called labor and delivery and to my surprise they told me to not come in...I don't think they really believed my water broke it was almost as if I didn't know what I was saying maybe I had peed on myself but my water broke with Maddison at home as well and I knew I hadn't peed all over my bed! So I was like well fine, I will just say home and hope I will start contractions on my own maybe I would get out of a c section! My plan was to stay at home as long as possible and hope to go in at like a 8 or 9 and go from there...I found out that they don't do VBACS here and well they can't make you have an elective surgery unless it's medically neccessary. BUT as the night went on nothing happened and by that morning I knew a c section was my future and it was going to happen that day...so the following day at 9 am I called and they had me come and and well I was sent to the hospital from there :) A friend we were stationd with in Okinawa is also here and she was graceious enough to take Maddison for a few while Molly was born! At 2:05 pm, weight 7 lbs 7 ounces and being 18.5 inches long Mollybug came into this world a healthy baby! Before the doc showed her to us as they were getting Molly out we heard her say "All you look just like your sister" and well she did! She looked just like Maddison the day Maddison was born!

Maddison was so excited to see her little sister and to hold her. She kept asking if we were going to keep her and could we take her home :) It made my heart smile! I didn't think I could love another little person as much as I love Maddison but shew I was way wrong!!!! These little girls are our world and it made my love Matt even so much more!

Molly was born here in Valdosta, Gerogia at Smith Northview by Dr. Courson. Her clinic also gave Molly her first bible with her name stamped on it. Such a blessing! I wanted to leave the hospital and go home ASAP and they were so great about making sure I was ok and helping me along so that I could get out of there as quickly as possible. I went in on a Wednesday and I was able to go home on Friday. I wanted a great nice shower and to lay and rest in my own home even if there wasn't much there! My amazing hubby went out and bought me a glider since I couldn't sit in the camping chairs anymore because of my surgery. He is so sweet to me and takes such great care of me and the girls! Maddison was just so in love and couldn't leave Molly's side.

 

The one thing I wanted more than anything was for Molly to nurse. Maddison didn't and I was and am ok with that, her jounry into the world was a little different than Molly's. Molly did great and latched on no problem and well she nursed strong up until two weeks ago and I am ok with that. That's almost 7 months longer than I did the first time :) Molly is such an amazing little person. She is already trying to walk, she pulls herself up on all kinds of things and already has two teeth through and possibly some upper ones on the way! Gibber gabbers away, always has to be checking out what is going on around her, LOVES TO EAT! She is just so much fun, such a happy baby!!! Happy 7 month's old to our sweet girl! We love you so much!!!!



All our dreams came true!!!!

Well our 2012 Walt Disney World vacation came and went...all tooo fast!!! Our trip started last Saturday (21 April) to which we dropped of Daisy and Dukie pug to the kennels and cleaned up a bit, then we were off to Orlando airport to pick up Mamaw and Papaw Blevins! Living in Valdosta we are only about 4 hours away so it wasn't too bad of a drive down there (or home either). That day we just kind of rested, by the time we picked them up and go to the Shades of Green on Disney we were pooped LOL :) The next day we got our day started, walked around Shades of Green and checked it out. Walked over to the Polynesian resort which was right across the street and rode the monorail and just checked out everything. That night we watched the lights parade and the fireworks at Cinderella's castle at the Magic Kingdom. So Monday started our 4 days at Disney one day at each park. Monday we did Animal Kingdom. Maddison enjoyed the safari, she did the boneyard, we watched the Festival of the Lion King, we did Rafiki's plant watch, and Matt and I rode Expedition Everest...we were so bummed that It's Tough to be a bug was closed :( we also watched a parade that afternoon.
On Tuesday we took a break as we needed to get some supplies from Walmart and Matt wasn't feeling too great. So Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we hit it hard and went to Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Epcot. We watched parade's, met characters, rode as many of the rides we could, went to shows, stuffed our faces and just had a blast at Disney!!! Maddison really enjoyed doing the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Downtown Disney on Saturday!!! Althought it was expensive I would trade her fun for the world! She is also a roller coster junkie and enjoyed all that that she was tall enough to ride!!! This was her second Disney experience and I hope she has many more! There is just something about that place!

Catch up and Throwback Thursday!!!!

It's been a little bit since my last post, I  have missed a few Throwback Thursday's :( but life has been a bit crazy! The girls and I went up to Kentucky to be with my best friend in the whole wide world when her grandpa (which was like my own) passed away. She called me early one morning and that afternoon we were on our way! I couldn't imagine not being there for her and at the very moment for the first time since leaving Japan I was happy to be only 10 hours away. We have been BFF's since the 4th grade and I know know we will be those crazy old ladies one day :) Her family is like my family...I love them all. Of course while we were up there the Kentucky Wildcats won the NCAA tournement so that was fun too!!! I even let Maddison stay up really late to watch the game with me ha! She thought she was sooo cool! While being in Ky my brother and sister in law came in from NY where they are stationed. He had just gotten back from Afghanistan so it was our first time seeing him a very long time. First time they had met Mollybug and I believe Maddison was one and a half last time they say her...it was nice to spend time with them and see everyone else...we even drove up to Ohio to see some family up there where the girls met their great great grandma!!! It was a nice trip all in all but we were all ready to be back home with Matt...we sure missed him! I believe he missed us as well. Right now we are getting ready for a trip to Disney World with Matt's parents. Maddison is super excited and Molly well she will have a great time LOL :)

Now for this Thursday's Throwback picture:

This is a picture of our sweet Maddicakes and the same age our sweet Mollybug is now :) Matt was deployed it was our first one and we were living in Okinawa at the time. Maddison was such a great baby just as her little sister is. It's crazy how they are so much alike yet so different. Maddison had more hair than Molly at 6 months, her chicken hair as we called it because it always stuck straight up no matter what we did. I had already pierced her ears too. By this picture she could roll, she never crawled, and of course she was sitting up. She didn't have any teeth yet, her's didn't start coming in until she was 1 years old. She looks so much like Matt I think. I always have. I wasn't sure how this deployment was gonna go since I had never been a mom before but because of how great she was it was kind of easy...we had our routine and it made time fly while Matt was gone. She was and is amazing! I can't believe she is almost 4 years old :( It's so true as Darius Rucker's song says, she wasn't like this for long and I don't really remember her like this...it went too fast! I am so thankful for pictures! Hope everyone has a blessed Thursday!!!!

First addition of Throwback Thursday!!!

So I have decided to so my own segment of Throwback Thursday with posting an old picture and talking about it :) And what better way to start with a picture that started it all!

So this was on June 6, 2002 our last day of school Matt's senior, my junior year. By this time he had taken me to prom and already stole his first kiss! That day he drove me home from school in his red truck and that night we went to Walmart and did some shopping around and then decided we wanted to rent a movie. Matt hates scarry movies but we rented 13 Ghosts. I remember him saying how stupid scarry movies are LOL and during the movie ha! We went back to his parents house and started movie night...during the movie he asked me one question I had been waiting on LOL and I'll never forget how the converstation went ha! Matt "So if I asked you to be my girlfriend what would you say?" :D HA HA HA Jessica "I'd say yes!" Matt "Well how bout it?" Jessica "Ok" I still laugh about it ha ha ha but it was our special moment. To think that moment happened almost 10 years ago still is so neat to me. Matt still gives me butterflies even after 10 years! We have made it through me finishing highschool and college, Matt deciding to join the Air Force, and those hard deployments. I had no idea that saying yes to that question was going to bring me and us to where we are today and if I had to do it all over again you bet I would in a heart beat without even thinking twice! It's so neat to look back on all we have gotten to do together! We still enjoy that day June 6, 2002 :) it was our first anniversary so it's always gonna be special to us. It was a day that changed our lives and us forever! Who knew it would lead to the 2 beautiful girls we have now!!! But that's for another day! I added some other pictures from that day!!!

Ahhh the hard life of a 3 year old...

Well yesterday (Monday) was a fun day in our house...Monday's Maddison has ballet/tap class which she really loves but yesterday was just one of those days! We have all been pretty sick in the house and I offered to let her stay home but she begged me to take her so we went. I knew though that she was not going to listen and that she would be the one her teacher (Mrs. Patty) was calling on and what do you know...she isn't listening then she starts crying and snot is everywhere and ugh class was almost done so I had a talk with her and she finished tap out just fine. Well come time to leave and I was talking to another momma and Maddison did her little you wanna mess with me thing she does and I told her to come on and well she proceed to tell me she was going to bust my ass at which I looked up and her teacher and all other parents were looking at me...I wanted to laugh not going to lie but she knew she was in the wrong and that we don't say those kind of words so...she got a spanking and had to apologize to everyone. I don't know where she heard that, we don't say that to her for that very reason. I have always heard it's the terrible twos but after having a two year old and now a very mouthy, mean at times, attitude filled, not wanting to listen three year old, I think 3 is the number not 2...Maddison was an amazing 2 year old...COME ON 4, I mean it can only get better right...someone say right! I know she is testing the water and I understand that. Sometimes I also think it's just to get attention (Molly requires a lot LOL) and we try to give her her own one on one time. This is also a big time for her, the world is just such a big place and she is trying to figure out where she stands. She is soooo independent...dresses herself, goes to the bathroom herself, always telling me I can do it. I love that about her, she is an amazing little person and I can't wait to see where she goes in life. However I will be glad when we are done with being a 3 year old. It's a hard life!

We love our Maddison Kay!

Thankful Thursday!

So today I am doing a Thankful Thursday! I haven't wrote in awhile so I need to catch up too but today I am most thankful for (other than my husband and my sweet girls) is my brothers! My brother SPC Joshua Shoemake returned from spending a year deployment in Afghanistan. I am so happy he is home safe and with my sister in law! I know she missed him as I know what it's like to be in her shoes! Matt has not been deployed that long but the feeling is just the same. He has been through a lot while serving over there, we are just happy to have him home. Not everyone is as lucky and for those we pray for them and their families.

I am also thankful for my bother Jonathon. I haven't seen him in a little bit but love him just as much!

I'm thankful for my family! I have an amazing husband who does so much for me and the girls! We are so blessed! For Lent I gave up a few things and I can already see a change in me and it's what I needed. I chose to give up things that I really have struggled with and that I feel like really have a hold over me. I gave up processed foods, grains, soda, all things really bad for me. I used to never think twice about food and for some reason it's like now food has a huge hold on me! But no more and what better way to think of it like this...if Jesus died on the cross for me the least I can do is give up those things for him! And it has really helped! I haven't thought twice about eating those things or having soda! I have also started training for a 10 mile race in September at Walt Disney World in FL! I found a running plan on line: 10 Mile Running Plan and I am on week four of it and wow I am loving it! I have lost weight (which was not really my reason for this running) but I know by September I'll be where I want to be! One of my new years resolutions was to lose 50 lbs this year and I believe I might lose more! I have God on my side and when I'm running I can definitely feel him there with me every step I take. I ran four miles the other night without stopping which was HUGE for me! I can not even begin to say how humbled I am right now for our heavenly father! I do not deserve any of the blessings in my life I am nothing but a sinner saved by God's grace! Which is the most amazing thing to be thankful for!

LOVE DAY!!!

Yesterday was good ol Valentines day! Ah you could see all the love on Facebook and all the last min shoppers at Walmart LOL :) It was a pretty normal day here at the Blevins house since Matt has an exercise going on at work which made making his Valentine's day gifts from the girls and I pretty easy! This was Maddison's gift to daddy! Three hand prints (representing her age) making hearts with it saying "These hands forever hold your heart" and then she added her touch to it! She loves her daddy so much!
This is what Molly made daddy! And just let me say getting a 4 month old to let you paint her hand and then try to make a hand print is not as easy as one would think! We got the first one no problem but kept having issues with the second hand so I just painted over it with black and then did her feet! That was much, much easier! LOL So this is what we came up for her gift to daddy! "Every good and perfect gift comes from above" James 1:17 one of my favorite verses! And Molly sure does love her daddy! She knows him so well already! The min he is home and she hears his voice her head turns and she is trying to find him. Then when she sees him she just smiles!!! I love it! Molly also started rolling around from back to belly like crazy yesterday! She has done it a few times before but never like now! She is on a roll!

This is what I made for Matt! 52 reasons why I love him! Of course got the idea off Pintrest! I love that website! And I thought I would share what I put on them!
#1. You love me
#2. You have the best smile
#3. You are an amazing dad
#4. The way you make me feel with I am with you
#5. The fact that we will grow old...together
#6. I respect you...and you respect me
#7. That you tell me how beautiful I am, even when I think I am not
#8. That you are my best friend and always have been
#9. The way your hand feels in mine
#10. The fact that I can tell you anything and if you don't really care, you listen
#11. That you are the last voice I hear before I close my eyes at night
#12. The first kiss before you go to work
#13. How you complete me
#14. The fact that you NEVER give up on me
#15. You always let me follow any dreams I might have, as silly as some may be
#16. How thoughtful you are
#17. The way my heart still skips a beat when I see you
#18. I love the way you inspire me to be more than I am
#19. How hard working you are
#20. I love watching you with our girls
#21. My heart smiles when I think about how awesome you take care of us
#22. The moments we share good and bad
#23. For being the most honest person I know
#24. That you are patient with me and all my crazyness
#25. For being my greatest blessing
#26. For being my shoulder, my rock, my everything during hard times
#27. For blessing me with two of the most beautiful girls in the world
#28. How you make me understand myself so much more than I ever thought I could
#29. The fact that you accept my crazy family...all of my crazy, loud, blunt, honest family
#30. Your sexyness! And yes to me youa re the most sexy man
#31. That you are not ashamed of me or to take me around your friends
#32. Your integrity
#33. I love the feeling of being secure that you give me
#34. That you always tell me you love me before you leave and before we hang up
#35. Because I know you will stick up and defend me
#36. Because it sometimes seems like we are the only two in the room
#37. Because you are the one I dreamed about every night and think about every day
#38. The fact that we can talk without even speaking
#39. Because I never have to ask if you love me, you make me know it everyday
#40. You tell me I am most beautiful without makeup
#41. Because you stand next to me and not infront of me
#42. That you put up with me when I am grumpy
#43. You don't mind going shopping with me and giving me your opinion on things I try on
#44. You give the BEST hugs
#45. Not only do I love you but I like you too
#46. Because you value me
#47. That is still feels like I just fell in love with you...even 10 years later
#48. Because you have taught me how to say I'm sorry and to realize just because we fight doesn't mean we don't love each other
#49. Because you keep promises
#50. I love that you sometimes sing love song when they come on the radio, I do hear you
#51. I love your laugh! I always have so much fun with you, making me laugh till my belly hurts is the best
#52. I love knowing that if I died today, I would see you in heaven! My life is better because of loving you!

I hope everyone had a great day! To me every day is Valentine's day since I get to spend it with mine for the rest of my life!!! Be blessed!

What's been going on...

I'm a little bit behind on writing. I have been busy with the girls and now that Matt is home I finally have some down time! We finally found out about Matt's retraining, something he has been working on since he returned from his deployment in 2010...yes it's taken that long! But we finally got our good news and he will be retraining into a new career field in the Air Force, after tech school he will be a senor operator. We will be moving again but not for a little bit! We are excited! Hoping out of the three (as of right now) bases that are available we can go to Creech AFB in Nevada. Hopefully Matt finds out about tech school soon. Not looking forward to our time apart but ready to get it over with! SO that is the next big chapter in our lives! We are planning on going to Walt Disney World in April with Matt's parents and I know Maddison will be sooooo stinking excited! She STILL talks about going to Tokyo Disneyland. She was 2 and a half then lol she loved it! In September I will be going back to Disney World to run The Twilight Tower of Terror 10 mile run. I will be running it with a great friend of mine, (we met in Okinawa and her hubby is now a TI and they live in Texas) she text messaged me letting me know she was going to run it and vola we are doing it! I can't wait it really gives me something to really work for not just weight loss but a really awesome goal and a huge accomplishment! I found my training program online and got all my ducks in a row to get training! Maddison and Molly are doing great :)

We are big UK fans! Maddison asked for a UK uniform since Molly had one. I am not sure what she is going to do as far as sports but cheerleading is ok with me :) She will be starting a dance class this year and hopefully preschool this fall! We are also looking at gymnastics!

Molly rolls all over the place, has figured out how to use her hands really well, and she scoots really well...it was forward and now it's backwards LOL oh Mollybug! She is such a happy baby. She can get up on her knees and raise up on her chest with her arms but not at the same time! I think she will be crawling soon! I'm not ready for her to be moble!

All in all life is busy but going great! Just need to find a church! Today is it pretty cool here in Valdosta. It has been up in the upper 70's almost 80 degrees and today it is 40! The pugs are doing great as usual! They have the life! Well laundry is calling my name and so is dinner! Off to be momma I go!!!

Who you want her to be!

So I read this blog (http://lysaterkeurst.com/2012/01/i-dont-want-to-raise-a-good-child/)  from the Proverbs 31 ladies or one of them and let me just say...she described Maddison to a T! And it really put a lot of things in perspective for me about what we want for the girls! My prayers used to very much be please show me how to raise a GREAT child! I want Maddison and Molly to be amazing and up to their full potential! But after reading this I do realize I have been praying about this all wrong. I don't want to raise a great child I want to raise a child of God the way he wants them to be. I pray every night they become the amazing women of God they are meant to be and I'm sure through all the crazy things or the things that seem crazy, they are gonna throw at me in the end life will be ok and it will all work out! Things are the way God has intended them to be :) There are not such things as perfect kids or great kids as there are no such things are perfect parents. I just want to be the best I can be at being a momma and know that God has the rest under control! Life is never going to work the way we have planned it and well toddlers and babies are never going to act they way we hope most of the time either. But knowing God has it all under control makes me breathe easy and for that I am thankful!

What I'm missing in life...

Right now in my life one thing is missing and I am missing him! I know he is always with me, always there to pick me up, always there to encourge me, always there to love me, always there to talk, to listen, to answer, to guide, to show me how strong I really am, to protect me, to remind me, he just just and perfect! Ever since we have moved it's like he is on the back burner, not forgotten just not where he should be in my priorities of my life! With moving from Japan back to the USA, having a new baby, and just trying to get adjusted it's be crazy! However those are just excuses I know I have time! It's all about priorities and time management which I am horrible at! We haven't found a church but we haven't tried one either. It's hard to follow Koza! I miss that place like crazy! There is a church here by our house in Georgia that this Sundy I AM going to go to. I'm already finding out the service times and what not :) I have heard great things about it so I feel like its a great place to start. There is a MOPS group here just haven't gotten to attend yet. On the wait list! 3 is a popular age! I'm hoping to find a great bible study group here so far no luck but I'm not giving up. I started a study on my own "When Godly people do Ungodly Things" Beth Moore of course. I have it on my kindle. I miss my God although I know he has never been gone, I just haven't been making sure I meet him for our "us" time! I am ready for our time and I am thinking of where I'm going to fit it in. Might just have to get up way before the girls do! Anywho I just wanted to talk about my amazing God whom loves us all who sent his only begotten son to save us :) What can wash away my sins....NOTHING but the BLOOD of Jesus!

Nursing

When I found out I was pregnant with Maddison, I wanted nothing more than to breastfeed her. I wanted that bond and all the joys that come with it. However nothing about Maddison's birth and the days to follow went anything like I had planned it. Of course by the time I finally got to hold her she wanted nothing to do with breastfeeding so I pumped. Not even two weeks after she was born I broke out with a horrible rash and the ER doc said she couldnt have my meds so I had to pump and dump. We then put Maddie on formula and her little body had a hard time switching and of course I then found out she was able to have the meds I was taking the whole time and I just didn't have the heart to switch her back even though I know breast was best for her. I was totally ok with how formula went for her, she is a very smart almost 4 year old. I wasn't upset that she was on formula although I did get upset when women who were hardcore breastfeeders teach their other children that formula is fake milk and that fake milk is bad for babies...yes I had a 3 year old ask me one time while we were out why I was feeding my baby fake milk and her mommy thought it was funny! I however didn't! Breastfeeding didn't work for me that time and some people need to realize that! So when Molly was born I wanted to give it my all again and try to nurse her. I never thought she would be a champ at it like she is :) It felt like I was having a baby for the first time because it was all so different. Even though I had Molly as a c section too it was just all so different but I felt so accomplished that she was a strong nurser. And now it seems like there is such a big fuss with nursing in public. When we are out and my baby has to eat I feed her I do have respect for others that may not "like" it and I cover up but people still stare at me. As if I'm doing something horribly wrong or nasty yet that is what our "fun bags" are for! It's not acceptable for a woman to nurse her baby but yet women can walk around half naked and that is ok. It's seen as nasty, gross, should be done in a bathroom (Uh how gross to feed your baby in a public restroom) and so on! Even when I am covered up I still have people stare at me and then someone the nerve to ask me to go to a restroom. It took all I had to not go off on her and keep my cool infront of Maddison! I just don't understand why society views breastfeeding like this. I would NEVER say anything to any women feeding their child in the most natural way nor to anyone whose baby was on formula. There is nothing wrong with either! Why is ok for women to be sexy and wear almost next to nothing in public yet nursing not ok! People want nusring mothers to go to the restroom or out to their cars or some where hidden because it's gross! Anywho I'm a proud nurser and my baby is getting a huge so I'm doing something right! I don't judge those that don't breastfeed and so those don't judge me because I do :)

You INSPIRE me

I have never thought I'd be the one being told "You inspire me" rather I was the one that is always inspired by someone else! How ever the past few days I have been getting the most amazing messages from friends that have truly touched me and have made me really stop and look at myself in a very different way than I have in a very long time. I really loved myself in every aspect of my life until I packed on weight from being pregnant and I really gained a lot no matter what I did the first time...80 lbs to be exact! I felt horrible, upset, nasty, and all those other words used to describe yourself in a not so good way. I didn't know how Matt could even still love me, how he could even want to take me places, how he was not embrassed to be seen with me and have people realize I was his wife. I felt so ashamed of who I was. I never really fixed myself up, never fixed my hair, wore clothes that hid how "big" I was (and still am) I just was blah! I was on my way to losing this horrible weight and well God blessed us with another princess and even though I continued working out while preggo I still packed it on :( and I felt like I was stuck all over again! However this time around (postpartum) things are going in a different direction. Instead of waiting until I was 9 months postpartum to start working out and trying to lose weight I'm now 3 months and already on my mission! And today I had to special ladies post such amazing words about me that just motivated me even more! Things like "she did cross fit while preggers! I wish I had an ounce of whatever shes on! she inspires me!" and "It's because it's true. Too many people wear masks. You show your true self and that is very comforting. I don't feel like I hide who I am. I mean business. That is what is so appealing, you are who you are. You are a VERY inspiring person. Now I feel like I need to say you inspire me so Brandi doesn't take all the glory LOL." and "You look amazing! I admire you so much. Everytime I see you, you have a smile on you. You have such strength and ability to see the positive in everything." they all made me cry! I couldn't believe me, the person so unhappy with herself made others feel this way! I truly believe God was showing me I am beautiful and how I should love me in my own skin...whatever I don't like I have the control to fix it and right now I feel like I am on top of the world and that nothing can stop me now! I don't want to be skinny, I want to be healthy, I want to be strong, I want to make my husband proud of me (he has never said other wise and I am truly a blessed woman, Matthew loves me with all his heart, with all his soul and treats me as only a king would treat his queen! That man loves me!!!) I want to be able to keep up with my kiddos! I don't want to be the girl I used to be in highschool, I want to be the woman I am meant to be! That's hiding deep down in there pounding hard to get out!!! And with the love and support of my friends and my man she will be soon out! Because I inspire someone and someone inspires me!!!

Magical Mondays!!!

So I have decided to start doing "Magical Mondays" as a part of getting me to blog more which was one of my New Years Resolutions! Which speaking of New Year's resolutions I have a few this year that I am actually sticking to ^-^ I am going to lose my 50 lbs this year and I'm already on my way 5 lbs down! I want to run a marathon so I'm working on that, I have this whole year to train for it and what better place than Walt Disney to run one. I'm hoping that in Jan 2013 I can run the Walt Disney Marathon in Flordia :) I've always wanted to run one and had plans on running one in Japan but things just never worked out and well I need to face the fact that I always made excuses. But not anymore. I want to be healthy for my girls and for Matt. I'm also cutting out all the horrible things I used to eat and I'm already feeling great! We are liking living here in Valdosta. We are waiting on Matt's retraining to get approved so for now our future is a little up in the air. We could stay here for one of his jobs or they can move us again to somewhere he is more needed. I'm going to try a church this coming Sunday and I'm pretty excited about that. Matt always lets me find one before he jumps on in LOL we loved Koza in Okinawa so it's gonna be pretty tough to follow but I think the one I'm going to try will be great! I have heard amazing things about it from lot's of people here so that makes me happy! I have been missing being in God's house! I know he hears me and is with me and is not going to be upset I'm not at church but there is just something about being in God's house and I love the feeling!
On this "Magical Monday" the girls and I are going to be heading out for a nice walk and then taking them to the park! Matt is gone for two weeks so I'm trying to keep Maddison as occupied as possible. She misses him a lot and this is our first time with him gone that she really understands it. To me this Monday is magical because I get to watch my 3 year old play and use her imagination! I get to look in the eyes of my three month old as I'm holding her and can already see her love for me in her big ol eyes and then she smiles! LOVE! I'm so blessed!

Time to get caught up...

Well...let's just say a lot has gone on since I last posted in August! Leaving Okinawa so was hard on me! I feel like a huge part of my heart is still there and I'm praying God has it in his plan for us to return there :) These pictures were some of the last one's we took before we moved! They were on our 5th year anniversary! We spent our first 5 there in Okinawa!

I cried as we took off from Kadena, I cried while we were sitting at Iwakuni, I cried when we were at Yokota...and then when we got stuck in Seattle for 3 days I just slept LOL! Bless her heart she did great flying! I like to think she is like her momma and loves to fly! But as we all were she was wore out by the time we landed in Seattle.

The military flight was delayed leaving Okinawa which of course messed up everything else but we made it. Finally got to KY in September and spent about two weeks there. While there we enjoyed seeing friends and family and Matthew bought me a brand new car! I don't know what I did to deserve such an amazing husband but I'd do it all over again!!! Happy 5 years of the most amazing love to me!

We left Somerset and headed down to our new home in Valdosta, Georgia! We had a lot go on the first few weeks we were there, Matt getting inprocessed, finding a house, but the big thing was finding a doctor so I could have a baby!

Molly Elizabeth Blevins was born October 5, 2011 at 2:05 pm weighing 7 lb 7 oz and was 18.5 inches long. She was born at Smith NorthView Hospital in Valdosta, Georgia and she arrived 3 weeks early and Maddison was so happy to meet her sister! Once our HHG's finally arrived we started to really get settled! We celebrated our FIRST Christmas with Matt since 2007 and yes this was Maddison's first Christmas with him since she was born :) it was a great one! Now we are almost done with January 2012 and I can't wait to see where this year takes us!