Pride

  As I was driving around today, I started thinking of how proud I am of James right now. Then, I began to think of all the things I have felt proud about. It was really one of those thoughts that continued throughout the day...
  Like when I taught 4th grade, and the students would catch on to something new or use a saying I use out of the blue. When I found out I was pregnant with JJ. When we found out he was going to be a boy. The moment the dr. placed him in my arms, and he looked right up in my face as if to tell me he loved me. When James asked me to marry him, and I looked at my ring non stop! When James graduated from LU! When my sister stood up for herself. When my brother moved up in his job. Every little baby step J has made, first roll, crawl, steps... When JJ calls me Mommy. When I hear my dad preach. When my mom reached her goal! When I swipe out my military id to get a discount! When my sister pulls up in her new car! Helping James pick out clothes for his first day at a new job! Watching my man march across a field to graduate basic training for the Army! Seeing my friends and knowing they love me!
  These are the things in my life that make me swell with pride inside! I know too much pride can be a bad thing, but I think these are the things we should be proud of! I am so proud of my family! Our lives are not perfect by any means, but we are the family that God has put together! And I wouldn't trade it for the world!

 Marching across the field.

 Our little family

 JJ checking out Daddy's pin!

 JJ is so proud of his Daddy!

 Mimi (James' mom)

 Sister Sarah (what I call her) and my mom

Brother Scott (Sarah's hubs)

Little Sponge

  JJ does not miss a beat! He remembers EVERYTHING! He likes to copy what I say and do! He keeps me on my toes and laughing! Here's a few of the funny things he's done lately!

  At dinner the other night, he grabbed his bum bum and very seriously said, "My poo there. Why my poo there?" This had my mother in law and me balling! When he noticed we were laughing, he continued to talk about his poo in his bum bum!  Yes, he calls it his bum bum! I love using that word, so I taught him to say that! Don't judge, you know you think it's adorable!

  As I was walking him to his class at church this morning, we saw a woman pushing a crying baby in a stroller down the hallway. He said, "Aw baby." I asked him why the baby was crying. His response was, "Her mommy spanked her on the bum bum," while he patted his own bum bum! Ha! I doubt she got spanked as she was under a year, but the face that he thought that's why she was crying was priceless!

  As he was concentrating oh so very hard while coloring today he told me to watch him, grabbed my face and brought it right up to his paper! Then, he wanted me to help him color. As soon as my marker would near the paper, he would push it away and say, "No, help me, Mommy!" He also told me, "Me Daddy be happy me coloring!" So sweet!

  His newest thing is asking "why" to every little thing. When he was a tiny baby, it was my personal goal to never say no to him, so he would not use it against me. Now, why didn't I think to never mention why? Ha!

  At Arby's, he says to me, "Mommy, me poo poo, go with me." I asked him where we were going. He said, "Wash my poop."

  As I was sitting at the kitchen table, he rolled in the room with this! That's a hand grenade I got for him! His shades are from Arby's today!





  Frequently used phrases: no way, you coo coo crazy, you poop, I love you too, me no nap, my Daddy in the Army, why my Daddy go bye bye in the Army, I want to go my house, me play, papa juice (orange juice)

Army Friends

Before James left for basic training, he met another man who would be in his company on a facebook page. They were texting before they left and made quite a connection! Because of their connection, I was able to meet a new, sweet friend! (We haven't met in real life just yet!)

It's funny how you can feel so close to a person without ever meeting them face to face, let alone hear their voice! Jen has honestly been my rock through this whole thing! Who else would understand what it's like to have a little boy missing his Daddy, freaking out about what to wear on Family Day and graduation, miss your husband so much it brings you to tears? The list could really go on.

Next Tuesday, I get to meet my new friend, and I cannot wait! I think it will start out as a crying fest as our emotions are way out of whack right now! I hope she doesn't mind a big hug because I love giving hugs!

She has three boys, so I think they will enjoy meeting and playing with JJ!

She read my post about Batman, and her son, Charlie, said JJ needed a Batman shirt! Charlie calls his daddy, Superman and has a Superman shirt! So, they mailed JJ a Batman shirt complete with cape! He loves to wear it! He didn't know who Batman was since he has never seen it, but now he loves it! The cape makes him fly high! When he saw a Batman sign at the mall for the new movie coming out next week he said, "That my big guy!"

This is a shirt I got for me and Jen to wear! We will be twins with matching white pants!

I just happened to find this on clearance! I will be wearing it! It's just perfect! Jen will be wearing a Superman shirt. I also made us necklaces to spruce up our shirts!

Here's the first sign we made for James!

BATMAN

I had the sweetest words spoken to me by a complete stranger today! Words I didn't realize I needed 'til they were spoken. I was eating lunch at Arby's today and gave into one of their orange shakes. I had some workout clothes on and my pretty, pink "Proud Army Wife" hat. Needless to say, I wasn't looking pretty!

(This was not taken today, but this is me in the hat.)

After I put my order in the lady behind the counter told me she liked my hat. I could have just said thank you, but blabber mouth me told her that my husband is in boot camp right now. She seemed a little shocked that he went in so late. So I just told her that yes, he is an oldie going on! She asked me to tell him thank you for her. I seriously could feel the tears flowing. Then, she continued to tell me how she wishes she were a military wife. I had to ask why because right now I am just not seeing the beauty of it after being away from James for 6 weeks. Yes, you read that correct, 6 WHOLE WEEKS! She said she would love to be married to a hero! She said, "The time you have together you will cherish. Just think, you're married to a hero! That's like being married to Batman!" I told her thank you, then she had another customer ruin my sweet angels words. I know she wasn't an angel, but I know that God had her say those words to me today to encourage me! I walked away feeling so encouraged and proud!
I seriously have never been more proud of my husband! I haven't thought about him being a hero or Batman, yet anyway. Right now, I'm pretty much feeling sorry for myself for having to be away from him so long. I know in the long run, this time apart will seem like such a short time, and it will be totally worth it! I'm just thankful I was able to hear such encouraging words from someone I have never seen before!

Here's to you, my BATMAN!

The Sweetest Prayer

JJ has been praying since we were on vacation a couple weeks ago. Tonight's prayer made me smile and melt!

"Mommy, Daddy, Papa, Mama. Mommy, Daddy, Papa, Mama. Daddy in the Army, Daddy in the Army. Mommy, Papa, Daddy, Mama, uh, me. Amen"

Mr. Independent

JJ has definitely been showing his "terrible twos" side lately. It has been very tiring, but I know this is just a stage. He can be the sweetest thing one minute, then the next he's upset because I did something that he wanted to do himself.

Here's a few pictures that make up for all his "twosness".

This is him having fun eating his Lucky Charms!

He knew I was taking pictures, so he was showing off!

He was balancing this cup on his head during his bath, then he would pretend sneeze to make it fall off.

JJ enjoyed playing with his cousins while they cam e for a visit!

JJ and Kristopher had matching shirts, so we called them twins!

This was too funny! While Mama got up, JJ got in her spot and started drinking her milkshake!

This duck came so close to JJ, it freaked me out. But, or course he wanted to get as close as possible.

The last time we were at this park, these guys hissed at us for getting to close. This time, they came right up to us like we were bffs.

When I saw J try to get up this rock wall, I really doubted he could do it. I did the whole hover over the 2 year old Mommy thing, but he got it. He went up several times, then he went down the slides!

He just keeps getting so big and doing new things. I know that's part of growing up, it's normal... But, when it's your little baby, it's just crazy! I'm a total tear jerker, and I usually cry over new things he does.

This looks like a spaceship, but it has a ball inside that you're supposed to direct around the maze.

He had to be just like Mama and sweep the deck! He was eating his lollipop while doing this!

I cut these while he was helping out front. He just had to cut them too. He got his feelings hurt when he didn't get to help with each one. They turned out looking great though!

This is called the fruit roll up swing at My Gym!

They were using Frisbees to drive their pretend cars at the end of class.

I'm so glad he's so cute and cuddly (sometimes) to make up for all the "no help me, Mommy" I hear!

First Thursday

I folded this shirt today...