Recent Picturas

It's been a while since I've posted some pictures on here, so now is a better time than any! 

I'm all packed up and ready to head back to Tennessee tomorrow to GO GET MY HUSBAND!  He'll be back in 2 weeks and I have to admit I can't really wrap my head around it.  I haven't hugged him, touched him, hung out with him, kissed him, and all of the other things you get to do with the one you love since December 5.  I can't help but cry every time I think about being able to see him again for the first time at the airport.  April 14th, HURRY UP!

Anyway, here's a recap of some of the things that have been keeping me busy:

Zoe brown nosing after playing Frisbee with Monkey.  (Brown nosing is our name for Zoe digging holes and hunting for badgers ;)  ) 

Kendall's baby sprinkle set up.  Jennifer did a great job hosting!

Kendall opening up presents.  Handmade bows for little Addison!

Traditional hand on belly pic. 

I couldn't make it to Taiten's birthday party, so he got to open his present up later!

Kendall and Taiten

Such a sweet face!

Rena before her first birthday party.  She's OBSESSED with Sesame Street!

Grandma, Grandpa and Sesame Rena

Happy Birthday bear!

Mommy and birthday girl

Singing Happy Birthday...she was amazed

Love my sweet niece!! Just look at that smile and those eyes! 

"Ooooh I'm loving this cake thing!"

Em, Chris, and I 

Looooots of presents.  There was a contest going on as to who could get the loudest and most annoying toy to get under Chris' skin.  It was a tie between the Barney "I love you" animal and the "Shake, Rattle & Roll" Car.  Poor Chris & Emily. 

"I love my walker from Uncle Joshy!"

Anne and Nikk on our weekend getaway to Charlottesville, VA!  Watching the movie before touring Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's house). 

I loooved this tree in front of Monticello

Spring time in the mountains = the best.

Jefferson's lookout

Pretty ladies

With the man himself.  The next day I woke up feeling awful and barely got to tour Montpelier (James Madison's house) before a bad stomach virus hit me and had me down for the count :(  Friday was fun, though :) 

I hope you enjoy all the pictures!  The next time I post it will hopefully be with Ryan by my side!!

Letter

I came across this letter a military wife wrote a couple of years ago, and I thought it was very well written and it struck a cord with me.  If you have a minute, take the time to read it:

http://www.stripes.com/news/jennifer-s-letter-1.98638

I understand that Ryan's situation and my situation isn't the typical "military family deployment", but going through this, I have so much respect for soldiers and families of soldiers knowing what they've sacrificed for our country.  I hope you respect them as much as I do!

Quick Updatarooni

It's been over 2 weeks since I've updated!  I know you've been anxiously checking my blog every single day waiting to here about the exciting life I've been living, and I can only imagine how disappointed you are for me to be such a slacker.  I'm sorry.

First and most importantly, it's my niece Rena Brynn's first birthday! It's bittersweet knowing she's been in this world a whole year now and I've missed so much of her first year, but it's so calming knowing I'm going to be around to watch her grow from this point on!  She is such a sweet, fun little lady and I love her with all my heart!  Check out some of these cute pics Emily got of her a few weeks ago:

Daddy and upside down Rena

melts my heart!

can't even handle the blue eyes!

Her 1st birthday party is tomorrow and I can't wait to see her dressed up trying to eat her cake!! You better believe I'll have lots of pics to post!  Rena, your Auntie Ains (and Uncle Ryan even though you really have no clue who he is...yet) love you very much!

Now that I started this post with an adorable baby, I'll conclude with how life is going for us.  Things are looking up for us, for sure.  I was so, so upset when I found out Ryan's work wasn't going to allow the transfer and felt like our world was crushed.  I definitely learned that I am by NO means a planner, but I need to have the comfort of knowing what my plans are!

We've had some time now, and it looks like we're going to be able to move to either Richmond or Maryland.  

I'd also like to take some time to share how annoyingly accomplished my husband can be.  He went to VCU and lived in Richmond for 2 years, and in that time he managed to make enough connections to help him out now that we may be moving back.  He Skype interviewed with a great company in Richmond and had a job offer in his inbox a week later!  Annoyingly awesome, right?!  :)  I'm very proud of him and even though we don't know if he's going to accept the offer yet, it's a HUGE comfort knowing that he has that option and we won't be jobless and homeless when he returns. 

I've been interviewing with some companies in Richmond, too.  I've decided I want to get into outside sales.  There's a few reasons for this 1) I've come to realize I'm good at sales and as stressful as it can be sometimes, I feel rewarded by it and I like the money 2) Outside sales will allow me to have the flexibility I want in a job 3) Lots of room to becomes a sales manager and grow with a company.  

I don't want to talk too much about it because I don't want to jinx anything, but I'm hopeful I'll have a job offer soon too and we'll be one step closer to settling down.  

Can we talk about how much fun it is to look for houses?!  Again, we don't have anything set in stone yet so I can't get TOO excited, but Ryan and I both feel that if we have job offers, talk to a loan officer and a realtor, we MIGHT, just MAYBE, be able to buy a house when Ryan gets back home.  This means A PERMANENT ADDRESS!  No more apartments! 

Holy. Moly.  There's so much excitement around all of these maybe's I can't even handle it.  Please say a little prayer and hope that Ryan gets home soon safely, we have a house to come home to and jobs we'll be happy with!  

Only about a month longer til Ryan comes home!  Yahooooooooooooo!!!