A Weekend Getaway!

This past weekend was a dream!!! I knew that we were headed out of town to spend some time together to celebrate our anniversary! This was Jonathan's year to plan out and decide what we were going to do so he made it all a surprise and boy did he do good! It started off with knowing that my in-laws were coming into town to watch Jocelyn and my mom (amazingly) helping me clean, prep Jocelyn's food, and just get everything ready for visitors so I wouldn't be stressed out! (BIG THANKS!) So Friday evening Grandma, Grandpa and Uncles Tylar and Micah arrived and spoiled Jocelyn immediately, which she just soaked up! We grabbed a quick dinner and a tiny shopping spree and Jonathan told me my one clue ... "everything that I thought I knew about this weekend, wasn't true!" Hmmmm ok!
So Saturday morning rolled around and off we went to head off for "San Antonio" but first we had to stop by Regina's to pick up my gift. I let Jonathan know that I knew my gift was as big as half the size of the trunk, because he put all our luggage on the right side and left the left side open! He laughed at my detective skills! So we get to Regina's and he wouldn't let me go inside to say hi". I'm sitting in the car waiting and their garage door opens. Yay, I get to say good morning to Owen and Regina, but wait.... why do they have luggage..... oh no way.... you guys are coming with us !!! So part 1 of the surprise was two great friends traveling with us to some unknown destination!
In the car, I get my next surprise, an envelope. In it are 4 tickets and some event info. We are headed to the Gruene Music, Wine and Art Festival for the weekend!!! Let me let you in on a little secret... I have been wanting to go to Gruene since I moved to Corpus in 2004, I wanted to enjoy the town and most importantly take a little spin on the dance floor, so this was a perfect weekend that was put together by my husband with a little (maybe alotta) help from Regina! We stayed at a quaint little B&B that was right next to a Piano Bar (another one of my favorites, come on, who doesn't love to do a little group karaoke!)
The weekend was filled with walking, wine tasting, looking at arts and crafts, playing with puppies, talking, enjoying the country shops, eating, taking a spin on the Gruene dance hall floor, laughing, scooping up an older gentleman whose knee gave out while Owen (the paramedic) walked by obliviously (love ya Owen), and an amazing Saturday night dinner on the back patio of The Gristmill restaurant. The weekend was amazing and went by all too fast, but it was a great celebration of the past three years that we have been married and I couldn't have asked for more (cheesy right?) Thanks honey!


The Festival Begins

Our new running shoes

Taking a spin at the Gruene Dance Hall

Taking a break!

Stealing a Kiss

And a snuggle

Our Anniversary Photo with surprise guests!!

Showing off in Galveston, Sorry for the delay

This past weekend (this post was written a while ago!), the family took a little road trip. Well we kinda did, but we all took it at different times to end up at the same place. Let me explain... I had to work this weekend in Galveston, Tx. So, Jonathan's family decided to take some vacation time and join us. Jonathan's plan was to drive up with Jocelyn after work on Friday. Come to find out, that Semper Gumby doesn't just apply to the Coast Guard, it also applies to your local police department :)

Jonathan ended up having to do a ride-along from 5pm to 3am, so plan A went out the window. So onto plan B... we bought Jonathan a one way ticket to Houston and his family would come and get Jonathan and Jocelyn at the airport. Hmmmmm.... waking up a baby at 5am to get on a plane, when shes normally sleeping, while my husband would be running on 2 hours of sleep himself.... Nope that work either

Plan C! Jocelyn and I started the drive to Houston and met Grandma, Uncle Tyler and Uncle Micah at a rest stop and Jocelyn's vacation began :) She went home with my in laws and everyone was so excited to see her that I think it was just a grand ole time. The drove down to Galveston Friday night, and I got to have dinner with her and my co-workers (who fought over who was going to hold her next, and who she was going to sit by) and she had another sleep over with grandma and grandpa until the next day.

Saturday morning came too soon for Jonathan and I... as he was on his way to the airport, courtesy of a loving Grami, I was on my way to work, to start what was promising to be a very long day! The day went by fast, Jonathan got in safely and got to love on his baby girl for the rest of the morning. We met at local resturant, where Jocelyn was walking all over everything, making people coo at her everywhere she went. Her newest thing, is to play peek-a-boo between either Jonathan or my legs. If someone is looking at her, she goes around to the other side of the leg until they make eye contact again and then she hides and goes in between our legs, etc.... makes for an interesting leg workout that is for sure.

All of us were able to spend Saturday evening together and met up again on Sunday. Hit the beach for awhile, beautiful day and lots of sunshine, but the pool was Jocelyn's favorite that is for sure. Jocelyn even made her first pool friend, who couldn't stop sitting by her side! His mom said that he also walked at 9 months, so I asked "When did he slow down?" she replied "Good luck :)"

So the vacation was a blast, of course I wish that it was minus the work part, but all in all, it was great seeing the in laws and watching Jocelyn spend time with them as well!

3/4 of a year

Wow I can't believe that my little girl is already 9 months old, she just makes me laugh and smile when I see here, and she has got so much determination that nothing can stop her from doing what she wants. In the first video, you can see her take a few of her steps, not her best walking but its what we could get on tape :)
In the second video she is trying to take her stuffed bear on a ride with the bumble bee, but she just can't seem to hold onto her and the bumble bee, but she never gets mad or frustrated... just determined... I like it!!!

My whirlwind life....

Okay so I will admit that I have been a little remiss in catching up with my blog but I feel as though I haven't been able to catch my breath since May. That's when I first got recalled, and then sent home and then had to try to figure out all the details that went with that. And then in July I got recalled again, but they worked with me this time. They offered me a little bit more flexible hours, working in Corpus Christi and I wouldn't be sent to New Orleans. Not really an option to say no (with a deal like that) so I have been doing that as well as keeping up with my Bay Area Fellowship job as well. Needless to say it has been tough, but I got a great support system down here.

So as you may or may not have know, my mom came to help me out with Jocelyn in May when I first got recalled and realized that she just couldn't leave when we got back to Corpus Christi, so she has been down here, watching Jocelyn, ever since. So knowing that even though I may have long hours, Jocelyn is being taken care of during the day, is a HUGE peace of mind. She has even joined up with my moms group and goes to playdates and workouts with them so Jocelyn can still see her friends :)

With all that going on, we have also found a little time to do some updating to the house, we have removed all trace of wallpaper in the kitchen and bathroom, and texturized and painted both, as well as the dining room. Yes they are all still works in projects but little by little I will get them done! (Pictures to post soon)

We have also done a trip here and there, the most recent being to Houston to visit Jonathan's family to celebrate their 35th Wedding Anniversary. The first party was cancelled due to my deployment, but the second party went off without a hitch and it was a great celebration of a wonderful marriage. Jocelyn also got a chance to see some of her extended family, so it was really fun to be able to see how much they doted on her and how much she instantly loved them!

Jonathan also celebrated his 28th birthday last weekend, and even though my plans fell through since I had to work a crazy Coast Guard weekend on his birthday, I did plan a Man Birthday with all his guys friends, consisting of going to the gun show and seeing the movie Expendables! He said he had a great time with all the guys so I guess that is all that you can ask for :) Oh but he did get his favorite dinner and his own personal homemade cheesecake :)

So I apologize for not catching everyone up sooner, and I will try to do better for you guys :) Love you all

ISR Swimming

Jocelyn just enrolled in Infant Swimming Resource this week and soon will be able to float from any direction just like Miss Libby has learned to do in just a few short weeks!

And now for her next trick....

So Jocelyn has started to stand on her own a bit but she figured out a trick.... to use the sippy cup as a counter weight to her bottom that always makes her fall down... check it out

Within the last week...

We have had a very busy past seven days but Jocelyn seems to be the busiest of us all! Last weekend we spent the 4th of July up in Dallas with family near my hometown of Trophy Club. Jocelyn did fantastic and I even took her to the TC 4th of July celebrations where she got her first facepainting and got to see a parade. She had a blast. We had a short reunion breakfast with friends, I can't believe how big their kids are getting and how much is going on in everyone's lives, maybe we can try to get together more often then once a year, whatcha think guys? Anyway, the weekend went by way too fast and we were home once again Monday afternoon.



Within the past 4 days, Jocelyn has figured out how to climb the stairs on her own, give kisses to us and Grami and her favorite stuffed animals, and stand by herself for up to 10 seconds and clap her hands together. In today's big news she cut her first tooth! I can't believe that she is growing up so fast, it's like she is a new little girl everyday, BUT I still relish the times that she falls asleep on my shoulder, or crawls over to me, only to pull up and then look at me with those big eyes saying "pick me up please"



On a somber note, this week has also been a week of remembering what I am thankful for and not taking anything for granted! If you haven't seen in the news, a Coast Guard helicopter crashed into the water off of James Island, Washington. There were 4crewmembers aboard, but only one survived the crash. The survivor is a classmate of mine from the academy and an amazing man. I can only imagine how relieved his family and wife are that he made it through this horrible ordeal. But my heart goes out to those families whose husbands and fathers did not come home that evening. So please make sure to always thank those who serve our country and put their lives on the line on a day to day basis and also to never take any day for granted. Never miss out on an opportunity to tell someone that you love them!