A Musical Treat

Just a short video of my cute boy singing to his bunny.

This boy loves music. As an infant, when all else failed, all I had to do was sing to him and he would instantly quiet down and fall asleep. Over the past two years his tastes have varied and I have to be a little more creative with my song choices but he still loves it. For me, it is my favorite part of the day. Jacob will whine and cry because he doesn't want to go to bed but all I have to do is ask him what song he wants. He gets all excited and says something like "THE RAINBOW SONG!" and immediately nuzzles my neck and strokes my hair while I sing to him. He always asks for more songs. Always. Every night. Lately he has been singing along with me (talk about melting my heart).

Fun in the Sunshine State

Jacob and I had so much fun in Florida! Everyday was a different adventure.

Jacob absolutely adored my Mother. He'd run through the house saying "Grammy, Grammy, Grammy!" He went through so many changes there. He went from walking to running. Being hesitant on the ground to climbing the steps and going down the slide all by himself. He went from one or two word phrases to full out seven or eight word sentences. He is definitely not a baby anymore. It makes me very sad but I will say that I loved being able to chat with him now. Even though the conversations are simple, I love that my little one can tell me what he is thinking and how he feels about it. 

This trip was fun for me as a parent because it was the first time that Jacob actually wanted to interact with other kids. He loved everything about my sister Lianne and her three sweet kiddos. He would beg me to go to "Auntie Liannie's house". As I unbuckled him to go in he would run to the door and snuggle the first person he saw and when it came time to go home he would cry and run away from me. We miss those guys so much!

This is a picture from one of my favorite nights. If you don't already know, I am a movie theater junkie! My absolute favorite thing to do is to go to the theater to see a great flick and eat theater snacks (popcorn, snowcaps, slushy, reeses pieces...I am not a cheap date, as my husband can tell you). On this particular night, my sister Ana and I went to see the re-released TITANIC in 3D IMAX. To get ready for this event we sang and car-danced to Backstreet Boys and N'SYNC the whole way to the theater. AND THE MOVIE...amazing. I am a Titanic fanatic (and will forever have a major crush on Jack). I personally cried for the last hour and a half of the movie. 

(Jacob reaping the spoils of the Easter Egg Hunt)

There were so many things I loved about visiting Florida. Spending time with my parents and siblings. Talking and baking with my sister Lianne. Going shopping and staying up late with AnaBanana. Spending everyday with my wonderfully patient mother. Laughing with my Dad. Getting to know my Grandparents on a whole new level. Wednesday afternoons with my Gammy, going out to lunch and chatting on her couch while Jacob napped. Visiting my Grandma Ambs and having to convince Jacob that we had to go home because he didn't want to leave her house. Girl Nights with my girlfriends and talking for HOURS. Seeing old friends. Thanks Florida! You sure made my time there sunny.

Airman Gillespie

Jake is now in the United States Air Force. On February 14, 2012 he left for Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. While there he earned his Expert Marksmanship ribbon (which unbeknownst to me, is a huge deal) and graduated with Honors. Earning all four ribbons, my man really stood out among, not only those in his flight, but of all the airman graduating there. I am so proud of my husband. He not only survived but passed with flying colors. He is so amazing.

We have temporarily been stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio while Jake attends technical school (School of Aerospace Medicine -Health and Safety). I have rented an apartment about fifteen minutes from the base. During the week Jake has to sleep in his dorm at the base but he is allowed to come home for the entire weekend and have dinner with us most week nights. It is actually working out pretty great. Since I don't get to see him everyday, when he does come home I make the special effort to have dinner cooked for him and make myself look pretty (I may even go as far as to shave my legs. Now that's real effort). Today was one of those days were Jake couldn't come home so I am happy to say that I stayed in my yoga pants and T-shirt all day and Jacob and I had left overs for dinner. 

Jake has received his official duty assignment. We will be stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. We report in August. 

(The photo was emailed to me by the missionary couple in Jake's ward at Lackland Air Force Base, It is from the first week of basic training. I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of our reunion with him. I guess I was too busy hugging and kissing him to remember the camera in my bag. I might also add that he looks really handsome in his fancy Blues, which I have seen him in exactly one time now. I really wish I had taken a video of the first few seconds that Jacob saw his Daddy again. Jake walked up to him in full uniform and Jacob (not phased at all by the difference in appearance) immediately ran into his arms exclaiming "DADDY!" and hugged and hugged and hugged him. Our baby boy wouldn't let go of him the whole weekend. He is such a Daddy's boy. I absolutely love it.)

A brief Step into the World of Single Parenting

On February 14th, Jake and I got onto different planes, at different airports, headed for different destinations. Little Jakey and I were headed to Florida to visit my family while Jake was off to Texas to start his BASIC MILITARY TRAINING. As we said goodbye, Jakey was screaming, Jake had tears running down his face and my entire face had gone splotchy and red. Two weeks proceeding this event, I had been on an emotional roller coaster, every moment filled with dread. As I carried Jakey back to the car after kissing Jake for the last time for two months, I kept telling myself "People do this all the time. I'm just as good as those people. I can be strong. I can do this... by myself?" GULP. On the airplane I made a pact with myself, I was not going to be miserable for two months. I just wasn't going to allow myself to do that. And you know what? I survived. Sure, I only got to talk to Jake once a week for 15 minutes. On the positive side Jake and I did something that has gone out of style in our technologically advanced world... we exchanged hand-written love letters. In many ways, the separation bonded us, made us grow closer. Most importantly though, it gave us both a stronger appreciation for one another. For two months, I was a single mother. Or I guess I should say, I had to walk in a single mother's shoes. I couldn't counsel with my husband and ask him his opinions. There was no strong arms around me at the end of the day assuring me that I'm a good mother.  (Granted I was living with my parents and was surrounded by wonderful people that I loved all day long. I feel so blessed that I was able to be with them). For two months I pretended to be tough and do you know what I found out about myself? I actually am kind of tough. I learned so much about myself those two months while Jake was away but may I also just say I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE HIM BACK!

Christmas..in May?

In case you are wondering, I do in fact, know that it is now May but I couldn't resist posting this picture. When Jacob was seven months old, he could say three words...Mama, Dada, and BALL. This picture is my son in a nutshell..shirt untucked, sleeves cuffs unbuttoned, hair stuck to his sweaty forehead and a ball in his hands. As many of you know, I do NOT play sports. Mostly because all through my adolescent years I was a too tall, bean pole. But trying to be a good Mommy, I have stepped out of my comfort zone and tried to be more athletic for Jacob. We spend our days running around the neighborhood, learning important skills like how to kick, dribble and throw a ball. I am proud to say that my own skills have improved. It just reminds me of how much being a mother has changed me and has made me a better person.

 I once read that if the question "Am I a good Mother?" keeps you up at night, then you are one. That statement gives me a lot of hope. It is sometimes overwhelming to know that you are molding a future for a little life by the small and simple things you do. For me, right now, the small and simple things are walking down the street hand in hand with my son, looking for an adventure or reading his favorite book over and over and over again, or even just singing that extra lullaby before bedtime.

Time Out for Women

Last weekend I went to time out for women with my mom, sisters, aunts, cousins, and friends. Time out for women is a women's conference organized by my church.They have music and inspirational speakers. It was so fun! We laughed, we cried, we ate. Hilary Weeks was there. She was so amazing. She didn't perform this song last weekend but I saw her perform it a couple of years ago and it is still my favorite. 

It was such a great weekend!