Milestones

Our baby girl is now rolling over! Wow! I am so sad that I missed it the first time it happened- Reagan was with Ms. Kim, but she took a photo too! (Below) She is growing so fast! So- the roll-over details...she went from her back, to front, then back to her back again! Kim aid she looked like she had done it a hundred times and wasn't scared the way babies can sometimes be when they roll for the first time! What a little champ!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you awesome Momma's!!!

I entered two contests today with the place that hosts my website- it isn't up yet- I will tell everyone when it is! (Soon I hope!!!) The first contest was to write a paragraph about why your Mom is awesome or why you are an awesome Mom. Obviously I chose why my Mom is the bomb. If you win, you get an awesome Jessica Claire ShootSac which is a gear bag that I want super bad, but is a bit pricey. (Compared to all the other things I have to buy right now!) The second contest is a self-portrait of you with your children. The prize for that is a $350 gift certificate to your choice of a couple awesome stores- Potter Barn or Smith & Hawken. I was going for the nostalgic look... They have already had hundreds if not thousands of entries for the photo contest, so I am sure I won't win, but took a shot anyhow!

Contest 1.

As an ode to my Mother- this is what I wrote: A paragraph about why my Mom is the most amazing woman on this earth and would want me to win the ShootSac... (My Mom has two awesome kids- myself, 29 and my brother, 27, two fantastic "add-on's"- my hubbie and sis-in-law-to-be and is now a proud Grandmumma!)

My Mom was, and still is my best friend, but doesn't let me forget that she is my Mother---and Momma knows best! Our Mom volunteered at our schools, taught my brother and his cronies Cub Scouts, brought me to dance lessons, cheer leading and Girl Scouts just to name a few! My Dad was in the Navy and she never let us see or feel the struggles that she went through while dealing with his deployments. She has always allowed my brother and I the freedom to jump off the deep end, but stood near ready to catch us and pick us up again if and when we fell. Not only has she been a role model and completely amazing to us as our Mother, but she is also a Head Start teacher for 4 year olds in an inner city area of California. She is a mentor and role model to not only the children, but to her co-workers. She faces everyday with a positive outlook, smile in her eye and laughter in her heart. I don't know where her strength, wisdom and beauty come from but it touches everyone she meets! If I can become half the woman and Mother to my children that she has been to me- then I will have received the best gift in the world! I love you, Mom!

Contest 2.
A very Happy Mother's Day to my Mother in Law Trixie! You are such a wonderful woman and I am pround to be your daughter-in-law. I think I am the luckiest woman of all because I was the one who scored your son! :)

A Shout-Out to My Home Girls Near and Far

It is military spouse appreciation day coming up soon- was sent this little poem. It's cute and somewhat appropriate at times! Hey gals- the commissary is offering meat on sale to thank us as military spouses! Quick- RUN to to commissary! (Sarcasm is just oozing!!!)

The Difference

Over the years, I've talked a lot about military
spouses...how special they are and the price they
pay for freedom too. The funny thing about it, is
most military spouses don't consider themselves
different from other spouses.
They do what they have to do, bound together not by
blood or merely friendship, but with a shared spirit
whose origin is in the very essence of what love
truly is. Is there truly a difference?
I think there is.
You have to decide for yourself.

Other spouses get married and look forward to
building equity in a home and putting down family
roots. Military spouses get married and know they'll
live in base housing or rent, and their roots must
be short so they can be transplanted frequently.

Other spouses decorate a home with flair and
personality that will last a lifetime. Military
spouses decorate a home with flare tempered with the
knowledge that no two base houses have the same size
windows or same size rooms.
Curtains have to be flexible and
multiple sets are a plus. Furniture must fit like
puzzle pieces.

Other spouses have living rooms that are immaculate
and seldom used. Military spouses have immaculate
living room/dining room combos. The coffee table got
a scratch or two moving from Germany, but it still
looks pretty good.

Other spouses say good-bye to their spouse for a
business trip and know they won't see them for a
week. They are lonely, but can survive.
Military spouses say good-bye to their deploying spouse
And know they won't see them for months, or for a remote, a year.
They are lonely, but will survive.

Other spouses, when a washer hose blows off, call
Maytag and then write a check out for getting the
hose reconnected. Military spouses will cut the
water off and fix it themselves. Other spouses get
used to saying "hello" to friends they see all the
time.

Military spouses get used to saying "good-bye" to
friends made the last two years.

Other spouses worry about whether their child will
be class president next year. Military spouses worry
about whether their child will be accepted in yet
another new school next year and whether that school
will be the worst in the city...again.

Other spouses can count on spouse participation in
special events...birthdays, anniversaries, concerts,
football games, graduation, and even the birth of a
child. Military spouses only count on each
other; because they realize that the Flag has to
come first if freedom is to survive
It has to be that way.

Other spouses put up yellow ribbons when the troops
are imperiled across the globe and take them down
when the troops come home. Military spouses wear
yellow ribbons around their hearts and they never go
away.

Other spouses worry about being late for mom's
Thanksgiving dinner; Military spouses worry about
getting back from Japan in time for dad's funeral.

And other spouses are touched by the television
program showing an elderly lady putting a card down
in front of a long, black wall that has names on it.
The card simply says "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart.
You would have been sixty today." A military spouse
is the lady with the card. And the wall is the
Vietnam Memorial.

I would never say military spouses are better or
worse than other spouses are. But I will say there
is a difference. And I will say that our country
asks more of military spouses than is asked of other
spouses. And I will say, without hesitation, that
military spouses pay just as high a price for
freedom as do their active duty husbands or wives.
Perhaps the price they pay is even higher. Dying in
service to our country isn't near as hard as loving
someone who has died in service to our country, and
having to live without them.

God bless our military spouses for all they freely
give. And God bless America.

By Colonel Steven Arrington
17th Training Wing Vice Commander
Goodfellow AFB
San Angelo, Texas

My Girl

Reagan and I get to hang out a lot on our own lately- Daddy always seems to be working!

Samantha and Andrew's E-Session!

Can I just tell you what a blast I had with Samantha and Andrew yesterday?! We had a great Engagement shoot and they were so much fun! I pulled just a few of their images from the day and am really excited about the rest! It helps that they are both so photogenic and love to laugh! I only with I could shoot their wedding in New York! What a beautiful event it will be! Thanks so much Samantha and Andrew for thinking of me! Enjoy!