So behind!

I am so behind on blogging! The past couple of weeks have been busy as most of our time has been  spent with family. We are really enjoying our time in Texas and really enjoying the warm weather. It has been in the 60's and 70's here and it has been so nice. I am really trying to soak it all in since the weather in Germany isn't that pretty. Apparently they have had lots of snow lately.

I have been horrible at taking pictures since we have been here. I have maybe taken 3 pictures the whole time I have been here. Oops! I will try to take more pics so I have something to blog about!!

TEXAS!

I know I am way over due for a blog post but things have been busy around here. 

After 24 hours of traveling, we finally made it to Texas. The night before we left, I got 2 hours of sleep because we left at 5am the next morning and I waited till the last minute to get everything packed and ready to go. We got to the airport at 5am to get on the list for a Space-A flight. For those of you who don't know what a Space-A flight is, it means Space Available. Military people can fly for almost free if there is extra space available on a flight. Thankfully for us, there were 200 spots available so we got on the first plane to Baltimore. 

Our place left at around 11am Germany time and arrived in Baltimore at 1pm Baltimore time. I wish I could say it was a 2 hour flight like it seems but it was actually an 8 hour flight (Germany is 6 hours ahead). Ava did pretty well. It could have been worse. She didn't sleep at all from Germany to Baltimore. She cried a little bit when we took off from the pressure in her ears but it really wasn't that bad. When we arrived in Baltimore, there were a ton of people there to welcome the troops home. There were at least 50 people there! It was really neat! 

Once we landed in Baltimore, we had to catch another flight to Texas. But not without several other stops, of course. From Baltimore, we flew to Little Rock, AR then flew to Dallas for a plane change and then from Dallas to Amarillo. We arrived in Amarillo at 10pm. This was Bryce's families first time to see Ava Drew. It was so exciting!! 

Ava did great from Baltimore all the way to Texas. She slept most of the way. I think she was really exhausted from not sleeping on the Germany to Baltimore flight. I don't know how I am going to travel alone with her in May when I come back for my sisters wedding... TOO stressful!!!! 

Since we have been in Texas, we have been busy! Ava took her first trip to Target and Chick fil a! Of course she loved both of them!! We have been busy shopping, spending time with family, eating out, shopping some more, and enjoying this warm weather!!! Its a nice change from the weather in Germany.

I have taken a few pictures since I have been here but I will upload them soon. 

Show Us Your Life: Military Families

I am SO excited to be linking up with Kelly's Korner today with SUYL: Military Families!!

My husband joined the Air Force a little over 2 years ago. Right before he joined, we were in our 2nd year of college. He really had the calling to serve his country and be something greater than himself. We got married and then after basic and tech school, we got orders to go to Ramstein, GERMANY!!!!

We got married and 3 weeks later, we headed to Germany! Scariest thing I have ever done. Newly married, new country, new home, new EVERYTHING!! No family, no Starbucks, no TARGET!!!

My husband, Bryce, deployed for the first time last year, February 2011, for 6 months. While he was deployed, I went back to TEXAS. I found out I was pregnant right after he left. Thankfully, he was able to get back right in time for the birth of our baby girl, Ava Drew!!

After our time is up here in Germany, we hope to get back to the GREAT state of TEXAS!!!

Ava Drew is 3 Months Old!

Ava Drew, you are 3 MONTHS OLD!!! 

I can NOT believe it!! 

You weigh about 12 pounds and wear size 0-3 and 3 month clothes. You wear a size 1 diaper. 

You are eating every 3 hours during the day. Last night, you slept 8 1/2 hours straight! The longest you have ever slept! Usually you sleep 6-7 hours at night and after you eat, you go back down for another 3 hours, sometimes 4. 

You still sleep in our room in the Pack-N-Play during the night but you sleep in your crib for your naps during the day. 

You have become quite the chatter box. You LOVE to talk to us. You have learned to roll your tongue and it is the cutest thing. 

You hate laying down. You always want to be sitting up or even standing up with support. You have learned to "walk" with support. 

You have found your hands and you LOVE to look at them. 

You are so ticklish and its so funny to watch you. You start squirming like crazy when we tickle you. 

You rolled over for the first time last Sunday! You don't do it very often. Only when we put you on your stomach when you don't want to be on your stomach. 

Here is Ava at 1, 2, and 3 months old! 

You always get complements on your big blue eyes. They make us melt! 

You have the BIGGEST personality!! You are a little sassy thang!! 

We love you SO much Ava Drew!! We can't wait to see the young lady you become!!! 

Side Note: ONLY 5 DAYS UNTIL WE ARE TEXAS BOUND!!!!!! 

Makeover

Thanks to Leisha, I have a new blog layout and new name!! Deep in the heart of Texas  Germany! I love it!

I didn't really have a good idea of how I wanted my blog to look but I gave Leisha some ideas and she took it and ran with it.

I give my cousin, Jessica, credit for the name! I am NOT creative at all so I asked facebook for ideas and she gave me TONS of ideas and this one was my favorite!

Looking back at 2011

Wow, what a year! 2011 is definitely a year I will NEVER forget! So much has happened. Here is a recap of our year...

January: Nothing really exciting. Bryce was preparing to deploy and I was preparing to go home for 6 months while he was gone.

February: Bryce left for Kuwait for 6 months and 2 days later, I found out I was pregnant!!! Two days after that, I went home to the states while Bryce was deployed. On the 14th, we celebrated our first anniversary. Actually, we didn't celebrate. We were apart. But we went out to eat a couple of days before he left as a celebration.

March: Spent time at home relaxing and doing nothing.

April: Went to Tyler for 2 months and stayed with my cousin and babysat her baby girl while she went back to work.

May:  Found out we were having a baby GIRL!!! Then the shopping began!!

June: Went back home for my last 2 months in the states. Celebrated my 22nd birthday and attended a few Rangers baseball games. One of my best friends got married this month and I was a bridesmaid in her wedding. So glad I could be home for that. My family got a new dog, Ellie! She is a Snorkie (Yorkie/Schnauzer mix). I played "mom" and got up with her 3 times in the night to let her out.

July: Spent most of the month at the pool and went back to Tyler for a baby shower. Went back to Germany at the end of this month.

August: Welcomed Bryce home!!!! Oh Glorious day!!! Started getting the baby's room ready and tried to pick out a name.

September: Bryce got a car so we could have two cars. It would be hard taking him to work everyday with a baby and not having a car for myself all day. That second car has been a huge blessing!! Bryce and I took a trip to Paris.

October: One of my good friends here in Germany threw me a baby shower. We welcomed our new baby GIRL into the world, Ava Drew!!! She is such a blessing to our lives. My mom and aunt came into town for 2 weeks and we traveled to Heidelberg, Switzerland, and Paris. Ava is quite the world traveler.

November: Ava attended her first birthday party for Bella Grace! Spent Thanksgiving at some of our good friends house!

December: Ava was featured in the Kaiserslautern American Newspaper (birth announcement)!!! We attended some Christmas Markets: Kaiserslautern, Strasbourg, and Belgium. Attended a couple of Christmas parties. Ava had her two month appointment and had to get shots! :( We had our first Christmas as a family of 3!!