London 2012: Part 1

For my 23rd birthday, Bryce took me to London! We woke up at 3:30am on Thursday morning and flew out at 6am and got there at around 7am. We couldn't check into our hotel until 3pm so we dropped our luggage off at the hotel and went exploring.

We were walking past the National Portrait Gallery and I noticed a bunch of people with cameras...then realized it was the paparazzi! I asked a lady next to me who was in there and she said very calmly, Kate Middleton...KATE MIDDLETON?!?!?! My heart bursted with excitement! We waited there for about 20-30 minutes before she came out. Of course there was a big bus in our view when she came outside. Thankfully, I was able to get a picture of her through the window of the bus.

Waiting on Kate...

Isn't she beautiful? She was even prettier in person!

Before we went to London, of course I imagined how awesome it would be if I saw anyone in the Royal family but I knew my chances of seeing them were slim to none. Saying I was ecstatic is a huge understatement. Our whole trip, I kept telling Bryce "I can't believe I actually got to see Kate in real life!!". A dream come true!! 

Anyway, after seeing Kate, we had an early lunch and then viewed the city. I fell in love with the city instantly. I could live there.

This is the Kensington Palace and it's the royal residence of the Duke of Cambridge (Kate Middleton) and the Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) and a few other royal members. Pretty, right?

The Kensington Palace was the official residence of Princess Diane until she passed away.

After we saw the Palace, we went and got smoothies and went to Whole Foods (LOVE that place!!) to get stuff to make sandwiches for our lunch for the week. Then we went to the Science Museum and National History Museum.

We got dinner and I got the Fish and Chips. London is known for their fish and chips. It was really good! We had a great first day in London. We got back to the hotel around 7pm and we gave Ava a bath and we were all in bed by 8pm.

Stay tuned for London 2012: part 2

4th of July!!

Bryce had to work on the 4th so Ava and I went with Monica and her children to the Ramstein 4th of July Bash. There were bounce houses, farris wheel, lots and lots of food, and go carts. It was SO much fun! We didn't ride any rides..we were just there for the fellowship and food!!!

Sweet Charleston...

There was a fireworks show that night and Bryce got off at 10pm so he was able to make it in time for the show. It doesn't get dark around here until around 10:30 and even then it isn't completely dark. I think this picture was taken at around 11pm. Ava did really well for the fireworks. It was WAY past her bedtime so she got a little cranky and snugly but ended up falling asleep on me after the show was over. 

Way behind...

I am way behind on blogging lately. I have just been lazy and haven't felt like it. So here is a quick update...

My good friend, Kristie, had her baby on Friday! McKenzie Leigh Mimms was welcomed into the world at 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20 inches long. Kristie delivered naturally and I got to see the whole thing...lets just say it was GOOD birth control for me! ha! This girl won't be having another baby for a LONG time!!! Kristie did amazing, though!!

When I got home Friday night from the hospital, Bryce was running a fever and was already asleep. The next morning, we both felt horrible! I was extremely nauseous and Bryce was throwing up and running a fever. I don't think Ava was feeling well either. Bryce went to the hospital so he wouldn't have to go into work. Regulations at his work require you to either come into work or go to the hospital. Ridiculous...I know.

He got home around 4pm and I made some chicken noodle soup but didn't end up eating any because it made me even more sick!

On Saturday, we felt MUCH better!!! Bryce went to work but I was still feeling a little queasy so Ava and I stayed home all day.

Today we felt totally fine so we went to church. Bryce just left for work and now we are about to head to the commissary!

Happy Sunday, Y'all!!!

Fourth of July post coming soon...

Ava is 9 months old!!

Ava, you are 9 months old today! 

You wear a size 6, 6-9, and 9 month clothing. You wear a size 2 diaper and a size 1 shoe. You weigh around 15 pounds!

You nurse 4-5 times a day and baby food at every meal... your schedule looks something like this...

8am- Nurse and eat oatmeal with bananas.
Morning nap around 9:30am
Wake and nurse at 11am
Vegetable around 12pm
Nurse and nap around 2pm
Wake around 3pm or on a good day, 4pm.
Snack (Cracker, cubed fruit, or organic baby puffs)
Nurse at 5pm and eat either chicken/rice or chicken/apple/sweet potato blend, another vegetable and fruit.
Bath and bed time routine around 7pm
Nurse and in bed by 8pm

I started making some of your baby food this month and you seem to love everything that I have made. I refuse to feed you the meats in the baby jar so everything that I make is made with a meat. I have only made chicken but plan to introduce you to turkey in the near future.

You love drinking from a sippy cup!

You are crawling and crawling FAST! You are in one room and the next second, you are in another. I can't keep up with you! You are busy, busy, busy! If I pick you up, you are constantly trying to find something to play with (hair, necklace, phone).

I think you are going to be an early walker. When I go to set you down, you stand on your feet like you want to walk. You are really good at walking with support but are too scared to stand on your own. You are pulling up on EVERYTHING and love to stand in front of the mirror and smile and kiss the mirror. Cutest. Thing. EVER!

You say Mama, Dada, HI (in a Texas accent-I think you get that from your Momma), and sometimes you will say Bye-Bye but you don't know what it really means. We try to get you to say "bye" and you just say "HI".

You wave your hand when you say "hi" and you can clap.

Still no teeth.

You LOVE to be outside and around other people. You get really cranky if you are in the house too long.

You have become very attached to your momma the past couple of weeks. You refuse to go to sleep, whether its at night or nap, without being rocked. I try every time to just lay you in your crib. Sometimes you will sit up and talk, talk, talk and other times you will cry until I come get you to rock you. I don't mind rocking you...its one of the only times you will let me snuggle you!

You got sick for the first time TODAY! You threw up ALL over the bathroom. I mean ALL over! Walls, counter, rugs...everywhere! I hope it isn't the virus that has been going around lately. I am hoping that maybe you just ate a little too much. Only time will tell.

"You lookin' at me?" 

We love you SO much baby girl and I love you more than you will EVER know!!! 

Busy, Busy...

We have been really busy around here lately. My birthday was last Saturday...my golden birthday! I have been waiting for this birthday my whole life...is that just me?

I helped with a baby shower last Saturday and then my good friend, Monica, offered to watch Ava for us so Bryce and I could go out. We just went to dinner at Grumbeer and got ice cream. Grumbeer was a new experience for us. We had a gift card so we thought we would try it out. Not my favorite but it was good. The ice cream was fabulous...as always.

The next day, Sunday, I hosted another baby shower at my house. I was so nervous because I have never thrown a party before but it ended up being a lot of fun.

On Thursday, I decided that I needed a morning out. Bryce watched Ava for me and I went to tan and got me an iced tea from the best Chinese restaurant! It wasn't much of a morning out but it was just enough time to get my sanity back! ha.

Bryce had a golf tournament on Friday so Ava and I went when they got done for lunch and a raffle. We ended up coming home with a $50 gift card to the commissary, $150 gift card to the golf shop, a soccer ball, an inside practice golf mat, and a huge box of capri suns and a few other small things. The Commander was very generous and so nice to us. He just gave us some of the prizes because he liked Bryce and also because Bryce was the youngest one there (which means we make the least amount of money in the group..ha!!).

Saturday, we went to Cora which is like a Wal-Mart...French style. It is in France so we had to drive about 30 minutes to get there...not bad! We needed wanted to get some more Speculoos. If you have never heard of Speculoos, you are definitely missing out. It is best compared to Nutella but MUCH better! Speculoos is made of cookies! Don't quote me but I think it is available to buy at Market Street in the states. Speculoos is translated to Biscoff in the states. It is really good with bananas and bread and it actually isn't that bad for you.

After Cora, we went with the McMinimy's (good friends of ours) to the Barefoot Path. I could have killed myself for not taking my camera! It was the neatest thing! We walked around a 3.5 kilometer loop that offered various senses for feet. First, we walked through mud that came right below our knees. Throughout the hike, we walked on rocks, grass, mulch and much more. There were also balance beams, ladders, and wooden rollers along the path. Half way through the hike, there was a little river that we got to swim in. Ava was NOT a fan. Too cold for that little girl. We had a blast, though!

I took this pictures of my two loves the other day before we went to run some errands. Ava is saying "HI".

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to the best dad!!! I am so grateful to have such a loving and protecting dad! Thanks for everything, dad!! 

Happy First Father's Day to the love of my life and the BEST dad to our daughter!!! I am so thankful for a husband that adores our daughter!! 

I also want to wish my father in law, Terry, a Happy Fathers Day!! I have the BEST in laws and I am so thankful that they love me as their own.

SUYL: Master Bedroom

I am linking up with Kelly over at Kelly's Korner today for Show Us Your Life: Master Bedrooms.

Our Master isn't "finished" but I don't think it ever will be. We are in the process of buying our bedroom set. Hopefully we will have all the pieces before we move back to the states I really like our bedroom set. It took me awhile to pick one out that I really liked. I would really like to get a few canvas prints in black and white to put above our bed.

This is our room looking in from the door. My side is on the right and Bryce's side is on the left.

View from the left corner of our room. The cabinets are our closets.

Bryce's side of the room... I was going to clean it up but I figured I would show you what it looks like 95% of the time.

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Bryce's nightstand...Dyson fan, bridal picture of me, and an alarm clock.

My nightstand...Lamp (dumpster find), an engagement picture of Bryce and I and my new favorite candle (White Mint and Peppercorn by Essential Elements). I want new lamps but I am going to wait to buy some when we move back to the states.

The is looking from the far left side of our room (by Bryce's nightstand). Computer desk, dresser, clothes hamper, and plant (another dumpster find).