Some new additions

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had rearranged Emmalyn's room to include a reading nook and got rid of the changing table.  Well, I finally got around to taking some photos.

The bins hold diaper changing things and some toys.  She also had a toy bucket full of stuffed animals that is sitting to the left of the rocking chair.  The chair was my mom's when she was little and then it got passed down to me and now it is Emmy's.  I painted it to match her room and she loves it.  She's pretty good at getting in and out of it now.

Also, note the toy apache helicopter on the right that gets its own cubby.

I hung the paintings that our fellow army wife friend hand painted for her.

But my Emmalyn's new favorite addition is her hand sewn owl from Crissy's sister.  She made it especially for Emmalyn.  We are quite fond of animals in our house, and the new trend of owls everywhere is pulling us in!

Also, the pink basket in the center of the top was a fab find at Ross for $2!!

I also got a new addition to my room.  This lovely monogrammed pillow.  I'm hoping to get ambitious one of these days and make an upholstered headboard.  We have a headboard but it's very low and our mattress is so plush that the pillows hide it. 

Maybe once I catch up with life I'll start some new crafts to show off.  

Hope you all have a great week!

The Very Unusual Day

What a day we had yesterday!  

I started the day off playing with Emmalyn.  She is cutting more molars and is very clingy, which I loved since I was away from her a lot this week from work.  

When we was napping I cleaned out the car and installed her new convertible car seat.  I know it isn't a big deal, but I was pretty proud of myself for getting it in just right.  

Then the fun started...

As we were getting ready to spend some time with Grandmama, Emmy decided to try to walk while on the bed.  She tripped and fell right into the nightstand.  I picked her up before she hit the floor but wasn't quick enough.  There was blood coming from her mouth and she was screaming.  I wiped and wiped and wiped but it just kept coming.  Finally I realized that her lip wasn't cut so I started looking inside her mouth.  That's when I saw her very swollen gum, only half of her right front tooth, and more blood.  

I called Caleb to let him know we were headed to urgent care and I'd keep him posted.  

Emmy was great.  She had a little white coat syndrome while there but overall she was great.  

My parents, brother, and Crissy were there with us and I think the attention helped her stay distracted.  

The doctor took a closer look and determined that her tooth was chipped off at the gum which caused the bleeding.  We are not yet sure how this will affect her adult tooth that is under the surface but for now we are just thankful that it wasn't worse.  

After getting looked at by the doctor we all went to dinner and Emmy was more than happy to get some food.  She was even taking fries off my plate to eat and this morning she is her normal happy, silly self... Just one tooth short : )

early morning walk

So much is going on lately and having just 15 minutes to take a walk with my baby on such a beautiful morning puts things into perspective and makes me remember how blessed I am.

Hope you are having a great week!

FYI Q&A

Okay guys, I'm giving you the opportunity to ask me anything!  What do you want to know?  You can send questions to my email so they are anonymous and I'll answer them in a new post next week.  Get creative!


Email: mrswilkes07@yahoo.com

The many faces of Abby

This weekend we are visiting one of my favorite families for their youngest daughter's baptism.  Abby is the youngest, eighth grandchild on Caleb side of the family.  I saw her last at around four months (too long ago).  She is full of personality now at eight months and actually watches me a lot (probably because her mother and I looking strikingly alike).  

During our trip Abby's first tooth decided to break through and she has taken very hard.  Lots of tears, which is not like this girl at all!  But it did allow us to spend some extra time with her tonight while the other three kids were fast asleep.  

Sucking on her cold wash cloth and smiling at the same time.

Feeling a little better...  after tylenol, mylicon, and a cold wash cloth to gnaw on.

She loves to stick her tongue out!

So precious!

Funniest Abby face... EVER!!!

1-151st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion

Caleb's in there somewhere.  

Please join with me in praying for my husband and the 470 other men and women who will be fighting beside him over the next nine months.

1 down, 260 to go

Our weekend with Caleb came and went... fast!  

We started our three days off in Charleston with a lunch at Caleb's favorite place... MOE'S!  Then we went to the South Carolina Aquarium which Emmalyn loved!  

Once we got back to Lexington we arrived at Porter's first birthday party.  With the whole Smith clan in attendance, there was a lot going on!  All the kids (including the adults) were having fun: )  There is never a dull moment with this family!

And of course Daddy got to hang out with Porter's dad too!

After partying it up it was time for a bath and bedtime.  Daddy got to help with potty time, bath, and even read Emmy a new bedtime story.  I could help but get a snapshot of this sweet cuddly moment.

The next morning started out slow.  We took our time getting ready in the morning and then took a nap while Emmy napped.  Once she woke up, Caleb wanted to get her but he was gone for a long time so I went into her room to see what was holding him up and found this...

I just had to grab my camera and get a photo.  However, after taking the photo I held my breath as Caleb struggled to get out of the crib in fear that it would break but it didn't... Good to know!

On Saturday night we met my parents for dinner to celebrate my mom's birthday.  I'm pretty sure Emmalyn thought all the celebrating was for her (that's how the only grandchild gets treated!)

Once we were done with dinner we went to the arcade to play some games.  While my parents entertained Emmy for a minute, Caleb and I played a friendly game of skeet ball, which I WON!  Caleb would tell you I was just lucky, but I'm sticking to it being all skill!

Sunday was another lazy day spent with Caleb's parents.  After church we had steak and potatoes for lunch and read books with Emmy.  She loved showing us the animals.

After relaxing while Emmy napped, we took a walk around the pond and played outside.

That night, while Caleb's parents stayed with Emmalyn, we got to spend some time together alone.  We went putt putting at Frankie's Fun Park and then to dinner at Yamato's!  It was so great to be alone with him and not have to be concerned with another person.  I felt like we were back in high school!

Then Monday came.  

The entire morning I felt like my stomach was in my throat and I was nauseous.  However, once we got to the airport I felt peace and was just thankful for the extra time we got to spend with Caleb before he headed overseas.  

Emmy was so tired at the airport that she was delirious and it was so funny!  She would be in my arms and then launch herself to Caleb and then back to me laughing the whole time.  She lifted our spirits and made us laugh during a very tense time.  

Even though we were crying as we kissed good bye we know God has this all under control and we can only trust Him. 

Being an army wife really makes you cherish the small moments even more and I'm looking forward to the next time we get moments like this... whenever the army decides that will be.  

And they're off...  1 day down.  260 days to go.

Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers and for supporting the soldiers and their families.  The words of encouragement mean more than you know!

MIA

Today I will meet my husband at the airport and my daughter will walk up to him.  Today I actually get to hold his hand and hug his neck.  I am beyond excited!  Needless to say, I'll be living up the little bit of time I get with him for the next four days and won't be thinking about much else.  So, I'll be back on Tuesday to tell you all about our weekend together!  Have a great weekend!

Saturday Morning Dance Party

This is what we do on Saturday mornings...

Yes, dance to Sesame Street tunes with our pj pants on our head.  What?!  You don't do that too?!

Looking forward to: Fall tv

So, with no husband around to rag on, one has to find other things to be excited about.  My best friend, Ashley and I have a love for "our shows" and have been tv buddies since college.  Now, my roommate, Crissy, is the same way and its great!  The line up this fall looks pretty enticing so I wanted to share the shows that I'm looking forward to, to help pass the time away ya know?!

One of my guilty pleasures.  Don't know why, but I love this one! 

I started watching How I Met Your Mother as reruns late at night when I was up feeding Emmy.  Now that I get the story line, it is kind of interesting - but geez, could we meet the "mom" already?!?!?

I love Zooey Deschanel.  I first noticed her in Failure to Launch (with the bird that wouldn't let her sleep) and Elf (epic Christmas movie!) and now she has a new show!  Zooey once a week?  Yes please!

And the other new show I'm looking forward to is Up All Night.  First of all, the cast seems great and poking fun at the hardships of parenthood is always a blast!  

Of course there will be the usuals, like The Bachelor, Army Wives, and American Idol (all starting in the winter).

**Note: I was a nursing major.  Although I know how to speak english, writing is a different story and even though every one of my english teachers would cringe to read this, I still have no idea how to properly write movie/show and/or book titles.  Do you italicize or add quotes or underline?  Anyone want to enlighten me with an english lesson?

New Babies and New Friends

After getting home from my beach trip, Crissy and I decided to have a girls night on a whim.  We went to dinner and a movie with three other lovely, fun ladies!

These girls have been friends since high school!

Finally got a photo of Crissy and myself! 

This pretty lady and her bun that she is cooking always put a smile on my face!

And this professional golfer is hi. lar. i. ous!  I've known her since high school, but we were a year apart and never got to know each other... until now.  I'm loving this new friend!

After dinner at the always delicious, Copper River, we went to see Friends With Benefits.

Funny story:  As the five of us waited in line there was a group of nine high school girls in front of us.  We hoped they weren't going to see the movie that we were and overheard them buying tickets for Harry  Potter.  However, when we got into out theater we realized that the girls were under 17 and had snuck into Friends With Benefits (I'm pretty sure there were more than a few scenes that they did not need to be seeing). 

Before the movie started, one of the girls turned around to ask me if I knew when the movie ended.  Umm... No.  Apparently, they had a curfew and rushed out to meet their rides as soon as the closing credits started.  

Good. Laugh.

On Monday afternoon, Crissy and I headed to Spartanburg to visit with the new parents of Elijah Carter. Both his mom and dad went to high school with us.  They are the sweetest people to be around and their son is absolutely adorable!  

I took some newborn photos for them which didn't go as well as I had hoped because little man was HUN GRY!  

Emmy was very concerned with him at all times (when he was crying, when he was swinging, when he was eating - unless she was eating too  : )

After getting a few good photos of the family outside their apartment, we caught some of Eli and Emmy.

NOSE!!!

then I finally got my hands on the little guy instead of snapping photos, but Emmy was getting tired and needed her momma so I got both kiddos at once.

I just thought this next photo was so funny and shows how silly my child can be!  Boy do I love her!