Link to videos

I wanted so badly to post this video of Julianna today looking out the window and calling for her Daddy. It is heartbreaking and adorable at the same time. The file was too large and I didn't know how to edit the clip so I uploaded them to Snapfish. I hope this link works. I was so sad after the first video (there are 4) that I had to go buy myself a present to cheer me up! :)
VIDEO CLIPS!! CLICK HERE!

HOPE IT WORKS!!!

My new favorite animal sound

Julianna's newest animal sound is the rooster. I have to say it makes me laugh every time. The way she says "doodaloooo" is much better than a "cock-a-doodle-do" any day. She just cracks me up. It's sort of hard to hear but here is a video. The chicken is pretty funny too.. "bawk, bawk, bawk" but it is much funnier when she flaps her wings along with it. I did not capture that in the video unfortunately. She was busy playing with her pig and sheep toys. haha

Oh, she also started counting this week. She doesn't like to play along all the time but when I make her forget that I am watching her she will count to 5. "Unn, twooo, treee, foor"... sometimes we skip 5 and just go straight to 6 and then 9. Sometimes we just do 4 several times in a row... but hey, its a good start! lol

It was another good day today. We went to the play area at one of the malls around here which means a bath as soon as we get home because I am a total germ-a-phobe. After the bath she slept for 3.5 hours. It was AWESOME. I did absolutely nothing the whole time... which was hard at first.... I was making a "ToDo" list in my head for the first hour but I kept telling myself to just enjoy it and relax. I did enjoy it. I even took a little nap on the couch. Then I woke up and made that "ToDo" list! :)

I do have to admit that I LOVE to make those lists. Doesn't it feel good to scratch the things off once they are done. Sometimes I write stuff on there I have already done just so I can stratch it off!! :)

Good Day!

Today was a great day for Julianna and I. Pretty normal. Nothing exciting happened, it just went really smoothly and we had alot of fun together. She slept great last night and woke up in the best mood. She was playing and jumping around in her crib. We ran simple errands, grocery store, post office, etc. and she was just so cooperative. Even meal times were good. She ate everything I gave her and LOVED the "Buttered" Noodles recipe from the Deceptively Delicious Cookbook. That is the one by Jerry Seinfeld's wife. It's such a great way to get kids to eat their veggies... even if they don't know they are!

The "Buttered" Noodles is sooo easy but tasted really good. Super quick to make... just pick a type of noodles that your kids like but use the Whole-Wheat variety, 1/2 cup of butternut squash puree, a little milk, margarine, grated Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Nothin' to it, but she actually asked for a second bowl!!! I have been having a hard time getting her to eat veggies. She LOVES fruits but veggies have not been too high on the list.




She enjoys brushing her teeth in the bathtub. Tonight she brushed her sheep and pig bathtub toys teeth too!

Aunt Sara

Beer and Bananas. Just what you need after a run!


We're proud of you!!


Chad(my brother) and Sara

Aunt Sara ran the Colonial Half Marathon today in Williamsburg. This was her first time and we are very proud of her. She did it with a friend of hers from VCU Dental School. The completed it in 2hrs and 8mins! Not bad! :) Julianna and I went to see her at the finish line.

Yummy Treats

Ummm, I see strawberries in there!


This is the sign for fruit. Make an "F" and twist it on your cheek!


I stole a piece of cantaloupe with out Mama even noticing at first!


But this is what I REALLY wanted!

Thanks for the "Edible Arrangement" from Nana, Papa, Aunt JM, Uncle Carlton and Emma Hensley. It definitely made us feel better today!!!

Weekends

Today is the first time I have cried since Ike left. Weekends are really hard for me because that's when we had our family time. Without him, there isn't family time... just me and Julianna. You would think that it would feel just like any other day, but for some reason it's VERY different. The whole routine is different. Different shows on TV, different sleep schedule, different mood... we should be with Daddy today.
I hate weekends...

My little patient!

Ready to leave the house at 530 this morning. Hugging my Daddy Doll!


In the playroom at the hospital


Getting dressed in my hospital gown.


Getting nervous and a little confused.


The nurse shows us how the mask will go on the kitty.



Then I show Mommy how it goes!


I can put it on all by my myself!


Back to the play room and wait to be called.


Why did they draw this circle on my belly?

I'm gonna have a "boo-boo" right there?!

Down the hall they went. She didn't even look back!


Recovery room, pretty sleepy girl!


Drinking my juice and starting to wake up. Talking to Daddy on the phone.


Ready to play but a little drunk from the medications.


I can hardly stand.... but determined to play with these toys!



Home and Hungry!



Sorry for all of the single pictures. It is easier for Ike to view them on the ship that way. She did great and we are so thankful for a smooth day. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers!

Link to Snapfish Pics!

Home

We are back home from the hospital. Julianna did great. She didn't even cry when they took her from me to go to the OR. I couldn't believe it. It kind of made me sad that she walked right off with that stranger without even looking back... but it would have broken my heart for her to cry and reach for me when they separated us. Everything went really smoothly. It was such an easy, stress free day! I can't believe it.
Kids are amazing. She started walking and playing in the recovery room!!! She was pretty wobbly which was funny but now we are home and she is playing with all of her toys. She's starting to look sleepy so we will probably attempt a nap soon. No big surprise, I took lots and lots of pics. I will post some later.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

The Dr.'s In!

So I haven't had the heart to tell Julianna that she is actually HAVING surgery tomorrow, not performing it. haha Dr. Stutts was all dressed up and ready to go today. I knew that Halloween costume would come in handy again some day!


Dr. Stutts, at your service.
(I am in the OB/GYN field, so we usually say "Dr. X at your cervix.".... just a little nursing humor! Get it... oh come on, that's funny!)


Making sure she has all the proper equipment in her Doctor's Kit.


It is always good to check the equipment before a procedure.


If you are unsure about it, check it on some one else too!


Look at that blonde curl on the side of her head. Where did that come from?


Julianna's surgery is scheduled for 8am tomorrow morning. We have to be there by 6. I have to admit... I am getting pretty nervous. Just the thought of the anesthesia scares me. Not the actual procedure itself. It shouldn't take very long, 20 mins maybe, and then it's over. Please keep us all in your prayers tomorrow. Ike too, I know he will be nervous out on the ship just waiting to hear that it all went well. I'll update everyone tomorrow! Thanks for the prayers!

So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, good-bye

Here are the pics that accompany my previous post:



How could this picture not break your heart?


I didn't mean to, but you can actually see the ship in the top right corner.


The ship in the bay heading for the ocean.


Closer view.


ByeBye Daddy!! We love you!!!! Can't wait to see you again!!

The day we've been dreading...

We had to say goodbye to Ike this morning. He left the house around 0530 and I had alot of trouble getting back to sleep after he left. It was a pretty normal morning... other than the fact that he won't be coming home for a while. We decided not to go to the base to see the ship leave. I thought it would be way too stressful for me and probably a little confusing for Julianna. So, we are going to stick to our regular routine today. We will walk down to the beach and watch the ship go by though. We will wave and say one more goodbye from there. I haven't cried yet, but I have a feeling a little tear will appear as the ship disappears into the Ocean. (as I wrote that a little tear tried to appear just now.... NOT NOW, I'm saving those for later!) Anyway, it's one day at a time and I am just thankful that I know he will be home before we know it!

I'll post pics from the beach when we get back...

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!

Look at my new helicopter dress. It's just for your birthday Dada!


Best Buds!


Isn't it cute!


Quality time at dinner.


I helped make this card for you Dada!

WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Unfortunately Ike leaves for his deployment tomorrow. We are just thankful that we were able to spend his birthday with him. It will be hard sometimes but we have to keep upbeat. We have lots of activities planned while he is gone to keep us busy and lots of visitors lined up to keep us company. I just know that when she starts calling for him and walking around the house looking for him it is going to kill me! This blog will help keep us in touch and keep him up to date with all of Julianna's latest and greatest!! Just keep us in your prayers... Ike while he is gone, and us here missing him. Also, Julianna has her surgery on Friday so keep us in your prayers for that too. More tomorrow.... sorry to make this post kind of a downer... it was supposed to be an upbeat Happy Birthday message. HAPPY BIRTHDAY and we miss you already!

Finally gettin' some help around here...

I'm not sure how she learned how to use this strange machine. What's it called again? Maybe the maid taught her... haha Just kidding. My big girl was helping me clean. That was her Valentine's Day gift to me. Wasn't that nice! She cracks me up with that little vacuum cleaner. NeeNee and PopPop gave her that for Christmas. This was the first time she ever used it right, usually she just puts the attachments in her mouth. :)

Maid by day... DIVA by night! Check out those shades. She thinks she is somethin' else walkin' around with those on. She knows it's funny.

HaPpY bIrThDaY tOmOrRoW dAdDy!

Happy Sunday!! :)

We have had lots of fun this weekend visiting with Nana and Papa. Today we went to church in the morning, ordered lunch to go, Nana and I took a quick trip to the MacArthur Center (mall), then we all went out to dinner at a seafood restaurant in Virginia Beach. We had a special birthday cake surprise for dessert that we picked up from The Cheesecake Factory. Ike loves Carrot Cake so we ordered a Carrot Cake Cheesecake for him! Yum Yum. It even had the cream cheese icing! :) Need I say more... His birthday is the 19th.... the big 3-1! haha

Here are a few pics from our day:

This is how you sign "shoes." Your tap your fists together. See Papa!

Smile!!!

You guys can have some of my "Che-ro-ros." (Cheerios)

Happy Birthday Daddy!

We helped Daddy blow out the candles!! :)