Our recent family happenings

We made a trip to Utah a few weeks ago, for Jake's sister's {Jessica} wedding. It was a long drive there and a long drive back, but very well worth the trip! Our boys were surprisingly well-behaved during the reception, which was held at Rio Tinto Stadium, where the MLS soccer team, Real Salt Lake plays.

{More pics of the wedding can be found here.}

Holden just had his 2nd birthday, it's hard to believe our little man is already TWO! We did a super-quick photo shoot at Gardner Village, while we were there in Utah. He did great! :) He's getting so big and he's hiliarious! He loves to copy everything Beckham says.

Beckham has started preschool at Head Start, about 6 miles from our home. He loves it! It's been such a positive change for him. His attitude is better and he is not as picky of an eater! He has started tasting and eating things he's NEVER tasted before! He is such a great big brother and helps out around the house. He is sassy at times, and sure can be boisterous, but he at the same time has such a cute, cuddly side.

We are still getting used to the idea that we are soon expecting a baby GIRL into our family. There are some days I wake up and forget we know what we're having... lol Beckham was very upset at first that he wasn't going to get another little brother, but he has come to like the idea. He says his sister is going to be "beautiful, just like a princess". He has a whole list of things for her to wear when she gets here too, among them a "princess dress, princess hat, and princess shoes". I am almost 21 weeks along, so half-way there! We are crossing our fingers that Jake will be home, in port, when the baby gets here, but we don't know yet... so we are just playing it by ear for now. Hoping. Praying. Crossing our fingers that the Stennis isn't on an underway, out to sea, thousands of miles from home when I go into labor. We know that if that's the case, we will get through it, we are after all in the military, which happens... people miss events. Births. Deaths. Illnesses... it just happens. So we are bracing ourselves for the possibility that he may not be home, but of course hoping that he will be here.

I am still working on my photography business, still trying to build it up. It's tough to find clients, but I have had several, and my experience is growing along with my portfolio. :) Thank goodness my Nikon survived it's nearly-complete immersion in the lake/water when went camping.

 Jake is working graveyards, for at least a few more weeks. The ship leaves to do some test runs sometime in the first week or so of December, so I guess until that comes, he is pretty much scraping tile and doing other maintenance-get-the-ship-remodeled stuff.

30 days?!

Oh boy. The countdown is on. ONE month until my sweet, handsome husband heads to Basic.
(Try saying that one 3 times fast!)

We've made a few trips to the Recruiters office in the past few weeks, to get things all squared away. I think with each new thing that happens and each new thing that's said makes it all sink in that the day isn't just coming, it's coming FAST.

• Medical release form - CHECK
• Holden's Birth Certificate - CHECK
• Beckham's Social Security Card - CHECK
• Physical fitness testing - CHECK
• Updated paperwork for Jake to sign - Going first thing tomorrow morning

It's coming. The day is really coming. I am not sure I can even begin to describe
the feelings that are running through my head, and I'm scared to even THINK of the
thoughts that are running through JAKE'S head. After all, HE is the one that's flying
to a city over 1400 miles away to go through Basic Training @ Great Lakes. I am so darn proud of him for making this choice for our family, and for being such a responsible person! I can't wait for the changes it will bring. Trust me, it will bring them... and it's going to bring them alot faster than I realized!

The scoop on us

We've been busy! (Well, Jake has!) He just got a new job. He now works graveyards at the Larry H. Miller Megaplex 20. It's been tough on him, he had 2 hours of sleep between Friday and Sunday. I know it's worth it, and he is always reminding me why he's working both jobs: "So you guys can have a good Christmas." or "So we can have more food in the fridge." It breaks my heart. I sometimes feel guilty that he's working so much and I do nothing but sit at home and play with the kids. I know that's how it's meant to be, it's just difficult. I am very proud of him for getting the second job, and it's tough, cause we rarely see/talk to one another. We are making it work though. :D He's my rock and I am so proud of him!

The kids are doing great!

Beckham is 34 months (on the 5th of December) now and he's such a wild child! He's an absolute busy body. Always into things, ruining things and always going, going, going! 100 miles an hour! There is so much he can do. So much he knows. It's insane how smart he is. He amazes me each and every day. I can't wait to see the look on Beckham's face when he opens his gifts on Christmas morning! He's at such a fun age this year. :)

Holden is 7 weeks as of yesterday! He's smiling allllll the time. He coos every now and then too! It's precious. We're trying to wean him from breast feeding, my Dr. said he's a baby that would be better off on formula, both for him, and for me, because he is making my body barely able to hold on to it's weight. It's tough. We just got formula added to our WIC checks, thankfully! I don't know what I would do without it. Yesterday, for 2 cans of Similac, it was just over $30.00!!!

I'm doing fantastic! I am just trying to work on getting my business running more smooth. I haven't had the chance to sit down and re-vamp my blog or get all my posts and pages in order, but hopefully I will soon! I am going to do a family photo shoot tomorrow and I am VERY excited! It was my Brother-In-Law, Mat that was going to take them, but he couldn't make it, so he asked me to take them for him! I was completely taken aback, so honored, and so completely stoked! I can't wait! We're doing the photos at The Mayan, a jungle-themed restaraunt, before it's opened up for the day. Jake and I are planning on purchasing a Nikon D90 with our tax refund, so this photo shoot will really help me get my foot in the door!

He smiles!

At 4 weeks old, Holden has been smiling off and on when I put my face right next to his...
Last night, I finally caught it on camera: