YES!!!!!

Four years ago today on January 27th, 2006, my love while on bended knee asked for my hand in marriage. "YESS!!" was my reply :)

He took me for a beautiful walk in the woods. This was particularly special to me because we loved talking walks together and because even in the middle of winter we were surrounded by the beauty of God's creation.

This spot overlooked the city of Philadelphia where he was presently attending college.

The hand which he now possesses.

Exactly two years later on the 27th of January 2008, here I am waiting for my ship to come in. I really like this picture because I think it artistically shows how I felt those six months fenced away from my love. How fitting that on the anniversary of our engagement my husband returns from his sixth month deployment!! (My favorite blog post.) He surely knows how to give great anniversary presents:)

Together!!

Here I am visiting him on his ship during his duty day a few days after he came home.

I thought I was a Navy Wife?

When I think of my handsome naval officer in uniform, this is how I think of him. I sent my husband off with a kiss and hug looking like this on his first day of work at his new duty station. (The one he had been training for in MS).


And this is how the Navy sent him back later that day. "Umm...Excuse me, United States Navy, I was just under the impression that my husband was a sailor. Would you like to explain his new uniform and job to me?" Now baby girl is the only one wearing nautical attire and very confused as well.

It seems she has fallen for the idea and new uniform very quickly. Wow, that is a cute little girl who adores her daddy!
We were blessed to have both of our families visiting with us for a whole week this summer. Here we are at N's work family picnic. My mom and brother are on the left side, my sister is in the middle back row, and all the rest are N's family. Apparently we organize ourselves by those wearing sunglasses and those without :) Our families have been the best of friends for a decade now. It is so much fun that more often than not they visit us at the same time. Baby's first time on a real swing

This is the first picture of us without the baby since her birth. I am so proud of him as he starts this new leg of his naval career. Our family of three

Smiles all around

Saying Goodbye to Mississippi

Here we are with the mascot of the Navy Seabees, whose base we were at while husband went through his expeditionary combat skills training.

These pictures were taken right after graduation on our way home.

Big smiles for one last stop at the beach

She was playing with the grass.


We adore this little one :)
And she likes us too


"Bye bye, Gulfport! We really enjoyed visiting you."

Adventures in Biloxi, MS

While N was training in Gulfport, MS, baby and I were able to stay with him on the base hotel. Yet, there were a few days they did not have availability so we packed up all our gear and stayed on the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. This base was beautiful.

This was taken on the golf course inside the base.

Our happy baby girl
The planes flew really low!

Waving to the camera
Although it was a hassle to pack and unpack again, we really enjoyed the different sights this Air Force base had to offer.

There were several casinos in Biloxi, and we enjoyed a savory meal of steak and gumbo at Memphis Q inside the Beau Rivage.

First Family Vacation with Babe

Last year in RI
Do you remember our three week getaway to Newport, Rhode Island last year? A similar situation presented itself this summer, and I jumped at the opportunity to go on "vacation" with husband while he underwent four weeks of training at the NCBC in Gulfport, MS. Since we saw and did so much while away, I will fill you in over the next few weeks rather than in one gigantic post. While we were in Rhode Island last year, we had the opportunity to tour several summer cottages (read huge amazing mansions for use only in the summer). Two of the amazing vacation homes we were able to tour were built for the Vanderbilt family. The Breakers (pictured above) is the most famous of the RI mansions. While we were touring through Marble House (below), we were told the story of how the daughter of the house was pressured into marrying a duke because of his status. Now when this is what you consider a summer cottage how much higher in status can you go?


We then ran across a picture of this Duke's palace. I remember husband exclaiming, "Now, THAT is a palace." Little did I know that a few months later while in Europe I would see in person what we have marveled over in print. Blenheim Palace did not disappoint!

I was delighted to learn that our summer trip to Mississippi would take us close to yet another Vanderbilt home. Here we are on day two of our travels in front of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.


The view was lovely.

I love fishponds.

My loves!
I greatly enjoyed walking through all the gardens and especially enjoyed the wooded trail we ventured through.

Below baby and I are on a balcony on the backside of the house. After several hours of exploring the outside, we went through a two hour tour of the mansion itself. It was beautifully decorated inside with original furniture.
I have never seen such beautiful columns.
Enjoying the lawn
After touring the house, we enjoyed a wine and chocolate tasting at the estate's winery. After baby's long day, she slept soundly all the way to Atlanta.

Baby Girl Style

Along with children come many questions on how to raise them. How will we train them up to be godly children? How will we vaccinate? How will they be schooled? How much sweets will we allow? What will we allow them to play with? Sometimes it takes much research to find an answer to a parenting question, sometimes they come and smack you in the face ( not the children of course. lol) , and sometimes it is fun and trivial process arriving at an answer. With our baby girl, I have had a delightful time answering the question of what she will wear. Dressing her up reminds me of being ten all over again and playing house. My four favorite styles to dress her in are white dresses, white outfits with pink flourishes, red, and patriotic stars and stripes. She does indeed have outfits that do not fall into one of these four styles, but for the most part that is how I dress her. You might think my style boring, yet it is working well for me. As time passes, I have realized that I would rather see her in the same two outfits for a week then put her in an outfit I do not like that much. That really says a lot about who I am. I'll delightfully wear the same necklace for weeks without getting bored of it. In the four times I have had my nails done, I have only gotten french manicures. I have a difficult time ordering something new at a resturant in the fear that I will not like it as much as what I had last time. I don't need that much variety and love predictability. Having a naval officer as a husband has taught me that predictability is to be treasured as a rare and special treat.

White dresses are my favorite!! Here she is at a month old in her baptismal gown. Maybe that does not really count as a example as most baptismal gowns are white, yet I just love this picture of the two of us.

Here she is at 5 months in her Easter dress and bonnet.

Here she is in ivory and pink.


Trying out grass for the first time in white and pink.In red, white and blue with her favorite officer and gentleman.

Stars and stripes at the beach
Sailor dresses could be in a category all by themselves. I love them so! Her dear Auntie H gave her this one and the next size up too. I am greatly looking forward to have a little baby boy matching her as well.
I love wearing red dresses and love putting them on baby as well. Here she is at one month old in her Christmas finest opening her bitty. This was before she owned any bows. How silly to be a baby girl and not own any bows!!! She looks soooo bald without any hair accessory and so much dress for such a little baby.

Baby in Valentine's Day outfit with her dark blue eyes which are much more brown now.

Sleepy lady in red