New Food for Lindsey

So I was looking in Jacob's book and saw that I was trying table food with him at 7 months. It seems so long ago since Jacob was a baby and I am forgetting what to do lately with Lindsey! So this week, I am trying all sorts of new things with her and in true Lindsey fashion, she loves it all! Go figure!
This week we have tried green beans, mashed bananas (loves those), avocados (now I have someone to share one with), baby yogurt, and even chopped up (very tiny)spaghetti! I can't believe how big she is getting!
She had her 6 months shots today and cried just a little bit! As soon as I scooped her up she was all smiles. She is such a great baby, I am blessed!

Tuesdays at Thompson Park

The past 2 Tuesdays I have met with Jen Voss and Maya for a picnic lunch and playing in the park. Maya and Jacob play so well together and the Noelle and Lindsey hang out with their Mommies! Today I made it extra special and I took Seth with us before bringing him to his sitter. The kids had an absolute blast! They all played so nice and were very well behaved! I am sad Jen will be going back to work soon, no more playdates for a while! We will have to meet for dinner instead!

Thanks to my Friends (my Watertown Family)

Thanks to Ro and Jen, especially Roland for coming up on a hot Saturday hang 2 swings up in the tree, one for Linds and one for Jake. Then he put both air conditioners in. I don't know what I would do without my awesome Watertown Friends-you rock! Thanks a ton, Lee and I really appreciate it! Tonight we got the kids got to try them out, they are perfect and both kids were smiling ear to ear!

Swim Lessons

Swim lessons have started again. Jake definitely needed to get back in to the water. He loves swimming but is a little hesitant this time around about putting his head under the water. He kicks really well but still needs a bit more practice! I know he will get it soon! We will keep on taking lessons all summer!

Walking to Afghanistan

Last deployment our Batallion walked to Iraq. This time we are walking over 12,000 to Afghanistan. Jake and I are walking with some friends every Friday on the Black River Trail. He rides his bike and I push Linds in the stroller. This past Friday was our first day and we did 4 miles! Needless to say, yesterday afternoon we all took a nap! Jake and I actually fell asleep on the screen porch, it is so nice out there with the breeze on a hot day! Linds has been sleeping 2 short morning naps and one really long afternoon nap, I had to wake her up after 2 1/2 hours!! It is great for me though, gives me a bit of "me" time! Keep on walking!

Night Games

Since the weather has gotten nice again, and I think staying this way, Jake and I are back to our nightly routine. Dessert outside, sometimes, and then a fun game (and tiring) game of tag! I can barely keep Jake in the house once the weather gets nice so I like to take him outside after Linds goes to sleep for some one on one time. We work in the yard, play tag, he rides his car, play catch,etc. Just about anything he wants but his favorite game to play is tag. I may be getting older but I can still outrun him, although, I don't know how much longer that will last! He is pretty fast. Last week I bought strawberries and shortcakes and coolwhip. We added a little chocolate syrup and had dessert outside! I love summer nights!

A Friend

The definition of a friend is "a person whom one knows, likes, and trusts." There are a lot of people I know and like but my true friends mean more than that. Friend also comes from an Old English word meaning "to love" and that is what I think of when I think of my "friends." These are my true friends, the people I can always count on to be there, whether they are a phone call or email away, or right down the street. The military doesn't always make it easy to have friends, being that we make them and then have to leave them. However, in a way, the military makes it easy to weed out the friends, and keep those that mean the most. Over the last 9 years I have made some amazing friends along this journey and I am so glad they are all still in my life. Probably my deepest friendships are with my mom and sisters, they are my deepest friendships. Some of the other friends I have made along this journey so far include my longest friendship with Erin, we have known each other since the
4th grade. No matter where our lives have taken us, we have always been friends and will always be. Then there are my Army friends. My longest friend being Kristen, who I can't wait to be close to again next year, we will both be in Kansas! Kristen and I met at Fort Polk and went through our first deployment together. Something that connected us and we will always be friends. Then there are the amazing friends I made since living up here. My CAV girls-Tracey, Cat, and Rachel, we will always have an amazing bond. We shared a deployment together, the birth of kids, Sunday night dinners, etc etc! Now we are all in different places but still talk and remain friends for life. Last but not least by any means, are my 2 closest friends here at Drum now, Jen and Lisa. I wouldn't know what my life would be like without them. They are not just my friends but my family up here. They make me smile and laugh daily and my life would not be the same without them. Last night, when my substitute sitter didn't show up, they felt so bad that they went and got dinner and brought it back to my house, just so I could share a girls night out with them. They are the true meaning of the word friendship-the love of a friend. Thank you to my friends for always being there!

Where is May Going?

Before I know it, May will be over! This month has been crazy but in a way, I just want time to keep on passing. I want to enjoy it, but want Lee home too! We are spending this weekend at home, catching up with friends, etc. However, we are on the road again next week! I am taking Jacob on a special trip to NYC! I have been planning this for months. I wanted to do something special with him and decided to take him to the City. We are going to see Mary Poppins on Broadway! I may be more excited than him!

YOU MAKE US PROUD!!

Yesterday when I spoke to Lee, he told me he got his OER (Officer Evaluation Report). You get these evals done on a yearly basis or when you change positions in the Army. Lee has been in Company Command for a year now and so he had an evaluation done by his boss, LTC Grubbs and his Brigade Commander, COL Burleson. Needless to say, I could barely get through reading it without crying! It was awesome! They both told him he was among the top 3 Commanders in our Brigade! Even as far as the Brigade Commander saying that he is the best MI Commander he has seen in over 20 years! They both recommended him for Batallion Command!
I couldn't be more proud of him! It is kind of funny to me in a way. I mean, I know what an awesome husband, dad and best friend he is, but I don't get to see the work side of him. I knew he was great at MI but I had no idea just how great! WAY TO GO BABE, you are on your way to Batallion Command! We love you every step of the way!

Grandparents Galore!

This month has been absolutely crazy! I think I have been away from home more than we have been here! This past weekend was no different! We were on the road again to PA. This time was due to a class I took. To keep up with my OT I take some continuing education classes. Fortunately, with the help of my parents and Aunt Laurie, I was able to take a 2-day course while they babysat the kids--thanks to all of you! This weekend was even more special because Grandma and Pa came to visit as well. Jake was so excited to see them and they were just as excited to see him and Lindsey. They had a great time together!

Forgiveness

Last night when I came home the babysitter told me there was an "incident" and I thought "injury." There was no injury just a broken plate. I don't know exactly what happened but I know that a special gift I was given was broken in pieces and I was really sad. Today, I fortunately found the person that made it and she is willing to make me another. I am thrilled. I was so upset with Jake but I do know that having kids means stains on rugs and couches, crayon marks on the table, grass stains on pants, and yes, broken dishes. At the end of the day, all that matters is our health and well being. I forgive him and love him!

Sooo Big!!

Lindsey had her 6 months check-up today. She is in the top percentile for height and weight, good that they balance each other out! lol She is 19.7lbs and 27 1/4 in long. She is developing perfectly and right on target! After we picked Jake up from school we grabbed lunch and went to the playground on Post. Lindsey went in the swing for the first time and loved it. I didn't have my camera with me, I left it next to the computer! Darn...next time!

The Zoo!!

I was so glad that Monday turned out to be sunny! Not that warm, but sunny! Jen Voss, Jen Chalton, and I headed to Syracuse to the zoo with the kids where we met up with Beth and Lucy! It was a great day. The kids were well behaved and the zoo wasn't crowded with any school kids. It was a perfect day with friends!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Sunday was a great day! We went to the Commons for brunch with Lisa and her kiddos. The food was really yummy although with a bunch of kids together, I hardly remember savoring it. BUT it was super fun and a great Mother's Day. I also got 3 homemade presents this year. Thanks to Daddy, Mrs. Puccia and Aunt Laurie. They were awesome, I love them! So Happy Mother's Day to my mom, Mom C, Grandma Castana, and all the other moms out there!

Lindsey-guilt

So I am feeling a bit guilty. I put so many videos of Jacob on so I will now have to get a few of Lindsey on here. She is growing so much each day and I have to share some video of her! Check back soon!

Shout-outs

Shout Outs

Shout out to Mrs Puccia and Mrs Mary--what amazing teachers you are, thank you!

Shout out to Jen--thanks for being a teacher and changing lives!

Shout out to Lee--as always--we love and miss you!

Shout out to Annabelle--we hope you are feeling better!

Shout out to Patrick--what would I do without my young hip cousin!

Shout out to all my girlfriends across the states--I think of you often! Congrats on your new baby Tracey!

3 more videos...--Start from the bottom --I put them on backwards-I always forget!

I hope you enjoy all the videos---I put them in backwards order so if you scroll down you can start from the beginning--sorry!!!

More Videos

Garden Party Videos

There are at least 8 videos I think. I will try to get them all on here!

More Pictures

The Garden Party

Today was Jacob's Garden Party at school. I am speechless, I don't know even know where to begin to describe it! Mrs. Puccia and Mrs Mary are amazing teachers and did a great job today. They work so well with the kids and you can see it, they are growing and learning everyday! My parents came up yesterday to see it and I am thrilled they did! They said prayers, sang songs, and told stories and at the end, presented each mom with a Mother's Day Gift that they worked so hard to make. I will cherish it forever. You can see it in one of the pictures. Thank you again to his teachers! And Jacob--you are such a great little boy, I love you more than anything, I am so proud of you. He sang out loud and during the pledge to the flag, held the flag with pride, in honor of his Daddy. After the party, we took Jake one of his favorite places to eat-Cracker Barrel for pancakes and bacon, he ate every last bite! Enjoy the pictures--there will be a few batches. I am working on uploading the videos.

Abigail's First Communion

This isn't the best picture but it was I got. My camera wasn't taking the best pictures in church. Congrats Abigail--we love you!

It has been a week since my last blog...let's review...

It has been a week since I lasted posted anything because I was away this past weekend. The kids and I headed to PA this past Friday for our cousin Abigail's First Holy Communion. Teh weekend began on Saturday morning. Aunt Laurie took Jacob to do the Mother's Day project at Home Depot--I can't wait to see it! Then we all went to the annual Cherry Blossom Parade. Jacob loves parade and the weather was warm enough for Lindsey to see her first parade. She is so nosey and loves to look around at everything! It was actually a bit hot but always fun! Enjoy the pictures!