End of 2012

November was a busy month and I forgot to update.

On November 2nd we welcomed Scotty Jo Brown into the world. Tyler and Kim had a beautiful baby girl. 8lbs. 10 oz. 21 inches long.































November 16-18, we went to Las Vegas for the Marine Corps Birthday ball. Aunt Jayne and Mike met us there and took care of Ansley while Kyle and I had a night to ourselves. It was so much fun!

After the ball, we celebrated Ansley's first birthday! She had so many people surround her with love and was so lucky to get gifts from all over. Thank you to all who helped celebrate her! She is a great kid and had a wonderful birthday!

Then came Thanksgiving and we had a lot to be thankful for. We are thankful for each other and the safe return of Kyle. We are thankful for our family and their support. Our beautiful 1-year old is such a blessing. She is so fun and brings so much joy into our lives. Diesel is a great companion and we are thankful for him. We are thankful for all the friends we have. Our health is a huge and we are grateful for that. The opportunities we have been able to take advantage of in 2012 and those waiting for us in our future... The list can go on and on. 

 December was an eventful month as well. Ansley got to meet Santa for the first time and it was a bit scary. 

We were able to take some leave and go home to Colorado. We got to spend time with family and friends. The only thing about going home is that it is never long enough. It was freezing cold but lots of fun! Thanks to all who made time for us and thank you for our generous Christmas gifts. 

Christmas came and Santa was good to us. After an evening at church and then movies, we woke up to a relaxing day. We opened presents, napped, and then feasted on prime rib. It was a success!

Last thing we acknowledge is that I completed my MBA!! With the help of my husband,  and all family, I was able to accomplish a goal I had set in my mind since I graduated high school. I am a very lucky person to have such a strong support system. 

2013 brings such promise for our family. With several options to consider we will close our chapter on the life we have built in Twentynine Palms and begin a new one. Where? we don't know just yet but it is in God's hands. We have faith that no matter what we decide, He will protect us. Our family is whole again and we will embark on the journey to come together. :) 

October 2012

I think monthly updates are my new goal.... Here is the news in October:

Kyle came home October 7, 2012. Both sets of parents were there to witness the event and experience the emotion I was talking about all last deployment. I think that "Brown Family Operation Re-integration" has been going smoothly. There are mornings that I can sleep in because Daddy has it all covered. Most evenings are the "I still only want Mommy" times but we are all doing our best to be patient with one another. Here is a video we put together and posted on 'youtube:' 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5WHQ5owtZM&feature=plcp

Anlsey is as happy as ever. She smiles a lot and with the two bottom teeth making a V, it makes it even cuter. She won't let me get a good picture yet, but soon to come. It is fun to watch her grow and become comfortable with her surroundings. She eats almost anything and everything. She eats chicken, avocado, yogurt, peas, carrots, green beans, and mashed potatoes the most. She makes the "ahhh" sound after drinking and "mmm" while eating. Soon she will eat her own cake at her first birthday. Soon we will start the final transition from nursing to whole milk! Reluctant at times, Ansley and Daddy have made great strides and have bonded a lot since he has been home. She has taken her first steps but doesn't do much walking unless you let her hold your finger. The steps were captured and posted on 'youbtube:' 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uePDBBWcFHc&feature=plcp

Diesel is a good dog. He loves walks everyday and has come to expect them. He knows that a little while after dinner it is time and he paces and nudges you until you are ready. Then all you have to say is, "are you ready?" and he goes crazy. Ansley loves helping walk him. She bounces in her stroller. 

Me? On Tuesday I will have my last first day of class. I start the capstone course to the program and six weeks later (assuming I pass) I will be the holder of a Masters in Business Administration degree. Looking back I have no regrets, I just hope it pays off. I need a good paying job! Otherwise, I keep busy finding news ways to cook for this hungry baby and husband while keeping up with the wife duties of cleaning and laundry. After I graduate I will be in the market for a hobby. Maybe I will make all the DIY projects on pinterest. :)

Upcoming events in November:

-Memorial Service for the fallen Marines

-Marine Corps Ball

-Ansley's first birthday

-Thanksgiving in 29 Palms

 We will be the "Brown" Bears for halloween! Surprisingly Ansley loved wearing the costume. 

Our family is complete again! Welcome home Kyle.

We got a new car!... well, new to us. We made our first vehicle purchase together and chose a 2003 55,000 mile Ford Escape. It is perfect for the next transition in our lives and all four of us can comfortably fit in it together. :)

September 2012

This month we have settled into a routine and it feels good to be home again. Ansley had her delayed 9-month check and she is a healthy baby!

16.95 lbs. she is in the 12th percentile for her age (Skinny Minnie). 

27.76 inches long puts her in the 45th percentile for her age; average.

She has tried shredded grilled chicken and carrots and peas for dinner and ate it all. :) 

I have to constantly watch her as she crawls EVERYWHERE. It isn't hard to find her as we got new laminate in the living room (courtesy of base housing) and every movement makes a slap. She loves to talk and move around but she still has her cuddle moments. Ansley cruises furniture and walks holding mommy's hands but isn't confident enough to stand alone. Still no teeth but everything still goes straight to the mouth. She is getting acquainted with sharing. She understands it may be someone else's turn, but to actually let go and share is another story. (See below picture). 

As she grows, so does her fascination of Diesel so I have to watch her because she tries to share her food and touch his face. Both are a "no, no." He is patient with her petting him and she is interested in every part of him: tugging on his nails, touching his tail, crawling after him, etc. 

I am now 25! Old enough to rent a car!! Thank you to all who made me feel loved for a whole week. I received phone calls, text messages, cards, gifts, and long distance X's and O's. I continue to go to school and run things around here as we count down the days until Kyle comes home. About a month more... give or take. I have started a new diet and workout regime but finding time to do it is exhausting it itself. Luckily I have a motivation group and my close friend, Katrina, is "my coach" who keeps me accountable and on track. 

Diesel suffers from desert allergies and we are once again back to the licking, scratching, and pacing. The twice a day allergy pill no longer fixes things so we may do a vet visit for more steroids. I keep telling him: "six more months..." That's all we have before the next chapter in our lives begins. 

Thanks to all back home who let her play with their cell phones, she now puts any object up to her ear and says "hi." Daddy INSISTED she play with an old cell.... I am not sure that was a good idea but there is no turning back now. 

My little climber tries to climb on me to get to things.

A pacifier is never too far away and is chewed on in every fashion.

Lately we have gotten to Skype with Kyle and it brightens the day. :)

The First taste of chicken and actual veggies: carrots and peas. Yum!

August 2012

This deployment has had its fast moments and slow but either way we are ALMOST DONE! Mid-October is our target and we hope to speed towards it. :)

Just to fill you in...

Ansley has continued to grow and blossom. Her personality is as cute as can be and charms her way into everyone's heart. 

-I am not sure of Ansley's height or weight but will have her 9 month check up at the end of the month. Last visit to the doctor in July said just under 15lbs., approx. 26 inches long and I know she has grown since then as she is in 6-9/9month clothes now.

-Ansley has been to 11 states thus far in her 8 month, 3 week life:

   -Driving from CA to CO route 1: CA, NV, UT, CO

   -Route 2: AZ, NM

   -To Granny and Papa's: GA, AL

   -To see the McFadden's: OH

   -To Brown-Sherman family reunion: WI, MI

-Pulls herself up onto tables, people, toys, couch, chairs, etc. 

-Crawls like a pro with her belly off the floor, unless she is tired and then it's belly down as if she is breast-stroking on land (which suits her because she LOVES pool or bath time).

-Loves to feed herself arrowroot cookies, puffs, and yogurt chips. She eats all kinds of baby food including oatmeal and "apples with chicken." She does not like green beans lately. She drinks from a sippy cup with water or apple juice/water mix.

-Smiles, laughs, and plays constantly. 

-Ansley doesn't like naps so mommy is constantly coaxing into a sleepy mode and it never works.

-Ansley is patient and well behaved. She smiles even when she is tired or upset. Attracts the attention of all and loves the coos from them. 

-Enjoys playing by herself as much as she enjoys playing with others.

-Needs to be in the same room as others.

-Waves, claps, and points.

-Needs to know where mommy is all the time unless she is too busy playing to notice she has stepped out of the room. 

-She loves her puppy, Grandma, Grammy, Poppy and Grandpa and is very comfortable with them holding her. 

-She has been teething FOREVER and we now have a diaper rash to prove it regardless of the amount of desitin or A & D mommy uses. 

-Sings (holds random notes) and dances (bounces or rocks) along with the radio, TV commercials, games, and someone singing.

-Says "Dada" all the time with the occasional, "BB" (for grammy BB), "DD!" (for Diesel), she will reply "Yes" or "Ya" to your questions. There are other undistinguished sounds coming out of her mouth, but she refers to everything as "this" and tonight she said "mama."

Some other news:

-Mommy is 2.5 classes from her MBA. :)

-We move back to 29 Palms with Poppy's help the third full week of this month. 

Here are some pictures the past few months in random order:

First bath in the sink (usually bath tub), an oatmeal bath thanks to the rash.

Pulls herself up onto things

Sending Love to Dada.

Your Majesty on his throne

LOVE the water!!

can't get her away from the pool

Michigan visit

 

First 4th of July

Went and visited Granny and Papa

Pretty Girls 

More love from Great Grandparents

More Fun in MI

CHEESE!

Ansley is 6 months old!

Kyle is now deployed and Ansley, Diesel, and I are trying our best to pass the time. We have moved back to Colorado for the summer and we are keeping busy visit friends and spending time with family. I realize how much I missed being able to call any family member and ask if they want to get together for dinner or lunch. It is so fun being able to sit on the back patio and not melt from the heat.

Ansley is growing so fast and she brings smiles to all our faces constantly. She babbles crazy sounds all day and is now comfortable with others holding her for a short period of time. "Dada" is the most frequent thing said and I am just waiting for "mama" and then it isn't too long before "grammy or grandma." She is also SO close to crawling. She can sit alone for a few seconds and lunges forward. She can scoot and reach for things so crawling is just around the corner.

We miss daddy everyday but we are finding that family is everything so we will pull them in close while he is away. These pictures and video are from when Grammy sat her in front of the mirror. She had so much fun talking to her new friend.

Laughter makes everyone feel better

Tickling Ansley now makes her laugh instead of the old look of "what are you doing?" This video was taken on Friday the 13th (haha) before bath time.

Yummy in my tummy

Mommy and Grammy fed me oatmeal for the first time over Easter weekend. I loved it so much I leaned into each bite and I tried to grab the spoon myself. In a few weeks I will try veggies!

Belated 4 month visit

Today was Ansley's 4 month check up (even though she is 4 1/2 months). She weighed 12.71 lbs., 19% and was 24.13 inches long, 31%.

Doc said she is healthy and right on track. Apparently her rolling from back to tummy is a 6 month milestone so she ahead of the curve. :)

Doc also said we can start integrating rice or oat cereal once a day. I am thinking once at night so we can all get some sleep!

Our brave little girl did well with two shots so we have a little road runner band aid on each chunky little thigh.

3-30-12 feet and rolling over

Ansley loves her feet. Any chance she can get (socks or no socks) thy go straight to her little mouth. :)

She can't always get her arm out, but once it gets out- straight to her mouth.

Rolling over!

See you soon, Daddy

This week has been hard for us all. Kyle has left for "Spring Break Afghan." We are sad but our heads are held high because we are so proud of him. Kyle, if you are reading this, we think you are a strong, brave, and courageous person and we love you. Ansley and I pray for you before story time at night. LOVE YOU! See you soon.

Here are some pictures from our camera and off of eMarine...