Sophie's newest trick:

Sitting all by herself!

It was amazing- these pictures were taken this morning; by the time we web cammed with Jon late this afternoon, she was much straighter and steadier. I'm so proud of her!

Sophie in her Bumbo- she loves it!

"Ok, Mom, enough of the photo shoot. I'm taking a nap." (FYI- I did not arrange this pose... she did it all by herself! Also, if you notice she's a bit, uh, large in the posterior region, it is attributed to the bulky cloth diapers we use...)

I'm in love.

If you're one of those people who doesn't think you like Nutella (though you may or may not have ever tried this nectar of the gods) because you don't like hazelnuts, I have an answer to your chocolate spread deficiency:

World Market Dark Chocolate Spread.

Imagine a fudgy chocolate icing. Then imagine it creamier. And chocolatier. And not-feeling-sugar-gritting-in-your-mouth-ier.

Dark Chocolate isn't their only variety. Not sure what I'll try next...

I tried to find an image online (both on WM's site and through a Google image search) and came up with naught. That tells me it's a new product. It makes me sad that the world hasn't experienced this until now...

Dinner time!

Update!

I'm back!

We got moved in fine- it actually wasn't nearly as stressful as I was anticipating! Thanks so much to Andrew, Lori, Misty, Jenny, & Dawn for helping in various ways! Couldn't have done it without you!!

We were here for a whopping one whole day before packing up and heading to Atlanta for the weekend! We closed on the house Thursday morning and left from there. Leah & Katie, two of our students from Grace, came over to Rocky & Carolyn's house for dinner (see girls- I told you you'd make it on the blog! :-) We had a great time hanging out and catching up!

Friday morning we went to the school for the Awards Ceremony. I don't think ANYONE saw Sophie without commenting on how much she looks like Jon! I think my favorite comment was a staff member saying to Carolyn, "I saw Sara, then I looked down and saw Jon... in a dress!"

Saturday we went to Hudon & Carolene's (Sophie's "adoptive" grandparents)- Sophie loved taking her nap on Carolene!

We rushed from there to graduation! I am so happy for all these kids... hmm... maybe not "kids" anymore! :-)

It was really refreshing to hang out with Rocky & Carolyn. She even commented that she wasn't sure how it would go- we usually are together as couples! It was so great, though- it's nice to know that friends are still friends, even when circumstances pull us geographically apart.

In Sophie news, we've been doing solids for a couple weeks! She is doing so well- I am so proud of her! She's rolling over, scooting all over the place (though quite accidentally), and talking up a storm!

Reunions and Family

I know there are several spouses who read my blog but not my husband's- I wanted to point you in his direction. He has some excellent thoughts about reunion posted that I think are very beneficial!

Check it out!

Turn, Turn, Turn...

Saturday night. It's been a good day.

This morning Sophie and I sat out on the deck with books (I reading mine, she eating hers), coffee, and pancakes. It was a beautiful morning. Jon and I used to do that every Saturday... today was our last in this house. It's kinda the end of a lot of things...

Our PWOC Installation Ceremony was Wednesday. It is so incredible to think about all the things that have happened since I was installed as President at last May's Installation... and when we installed Misty as the new President in December (remember- we thought we were moving to Missouri!) I'll admit, it was a little bittersweet. Not only am I leaving (albeit only an hour away, but it will be a new PWOC), but many of my friends are as well. Who knows where I'll run into them next...

PWOC has been such a big part of my life. It is what got me connected, it's really what made me start liking the Army life. With Jon gone, they really have been my family. It is sad to me that I won't see the same faces every Wednesday morning... the first of many good-byes over these next years, I suppose...

Just as any time you leave a group in which you held a leadership role, it involves a certain level of humility. The new president won't do things the same way I did- which was different (though similar) to the way Misty did them. Next year's Ft. Stewart PWOC will have a different flair- and for the health of the organization, that's a good thing. I'm excited to see where it leads.

Yesterday we had a Farewell for our Installation Chaplain's wife as our monthly Chaplain Spouses Coffee. (It was held at the Savannah Tea room- lovely! I had a light Pomegranate White Tea and delicious Vegetable Quiche). Like PWOC, the personality of this group will change with new leadership. I have gotten to know both the outgoing and the incoming (they are both incredible women), and I look forward to seeing how the group shifts over the next few years.

I also finished my two classes this week (with an A in both!), attended the Hunter Spouses Club Installation Ceremony, and by this time on Tuesday night will (hopefully) be sitting in our new house.

As with every closing chapter in my life, along with the sadness for what is lost comes the anticipation for what is gained...

On this day...

This morning walking into church I was almost overwhelmed with the ache that today must be immeasurably difficult for so many people. It literally took my breath away, as I walked through the door to the sight of a bucketful of carnations and pink copies of "A Mother's Prayer" being passed out...

Today is happy for me.

It is not for many.

If you are one of those people, I am sincerely sorry. I am sorry for your loss- whether it was a wife, mother, grandmother, child, or a child never conceived. I am sorry for the insensitivity that can accompany this "holiday." I am sorry for the parade of pink and smiles you must endure.

A year ago today, we told our grandmothers that we were expecting Sophia. Jon was away in Mississippi for the week, and he emailed me a beautiful video he had recorded. I remember watching it, just feeling scared. I was only about 6 weeks along then, and the fear of miscarriage was almost crippling. I watched it sitting on my couch, crying, wondering if I would ever meet this baby.

I did. She is now 5 months old and beautiful.

I am blessed that my mother and both of my grandmothers are still alive. I am blessed that I have a godly heritage in them. I am blessed that both of Jon's grandmothers and one of his great-grandmothers are still with us- and I am saddened that I never got to know his mom. I am saddened that Sophie will never know her.

So whether today is a happy day for you or a difficult one, I hope you know that you are loved and cherished. Christ promises us that.

(And to my mom- Happy Mother's Day- I love you!)

You might be from Cedar Springs if...

Finding red long underwear for your child at Goodwill is the highlight of your day.

If you're not from Cedar Springs, you might need an explanation.

Or maybe not. If not, you can stop reading.

Still here? Ok. See, my home town is the, uh, the Red Flannel Underwear Capital of the World. Not even kidding.

Remember my good friend Beth, who came to visit me last month? She was the Red Flannel Queen when we were seniors. There is a Red Flannel Festival which attracts thousands of people- but if you're caught not wearing red, the Keystone Cops will arrest you and throw you in "jail" until you pay them a dollar.

If that weren't enough, wooden red flannels adorn the lamp posts on main street...

So, suffice it to say that when I saw a 12-month pair of red underwear, complete with the "dropseater" feature, I couldn't resist...

The Beach Ball

In the military, we regularly have Balls... you know, get all decked out, eat a catered dinner, make toasts, etc.

Well, in commemoration for when our Soldiers were *supposed* to be home (according to the original 12-month deployment), our Brigade hosted a Ball tonight... a Beach Ball! Instead of wearing formals, we dressed like we were going to the beach! It was a lot of fun- I met several people for the first time and hung out with some of the wives in Jon's unit.

The top pic is of me, Jenny (Jon's roommate's wife) in the middle, and... um... hm... Jessie? I think? I just met her tonight...

The bottom pic is all the wives from Jon's Battalion who were there (and a few are actually Soldiers themselves).

If you're wondering, the pink things are flip-flop shaped name tags.