5 Years

I cannot believe Brennan and I have been married for 5 years!! I mean, we have two kids, so that kinda makes it more real, but still so much has happened in 5 years it's hard to believe that much time has already passed!

Brennan and I met almost 9 years ago when I was in college and he was at his first station in South Carolina.  I know it seems cliche to say this but it was truly "love or connected" at first sight.  When we first met there was just something about him that made me want to be with him all the time.  He was funny, charming, and definitely a guys guy. He worked hard and liked to play hard and we always had fun together.  Brennan told me he loved me after we had known each other all of three weeks and I have to say it didn't take me long to say it back.  My family thought I was crazy but I just knew this guy was different.  We dated all through my college years, commuting back and forth between our two apartments which were an hour away from each other.  Brennan would get up at 4am sometimes just so he'd make it to work in time.

Brennan was always supportive of my education and my extra curricular activities, including all of my sorority work.  He didn't even mind when I applied for a job where I'd travel 4-6 weeks at a time after college, even though that would be our first year of marriage...see Brennan proposed to me on March 16th, 2006.  He was in Virginia the days leading up to the proposal and drove straight to my apartment and surprised me by proposing on my doorstep. It was simple, sweet and completely unexpected which is what made it so awesome.  Brennan has even arranged to be off of work all weekend and had made reservations at a great restaurant, 82 Queen for Saturday night.  We immediately called all of our family and friends and my brother, who lived in Charleston came over with a bottle of Champagne that he has been saving for the occasion!! It seems like everyone knew I was getting engaged but me! My friends brought me flowers and we spent the whole weekend celebrating!

After our engagement we started planning our wedding and picked January 27th, 2007 as our date.  I cannot even explain how excited I was to be preparing to spend the rest of my life with Brennan. I feel so lucky that he picked me.

Here's a picture of the Grooms Cake from the Rehearsal Dinner.  It says "Smith" with Nautical Flags!! This cake and our wedding cake were made by Cake Lady Jill and were phenomenal!

We had our wedding ceremony at the Charlotte Marriot in Downtown, Charlotte, NC.  We had aboue 240 guests and it was incredible.  It was a Jewish Ceremony and Brennan did an amazing job saying our vows in Hebrew!

This is our "Katubah" - it's our marriage license and is an original print created just for us!

Brennan and I went to St.Lucia on our honeymoon and it was amazing! We had so much fun just relaxing together and having some fun in the sun.  We went snorkeling, had a spa day and went to some awesome restaurants! 

After our honeymoon life returned to normal and I was back traveling and Brennan was back at work.  We started preparing for a move to Minnesota that summer and were so excited!! I traveled for another year after moving and got pregnant with Logan in May 2008.

Wow how our life has changed since Logan came along.  I think it has made us closer and we've really had to work at being good parents and good spouses.  It's a hard balance to find and sometimes we both struggle with it, but I couldn't imagine a better partner to be taking this journey with me.  Brennan is an incredible father and was the best birth coach a girl could ask for.

We moved to Mississippi in June 2010 and got pregnant with Emmett in September 2010.  Pregnancy was much tougher with a toddler running around but Brennan really stepped up to help me as it became harder and harder for me to do things with Logan.

I went into labor two weeks early with Emmett and as we sat in the hospital waiting for his arrival Brennan and I discussed how different his delivery was, since it was just the two of us this time.  It was so special for us to do it all by ourselves and really allowed us to celebrate our little creation together.

I have to admit that I think Brennan is extra proud that he has two little boys.  I mean, I think he would be happy no matter what...but when I see the three of them playing together I just know he's extra happy.

Please forgive the kind-of "cliff notes version" of our 5 years this blog has turned our to be but I didn't want it to get too long or too sappy.

So our first 5 years of marriage has meant: 3 moves, 2 kids, and 1 happy couple.  I'm not saying we're happy all the time but I am saying that we've survived this long, another 5 years shouldn't be that hard.  No matter how much Brennan can upset me sometimes (and I him of course) I cannot imagine living my life with anyone else by my side.  I have truly married my best friend.

                                                              "Ani L'Dodi, v'Dodi Li"

"I am My Beloved's, and My Beloved is Mine"

Here's to another 5 years, B!

Cheers!

Diana

Happy New Year!

I cannot believe 2012 is already here!! I know I haven't blogged in a while but I've had a good excuse - sick kids!! I have spent most of December nursing my children back to health...Logan had a cough, then a sore throat and fever then Emmett got RSV - the scariest thing we've had to deal with with either of our kids! Luckily we were able to buy a nebulizer and give him treatments at home.  The doctors said either we were miserable at the hospital or miserable at home, so I'm sure you know which we choose.  My mom and sister came to celebrate Hannukah with us and were so helpful when Emmett got sick, I don't know what I would have done without them.

This year has had many peaks and some valleys and I have to say I am so excited to see what 2012 has in store for us.  Emmett was born this year and has brought such joy to our lives.  I swear it's like looking in the mirror when I look at him and it's so fun to have a child who resembles me and a child who resembles his daddy...I mean, Logan is the spitting image of Brennan!! 2011 marks the year that Logan got all his teeth, started preschool and became potty trained (98%).  He's becoming more and more of a little boy everyday! He has the sweetest, yet stubborn way about him and he's so much fun to be around.  The best part is he absolutely adores his little brother. He loves to make Emmett laugh and is so excited when Emmett learns something new or becomes more physically capable.  I cannot wait for the day when they can chase each other around the house.  And Emmett...he's on the move and so curious.  Everything goes into his mouth and he's always smiling.  He worships his big brother and loves his mommy and daddy.  Both boys love to cuddle and explore the world around them.  I am truly blessed to have such an incredible family.

My step-sister Jessica had a baby this year and we are so excited for the boys to have a cousin to play with!! We cannot wait to meet Cylas and create many memories together!!

One valley we experience this year was the passing of my Grandfather, Solomon Levine.  I miss him every day and am so thankful he got to have a relationship with one of my children.  I know he and my grandmother, Shirley are looking down on us.

2012 will bring many exciting adventures.  We are moving to Portsmouth, Virginia this summer and are so thrilled!! We will be so close to my family in North Carolina and I know we will spend much time together! Logan turns 3 this year and Emmett will turn 1.  We will have to say goodbye to the first school the kids have ever known and the first place where we've really been part of a community.  I know it will be bittersweet.  Brennan and I will celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary this year and I look forward to remembering where we started and looking toward our future together.  

My family has been amazingly supportive this year in all that has occurred and I am eternally grateful to have them in my life.  I am thankful for all that I have.  I wish everyone a happy and healthy year in 2012. 

Here's to looking forward...

Cheers!

Diana

November Update

November Update

We’ve been super busy this month!! After we returned from Minnesota I started working a lot and when you’re workin’ until 5:15pm everyday things start to pile up.  Luckily I’m super organized and Thanksgiving went off without a hitch…even with having to cook a frozen turkey!! Thanks to my Mom, Step-Mom and Grandmother for being available by phone to help walk me through the majority of my meal.  We’re looking forward to December and have already set up our Hannukah decorations!! Can’t wait to see what other skills Emmett and Logan acquire next month!

Me, Myself & I

Emotionally:  Busy busy busy and feeling great!

Physically:  Starting to get more sleep
Weight loss: Still working on it! I know I’m down a few more pounds because my jeans need a belt!! Haven’t weighed myself lately so I’ll have to figure that out!
Employment: Lovin’ it!! My co-teacher should be having her baby any day, so I’ll soon be in the classroom by myself!  Still getting Logan adjusted to seeing me at school but I know it’ll get better with time.
Things I am Thankful for: My job and my new friends, a successful thanksgiving feast, Logan becoming more independent (especially with potty training), Emmett’s amazing spirit, Emmett’s laugh and the month of December – my Mom and Sister will be coming to visit!! YAY!!

Logan - 34 Months

Growin’ like a weed:

Size: Height:  40” Weight: About 39 lbs...Percentile: 95^th…What this means: We've officially moved into 4T/5T clothing and size 9 shoes. 

Sleep: Sleepin’ through the night most of the time in his bed!! We moved the gate off of his bedroom door so Logan can now get up and come downstairs all by himself!!

New Skills:

Tried Something New: We attended our first classmate birthday party this weekend!! Logan had so much fun though we struggled with “present time”…Logan kept thinking they were for him…we’re working on this!!

Potty Training: Logan now wears underwear!! He just started this past Wednesday and has been doing GREAT!! His teachers are very proud of him and so are we!! Here’s to hoping we’re fully trained by his 3^rd birthday!

Likes: Playing with his friends, play-doh, hopping and jumping and showing his teachers his big boy underwear!  

Dislikes: Naptime at school!

Saying(s) of the month: 

·         “Oh I forgot….” – he told his Daddy this the other night after dinner when he repeatedly asked for popcorn and his Daddy told him he had to wait until after dinner.  He finished his dinner and got down from the table and then looked at Brennan and told him he had forgotten he wanted it!! So cute!

·         “Boys don’t cry, babies cry”…I caught him and his friend Jackson saying this at the birthday party today!! So funny!

·         “Show a fake cry”…Daddy has to “fake cry” to get Logan out of the bathtub at night!

Emmett – 6 months, week 4

Growin’ like a weed, too:

Size – Height: 27.25” Weight: 22 lbs 12 ounces Percentile: 95^th…What this means: We’re wearing 12 month clothes!!

Teething: We can see the very beginnings of his two bottom teeth – we’re still anxiously awaiting for them to “pop” out. 

Sleep:  Emmett has had a few nights where he actually sleeps through the night, meaning no bottle!! YAY!! He’s doing much better at sleeping in his crib and is adjusting to full day school too!

New Skills/”Firsts”: We’re officially crawling!! Emmett has even started pulling up on things too…

Food: Still loves his fruit way more than vegetables!! He ate a whole thing of Banana Raspberry Oats for breakfast!! He’s still working on drinking from a sippy cup…we send one to school everyday for him to practice!

Likes: Emmett loves his big brother and anything he may have to say to him! He also loves it when Logan tickles him and plays with him on the floor.  Emmett also likes being at school and has a lot of friends.  He’s having fun exploring the house and all of the toys we have.

Dislikes: Being left alone in a room, not being held by his mommy when she’s in the room and having toys taken away from him.

YAY for the Month of December…I know it’s gonna be super busy and super fun!

Diana

So Thankful

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is over!! I planned for weeks to ensure that my thanksgiving would be a success and it came and went in a flash.  Originally I wasn't going to cook an entire turkey since it was just going to be Brennan and I, but then he invited some people from work and I was forced into a whole turkey.  To say I was apprehensive about cooking a frozen turkey is an understatement! The last time I cooked a turkey it was fresh and I didn't have to worry about thawing.  This time I had an 18lb turkey to worry about.  I took it out of the freezer last friday to ensure it would be ready in time for me to prep it wednedsay night.  Luckily I checked it regularly because if I hadn't let it sit in water tuesday night it never would have been ready!

I was fortunate to only have to work a half day wednesday so when I got home I started preparing the house and everything I could prepare the day before - green bean casserole, Deb's beans, and my turkey.  I had made my pumpkin breads the previous saturday and they were safe in my freezer.  My refrigerator was strickly thanksgiving food, thus the reason for eating Taco Bell wednesday night for dinner!! I felt pretty comfortable with all I had accomplished wednesday and went to bed early knowing I would have to wake up at 5:15am to get my turkey in the oven.

Thanksgiving day went off quite well and our guests couldn't believe it was only my second time cooking a thanksgiving meal!! Yay!! My turkey was AWESOME and so moist and ready in plenty of time for me to cook all my casseroles, etc.  Brennan even helped carve it!! I would post a pic of the carving but I can't figure

out how to post vertical pics so oh well!! 

Here's what we had:  Turkey, cooked carrots & celery, stuffing (bought from a restaurant in town), cranberry sauce, Sweet potato casserole, Green bean casserole, and crescent rolls. For dessert I made something called, "The Next Best Thing to Robert Redford" - it's a layered dessert with chopped pecan crust, a cream cheese, sugar & cool whip layer, a chocolate pudding layer & whipped cream on top, plain and chocolate chip pumpkin bread & a pecan pie.  We were supposed to have four guests (thus the 18lb turkey) but we ended up only having two...needless to say we will be eating leftovers all weekend!! Yay for not having to cook again till next week!!

I am so thankful for such a great day and for all the blessings in my life including these incredible guys:

I can't imagine my life without them and am so thankful to have such a supportive and wonderful husband and my two amazing little men!!! Here are some more photos from Thanksgiving Day:

Emmett loves this Chuck Truck!!

Gobble Gobble till you Wobble!!

Hidin' under the table...he did this all day!

Logan took this picture!!

Emmett missed his afternoon nap during thanksgiving and this is what happened later that night...he was rocking with Daddy when he just leaned over and fell asleep!! I could have died it was so cute!!

I must also give thanks for my incredible family.  They have been so wonderful and are so great in dealing with our moves and living far away.  I could not live a military life without them!!  And thank you Mom for being available all Thanksgiving day for all my cooking questions - it wouldn't have happened without you! I am also thankful for my friends, old and new, especially my newest family here in Greenville, First Presbyterian Preschool!! I am really enjoying my new job and all the new people I've met along the way!!

Can't wait to decorate the house for Hannukah this weekend and get ready to start teaching full time on Monday!! December is going to be so much fun!!

Until next time...Happy Thanksgiving!!

Diana

Military Life

Saw this on a friend's facebook and had to post it!! 


For all military wives this is for you, it's the story of our lives! I stole this from a friend and I love it!


Lots of moving... Moving... Moving... Moving far from home... Moving 3 cars, 2 kids and 2 dogs..all riding with HER of course. Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house; Moving curtains that won't fit; Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours. ...Mo...ving away from friends; Moving toward new friends; Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.
Often waiting... Waiting... Waiting... Waiting for housing. Waiting for orders. Waiting for deployments. Waiting for phone calls. Waiting for reunions. Waiting for the new curtains to arrive. Waiting for him to come home, For dinner...AGAIN!
They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better: She is fiercely In-Dependent.
She can balance a check book; Handle the yard work; Fix a noisy toilet; Bury the family pet...
She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts. She can file the taxes; Sell a house; Buy a car; Or set up a move...all with ONE Power of Attorney.
She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her. She reinvents her career with every PCS; Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south. And learns to call them all 'home'. She MAKES them all home.
Military Wives are somewhat hasty... They leap into: Decorating, Leadership, Volunteering, Career alternatives, Churches, And friendships. They don't have 15 years to get to know people. Their roots are short but flexible. They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.
Military Wives quickly learn to value each other: They connect over coffee, Rely on the spouse network, Accept offers of friendship and favors. Record addresses in pencil...
Military Wives have a common bond: The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is unique. He doesn't have a 'JOB' He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit... He's on-call for his country 24/7. But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town! His language is foreign TDY PCS OPR SOS ACC BDU ACU BAR CIB TAD EPR And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his. She is the long- distance link to keep them informed; the glue that holds them together.
A Military Wife has her moments: She wants to wring his neck; Dye his uniform pink; Refuse to move to Siberia; But she pulls herself together. Give her a few days, A travel brochure, A long hot bath, A pledge to the flag, A wedding picture, And she goes. She packs. She moves. She follows.
Why? What for? How come? You may think it is because she has lost her mind. But actually it is because she has lost her heart. It was stolen from her by a man, Who puts duty first, Who longs to deploy, Who salutes the flag, And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband, She will remain his military wife. And would have it no other way.

Sick Kids...

Sick kids are something I have been dealing with a lot lately.  I know it comes with the territory when your kids are in school/daycare, but it's still not fun.  Emmett started our visit to Minnesota a little congested and got better as the visit went on.  Logan, on the other hand, got sick during our visit and was barely well enough to make our trip home.  Logan was so sick that we ended up taking him to the emergency room.

It all started monday night...Logan was having nightmares and talking in his sleep...I knew that he would wake up the next morning with a fever.  He had a fever on and off all day and we tried to give him Infant's Tylenol because that's all he'll take for us, but that means he needs 3 dropper fulls and it's hard just getting him to take one.

 So Wednesday when he still wasn't well Brennan and I decided to take him to the emergency room.  Of course we waited almost four hours before being seen...at least there was a TV in the room!!

 Logan loathes doctors, doctors offices and anything that resembles any of these things.  He was polite at the ER, but he had to be coached through everything...taking his temperature, listening to his heartbeat, looking in his ears, the list goes on and on.  And to top it off his stomach started bothering him once we got into our room and literally as soon as I would sit down, he'd have to go potty again.  We almost ran out of pull-ups people!! They determined it was a stomach bug and gave him some anti-nausea medicine and some juice and watched him for about an hour.  Luckily he took the pill they gave him because the alternative was an IV and neither Brennan nor I was going to even think about going down that road.

I don't know how many of you out there (if there's anyone out there?) have kids who HATE medicine but Logan is #1 Liquid Medicine Hater!! He'll take tylenol for something like a tooth ache, but man when he gets sick forget about it!! Somehow I managed to get him to take Children's Tylenol, finally, but it wasn't pretty.  We made the trip home alright and by sunday he was back to eating normal meals.

Of course, since it's our first week back at school we're all sick...coughs, runny noses, tired, etc.  Even Emmett has a cough, which is SO sad!! Logan didn't get sick till he was over 1 year old but poor Emmett didn't stand a chance.  I feel bad but I try to keep reminding myself that it'll only make him stronger in the long run.

Sickness sucks when you have kids...because everyone in the family is going to get some or all parts of the sickness.  You can't avoid it...no matter how much you tell everyone to cover their cough and wash their hands.  I have tissues in every corner of the house and my medicine cabinet it quite stocked.  The best stuff I've found for little ones besides Tylenol and Infant Advil (which they can't have till they're 6 months or 18lbs) are the products made by Little Remedies. They have so many "all natural" products for children too young to have cold medicine...meaning 4 years old or younger. I have used the following from them and have been very satisfied: Little Noses Saline Drops, Little Tummy's Gripe Water, Little Colds Honey Elixir, Little Colds Honey Pops, Little Tummys Gas Relief.  If you're a mom or soon to be mom, you MUST store their products!!

Anyway, I'm hoping that this week we will all begin to feel better and will get into more of a routine of going to school...we start full days next week!!

Here's to good health and crazy schedules!!

Diana

Happy Halloween!!

What a Halloween we had this year!! I'm so glad we planned on being in Minnesota for Halloween because last year's Halloween in Greenville was not very exciting.  This year Logan picked out his costume all on his own...I know you're all going to be shocked when I tell you he choose Finn McMissile, from Cars 2. He was so excited to wear his costume and couldn't wait to put it on Monday afternoon.  Emmett was a pumpkin...I know it's not very "original" but I really feel the pumpkin was the perfect costume for Emmett, so whatever.  

Our Halloween celebration started last saturday when we went to Minnesota Harvest and picked out our pumpkins. (See Minnesota Harvest Blog for more...)

We decided that we would carve our pumpkins that night since we had the time so Brennan, Me, and Grandpa Russ all carved pumpkins.  Logan helped...by pulling out the pumpkin pieces as I carved...

He was so proud that he was helping!!

Logan helped me pick which thing I was going to carve...(it's a Cat/Bat)

Here's a picture of Brennan hard at work...

Grandpa Russ was very proud of his creation...

Uncle Mike got in on some of the action too...

Brennan's friend Cooper was there too...He helped scoop the goo!!

And here are our finished products:

From Left to Right: A vampire (by Brennan), Ghosts (by Russ), Cat/Bat (by Me), and a crazy face (by Me)

 Our Halloween Celebration then took a slight rest until October 31st.  We started our actual Halloween celebration by going to Grandma Anne's Nursing Home Trick or Treat.  Brennan's cousin Sarah and her kids met us there and the kids had so much fun!!

Then we went home to rest and eat dinner before taking Logan out trick or treating for the first time!! Here are some family pics...they're not the best but I my I can never load vertical photos onto this thing so you'll just have to deal with it!

Before we left we got Emmett out of his costume so he could help answer the door with Grandma & Grandpa...

And we took Logan Trick or Treating!!

I honestly think that although Logan has fun knocking on doors and saying "Trick or Treat", his favorite part was answering the door for the trick or treaters that came to our house.  Every time someone rang the doorbell he would run out of his seat and open the door and say, "Are you here?!" Then he'd ask them what they were dressed up as...he had so much fun!!

All in all it was a great Halloween!! Everyone had fun and I can't wait to have 2 trick or treaters next year!

More to come from our visit in Minnesota...we're going to the Children's Museum tomorrow!!

Diana