A View of Miss Ava

For my birthday this year I wanted to do a little something different. I requested that we spend it getting to see our sweet baby girl, since this would be my last opportunity to do an ultrasound. So, I booked an appt. in Hickory with Baby in Me 4D Imaging. It was amazing, I'd never had a 4D ultrasound done before. We went on the 14th and tried to take a look at her, but she was a bit stubborn (like her daddy) and wouldn't get her foot or hand out of her face, so we had to reschedule for today to finish up. She still didn't want to cooperate much today, but we did get to bring home some pictures & a DVD. The computer at the clinic also went down so I still have to go back next week to get our hard copies, but I thought I would share a few of her pictures! She's quite the little stinker already!

She opened her eyes for just a second!

Showing us her foot!

Giving us kisses!

Big Yawn!

Already got her mad/pouty face down!

A little smile!

What a sweet face!


We love you Ava Grace & we can't wait to get to see you & spoil you in person!

Back to School!!

It's official, I now have a 1st and a 5th grader! Today was the 2nd actual day for both of them, but they have both come home each day saying what a good day it had been. The first day I had to go to the school anyway so I took them & walked them in. Kayla quickly abandoned me as soon as she saw a friend down the hall, but that's to be expected. Emma was a little nervous about finding her classroom again all by herself so I told her I would walk with her to make sure she got the correct room. Sure enough though, she remembered where it was & walked right in, stopped & unloaded her bookbag & planner & never even turned around to say goodbye! I was a little surprised, but so proud of my big girl!

Kayla is going to have a little more of load this year. She has 3 teachers, each teaching 1 of the 3 main courses for the EOGS in the spring. I'm a little nervous for her. This is the year when you for sure start to see differences in kids and of course little attitudes forming. I am on the verge of having a pre-teen and it scary!

It was so sad this year when I compared pics from last year's first day of school to this one. I couldn't get over how much they have changed & the fact that they were growing up right before my eyes! For now though, I'll hold on to my babies as long as they'll let me!

Here are the two pictures that brought me to tears....

Aug. 25, 2009














Aug. 25, 2010

It's a.....

GIRL!!!


Today was the big day and all went well. We were amazed at how precious she is already. She is going to be a hoot we can tell b/c she was putting on a show for the ultrasound tech. She had to chase her around to get a good picture of her & didn't much want to have her picture taken. She turned flips and was waving arms & legs! We are thankful to have had a normal ultrasound & that's all we could have asked for. Poor Robbie...he's never going to stand a chance with all these girls but he's the greatest daddy ever and I'm sure she'll have him wrapped in no time!

Unless we change our minds...at this point her name will be Ava Grace!!

Things that make us say...Yippee!

Following is a simple list of the things that have brought the Beaver household joy over the last few weeks & we just thought we would share a few of them....

*Robbie's brother is home from the hospital and while still on meds/oxygen doing much better.
*Spent some quality time w/ our families cooking, fishing and playing games.
*Ball season is OVER...while this may not bring my hubby too much joy, it does me. All the running was wearing me out!
*Cleaned out the garage & had a yard sale earning $150!!
*Started the crazy process of moving Emma in w/ Kayla & got their new bunkbeds & chests put together.
*Emma got her ears pierced! This was a HUGE accomplishment!
*Robbie finally got a used truck so I got my car back!
*Started feeling the baby move/kick/hiccup and love it!
*Ultrasound is scheduled a week from today!
*Got the newest Thirty-One products today from UPS...man it has been like Christmas!
*Went shopping w/ mom & finally got some maternity clothes & at a great deal!

I'm sure there's more things I could mention and some obviously more important than others, but I thought today I need to make a list of all the good things that's happened & not the bad which is so easy to do. God has been good to me and my family & I need to thank him more often for it! So, what's on your Yippee list??

Prayer Request

Please keep Robbie's brother, Nathan, in your prayers. He's been in ICU at Grace Hospital since yesterday morning and will probably be there for several days. He is one of these stubborn men that refuse to go to a Dr. but he finally broke down and went because he was so bad. Now, he's on life support and being given steroids and anti-biotics in hopes to treat what they believe to be vasculitis in his lungs. I had to do some research on this but from what I have found out it stems from a infection caused by bacteria in most cases but can be linked to other diseases such as lupus, or could come from an allergic reaction to medication. Obviously this is hard to diagnose, so they are hoping what meds they have him on will start to work & he will improve soon. They have sent off blood & lab tests that will take several days to come back, so now it's a waiting game. We would really appreciate your prayers!
Robbie went by to see him this morning and decided to go ahead and go to his last drill in Greensboro. It was a tough decision for him but this is his last drill with the 30th and his paperwork for transfer back to Taylorsville was suppose to take place this weekend. Please keep him in your prayers too as he travels back & forth. He wanted to try to go and get done what he had to so he could come back but he knows his brother is in the Lord's hands and all we can do is pray.
I will try to update again soon.

Do You Remember??

Happy Memorial Day! I hope everyone had a blessed weekend. This Holiday has always been one close to my heart, but since becoming a military wife and seeing & becoming a part of the military traditions, it is even more. I spent most of the weekend thinking about all the families that have sacrificed so much. I can not imagine how hard it is to tell your loved one goodbye and send them off to war and then never get the chance to see them & tell them again. I praise the Lord everyday that Robbie came home safely from Iraq. He had a few close calls, one in particular that I didn't get full details until he got home (and for that I'm glad), but God saw it fit to keep a protective hedge around him and bring him home. Some though, did not. My grandfather served in the Navy in WWII, my uncle in Vietnam, and my cousin was deployed several times with the Navy & Army. Military has always been in our family, but I have to be honest, it didn't hit home with me until I was right in the middle of it. I have learned to be grateful for a 60 second time-period, a hot shower, a phone call, a microwave, and even just a rain storm. For the families that have lived the life as a military family you have all my respect & gratitude, and to all the families that support our troops and pray for them daily, you have my deepest thanks. I've thought a lot this past few days over the last 3-1/2 years and I thought I would share a few pictures from our experiences & memories...

Fort Jackson

Robbie's Graduation from Basic Training


Deployment Ceremony

Robbie as a gunner in the Caymen

Still using his electrical skills even in Iraq

Homecoming!!

And last but definately not least...a couple from the Raleigh History Museum we visited in March...

This Flag was flown in 2004 during Operation Iraqi Freedom

This plaque listed the names of the 30th HBCT soldiers who lost their lives during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003-2005 and the 2009-2010 Deployment that Robbie was with.



"Where Liberty Dwells...There is My Country" Benjamin Franklin

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Last week was filled with ballgames and will so continue until mid June. Not 1 or 2 but all 3 of my "children" are playing ball now. I can't deny, I really don't mind being the mom on the bleachers cheering them on! I love it!
This past Saturday we grilled out with some of our close friends that we hadn't seen in a while and just enjoyed some family fun together. We are very thankful for the sweet friends we have!
Sunday, was Mother's Day and the day started off with a wonderful church service that spoke to my heart and then followed by lunch with my crew and my parents at Kobe's. I hadn't had Kobe's in years...and to eat there at 7 wks pregnant was a huge accomplishment. With the girls, I couldn't get within 10 ft. of Japanese food. We spent time afterwards with Robbie's mom, who praise the Lord is doing much better now after her cancer scare was determined to be broken bones & torn muscles that she had been living with for some time now. I'm so thankful for our Mother's and how much they do & mean to us.
This week I've been getting the girls rooms ready for their new bunkbeds that my dad graciously picked up & delivered for us today and finally sold Kayla's old bedroom suite. It should be interesting on how this new living arrangement will work out. Emma has already claimed the top bunk and has a justified reason in doing so: "But, Mom, Kayla sleep walks and we don't want her to fall off & get hurt". HAHA! I laugh because Emma is never this nice to her sister, meaning she is trying to get what she wants.
Tonight & in the morning, I'm finishing packing yet again for our trip to Greensboro for the 30th HBCT Yellow Ribbon Ceremony. This "ceremony" is mainly scheduled classes for soldiers and their spouses and families that encourage them back into a normal routine and the how-to process. Hopefully one more Ceremony next month and things will get back to normal for a while.
Robbie is also hoping to get a phone call this weekend about a job. He went Tues to Asheville to fill out papers and do a drug test for Johnson Controls Temp Agency (Adecco), and hopefully will start sometime next week. This will be a big answer to prayer if he does get the job. We desperately need another mode of transportation. My car has seen a lot of miles lately and I don't think I'm ready to learn how to learn how to ride a motorcycle!
I'll end tonight with a couple pics of my babies playing ball! Hope you all have an awesome Friday!