Jonathan's Upcoming Training

Several people have been asking so I thought I would let you all know the tentative schedule for Jonathan's training. He is already signed in and working everyday but it is mostly checking in stuff you do at each post (i.e. swim test, pt test, etc.) On February 9th he will leave for 2 weeks for CST (Common Skills Training). He is then supposed to have a weekend off with Juliana and I. He will then leave February 23rd for SUT (Small Unit Tactics) for 5 weeks and again he is supposed to have a weekend off with us. He'll leave for 3 more weeks for SERE (Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape) which is basically like POW training. He again is supposed to have a weekend off with us then he will be gone for 2 weeks at the range. All that training puts us at the 1st of May where he is then supposed to start language training. He is learning French which is less time than other languages so he will be home for 18 weeks with a relatively nice schedule. We have been told half the time he will go in from like 9-4 then switch to 11-7. After that (mid Sept.)... ????? Only the Army knows :) In the meantime, Juliana and I would like to go visit some friends and family but I am also trying to figure out work. Anyone is more than welcome to come visit us once we get the guest bedroom ready :) That's about it for now. Here's a funny picture of Miss Juliana. She got so much food in her hair that I had to wipe her hair and this is how it turned out...

My First Birthday

Today was my first birthday. I started the day by waking up at midnight thirty and staying awake with daddy until 3:15am. I was just too excited to sleep! I then proceeded to wake again so mom just picked me up and brought me to bed with her and daddy so we could all sleep some. I still woke up by 8:30 like normal but was so sleepy after my breakfast that I laid back down for a cat nap. After watching mommy run around cleaning the house for my friends' arrival I decided to take another nap and woke up just as my first friends arrived. We had a great time seeing our friends we made at Ft. Knox. I got lots of books and my first puzzle. Mommy is happy because she says I have too many toys, geesh, what kid can have too many toys?!
I think I will finally decide to walk soon. I am taking more and more chances and today walked with mommy from my bedroom to my bathroom only holding one of her hands :) My reflux is finally doing better. I haven't fully grown out of it but I no longer puke as long as I have my medicine. I still don't sleep through the night which mommy REALLY wishes I would do soon :) Mommy and daddy say life has sure changed since I came around. They now sing kids songs in the shower and get kids jingles from Noggin stuck in their head. But they are so thankful for me and are enjoying every moment with me.

Mommy and daddy call this my bitter beer face :)

This was my great aunt's rocking chair and was my very special birthday gift! I look so grown up sitting in my chair talking on daddy's phone :)

I love all my new books

Daddy helping me blow out my candle

Playing In The Snow!

Today we woke to nearly 6 inches of fresh snow on the ground. After Jonathan drove 45 minutes (which should only take 20) in the snow to get to post only to find out it was closed, he came home and we took some family pictures for Juliana's 12 months and our first family day in the snow.

Been a long time comin'...

sooooo... i know, i know. everyone has been asking for an update! so here's what we've been up to... WARNING, it's long but informative :)

jonathan graduated the maneuver captain's career course on december 11th. my mom flew into town a few days prior to help watch juliana while the movers were at the house. we left town at 3pm the day jonathan graduated and drove through the night to texas. after stopping a few times for gas and dinner we finally arrived in texas at 4am. juliana didn't want to go to bed so i stayed up with her for a little while until she was ready to get some more sleep. jonathan ended up driving the whole time while my mom and i took turns talking to him and keeping him awake. needless to say he was ready to sleep all day when we got to texas!

we had one day off in texas to unpack into our new "apartment" we would be staying in at my mom's house during the holidays, then repack for our trip to mexico.

jonathan and i took a second honeymoon to puerto vallarta to renew our vows. jonathan's best man and best friend John and his wife Megan joined us for a week of relaxation. We stayed at a wonderful hotel north of downtown that was tucked into it's own cove in the ocean, so we had a private beach which was very neat. the hotel wasn't so big that it was overcrowded but also not too small that it didn't have all the amenities we wanted. while there, we went zip lining through the rain forest, went whale watching, played with some sea lions, and released some baby sea turtles into the ocean. we had so much fun that we intend on going back when juliana can enjoy it! although we missed our little girl so much we were able to get online everyday and see her through the video cam on the computer! jonathan surprised me by flying my aunt into town to officiate the ceremony which was such a thoughtful gesture. we stayed just long enough to have a blast but be ready to leave :)

once arriving back from mexico we jumped full speed ahead into christmas time with everyone. the next day back we had christmas dinner at my sister, jessica's new home.

juliana got all kinds of goodies but enjoyed the tissue paper more than anything! the next evening we had a christmas dinner at my dad's with my brother lucas and some other friends.

the next morning santa came to visit jonathan and juliana! jonathan woke up to a golf bag but had a scavenger hunt to find all his clubs. juliana got a miniature playground for inside/outside with a small slide and baby swing.

later that afternoon we had a wonderful christmas time and dinner with the all the murphys/hensleys.


right when christmas was quieting down we drove to a&m for the day since jonathan's classmates were all getting together for an impromptu reunion. juliana was showered with hugs and kisses and uncle jordan had fun buying her a&m paraphernalia! the next day the murphy's were gracious enough to open up their new, beautiful home for us to have an "unbirthday" party for juliana. it was a very special time since it will probably be one of the only times most all our family will be at a birthday party for her. all her grandparents and cousins were able to join, all her aunts and uncles (except aunt jo and aunt kel kel who we missed dearly) and some of her dear friends (and mine!) from texas that we don't get to see nearly enough!!!


we finally had some down time after that weekend to visit with friends and family but as usual the time went by way to quickly with packing for n.c. and we didn't get to see everyone we wanted :( juliana got sick two days before we left but quickly got so sick we had to go to the urgent care center. she ended up having a viral respiratory infection, middle ear infection and the beginning of bronchitis. needless to say that impacted our drive to n.c.; we had to split the drive into 3 days. the first night juliana was so sick that she was gagging and puking on mucus, gross! we all felt so bad fer her because she couldn't just hawk a loogie, lol!

we finally arrived in n.c. on the 7th and quickly picked up our keys and turned on the water and electric before everyone closed for the day. the next morning our household goods were delivered and since then we have been going through the grueling process of opening every single box to make sure nothing is missing or broken. sadly, we have already discovered a cell phone was stolen and a $400 bill charged, an ipod was stolen and several items have been broken (to include our brand new dinner table which the leg was broken off and then attempted to be glued back on). so after we finally get unpacked and the house in order we have to make our claim which then requires gathering estimates for everything. hummm, wonder what i'll be up to while jonathan is gone!

that's about everything for now, i'm sure most of you didn't expect a novel! i'll update again once jonathan starts school and we know what his schedule will be (there has been talk they might go through language training first). check out the side bar for mexico, xmas and birthday pictures!

love to all!

It get worse...

I was checking out Juliana's gums this morning and in addition to the two bottom teeth coming in toward each other, she is also cutting both upper teeth...GOOD GRIEF CHILD!!!

First Signs of Teeth...

So Juliana has been very irritable lately and I figured she wasn't feeling well. Then the running nose came, followed by runny diapers and then waking frequently to ice the cake. Today I decided to try to feel around again and see if anything is coming since her top gums look so swollen and low and behold I felt two sharp objects. Thinking it was one tooth with two sharp corners I looked inside and on the bottom she has TWO teeth coming in at the same time ... but wait it gets better ... they are growing at an angle toward each other, like a V! OUCH!!! My poor little girl :0(

10 Months

Our little Juliana has been growing up right before our eyes. I turned around one day and she suddenly looked older in the face and seemed taller. According to our growth chart she is near 30" tall! All the sudden one day she started shaking her head no when she didn't want something. It is so darn cute!! She is also starting to learn sign language, how to wave bye bye and give 5 :0) yup, she sure is growing up before our eyes. Pretty soon we'll be celebrating her one year birthday :0(
It goes by to fast...



Definetly putting this girl in gymnastics :0)

I felt like a mama bird chewing the cucumber up some since she wanted it so bad, lol!