{Let's Play Catch Up Part 1}

Well it's been a couple of weeks {almost months} since I wrote on here and I have LOTS to talk about!

Our last few days in Italy were nothing short of hectic. And sad. And I was nowhere near ready for them to end but at the same time I was... Saying "see you later" was not a fun thing for me. We left behind lifelong friends that I am so very thankful for.

We had a time actually leaving the country.... We missed our flight the first time and I was so mad that the ladies at the desk wouldn't let us check in and try to make the flight. I cried for like an hour straight, I was so upset. We did get to leave the next day though, and we were sooooo grateful to be back in America (mainly the South) where they have sweet tea and people say Y'ALL and MA'AM! My family was there at the airport waiting for us to get there. We had to have two cars because we had so much luggage with us. It takes it when you move to another country!

The first Saturday we were home, we had a "Meet the Baby Shower" since we never had a shower for us and because LOTS of our friends and family members hadn't met Ivy yet! Ivy was very loved to say the least. We are so blessed! Here are some pics from the shower.

FOUR Generation Picture!!!

Ivy and her Auntie Amber

Because Ivy is totally a world traveler!

The lovely Amber Maxey made this for us! 

This was our way of seeing who all was at the shower! 

After a few days went by, we decided it was time to buy us {ME} a Mama Car!!!! Here is our new ride! 

Her name is Ruby! 

Lots more has happened since we returned to America, but that will be on another post later today! 

{Reminiscing}

In my final weeks of living here in Italy, I have started to look back on the past few years of my life. 

I am trying to remember who I was when I first came over to this country, because I know without a doubt that I am no longer the same. I feel like my life has changed in so many ways in so little time. I seriously cannot believe our time here is up. Where do I even begin???

August 1, 2011 I said goodbye to my family and friends and to my beloved America. I got on a plane and went straight to Italy. I had waited 6 whole months to get to Richard and I was so anxious to finally be starting our new life together. We got married the December before and then he left for Airborne School then in March left for Italy. We never got a real wedding, honeymoon, nothing, so were both ready to actually feel married!

Back at that point in my life I was a very nervous, scared, excited 20 year old girl who just left home for the first time to be with her husband in a totally different part of the world. And then my world came to a screaming hault when I miscarried our first baby in October. I would decribed the Me back then as depressed. I felt like I failed at life in all honesty. I couln't do what a woman was suppose to be able to do so easily. And when I thought things couldn't get any worse, I miscarried our second baby in December. I can't tell you the pain I felt in my heart. It was truly the hardest time in my entire  life. I had no family around and the so called friends I had made were just depressing to even be around because all they did was talk about others behind their backs. Made me wonder what they were saying about me behing my back. I had not found a church to go to yet and I felt like my spiritual tank was way past empty. I was honestly angry at God. I didn't know why He allowed this to happen. What did I do that I was deserving of this? I was so bitter. I hate who I was looking back now...

Then the new year came and I wanted to start a new chapter in my life. I wanted to reset everything. I wanted to feel like myself again. One day I was at the post office and I saw a flyer about the kick off for PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel). I decided I should go just to see what it was all about. Well I went and I must say that was the BEST decision I have EVER made. Not only was I getting into a group of ladies to study God's word, but I have also gained some really good friends while doing so. My first study was called Hope for the Homefront. It was led by one awesome lady. The study was about how having faith gives us hope while our husbands are deployed. With deployment only months away I figured that was the best study for me at the time. I am so thankful that I chose that study because all my really close friends that I have were in that study as well and that is where our friendship started and it just went from there!

My life had done a complete 180! I was back to being myself again! I was so happy and I had Jesus back in my life and I had friends to talk to and to keep me accountable. 

Then July came and a piece of my heart left my side. Richard left for Afghanistan for a 9 month deployment. Because of the Bible study class, I can honestly say that I was ok with him leaving. I knew that this was all part of being an Army wife and that God was going to keep him safe and sound. I was prepared for everything as far as my husband not being there for a long time and no communication, etc. etc. But I was not howerever prepared for the phonecall I got a few weeks after he left. I was standing at the checkout counter in the PX and I answered my phone. A voice on the other line said, "If you have not been notified by casualty services, this does not have to do with your husband, but a member of Chosen company was KIA...." that's all I remember the voice saying. Someone in my husband's company was killed. Every guy that I knew in the company went through my mind. These guys are all like brothers. And because I am married to one of them, they are like my brothers as well. I started crying and praying for whoever it was and for their family back home. That was a hard time in the deployment and I hate to say that it happened once more not too much longer after that. I was not prepared for one of my husband's friends to get killed, but it just taught me that I can never be fully prepared like I think I am. The Me at that point was just thankful to have my husband alive.

Not long after that, I went home to the beautiful state of Georgia. I was thrilled to be home with my family and friends, though I missed my "Italy friends" so much while I was home.  Then October came and I got on another plane to Jamaica to go on a week long mission trip! It was the most amazing adventure ever!! I met some awesome women and made some life long friends and got to show the love of Jesus to sweet babies in an orphanage. I was on a Jesus high!!
 I spent the holidays at home and loved every minute of it except the fact that my husband was missing from the picture. Weeks went by and January came. Another new year started and a year that I was so looking forward to! 2013 was one year that I knew was going to be EPIC and boy was I right!!!
January & February went by so slow seemed like but then came...

March 11th, 2013. A day that I think I was more excited about than my wedding day. That day I got to welcome home my soldier from deployment. It was a very amazing day!! 8+ months without my husband was long enough!
Then about 3 weeks later, I took a test and when two tiny pink lines appeared like magic, my world was even more exciting! We were pregnant. (Yes I said WE! Don't Judge!) I was thrilled about having a baby. I was terrified, but still very happy. I felt different about this one. It felt right. I prayed everyday that God would just be with the baby and I and keep us safe and healthy. And He did. I loved being pregnant and feeling her sweet kicks in my belly. At 39 weeks and 4 days, Ivy Victoria came into this world. She is perfect in every way possible. She is now 15 weeks old! I can't believe how time has slipped away from us that fast.

A few weeks is all we have left in Italy. It's a very bittersweet feeling.
I won't miss much about living here but the thing I will miss more than anything are the friends that I have made. I really only have a handful of good friends back home so the ones I have made here are really special to me. I hope we all keep in touch as often as possible.
Now that Richard is back home from Germany, we will be starting the process of moving back to the US. We are extremely excited and anxious to see what God has in store for us. We plan on staying in Georgia for about a month before we actually make North Carolina our new home. I'm not too sure how I would describe the Me now. I have matured in many ways and gained so much in the past 3 years. I don't regret anything. I know everything is according to a huge plan by God. He knows best.

May these next few weeks go by just as fast as they should. America, I will see you soon.

XO,

Meg

{Ivy's 2nd Month of Life Till Present Day!}

Well needless to say I have slacked the past few days...I mean weeks... Ok months!

Ivy is now a little over 3 months old! Where has the time gone? Seriously!?

Here is her 2 months pictures! See how much she has changed?!

Last month we celebrated her first Lovey Dovey Day (Valentines). Richard surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of peach and yellow roses (because red ones are overrated) & took us (Ivy & I) out to dinner, then came home and watched movies. It was a perfect day!

WAY Cuter than cupid! 

I LOVE MY MAN! 

Richard's girls.

Soon after Valentine's Day Ivy & I said goodbye to Daddy for a few weeks...
He has been in Germany for WLC the past two and a half weeks and still has about 10 more days left.
Here are some pictures the past few weeks, including Ivy's 3 months pictures!!!

Here are some of our favorite random IVY pictures!!! :) Enjoy!

And then a Mama Pic! Haha!

Well that is about all I can think of for now. I have a few things I want to write about but I have a huge headache right now and I need to be taking advantage of Ivy's napping and do the same! :)

XO Meg

{Dear Ivy}

My Dearest Ivy,

You are 11 weeks old today. My goodness the time has flown by since you came into my world. My life has been nothing like I imagined it would be. It's better!! You are such a blessing to me. Each and every day I look at you thinking how I went 23 years without you. As I watch you sleep in your swing, I count the ways my life is different now. I no longer sleep 8-9 hours straight. I get up every 4 hours or so to feed you and to put a new diaper on your bum. I don't always get out of the house like I did before. (Mainly because we only have one car and I hate taking your Daddy to work at 5 am)

I'm perfectly happy staying at home though. I get to spend all day every day with you! 

I have a little more laundry to do than I did before you were born but I rather have a load of cloth diapers to wash than spending who knows how much money on disposable diapers. 

I don't always get to do the things I want to do when I want to do them, but I am okay with this. Like this morning when I had just poured my milk onto my cereal, you decided that you were hungry also... So the cereal had to wait and after you were full I went to eat my cereal but it had become a very nasty mushy mess and not very yummy looking so I did without. 

I'm ok with still having to drink decaf coffee although somedays I allow myself a treat to one caffeinated drink! 

My pants started fitting about a month after you you were born but my tops have yet to fit like they used to. My 'Ladies' are a lot more voluptuous than before so not many of my bras and tops fit but I am okay with this as well. I rather give you the most nutritious milk right from my body than have my clothes fit the right way. 

These are just minor ways my life is different now. I can't describe the happiness I have in my heart because of you. I can't tell you how thankful I am that God chose me to be your Mommy. My love for you is also indescribable. I would do anything for you. You are my daughter and my greatest treasure! You mean the world to me and your Daddy. Don't ever forget that. I love you sweet girl and I have to go now so I can feed you! 

Love Always & Forever

Mama

P.S. Please stop growing so fast!!!  

  

{Mama's Favorites}

I thought it would be a fun {and maybe helpful} idea to tell y'all what items I {as a Mama} just love!

These are in no particular order!

 {Swaddle Blankets & Sleep Sacks}

Right from the beginning Ivy loved being wrapped up like a burrito. Sometimes at night she is so sleepy but she fights the urge to go to sleep. I try to calm her by holding her, singing to her, or rocking her but none of that helps... Then into her sleep sack she goes and within 2 minutes she is fast asleep in her swing! Never fails! 

Wrapped up in her Swaddle Sack.

{Swing}
We bought a swing from a friend of ours and it is by far the best thing we have ever spent $50 on! She loves to be in motion 95% of the time so the swing is where she spends most of her time. It plays the sweetest little lullabies and birdie sounds that make her drift into a deep sleep. She loves her swing!

Asleep in her swing! Fisher Price-My Little Sweetie Deluxe Cradle Swing.

{Moby Wrap & Ergo Carrier}
Both of these products are life savers!! I have used the Moby a million times and not just out of the house but also while doing the dishes or folding laundry! Sometimes Ivy just likes to be close to Mama so I put her in her wrap and go on about my life! She loves it, I love it! And the Ergo is super easy to put on and is awesome for traveling!

Asleep in the Moby while I grocery shop!

{Music Machine}
After reading a few 'must have' lists, I purchased a music machine off amazon. The one I got is small and has a clip on it so I can put it on her car seat and she can listen to music in the car. Well little did I know that we wouldn't be able to go anywhere without it! She loves music to begin with and having it with her when she is in her car seat calms her down. (She hates the car seat) We even keep it playing when we go to the commissary or the PX!

myBaby HoMedics SoundSpa On-The-Go

{Diaper Changing Station}

I use this every single time I leave the house! It is easy to go to the ladies' room with just this in my hand rather than having to carry the whole diaper bag with me... It has a place for a wipe case, diapers, and even a pocket for other items. Plus I know what my little is laying on is clean.. You never know who or what has touched those changing stations in bathrooms!

Stretching out on her changing pad!

{Boppy}
I love the Boppy Pillow! It was very helpful at the beginning when Ivy was tiny! I would position the pillow around me and then I would lay her on top and nurse her like that. So much easier than just holding her.

After feeding her on her Boppy!

{Bathtub}
My sweet girl loves taking a warm bath! She is the most content little booger in her tub! She loves being warm and cries when I get her out to dry her off...

She loves baths!

{Sleepy Lotion}
Speaking of baths, our routine is to get dried off, put a diaper on and then I give her a full body massage with the Sleepy lotion. She loves being massaged and always has a good night afterwards!

Smells amazing!!!

{CJ's Butter}
This stuff is awesome! Since I will be cloth diapering SOON (hopefully starting tomorrow) I have to use a cloth diaper safe ointment on Ivy's bum and this stuff is not only a good rash cream, but it smells amazing too! I have gotten a few sample sizes just to make sure I like the smells but my favorite one would have to be Pixie Pie! It smells so yummy!

Love this stuff!

{Coconut Oil}
Ivy has a pretty bad case of cradle cap but with coconut oil on it every day, it is slowly going away! I massage it into her scalp and let it all absorb into her skin and then the next day I wash it out during her bath. It smells like a coconut too which is a plus!

Has so many uses!

{Gowns}
Sadly she has outgrown the ones that we used at the beginning but we use to put a gown on her before bedtime and it made night time diaper changes much easier! You could just lift the gown and not have to take any pants off or unbutton anything... Super convenient at night!

Her wearing one of her gowns!

Well that is all I can think of at the moment... I am sure there are other little things but this is just a fun list our faves!

  

{Happy 2014}

Things I am looking forward to in 2014!

1. Moving back to the good ole US of A late March/early April.

2. Finding a home in North Carolina.

3. Being closer to Georgia so our families can see Ivy often.

4. Finishing my Wedding & Event Planning school.

5. Getting back into a workout routine. 

6. Meeting my niece, Eva Marie Jewel Cannon, in March!! 

7. Traveling.

8. Celebrating our 1 year bloggiversary.

9. Thanksgiving and Ivy's first birthday is on the same day this year!

10. Celebrating our 4 year wedding anniversary! 

11. Attempting to read a book a month...

12. Reading in The Bible every single day. 

13. Writing down my prayer requests.

14. Keeping in touch with all of my "Italian" friends.

15. Writing more letters to friends and family. 

16. Ellie turning 4 years old!

17. Sponsoring a child (not sure where from)

18. Seeing Ivy grow each and every day.

19. Taking a picture everyday! 

20. Getting organized.

Blessings to all in 2014!

 I am so excited to see what The Lord has planned for us this year! 

{2013 In Review}

WHAT A YEAR, 2013!

Here are some highlights of my year!

Went to Germany with some of my best friends early 2013

Went to Venice for Carnivale with Ivy! 

In March I got to welcome home my SEXY soldier from Afghanistan! 

Went to Georgia for block leave in April.

Excited to announce that we were PREGNANT! 

Got all fancy lookin' at the Rock Ball.

He's so handsome in uniform! 

So glad these ladies were at the ball as well!

Went on a marriage retreat to Germany with Richard.

November 27th Ivy changed our lives forever!

My Mama came to Italy to visit!

We all went to Venice!

We all went to Verona!

Ivy was one month old on Dec. 27th.

I think it's safe to say that I had an AMAZING year and I am so blessed to have all these awesome memories to look back on! I can't wait to see what this new year will bring!! Happy New Year everyone and may the Lord bless you with many memories and adventures in 2014!