Happy (Belated) Holidays!

Hello out there. It has definitely been awhile since I last posted. Things are going great on our end. We enjoyed the holiday season and I must say that this Christmas was one of my best ever. Will has been on leave since Christmas Eve (he goes back to work tomorrow) so we have spent a lot of family time together. Although I have enjoyed having him home, I'm ready to get back into a regular daily routine with the boys especially since Will will be gone for training quite a bit over the next few months.

We managed to sneak in a mini session with What the Focus Photography over the holidays. I planned to send out Christmas cards but that was an epic fail. I figured I'd share some of our pictures here and just plan to send out cards during the year (maybe for Valentine's Day). Anyways, here are a few shots that we took at the Weiden Christmas Market.

I have a confession...

Being in Germany scares the crap out of me. I thought I was ready for this change but in all actuality, I am not. We've been here for three days and I haven't even left our hotel. At first I chalked it up to jet lag and Liam having a cold but now, I just have to face the reality that this life change scares me.

When Will and I got married, I knew moving would be in our future and that was fine and dandy because we were in Kansas. I was around my family and friends and didn't have to associate with other wives because I had a support system. Now, things are completely different. Not only am I in a new environment but I am without a support system other than Will and Liam (and Artemus). I actually have to put myself out there and make friends, something that has never come easy for me.

I know I can't stay inside forever (Liam won't let me) but I know that once I start exploring, it will hit me that I am no longer in Kansas. I am far away from home, far away from the people I know, love and trust. Once that sets in, I don't know what I will do. Will I go out and try to meet friends? If not, I doubt that I will make it here for three years.

(p.s. I'm pretty sure this was the most depressing post about Germany ever. I promise that they won't all be this way)

Our Texas and Germany Adventure: Part I

We have arrived in Texas! After a long (long) car ride and some terrifying Dallas highway driving, we made our way to the first stop of our overseas adventure. We will be here for over a month and have lots of plans so far. I'm trying to remind Will that we don't need to cram everything in right away. We have plenty of time to get out and enjoy time with family.

So far, we've spent a lot of time with Will's mom and stepdad. Will also has a much younger sister who has become the perfect companion for Liam. Over the past couple days I have started to feel a little under the weather. It started as a bit of a stomachache then turned into a full-blown cold (and sore throat). I am feeling a lot better now so we plan to hang out with Will's dad and stepmom. I'm planning to keep my camera nearby to capture lots of pictures while we are out. Here are a couple pictures of our trip so far!

TMI Series: End of Month Three aka We're Pregnant!

That's right! Month three was a successful month for us and we couldn't be happier. Yay!!

I kind of knew I was pregnant before I even tested. I used Fertility Friend to chart my cycle and was also able to access the charts of other TTC women. I had a VIP trial on the site so I was able to chart my symptoms as well. I think this helped a lot and gave me a visual, which helped me keep track of everything.

I test on cycle day 25 and got a faint positive! So of course, I kept testing (just to be completely sure) and kept getting positive tests. This is definitely an exciting time for us but it is also a little scary. We are planning a move to Germany and our new baby will be born while we're living overseas. I'm sure things will be great but I wouldn't be me if I didn't worry just a bit. Thanks to everyone who sent us some baby dust. Now here's to a healthy pregnancy!

Germany, Here We Come!

Well, not at this exact moment but very soon.
One thing about the military is that there is never a set plan. You have to be flexible because things can change at the drop of a ACU/ABU hat.

This has never rang more true until about two weeks ago. Will's recruiting orders fell through and he decided to call Branch to see if there were any bases open right now. They told him that we had a choice between Alaska, Korea or Germany. Of course we picked Germany. We are excited. I, however, am completely freaking out. This will be our first move as a family and to make it more nervewrecking, it's overseas. There are so many details that we need to work out such as only being allowed to ship two dogs (we have three), only one vehicle shipped at the government's expense (we just bought a second car), etc.

This will be a crazy experience for us but every single person that I have talked to who has been stationed in Germany loved it. I really think this will give our family a much needed break, a change to spend time together and an opportunity to see lots of places in Europe.

Of course this move will bring about many changes in our lives (like a temporary end to my National Guard career) but we are accepting it with open arms and realizing how lucky and blessed we are. I'll keep you guys updated on our planning and moving over the next few months!

TMI Series: End of TTC Month Two

As I thought, July was not our month for getting pregnant so the process starts again. I adjusted my MyDays app according to when I believe I ovulated last month as well as the number of days in my cycle. I'm sure this will work a little better and help me relax about the whole process. I will not be purchasing a large number of pregnancy testing strips again. I have been debating about purchasing ovulation testing strips to ensure that I know when I'm ovulating but I think that will just cause a little obsession. We'll see though.
Of course I'm hoping that this will be our month but I also know that I can't force anything. When it happens, it happens. For now, we'll just enjoy the ride.

Setting Goals

If you read my posts about depression, you may have read that I went to see a counselor. I have never been in counseling/therapy before and have only had one session so far so I can't really say too much about it. I did enjoy speaking with my counselor and it didn't even seem like we were talking for an entire hour (which is weird for me since I tend to be reserved around people I don't know). During our session, we set four goals for me to accomplish before our next session:

1) Find a hobby that doesn't involve Will or Liam
I definitely want to get into running and would love to find a running group that would be willing to run in the evening. I just really suck at running and wouldn't want to slow anyone down (although I have seen that it is good to run with experienced runners since they will motivate you). I also wouldn't mind finding a crafting group. I have sooo many Pinterest projects that I need to work on and my home management binder isn't going to make itself.

2) Look into part-time employment
Part-time employment will give me a chance to get out of the house (as well as give Liam a chance to play with other kids at daycare) and have some adult interaction and conversations. I have been looking for something that will fit our schedule and my strengths for a little while now. I want to enjoy what I do so I am being picky. Even if I don't find anything soon, I still have my National Guard base  (I'll actually be there for most of the month of August).

3) Look into the nursing field
During my time at Kansas State University, I majored in Public Relations and Women's Studies, however, I'm not sure if those fields are right for my life now. After having Liam, I have started to consider getting into the medical field. I would love to work as a RN in a maternity ward or even as a Lactation Consultant. Although there are many medical related options, the area I live in is very limited when it comes to programs and schools.

4) Visit local churches
Church has always been a weird area for me. I grew up in a very strict Pentecostal church that was extremely restrictive. Since then, I have strayed from churches. I would like for this to change. I would definitely want Liam to grow up with a great church community that is accepting and loving.

I think these goals are going to be very helpful in creating a happy and healthy home life for our family.

What about you guys? Do you have a hobby that doesn't include your family? Do you have any goals that will make your home life happier/easier?

Happy Valentine's Day

Although everyday should be filled with love, we would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. My wonderful husband sent me flowers and my little man had a smile on his face randomly throughout the day so today was perfect. It's always good to have a day to remember the people you love and I'm glad to have each and every one of those close to us in our lives. We've been blessed with great friends and family and hope that they feel loved on this special day.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

<3 Jaye, Will and Liam

Photography by Melissa Bradfield Photography