Splish Splash!

Today Jude took a bath in his duckie tub....thank you Aunt Meagan! He loved it and so did I because all the water stayed in the tub!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Jude Update

Just wanted to share a few pictures of how Jude has grown and changed this summer. He is sitting up, eating solids, and has 4 teeth and one more on the way! He is gaining a lot of weight and getting a little hair. He is my sunshine!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I'm back!

Well as many of you have noticed I took a hiatus from the blog this summer. This summer was a bit crazy and well mostly just not normal in any way. There were lots of adjustments this summer. I didn't have to adjust to summer break because I've always had a summer break, but this summer is the first with Mr. Jude who is a full time job. The other major adjustment was Chris' crazy Army schedule. At first, he was working from home, then went off to train in California for 3 weeks, then was at Camp Bullis here in town for a month but I could only see him a few nights a week and then we was off for 8 days and came home and then went to work in Round Rock a few days, Deployment Ceremony and now he is gone. It was hard adjusting to him being gone and back again. Just when Jude and I had our routine down, he came home to change it up. Don't get me wrong, Chris helped a lot by spending so much time with Jude, but then I got use to all this extra help and then he left again and I was back to my full time job.

The other adjustment is NOT going back to school. This is the first year since I was 4 years old that I have either not been in school or teaching school. Very strange to not have a first day of school. I miss it...a little. I do miss all the new supplies, decorating my room and the smiley new faces, but I don't miss having the chaos that comes with training 5 year olds to go through a lunch line. I do miss having a schedule and routine. I am slowly realizing how much I thrive on a schedule. But for now I am embracing and enjoying my flexible way of life. So on the first day of school this year, Jude and I spread out a blanket in the backyard and watched the birds in our pajamas...nice.

The other job that consumed my days this past summer was that of Family Readiness Group Leader. My volunteer position for the Army families of Charlie Company consumed any free time I had to begin with. I had to plan the final Deployment Ceremony with my Headquarters counterpart Mrs. Ana Rogers. It was a bit like planning a wedding....stressful, but it came together very nicely, but so glad it is over with!

So that was my summer in a nutshell. Lots of family time and watching Jude grow like a weed (yes pictures coming soon!). Now it is the beginning of a very long year. Thank you everyone for your support:)

Date Nights

Date Nights are few and far between after having a baby. A simple date with your husband becomes a luxury. You must make the time and effort if you want it to happen. Before baby it's like "hey wanna go see a movie and try that new restaurant" After baby it takes a lot more planning and preparation. In that sense a date night is much more exciting and special than it use to be. It is something to look forward to because it does take so much to plan. A few weeks ago Chris and I had our very first and much needed date night since Jude was born. Although we were unable to squeeze in a dinner, we spent the evening at the Majestic theater downtown. I LOVE the Majestic. It has to be the one of the most beautiful theaters in the world. It's Spanish architecture is truly unique. It looks as if you are outside, in the evening in old Spain with its blue sky and twinkling stars on the ceiling. For anyone who is coming to visit San Antonio...it's a must see or go to www.majesticempire.com ... but pictures don't do it justice. We saw the musical Wicked and it was amazing! So fun, great cast, songs, dance, etc....I left very satisfied. Also I am so excited about Broadway Across America 2009-10 season. Our wonderful Army husbands bought myself, Rikki and Ana season tickets so we can have date nights with each other while they are deployed. Thank you fabulous husbands! The following weekend we had date night #2...ok so it wasn't just us, but adult time without kids counts! We went to a Round Rock Express Baseball game after he went to Battle Assembly with a few of his fellow soldiers. Though it was insanely hot, we were in the shade and enjoyed some hot dogs, coke, adult conversation, and watched some future Astros play some ball (even if they did loose). It was also Jude's first sleep over at his Nani's house in Kyle. I admit it was difficult for me...that is missing him so much, but I soon got over it after a fabulous full night of sleep in the comfy King size bed at our hotel. I'm not sure how many more date nights will be had as our weekends are booked with family time before Chris leaves, but I'll take what I can get!

Happy Birthday Kelly!

Last weekend we celebrated Kelly's 27th birthday at my mother- in -law's home. Since she is a summer baby Kelly has always had a pool party as far as I can remember and this year was no different. Also... check out the candy cake her husband had made for her. Kelly is the queen of all fruity candy. She doesn't like chocolate( I know crazy right!?) so this cake was perfect for her....even had a Hispanic Ballerina Barbie....way to go Ben for knowing your wife so well!

It's Miller Time!

We had a Backyard-BBQ/Baby Shower for the Bettingers. Friends and family flew and drove in from all over the state and from other states as well. Hamburgers, beer, beans, and watermelon kept the shower fun and casual and very guy friendly too. Besides the Texas heat (we mainly stayed inside) all went well. An explosion of purple and pink filled our living room as Chris and Rikki opened gifts and we were all surprised at how fast or should I say how slow men can drink beer from a bottle. It won't be long until Ms. Miller Lynn Bettinger is playing along side Jude. We can not wait for the baby girl fun to begin....we can not wait for Miller to arrive!

I Can Breathe!

Whoo-hoo for the end of a busy month and the end of another school year! Hello to happy summer days of baby bliss. This past month I did not stop. Not for one second. Between going back to work, ending a school year, very busy and full weekends and a long "to do" list, this has been a non stop few weeks. It began with Jenna's wedding in Brownsville, followed by the Miller Bettinger shower, moving out of my classroom, birthday party for Aunt Kelly, a truck rodeo for Grandpa Eugene and a magical date night at the Majestic. All fun events, but I am glad to be at home, relaxing, spending time with Jude and completing a to-do list of a different kind. But even as I sit for a moment, I realize that all June weekends are already full! It is reminding me of how time flies and how little of it we have left before Chris deploys for a year...gulp:( First on the list...catching up on my blog!