A month of Firsts

February has been a milestone month for Samuel. It's amazing how time just flies by and they grow right before your eyes. From rolling over, to his taste of his first food other then a bottle. Still no teeth but they are close and he drools like crazy.

Samuel getting his first taste of rice cereal. He loved it!!

He was willing to open his moth for me, he sure got the hang of it fast.



All gone and he wants more. Now anytime I'm eating something he sure eyes it and tries to get it. He's had some cheddar broccoli soup the other day when I was at lunch. Man didn't think I was gonna get a bite in at all. He sure show interest in food.

This was the last picture taken with Nate and the boys before he took off. Nothing like having to say "goodbye" to their daddy!!



I just had to throw this picture in cause he's so cute!!

I got Samuel rolling over on Camera for the first time from stomach to back. He mastered that art first. I didn't get back to stomach on camera but I was there to witness it. I love when I get to see a first.

You know you're a military wife when...

• The site of US GOVERNMENT on your caller ID no longer freaks you out

• All your husband's fresh white underwear has his "last four" stamped on the waist band

• You know the smell of JP-5

• You laugh at Top Gun. Even harder at Tom Cruise as "Maverick."

• You know that APO isn't a type of dog food

• Your husband's best friends have names like "GULA," "Wookie," "Rat Boy," and "Dancing Bear."

• Suddenly "GULA," Wookie," "Rat Boy," and "Dancing Bear" seem like affectionate nicknames. (Although, probably not to your civilian mother.)

• You've had five different jobs in four years.

• You've had five different addresses in four years.

• You've had five new best friends in four years.

• Luckily you've had the same husband for five years, but you haven't seen him in three.

• You know that "Haze grey and underway" is not a song by Neil Young.

• When your husband announces he's going to use "the head," you no longer smirk and think,
"About time...but I'm still smarter than you."

• You realize that when your husband is on "cruise," he won't be dining with the captain of the Love Boat

• Similarly, you realize your junior husband won't be dining with any captain.

• You know that your husband will eat in the Mess Hall, and you think that's right where he belongs.

• And last, you definitely know you're a military wife when you're sitting in a waiting room without your husband and you're not the least bit jealous of the girl who doesn't know her husband's "last four." (Even if she was thinner and had better skin.) Because you know, without a doubt, that she's got a lot to learn and a long way to go.

The Chopping Block

I decided to bite the bullet and do something drastic to my hair. It was time for a change. I just had to wait for nate to leave to do so. Nate loves my long hair and doesn't like it when I cut it. I have the next year to grow it back out. :)

Before
After

Excuse the fuzziness of the pic. My 5 yr old was taking the pic. I will try and get a better picture posted but this is it for now. My next goal is to lose 50 lbs. A new start to the new me!

Elijah in Hockey and more

Elijah had another hockey game on sunday. So amazing to see the improvment in him from just a year ago. This time last year, he couldn't even stand up on skates. Now he can run, jump, fly across the ice. here he is playing Center and doing the faceoff, he won the draw.

Elijah's favorite position would efinately have to be playing goalie. He loves to dive after the puck and keep it from going in. He made some really great saves.

Chasing after the puck.

Nothing like watching a bunch of 4-6 year olds skating on the ice chasing a puck. They are like dominoes most of the time, but it's so entertaining to watch.

A boy after a father's heart. We got Samuel matching jersey to daddy for christmas. Now we all have jersey's, Elijah is just the odd man out with a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey. :) at least Samuel has no say yet.
So hard to believe Samuel is now 4 months old. Time sure flies by when you aren't paying attention, they grow right before your eyes and don't even realize it. He's my little snuggler. He loves giddy up horsey. He is still working on rolling over. He hates being on his tummy so I am sure he's in no hurry to really learn. My happy content little boy.


A rare picture of Samuel with mom. Seems like I hardly have any photos of me holding samuel.

Elijah is such a great big brother. He is always willing to help when he can. He can keep Samuel occupied when mommy is busy. I am blessed to have a wonderful family. Maybe my next post I will find baby pics of Elijah to compare the 2. you will be amazed how much they look alike. Will have to play guess which baby!! :)

25 Random things about myself....

I was tagged on Facebook, so I thought I would post it on here to, so if you happen to read this you are considered tagged and must do the following as well, either post in your blog or email. so TAG you are IT!!!

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged . You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you.

1. When I was younger I never wanted kids! look at me today, I have 2!

2. I am a home body. I don't like being away from home very long.

3. I met my husband on Word of Life Island in '98 while doing STC.

4. I can't stand folding laundry, it just sits in a laundry basket to be picked up and washed again after is warn.

5. I love to cook and bake.

6. When I was little I wanted to be a nurse. I still do, hopefully I can start school soon

7. When my cousin was little she couldn't say my name Marci, it came out as "messy" guess I lived up to my name. :)

8. I graduated Highschool a semester early and I moved out.

9. I used to own a horse named Glory

10. I've never dyed my hair, it's naturally Red.

11. I have driving accross the United states 2 times and drove from Oregon to Alaska once.

12. I am a military wife and my husband has deployed 3 times already going on his 4th next month.

13. I hate to read. I don't like books. unless it's Green eggs and ham or something like that.

14. I can't drive a manual transmission. No desire to learn either.

15. I love Hockey, my son even plays and we have season tickets to Alaska Aces ECHL team.

16. I've been stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC; Ft. Lewis, WA; and Ft Richardson, AK.

17. I've moved 9 times in 7 1/2 years of Marriage.

18. I love board games, I used to have game nights with my friends, now we have them as a family.

19. I am a daddy's girl, always have and always will be!

20. I don't like to eat fish, I can't stand the smell either, but I LOVE to fish for fish.

21. I had 2 children born in 2 different states.

22. I survived my first Alaska winter alone with a 4 year old.

23. I can't stand the color pink. I am not girly at all.

24. I was told at the age of 4 I became a Child of God, but I confirmed it on my own at age 18.

25. I never pushed while in labor with my 2nd child, he just came out. :)

A look back at the last year...and the year to come!

2008 was a great year for our family. It started with nate returning home after a 15 month deployment to Iraq. He made it home for thanksgiving of 2007

2 months after being home we took a trip to Florida to see nates family, and found out a wonderful surprise....

Baby #2 was on it's way!! The was the best highlight of my year. We found out 4 months later that is was a boy. Samuel Roy Garland was to be his name.




While nate was away in California this summer doing some training, my best friend from Jr. High and High School came up to visit. I hadn't seen her in 10 years. what a great reunion it was.


My ever growing belly....





Elijah Turned 5!!! and Daddy was home for the first time for his Birthday....

Elijah Lost his first tooth....

Elijah's Starts school....my baby has grown up!!

Samuel was born Sept 24, 2008 at 7:48 pm 7lbs 14 oz

To end the year nates Mom and brother flew up for christmas....

God has blessed our family so much this last year and it was so nice to be a family. Looking to this new year is going to be a tough year as Nate deploys once again for another year. It's going to be a tough year on all of us but my key verse I am going to cling to for the year....

Phillipians 4:13 I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.

Please pray for me and my family this year.