The Watermelon Curse

Riley didn't think I should even blog about this but I assured him every mother out there has similar stories...so what's one more picture to add to the proof that we're not exaggerating!
Saedi plus watermelon equals massive blow-outs!

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For a two weeks we were stumped why Saedi suddenly regressed in her potty training. She had been wearing panties for a month and then all of a sudden she was pooping her pants again. Well, after my genius friend Kristen asked me if she had been eating watermelon and how it makes some kids go uncontrollably we experimented. 3 days off watermelon and Saed was fine. A little watermelon as a bedtime snack and the above picture was the result of the next day. Now, even Saedi says, "Watermelon makes me poo," and she doesn't want to eat a ton of it anymore! The funniest part of the above picture is that she fell asleep 30 seconds after pooping! Who can do that!

Change of Command

Without getting into too much detail on a public blog, just wanted to take time to honor Riley in his new job (not a promotion just change in job) which took place this past week! We had an early morning ceremony & then a nice reception to follow.
Riley's out in front on left side. It was 930 am and in low 90's already!

The nice spread Riley's mom and dad helped me put together for the reception following the ceremony: croissants filled with either ham & cheese or turkey and cheese, mini muffins, fruit kabobs with Jen's awesome dip, chocolate covered strawberries, cake, & drinks.

Riley with his parents

Ellie, Daddy, Saedi, Mommy (32 weeks preggo)

Mommy, Saedi, Daddy, Crazy Ellie


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More Pics with Mimi & Papa

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Father's Day

Riley's parents came up on Father's Day and stayed for a few days. We spent Father's Day going to church and then having a picnic with the Moon Family at the duck/fishing pond on post that we like to go to. I think the boys' favorite activity was playing with Jack!


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Jack & Girls at Fishing Pond

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Dining Out Pics

We've been extremely busy these days with military changes. Riley's working longer hours in prep for his new job, and this is the time of year for parties, hellos and goodbyes within our community. Here are a few pictures from our battalion's recent Dining Out.
Me & Riley

Jodi, Jen, Me, Stacy, Kristen

Riley, Dave, Trey, Chuck

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Bike Riding 101

Early Saturday morning Riley gave Ellie a present...a set of knee pads, elbow pads, and riding gloves! She was thrilled and decided that it was the day to learn to ride a bike without training wheels. I stayed in with Saedi anticipating a crying Ellie to walk through the door having given up on bike riding. To our surprise, she did barge through the door about 10 minutes later saying she was riding her bike without training wheels! She caught on quickly and was brave the entire time. She's been riding everyday since and yesterday she learned how to turn corners and turn directions as well. What a champ!
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Baby Shower

Kristen, me, Jen, Natalie

I am truly blessed to have such amazing friends here in Clarksville. Natalie and I were pregnant together with Meadow and Saedi and then here we are again pregnant together and both having boys!!! Our friends, Jen & Kristen, hosted a fabulous shower for us last weekend and invited our closest Clarksvillian friends. I've been reflecting every since about how blessed I have to have friendships like these.

Kristen and I got to know one another when we were pregnant for Ellie and Caleb way back at Ft Benning; then, we were neighbors at Ft Bragg, and once again, were blessed to moved to Ft Campbell together as well. Kristen is a friend of discernment and integrity. She doesn't gossip or talk badly about people. She's also the most patient female I know. She's doing a phenomenal job raising 4 kids ages 4 and under (including twins) and is Ms. Steady. She's got her life rooted in the truth's of the Bible and her life is a testimony to that!

Jen and I met at Ft Bragg but didn't truly get to know one another until we moved to Clarksville three years ago. Jen is probably the most generous person I know. She gives her time to others over and over without complaining & manages to have the cleanest house of anyone I know. She's also very generous with gifts and making people feel unique and special in her presence. She's a natural networker and gives great advice, too.

And Nat is my steady rock. We also met at Ft Bragg and moved to Clarksville together as well. Nat is probably the most hospitable friend I have. No matter how crappy she's feeling she'll always offer to lend a hand to someone else. Her door is always open. When I need to talk or cry it's Nat's house that I crash, and I know I'm always welcome. Oh, and the extra bonus is she always feeds me!

The beautiful display of food at Jen's house...crabcakes with homemade dipping sauces, fruit tray, veggies, brie with crackers, cucumber water, grape punch, Jodi's amazing cheesecake with blueberry sauce, quiche, blueberry muffins and Jen's "Better than Sex" cake.

Kristen made these adorable mobiles out of strips of paper and then sewed them on a line of thread with her sewing machine...sweet!

The adorable take-home favors...homemade cookies and personally decorated by Kristen

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Thank you, Wonderful Friends!

Alaska Day 3 /Final Day

And yet another gorgeous Alaskan view from our car

Riley fishing on the spit, catching and releasing pollock. (Since it was our last day we didn't have time to freeze any of these to bring home).

...and this adorable lady said, "No no no! Give them to me!" So, they became fishing partners. Riley would catch a Pollock about every few minutes and that would be just enough time for her to gut and clean one until Riley pulled the next one out of the water. There was a brief slow spell where she teasingly said, "What no more fish? Oh that's a baby fishy fishy. Cute cute!" Who knows if he was being mocked! :)

A potential Post Family van??? I seriously like these vans but when we got home and researched they really only seat 5. But how cool to have a pop out camper everywhere we drove!

View from our Bed and Breakfast

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Ellie the Artist

Ellie loves to write and draw. Her favorite "toys" right now are cute notepads and pens. She loves writing words and wants to know how to spell everything. Here's a fun picture she drew of the family this morning.
L to R:
Mommy with Isaac (and his penis) in Belly, Saedi (note how tiny Ellie drew her), Ellie & Daddy


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The Other Wes Moore

Just finished reading the biography, "The Other Wes Moore" and it's the best book I've read in a long time. Riley met Wes while at Oxford and he had only great things to say about this man and his character. For any of you Clarksvillians who want to borrow my copy, let me know!

Marina Pics

A few weekends ago we spent Sunday afternoon with The Moons at the Barkley Lake Marina. We didn't do anything spectacular...just had a picnic & watched the kids play in the water. Regardless, it was a blast. The day was hot and the water was a perfect swimming temperature (even though swimming is not allowed in that area), so Nat and I lumbered our big bodies over the rocks & swam in our clothes to cool off our preggo bodies. All the time Riley is laughing at us and snapping pictures. Needless to say, those will not be posted publicly!

This picture cracks me up because it looks like Saedi is about to spank Jack

Sweet Meadow

Saedi's butt-crack...an oh-so-common-view these days



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