Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving! Today was a first for a lot of things - The first Thanksgiving that Ryan and I were in the same geographical location, our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, our first Thanksgiving with a baby on the way (yum food!), and my first Thanksgiving away from home. Oh yeah...and my first Thanksgiving cooking - YIKES! Just kidding, considering all of the firsts, the day was AMAZING!

We spent our Thanksgiving with our family away from family - our Army friends! We had 3 other couples/families come to our house and enjoy food, games, and just good fun. One of the families had 2 precious children that Ryan loved playing with. Just further proof that he is going to be an amazing daddy soon (71 days and counting)!

Our Thanksgiving was somewhat potluck. Myself and the other ladies of the families sketched out a list of all our favorite foods and then we split up the dishes. We each made 4-6 things and brought them all together for one spectacular feast! Ryan and I were in charge of the ham (the man's job, apparently), green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, and rolls! Now, for those that know me, this would normally be an impossible task for me. However, my domestication has significantly improved over the last 7-8 months and I actually pulled it all off! :) Everyone's food was great! Yay for the cooks!

Of course Thanksgiving is more than just good company, good food, and fun games... Ryan and I have so much to be thankful for!

1. We are thankful for each other and the wonderful life we have created together.

2. We are thankful for the opportunity to be parents to our sweet little boy on the way. He has already proven to be such a blessing in our lives.

3. Our families. We are scattered all across the US! We are very thankful for both of our families and the love and support they offer us. We wish we could have been with everyone this year!

4. We are thankful for our friends. Being so far away from family can be hard, but having great friends makes it so much easier. They are our family away from family!

5. We are thankful for the small and simple things in life - and basically this includes everything else. Yes, the list could go on forever! :)

Just because Thanksgiving is over does not mean that you stop being grateful. Count your blessings every day!!

Still Daddy's Little Girl :)

Ryan and I have been lucky enough to have family visit us a few times in Louisiana. This time it was my Dads turn! The first time he came to Louisiana was when he helped me drive down in June. Ryan and I didn't really have anything settled with the house then, so it was nice to have my Daddy back to see it all fixed!

Since Leesville isn't the best tourist attraction, we ended up just relaxing and spending time together. We did a little shopping and of course he brought some cute little outfits for Baby Blake - totally Carolina Tarheels themed! Also, I didn't have to work this week because of Thanksgiving, so I got to spend some extra one on one time with him! What can I say? I am still a Daddy's little girl!

I think he really enjoyed being able to see me pregnant (and not just on skype). He also got to feel Baby Blake move, which he said was a cool thing for him. His visit was so nice and it made me even more excited to go home to NC for Christmas!!!

3rd Trimester

Well, according to the charts, I am in my 3rd Trimester!!! All I can say is that it is very surreal. I am SO excited on some levels and SO unprepared on others. Let's just say it will be a busy next 3 months. I just can't wait to hold our little baby in 3 months! It will be such a beautiful and life changing moment in the life of the Larsen's!

Veteran's Day

Happy Veteran's Day and a big Thank You to all who have served and continue to serve our country!

I know I am thankful for my grandfather, brother-in-law, and most importantly - my husband!

Ryan and I were talking last night about the pride of a military family. We agreed that there is a certain pride that is held within a military family at all times. They go through so much and just have that sense of unity - almost like a certain reverence and respect for military life.

We also talked about our son and his future. I know that he will be very young while we are still in the Army - 1 year old, but I hope that he will know the military life and have that pride for everything Ryan has done in the past 3, almost 4, years of his life.

Ryan and I also talked about how proud we would be of our son if he ever joined the military. As hard as it would be at times, we would stand by him and support him! We even joked about how he would then find a girl in NC and marry her. Hehe...

I am not ashamed to say that there are times when I have been so angry with the Army - I have hated the times they have taken Ryan away for long periods, I have hated the danger that they have put my loved ones in, and I have hated having to live the Army schedule and not my own. However, I will ALWAYS be proud of being married to a soldier and what that represents. I know that they have done so much good in the world and they are fighting to protect ALL of us and our many comforts. Ryan joined the Army because he wanted to make more of his life. Being in the Army has been some of his best years. He loved being deployed because he knew that he had a very important purpose. He has had so many experiences that have given meaning to his life and others because of his service. Our family is proud to be in the Army!

"Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his brother."

Ryan & The Board

I can not tell you how proud I have been of Ryan these past few weeks. He has juggled so many things...and done them so well! First of all, Ryan has taken the opportunity to take some college classes - thanks to the Army's dime! :) These classes have been in addition to his full time work. Not only has he proven that he can handle many things at once, but he has also proven that he is a little smarty pants! He has gotten an A in his American Government class and is working towards another A in his Sociology class that ends later this month.

As if a full time job and 2 college classes wasn't enough, he was told that he was going to the Promotional Board - which has been a long time coming. This Board is where he has to basically prove to his higher ranking officers that he deserves to be promoted to Sgt. As any soldier knows, this can be a brutal phase of pressure, studying, and stress. You have to be both physically and mentally ready to show them what you've got. Ryan did his best to prepare with the time given and his hard work paid off... he passed the Board!! He is well on his way to getting promoted next month. All we have to do is wait to see about the point system at the end of the month. If he has enough points (which he should) then he will officially be Sgt Ryan T. Larsen next month!

I have had to sit by and watch Ryan working so hard for all of these things. I have tried to help him study some, encourage him, and support him...but nothing beats helping him celebrate his accomplishments! With all the good news he has had, how could we not splurge a little?! I tried to surprise him with some festive decorations at home, cupcakes (chocolate), AND Mario Kart for the Wii (he has wanted this for awhile now...). He totally deserved it all and more!

26 weeks

We are 26 weeks in the making!! This week we had to go to Lake Charles for a follow-up visit at the specialist. The doctor has ruled out all Neural Tube Defects and just wanted to check up on the growth of our little boy. We learned that he is 2 pounds and 2 ounces - which is right on track with normal growth! The specialist said that we are looking at one happy, healthy little boy! :)
Ryan and I love seeing how Baby Blake is developing, both physically and personally. I swear he reveals something new to us each time we see him. Yesterday he was very shy for the camera. However, he did stick his tongue out at us in the beginning - too bad we couldn't get a picture quick enough. I have a feeling we are going to have our hands full when February comes along!
Our next doctors visit will be at our normal doctors on November 9th! Time is flying by!!

509th Spooktacular Festival

The FRG from A Co 1-509th put on their first annual Spooktacular Festival this weekend! For those people not used to Army talk, they basically had a family day for all of the families in Ryan's Unit. :)

This was a fun way for us to meet new families, let the kids dress up and play, AND have a chili cook-off! Yum! Ryan played an important part in this day because he helped plan the Obstacle Course for the kiddos. I am not sure who had more fun on the course - the soldiers or the kids. Haha.  

Ryan explaining the course to the kids. They are all so cute!

Ryan and his friend Bryan going across the logs...backwards. It's only fair that way, right?!

Spinning around the bats.

Playing with our shadows on the pretty sunny day! :)