Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone! I guess I shouldn't have titled the last post "We're Back" and then wait a whole month to post again. It's better than nothing :)

We hope that your holiday was fantastic, you were able to spend lots of time with family, enjoyed the company of friends, and made it back home safely. We had a great trip to Virginia and are excited to get back there in February for my nephew's first birthday (Hi Lukey!!)! I can't wait to read about your holiday on your blog and would love to tell you a little about our holiday.

The Cousins in their "tooter" pajamas. The kind with the butt flap. And their names on embroidered on their rears. :)

Each year we split the holiday with my family and J's family because the distance from one house to the other isn't that long. This year it was my family's Christmas on Christmas Day. Next year it will be J's family Christmas on Christmas Day. That's just how we do it. My family also has a few traditions that were started once my sister's and I started having children. We like to visit the REAL Santa at the Children's Museum in Richmond. This Santa is the REAL Santa because he is the same Santa we visited as kids (my mom has the photos to prove it and he does look exactly the same!). A's cousins Owen and Delaney went first to sit on Santa's lap, then little Lukey (he's not so little though - 5 months younger than A, but basically the same size),  and then unsure about Santa A. Then all of the cousins sit with Santa and we take a group picture. I won't say anymore, the picture speaks for itself.

HAHAHA! No caption necessary. 

Momma and A at Christmastown!

Decorating a "gingerbread" house with Grandma.

The second tradition that my family has started is going to Christmastown at Busch Gardens to walk around the park, people watch, and enjoy the spectacular light display Busch Gardens sets up for the winter. It really is fun, but this year there were SO. MANY. PEOPLE! I think they scheduled their visit to the park for when we were going so they could see our beautiful faces :) We also take a family picture in front of the gigantic Christmas tree. This was our 3rd Annual trip to BG and it is fun to see how our family has grown.

Stolle Outing to see the Christmas lights. 

Daddy and A watching the trains!

At J's house we had Christmas early with his family and A got to enjoy time with his auntie, uncle, grandma, and grandpa before everyone had to go back to work. We walked around Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to take in their light display and they even had a fire pit so we roasted marshmallows to make smores! Each time I have gone I have forgotten how cold I was on the previous visit. I guess great company makes you only remember to experience and who you were with and not the temperature. :)
J was able to go hunting, his favorite Christmastime activity, and I got to experience Hot Yoga with my sisters for the first time. (It was something different, but very fun! Everyone should try it at least once.)  My mom was also very kind and watched A so that J and I could go on a movie date together. We saw Les Miserables and it was great!

Cookies!

A LOVES his Panda Climber from Aunt Courtney!

Packing for 2 adults, a baby, a dog, and Christmas presents was quite difficult. But not as difficult as the drive. The hardest part was sitting in the backseat of an SUV (that looked like the Clampit's owned it - trunk full and a platform on the back!) for 10-12 hours. Even though it was stressful to figure out the schedule and logistics of the trip, seeing family for the holiday is a tradition I will never pass up.

Stolle Family 2012

Now the new year has begun and I can't wait for the adventures this year will bring! Here is to a happy and healthy new year!

We're Back!

Hello! We're Back! I know it's been a very long time since our last post, I hope to be more diligent about posting and keeping everyone up to date on our family doings. Here is what each of us has been doing these last few months...

- Andersen -
Andersen is a YEAR OLD (actually 14 months)! Wow! The time has really flown by. He is so full of personality. He is: always smiling, laughs at the silliest things and at other people laughing, likes to open and close doors (cabinets, his truck, drawers, closet doors), and has just started the phase of screaming at you and laying himself down if you say/do something he doesn't like. Even though we don't understand what A is trying to say with his words, his added pointing tends to show us exactly what he wants. A goes to daycare 2 days a week and seems to be enjoying himself. He still cries a bit when he is dropped off, but that seems to fade each day. A sleeps from 7ish until 6am and rarely wakes up at night. He loves to eat! Breakfast is his favorite, he doesn't like meat anymore, and still has to have pureed lunch. A wears 9/12 months clothes, but still fits into a lot of his 6 months pants. Size 4 diapers at night, 3 during the day. Transitioning from 2 naps a day to 1 nap. A has all 4 molars, all 4 upper front teeth, and all 4 lower teeth. He hasn't been to the doctor in a few months (15 month check up is next), but I think he weighs about 19 pounds.

- Megan -
Stay at home mom and volunteer with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society two days a week. I am still trying to fulfill my hours for the Accredited Financial Counselor Fellowship and have until June to obtain 200 or so more hours. I am transitioning from the receptionist position back to being a caseworker and helping military members with interest free loans from NMCRS. (GREAT GREAT place to volunteer for any other milspouses out there. Childcare is paid for and mileage is reimbursed.)

- Jared -
Jared is transitioning to the P-8 and is working on being qualified as an instructor. His schedule is picking up at the squadron so that means more time at work. A and I have really enjoyed his extra time at home, but we are glad he is getting back into the plane and doing what he loves to do. Fly! Because we are on what is known as the shore tour, J will not be deploying for the next few years. He will strictly be teaching students how to fly the new P-8

- Our Family -
We are no longer in Washington. We are now in sunny, warm, wonderful Florida! Only a 12 hour drive to home! We moved here in May for Jared's job and bought a new house. It is amazing! Our house in Washington is rented for the time being, but we hope to be able to sell it in the future. The house we bought here is completely different from Washington. It's bigger. Is only a 1-story house. Has a big lanai that we used all summer and still use now, in the winter. We are only a short ways to base and not too far from all the shops we frequent. Since moving to Florida, Jared and I have had both families, we took a trip to Miami, and we have been back to Virginia a few times. We will be returning for Christmas and driving ourselves and the dog.

Here are some pictures to show you just what we have been up to:

Closing day!

A's new room.

Loving the neighborhood pools.

I ate all of my waffle and didn't have any more to give A.

Happy First Birthday Bub!

Who's driving this truck?! A's birthday present!

Always smiling Andersen.

Who doesn't like to sit in the shopping cart?

Quality time with Daddy.

A's new Big Boy Carseat!

Likes to lay on the floor.

Swinging is his FAVORITE!

We hope all of you are doing well! Thank you for checking in on us and wondering where we have been. From our family to yours, Happy Holidays! We hope no one pulls the plug on your holiday spirit! Merry Christmas!

Happy 6 Month Birthday Baby Boy!

Today marks 6 months since I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy! I don't know where the time has gone and I cannot believe how far we have all come. I have learned so much, Jared would say he has learned a lot (I hope!), and Andersen is learning and changing every day! I am proud of making it this far without throwing in the towel when things got tough and am still breastfeeding. But I would not be telling the truth if I said that I am not glad that Andersen loves his other food so much more than what I give him. Real food has saved my spirit!!

Here are the stats on Andersen and his skills:
- not sure of his exact weight, but might be on the heavier side of 14 pounds! (up 3 pounds in 2 months!!)
- wears size 2 diapers
- FINALLY transitioning to 3-6 month clothes
- takes 3 (sometimes 4) naps a day ... most not longer than an hour
- still on a 3 hour feeding schedule... lately we have been "sleeping in" so things have been a little off
- goes to bed between 7 and 7:30p and will sleep until 5:45a, see note about pillow top mattress below
- plays on his tummy and likes to eat his crawl ball
- can roll both front to back and back to front
- is able to stand if you hold his hands
- likes to jump in his jumperoo
- likes to play airplane
- can sit up on his own, but tends to fall forward when playing with/eating toys
- prefers a nice pillow top mattress and pillow over his crib and will sleep until 7:30a with me
- is a squirmy wormy when it comes to diaper changes and getting dressed
- will be found in a different position than where you put him to go to bed or take a nap
- his sleepy cue is holding his hands together palm to palm
- was going down for naps without cuddling, but that has all gone to hell over the last week or so... what's up with that?! bedtime too...!!
- has not gotten stuck in his crib since we put his bumpers up, BUT! he was found to be peaking over the bumpers and looking out his door the other day when he was tired of napping and wanted out
- LOVES solid food! He eats: oatmeal, apples, pears, bananas, sweet potato, butternut squash, carrots, peas, chicken will be next and then green beans. He eats 2 ice cubes at each meal (he cries if you give him less) and has fruit/oatmeal for breakfast and dinner and vegetables for lunch (meat will be eaten with vegetables). I make all of his food and quite enjoy it!
- Andersen always has a smile on his face and laughs at almost anything!

Happy 6 Month Birthday Beautiful Boy! We love you!

I think we've had a breakthrough!

Lately I have been feeling pretty run down, tired, lifeless, energy drained... you know, all the wonderful after effects of a new baby. With a house on the market (and it's not looking too wonderful at the moment) to try and keep straight, bottles to wash, a baby to feed/play with/love on, myself to feed/wash/entertain, a husband to feed/love on, and a dog to feed/let out to potty/love on... PHEW!... It's been pretty chaotic around here. Luckily! Things in one department have been going super well and dare I say, we've have a breakthrough!!

A good ol' Navy friend in Virginia (Hi Siobhan!) recommended many many moons ago that I read Babywise: The Gift of Giving Your Newborn Nighttime Sleep. I put it off and put it off because I didn't have a moment of spare time to fit in reading a book. The book ended up on my Christmas list and made its way onto me read this first list. So I did. I read it. Weeks and weeks ago. It makes a lot of sense, but I wish I had started it sooner with Andersen. (It's not for everyone and I am not saying everyone needs to follow this book. All I am saying is that it helped me in some aspects of Andersen's life.) The main points that I got from the book (with the help of Siobhan's interpreting) are: babies need to have a Feed/Wake/Sleep cycle (luckily we were already on this schedule! go me!), overstimulation can lead to not good napping which can lead to not good sleeping at night, and my favorite thing about this book is DREAMFEED!! As I said, we were already on the feed,wake,sleep cycle, however during wake time I made sure Andersen played with every single one of his toys that we have downstairs. I was not only wearing Andersen out, but also myself. His naps were not so great, but like the trooper baby he is, he always had a smile on his face. ... So get on with the post... I know... sorry... ummm... where was I going with this? ........

Okay, I don't know. I guess what I wanted to say is:
Andersen has been sleeping from 7p-ish (sometimes 7:30p if Jared hasn't been home all day to spend time with him) until .... drumroll please.... 545a (ish!) These last few days Andersen has been sleeping closer and closer to his designated wake time of 6a!! *Dreamfeed is at 10p, so he does wake up for a few minutes to drink his bottle. His naps have been good and he has put himself to sleep 3 times!!  I have been trying more and more to put him down when he is only slightly drowsy, instead of eye rolling in my arms and then put him down. I do still have to resettle him in the middle of naps most days, but that's okay. Sometimes I just need a good snuggle too!

So that's the breakthrough. My kid is growing up! Oh and... he loves him some apples and bananas! But watch out, those bananas can back up his system quickly!! Pears will be next I think... :)

Updated Pictures (that haven't been on facebook)

I don't know why those pictures won't go the correct way! ... Enjoy!

It's Feels Like Forever...

... Since I last posted. And it has been.

There have been several posts swirling in my head, but one in particular I really want to write about - My Real Life. [Inspired by my amazing friend Shannon who shares a candid look into her life on her blog] However, with the schedule I am following these days it seems impossible to get upstairs to the real computer to post. I hope you haven't minded the pictures of Andersen that I can easily post from my phone. That's about all I can manage right now.

I have a moment to spare and will get you as updated as I can with my life. I hope to find a way to blog more in the coming months to keep everyone updated on our next adventure. And NO... we are not having another child just yet!

Andersen Update:
- Andersen and I flew to Virginia for Thanksgiving. It was his very first plane ride and he was AMAZING! I was a terrible mess (you should have seen the amount of sweat that soaked my sweatshirt before we even got to the airport), but managed to make it home to Virginia and into the comfortable arms and support system of my family. Funny moment from our trip... Security: "Does she have to take off her sweatshirt?" "She should." Me: "I can't, I only have a nursing bra on underneath." Security woman gave me a slanty face, not quite sure she heard me right look and passed me through. *Note: the sweatshirt had a very long V-neck which makes breastfeeding possible with keeping my sweatshirt on. Didn't mean to scare anyone!
- Andersen greeted his dad with a snooze face when Jared returned from deployment. For some reason Andersen knows how to sleep through the most wonderful events. See note about Christmas.
- We flew as a family home to Virginia for Christmas. Andersen sat on Santa's lap, but doesn't remember it ever happening. He was asleep, AGAIN!
- Here are the latest stats... these may not be accurate as far as height and weight because he hasn't been to the doctor in close to 2 months!! WOOO HOOO!! (this is a big step for us!)
...FINALLY wearing only 0-3 month clothes! We packed away all of his newborn stuff today and is ready to be sent off to his set to arrive in February, cousin Luke. Size 1 diapers, but when we run out of these we are moving to size 1-2 because we have those in the house and I don't want to go buy more size1. May weigh close to 11.5 pounds! I weighed him on our scale here, but not so sure how accurate it is. I feel as though he has gotten taller, maybe he is 22 or 23 inches tall now. Andersen can roll over from his front to back, but will only do it when he wants to even though he knows how. Thinks he is the funniest baby in the world and will laugh for no reason in the middle of the night - please tell us your jokes son, we want to laugh at something when you wake us up at 3am! Grabs and holds on to his hanging zebra. Tries to put his entire fist in his mouth... almost all day. Chews on his fingers...almost all day. Smiles the most wonderful smile that can turn your dumpy day around instantly!
- We are in the process of moving Andersen into his room instead of sleeping next to our bed in the pack n'play. The first night was HORRIBLE. Last night wasn't sooooo bad. Does it get better from here?
We are still going strong in the breastfeeding department, but we will continue to supplement 4 feedings with an ounce of formula because it makes me feel better knowing he got at least an ounce during those feedings (still not confident he is getting enough from me during the day). I cannot wait until he starts eating rice cereal and then fruit and veggies. Knowing that I will not be the only source of nutrients makes me feel as though a house has been lifted off my shoulders. Come on solid foods!

Our family update:
Jared has been verbally told that he will be heading to NAS Jacksonville to be an instructor. We are waiting for the written orders to come online any day now so we have a time frame for our next cross country move. If we have it our way, we will leave before May and then take 30 days of leave before heading back to Florida. I will be flying to Virginia with the baby and Jared will meet me there with the cars sometime after that. We did some heavy duty cleaning of the house today and it is ready to be listed. It should go up for sale tomorrow. Cross your fingers, say a prayer, send an email... let's hope this house gets sold!!

I thought I had a lot more to say, but it seems as though the thoughts and words have escaped me. I still want to blog about my real life, but that will have to be another time. I am hoping it won't be another 2 months before I can make it to the real computer and type out what is on my mind.

[Does anyone else beg their baby to go back to sleep for five more minutes because mommy isn't ready to wake up yet? I sure hope so.]

Thanks for being patient with my lack of posting. I hope this picture of Andersen makes it well worth the wait.

"I'm coming to the hospital and I'm NOT going home!"

When we were given the okay for Jared to come home I set a plan for how the timing of Andersen was going to happen. No one believed that it would actually work out, but I knew he would stick with the plan. For the most part it went as I thought... for the other half of most part, it didn't go as planned. 

My last doctor's appointment was on the 22nd of September at 9:30a, I was 39 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I was only 2cm dilated and 70% effaced. I may or may not have had the doctor do a little moving along of my membranes that was supposed to take at least 24 hours to actually make something happen. I started early labor contractions three hours later. They were  noticeable, not uncomfortable, but they were still contractions none the less. Oh what had I done! Jared was supposed to arrive into town on Sunday around noon... but I was having contractions and it was only Thursday! After talking to Jared over Skype we decided to change his ticket if his squadron would let him. Sure enough they would. Jared would now arrive Saturday around noon. ... Contractions continue to be 5 minutes apart the rest of Thursday, Friday morning, and then grew more intense Friday afternoon. I had planned to see the movie The Help on base Friday night and I was not going to miss it. No big deal, go see the movie and then stop on over to Labor and Delivery to have my progress checked out. Contractions continued throughout the entire movie and afterwards I was sure I would be staying at the hospital to prepare to have this baby. Sure enough... NOPE! Not far enough along. Boo. I went home and was up. ALL. NIGHT. Everything I had seen on TV I tried and it did not help me get through these now more intense contractions. I thought to myself and then out loud, I SHOULD HAVE GONE TO LAMAZE!!!! I tried swaying, I tried squats, I tried leaning over, I tried everything and walked the entire house thinking a different room would make it better. My original plan of driving myself to the hospital was just plain stupid. I don't know what I was thinking, but it was the dumbest thought I think I have ever had. My friend Nikki received a call at 4:30am on Saturday the 24th saying I needed her to come get me. I called the hospital at 4am and said "I AM COMING TO THE HOSPITAL AND I AM NOT GOING HOME!" Sure enough, they were prepared to admit me when I arrived at 5am. [Why did it take an hour for me to get there when the hospital is 2 miles down the road? I had to brush my teeth again, curl my hair, put on makeup, and make sure I had on clean underwear and bra. Silly me.] We get there, I put my hospital issue gown on, and I get hooked up to their IVs and other needley things. I had made some progress as far as dilation and the contractions kept coming. Nikki hung out for a little bit and left to get Jared from the airport sometime after they gave me some "relaxation" medicine. Between when Nikki left and when Jared arrived a few things happened. I bounced on a birthing ball and thought "this isn't bad" until I stopped bouncing and the contractions were killer. I ate some ice chips... lots of ice chips. I laid in bed and hung to the railing as the contractions worsened. My water broke ALL OVER THE BED and I was thoroughly disgusted at the mess I had made and then proceeded to stay in the bathroom until the bed was changed and the nurses were gone because I was so embarrassed. Oh... and I rethought my "let's give this the old college try" thought and ordered the epidural because I was not liking how I was feeling... at only 5cm!!! Haha. I. AM. A. WIMP! Jared arrived at the hospital at noon and I was in heaven! My husband. My partner. My cheerleader was here! Phew. He made it before Andersen did! Jared "helped" me through a few more contractions before the epidural arrived. The epidural was surprisingly easy to handle, I thought it would be more painful than it actually way. How amazing was the epidural!?!? IT WAS AaaaaMAZING! The only thing after I had the epidural that was causing me pain was having to lay on my back the entire time. Talk about numb bum! ... Fast forward 5 hours.... 5pm - 8cm. 7pm - 8cm. 9pm - 8cm. I had another hour to try to make it past 8cm, if I didn't we had to decide to keep holding out for a regular canal birth or c-section. 10pm - 8cm. Deciding to have a c section was a hard decision, yet an easy decision. I wasn't dilating and probably wouldn't dilate any further. I didn't want to put Andersen at risk for complications. I didn't want to hurt Andersen. I didn't want to jeopardize Andersen being 100% healthy. C-section it was. I was prepped for surgery and wheeled to the operating room for the big delivery. Jared was given his jumper and would be coming to the OR when I was ready. The white room. The bright lights. The commotion of preparing for surgery. We were going to have a baby! Andersen was born at 11:19pm on Saturday, September 24th. He was 7lbs, 19 inches and had a head full of red tinged hair. He was and is PERFECT! I don't know how long it was before I got to hold Andersen, but I do remember "waking up" in recovery to the nurses shoving Andersen on my breast telling me to feed him and telling me how. [Side note: Because I was not dilating, Andersen was stuck in the birth canal... to make matters worse, he was face up. So me + him = not gonna happen the regular way]

The part of the plan that went as planned: I was going to have Andersen after September 22nd [Five year plan... I WIN!], but before the end of the 27th. Andersen held out until his daddy was there... with 12 hours to spare!
The part of the plan that didn't go as planned: I would have preferred to have had Andersen on the 25th or 27th because I like those numbers better, but I guess I have to learn to love the number 24 now as well. [silly me, I know]. I had to have a c-section. 

Jared, Andersen, and I stayed in the hospital less than 48 hours. When they said we could go home if we wanted, we jumped at the chance to be in our own home. Because my ability to walk, move, lift, etc. was hindered due to the c section, Jared had to take up all the slack. Oh so wonderful he was! The week that he was with us was the most amazing time. Jared was amazing with Andersen and jumped right in to changing sticky diapers. He was the best nurse I could have ever had. He helped me in and out of bed and reminded me to eat/drink/etc. Seeing Jared hold Andersen, the life we created, was amazing. That really is the only word I can think to describe our baby, my husband, and the time we had together. Amazing. [Sorry this post is really choppy and not exactly thought out well. I haven't really had time to get my thoughts together in a better way. So for now, this will do.]

Not an appropriate picture, but it shows his at birth and his birth weight.

The only picture of the 3 of us we have.

Jared, an amazing father already. Holding Andersen in the nursery.

Strapped in ready to go home!