Daddy's Girl!

My sweet, scaredy cat of a hound has finally come out of her shell and let go of her mama to really love her daddy!

I woke up this morning with ZERO room in my bed to this. I couldn't even be mad. If you look closely you'll see they are sleeping the exact same way, how precious is that? I just love her paw behind her head!

And, if you are wondering, yes...she sleeps with us every night, and has since she was born! I, however, am starting to get grumpy about it due to my growing status!

I was ready for bed last night and started my nightly routine. (Usually Lil is right with me, as ready as I am to beat daddy to the bed to take his spot.) But, last night This is what I found! Princess curled up in her daddys lap, completely taken in by whatever he was sweetly saying to her!
I'm not going to lie, I'm starting to get a little jealous of their newfound relationship...but I love it and am so thankful that she has bonded with him again! But, I, afterall get the prize...a mama's boy! I wonder how our little princess is going to adjust to her new brother? I'm praying she takes as his protector and not just germ giver!

It's a...

BOY!!!!!!!!!

Little John Pierce Sparks!

Let me tell you how much I can not believe I am having a child! Or, how excited I am!
I absolutely can not wait to meet his sweet little self. He is so very active right now and I must tell you that I just love feeling him. Billy looked at me the other day, in a moment of realization, and said, "He is perfect. Right now he can do no wrong, he hasn't disappointed anyone or made anyone mad. He is just perfect." LOVE my sweet husband.

16 weeks and 3 days!

One of the girls in my High School small group is an AMAZING photographer! She came up with the precious idea of taking a few pictures of me every 5 weeks through out my pregnancy and putting it into a week sequence ending with our little lamb curled up on my chest! Here is a more covered picture of little Lamb and me! We took it last night so I was 16 weeks and 3 days!

I feel like the belly looks like a cone...but nonetheless he/she is growing like kudzu! In fact, it is 5 inches and 3 pounds this week...HOLY CRAP!!!

Still behind...still a bad blogger!

Every other Summer my sisters, their families, my mom and now our little family go to Hilton Head. We usually go in late May but Billy was still deployed so we waited and went the end of July...let me tell you, it was HOT but it was so fun!

Here is our beautiful family!

All 5 of the little ones. I love how Kilah and Mason look mischevious!
These babies are the sweetest set of twins I have ever known! You tell them you want to take a picture of them and this is what they do. No instruction, simply love. It's precious!

Bestfriends, with matching hair styles, American Girls babies and chatting always.

Tom is great with ideas and getting the kids out of the house. The girls are in a "carrier" because we were riding to get ice cream! It was so fun!

This is the FUNNIEST kid I have ever met! Next time you see him, ask him to do his Elvis dance!

Brodie LOVES his Uncle Biwwy.

Brodie had to do everything Mason but especially Miles did, including, "gooby goarding"! Look at his sweet little face!

I just can't help it, they are too beautiful!

Miles "gooby goarding"

It was almost miserable on the beach it was so hot. Whoever brought the unbrella, the babies and I thank you! Look at Mason's face! Always a joker!

He HATED his Ice Cream, can you tell?

We learned that July in Hilton Head is the beginning of Jelly Fish season...Miles was the first to get stung...he was so big about it. This was as much of a grimace as he let out!

I had to post this. I love it. Billy is so great.

He hung in with my family like he had been there for years! Shows me even more that God had my family and me in mind when he was making him!

First comes love...check.

Then comes marriage...check.

Then comes baby...check

In a baby carriage...

YES!!! It has happened! God has given us a baby...well, in my belly! Today, I am 14 weeks and feel fabulous! My first trimester was ROUGH, but that's such a blessing because that means the baby is healthy! Now, I feel like I have narcolepsy, another good sign! I swear I could fall asleep at a red light and sleep for hours! We are so stinking excited about this little Lamb we have been given! We find out on October 4th what we are having but I think it is a GIRL! Ah, she would come out with bows on...big ones! And if it's a boy...he will come out in a bubble suit with a white button down collar underneath and a monogram on the front! PRECIOUS!!! I know I shouldn't say this but March can't get here soon enough! I really just can't wait to meet this precious Lamb!

At 9 weeks with our, "Future Volunteer"

At 11 weeks!

Been forever...so we'll start anew!

I'm SUCH a blog slacker! I have my excuses of a broken computer and Billy having his so I had went without but...I could have made it work! Anyway, I was having a hard time trying to figure out where to start back. Jess said, "Start with today!" Way to much has happened since the last blog to just start today. So here are some pictures of what has happened since forever ago!

My sweet Husband deployed to Iraq in January and faithfully returned in June! Here we are, saying goodbye at 5 am. If I look swollen it's because I was, crying will do that to a girl!

And his promised return to me! I cry looking at this. It was such a blessed day!

July 4th! It was a great picture so I had to share.

On his leave we went home to Knoxville for about 2 weeks and here are some pictures of our adventures!

Billy's family lived in Cades Cove so we went to Sparks Lane and saw the grave site of a lot of our history. I thought it was really neat!
Us with Mike, Billy's dad at Sparks Lane!

At River Rapids in Townsend.

Mason and Uncle Billy getting some quality time together. Billy obviously enjoying himself...Mason, not so much!

I will update again tomorrow...once I figure out how to get a picture on my computer that I want to share! It's a good one, promise!

For the Military Wives.

I saw this today and it brought me to tears. It may not mean much to most of you who will read this, but maybe you will see a little into the life of a military wife!

For the Military Wives.

This is for the sad military wives, the angry military wives, and the strong military wives.

This is for the young women that are waking up at 6 a.m. every morning, laying out clothes and packing three lunches for those small precious children that they have been left alone to care for. This is for the pregnant military wife wondering if her husband will make it home in time to watch their miracle happen.

This is for the childless military wife, living in a town or on a base alone where she is a complete stranger to her surroundings.

This is for the women that feel like a third leg when they go out with their friends and their husbands.

This is for the military wife that canceled all her plans to wait by the phone, and even though the phone broke up and cut off every time you spoke to him you waited anyway.

This is a pledge to the women that cry themselves to sleep in an empty bed.

This is to recognize the woman that felt like she was dying inside when he said he had to go, but smiled for him anyway.

This is for those of you that are faithfully waiting in that long line at the post office once a month, handling 2 large boxes like a pro.

This is for that woman that decided to remodel the house to pass the time, and then realized that she had no idea what she was doing and sighed, wished she had a little help.

This is for all the lonely nights, all the one-person dinners, and all of the wondering thoughts because you haven't heard from him in days.

A toast to you for falling apart, and putting yourselves back together.

Because a pay check isn't enough, a body pillow in your bed is no consolation, and a web cam can never compare.

This is for all of you no matter how easy or hard this is for you. Our marines/soldiers/ airmen/sailors/coasties are brave, they are heroes, but so are we.

So the next time someone tells you that they would never marry a military guy, don't bother explaining to them that you can't control who you fall in love with.

Just think of this and nod your head, know that you are the stronger woman.

Hold your heads up high, hang that flag in your front yard, stick 100 magnets on your car, and then give yourself a pat on the back.

I found this so comforting. As it is 1:30 a.m. and I am alone, my husband working, like he has every week night since we were married. Working "mids" 11 pm-7 am or sometimes 6pm-4 am. Knowing the obstacles that lie ahead of us with shift changes, last minute duties, TDYs, deployments...expected and unexpected to Iraq and Afghanistan, briefings, exercises, and never knowing much for certain, we can't help but smile. The pride I have for my husband goes beyond words. I am PROUD of my husband and the position he holds and of the country he fights for every day. I am proud of what we, him and I stand for as a couple. For this is our life! And there are women out there that feel just like me. God bless each of you!

With much love,

An Airmans Wife.