7 Months Down!

Seven months ago today was the worst day of my life... at least I thought that at the time. I was so worried... worried that I would watch him walk away from me and never see him again, never feel his hand reach for mine riding in the truck, never get another text from him in the middle of the day just to say he loves me, never see him play with Bailey in the backyard again, and I was flat out scared as hell that I'd never be able to be the mother to his child if something happened to him.

I have learned so much from this experience. The first few days were filled with sadness and loneliness, I relied a lot on my Army friends and my parents here for support. There is something to be said for friends going through the same difficult event with you, there is just an understanding and a peace of being with them... they understand you more than anyone else during that time in your life. I have learned to embrace that. I have also learned that I need to rely on my Heavenly Father more than JB, not just when he is gone, but also when he is here with me. I have learned when I am getting too busy, and that I needed to stop stepping up for things and let others take a leadership position. I have learned what it means to fully trust in God. I had/have absolutely no control over the conditions over there, so I had to trust that God was going to protect him and bring him home to me.  I've learned that I need to stop worrying about other aspects in my life as well, because He's taught me that he's going to take care of those things, too :) Most of all, I've learned to be thankful. To be thankful for this amazing, crazy, wonderful journey of life. It's full of suspense, mystery, love, friendship, sadness, and heartbreak. I've realized without that heartbreak I wouldn't have learned as much as I have throughout the past seven months, and so for that sadness, loneliness, and heartbreak; I am thankful... I am especially really freaking thankful that he will be home so so soon. (knock on wood!)

Puerto Rico 2011

It's about time that I reminisce on our trip to Puerto Rico earlier this summer to visit JB's brother, Matt & our sister-in-law, Julia. We started the trip by driving down to Jacksonville, FL where JB's parents live. We enjoyed celebrating JB's belated birthday and Father's Day for Neil. A home cooked meal by Marianne the first night and a nice dinner out the second evening started our vacation out juuuust rightt! We enjoyed good food, company, and two fun nights of playing games until late. On June 23, we flew out of Jacksonville directly to San Juan, PR where we were greeted by Matt. We headed back to their apt in a wonderful part of SJ, called Condado. We had some homemade guacamole, pina coladas, dinner, and then went out for some sangria. Such a fun way to start our week in PR. 

Second Night in FL

With Matt & Julia - First Night in Condado

Matt & Julia are in San Juan becuase that is where Matt has been stationed with the Coast Guard. On our second day (Friday) Julia had to work, so Matt took JB & I on a tour of the Coast Guard station, Old San  Juan, and we went to lunch at St. Germain... which was nothing short of amazing. 

Sector San Juan

Walking on the La Princessa in Old San Juan

San Juan Fort

Old San Juan, Brighter version of Charleston's Rainbow Row!

Lunch at St. Germain... AMAZING! 

Shopping in SJ... The owner personalizing our 'door' to say, "Casa Baker"

After doing around in Old SJ, we headed back to their apt and got ready for our weekend trip to Vieques!!! Vieques is a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico... and most of the most beautiful places I have ever been... and that's saying a lot (in my opinion). I cannot WAIT to go back one day. Here is a picture gallery of our weekend in Vieques. 

Boarding our little plane to Vieques

Casa de Amisted (our guest house) - back patio & pool 

Vieques' wild horses

First beach stop, tip of the island, Green Beach

JB & I at Green Beach

Lunch in Esperanza, the only 'big' town in Vieques

Lunch View in Esperanza

JB exploring Navio Beach

Saturday night in Vieques we went to the brightest Bioluminescent Bay in the world in Mosquito Bay.
You kayak out to the middle of the bay, get out of the kayak and swim while the water around you illuminates as you activate the algae living in the water. Truly amazing!!
This is a picture from the internet because you cannot really capture the light without a very high-tech camera.

 

After the Bio Bay, we went out for the evening to the W Hotel & Resort on the island.
It was nice, but we decided we were glad we didn't stay there because it really took away from the
'real' experience of being on the island.

Last day on the island... Blue Beach! 

Beautiful...

Perfect weekend! 

Flying back to San Juan for the rest of the week!

Ariel view of the fort in Old San Juan

Upon our return to San Juan, we had a rainy day the following day... so we did lunch with Julia and then did a tour de sangria around Condado! ha. The following day JB & I went to El Yunque National Rainforest, Puerto Rico's National Rainforest.. Following are a few pictures from our hike! 

beautiful waterfalls

after the first half of the hike to one of the peeks

Coqui frog!! Unusual to find, but I can always find frogs!!

Enjoying a break :)

JB enjoying our last day in Puerto Rico at the beach!

We truly had an unforgettable time in Puerto Rico. There was so much to do & see, and we cannot wait to visit Matt & Julia again! Thanks, PR Bakers for a wonderful trip!! 

Summer So Far...

So... It is quite obvious that I have been lacking in my blogging! It's almost been 3 months! Geez... that means that my sweet little niece is almost 3 months old, which is clearly NOT OK! 

Since my last post:

• School got out June 10th, gonna miss Team Baker.. but hoping for another wonderful group of children & parents 
• I chaperoned a group of 4th-6th graders on a church camp, PassportKids in Wingate, NC for a few days
• JB & I had a "see you later" dinner with our good friend, Jen(nifer) haha... as she was about to move to Kansas. This was my first hard goodbye because of the Army, but I am SURE it won't be the last. 
• JB & I went to Florida & Puerto Rico to visit the other Bakers! (another post for this!)
• The podiatrist figured out what is wrong with my feet... basically a bone is too long in both feet, causing overall foot pains/aches and specific joint pain. EW. 
• JB & I took my dad on Fayetteville's own, ZipQuest Zip-lining and Water Falls, for his  Father's Day gift! 
• I took the position as being a CO-leader for our Battalion's FRG (Family Readiness Group)
• I worked the VIP tent with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, meeting John, Paulie, owners of Blue Ridge Cabin (who provided the home), and even getting to shoot a scene acting with Sabrina Soto from HGTV! She is the newest member of the EHM design team. Hopefully that scene will make the cut for the October episode!!
• Spent 10 days at N. Myrtle Beach with family, with JB making it for one weekend when he got out of the field
• And this week, I started to get my classroom in order, got a much-needed pedicure, had lunch with my co-leader to discuss FRG stuff, did my FRG training last night, and had another podiatrist appointment in which I got my first cortisone injection in my foot... hoping for some relief so surgery won't be needed for a LONG time!! 

Here are a few snapshots from our summer :) 

sneak peak from our trip to Vieques, Puerto Rico

Designer John from Extreme Home Makeover, in the VIP tent

Designer Paulie from EHM,  outside in front of the new house in Fay

Eleanor sleeping in her tent on the beach for the first time

More to come! Only a couple weeks left of summer!! 

Hello, My name is Auntie M!

On September 8, 2010, the day after my birthday I found out that I was going to be an aunt to my sister's baby! This past Tuesday I was giving my 5th graders their Science End-0f-Grade test. I had just finished giving the test and my principal told me that my mom had called the school during the testing session and my sister was at the hospital in Labor & Delivery. I jumped and cried and hugged my principal all at the same time... I was SO excited & surprised that she was going in a week early. The ladies in the front office at VanStory quickly got my class a substitute for the rest of the day and I was off! I came home to get my camera and then stopped by our family's favorite florist to get some flowers for sister & baby... then I was off to the hospital.

pink roses for mommy & baby E

Arriving at the hospital, I was surprised to find Sister doing so well. She was happy and upbeat despite constant contractions and her husband, Will, being halfway around the world on his way home from Afghanistan in Kuwait. He did not even know yet that she was at the hospital. He finally got a message from me on his phone, and called us. He was sad that he had not made it on time for the birth.. but God was in control, and everything turned out just fine. We got Skype set up on my phone, and Sister & Will were able to video-chat with each other before the birth. During the birth, Will got to be on the phone and hear everything going on in the room. Of course we wish he could have been here, but at least he wasn't in an airplane and couldn't talk or hear anything!

Shortly after the Skype session, nurse Lex from Trinidad & Tobago, came in for Sister's check. She was dilated enough and said it was time! We were so excited the time had finally come. After about 30 minutes of work on Sister's part, Eleanor Lee Canda was born at 6:05pm. She was 7 pounds 11 ounces, 20.5 inches long, and absolutely perfect! 

We are all so excited that Eleanor has graced us with her presence. She is such a good baby, loves to sleep and to nurse with her momma. JB and I are loving being Auntie M & Uncle Johnny already and it's only been 4 days! What a blessing from God to have this special little lady in our family! Thankful that she is happy & healthy baby girl :) 

Remembering Mom

As Mother's Day approaches tomorrow I find myself reflecting on fond memories of my mother and I. Memories of her leaving notes in my lunches growing up, my senior spring break with her to Savannah, playing basketball & going on bike rides after dinners, lemon cakes on my birthdays, shopping for back to school clothes, coming to basketball games to watch me cheer, teaching me to drive her bmw convertible manual (when I was 14) in her school's parking lot, fighting about curfews, helping me with homework, and always cooking dinner during the week days so that our family could eat together. I cherish all of these memories and I look forward to so many more to come. Some of which are here to come soon. The other most important woman in my life is my sister, Laura, who is expecting her first born within the next couple of weeks. She also is going to be a wonderful, caring mother who will make memories of a lifetime with baby Eleanor. I do not yet know the love that a mother feels for their child, but I can only imagine how amazing and fulfilling it is! God has truly blessed me with my mother and my sister who is a soon-to-be mother who are both such wonderful role models of what a mother's love should look like. 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you! 

The Reading Mother

By: Strickland Gillian

I had a Mother who read to me

Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea, 

Culasses clenched their yellow teeth, 

"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath. 

I had a Mother who read to me lays

Of ancient and gallant and golden days; 

Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe, 

Which every boy has a right to know. 

I had a Mother who read to me tales

Of Gelert the hound of hills of Wales, 

True to his trust till his tragic death, 

Faithfulness blent with his final breath. 

I had a Mother who read to me the things 

That wholesome life to the boy heart brings- 

Stories that stir with an upward touch, 

Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold; 

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. 

Richer than I you can never be-

I had a Mother who read to me. 

-love this poem about one of the best gifts a mother can give their child, 

reading to them, and being together during that time-

Feeling Blessed...

For the past few months I have been dealing with foot pain, which I know now from my Podiatrist, as Hallux Limitux - hyper-mobile metatarsal joint. (A completely different blog to come!) Anyways... this foot pain has caused me to not be able work out or really doing anything that is too active, making me not the happiest camper when trying to shed a few pounds and go on walks with JB & Bay. So, when JB went for his morning run on Saturday, I sat feeling sad that I couldn't enjoy a sunny day's exercise with him. Upon his return, I mentioned the idea of getting a bicycle.. JB has had a road bike for years, and though it has kind of taken a backseat to his workout routine he is anxious to make an effort to get back on. He was for the idea of me getting a road bike, for exercise and to spend time outside with him doing something productive. So, we were off to find a road bike. Stop #1 - The Bicycle Shop in town. First stop was a success. I got a Trek Alpha Lexa road bike in a beautiful blue color. It is Trek's beginning bicycle for women, and a perfect fit. We spent Saturday & Sunday riding through neighborhoods, and Sunday we even went about 8 miles. Which I thought was pretty good for my 2nd day! My third day wasn't as happy.... 

On Monday, we left the house in the afternoon after I got home from work for another bike ride. The ride was going well, until the trek home. On the way home, I got broadsided by a Jeep and I was thrown off of my bicycle. The driver claims she did not see John and myself, which I think is crazy, but oh well. A good family friend saw everything happen as he was one or two cars behind the driver of the Jeep.  He stopped and helped JB and I get emergency things taken care of. What a blessing to have him there. He saw me fly off of the bicycle and land on my left side. I AM SO THANKFUL to GOD that I was not hurt worse than I was. My left hand and arm are scraped up and I landed awfully hard on my tailbone/buttocks. The EMS, fire truck, and police all came to the scene & it was determined that was not broken... so I did not go hospital. My head also hit the ground, and the helmet that I was wearing actually did pop off. If anyone takes anything from this accident, it is to ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET!!! I cannot imagine what would have happened if I had not been wearing mine. 

Like I said earlier, I am just so grateful that nothing worse happened. I still cannot believe that I was hit by a car, but I know God was trying to teach me something to do with His plan. Maybe it is for me to tell my story and talk about God's grace in my life, maybe it is to share His perfect plan  for everyone's life who believes in Him, or maybe it is simply to spread the world for more people to be cautious of "sharing the roads" and to wear their helmets. I don't know exactly why... but that doesn't matter, it happened, and the glory goes to God that He ultimately saved my life. I am blessed beyond my belief and so thankful I am even able two days later to type my story. Thanks be to God! 

Thank you to those that have prayed and are still praying for my recovery. I am grateful for your thoughtfulness during this time. I have been back at school since the accident, and I actually do feel a little better. My body is still recovering, but my heart and mind are there and thankful for this miracle. 

This week is also Teacher's Appreciation Week, and yesterday I shared my accident story with my class. Today as one of my little gifts from a sweet student was a framed picture of a flower and above it read, "Miracles Happen Everyday." I will cherish that and remember that miracles happen all because of our Lord and Savior's gift of grace. :)

Don't forget to count your blessings and give thanks for them all!

I honestly do not think that I will go a day for the rest of my life and not give thanks. 

I hope you do the same!

No Dreary Day in London!

4am EST came quickly after hardly being able to fall asleep!

I was so excited for the royal nuptials

Everything about the wedding was splendid! 

Kate looks stunning in her dress that is fit for a Princess!

Whispering, "You look beautiful.." to his bride. 
This part didn't make me cry at all, HA!

Introducing the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge! 

In love with this Royal couple!!

The balcony kiss :) 


I am so glad that I watched this moment in history
Wills & Kate will forever be the fairytale romance, and every little girl's dream


Whether marrying into royalty or not, 
every lady deserves her prince! 
So thankful I found mine :)
-Lady Amelia Gardenia-Larkhaven of Sycamore-


What's your 'royal' name?