I'm LOVING this Momma gig!

The two most important Days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.

-Mark Twain

Charlie is 4 months old

Charlie today you are 4 months old!

Today you weigh 13 pounds 12 onces, and are 25 inches long.

Today you fit perfectly in our arms.

Today you are all smiles.

Today you have quite the appetite and let us know when you're hungary with a dramatic cry with tears and all.

Today you love bath time.

Today you prefer to sleep on your right side with your left foot out of the covers. During your sleep you slowing start moving clockwise to where when we wake up in the morning we find you with your head at 3 o'clock, and your feet sticking out the rails.

Today you drool a lot.

Today you are losing interest in your pacifier and you'd rather just suck your thumb. Not just one at a time, but BOTH at the SAME TIME. You're an over achiever like that.  ;)

Today you want to put everything in your mouth.

Today you are finding your voice and becoming very vocal, but when you get everyones attention you're not too sure about it...

Today you love hanging out with us.

Today you either think we are really funny or funny looking, because you are always laughing at us.

Today you are easily entertained.

Today you are holding your head up very well during tummy time, and working very hard at trying to master to
 THE ROLL OVER!

Today you are not a fan of the carseat.

Today you like to sneak your fingers in your mouth while we give you a bottle.

Today you love getting your diaper changed. It's where you have our undivided attention. So you show off a little bit letting us see your latest wiggle move you've been working on. 

Today you love to be held, hugged, and kissed.

Today and every day Charlie we will love YOU in every stage and phase you have and go through, but for now you are our BABY CHARLIE.

Charming Charlie

Charlie Guinn Phillips

You were born May 9th, 2012 at 5:17 in the afternoon.

You weighed in at a whopping 6 pounds 14 ounces, 

and 19 inches long

with 10 long fingers and 10 long toes. 

 You have a head full of light brown hair. Your eyelashes and eyebrows are a very light blonde. 
I have to say the lashes have a wonderful curl, and the brows have a perfect shape to them.

You have the prettiest great big blue eyes I have ever seen. 

Oh yes! I mustn't leave out how cute your little half face smile is that you shoot our way from time to time.  

It may be gas induced... 

But who cares I'll take what I can get, because those little smiles make my day!   

Yes we are totally the parents who sit and just stare at you and say over and over how beautiful we think you are.

You, me, and dad are settling into our new life of us now being 3 not just 2. It's only been 3 weeks and we can't imagine life without you in it. We have waited, wanted, and prayed for you for so long. Now you are here, and we are so blessed to have you in our lives. 
 We are all 3 learning as we go. So far it's not been too bad. Your day consists of sleeping, eating and pooping, and ours just revolve around all of that. Oh the life of a baby.

What's Kyle been up to?

Same ole same ole…. Study Study Study

For the past 7 weeks, 7 days a week, and 12 hours a day Kyle has been preparing

for the first of three of United States Medical Licensing Exams (Step 1).

He has put in the time and done everything he knows to

do to make sure he is prepared for this test.

It's in God hands now.

Cowboy up!

Kyle will be taking the 8 hour test on October 4th.

Please keep Kyle in your prays.

BE INSPIRED

What's for dinner?

What's for dinner is always the question of the day.

Well I happen to have one of my all time favorite family casseroles for ya.

Chicken Spaghetti

Now I know everyone has a different spin on this classic dish. The one I am sharing with you today is a combination of my Mom's and my sister in-law Paige's. I love the way both of them make theirs so I thought I'd just combine the two. And trust me, it was a genius idea.

List of what you need:

1. Two or Three chicken breast/ which you will need to boil and then shred.

2. Three or four bell peppers in different colors to make it pretty. Chop up into bite size pieces

3. One squash. Chop up into bite size pieces

4. One can of stewed tomatoes

Ok everything listed above will all go into one big skillet to stew altogether making for some yummy flavorful good stuff.

Everything below will all go together

5. Pasta. Boil & drain and add a bit of butter to noodles.

6. Velveta cheese. Only use a 3rd of the block

7. One can of Cream of Mushroom

Now you will combine what's in the skillet stewing, into with the cheesy, cream of mushroom pasta and mix it all up and throw in a couple of tea spoons of chili powder and some salt and pepper to your liking

8. Chili powder

9. Salt & Pepper

Then pour it all into a baking pan and pop it in the oven on 350 for about 30 minutes

Voila! Dinner is served.

Something that will go great with this meal is Five Cheese bread. It's to die for.

Another thing that I love about this meal is that you can freeze it and pull it out for another day.

Enjoy friends and bon appetit.

Run for your LIFE

It's time to get busy getting in shape, before I completely lose my shape for good.

4 weeks ago Kyle and I started the Couch to 5K program with the encouragement from my sister in-law Paige who has become quite the runner these days.

This program takes you from literally sitting on the couch

to being able to run a 5k if not more

Our goal is to run in the Turkey Trot with Paige and Todd on Thanksgiving.

J Crew I love YOU

It's true… am in love

Here is my new Sperry crush

I can only look, but I can't buy.

Summer Lovin

We have had lots of love come our way with some wonderful family visitors.

Here we are The Phillips Clan

Kyle's awesome parents Kym and Don came to visit us in Miami.

They spoiled us rotten, and we a blast!

The Hopkins came too YAY!!!

Kyle's sister Paige and her husband Todd and their two beautiful children, Landry and Olivia, came to visit us. They filled up our little home with lots of laughter, card playing, little feet running around, cartoons, and just lots of wonderful together time.

Beach Babies

So many happy memories were made.

We are so blessed to have these people in our life.

Nuestro Casa

Nuestra humilde morada.

Front Puerta

Entrada de manera

Cocina

Sala de estar

Sala de forma

Cuarto de bano

Dormitorio

Aqui es donde vivimos y nos encanta.

In the spirt of living in Miami I am busting out a little espanol with the help of google translator.

With My Girls

Thank God for Skype!!!

This has been how I communicate with family for the past year and a half.

My nephews where beginning to think Kyle and I lived in the computer.

So to be able to see them in person, well, words can't describe how wonderful it was to hug their necks!

In person with Abram we did the crazy knee dance that we so brilliantly made up together, sang our ABC's, counted to 10, played some basketball, pointed out every truck that went down the road, and colored on everything, including the walls, and my computer charger when I wasn't looking. ;)

Gave Olin bottles, burped him, bathed him, and just watched him smile, giggle and sleep. He is a little angle baby.

I got to be in Maine for Mothers day this year. All of us together again made for days with lots of late night talks, laughing, crying and just solving all the worlds problems. It was great to all be together again.

I was able to be there for Hillary & Hannah's 25th B-Day which we celebrated with a pizza party at Flatbreads and then we were off to dance the night away.

So thankful to have amazing sisters who are my best friends.

Every time I hear this song it makes me think of you girls.

So ladies, this one's for you.

What did the mayonnaise say to the mustard? KETCHUP!!!

So let's get you caught up. How about it?

I'll start with our last day in Dom. April 21st was a night to remember. Kyle came home after his test saying "well it's finished, I can't believe it." Feeling very exhausted, excited, and anticipating leaving the island the next morning for good, life in this moment couldn't be more rewarding. He was done with his first two years of med school. HIP HIP HOORAY!!!

GOING HOME

The lovely adventure back home started April 22nd.

Our experiences at the Dom airport was far from perfect, but predictable to say the least. We checked in 2hrs prior to our flight.

(thinking we're way ahead of the game nothing bad would happen, right? WRONG!)

They put us immediately on standby when we received our plane tickets. Needless to say, Kyle and I had a wave of frustration hit us like a bus. We weren't the only ones that this happened to. There were nine of us that didn't get on the flight. We were all bummed out and just wanting so badly to be HOME already. Only 4 of us were lucky enough to get on the next flight out of Dom later that afternoon. We were two out of the lucky four that got to go. We all had to stay the night in Miami, but American Airlines paid for it and comped us $2,400 in vouchers so it ended up being a blessing in disguise.

We made it home safe and sound. Back to our sweet Texas that has felt so far away for so long.

Once we finally arrived in Texas it was GO GO GO from the sec we hit the ground. Out to eat with the Phillips clan, then off to Kyle's cousin's wedding reception.

Easter

My Mother-in-law Kym put together a lovely Easter fiesta grill out for all of our loved ones. The Phillips', Binghams, Hopkins, Morton's, and Heards came together to celebrate the Lords day.

Stay tuned for my trip to Maine and on us moving to Miami ;)

Pete's Ribs

Pete's Ribs has been so good to us. They are only open on Friday, so when we can we all try to hop on a transport down to Portsmouth for some mystery meat. We all think its goat ribs but whatever it is, the secrets in the sauce, and it keeps us coming back for more.

Here's where we sit week after week while everyone waits on their ribs. We fill up that time with some kubuli beers, lots of sweating, and even more bug spray. (sounds fun right?)

We always leave full and happy after we've been to Peters Ribs.

It's The FINAL Count Down

Here he is....

My dearest husband Kyle about to tackle his FINAL exam on the island.

Cowboy Up!

So proud of this guy.

Fun in the SUN

It's Wine Cruisin time.

With my girls out on the open sea.

This is something I look forward to every semester.

good times, great friends, and wonderful views.

Wine cruising here in Dom is no fancy thang, but it suits us just fine.

dixie cups of cheap wine and bags of dorito chips.

(what more does a girl need?)

Cheers to awesome women who I'll never forget.

Thanks for the memories!

Thoughts on Leaving Dominica

With our final semester on the island coming to an end, I'm taking a moment to reflect.

I do have to say that this move is a bit bitter sweet because I have come to really love living here. Life here has been easy in ways that it's hard back home, and vice versa.

For instance:

1. We don't have a car. So that means no stressing over budgeting in gas money, car payments, or insurance.

2. Kyle and I get to have lunch and dinner with each other every day. When we're back home this won't happen very much.

3. Here we only have 3 necessary bills to pay such as rent, pay as you go cell phones, and electricity. At home this will be multiplied by 2. (scary is an understatement)

4. Here for entertainment we buy a bottle of cheap wine and have game nights. Back home everything will cost an arm and leg.

5. Here I feel like the friendships/conversation is rich with the freedom to be real and not on the surface. What you see is what you get; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

6. Here my biggest worry on a daily basis is what the heck am I going to make for dinner. I have a feeling that will never change, but with time there will be more added to that list

7. .Life here has just been so simple. There hasn't been the feeling of being pulled by people or things to get us distracted, insecure, the need to please people, or feeling obligated.

So if you can't tell... I'm feeling pretty nervous. Don't get me wrong, I'm more ready than I'll ever be to get back to the good-ole USA.

I guess I just don't want to lose what I found here. This experience has in so many ways been just what I needed to get me back to the nitty gritty, to be comfortable in my own skin, to take risk, to be bold... I mean for heaven's sake, I was on the RSO committee where I had to make lists and email people back and for a person that has dyslexia that's a big freaking deal! Thats not the only thing God has pushed me to do. At times I was even to a place where I was a bit uncomfortable, but there was a lesson to learn behind every hard thing I had to go through. I feel that Kyle and I have a new found strength and we're seeing things in a new light, feeling focused on OUR goal ahead.

Kyle and I say "Bring It ON" to whatever comes next.

Pretty much every day this past week we have looked at each other and said "I can't believe we are about to leave Dominica." We really did it!!! This island will always have a special place in our hearts.

There is a Grocery Store in Picard

Grocery shopping here on the island has been a bit like hunting and gathering.

(a term I used quite a bit)

Let me paint the picture for you of how it all went down.

All of us spouse's gathered at the campus library bright and early ONCE A MONTH. We all piled ourselves into buses to make the hour long trip down to Roseau for food that we had in mind,that may not even be in stock.

Lets just say sometimes these very long days could be hit or miss.

That makes for a very grumpy wife doped up on Dramamine and for a very hungry husband saying over and over "I'm so sorry I brought you here...." haha. Oh the joys of shopping days to Roseau are long gone, thank you God.

So with all that being said let me introduce to you the newest addition to the little village of Picard, where they have been building for the past 16m the most beautiful grocery store in Dominica. And yes, it opened just 2weeks before I leave this place.

Ta Daaa!!!

It's like a for real grocery store!!!

I saw people taking family picture by the meat section, no lie.

This truly is a wonderful thing. It will provide lots of jobs for the locals, and they need them. Overall its going to change EVERYTHING for the GOOD and I'm happy for everyone who will get to enjoy this lille jewel called the IGA.