Saturday was Will's day!!

Will woke me up at 6am Saturday morning he was so excited he was going to Youth Fun Day run by SOS(Survivors Outreach Services on Fort Bragg) and some really awesome volunteers. I can't blame him for being excited he had a really fun day ahead of him. All he could think about though was going on the 4-wheelers.

Once we got there he did some archery.

Then shot the bb guns

Went fishing

And of course rode the 4-wheelers over and over again.

Finally after about 8 hours of running and playing Will covered head to toe in mud and Jamie looking very neat and clean finally had enough and slept all the way home.

Stockings

While me and the kids were checking out at Walmart the cashier told me she liked Jamie's stockings. Will looked at her like she was crazy and as we were walking out he said "Mommy it was really good of you to recycle you reused last years christmas stockings for Jamie's stockings." I promise they were not red or fuzzy they are white with little shoes.

Oh and I forgot to mention on the way to Walmart Will had to call his Aunt jessica, Grandma Susan, and Great Grandpa to poll them and see if they thought Spounge Bob would ever get his license to drive. I love Will he always knows how to make me smile!!

Just in case you missed it!! The last 4 1/2 months....

Baby I can't believe it Jamie is already 4 1/2 months old. I have watched her go from a little tiny peanut who was content sleeping on my chest all day to a baby girl who is beginning to notice the world around her. As exciting as this is it is bittersweet for me every time she does something new no matter how small it is all I can think about is how much I want you to be here for it. But I know in my heart you are always watching down on us and see everything but just in case you blinked or sneezed and missed anything I figured I'd fill you in on all her firsts beginning with the her birthday.


Jamie Micheal was born at 12:43 am on May 7, 2010 at Womack. She weighed 8lbs 11oz and was 21 and 1/4 inches long. She is the spitting image of you and the most beautiful baby girl I had ever seen.

Over her first few days Jamie had a lot of firsts. She met her Grandma and Grandpa Pantin, her big brother Will, my best friend Rachel Patterson, and lots of other special visitors. She even got her first shot and went on her first car ride. Oh I was so excited to have her home. This is the first picture I took of Jamie when she got home. She was so sleepy.

Jamie was less than 48 hours old when Will got to hold her. He was so excited, he just couldn't believe how little she was.

Very very early the next morning Jamie had another big first. She met her Uncle Jonathan. I was so happy to see Jon he spent 2 1/2 weeks here helping me with Jamie and William. You would be so proud of him.

Almost two weeks later Jamie met her Nana Coral and Grandpa Scott. They were so excited to see her it was emotional but amazing all at the same time.

In between all the visitors Jamie celebrated her first holiday Memorial Day. I don't think celebrate is really the right word because this day was more of a somber day in which we remembered the ultimate sacrifice you and all the other fallen soldiers before and after you made. It is my mission that not only Jamie and Will know how amazing of a man you are but that they also know how much of a hero you are and truly understand what being a soldier meant to you.

At almost one month old Jamie's umbilical cord finally fell off so she was ready for her first bath. You have no idea how happy that made Will the whole umbilical cord thing totally grossed him out. Jamie loved her first bath she especially liked when I washed her hair and belly.

At five weeks our little peanut smiled and it wasn't gas!! I see so much of you in her baby. With the bright eyes and big smiles she is a mini you.

Shortly after her first smile Jamie met her Grandma Kim and Aunt Rebecca. It was awesome to have them here. Jamie especially loved sleeping with her Aunt Rebecca.


The next Saturday William, Jamie, and me met up with Grandma and Grandpa Pantin and spent the morning at Myrtle Beach. Although Jamie slept through most of it she looked very cute in her bathing suit and William had a ball boogie boarding.

A few weeks later Jamie celebrated her first 4th of July. Me and Rachel Patterson took Will, Jamie and Moira to the Hope Mills parade and fireworks show. We also decorated your gardens with American Flags and Will after I explained to him the real meaning of the 4th of July spent most of the day trying to explain to Jamie why this is such an important holiday and how much of a hero you are. You would be so proud of your little man.

The weekend before Will's 8th birthday my entire family came to visit. It was absolutely amazing I was finally able to introduce Jamie to my sister, uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents.

The next Thursday we embarked on Jamie's first roadtrip. Will, Jamie, Kristen, Cameron, and me began our long drive to Washington, DC for the Weekend of Remembrance. This was a very memorable weekend we discovered Jamie didn't really like her car seat, she got a kiss from Wayne Newton at the formal dinner on Friday night, she spent Saturday with Aunt Jessica and Uncle Rob and the most important thing of all was that we spent the entire weekend honoring you!!

After postponing our trip to Texas because of an awful stomach virus Jamie finally went on her first plane ride. She was very good and slept through most of the flight.

After arriving in Texas we spent an amazing week visiting family and friends. But the most important person she visited was you. Jamie lied on her blanket smiling and talking to you, she even ate her lunch with you. But everytime I tried to leave she would get upset she loves her daddy.








In the last month since we returned home from our trip to Texas Jamie finally realized tummy time wasn't so bad. And little by little learned how to do baby push ups:) After a few weeks of baby push ups she now can roll over from her belly to her back whenever she wants. Oh and she even giggles when you blow rasberries on her belly.

And last but not least at 18 weeks Jamie finally got to eat rice cereal for the first time. She definitely has your appetite she ate all her rice cereal and than looked at me like mom where is the rest.

As I read through everything Jamie has done in the last 18 weeks I realize not only why I'm so sleepy but that I am raising Jamie and Will in a way that would make you proud. We love you and miss you same forever and always!!

See you soon was never meant to be good bye!!

August 14, 2009 was the last day I woke up in my one true loves arms. As I opened my eyes that morning I knew James had to leave for Afghanistan but after breakfast in bed and some cuddling on the couch with the most amazing husband ever he told me “whats one year baby when we have forever together.” That simple sentence turned my entire day around I dreaded James leaving but I just kept thinking to myself its only a year it will just fly by I can do this. That entire day flew by we watched cartoons with Will, finished packing, had some alone time wink, wink and then James and Will rode their bikes till it was time to leave. After a quick stop at Wal-mart for tissues and lunch at Burger King we headed on post. On the way there I slipped a letter in James’ ruck sack titled “Do not open until you leave” he just giggled shrugged his shoulders and said he didn’t know if he could wait that long. Once we got to the company area James had a lot of stuff to do so Will and I just followed him around. I stole kisses and hugs every chance I could and Will dressed in his ACUs helped James load the trucks. Oh and of course I took as many pictures as I possibly could. After hours of waiting which I say felt like minutes they announced it was time to get in formation. Will and I hugged and kissed James as much as we could I knew it wasn’t going to be my last hug and kiss but I had to tell him I love him more so after a minute of going back and forth we agreed we love each other same and he hurried into formation. After the Chaplains prayer they begin to call the names as they called Sgt. James Nolen he slowly walked out of formation and headed for the big white busses. I knew once I heard his name we only had a few more seconds together so we hurried after him giving him lots of hugs and kisses I had to pull Will off of his leg. We agreed that we love each other same and we said see you soon not good bye because good bye was too permanent it meant forever. Than with tears rolling down our cheeks me and Will stood on the curb and waved and blew kisses to James as he slowly boarded the bus. If I knew then that, that was the last time I was ever going to see my one true love I would not change a thing I gave all the kisses and hugs I possible could have given James that day and he boarded that bus knowing just how much me and Will love him and care about him and that we would be there cheering for him when he stepped off that plane at green ramp.

I just can’t believe it’s been a year already. I love you and miss you more today than yesterday and will love you even more tomorrow. You are and will forever be my one true love, my best friend, my world, my soulmate and my hero. I love you and misses you same forever and always. RIP my love.

8th Birthday Party

Today was Will’s 8th birthday party. He chose Sponge Bob just like last year. We had lots of family and good friends there but there was one thing missing it was you baby. As I watched Will open his presents all I could do was remember last year when you helped him open them up and were just as excited if not more with all the cool toys he got. And the year before when we tried to make Will a Cars cake and it just fell apart. It was so funny when you and Will finally got one from the bakery you two were playing around in the cart and Will sat in it. I just miss you so much baby. Don't worry he had the most awesome cake this year I made sure he didn't sit in it. He got lots of really cool presents but I think you would love the awesome bike ramp the best. He had so much fun on it and he didn’t even fall when he jumped it the first time. You would be so proud of him. I’m telling you he becomes more and more like you every day. He’s a big daredevil but at the same time he is my snuggly momma’s boy. I misses you and love you same baby!!!!

Loose teeth :)

Will's tooth was really loose so he asked me to pull it. But before I could he said "Mommy my friend told me that his mom used jelly (orajel) and his tooth just slipped right out." I giggled and replied back that we don't have any. So Will walked in the kitchen opened the refrigerator and took out a jar full of grape jelly smiled at me and said very proudly "Yes we do mommy." I don't want him to ever grow up. We love you and miss you same baby!!!!

Happy Fathers Day

Happy Father's day to the best father ever. All I can say baby is how blessed me and the kids were to have you no matter how short the time was. Will idolizes you and tells everybody who will listen how amazing you are. He asks me at least once a day if something he's done is just like how you would have done it. He prides himself on being a daredevil like you. And Jamie is our miracle she looks just like you she has your eyes and she even started smiling. Just like you baby her smile brightens the room. Although you can't be here with us to celebrate this day I know you are watching down on us from heaven and are always here with us. Oh and don't you worry baby Will and Jamie will always know how much you love them and how you are the best daddy ever!!