Ashlynn is Crawling!!!

So, Ashlynn started crawling just the other day. It was so cute...we were playing on the floor, and she just started doing it. It had finally clicked what process she should follow in order to get from point "A" to "B". Of course then, I wouldn't let her stop...she had to keep going. So then, I started talking to Josh (using the computer program Skype...thank goodness for it!) and so he was able to see it. Then, he became the target for her to crawl to. Here's some video...it's so cute!!!

EXW Ceremony

I just received pictures of Josh's pin ceremony for his EXW. For those of you who need an explanation of what this pin is exactly, this is what I've been able to find in "Lamen's" terms: "The qualification was developed to provide a chance for enlisted sailors in the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command community (naval personnel serving in a maritime security or maritime combat related role) to earn a warfare qualification. Core qualification skills will include weapons qualification and maintenance, marksmanship, land navigation, field communications, and expeditionary camp deployment."

Here are his pictures:

I just love my man in uniform!!!

Cute Buns!!!

I just thought that this picture was too cute to keep to myself. I was getting Ashlynn ready for a bath this evening and while I was walking into the bathroom, I decided to see if she would react to her own reflection in the mirror. This is what I got...

Gimme a Kiss!!!

So, if I were Ashlynn, this is how I would be thinking during these pictures...

"Gimme a kiss."

"Fine, you don't want to kiss me. I'll teach you!!"

At Mrs. Aunt Jen's House

Landin went and spent the night at Mrs. Jen's house (Landin's nanny from WA who got stationed in TX also) and with Hailey and Owen. He loves going over to her house and playing with the kids. He of course had a blast playing, and Jen took some pictures for me. Landin had his first trampoline experience and went to Lake Worth as well. So fun!!!

Congratulations to Josh

So I got a phone call just a few days ago from Josh's chief overseas. In my previous post I mentioned that Josh has been working on his EXW pin, which is an achievement pin for the type of warfare that his command falls under. Well, this chief was calling me to let me know that Josh had just received his pin!! He got this pin which means that he will get to count it on his future records which will help his career. His chances for making chief when the time comes have been helped by receiving this pin.

I am so very proud of you baby!!! You deserve this!!

Josh Update

First, I want to start off by saying thank you to all of you who keep Josh in your prayers.

Josh is doing very well. Tired, but he's doing well. He is in the midst of studying for his next achievement pin, referred to as EXW. He has one achievement pin already from when he was stationed on the ship, but that is a different "segment" of the Navy, so now he gets to try for this new pin. It's basically a series of tests and then a verbal test given by a board of chiefs and officers from his command. He has taken the written tests and passed with no problems. He has taken his practice verbal boards and did very well with those as well. Now, he's just waiting for the real board and I am certain he will do really well. As now an E6, he is taking on more responsibilities which are stressful but he's dealing with it. We are counting down the days to what we think will be his homecoming. It's not a definite date yet, but we think we know the month...so we're counting down to that. We are ready to have him home.

Landin @ School

Landin has been attending Montessori school for a little over a month now and it's so amazing how much he's progressed in such a little time. Several times now, I've caught him organizing, stacking and categorizing things. Right now, he's practicing his "practical life" skills, which for Montessori means..."children learn how to do things such as: pouring and scooping, using kitchen utensils, washing dishes, polishing objects, scrubbing tables, and cleaning-up. They also learn how to dress themselves, tie their shoes, wash their hands, and other self-care practices." He's doing such a good job at it. He wants to help wash dishes with every chance that he gets and he thoroughly enjoys washing his hands (I think that's more because he likes to play in the water though). Just tonight, he brought out his crayons that are shaped like little traffic cones so they can be stacked together, but then they can also be stuck on your finger to draw, he took them all out of his pencil box and lined them all up before he started to color. The other day, I found Ashlynn's stacking rings lined up like a train on the floor and every once in a while I find various other things in some sort of order that I know was his doing. He's so stinkin smart it's amazing! I can't believe that he is learning so much so quickly. The next step in Montessori is for him to start learning colors, letters and shapes. While the "Montessori method" is to teach him at his pace and not force him into learning something cause that only makes it take longer, I am working with him as often as possible to teach him those things. So when I hand him something for a snack or to play with or I point to an object while driving or playing, the question that normally follows is "What color is that?". For the most part, he can get it right. Yellow and orange he's got down with no problem, he understands black and brown. Red, blue and green are still his trouble areas. Shapes...we've still got a little ways to go. But the point is, it's all about waiting for him to show his interest in those things and then that's when you start teaching. Another thing he's participating in is a computer class at school. Every monday, for about 30 minutes, he takes a computer class. An organization comes in to the school, brings laptops and teaches the kids the components of the computer, how to use them correctly, and then they play some age-appropriate learning games. He's loving that class, and that makes me happy. He also, starting tomorrow, is going to take a science class. It's a week long class, and he'll be doing it after his school hours, but I am so looking forward to hearing his stories about what he's going to learn from it. I'll share, as soon as I get the details from him!

I am so proud of him!

And So It Begins

I am pleased to announce, that Ashlynn has her first tooth! She has a second tooth coming in just behind it but it hasn't broken the skin just yet. It's so awesome!!! She's sticking her tongue out more cause now it feels different, and since she is tongue-tied, she has a little lizard looking tongue! So cute!!!