Because I have fifteen minutes before I can head home, and I can't really think about anything else I want to blog about the tragic shootings that happened on Ft. Hood today. The shooting started at 1:30 and the post is still on lock down. Because of our close proximity to the base we were also put on lock down at about 2:30. They lifted these restrictions at 5:00. The ARMY has declared twelve to be dead and thirty-one wounded. There were likely three shooters, one was killed and two were apprehended.
The military has such a tremendous presence in this area, first we see soldiers in uniform every day. Everywhere we go. It scares me to think I may have come across one of these victims, or their families in my time at Central Texas College.
One of my coworkers was scheduled to receive her associates diploma today on post at a graduation ceremony. This ceremony was scheduled to take place an hour after the shooting began, at one of the location where the shooters were apprehended. Praise be to God that that ceremony didn't take place and all the students and their family members scheduled to attend the ceremony weren't allowed on post.
Every single coworker in my department (10 people) is married or dating a military member. Several of their spouses are deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and I think it's terrible those men are now worried about the safety of their families here, who live in proximity to the largest military base in the free world.
This tragedy hits home so much for me. Many of the victims have been taken to Scott and White hospital, where I delivered Betsy (and visited several times afterwards). Some of my coworkers live on post, or their spouses can't leave post because it's still on lock down. I'm so blessed to have family here. My father-in-law headed to daycare to pick up Betsy. The church is pretty close to the base. Maybe a mile or two away.
A good friend at work was in tears, she just wanted to pick up her three year old son from daycare but we couldn't leave and the roads were blocked. Once our lock down was lifted she picked him up just to find she can't get back on campus where she lives.
It's just such a tragedy, and a moment I think I'll remember for the rest of my life. Being locked in our office, gathered around the computer watching the news while hearing the warning sirens going off on campus. Hearing (and seeing through our window) ambulances cut in front of our building taking the wounded to the hospital. Please pray for healing for those still in surgery. Please pray for the family members who have probably just learned they lost a father, brother, daughter, mother, or son. Please appreciate the sacrifices made by those in our military. I can't imagine what they are experiencing.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
*Attention please*
I'd like to take a moment to gush about my husband.
He does the grocery shopping every week, a chore I don't enjoy at all.
He made healthy chicken fajita lettuce wraps last night. Yum.
Last night I called his cell phone from my cell phone (he was working in the living room, I was already in bed) to come pull the comforter up. Since the 'Nauzer got a haircut she sleeps thisclose to my body. I didn't want to sit up and jostle her, so he came in and pulled the covers up for us.
He calls in the morning to ask how I slept the night before, knowing I hadn't been sleeping well.
He offered to play with the baby so I could relax for a while last night. I did not in fact relax, but I did clean up around the house and work on laundry.
He thanks me for doing things for other people. He notices the little things.
He's very selfless, loves his family and friends, and is a very happy person (because he invests his time in other people) I've heard more than a few people say "How could you not like Ben?!".
He truly wants to make me happy. If I ask him to do something he does it without complaining.
He's pretty much by BFF, we act like we did when we were first dating. We still use cutesy cheesy nicknames.
When I think of what I want kind of home I want Betsy to grow up in, I'm so happy to have the kind of relationship we do. He loves the way the bible says you should. He's patient, kind, he doesn't begrudge anyone else happiness, he's humble, he's *very* slow to anger, he keeps no record of wrong doing, he's forthright, nurturing, trustworthy, and he gives me hope that our marriage will last.
I'm so blessed to have Ben as a partner in life, and Betsy is blessed to have him as a dad.
He does the grocery shopping every week, a chore I don't enjoy at all.
He made healthy chicken fajita lettuce wraps last night. Yum.
Last night I called his cell phone from my cell phone (he was working in the living room, I was already in bed) to come pull the comforter up. Since the 'Nauzer got a haircut she sleeps thisclose to my body. I didn't want to sit up and jostle her, so he came in and pulled the covers up for us.
He calls in the morning to ask how I slept the night before, knowing I hadn't been sleeping well.
He offered to play with the baby so I could relax for a while last night. I did not in fact relax, but I did clean up around the house and work on laundry.
He thanks me for doing things for other people. He notices the little things.
He's very selfless, loves his family and friends, and is a very happy person (because he invests his time in other people) I've heard more than a few people say "How could you not like Ben?!".
He truly wants to make me happy. If I ask him to do something he does it without complaining.
He's pretty much by BFF, we act like we did when we were first dating. We still use cutesy cheesy nicknames.
When I think of what I want kind of home I want Betsy to grow up in, I'm so happy to have the kind of relationship we do. He loves the way the bible says you should. He's patient, kind, he doesn't begrudge anyone else happiness, he's humble, he's *very* slow to anger, he keeps no record of wrong doing, he's forthright, nurturing, trustworthy, and he gives me hope that our marriage will last.
I'm so blessed to have Ben as a partner in life, and Betsy is blessed to have him as a dad.
It's hereditary.
Just a couple cute things Betsy does:
- When falling asleep Betsy rubs the bottom of one foot on the top of the other, then switches feet over and over again. I've seen my Nana, Dad and myself do this for years. So sweet!
- Betsy's favorite snuggling consists of having her arms at her sides with her shoulders hunched toward me. This is exactly how Ben likes to be hugged. She looks even more like little Ben when she does it.
- And my favorite is the sleep face. Since the day she was born Ben has claimed she looks like me when she sleeps. She pooches her lips out like sleeping beauty. Apparently I'm well known for this as ALL my college roommates, Ben, JD and a host of others are familiar with impersonating the Shannon-sleep-face.
- She has Ben's posture. My Mom has seen pictures of Betsy from behind and exclaimed she even stands like daddy.
- When falling asleep Betsy rubs the bottom of one foot on the top of the other, then switches feet over and over again. I've seen my Nana, Dad and myself do this for years. So sweet!
- Betsy's favorite snuggling consists of having her arms at her sides with her shoulders hunched toward me. This is exactly how Ben likes to be hugged. She looks even more like little Ben when she does it.
- And my favorite is the sleep face. Since the day she was born Ben has claimed she looks like me when she sleeps. She pooches her lips out like sleeping beauty. Apparently I'm well known for this as ALL my college roommates, Ben, JD and a host of others are familiar with impersonating the Shannon-sleep-face.
- She has Ben's posture. My Mom has seen pictures of Betsy from behind and exclaimed she even stands like daddy.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Most wonderful *busy* time of the year
The months of November and December will be pretty extreme in our household. On top of keeping the house up, chasing Betsy around, completing a huge pile of sewing orders, here are the events we're looking forward to:
11/6 Bud's 50th birthday!
11/7-11/8 Ben at regional CC meet, Shannon and Betsy Christmas Decorating and marathon pumpkin roll baking weekend
11/11 Veterans Day parade, Shannon is off from work
11/13 Lauren's 20th birthday!
11/14 Ben to state CC meet, Football playoffs begin (may continue every weekend until 12/19 or when eliminated), Tiffany's bridal shower
11/19 Mary's birthday!
11/26 hosting Thanksgiving
11/30-12/18 Registration at work (hectic!)
12/4 Work holiday party (probably at our house)
12/5 ACC championship
12/8 Betsy's 1st birthday!
12/9 Betsy's one year well baby appointment
12/10 GRANNY ARRIVES :) :) :)
12/11 Tiff and JD's rehearsal dinner
12/12 Tiff and JD's wedding
12/13 Betsy's enormous birthday party
12/14 GRANNY departs :( :( :(
12/18 Shan and Ben's last day of work
12/21-12/30 Christmas in FL with the fam!
11/6 Bud's 50th birthday!
11/7-11/8 Ben at regional CC meet, Shannon and Betsy Christmas Decorating and marathon pumpkin roll baking weekend
11/11 Veterans Day parade, Shannon is off from work
11/13 Lauren's 20th birthday!
11/14 Ben to state CC meet, Football playoffs begin (may continue every weekend until 12/19 or when eliminated), Tiffany's bridal shower
11/19 Mary's birthday!
11/26 hosting Thanksgiving
11/30-12/18 Registration at work (hectic!)
12/4 Work holiday party (probably at our house)
12/5 ACC championship
12/8 Betsy's 1st birthday!
12/9 Betsy's one year well baby appointment
12/10 GRANNY ARRIVES :) :) :)
12/11 Tiff and JD's rehearsal dinner
12/12 Tiff and JD's wedding
12/13 Betsy's enormous birthday party
12/14 GRANNY departs :( :( :(
12/18 Shan and Ben's last day of work
12/21-12/30 Christmas in FL with the fam!
Two beautiful pictures
The day we took Betsy to the pumpkin patch, our good friend's the Hamdens were there with their son Ryder. Rydie and Betsy are a week apart and are destined to be best friends forever. A friend of Tiffany (Ryder's mom) was there taking professional pictures of Ryder and Betsy got to take a couple with him. They are pretty sweet :)
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Back to the doctor.
Betsy's been waking up in the middle of the night screaming. It's very unusual for her. She's also still tugging on her ear, so I took her to the doctor for a follow up appointment for her ear infections. She still has an infection in one ear, and we were given a second round of antibiotics. While there we also found her top two teeth have *finally* broken though. Hallelujah! We've been able to see them for months!
The good news at the appointment is that Betsy is gaining weight. She weighed 19 pounds 4 ounces with her diaper and her dress on. A week ago she weighed 18.4 pounds naked, so I'm not sure what the difference is with the clothes but she is in fact gaining (yea!).
Betsy walked around the waiting room waving to all the kids. It was very sweet. And she saw a 7 month old baby she tried to hold hands with. They smiled and jabbered at each other a while.
We'll be back to Dr. Coles' office at the latest, in five weeks for her well baby one year appointment. BIG girl!
The good news at the appointment is that Betsy is gaining weight. She weighed 19 pounds 4 ounces with her diaper and her dress on. A week ago she weighed 18.4 pounds naked, so I'm not sure what the difference is with the clothes but she is in fact gaining (yea!).
Betsy walked around the waiting room waving to all the kids. It was very sweet. And she saw a 7 month old baby she tried to hold hands with. They smiled and jabbered at each other a while.
We'll be back to Dr. Coles' office at the latest, in five weeks for her well baby one year appointment. BIG girl!
Betsy is famous!
A few months ago I nominated Betsy to be included on the cover of the Swoozies catalog. If we had one it would have meant a free trip to Atlanta.
I LOVE the Swoozies store. In fact, I ordered half the Christmas gifts we'll be giving to our families this Christmas from Soozies. They Swoozies corporate office emailed me and asked if they could include our story and pictures on the website, I said that was fine.
Here she is, my little Swoozies baby!
http://www.swoozies.com/content.asp?id=384820
I LOVE the Swoozies store. In fact, I ordered half the Christmas gifts we'll be giving to our families this Christmas from Soozies. They Swoozies corporate office emailed me and asked if they could include our story and pictures on the website, I said that was fine.
Here she is, my little Swoozies baby!
http://www.swoozies.com/content.asp?id=384820
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