When is it enough?

I'm a HUGE Big Brother fan & what I've watched lately over the live feeds, is horrendous. In this day & age bullying just gets worse. Amanda continues to bully Elissa in the house & mind you Amanda is 28 years old. It amazes me that even growing up & maturing bullying is still being done. This is my one biggest fear for my children is to have to grow up in a society where people get away with bullying & nothing is done until something happens.

I always tell myself that I refuse to let my children be bullied or be the bully. Either one isn't going to happen. It's sad to see kids/adults having to go through something like this. Why do kids, even adults turn to bullying? To me, I think it's a self esteem issue. As for younger kids, I feel it could be their upbringing.

It's just a sad situation to see kids these days going through this. I see a lot of Lifetime movies that deal with these situations & more situations end up with someone committing suicide. :(

What do you think, we as a community should try and improve to bring awareness to bullying?

My thoughts are: sitting down with our children, discipline our children, know what's going on in their life.

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Bowl with Cilantro Lime Rice.

Again, today I wasn't sure what to make for dinner. So, I went through good ole Pinterest and looked through my pins & found this. Another delicious meal. A little spicy and Limey, but other then that it was an A+.

Chicken Taco Bowl Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. chicken (4 large chicken breasts)

1/4 cup of water

1 cup of fresh salsa

1 tsp. of chili powder

3/4 tsp. of ground cumin

1/2 tsp of kosher salt

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can of corn, drained

1/2 of lime juiced about 1/2 tbs.

1. Place your chicken in the crock pot and pour your water and salsa over the chicken.

2. Add your chili powder, ground cumin, salt, garlic, lime juice, black beans, and corn.

3. Cook on low heat for 6-8 house or until the chicken shreds easily.

4. Serve over rice. Optional toppings: shredded cheese, avocado, sour cream.

5. Serve with tortilla chips.

Cilantro Lime Rice Ingredients:

2 tbs. of butter

1 cup uncooked white long rice

Juice & zest 1 large lime

1 14oz. Can of chicken broth

1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro

3/4 tsp of salt and pepper to taste

1. In a skillet melt your butter with rice.

2. Add your chicken brother and the rest of the ingredients.

3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, & cook for 20 minutes or until liquid absorbs.

Enjoy! Please let me know what you think. :)

Expectant Mommy?

If you're expecting a little one, then you need to know how to baby proof your home! Head over to www.wifessionals.com to find out what you need :) or click the button below :)

Happy 5 Months to my Baby Boy.

Time flies by, doesn't it? Feels like yesterday I was in labor with Landen. We don't realize how fast our children grow. We can wish all we want that we want our kids to stay little forever, but in the end they grow up faster then we want. 

Landen's Hospital Picture.

When he was born:

He weighed: 7lbs 8oz

His height was: 20.5 inches

Landen's Picture from Yesterday.

Today at 5 months old:

He weighs: 13lbs

His height is: 26 inches

It's amazing how much they grow in a short period of time. I'm going to start a monthly blog on Landen to give everyone an update on his milestones :)

At 5 months old Landen loves to:

Roll over

Play with his feet

Coo (A LOT)

Make fishy faces

Suck his fingers

Lay on his belly

At 5 months old Landen is:

Trying to already crawl

Already teething (should have teeth soon!)

How old are your child(ren)? What are they starting to do? 

Even children that have grown up, when did they start their milestones?

Deployment Babies.

If you read my page "Always & Forever" you would know my husband Henry is in the military. Army to be exact. When they sign those papers, you don't realize at that moment all the sacrifices you're going to be going through months even years to come.

We had Cameron before Henry joined so he was there for my whole pregnancy, my labor, the birth, & afterwards. We got pregnant with Ethan a few weeks before he left for basic. Henry had no idea I was even pregnant, because when they go to basic they have one phone call & thats to tell you what their address is. By time he called me I didn't know if I was pregnant or not. But when I found out on November 1, 09, I had to break the news in a letter. So from October 2009-December 2009, Henry missed the beginning of my pregnancy: the morning sickness & the exhaustion of taking care of not only myself but Cameron who was only 18 months at the time. Thank goodness for my parents, they flew in to stay with me while Henry was at basic to help me. Henry came home for Christmas exodus which was 2 weeks long. Henry had to go back to Fort Benning for his basic in January 2010, one week before finding out the sex of the baby. I tried calling and explaining them the situation because I atleast wanted Henry to be there, I didn't want to have to tell him the sex of the baby in a letter.. Well, the imaging place wouldn't move it up a week because I was only 17 weeks. Once again, I had to break the news in a letter that we were having another boy.

In February 2010, Henry finally graduated from basic and by now I was 6 months pregnant. That March we moved to my husbands duty station good ole Fort Drum, NY. I was excited to be moving back to NY, but it's definitely not what I expected. I knew of NY as the city and where we are now, it's all farmland. Anyways, we had to live in the Fort Drum Inn on post until we got offered a house. Being 7 months pregnant now with a 20 month old in a small hotel room all day long, I was losing my mind. After two weeks we got offered a house. A month later (April) we received horrible news. Henry was set to deploy! All these emotions came over me thinking what?! We just moved here and I hadn't seen Henry in 4 months minus Christmas leave. Thank goodness they decided to hold him back since I was already over 6 months.

On July 11, 2010 at 1:58 am our little boy was born. I kept switching his name up until he was born. Originally he was going to be Mason Henry, but I fell in love with Ethan Alexander :) & that's what we named him. Now that I just had Ethan, we had to pack up AGAIN and move back to Florida with my in laws.

Henry left for deployment when Ethan was only 10 days old. That was one of the hardest things I had to do was say "see you later". I will know how Henry felt leaving his 2 year old and 10 days old son behind. Henry returned in March 2011, Ethan was 9 months old.

2 years later...

There were rumors circulating that Henry's unit would be deploying the beginning of 2013. With the Army you found out nothing is definite unless you have orders or information in hand. We decided we wanted expand our family since Cameron and Ethan are 2 years & 8 days apart. We got pregnant in July 2012 & in August Henry got sent with his squad to NTC (training before deployment), so The boys and I went and stayed with my family in PA since I hadn't seen them in years. (End of 2012-beginning of 2013 was the worst time of my later, story to come later...) In December Henry got his orders to deploy.. Again. 2nd time in 2 years.

January 2013, I was 7 months pregnant and again Henry and I had to say our "see you laters". I found myself alone again pregnant, but this time with two children. I was overwhelmed and upset about Henry leaving. My in laws came up to stay with me to help me with the birth and such. 

On March 2013 at 8:19 pm our little boy Landen Derick was born. Exactly 2 minutes after having him, Henry called. He said "how are you feeling?", I said "I had the baby".. It was so hard to go through a labor without him. I did have my mother in law by my side but it just wasn't the same. This time Henry missed my labor, the birth, & a few months of his life. Henry did get the chance to come meet Landen a little before he was a month old, but that was due to certain circumstances. (Another story later on)

Most people don't see what soldiers and families have to sacrifice. Especially to women who have to give birth alone without their spouse. Yes, we did choose this lifestyle because we want to support our husbands. But we always don't realize what we have to sacrifice until it happens.

Are you a military spouse who went through this or something like it? Share your story in the comments, I would love to read about it. :)

Falling Leaves, Hide the Path so Quietly.

Whose ready for fall?! I know I am. I love when the leaves start changing color & start to fall. My husband is originally from Florida, so there are no seasons down there, it's just straight up summer all year round. Me, I grew up in the north until about 11 years old, so the seasons are normal to me.

I'm ready for the crisp Autumn weather. I cant wait to wear cute boots & cute scarves, and to put my summer wardrobe away. The photos that are here are my own. I took these on vacation in the Poconos in 2008 while visiting my family. If you've ever been to the Poconos you know it's woodsy & a lot of lakes. They lived on a lake with so many trees around & they started to turn beautiful colors. Just waking up to this is amazing. 

Another good thing about fall coming are the holidays! I'm super excited because I love the holidays and celebrating, BUT it'll be Landen's first holidays!

So tell me, what are you most excited for in the upcoming months? 

Slow Cooker Chicken Philly Sandwiches.

If you don't own a CrockPot, you definitely should invest in one. Tonight's dinner was a last minute decision and the good thing about a slow cooker, you can just throw whatever in there and let it cook. We have never tried this meal & it was delicious. Once again, thank you Pinterest. Here is the recipe:

What you need: cooking spray, 2 tbs. of butter or margarine, 1 large sweet onion (sliced), 2 green bell peppers (sliced & I only had one), 3 boneless chicken breasts (sliced), 2 tbs. of Dale's steak seasoning, sliced or shredded mozzarella, & hoagie rolls. (Makes 4-5 sandwiches)

Spray your slow cooker with your cooking spray then add your 2 tbs. of butter. Turn it on low.

Next add your sliced onions & peppers.

Toss your sliced chicken in a bowl with some pepper, salt, & your 2 tbs of Dale's steak seasoning.

Add your seasoned sliced chicken to your slow cooker. Cover & cook for 5 hours.

When it's done slice your hoagie rolls, add your mixture & juice, top with mozzarella.

For the first time trying this meal, it was delicious. I could go back for seconds. The chicken was so tender & so were the onions and peppers. 

First Day of School Jitters.

Who is or was more nervous about the first day of school, you or your child(ren)?

Cameron will be starting Kindergarten in just 2 weeks! He seems so calm about it yet I'm over here freaking. How is he going to be in school? Is he going to behave? Is he going to get on the right bus? Will he miss his bus stop? All of those questions, plus more have been running through my head recently.

I realize that I'm going to be going through separation anxiety. :( Cameron will be in school for 7 hours, that's 7 hours of me worrying how he is doing. Not to mention his school is 30 minutes from where we live and he has to take a 45 minute bus ride to school & home.. I know, I know I'm becoming a basket case but when it's your first child going off to school for the first time you pretty much worry about every little thing.

His Kindergarten open house is next week, what questions or concerns would you ask the teacher, if any? How do you make your child feel comfortable about going on a bus full of strangers for the first time?

Please tell me your first experiences, even if its a second or third. Let me know how you dealt with all of these emotions.

Bedtime.

Recently, our 3 year old Ethan has been wanting/needing someone to lay in bed with him until he falls asleep. I'm not sure why this started. He's been a very independent child. As for my oldest Cameron who is 5 he's still sleeping in our bed (no judging lol). So, I definitely don't want Ethan to get that idea or else we really won't have any room on our queen bed. I tried making Ethan feel safe and comfortable but he just isn't having it. As I'm writing my husband is in the bed with him right now. If he tries to leave that room and Ethan is still awake he will flip out crying & it breaks my heart. :( what is your advice on how to get through this? What was your experience if any.

The Blogger I received advice from :)

As I said before in my first post, I had emailed a blogger to get some advice on how and where to begin in the blogging world. Her name is Kaitlyn & she's the owner of Wifessionals. If you're looking for a blog about life, marriage, & baby she's your girl! I have been following her blog quite sometime now and was always intrigued by her posts. I couldn't thank her enough for taking the time out to help me start up this page. Please go check out her blog & let her know Three Little Boys and a Lady sent you. :)

http://www.wifessionals.com/

New blogger.

Hello everyone, my name is Stephanie & yes I am new to the blogging world. For over a year or so I've been wanting to start a blog but didn't know where or how to even begin. I had emailed a blogger that I have been following for quite sometime and asked for some advice, and now I'm here.

I'm 24 years old. I am an Army wife & a SAHM (stay at home mom). I have three precious little boys: Cameron (5), Ethan (3), & our newest addition Landen (4 mos.). I'm a huge family person & love my family to pieces. I was born and raised in Staten Island, NY, my family moved to Florida when I was 11 years old and that is where I met my husband at the age of 16. :) He decided to join the military in 2009 & we have been stationed here at Fort Drum, NY for the past 4 years.

That is just some info so stay tuned for more posts about my life experiences, my birth stories, how I met my husband, & more!