Anchors Aweigh Turns 5!

Since I have been such a good blogger this year (sarcasm, obviously), I completely missed my blogiversary! That's still a thing, yes? Earlier this month, Anchors Aweigh turned 5! It amazes me that this blog has been going for 5 years and counting. Even though I have been the biggest blogging slacker this year since becoming a mom and I am not sure anyone reads this little blog anymore, I still love doing it. It has been such a huge part of my identity over the last 5 years, and I am so thankful for the seasons and phases this little blog has gone through.

 

I started my blog on December 1, 2012 as a way to keep our families up to date with our lives in the Navy. We were stationed in Pensacola and had been married a little over a year. You can read my very first post here. It quickly became a full blown hobby and then segued into a way to connect with other military spouses and young women like me. It became a coping mechanism when I lost our daughter and was a way for me to share our story with the world. I went through a season where I made some money with this blog and really put my time and effort into that. And now, it's a place where I still love to jot down a few thoughts while my sweet baby naps. 

This year was easily the hardest year for me, blog wise. Our son was born at the beginning of the year, and I wanted to shout it from the rooftops and share every little update about this new little life that I had fallen in love with. But, Parker and I decided we wanted to be more private with him. i don't regret our decision, but it has made blogging so much more difficult for me. This is a lifestyle blog, yet I won't allow myself to fully share the biggest part of my life right now. I really wrestle with that and what I am still doing here, but I just love it too much to quit right now. There is a season for everything, and I am just not ready for this one to be over yet. 

So cheers to 5 years of blogging. Whether you have been here since the beginning (hi, mom!) or just popped in today, I appreciate you taking the time to read this little blog and be apart of it. I am very grateful for this little space!

Anniversary Date Climbing Cape Henry Lighthouse

Parker and I have a tradition for our wedding anniversary. We don't do gifts. Instead, we do an experience. We love this tradition! There is nothing better in our book than creating memories, and we have done some really fun things for each anniversary!

1st anniversary: ziplining in Milton, FL

2nd anniversary: weekend getaway to Fredericksburg, TX

3rd anniversary: weekend getaway to Williamsburg, VA

4th anniversary: sailing in Norfolk, VA

5th anniversary: cruise to The Bahamas

We knew we wanted to keep the tradition going, but this year posed a slight obstacle in that it was our first anniversary with a baby. We don't really have the freedom to go and do whatever we want anymore, especially with no family living near us to watch the baby. 

I had never left Preston with anyone other than one of our moms, but my friend Karly was kind enough to come over for a few hours while Parker and I escaped for a day date to celebrate our anniversary. We decided this year's experience would be climbing the Cape Henry Lighthouse! This has been on our Virginia bucket list for a while. It's the oldest lighthouse in the country! We climbed a lighthouse back when we lived in Pensacola and loved it, so we thought we would love this one too!

We both agreed that the experience could best be summed up as... underwhelming. Don't get me wrong, we had the best time going on a baby-free date, but the lighthouse was just not much to write home about. It was only 192 steps, so it took us about 3 minutes to climb to the top. Once at the top, it was all enclosed, so we couldn't really take in the view in all it's glory. We climbed back down, took a walk around the perimeter, and then drove to the oceanfront and walked along the beach.

Walking along the beach just talking and eating froyo was probably our favorite part of the day. There isn't much better in my book! It was a gorgeous day, and just getting to spend that one on one time together was such a treat. 

We are really glad we climbed the lighthouse. It was underwhelming, and we wouldn't recommend it to a friend, but we had been wanting to do it for so long, and we were able to keep up with our tradition of celebrating our anniversary with an experience. 

Next year, Preston will be old enough to leave with Grammy for a few days, so we see another cruise in our future! 

6 Years

Six years ago today on June 26, 2011, this happened...

...And right before we smashed cake into each other's faces, we actually got married. 

We are scratching our heads at how it's already been six years of wedded bliss, but then again, it's hard to remember what life was like before we were married. It feels like we've been doing this forever! Six years in, two pregnancies, one miscarriage, one baby, a dog, 5 moves, and too many dinner-and-a-movie nights to count. It's been one heck of a ride so far. 

I can honestly say I married my best friend, and I think that's why we work. At the end of the day, we just like being together. Not only do I love Parker, but I like Parker. I think he's hilarious and kind and giving. He makes me proud to be his wife every day. 

Year six was easily our hardest year of marriage, but it's been the most rewarding too. Parker spent 7 months of the past year deployed, so that was a journey in and of itself. Not to mention, he came home to a wife that was 8 months pregnant and ready to pop! Deployment + pregnancy + having a baby... well we can't say year 6 was uneventful, that's for sure! So many highs and lows, but it's all been worth it getting to call that man my husband. I think we would both say the high of year 6 was the birth of our son and the low of year 6 was saying "see you later" for 7 months. Both kind of a given!

Our first dance at our wedding was to "Then" by Brad Paisley, and the lyrics still ring true. "And I thought I loved you then..."

6 years down, forever to go! Here's my wonky attempt at a 6... harder than it looks, yall!

Five

This past weekend, Parker and I celebrated 5 years of wedded bliss! We are still scratching our heads at how quickly the first 5 years went by, but here we are! Marriage has been the greatest adventure for both of us. The highs are high, the lows are low, and then there are those every day moments that end up meaning the most.

Looking back, the first 5 years weren't anything like I expected yet became everything I could have hoped for. 6 cities, 5 moves, 1 angel in Heaven, countless friends spread across the world, and the same sweet brown dog. It's been one heck of a ride!

Year 5 brought two of our favorite vacations we have ever taken as well. The cruise to The Bahamas was literally something we have been wanting to do since getting married, and I am so thankful we finally got to take it. It was our early 5th anniversary celebration, and we couldn't have chosen a better way to celebrate! The ski trip we took for my birthday was also one of our favorite vacations to date. Parker had never been before, and it was only my second time to go. I am still not sure how we made it out with all of our bones in tact, but I'm not complaining!

Year 5 was also our first year not to move, so that's an accomplishment in and of itself! We still love being homeowners and would be pretty content living in our home forever. I am sure the Navy will shake things up sooner or later though. ;) Here's my wonky attempt at putting this year's favorite activities into the number 5:

Marriage really does get sweeter with time. We love each other more deeply, understand each other more deeply, and appreciate the life we've built together. 5 years down, forever to go!

5 Years With The Furball Who Stole Our Hearts

I'm not sure how, but today marks 5 years since Jenny adopted us as her humans! We always say Jenny is the best spontaneous decision we have ever made. We weren't planning to get a dog on February 5th, 2011, but sometimes you walk into Petco and a brown dog steals your heart. 

Jenny really does make our little world go round. There is something about having a member of the family who is constantly happy, unconditionally loving, and just grateful to be part of the pack. 

I often refer to Jenny as "my best girlfriend", and ain't that the truth. I count hanging out with Jenny as being social, and that brown fur holds all my secrets and many tears. I talk to her like she's people and sometimes think she can almost understand. Then she licks her butt in the middle of my story, and I remember that she is, indeed, a dog. But she's my dog, my companion, and my buddy.

Jenny's interests include: playing with other pups, chasing woodland creatures, peanut butter, licking her butt, and Parker. The order is still up for debate, but those pretty much sum up her interests. She basically thinks Parker hung the moon and wants to be around him all the time. If he's outside, that's where she'd like to be too, please. Those two are a package deal.

I am so glad we decided to go "pet the puppies" on February 5th, 2011. Jenny has taught us so much about love and joy and patience and really has changed our lives for the better. We are forever indebted to the wonderful organization God's Little Creatures in College Station, TX for giving us our pup. We may have rescued her, but it sure feels like the other way around.