HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RILEY!!!!

For Riley's second birthday we went home to Michigan where she had time to spend with her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We all had a wonderful time. I can't believe that my baby girl is 2 years old. I still see her as my baby not my toddler. She seems to act a little more grown now too. She is really working hard on her potty training. She is doing a good job. She likes to wear her panties but she also forgets to tell us when she has to use the potty so she potties all over. She does not like that so hopefully it will help her understand to go in the potty. We will just keep working on it and it will just happen.

Here are a few pictures from Riley's birthday party at Grandma and Grandpa Ringman's house.

Presents!!!

Oh, more closthes!!!

TEA TIME!!!
Making sure her baby's hairbow is just right!!

Time for CAKE (BROWNIES) and icecream!! We like the idea of brownies and icecream but Riley was not sure about everyone's singing talent. Look at her faces. Smile for a brownie and very serious when we all were singing "Happy Birthday".

LEARNING TO CHANGE THE BABY!!!!

Ok, this is Riley's bed. She likes to play with her babies and change their diapers like mommy and daddy do with her. On this day I noticed that she was coming and going from her room. She was playing quietly, should have checked then right!!! Well I just thought she was having fun and she was keeping busy. Then when it was time to change her diaper I went into her bedroom to notice that she had used up all the wipes in the box, so she went and opened a new package of wipes to use. It was helpful to me that she opened them but I noticed that half of the package was used. I guess she wanted to make sure her baby was clean. All I could do was laugh. Riley was so proud that she was changing her baby that she told her daddy when he got home. Then she wanted to take her picture with her baby and a couple other babies too. She too her "time-out" chair and she put her babies in her lap and asked daddy to take their picture. She is ready to be a BIG sister. She takes great care of her baby dolls and loves to play.

HAPPY GROUNDHOG'S DAY!!

According to the famous groundhog "Phil" we will have an early Spring. Well when we look out our windows you would not believe that. We woke up to about 2 inches of snow and ice. All the local schools are closed and post was delayed for a few hours this morning. From what the weather channel is saying we are going to receive more of this white snow this weekend as temps stay around 34-32. Well here are a few pictures of what you would see if you looked out our windows here in Tennessee.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

WE POST THIS ON HERE SO EVERYONE CAN SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH US. IF WE DON'T START GETTING REPLY'S BACK WE WILL BE SHUTTING THIS PAGE DOWN. WHEN YOU GET ONLINE TO SEE THE PAGE THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS LEAVE A MESSAGE. THANK YOU.

BENJAMIN RINGMAN

Learning with Animals!!

Riley took this picture by herself. She loves to take pictures.

Here is Riley playing on her computer with her panda bear. She allowed her bear to help her type and play the games that she was playing. Riley is learning to share. She takes turns with her animals and baby dolls. This is a good sign for us and the new baby. Which brings me to the fact that she has changed her mind on weather she wants a baby brother or a sister. At first she was saying a brother (boy baby) but since there has been a couple of boys at school who have been picking on her she has changed her mind. She wants a baby sister (girl baby). We will find out in just about 8 weeks (2 months). Riley too is growing like a weed. She has learned to open all the doors in the house and now she can open the screen door. We have to watch her because she can get out but she can not get back in by herself. We have to keep the front door closed now because I am afraid that she will end up outside with out me or daddy. She is also trying to potty train. This is fun!!! She wants to wear her big girl panties but then she forgets to go and sit on the potty. She does not like it when she pees on herself. When she is wearing her diapers she is tellling me when she needs to be changed. She is trying. We will just keep working and see what happens. Hopefully by the time baby two is here she will be pretty much potty trained and we wont have to buy diapers for two children.

Riley taking care of her baby. Must be bed time.

MONTHLY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT

Well today I started the great walk of monthly doctor appointments with baby number two. I was assigned to a wonderful nurse practitioner, Ms. O'Quinn and her asstitant Mr. Watzson. Very personal people. They were both here at Ft. Campbell during the first baby boom. I had a normal appointment. I talked about my delivery and pregnancy with Riley. We pulled my record and went through what I should be thinking about for the next appointment. I need to think about weather I want to have a repeat C-section or try for a viganal delivery. Ms. O'Quinn could not go through this with me since she does not deliver babies. She did explain to me that I will see a DOCTOR next month to have my insides checked and to go over the pros and cons of a repeat C-section and a viganal delivery. Lots to think about between now and then. I guess I have seven months to fully decide. I realize that with a repeat C-section I can plan to have family here before the baby is here and hopefully Ben will still be here too. The only thing that I don't like is picking my baby's birthday. I would like to have the baby choose for him/herself.

Well here is what I learned at this appointment. I gained NO weight, my blood pressure was great, Fundal height (uterus) measures 10-12 cm which is right on track for a August 16 due date and the Fetal heart rate was 158. Which going by the old wise tail (heart over 140 would be a girl) this baby should be a girl but Riley's heart rate was in the 140 rage and she was a girl so she did not follow the wise tail. We will have to wait until the end of March to find out. Riley and Ben are pushing for a boy and I am just wanting another healthy beautiful baby. More about the baby in a month.

WAITING FOR DADDY TO COME HOME!!!!!

Riley and I have been on our own for the last three weeks while Daddy (Ben) is at school. He will be home late tomorrow night. Then he will be home for the weekend and then he will be off to the field for a couple of weeks. From what the guys are saying Riley, the baby and I are going to be on our own a lot until the guys deploy again. Yep that's right redeployment will be taking place in early August. Hopefully the baby will be early and the deployment date will change between now and then. I don't want Ben to miss the birth of this child. But with the army and a new baby anything is possible. They both have a mind of their own and will do what they want too.

Riley and I have been busy working and spending lots of time together. She is battling the day care cold right now. Which means we are up at least three times a night coughing and crying for mommy and daddy. Hopefully it will pass soon and she will be healthy again.

Working on a puzzle. Mommy was helping but she was doing a good job picking out the next piece.

Riley is sharing her Binky and her cup of chocolate milk with her new puppy.

Riley has stated that she wants a baby brother and that is will share her toys with him. She has been taking good care of her babies here at the house and making sure they are not crying. Riley also rocks them in her rocking chair and covers them up with her blankets. We are looking forward to seeing her around a new little person that lives at the house with us. She loves the babies at day care and greets them every morning and afternoon when we leave. I guess only time will tell how things will work out.

OUR FIRST DR. APPOINTMENT!!!!

Well I had my first doctor's appointment today (if that is what you want to call it). I filled out all my medical history and had blood work done, along with a sugar test. I learned all about CF and what I might or might not feel with my body changing over the next 30 weeks. Yes, that's right I am 10 weeks pregnant today and have a long way to go. They have estimated my due date to be 16 August 2007. If this little person is anything like his sister he too will be early and we will have a baby closer to Daddy's and Grandpa Ringman's birthday. Life will be full of surprises as our lives are going to change with this new little one.

We were also informed today that Ft. Campbell is yet another baby boom, thanks to deployments and our soldiers return. So again doctors appointments on post are going to be close and on top of each other. We will not want to miss one because we wont be able to get back in on time. I have many friends going through this process with me this time. It will be fun to compare notes and see how life is going for them too. I look forward to growing and learning more about this little person. Ben is hoping once again for a BOY. I on the other hand just want another health happy little baby. Yes a boy would be nice but I think a girl would be just as nice too. Only 10 more weeks and we will find that out.

I will have my first real doctor's appointment next week Friday, 26 Jan. This will be the time I will meet my mid-wife. I hope my experience this time will be as nice as it was with Riley. We will keep you posted.

BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO DAY CARE!!!!

Well today Riley and I are back on our routine. Getting up to go to work and school. She could not wait to get back to school after being home with family for the past three weeks. She walked into school like she knew what to do. Things around the house have changed. Daddy left yesterday (Sunday) to go to school for two weeks down in Georgia. Riley is already missing him and looking for him. She ask, "Where is daddy? Where did he go?" I have to remind her that he is at school.

We are going back to the ear doctor today. We are looking to see how her ears are doing. They have been filled with fluid since August. The last appointment her ears were not infected but there was lots of fluid behind her eardrums. We have been on all types of meds to help but I don't think it's helping like they want them too. Today will tell us what are next step will be with her and her ears. We will keep you posted with all the doctor appointments that will be coming up with both Riley and I. We will learn of a due on the 18 January 2007 for new little one. I am still saying around the first week of August. Time will tell. Enjoy your week.

A VISIT TO THE ER!!!!

Well we made it home. Just after one day of returning home from our visit to Michigan, Riley and I made an unexpected visit to the ER. Yesterday morning (4 Jan. 07) Riley fell while running and playing. When she got up she was crying and holding her right arm. This was not normal for her. She usually gets up and continues to play but today was different. She would not use her arm and she continued to hold and protect it. We set off for the ER at 1030 am and got right in and had x-rays taken. While we were waiting for the results Riley tried to use her hand but just couldn't. The x-rays showed that her hand was not broken but they splinted it any ways. The doctor said that this would help her heal and if she took it off that that means she is ready to use it. Well I laughed because two mintues after the nurse left Riley wanted the splint off and tried to take it off herself. We did manage to leave it on for the night. While playing she had a hard time not using her right hand. We had learned that Riley is right handed and she kept forgetting that her right hand was out of use for the time. Today however we woke up and she took off the splint and started to use her hand again. This was a great move. She is back to her normally two year old self and loves to get into everything.

A VISIT TO MICHIGAN!!!

Our trip home to Michigan was full of many events that were full of love and family. Riley was able to spend time with all her cousins on my side of the family. There is a total of 6 grandkids for my parents and we were able to have everyone together for our Christmas this year. This has been a task that we have found very difficult to complete. Here is Riley with her cousins. August, Savannah, Brock, Jackson, and Gabby.

What a cute bunch of kids!!!

OUR NEW BIGGEST TOY!!!!

Riley enjoyed her new jeep truck. We were able to get it put together and the battery in for Riley to begin to ride. She does not do too bad but it does go a little fast for her but she likes to pretend with her baby. She puts her baby in the seat and buckles her in and then she plays that they are going to school and work just like mommy and her do. She will have lots of fun this summer when she can ride outside. I will be looking forward to this too because it will help me loose that baby weight. Here is Riley and her BIG girl Jeep (truck).

SANTA CAME!! SANTA CAME!!!

Merry Christmas! We had a wounderful morning. Riley was very excited to see all the presents and her new dolly and swing. She enjoyed opening up everything and playing with all her new toys. Once again she received more then she needed. She is growing up so fast, its hard to belief that she is almost two and going to be a BIG sister.

Here we are playing this morning with our baby and swing. Riley received a computer and she played with it all morning. She also wanted her kitten to play to so she helped her kitten push the buttons. She did a nice job playing with all her toys.

Daddy helping Riley play with her new toys. This toy is one that Daddy picked out all by himself. This was Daddy's first Christmas with Riley and I had a great time watching them. Ben did a great job helping her open her presents.

Here is Ben playing with his new toy. He received his drill. Along with his drill he received a tool box. He opened everything up had to pack it up in his box. He his really turning into a handy man around the house and in the yard.

A NEW BABY AWAITS!!!!

Ben, Riley and I just found out that we are awaiting a new little person. If I calucated correctly we should have our new arrival in early August. That will make Riley and her sibling 2.5 years apart. Which will be nice. Riley on the other hand has 9 months to decide that a sibling will be nice. Right now she does not want mommy to have a baby. You ask her "Do you want mommy to have a baby?" Riley reply is "NO!" I am sure that will change in the next few months when she sees my belly grow and the movement that comes with that growing belly. That is the least of my worries at this point. I am worried about Ben's re-deployment that will fall at about the same time have the due date. Having a new baby and a toddler for a third tour does not sound like a whole a lot of fun but a good challenge. I am sure I will have lots of visitors during that time. We will keep you all posted with life in Tennessee.

HELLO!

She was waiting to meet Clifford the BIG red dog.

She was scared and cried very hard.

Just a little note to say Hello. We made it through Thanksgiving and now we are working towards Christmas. We (Riley and I) put the Christmas tree the day after turkey day. She had a great time. She likes to look at the new oridments. She does not like to hide (wrap) the toys to give them to other friends. She thinks everything is hers and does not want to share.

On the other hand I am almost finished with my teaching assignment. I will be looking for another teaching job. Things are looking good. The principal that I am working for now said that there are jobs aviable in January and if that does not work out for me. There is a job fair in April that the schools hire on the spot. I have also been asked to take a preschool at the day care that Riley attends. Things are looking good.

Sweet little girl. If you look close you will see that she was not happy. She does have a hair bow in again.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Well I made my first thanksgiving dinner today. We had lots of signal soldiers here with us. We had a house hold. I guess my dinner turned out great. I wanted to buy a 2o lb. turkey and everyone told me that would be too much. I went out and bought a 13 lb. turkey. That was just a enough and almost not enough for the 10 people that I feed today. Everyone enjoyed themselves.

Riley and daddy have plans to sleep in and spend some time together while mommy goes shopping for a few Christmas present for the family. We found some great buys in the ads if I can get up early enough. I will be going shopping by myself for the first time in years. I will miss the help of my sissy who usually gets up early and battles the crowd with me. I will let you all know how I do and if I get what I want. We look forward to seeing you all at Christmas.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving dinner and enjoyed your day. We are still enjoying our day with a good card game and a few adult drinks. We love and miss you all.

The Girls having a little fun.

PIGGY TAILS!!!!

We made it to a new mile stone. We can now wear piggy tails.

Not another picture mom.

Cheese!!!

St. MaartinMore iguanas at St. Maartin. They ran the streets here

just as squirrals do in the states.

Here is the beach that we swam at. Ben enjoyed himself here. The girls went sunbathing with no tops on and let everything hang free. There was two sides to St. Maartin, the Dutch and the French. This beach was on the Dutch side. We had a great time. The water was clear and the fish swam under us.

St. Thomas

This is St. Thomas' oldest building. It is now used at the court house and the jail.

Here are a couple of many iguana that we seen. The iguana on the left is in mid jump and the one on the right is watching us closely.

Do you see what I see?

There is a small baby iguana in the middle of the picture.

A Fun at Sea

(8 Oct. 2006)

Sitting at the Pool Deck Bar drinking a few

before we leave Miama.

Here we are ready to go to the Captain's Cocktail Party. Everyone was all dressed up and taking lots of pictures. It reminded me of the scene from the Titanic.

Our First Day on our Eastern Carribean Cruise

(7 Oct. 2006 - 13 Oct. 2006)

Here are a few pictures from our cruise to San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maartin. We had a great time. This is just the beginning to a wonderful trip through the Carribean.

Miami as we are leaving.

(7 Oct. 2006)

This is our first day on the ship. We had to go through a safety course where we practice how to put on our life jackets. Everyone looked silly.

Our cruise to the Eastern Carribean

Here are a few pictures from our cruise to San Juan, St. Thomas, and St. Maartin. The weather was wonderful. The first day was cloudy but day two Ben and I receive our first sun burn. We were red for the rest of our cruise. We made it to San Juan late at night. Ben and I went horse back riding in the rainforest in the dark. While we were riding we got rained on. I guess that is what happens when you ride in the RAIN forest. Here are a few of those pictures:

This is a view from the ship as we are intering the port.

Nice and rainy weather.

Notice the red faces. This was the day of the nice sunburn.
Ben and I all wet on our break from horseback riding. Our horses names were Roxy and Indiana.These were our guides.

They kept our horses on the trail and lead us through the rainforest.

Daddy's Little Slugger!!!!!

Riley and dad went shopping and found matching

red hats. Riley likes to wear her hat backwards

because she can not see when it's on the right way.

Two of a kind.

Daddy's Home!!!

Daddy made it home two weeks ago. He arrived Sunday September 3, 2006 at 0945. Riley was not sure of him and did not want mommy to give him any hugs or kisses. But now two weeks later daddy can not get away from Riley without her crying and wanting daddy to play. She gives him lots of love and enjoys playing with her daddy.

Hugs and Kisses!!!

Peek-a-boo, mommy. Daddy and Riley having a race

to the playroom and Riley won! SMILE!!!