Saturday, July 18, 2009
Life with Daddy is sooooo much better...
I love this picture! Max got up on the couch and grabbed the remote and watched some ESPN with Daddy. I love how he even put his leg up on Brig so he could be just like him and get real comfy. It was so awesome. We went to a little wildlife zoo, to the Splash Park, and to feed the geese this week.
The Welcome Home Ceremony
Here is Brig's batallion marching into the gym in formation. The band was playing and it was so loud and exciting. We had to hear a speech from the Brigade Commander before they were dismissed, that was the longest 3 minutes of my life! I might put some video on here so you can get the real effect. I just stayed in place and waited for Brig to find us. He looked up and saw us immediately. Max just kept looking at him and saying "Daddy... Daddy... Daddy." He was just trying to soak in the fact that Daddy was an actual person and not just the computer or the phone. It was so sweet. He talked the whole way home and from then on, any time Daddy has not been with us, he asks, "Daddy go [do]?"
Brig can't stop talking about Max. He watches his every move and has started teaching him different things. He even took Max to work twice this week while I worked on homework. Brig doesn't like to put him to bed because then he misses him. He loves to go get him in the mornings. Max is quite happy, like he has realized that a family is only complete with a mommy and a daddy. He always wants to hold both of our hands.
Brig can't stop talking about Max. He watches his every move and has started teaching him different things. He even took Max to work twice this week while I worked on homework. Brig doesn't like to put him to bed because then he misses him. He loves to go get him in the mornings. Max is quite happy, like he has realized that a family is only complete with a mommy and a daddy. He always wants to hold both of our hands. Tuesday, July 14, 2009
BRIG IS SAFELY HOME...
Pictures will follow... Brig and Max are having the time of their lives hanging out and making up for lost time. It is so awesome to be back together as a family. I am finishing a research paper to complete my degree and Brig is already back at work and studying for the LSAT. We are looking forward to a much needed family vacation in a few weeks! Hope to get some pictures on here soon.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
yep, just one of those days...
The first thing I do once Max is asleep for the night is sit down at the computer and write an email to Brig. I tell him about our day. Well, tonight I am on our blog because I thought that our day was worth sharing so other moms can laugh and maybe sympathize. I want to be able to laugh in a few days as well.
In all reality, I haven't had too many of 'those days' since Brig has been gone. I enjoy Max and really haven't lost my patience... or hadn't until today. It doesn't help that I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to make things perfect and still do Max things and finish my on-line class. Max must sense that change is in the air.
It just started off bad right from the second I opened my eyes. It was a little past 6 and Max was crying. He woke me up but then went back to sleep and for the first time in his life, I couldn't go back to sleep. But I just lied there anyway and thought about all I had to do. I should have taken the initiative to shower and get ready then - I waited for Max to holler MOMMMMIE before I finally got up. He woke up on the wrong side of his crib apparently. He was so hungry that he couldn't wait for the breakfast burrito to cool down and ate a bite that was rather HOT and burned his mouth. After that, eating wasn't a pleasant experience. While trying to do laundry and rearrange our closet, I stepped on him twice, making him cry. During my 2-minute shower, he opened the curtain and drenched himself and cried even harder. When I got out, the plunger was on the couch and the toilet brush was in his mouth. He followed me everywhere with a book to read and tugged at my leg so I would sit and read. I would read one about every 5 minutes until we got out the door to go to the library. Just so I could freshen up, I let him sit on the counter and throw all of my toiletries either on the floor or in the sink. During story time, I gave him a little push so he would go sit on the magic carpet and he completely fell backwards and hit his head on the ground (cement floor, of course). Before he started screaming, all the other moms were staring at me like I had lost my cool and purposely pushed him down. Then all the kids were staring at us too, even the story teller.
He did take a nap and during that time, I tried to catch one too but the cute little neighbor girl stood at the door and rang the doorbell 5 times before I FINALLY got up and told her that Max WAS trying to sleep. Before that, she had called my cell phone 6 times. (Side note: I think every neighborhood has a Kimmy Gibbler.)
I started to read Seven Habits of Highly Effective People for my class and how important it is to be proactive like Viktor Frankl, and choose to react positively even in bad situations because we are always free to respond how we want. I rolled my eyes and finally put it down.
After his nap, we talked to Daddy. That makes any bad day suddenly so much better. He cheered us up and we headed off to the grocery store to shop. It was 4:30. That would give us plenty of time to unload, change clothes, and eat dinner before my 7:30 appointment with a bishopric member to get a new calling.
I took full advantage of the EXPECTANT MOTHER parking, and headed into the store with my 6 page list. Max was fine holding his "Dino" and roaring at everybody for the first 10 minutes, that only got me through the produce department. After that, he began the intense screams and wanting to hold everything that I put in the cart. I would give them to him, and he would drop them, and then I would put them in the back of the cart and he would scream. By about isle 5, I cracked open some Gushers to give him... we were only a third of the way done. He was happy for 3 minutes then wanted more. I looked at him with a forced smile and said, "Max, you are driving me NUTS." He then proceeded to yell "NUTS!" over and over again. Most people didn't react because I don't think they knew how.
By the time we got to the LONG LINE, I opened a Gatorade to give him because I forgot his drink (and he was sooooooo thirsty because it was 106 degrees outside). He can't drink from a lip at all and I still choose red. It was all over his shirt and face and my white shirt and he was still yelling, "Dink!!!!" because nothing had actually gotten into his mouth. A sweet elderly woman was my bagger and saw I was in need and helped me put my groceries on the belt. Max was still crying and screaming so I gave him another bag of Gushers, to eat on his own. While swiping my card, I realized he was quiet and looked at him and he was choking. He had stuck like 5 in his mouth, and luckily, I was able to dig them out... he had slobber and sticky gunk everywhere. The cashier was just trying to get me through the line as quickly as possible. The ride home was so typical... he was screaming for a drink and we came to a check-point. All the cops on base were checking IDs and registration! I thought I was going to just let the cop have it when he asked, "How ya doin', Ma'am?" We hit every long light in town and got home at 7:14. Right before pulling in, Max fell asleep and the radio was playing "One Hot Mama" and all I could hear were these lyrics...Well, I know sometimes you think that all you really are, is the woman with the kids an' the groceries in the car...
I unloaded the cold items, gave Max his milk, changed a diaper that was no longer able to absorb and practically exploded when I threw it in the trash can, and made it to the church (still in our red Gatorade shirts) to be called as... A PRIMARY TEACHER! Any other DAY!
I didn't feel bad holding Max down to brush his teeth and wasn't as soft as normal. He didn't have to say AMEN 10 times throughout our family prayers because it was so short, he didn't have the chance. I let him throw all of his stuffed animals into to his pack-n-play to sleep with.
Seriously, I love kids and being a mom. I just ate almost a whole bag of Dark Chocolate M&M's and feel so much better... Brig, don't worry - dark chocolate is good for you!
I now need to return missed calls, finish the load of laundry I started, unload the rest of the groceries, and write a paper!
Can we make it to the weekend? I can't wait for my husband to come HOME!
In all reality, I haven't had too many of 'those days' since Brig has been gone. I enjoy Max and really haven't lost my patience... or hadn't until today. It doesn't help that I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to make things perfect and still do Max things and finish my on-line class. Max must sense that change is in the air.
It just started off bad right from the second I opened my eyes. It was a little past 6 and Max was crying. He woke me up but then went back to sleep and for the first time in his life, I couldn't go back to sleep. But I just lied there anyway and thought about all I had to do. I should have taken the initiative to shower and get ready then - I waited for Max to holler MOMMMMIE before I finally got up. He woke up on the wrong side of his crib apparently. He was so hungry that he couldn't wait for the breakfast burrito to cool down and ate a bite that was rather HOT and burned his mouth. After that, eating wasn't a pleasant experience. While trying to do laundry and rearrange our closet, I stepped on him twice, making him cry. During my 2-minute shower, he opened the curtain and drenched himself and cried even harder. When I got out, the plunger was on the couch and the toilet brush was in his mouth. He followed me everywhere with a book to read and tugged at my leg so I would sit and read. I would read one about every 5 minutes until we got out the door to go to the library. Just so I could freshen up, I let him sit on the counter and throw all of my toiletries either on the floor or in the sink. During story time, I gave him a little push so he would go sit on the magic carpet and he completely fell backwards and hit his head on the ground (cement floor, of course). Before he started screaming, all the other moms were staring at me like I had lost my cool and purposely pushed him down. Then all the kids were staring at us too, even the story teller.
He did take a nap and during that time, I tried to catch one too but the cute little neighbor girl stood at the door and rang the doorbell 5 times before I FINALLY got up and told her that Max WAS trying to sleep. Before that, she had called my cell phone 6 times. (Side note: I think every neighborhood has a Kimmy Gibbler.)
I started to read Seven Habits of Highly Effective People for my class and how important it is to be proactive like Viktor Frankl, and choose to react positively even in bad situations because we are always free to respond how we want. I rolled my eyes and finally put it down.
After his nap, we talked to Daddy. That makes any bad day suddenly so much better. He cheered us up and we headed off to the grocery store to shop. It was 4:30. That would give us plenty of time to unload, change clothes, and eat dinner before my 7:30 appointment with a bishopric member to get a new calling.
I took full advantage of the EXPECTANT MOTHER parking, and headed into the store with my 6 page list. Max was fine holding his "Dino" and roaring at everybody for the first 10 minutes, that only got me through the produce department. After that, he began the intense screams and wanting to hold everything that I put in the cart. I would give them to him, and he would drop them, and then I would put them in the back of the cart and he would scream. By about isle 5, I cracked open some Gushers to give him... we were only a third of the way done. He was happy for 3 minutes then wanted more. I looked at him with a forced smile and said, "Max, you are driving me NUTS." He then proceeded to yell "NUTS!" over and over again. Most people didn't react because I don't think they knew how.
By the time we got to the LONG LINE, I opened a Gatorade to give him because I forgot his drink (and he was sooooooo thirsty because it was 106 degrees outside). He can't drink from a lip at all and I still choose red. It was all over his shirt and face and my white shirt and he was still yelling, "Dink!!!!" because nothing had actually gotten into his mouth. A sweet elderly woman was my bagger and saw I was in need and helped me put my groceries on the belt. Max was still crying and screaming so I gave him another bag of Gushers, to eat on his own. While swiping my card, I realized he was quiet and looked at him and he was choking. He had stuck like 5 in his mouth, and luckily, I was able to dig them out... he had slobber and sticky gunk everywhere. The cashier was just trying to get me through the line as quickly as possible. The ride home was so typical... he was screaming for a drink and we came to a check-point. All the cops on base were checking IDs and registration! I thought I was going to just let the cop have it when he asked, "How ya doin', Ma'am?" We hit every long light in town and got home at 7:14. Right before pulling in, Max fell asleep and the radio was playing "One Hot Mama" and all I could hear were these lyrics...Well, I know sometimes you think that all you really are, is the woman with the kids an' the groceries in the car...
I unloaded the cold items, gave Max his milk, changed a diaper that was no longer able to absorb and practically exploded when I threw it in the trash can, and made it to the church (still in our red Gatorade shirts) to be called as... A PRIMARY TEACHER! Any other DAY!
I didn't feel bad holding Max down to brush his teeth and wasn't as soft as normal. He didn't have to say AMEN 10 times throughout our family prayers because it was so short, he didn't have the chance. I let him throw all of his stuffed animals into to his pack-n-play to sleep with.
Seriously, I love kids and being a mom. I just ate almost a whole bag of Dark Chocolate M&M's and feel so much better... Brig, don't worry - dark chocolate is good for you!
I now need to return missed calls, finish the load of laundry I started, unload the rest of the groceries, and write a paper!
Can we make it to the weekend? I can't wait for my husband to come HOME!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
WE ARE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS FOR OUR COUNTDOWN...
I should sleep more, even being busy today didn't help. It is only Tuesday and I feel like it should be Sunday already. We did all we could to pass the time, but it just ain't workin' anymore. My father-in-law told me yesterday that I should enjoy the anticipation and I probably should, but I can't see what there is to enjoy about it. I mean, the excitement isn't going to wear off like it does Christmas morning when everything is over by 8:30... I will never wish these days back! By the end of the week, if the end ever comes, my two boys will be together again! 
Friday, July 3, 2009
Nothing short of a Hero...
Happy 4Th of July!
No nothing is wrong with the lens on the camera, this is
No nothing is wrong with the lens on the camera, this isa typical sand storm in Iraq. Brig has filled his lungs
with this stuff day in and day out. He asked me today if
there is a doctor the specializes in scraping the insides of the
respiratory system to clean them of all dust, dirt, and pollution.
It is the 4Th of July in Iraq. Brig will be up soon. As previously mentioned, he is just days away from being back in the US. He packed his bag today and straightened up his living quarters (which is about a 12x6 foot space called a pod.) He walked in the 130 degree weather to take a cold spit bath one last time. (I call it a spit bath because he can only turn the water on when he needs to get wet and then again when to rinse the soap off.) He ate one more midnight meal in the chow hall and then called me to say Good-night. He has worked 12-16 hour days for the past 15 months, with one two-week vacation. He has missed his son eat his first real food, take his first steps, and say his first word. He has done it all to serve his country, and with that, I might add, with very little complaint! I want to show appreciation to my husband for all he has sacrificed for our freedom.
I am mindful that he is not the only one. Many have lost their lives fighting for our freedoms. To those heroes, I say "Thanks!" I hope we never forget what others have done to make our lives what they are. Most importantly, I thank the Lord for the blessing of being an American.
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