Co-Sleeping

Pretty much ever since Dman was born we have been co-sleepers. We started co-sleeping for several reasons:

1. Dman would stop breathing in his sleep, if I held him my mommy instincts would kick in and I would know when something wasn't right.

2. Daddy left for training 3 weeks after Dman was born, having him sleep with mommy allowed both of us to sleep better.

3. Daddy and Mommy LOVE Dman snuggles

4. Its comforting for all of us.

Well, as much as I love having him in bed with me every night, I am starting to realize the importance of "me" time. Which by the way, is near impossible when you eat, sleep, shower, play, relax with you child every day. And to be 100% honest, I am starting to feel a little worn out. I am craving some time to just sit or lay by myself and wind down (with out being kicked in my back by cute little feet). So, I have made the decision to move Dman into his own bed. It have thought about this for awhile now, and I feel like in order for me to be the best mom I can be for him, I need to fulfill some of my own needs to prevent me from feeling too worn out.  I know in my mind that this is really the best thing for us, but I feel guilty at the same time, because sleeping with mommy is all that Dman has known. 

So, over the next few weeks I will be working on getting Dman to sleep independently. I am expecting it to be a long and tiring process, but praying that in the end it will be what we both need.

In Honor Of...

the Marines of  2nd Bn 8th Mar who have given their lives this deployment:

Ssgt Malachowski

Cpl Ian Muller

Lcpl Christopher Meis

Cpl Johnathon Taylor

Rest in peace, Angels.

And when he gets to heaven,
To St. Peter he will tell,
"Another Marine reporting, Sir,
I've served my time in Hell!"

The past almost 2 months.

Since the first week of February our lives have been incredibly busy. It started out by finding out that Dman was going to need to have surgery to have tubes placed in his ears. I was hoping that this would be the answer to finally finding my poor baby some relief from constant ear infections, but nervous. The thought of my son being put under sedation really did a number to my nerves. I knew that it was routine, and simple, but most parents do these things with the support of their spouse and/or family. I didn't have that luxury, my husband didn't even know what was going on with Dman. However, I was very fortunate to have our battalions FRO and one of her assistants come to be with Dman and I.  After his surgery the doctor came out and told me that his right ear drum would have ruptured with in the next day or two had he not had the tubes placed that day. I was so upset knowing how much pain he must have been in, but was feeling so blessed that we were able to catch it in time.


I am taking two online classes this semester, and it has become quiet the challenge with out the help of my husband. Dman needs and deserves the majority of my attention, so by the time I get him in bed for the night and can actually work on my homework it is 10 or so at night. This is the main reason it has been almost 2 months since the last time I was on here. Most of the days, I just dont have time.

On March 6 Dman, Daisy, Midnight and I made our first ever long distance road trip to PA to visit a good friend of ours and her wonderful family. I am not gonna lie, there were a few times on our what should have been a 7 but turned into a 10 hour drive where I was questioning my my logic of making the drive up there. But in the end it was well worth the time and effort it took for us to get there and home.

So here we are, 11 weeks of a terrible deployment behind us. Here are a few pictures from Feb and March.

Dman and Daddy after surgery

We miss you Daddy

Hello February :)

Its so nice to see you today, you bring me one month closer to having my family whole again. :)

Rule of thumb for deployments, the first month is the worst. Well I have to say our first month wasn't horrible.

So yay for us.

D-Man asks about daddy from time to time. I tell him "Daddy is in Afghanistan." He just looks at me and says "Daddy 'stan?" We talk about daddy all the time, about how much he loves us, how much he misses us, and that he is getting the bad guys. I can not wait for him to get his new daddy doll! He had one, loved it, then lost it. And thanks to an amazing friend, he will be getting a new one in the mail here shortly. It will be so great for D-Man to be able to snuggle with his daddy again. And, since you cant have too much of a good thing, D-Mans Great Grandma will be making him a special "made by grandma" daddy doll soon  as well. Maybe I will borrow one for my self, hehe.

Things I have come to realize...

1. There is something very liberating to not need a diaper bag any more

2. Life with out diaper changes is AMAZING

3. The 2nd deployment isn't any easier

4. Even though it isn't easier, I have developed better ways of coping, and for that I am proud of myself

5. Putting together and sending care packages still make me feel good

6. A 5 min phone call is still worth more than anything to me

7. My dogs are a pain, but my late nights would be so lonely with out them. Thank you Daisy and Midnight for all of your great company and snuggles

8. Life with out my blackberry is very BLAH

9. I have been blessed with some very amazing people in my life. I may not tell all of you this enough, but thank you!

10. My husband and my son are my inspiration in life.

"l'll Wait for You"

The snow in Montana was three feet high
The lady at the counter said: There ain't no flights
And so he called her on the telephone
He said: I'll rent a car and I'll drive home

And she said: I'll wait for you
Like I did last year
At Christmas time with your family here
And your truck broke down out in San Antone
And the gifts stayed wrapped until you got home
Oh, this ain't nothin' new
Sweetheart, I'll wait for you

Now he's on his cell phone in a Coupe Deville
Talkin' to the one he loves and always will
His heart is breakin' 'cause she's there alone
Her heart is achin' 'cause she wants him home
She says: I'll wait for you like in '68
When our child was due, but I said, he'll have to wait
Until his dad gets here and stands by my side
Remember, Dear, our son's first cry
Oh, this ain't nothin' new
Sweetheart, I'll wait for you

He didn't stop all day to eat a bite
And he finally got there around midnight
The doctor said, she's in a better place
She said to give this you this note just in case

And it said, I'll wait for you at Heaven's gate
Oh, I don't care how long it takes
And I'll tell Saint Pete I can't come in
Without my love and my best friend
Oh, this ain't nothin' new
Sweetheart, I'll wait for you
P.S. I love you, too
Sweetheart, I'll wait for you


-Joe Nichols




Before Alan Left we made a mix of songs that made us think of each other. This is one of my favorites. The first time I heard it i cried like a little baby. It really captures our life though. I am always waiting for you, but its always worth it. I love you babe.

Potty training adventures.

Well, its officially happened. I have a potty training toddler! He has been showing signs of being ready for the past few months, but I really didn't think that this would be so EASY!

In November about 3 days before we were due to fly across country to California he decided that he wanted to try out the whole pee pee on the potty situation. We were both sick but he was ready to give it a shot. I didn't expect it to last to long since in a few days we would be flying across country to Northern California to stay visit my grandparents, and then a week later we would be driving for another 10 hours to get to my parents house in Southern California.  But, he kept on it for 2 weeks, then decided he was done.

I wasn't planning on trying again until 2-3 weeks after daddy deployed. Dman on the other hand had different ideas. 3 days after daddy left he looks at me and says "potty" and runs to the bathroom! We spent the rest of the day in and out of the bathroom as was learning what the urge to go potty felt like. The next day we went out and bought some big boy undies (Yo Gabba Gabba and Spongebob) a pack of pull ups and a bag of  M&M's. When we got home we talked about how big boys go pee pee on the potty and not in their big boy undies. The first few days we had 2-3 accidents a day (including some yucky number 2's) but, we were not going back to a diaper! It didn't take him long to realize that he didn't like the feeling of going to the bathroom in his undies, and soon he was telling me "mommy, pee pee"!

We have gone on several outings with success (aka no accidents). Even an hour long drive to the Aquarium!

It has been so amazing watching him go through this important stage in his life and do it with such ease. I know where not completely there yet ( an accident every few days, and pull ups for nap and bed time) but, for a 2 year old little boy I am finding this whole situation quite remarkable!

Did I mention how CUTE his little tush is in a pair of Yo Gabba Gabba undies?

Daddy is going to be so proud of his little man!