Better updates..

Needing to simplify the websites I update, I have decided to get rid of facebook, at least for now, so I'll have to be more diligent on updating our blog. A lot of friends of mine update on Sunday's, so I think I'll adopt that routine as well.

Even though it isn't Sunday yet, I'll do a quick update. We're having friends over for Easter dinner this year. Entertaining was such a huge part of my childhood, and leaving those traditions and only being a family 3 can be challenging. I'm glad that there are other families that are in the same boat we're in and we can all get together and give holidays more of a family feel. A few of the couples that are coming have very young children, so hopefully Jackson will like to play!

My parents gave me a menu for Easter dinner - let's hope I can pull this off! My dad suggested a black forest ham instead of a honey ham. I told Jonathon Tuesday night that we better go pick up some of the items we needed. He only questioned why we were going so early in the week at first because once we got to the store they had ONE black forest ham left. We lucked out and now we'll have something to cook!

Jonathon is feeling a bit better. He's itchy, but the Prednisone the doctor gave him combined with Benadryl is bound to cure it faster than doing nothing. When I was telling my dad about it, he told me when he was little he and his cousins were playing army in a huge field of poison ivy - not knowing of course - and my grandpa gave them Fels Naptha soap to wash with. Apparently, this stuff dries it up extremely quick. The problem: I could only purchase it online since I didn't have retailer in Maryland. My dad was so thoughtful and before he went up to his job site on Tuesday, he picked some up and next day mailed it so Jonathon could get some relief. We should be getting it today and I'm glad we have a soap that I can do Jon's laundry in as well. (it's the only laundry soap that will cut the poison ivy oil out of fabric)

Other than that, my week will consist of cleaning up and preparing for our Easter Sunday. Jonathon and I will no doubt go shopping for Jackson's Easter basket Thursday or Friday.

It's been a while..

It's spring!! I could hardly believe that it was about time to send out Easter cards and start planting flowers. My sympothies go out to all of my family and friends in Colorado who got way too much snow while it was 79 degrees here.

Jonathon, Jackson and I made our way to Baltimore last week to check out the Maryland zoo. We had a pretty great day, and Jackson really loved the petting zoo part (he met a very forgiving goat who didn't mind Jackson pulling on him). However, Jonathon and I agree that it was a pretty small zoo and for he and I it wasn't as exciting as others. Jon likes the Omaha zoo better, while I'd vote for Denver or Phoenix. For Jackson, it was totally fine and we're really glad we went! He loved being outside all day and seeing new things. With that gorgeous weather we just couldn't stay home.

Jackson also got TWO teeth. He has worked so hard for them (Jon and I have, too!) and they came in within a day or two of each other. They are so stinkin cute and he has wasted no time trying to bite his toys. He's also sitting up on his own, except for when he gets really excited when the cat walks by, he reaches so far that he falls over. He's a tough boy and never cries.

Jonathon dug up most of our berm in our backyard. He hated the bushes that were already there and we'd rather plant tall flowers. Poor guy got a case of poison oak (which we still don't know how, I was in the same spots he was and I walked out fine), the doctor told him to get some calamine and the spots on his arms and shins are about gone.


My sister, Jennifer, is getting married tomorrow. I'm sad that my family won't be there, but at least my parents will be and it should be a nice day for her.

Hopefully winter is over!

Jackson and I left February 17 for Colorado. He did pretty good on the way there! He slept a good part of the way and ended up eating two entire bottles (unusual) but overall I have no complaints! Some people even stopped me to tell me they didn't even know he was there because he was so good. I'm so glad I didn't have "that" baby that is always crying on flights.

The day after I got to Colorado it snowed. So after the crazy snow storms we got here in Maryland, I ended up bringing the snow with me to Colorado! It didn't hinder any of our plans though, and after a while I barely noticed it. My mom and dad were very prepared and had all of the baby supplies we'd need. That made the trip SO much easier, having an exersaucer, crib and various toys. Matthew, Emilie and Ricky were a great help and I wish I could bring them back with me! Emilie especially took to Jackson and really was a lot of times my mom's right hand. Jackson adored my dad, and smiled EVERY time he saw him. After two weeks, my dad may be deemed the favorite.

Speaking of which - I got to sleep!!! After five months of getting 3-4 hours of sleep is pretty rough, but my mom took him for night feedings which resulted in me getting some sleep! Mothers are wonderful. However, I did get sick and that cut into my sleeping a bit. What can ya do?

Seeing all of our Denver family was great! I love our get togethers and honestly it's something I miss the most about being young. We had a great "fiesta" with our Mexican food themed dinner and lots of great company around. Funny enough, Jackson was a hit with everyone, but especially the younger guys! J

We also shopped (Jackson JUST got new clothes about two weeks ago, but while we were in Colorado it was very apparent that he needed a bigger size again), ate out at my favorite places and played Uno with Jennifer and Emilie (I always win). It was a ton of fun and the only thing that could have made it better is if Jonathon was there, too. He was looking forward to his time alone, but after the first few days he was sad he wasn't with us. It was a good break for all, though!

Week wise, Jackson is six months old! I KNOW! But actual month wise, he won't be six months until March 14 (My sister's birthday). Maybe we'll have a half birthday party for him, haha. Now I'll be 23 tomorrow and Jonathon will be 26 eight days later. We're old! Growing up, birthday parties were huge at my house, and I think my 5th grade party was the best - - my mom set up an entire carnival party complete with games, tickets, concessions and prizes. I can only hope our kids' parties will be that cool! Now, I'm asking for a quiet night and ordering in.

If I don't get to it, here's a birthday shout out to my March birthday buddies - my cousins, Chris and Megan, my sisters Melanie and Jennifer, my friends Melanie and Shantel and my Aunt Laurie.

No more winter!!

Last I heard, the DC area got about 55 inches of snow so far. I used to live in Steamboat Springs (a ski resort) and they averaged more than 100 inches a year - however, down in Colorado, we're prepared for the snow. We know how to drive in it, we have plows that actually work well and life mostly goes on. Here in Maryland, life stops. If you dare brave the weather, there is one lane to drive in - - for BOTH directions and people are either going 5 miles an hour, or 75. It's ridiculous!

Jackson and I have had several snow days together now. We stay in and make cookies, do laundry and vacuum with our amazing new vacuum. Jonathon has had to shovel several times - and we've laid "safer than salt" with no real luck of keeping our driveway clear for any length of time.

Our baby boy is growing and growing! He's about 5 months, one week. That's so hard for us to believe! He's mostly in 6 month clothing, so lately I have been packing up an entire closet of clothes that no longer fit. He still loves his bath time, although he gives Jonathon and I a heart attack every time because he thinks it's funny to slide off the seat in his tub - NOT FUNNY. He can also work his way out of his Bumbo now. Jackson has found a love for rolling around and can't resist even when we're changing him. He's trying pretty hard to scoot himself - won't be too long until he's actually mobile.

He's eating solids a few times a day. I love giving him food because he doesn't throw it up like he does formula. Kids are supposed to spit up, but he takes it to a whole new level. He doesn't even like bottles now unless he's tired - so I sneak some scoops of formula into his fruit or veggies so he still gets some sort of nutrients from it.

Jonathon and I had a wonderful Valentines Day. He managed to somehow get the day off and surprised me with flowers and a beautiful necklace from Kay Jewelers. I'm such a lucky girl! Our 2nd wedding anniversary is in a couple days and we have some friends watching J while we go to Annapolis to eat at the Chop House. (I thought it was similar to the Chop Houses' that we have in CO - but apparently they just share a name) It's right on the water, and I'm so excited! Jon got me a massage back home, and he got 2 new video games and some charging thing for his 360.

My mom's flight got canceled to come out here. But I'm SO happy that she got a refund and can make another reservation to come help me with a couple things, and of course visit! I'll be in Colorado this month and although J and I will really miss Jonathon, I'm excited that he'll still have leave for Michigan, hunting and hopefully moving! This year marks his 4th year here, and he has expressed that he'd like orders. We'll see! It's certainly been an adventure here, but Jonathon and I want the best for Jackson, and growing up here isn't it.

Lastly, I'm very excited to go home and get some comfort food and sleep!! Jackson's Aunt Jennifer just moved into a new place and we're excited to see it. We'll get some pizza and nerds ropes and it will be like old times - complete with texting Jonathon haha, just like when we were dating. I can't wait to see all my friends and family!! Love you!

January wrap up

Oh it's hard to believe January is just about over! I'm not sure where the time went. However, my days are pretty blended now and I'm not always sure of the date. :)

I think I got more sleep when Jackson was a new baby and he woke up every few hours. Now my sweet baby boy hardly ever sleeps. Post pregnancy hormones + no sleep + Jonathon working more = pure exhaustion. I've had some tears, laughs and some dramatic phone calls home. There's no job harder than being a mom, but Jackson is absolutely more than worth it.

I take more pictures of him than any mom I know - but he does too many cute things! He is always happy, even when he first wakes up. I wish I were that way. He's at the point where he laughs pretty hard and wants to play all day. He gets extremely excited when Jonathon comes home and it's hard to get him to sleep if he sees his dad. The job of putting him to sleep mine, since Jon can try but Jackson won't stop laughing and smiling at him. Silly boys.

Jackson rolled over for the first time on Christmas day. However, he's not such a fan of it now, and hardly ever does it. He will, however, turn himself in circles on his belly. I think he wants to skip ahead to walking, but for now, he's making progress on sitting up on his own. He does really well with it, until he gets too excited - then he just throws himself back. So, he won't be sitting on any hard surfaces any time soon. We stick to mom and dad's bed with pillows around him, just in case.

He's developed some new quirks. He refuses to have his feet covered at all while he's trying to fall asleep. I wait until he's out, and then cover him up so he doesn't freeze. He also wants me to sit next to him while he's in his swing with my hand on him. I can't do this often because I have house stuff to get done, but more times than not - he's in my arms.

Jackson hated veggies last week, but we tried again and he ate them! Thank goodness because I was worried he'd only be eating pears for the rest of his life. He sleeps a lot better now that he gets to eat food, but, as I stated before - the sleep thing is a work in progress!! Jonathon and I are so tired that he suggested I go to Colorado for a week so I can rest up. It's hard to not have any family around when we'd like our families to see all the cute things he does. Maybe someday!

Here are some pictures. Enjoy.

2010

Jackson, trying out his bumbo, and our Christmas dinner.













Happy New Year!! Let's rewind a bit first.

Christmas was pretty good. It was my first Christmas away from my family in Colorado but it was also my first Christmas alone with Jonathon and our baby boy, Jackson. Jonathon and I have been together for 4 Christmas' and yet we never did a celebration on our own. It was very mellow, and for a lot of time seemed like just another day. However, we have some good memories, too. We lit bacon on fire - on accident of course. We made a pretty good turkey dinner and we got some great gifts! I got Jonathon a GPS for his car and he got me a beautiful ring.

Jackson hit the jackpot, even though he doesn't know it. He got a bumbo (kind of expensive for what it is, but so worth it), tons of clothes, toys and books. Thank you to my Aunt Michelle and my Aunt Julie and Gma for sending wonderful gifts our way.

My parents and Jonathon's parents sent over boxes as well. We got money, gift cards, more outfits for Jackson, ornaments and he got a light up crib toy that plays lullabies and nature sounds. Thanks grandparents!

Jonathon admitted he had his doubts about my turkey cooking. I don't eat meat, so sometimes it's hard for me to know exactly how to do things. But, a few calls to my wonderful dad who is an amazing chef, I get it done! Jonathon said he was actually really impressed and he ate seconds!

We took a day trip to New York and although it was cold, it was fun!! It was the first time for both of us although I think I liked it more than Jonathon did. Being from a small town, he hates crowds and all those confusing streets. But, he thought it was fun - I just don't think he'll take me back there during the holidays. My favorite thing was the tree!!! It was incredible.

Jackson is officially 4 months old. That's incredibly hard to believe and he's already hit so many milestones that it's odd to think he's so big! He's trying really hard to sit up, but certainly isn't there yet. He can support his weight, but his balance is WAY off. It's cute to watch him try his hardest. He loves his bumbo so that he can sit up and see everything that is going on. He's very curious. He is starting his "1st foods" and honestly I love giving it to him because he doesn't throw it up and he stays full. He's always hungry after a bottle and spits up a lot. However, if we give him less, he screams because he's hungry. He only gets a jar of food at night mixed with some cereal, then a bath and some down time. He's such a good boy.

New Years was a little lame. I was so tired and Jackson was sleeping. I think I rang in 2010 by talking to my dad on the phone. Jonathon was working, so there wasn't any real excitement. I didn't even watch the ball drop like usual.

In any case, I'm really looking forward to this year. 2009 was the first full year Jonathon and I lived together and there was so much to learn and so much to adjust to that I'm excited we got through all of those bumps and experiences and this year we can just concentrate on solidifying our family here. I'm excited to see what 2010 has to bring!

Hooah!

They may look different and each is wonderfully unique

But they have THIS IN COMMON!
Lots of moving---
Moving
Moving
Moving far from home
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog----all riding with HER of
Course

Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house

Moving curtains that won't fit

Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours

Moving away from friends, moving toward new friends

Moving her most important luggage; her trunkful of memories

Often waiting-
Waiting, waiting, waiting for housing; waiting for orders; waiting
For deployment; waiting for reunion; waiting for phones calls;
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive; waiting for him to come home
For dinner----AGAIN!

They call her 'military dependent', but she knows better
She can balance a checkbook
Handle the yard work
Fix a noisy toilet.
She is intimately familiar with drywall, anchors, and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes, sell a house, buy a car, or set up a move, --
--all with ONE Power of Attorney

She welcome s neighbors that don't welcome her.
Reinvents her career with every PCS; locates a house in the desert,
The arctic, or the deep south and learns to call them all 'home'
She MAKES them all home.
She is fiercely IN-dependent

Military Wives are somewhat hasty
They leap into decorating, leadership, volunteering, career
Alternatives, churches and friendships
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are
Short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and
Perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other.



They connect over coffee, rely on the spouse-network and accept offers of friendship
And favors and record addresses in pencil.
Military Wives have a common bond.
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands his commitment
Is unique He doesn't have a job, he has a 'mission' he can't just
Decide to quit he's on-call for his country 24/7 but for you, he's
The most
Unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign

TDY

PCS

OPR

ACC

BDU

And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long-distance link to keep them informed the glue that
Holds them together.

Military Wife has her moments----

She wants to wring his neck, dye his uniform pink, an d refuse to
Move to Siberia.
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days,a few drinks, a travel brochure, a long hot bath, a pledge to The flag, and a wedding picture.


And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.

She follows.
Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has lost her heart.
It was stolen from her by a man
Who puts duty first
Who longs to deploy
Who salutes the flag

And whose boots in the doorway remind her That as long as he is her
Military husband,
She will remain his Military wife!!!!