Reflection.

Warning: No editing or filtering for this post.  Just transparency and honesty.

One of the things that I love about the military lifestyle is that it defines "seasons" in your life.  Time still moves quickly, but with each PCS (move), you are prompted to reflect upon your time at that particular duty station(at least I am).  It's so neat to have this "default slow down" in my life.  I love to think about who I was when I arrived, and how different I am when I leave.  It's amazing how much your life, your viewpoints, and your relationships can change within the course of a year.

Although we are not leaving our current duty station, we did receive orders to stay here for the next three years.  After living in three states, and four towns in the past four years, staying in one place for three seems a bit daunting.  We are currently in the process of buying a home here--which means we will move again--but this time, on our own without military help.

I can't help but feel so incredibly blessed about the past year.  I have an amazing, healthy baby boy who brightens my life everyday!  I am FINALLY starting to feel like I didn't JUST have a baby.  (I don't know about other women--but it's taken a long time for me to recover physically and hormonally)  We are in the process of buying a beautiful home to raise our precious little one.  But, one of the main reasons I feel so blessed and happy is because of my relationship with my husband.  Marriages have seasons.  There are challenging times that stretch you and your partner to be better.  There are wonderful times, that are just so easy--and you just work so well together.  Either way, a marriage is a living, breathing relationship that requires work daily.  For this duty station, I reflect upon my marriage and am realizing that we have had our tough days while here.  That we had to work at this thing called marriage--especially with taking care of a new baby.  But, for the most part, we were in a state of bliss.  We developed a rhythm here and I can honestly say that not only do I love my husband more today than the day I married him, but I can say that I am just so IN love with him.  He is such a wonderful man, provider, and friend. 

It is bittersweet though.  Because this next year, will be a challenging one.  He will be deployed for more than half of it.  I know that our relationship will pass this test.  I know we are committed.  I know I can handle the requirements of being a single parent at home and keeping the "home fires burning" while he is away.  And I am so thankful that we are in such a wonderful place to start this journey.  But, I am also sad--because I will miss him terribly.  I know that watching him leave, watching the distance between us grow, will be gut wrenching.  But, I also know that it's the life we have signed up for, and that this is what we are called to do. 

As I watch my friends and their husbands join the fleet around us, I see husbands leaving and returning.  And it has suddenly become all too real.  For so long, we've all had our men around--for training.  Sure, they would leave for a weekend here and there, but we've been blessed to have the deployments left for the future.  They have been locked away with words like, "One day" and "a long ways off."  Here we are...not a long ways off. 

As hard as it's going to be, I wouldn't trade it.  I wouldn't trade the friendships, the experiences, the beauty and intimacy that a military lifestyle builds in a marriage--having only each other to rely on, and I wouldn't trade the good parts of deployment (the return--a second honeymoon, the appreciation that comes with not taking your spouse for granted, and the pride that comes from the everyday tasks that you accomplish by yourself--consistently doing things that you didn't think you could do).

I am so thankful for this past year--for this time with my family before deployments begin.  And I know that this next year, although difficult, will provide opportunities to build rich, relationships with other wives and with my husband.  It's going to be a good year. 

Family Pictures--pilot style

I just wanted to share some fun pictures of our little family (minus our pups). My husband is an E2 Pilot for the Navy. One of the perks of being a pilot's wife is getting to take fun pictures, like these:

We were literally feet from the runway--the wings of the plane were almost over us!  And, my wonderful husband, was flying the plane.  Some day, the munchkin will be old enough to point and say, "Daddy" with that wonderful childlike innocence.  On this day, he just stared and enjoyed the breeze as his Daddy flew by.

Pretty cool. :)

Crawling, diarrhea, and a hurricane! Oh my!

Aren't you jealous?  Wouldn't you just LOVE to spend the weekend dealing with these three items?  Well, the first is kind of exciting.  The munchkin has finally started to crawl!  He has spent the past few weeks rocking back and forth--and scooting along.  But, this weekend, he FINALLY put it all together in the fluid "crawling" movement.  Hooray!!  I'm so excited!  (and slightly terrified!!!) 

Then there was the diarrhea--happy day!! (Note the sarcasm)  My little one had issues this weekend.  I feel so bad for him.  At first I thought it might have been the cold that he was finally getting over, or perhaps the change in his schedule.  But it occurred to me that his formula cans that were delivered looked a little different than the old ones.  (My son has formula delivered because he has a severe allergy to the protein found in milk.  So, he has to drink prescription formula--which is delivered.)  I wondered if that could be the problem.  Perhaps they had changed more than the packaging.  So, today, I called the company.  They changed the formula--and somehow, no one informed me.  More than 36 hours of diarrhea later, they are overnighting the old formula to me so that I can slowly switch him to the new stuff. 

Finally, the lady of the weekend--Irene.  Of course, the men are away right now, which left the women and children (and dogs) to fend for ourselves.  The actual hurricane part of a hurricane isn't where the work is.  The work is in the preparation and cleanup.  Ugh.  I won't write the details, but let's just say that us women did a fantastic job of prepping our homes and vehicles for this storm.  We survived TWO storms this weekend.  Irene, and the storm of having three wives, four kids, and two dogs in one house.  For an entire weekend.  Ah...memories. 

Babies are expensive. Sheesh.

As I was lying in bed last night, waiting for my body to decide it was time to fall asleep, thoughts filled my head.  It’s always like that for me.  My mind just races once I lie down—and it’s gotten particularly worse since I had the munchkin.  I am tired all day, and when bedtime comes, I just lie there wide awake, while my husband just snores away.   

Rather than plot against my husband—who is peacefully resting J I allowed my brain to wander for a time—in hopes that I would finally relax and drift off.

Last night, I got to thinking that perhaps I should write a post about the necessities for having a new baby around.  As a military wife, we can’t just go out and buy every little thing our heart desires.  We might have to move it all across the country—multiple times!!  Alas!  We must be selective! 

So, I decided to compile a list for all the moms-to-be out there.  Let me preface this by saying that I’m pretty practical.  The reason I say that is—this list, in my opinion doesn’t have any fluff.   

Furniture:

• Crib
• Changing table—I had a lot of people say that it was going to be a waste—but because I’m a “everything in it’s place” kinda gal—I LOVE my changing table.
• Rocker/Glider etc. 
• Dresser for baby—or a way to organize blankets, bibs, and bedding

Clothing 

• 5-7 Sleepers (more for newborn) I recommend either sleep sacks, or sleep n plays with footies—and I also recommend 100% Cotton
• 10-12 “outfits” that you would take them out in (Less for Newborn)
• 5-7 “outfits” that you would hang out in the house in—unless you are ok to leave them in their pjs (which I totally did)
• Don’t forget bibs (10), baby blankets (10-15—depending on the season), burp rags (10), and crib sheets (2)           

Tips on clothing a newborn—

• Socks are hard to keep on—so I would just leave my little one in pjs with footsies—that way his feet stayed warm.  In fact, my son is now six months old and he has YET to wear a pair of socks.
• Remember that putting them in pants might be tricky until the umbilical cord falls off (which took almost 3 weeks for us)
• Buying onesies with the little pockets that tuck over their hands are helpful and keep them from scratching their face

You’ll need a Bathtub a few wash clothes, and a couple towels.  I would recommend this tub

Gear:

• A swing
• A exersaucer/play seat
• A monitor (I HIGHLY recommend getting a video monitor)
• Stroller and Carseat
• High chair/booster chair
• Play Mat
• You might want a bassinet/cradle/packnplay for your little one to sleep in if they are in your room

Extras that I LOVE

• Baby Beaba—Steams and purees food for my LO (I make my own babyfood—much cheaper and healthier—and pretty easy!)  It’s an investment, but in the end is WAY cheaper than buying the jars.
• Noise machine
• Bottle dry rack
• Baby gate—we use it more for a doggie gate.  I’m sure that will change once my munchkin is mobile
• If you are planning on nursing—I HIGHLY recommend getting a breast pump.  They are VERY helpful!! 
• Also, I LOVE this diaper organizer.  LOVE.  LOVE.  LOVE.  It might not be a must for everyone, but for me it is a MUST.  It's called "Diaper Depot" by Prince Lionheart.

I would encourage you to register for your big ticket items so that people have the option of buying you those for your shower gifts.  Friends can go in together to purchase the large items and you will have them when needed instead of having to go buy them.   

Tips to make mommyhood easier!           

• Order your diapers and wipes from amazon.com (through the Amazon mom program—which is awesome)
• When you purchase diapers, keep the box they come in.  Then, when you need a place to put all of the clothes that your munchkin has outgrown, you can put the clothes in there and tape it up.  Free box…and, for the military wives—you automatically know that diaper boxes=baby clothing (or baby stuff).  J
• Do a load of laundry a day to keep up with it!  Then it won’t seem overwhelming.
• Ask for help. 
• Have a “mobile changing station” in your car.  Keep a basket or bag with diapers, wipes, etc. in it so that you don’t have to dig all the time in the diaper bag when you are out and about
• Also, I get free shipping through Amazon—so I order anything and everything I can to make my life easier.  I get my dog food through Amazon—and it’s awesome!  I don’t have to go to the pet store and lug the 30 pound bag out of the store while trying not to drop my new bundle of joy.  It comes right to my doorstep—for the exact same price I would pay for it at the pet store.  WIN.

I hope that I have given good advice!  So, other moms out there---what are your tips to make mommyhood easier?  Is there any thing I missed that you consider a MUST in your home?