Goodbye 2010

Its been fun. Thanks for all the adventures you've seen me through. It has gotten me here- to the last day of the year.

Let's look back on the year of 2010 in the Wood house. I found out I was pregnant 10 days in (1/10/10). I surprised my husband with baby news via 5 positive pregnancy tests and a baby onesie saying "Daddy Loves Me." We celebrated being pregnant- a lot. My husband decided to join the Air Force. My husband committed to it and lost 80+ pounds. I gained 25. We survived pregnancy hormones- and I use the word survived quite literally. We laughed our asses off and cried our eyes out. We welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. I quit work. My husband left for the Air Force. And we celebrated baby's first Thanksgiving, Christmas, new years, and snow all without him.

What a year! 2010's been fun, but I'd say we are ready for 2011. So, let's bring it on! This little family is tired of being apart.

Before I say farewell to this special year that will always hold a very special place in my heart, I want to share this. 2010 turned my life completely around. 2009 was not a good year for my husband and me. I prayed for something huge to happen and save us. Well, 10 days into the new year, it did. 2010 quickly became the best year of our lives. What more could I ask for? I have an amazing husband that is nothing short of a hero. I have a one-of-a-kind beautiful daughter that lights up my life more each day. I have a strong and supportive family that I wouldn't change for all the money in the world. And I have friends that are truer than gold. Yeah, 2010, we had a good run. 2011 has a lot to live up to. I have faith it will. My New Year's resolutions are this. One, I will consciously be more grateful for blessings in my life and thank God for them every day. Two, I will simplify my life. Organize what I have and weed out what I don't need. And third, I will create a stable home for my daughter. No  matter where the military takes us and no matter for how long we are there, wherever we are, my daughter will feel safe and loved and know that wherever we are together, that is home. Aaaand I'll throw in a fourth, I will get in shape. There. Now its in writing.

Happy New Years Everyone!!

I'll be curling up in my bed now to sleep through the new year. I'm taking a break from celebrating anymore holidays without the Giant. See you on the flip side. And Babe, I'll see you in my dreams for our New Year's kiss.

As I Promised

Second roll

Third Roll

Taa Daa!

Little Rolly Polly Peapod rolled over today!!!! AND, guess who just happens to have it on video! Unfortunately, I am unable to upload the video for some odd reason, but you better believe that as soon I figure it out, it will be making its debut on here. I could only be more excited if the Hubs was here to see it with me. One minute we were having tummy time and the next she flopped herself right over onto her back. I thought for a moment it might have just been a fluke since she hadn't even been remotely attempting this before. So, I flipped her back over on her belly, grabbed my camera just in case, and FLOP she rolled over again. Three times as a matter of fact! My baby is growing up.

And in this same theme

Guess who has moved up from sucking on anything within mouth range...although she still does that no matter what/ who it is..... and has officially found her thumb to become a thumb sucker. Taa Daa!

What a day

Well, all the family is gone so its just us livers here now. :( Booo! I had not anticipated time going so quickly over the holidays. It seemed like it just flew by. Sister came in one day and left the next. I know there were 4 days in between, but it sure didn't feel like it. And while I know I need to write a Christmas post, I'm just not in the mood. Instead, I have this to share...

A day in the life of me. Riveting. Prepare yourself.


So first let me ask you, is it all nursing babies or just mine that likes to wait until right after I change her, start nursing her, and lets it all go? I mean ALL go! Almost every time lately. We've gone through more outfit changes than I care to count in a day. So my day started by saying my goodbyes to my sister and brother in law as they left town. My mom then changes Peapod into a Thirsties cloth diaper out of her pampers (which I put her in at night- you'll understand why shortly). We begin to nurse. She explodes (below). I pause nursing, we change her outfit. We then finish nursing. I start to burp her. She turns her head just in the nick of time to spit up right on my front. Down the bra and shirt, in the hair, my hair. Bah! I laugh it off and clean us both off. We lay down for a nap (together) (on my bed-important note). I wake up to a wet comforter. Look and realize baby has wet right through her cloth diapers, cover, and onto my comforter. Awesome. Well nothing I could do at that moment since my sweet wet angel was fast asleep. I know better than to wake her. Fast forward about 30 minutes. She has woken up. I changed her outfit yet again so we could run errands. All is good while running errands. Then we get home. I take her out of her carrier and ahha someone leaked through her diapers AGAIN! AH! Outfit change number 4!! All do to leaky diaper explosions. What is going on?!! I know cloth diapers are better than this. A lot of people told me I was crazy when I was pregnant for wanting to use cloth, but I knew it was something I wanted to do. But now, I am getting so frustrated with these things, I'm starting to rethink myself. I have tried Thirsties with Gerber cloths. Thirsties duo diapers. Doubled up the liners. OrgBaby diapers. Gerber cloths with rubber pants. What am I missing? There has got to be an easier way to use cloths with an explosive baby? A preciously, beautiful baby but a preciously, beautiful, explosive baby. She'll kill me one day when she finds out I blogged about her peeing and pooping and puking- the 3 baby Ps. But, seriously what a day... Jealous??

My little piggy mess of a girl makes it so worth it though

Worst Blogger Award

Sorry my friends. I totally deserve the Worst Blogger Award. During the second most important time of the year, first being my daughter's birth, I have severely neglected my dear blog. But, lets face it, my most devoted reader is in town so I am less motivated to blog to spend time with her. Shout out to my big sis T upstairs- HELLO!! I promise I will get back to you blog in a few days, but for now, take a back seat and know that while I do miss you, you just have to wait. In a few days, I'll be by myself again and things will be back to normal :(

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas though!

Spoiled Much?

I was watching a news channel this morning and they played what they described as "funny" Christmas videos from YouTube. They played this video and were cracking up. I was in shock. Maybe that is because my dear mom was a librarian so getting books has always been on the list of presents to be expected and cherished, but, really... Well you watch and see for yourself. Maybe I'm way off base.



I know the kid is only 3 years old and really doesn't fully understand the whole idea of being appreciative, but really? Really mom and dad laughing in the background? Really news people for ranking this as the funniest Christmas video? No no. This is why people all around the world look at Americans and think we are spoiled, wealthy, brats. People, thankfully I know this goes without saying to all my dear friends, but to you unknown anonymous reader please teach your children the true meaning of Christmas and show them the Christmas spirit. We need as much good joy, love and- by all means- grateful spirits we can get in this mess of a world today. We all have so much to be thankful for, even if it is for the books that we receive when we'd rather have toys. OK that's my two cents and I'll get off my soap box now.

HAPPY MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE EVE!!!

Early Christmas

Look who got an early Christmas present from her daddy! No idea how he was able to buy her something, but he did. Even though her new pink hoodie is technically for her bear, it fit her so we changed its ownership. It says "Someone in the Air Force Loves Me." Obviously she loved it ;) My cutie couldn't contain her excitement for her surprises, tongue out and all. The red packages are surprises to be held until Christmas morning. We are under strict instructions on those. Boy knows me too well. Man I wish we could send him Christmas presents. That is so hard for me!

I think I need

a dream catcher. Maybe that will stop these horrible nightmares I've been having for the last month. After having a conversation on this subject earlier today with my mom who knew exactly how I felt, I thought I'd share and see who else has these kinds of fearful dreams. The kind of dreams that leave you so traumatized that it stays with you for years, or in my mom's case 40 years. I think I will be in the same boat in 40 years with these doozies. I can't remember the last time I woke up feeling good about a dream. Let's see. The most "famous" ones aka the ones that habitually shows up lately with the same overtone just with different plot lines, I am at basic training with the Giant and it is very clear I don't belong. Exhibit A, I am running PT and my BDUs (pants) keep falling down or my entire dream will be me running sprints along the length of a field with a drill sargent yelling in my ear the entire time...non.stop.the.entire.dream, or (oh this is a good one) I'm there with my daughter in tow trying to find my husband while training and being yelled at with her in my arms. Or my non-military dreams, for example, I am loading the car after shopping and forget that I put the baby carrier on the roof (why on the roof I have no idea). I (as I'm sure you can predict) then drive off with her on top of my car. This horrible dream has actually reared its ugly head so much that I now unconsciously check the backseat as I drive to make sure my baby is indeed back there. Hmm perhaps I should interject this thought and make it very clear that I in actuality have never and will never put my baby on the roof of my car. So there is no confusion here. These are just dreams people. No social services ringing my doorbell please.

So, do you have a dream that has stuck with you through the long haul, despite any attempts to forget it?  Its funny, I bet the Giant is having the same nightmares of being yelled at by instructors nonstop. Oh wait. That is his reality right now. Poor boy.

Speaking of the boy, I heard from him on Sunday! And yet again, he worked his ass off all week to win another 30 minute phone call. I am so proud of him! I told him that I would not be upset if we don't get another phone call like this, my attempt to take off any pressure he might have put on himself to win those calls. But, between you and me, I am so full of crap. I LOVE my phone calls with him! I know I'm getting "spoiled" with my 30 minutes a week call with my husband. I've already gotten more calls from him than we were warned we'd have before he left. I try so hard not to get my hopes up just in case he doesn't get to call, or maybe he's had a bad week and doesn't have more than a minute to talk. So far, none of that has happened. My fingers are crossed so tight, I think the blood flow is being restricted. He is doing so well! His job is very demanding and he's still getting a lot of slack for his poor performing squadron, but his spirits sounded better. He talked on and on about how many letters he has been getting and how much he enjoys reading them. He explained how they get mail so I thought I'd share in case you are interested too. (I like to get visuals of everything he is doing). So, everyday, they all have to sit in a large room on the floor with their eyes down. (Side note: they are never allowed to look their instructors in the eyes). The instructor stands in the center and calls out names and throws the letters in front of them. He said the best part of his day is when he hears his name called. And apparently, he has been averaging 2-3 letters a day. Not a single day has gone by without a letter for him. Awesome! You all are the best friends that anyone could ask for! So, they have to earn "letter time" meaning time to actually read their mail, which apparently, his squadron has not been doing. He said it ranges from 1-5 minutes most days. That sure doesn't leave him much time to actually read or write.

His job as dorm chief gives him a lot of added responsibility, which continues to increase. He reports back to his commander every night on his squadrons performance. He is at the top of his squadron. Then he has 4 guys underneath him to help him manage his squadron. Then there are all the other trainees in the squadron. He is having the hardest time with squadron moral. He said that because many of the guys are younger and immature, he is a little lost on how to motivate them to work as a team. How do you motivate someone who doesn't seem to want to be motivated? My question to that of course is, then why in the world did they join? Our military is a voluntary entity. Why would some young kid who doesn't want to get told what to do join something where for the next 4-6 or more years, your one job is to do what you are told to do? Doesn't make sense to me at all. So I sympathize with his frustrations. Yeah, patience and understanding...not my strongest virtues. Of course though, that's why I'm at home tucked in my bed missing my husband, instead of having the roles reversed and it be me lying on a bunk bed spending my days getting yelled at, motivating 50 individualist young men. No not me.

So, anyways, that's part one of my update. I'll find the energy at some point before what I hope is next Sunday's phone call to give you the other vigorous details. I know you are dying to hear (slight sarcasm here). I am exhausted, and yet I am in no hurry to jump into whatever dream is waiting for me on the other side in sleepyland. Will it be boot camp again? Missing baby? Something new that my mind hasn't even come up with, something that will keep me up for the next 40+ years? Awesome.

Goodnight my friends.

This is Cheyanne's new way of sleeping. She covers her face. And yet she cries in the morning with her "in shock" cry that she can't see when she wakes up.

3 Months of Personality

Seeing as Cheyanne just turned three months, I thought I should make a list of things that she has been up to recently.



Cheyanne--

• loves her bathtime. Long gone are the days of this...

Baths and running water are very calming for her

• laughs hysterically when its time to change clothes for the first few moments until she gets bored. Her favorite part is popping her head out of the top. 
• also loves getting her clothes taken off, especially her sleeves. We have a game where I shake her armsleeves out. She knows its coming and starts laughing before I've even touched her. Entirely too cute!
• is not a good sleeper. She takes 3-4 naps that last about 15-20 minutes each, usually. Some days we get lucky and she'll sleep an hour or so, but those days are all too rare. And at night, she has just (in the last 2 weeks) began sleeping a 4-6 hour stretch at night then wakes to nurse at 3:30am. I put her back down around 4am which then she sleeps until 6:30-7. From that point on, we nurse every 2 hours.
• is the worlds lightest sleeper!! I don't have a clue where she gets that from. Her daddy is the deepest sleeper ever created and I used to be pretty sound myself. I don't judge anything based on how I sleep now. Zilch is pretty close to how I sleep these days. She wakes up to the floor squeaking. Tonight she even woke up while I was writing something down with a marker. And yet, we still have her noise machine going every night when she sleeps.
• loves to smile and lock eyes. She watches me every where I go and smiles as soon as our eyes meet.
• loves her momma more than anyone else in the whole world. Most times she won't let anyone else even hold her once she realizes she is not in my arms. While I wish she would let my family hold her more, one day I will really miss these days when all she wanted was me. So, I'm the only one here not complaining about this right now.
• is talking and cooing more and more every day. She is very much a talker. Oh to know what all she is trying to say. Mark my words, she will be quite the story teller and I can already see her reports coming home saying, "Cheyanne is good student, but she talks a lot in class." Just like her Momma.
• wants to have my attention all day long and makes sure I (and everyone else in ear shot) know it.
• still hates her Zantac medicine that I give her every morning and night. Who would like the taste of really really strong peppermint? Not my girl. But almost instantly once she takes it, I can tell the difference in her and see she feels better.
• loves being read to, in short spurts, with big bright pictures. Thank you Aunt Sharon for her Mother Goose book. Its definitely one of our favorites. Our other favorites are of course our Read-along books by Daddy. The Night Before Christmas and Guess How Much I Miss You (Thank you too Saias for this one). She looks all around when we open her Daddy's book and he reads.
• stays in constant motion. This little girl is not one that likes to sit still. Ever.
• is a big open mouth kisser.
• hates her feet covered unless she has no other option aka footie outfits. Just like her Daddy, has to have one foot out of the blanket while she sleeps.
• gets the hiccups at least once a day (stupid acid reflux) and spits up after almost every feeding. That means lots of wardrobe changes.
• favorite song is Jingle Bells and the wheels on the bus. 

So that's my 3 month old girl

 Photo by Schaffer Photography

Where did the time go?

I literally can't tell you what I did today. Or yesterday. Or even the day before. Anything outside of baby care seems to be a big blur. My Mamaw asked me today what I had done all day. Hmmm... well... As I looked at her, I pointed to the baby, and that was literally all I could come up with. Where has all my big plans gone? How can such a small little person take up so much time? Is it bad that the highlight of my day is that I showered? Oh and I did finish one page of the Giant's scrapbook. Big things. I mean, I make lists of things to do, and I'm sure I get them done most of days. But, for some reason, it feels like I get through my days accomplishing absolutely nothing and yet somehow I stay busy all day long. Of course, I am living my life in two hour increments these days which makes things difficult. Nursing takes a lot of commitment and dedication, especially as often as we are still doing it. See, even now I'm making excuses for not doing anything. OH Lordy. But what can I do when I've got a little cutie that needs me?!

So, what did I do today?

Happy Three Months Baby Girl

Today my sweet angel turned 3 months old! How is that possible? I never truly knew that time could really fly, but holy crap it is soaring by now. And all in the wrong areas. But, I am not living in the days past and am trying very hard not to live in the future, but to appreciate what is now. I'm not rushing my baby to grow up but I'm appreciating that she is another day older than yesterday. I want to cherish every day with her and marvel in all things through her eyes. Frankly, life is a lot more fun in a baby's eyes. Everything is new and bright and innocent and full of a future. So thank you baby for making me open my eyes these last 3 months and appreciate all that I have around me and even that which is not, like particularly that which sleeps in Texas tonight.

We thought it would be fun to eat Mr. Bear

Journey wanted in on the fun.

_______________________
I know you all must think I am becoming a bit bipolar or something as one day my post is down and depressing (sorry) and then the next I am cheery and excited. Ah, so is the life of a military wife apparently. For now at least. But, I tell you. I have this new sense of love in my life. I feel like I have fallen in love all over again. Something I really didn't know could ever be possible. Even though the love of my life is away, I have felt more love for him than I've ever known. That saying, "absence makes the heart grow fonder?", it is true, but there is so much more. I have been writing him every day since he left. I write to him as if we were having a conversation, its one way I get through the day. I tell him about my day, the new things Cheyanne has done, what kind of mood she is in, what I've been thinking about, what I dream about. All the things that quite frankly I probably would never even tell him. Things that either slip my mind in the day or things I don't know he would appreciate, before that is. Now, I make mental notes throughout my day, "Things to tell Hubs." "Today I did laundry and it took me three hours to fold clothes because I couldn't focus." "Today Cheyanne grabbed her first toy on her own. It was a xxx that looks like xxx." "Today I am feeling down because xxxx." "Today has been a great day because xxxx." Things that maybe I wouldn't have shared before. I feel like am reconnecting, to my husband and to myself. Even though I don't get feedback during my letter conversations and I don't have him to communicate with, I know that he loves reading my thoughts. I know that this has become our way of reconnecting. I am truly enjoying it. Its the close to each of my days. After I've put the baby to bed, and I have a little quiet to myself, I recall my mental list and write to my love. And usually write and write and write, and then edit it down to one page since he doesn't have time to read more than one page at a time. Its like I'm living my life twice, for someone who doesn't get to.

I received a letter from him today. He again said how much he appreciates all the letters he has been receiving. It really is such an encouragement to him to know he is not just forgotten. He has received letters from people he doesn't even know. Thank you! Thank you everyone for loving us enough to support us when we need it most. Let's keep those letters coming. If you'll write the note, I'll even pay for the stamp. Or as many as you'll send. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye. Worst promise saying ever, fyi, I don't really want any of those 3 things to happen, but I absolutely will pay for the postage ;) But he also said to tell everyone he is doing well, misses us horribly which is his hardest issue, but is at the top of his flight and holds the highest position a trainee can hold over a squadron. He is "dorm chief" in charge of his entire squadron meaning lots of extra responsibility and causes a lot more harassment for him because when anyone in his squadron does something wrong, he gets what they get and more. But he is passing everything with flying colors. I knew my boy would rock it. Physically of course he is nailing it, but it continues to be a daily struggle to not be sad he is missing us. His baby girl in particular. This is where he needs the most encouragement.
________________
Now on to a fun little something having to do with a certain 13lb 3oz and 22 1/2 inches long 3 month old baby girl. (Threw in the stats because I knew you would want to know)

So yes, it is 3 months ago today that our precious little girl entered the world. How is that possible? The day my life was forever changed. But oh my word is she acting all of her three months. She was in such a fantastic mood today, until tonight of course. But all day she was smiling and talking and missing her daddy. I could just tell. Call it mother’s intuition if you will. And I got her something extra special for her 3 months on earth. Snow. And lots of it. It snowed about 5 inches today. Entirely too cold to take her out in it, but so fun to watch fall.

Standing on my parents' front porch facing our farm

Have I told you about her favorite toy? Well its not exactly a toy, but it is her absolute FAV! She gets really excited every time she sees it. I am so serious. She loves this…..

And do I mean excited?! Like jumps up and squeals and talks to it. A lighthouse magnet. Weird?! OH YEAH! I realized it when I after a few times of me standing next to the kitchen island holding her with my back to the fridge, she did this same routine of excitement. Finally, after moving around things on the fridge and watching what she was honed in on, I figured it out. And I swear on my life, it wasn’t once or twice. It is every single time I walk by the fridge with her. Hysterical! Its like everyone has always said, you can buy your child all the toys in the world, and they will end up playing with the boxes more. So is my child.

Look Mom! No Hands!

Wordless Wednesday

Snow at the beach?

Since when does it snow at the beach and NOT in the mountains? Today apparently. Has hell frozen over?

Yeah, Baby was pretty excited about this thought. We didn't know what to do with ourselves? So we just stayed in the warm car and watched it fall. But now we are back from our quick trip to the beach and are snowless. But holy guacamole it is COLD outside. Why oh why must it be this bitter cold without snow? I mean, if its too cold to go outside then there better be some freakin beautiful white snow on the ground. That's all I've got to say about that! Stay warm friends!

To the mall

I just don't know where she gets it from...?...

_________________

Guess who had her first shopping mall experience yesterday?! And she loved it. All the lights and colors and sounds. I'm pretty sure the child didn't blink once the entire hour we were there. She was so great, up until I had the genius idea of trying something on her. Note to those who don't know- not a good idea to disturb a calm but borderline hungry baby to undress her and redress her in the middle of the Macy's baby section to see if something looks good or not. Not my finest idea. Needless to say, screaming ensued. Which then led to nursing in the changing room to calm her down. Duh. I was about to just pull out the girls and nurse her right there in the middle of the floor to appease her but thankfully, we made it to the dressing room before I had to drop all dignity. New mother. Screaming baby. First mall trip. Stares. Panic! AHH! And after all of that, I ended up not even buying the sweater we were trying on. We just kept the one we had brought to return. Another duh.

Wish I knew

why I'm feeling the way I am. Nights are the worst. During the day, I'm usually fine. No, more than fine. I'm usually feeling great. I enjoy playing with my baby. I hang out with my mom. I work on little projects. I am good. But then it seems, as soon as I lay the baby down to sleep, I fight my emotions. I guess sad is the best word to describe this feeling. Stressed. Heavy. Lonely. Just plain sad. I try not to be. I don't know what really brings it on. I think its when I actually have time to think to myself. When I want to just tell him about my day or about little girl's day, but I can't. Instead I write it all down. I write it to him, as if he were here. I keep myself and my mind busy all day, saying little prayers throughout the day for my husband, but then at night, I hit a lull. I'm not trying to say "Whoa is me" or anything like that. I'm just realizing this trend though. Nights are hard. I'll be fine, but just at this moment, I'm lonely.

But of course, I can't stay lonely long because I have this little face to keep me company!





Did I tell you however I got 15 minutes of fast talking on Sunday with my Husband? I don't think I did. Well Sunday he called! We got 15 minutes to talk. It was the greatest but fastest 15 minutes. Apparently, the Air Force is now required to give all recruits one phone call a week as able, ranging from 1 minute to 15 minutes. They earn their minutes throughout the week. Thus we got all 15! I had a list of discussion topics ready for whenever he called. Things that I needed his input on first, then we were able to just catch up. He is doing really well. He is in the highest position in his flight,"dorm chief," responsible for all of the other recruits. This is great, but a HUGE responsibility. And unfortunately, with this position comes a lot of attention, positive and lots of negative. Anytime a recruit in his flight gets in trouble, so does he, since he is ultimately responsible for them. That keeps him very stressed. Physically, he is at the top of the flight, which we expected. But, he said the hardest part for him now is all mental. I think it is harder on him psychologically than he anticipated. And he is averaging about 3-4 hours of sleep a night, so that doesn't help. I don't know if he was trying to sound positive just for me or not, but I could tell how tired he was and how much he missed us. That part of the conversation was hard on both of us. He told me to be sure to thank everyone who has sent him notes and cards. That has been so wonderful for him. He said it such an encouragement and to please keep them coming. Even though he doesn't get much time to read them or write back, he said it is so greatly appreciated. SO thank you! I don't know who all has, but it means the world to him and me too to be so supported.

I will be fine, I have no question about that. I just had to write out how I am feeling tonight. Tomorrow's a new day. And tomorrow, I'll wake up like I do every morning, say a little prayer for my husband to have a successful and safe day, and thank God for our little girl that can't wait to be back with her Daddy. Goodnight.
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It was REALLY cold out tonight, so we pulled back out the warm halloween costume as a makeshift snowsuit without the snow to keep her warm. She liked being a monkey again :) Isn't she the cutest monkey girl?

Let it snow Let it snow Let it snow

Its only an inch or so on the ground, but its the first of the season and its my baby's first snow. Granted, she really could care less since she is oblivious, but I'm a little excited. And shockingly, I usually hate snow. Not today. Its too pretty to hate. Since there was snow on the ground, my mom and I decided it was a decorate-for-Christmas sort of day. So we put up two trees, decorated them both, and put up all the nutcrackers, nativity scenes, snow villages, angels, wreaths, and Santa Clauses we could find room for while listening to one of my all-time favorite Christmas CDs (and I am not at all ashamed of it)- 1998's N'Sync Home for Christmas. Classic. We started off with a sappy serious beautiful Christmas music medley, but it was a little too much for me to handle, so we juiced it up with my favs. Ah I still love me some Justin Timberlake. Takes me down memory lane to the days of Teen Beat magazine JT photo cutouts taped to the inside my locker for me to drool over in between bells. Ahhhhhh Justin... Oops, back to today.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas on the Turtle Bay farm.