What's that?

That would be my first babysitter note! We've never left Cheyanne with someone other than a relative for any length of time (at all). Tonight is a first. The Giant and I have a squadron banquet to go to, so Cheyanne is staying home with our fantastic neighbors. They were kind enough to volunteer their night to watch little girl so we can have a grownup night out. I'm a nervous wreck. If you think about it, please say a little prayer for us- I know that sounds ridiculous. Its a first for all of us. I have complete faith in our neighbors and I know their 3 children will keep her entertained. Night time is my concern. Eeek. I hope she goes to bed alright. I feel MomMom guilt all the way up to my eyeballs right now. But, this is good right? She's 18 months. I think its a good step. Lordy, I hope I don't eat those words later on tonight. 

I'll let you know how it goes peeps!

Happy Birthday to Me

If you know me, you know how important birthdays are around here. Usually my birthday is more like a birth month starting March 1st celebrated through today, the 27th. Somehow this year, my day seemed to sneak up on me. Its a joke in my family that come holiday times, just hand me a magazine and I'll circle what I want to help you out with the decision. Last week my mom asked me what I wanted and I was completely clueless. I'm not a brat I swear, but trust me when I say that my speechlessness was a surprise to both of us. All I could think of were things for the house- outside flowers and something to enjoy the flowers on. I've been dying for a pair of rocking chairs to go on the front porch. I live in Charleston. Rocking chairs are as much of a must as a glass of sweet tea.

So I just have to say a huge thanks to my family because I'll be picking up my rocking chairs as soon as I can steal the Giant away to get them! And big special thanks to my sister for the flowers that I will be enjoying from my seat on my new rockers…. in my new kicks from my husband!

Are they not the cutest?! Good pick Hubs! These Sanuks are the most comfortable shoes I've ever had.

I honestly could not have asked for a better birthday. The sun was out and shining and my husband was home to spend the day with me and the babe. One of the best things about Charleston is the food. He took me to lunch downtown to a restaurant we've been wanting to try called Magnolias on East Bay Street. I've heard so much about it and let me tell you. It did not disappoint.

The crab cake sandwich was to DIE for. Folks, I think we have a new favorite go to restaurant. Mmm.

After lunch, we spend the rest of the afternoon wandering through downtown. We picked up some local artwork in the slave market, got a taste of a little bit of heaven (aka charleston pralines), and explored the infamous Charlestonian neighborhoods.

It was a perfect day. I did everything I wanted to do with exactly the people I wanted to do it with.

Happy Birthday to Me! 27 is going to be a fun year.

A year and a half of cuteness

Cheyanne, you are a year.and.a.half!! Not just 18 months anymore but now a full year and a half old! Holy Moly! I know it gets me every month that you are growing up, and frankly that probably won't ever stop, but come on…. a year and a half.

Yall, I know I'm late on this post, but I have been thinking a lot about it without typing it out. Every time someone has asked me this month how old she is, I have to pause before I answer. In past months, when asked I always respond in months, example: 15 months, 9 months, etc. This month, I actually pause and have to think "18 months" which has come out a few times as "a year and a half" always followed by a slight MomMom head shake. 

Its been a fun month. Lots of cute, fun things to remember in Chey world this month.

Biggest and best thing to happen this month was Cheyanne's best friend coming home. Chey's best friend also known as Daddy has really helped make this a great month. 

Best family trip thus far happened this month. Disney World!! I'm so glad the Giant and I ignored all the comments we heard that we shouldn't waste our money on such a big trip while Cheyanne is young. She won't remember it…blah blah blah. It was the greatest trip we've ever taken as a family of three. It was worth the extra moolah. I don't do things every day so that she'll remember it. We do things to make life happy and good. Well this trip definitely was a happy one and a good one. (At some point I'll actually get up my posts on our trip).

This past month has been a big jump in her vocab. While she still isn't speaking too clearly yet, some words are coming through more and more. She "talks" all day long, just in every other language but English right now. She constantly surprises me with how much she actually knows through identification. Some new words she's saying are "mi" for milk, boy, and though she's been saying it for a while now "please" just gets cuter every time she says it.

She loves her daddy, animals, and being outside. Mention one of these things to her and she becomes Miss Sunshine no matter what else is going on. She's quite dramatic… no idea where that comes from. Ha. I feel  like we might be entering the twos a little early. Her dramatic fallouts can be so huge that they are just plain hilarious. If we get to laughing at her, she pretty quickly catches on and takes it one of two ways- more dramatic or laughs along with us. You never know. Its a gamble. She loves laughter which is great because she has one of the greatest senses of humor. We laugh through most of the day (most- when its not nap time or food time).

Happy 18 months little kisser girl. You're my buddy and I'm thankful for you every day. You keep me on my toes and I love that about you. You are thoughtful and observant and constantly learning and challenging yourself. I love watching you grow into such a beautiful little girl.

 

Back to reality

Ugh. Sigh. Complain. Complain. Complain….

My two weeks of "welcome homeness" are over. Booooooooo! Christmas is put away. Laundry has been done. And the house looks like a man lives here again.

The Giant is back to work today and I am home with one sick little girl. I hadn't planned on being so MIA this week, I swear. Do I even have any readers left? I wouldn't blame you if you have deserted me by now. I've not been the best blogger. I had every intention of jumping back on the blogwagon once we returned from vaca last week, but then life just took over. Starting the minute we walked back in the door, our new home to-do list seemed to grow by the minute. It didn't help that we returned with the cold bug which started with the Giant then quickly jumped to Chey Chey. Damn you Mickey Mouse and the gazillion germs you probably carry in your kid infested fur. You got us good. I'm starting to fight a scratchy throat myself, but since we can't afford the Momma to get sick, I'm armed with Zicam, Vitamin C, and a ton of water.

Needless to say, I've had Lysol in one hand and pitiful Peapod in the other. All any little sickly wants is her Momma. Well, that is not completely true. Despite her most pitifulness, her Daddy has had some of the most precious moments with her over the last 48 hours. Who knew that she would get so attached to him so fast? She absolutely adores him even when she's so sick. She loves getting snuggles and attention from both of us like she's never gone a day in her life without it. Despite the brief twinge of instant jealousy that I was not prepared for and am dealing with (just being honest…), it warms my heart to hear her call for him in snotty need or watch her tired eyes light up when he walks in the room. Today even when he was leaving for work and she was heading down for nap time, we told her needed to go bye-bye, she immediately cried and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his leg. Ah! Is this what we've been missing without the Giant home?! Neither of us could help but smile in her instant distress. I may or may not have teared up. I won't say.

(Daddy opening his March Christmas while she stands at parade rest)

Onto other things… I know I have a lot to catch you up on. That is, if you are still out there. If you are, be prepared. I have lots coming. Nights home alone again mean one of two things. Crafts or blogging. There you go. If I'm not here, you'll know what I'm doing. Well that or (hopefully for not much longer) nursing my sickly. Ok there. That's it. No more excuses. One of three things. Promise. The end. I'm back.

We're home but not quite back

No, I didn't hijack my Giant and run away with him forever (like I thought about the minute his plane touched down). We took a little vaca- just us three. And now we're back and readjusting to life back home as a family of three. Life is good, friends. I've never loved vacation more and yet never been so happy to be back in my own home too.

Here's just a hint to life the last week and why this site has been boring for a while.

I have so much that I admittedly need to catch up on. The house is a wreck. The suitcases still aren't unpacked. Laundry is growing by the minute. Christmas is still up (yup…). And my blog is sitting here silent and unloved. 

Can I be honest?

Not to be course, but today none of that really matters because life is seriously good yall. I have a sweet baby yelling "Mom MOM!" to my left and a handsome giant that I can't stand to take my eyes off of to my right. What's a girl to do?! Oh yeah… enjoy every minute of it.

At some point I'll get bored and be ready to update, but for now, I'm just loving my loves. Thanks for understanding! I'll share a few more non-specific pictures just to say thanks. I'll save the best ones for later.

Mmmm… MomMom loves Epcot

Looky who I found!

The Giant is home!!!!

So thankful that a friend took the picture above and sent it to me because my brain was so scattered once he landed that the only picture I remembered to take was the one below…in the parking lot before we loaded up to head home. I'm learning.

I did get a few videos but nothing like I should have. Once I saw the Giant climb down the steps, all forethought of blogging escaped me. That and I was going on 4 hours of sleep… See?

This is the plane coming in. Captain obvi here at your service.

And here we spotted the Giant. The end. HA!

Cheyanne didn't know what to think at first. It was cold and there were a lot of people screaming. Oh and she was not thrilled when the plane came right towards us to turn and unload. It was too close for her comfort. Not for me though! The closer the better at that point. 

Once we got to Daddy, she wouldn't go to him but she wanted to keep her eyes on him. If you have never experienced a deployment return, the process goes you wait for their return, you greet them, then you have to go your seperate ways again for a while so they can in-process with blood work, etc. It was at that point that Chey was NOT cool with saying goodbye again to Daddy. She didn't understand why he had to leave us again. Thank God for the yummy muffins someone brought that waited for us inside and helped take her mind off of the confusing separation. God bless that person.

Chey actually took to her Daddy amazingly fast. Both the Giant and I are still a little perplexed at how well she has responded to him. Let me just show you a picture that says it better than I can even explain. 

More on their, I mean our day later.

Not long now

Update on 3/3/12: As I am now learning in the military, things change. We will be waiting a little longer after all for the Giant to get home. I wish I could tell more but I'm not able to at this time. I'll be sure to announce it once I've got him home though.

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This is a good sign! The lights are on and the presents are under the Christmas tree.

Giant, don't look too close under the tree, especially not the next picture… not that you probably will get a chance to see this in the next few days :)

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In case you are new to This Wood House… No I'm not a Griswald keeping my Christmas lights up all year. And no, I'm not a tacky Christmas holly loving crazy person celebrating Christmas every day of the year. I am the proud wife of an United States Airman that has been deployed for far too long and has missed way too much of our life. We have been waiting for him and Christmas waited for him as well. 

And now, it won't have to wait much longer. Not long now at all!!