The Month of the Military Child

 

April is the month of the Military Child. Since Gianna has been born my husband has been deployed or gone on TDY's more than when we first got married. Before he left again we added up his actual time home and basically in the last three years he has been home a total of 6 months. Not consecutively but a weekend here, a week there. It's sad when you think about all the things he misses out on and how much time away he spends from his family

 

I am fortunate that the kids are too little  to really understand what is going on but Gianna is starting to. The other day she asked if Daddy was working with Santa Claus. I went with it and told her yes, that he was away working with Santa. Then when the husband called I told him he needed to come back with a suitcase full of toys!  I try to make up a silly story to explain why Daddy's away to make things a little easier for her. She knows he's gone for work but doesn't really understand that concept. When she sees a man in uniform or see's M's truck in the driveway she gets excited thinking it's him

 

The other day as I was taking the kids for a walk Ethan kept calling out for 'Dada". Gianna turns, looks at him and says No Buba. Daddy doesn't live with us anymore. Broke my heart.

 

Every time I set my phone down on the floor Ethan runs to it and starts hitting it saying Hi Daddy. Right now my kids think it's normal to only have a phone conversation with their dad and kisses are given by kissing my iPhone screen.

 

This military lifestyle is hard. And when my husband comes home it's not always  rainbows and sunshine. There's always that initial adjustment period for all and the kids are constantly having to adjust, readjust, get used to a new schedule, etc. It can get exhuasting

 

Yet as hard as this lifestyle  it is also pretty amazing. I still puff up with pride every time I pull onto post knowing that my husband serves our country and I couldn't be more proud of him and all that he does. And of course I am proud of my children. They weather this lifestyle with ease. I hope it continues that way as they get older but so far we have a routine down pat and they adjust and readjust like the  best of them.

 

Happy Month of the Military child.

I'll Eat you up I love you so

 

This little man is weeks away from turning 18 months. 1.5 years old. Where has the time gone?

Ethan you are an utter delight. When people ask what it's like to have a son, I can't even find the words to describe it. The bond between a mother and son is truly magical. Your smile lights up the room and makes my heart burst.

 

-You are so easy going. You can wander around and find ways to amuse yourself. You do like me close by at all times but are getting better about spending some time playing on your own

-You are finally starting to stick up for yourself when it comes to your sister. Although she loves you she is learning how to share herself and this means that she tends to bully you into giving up your toys or yelling at you when you touch one of hers. Don't tell her but when you try and smack her I have to hide my laughter because in my head I'm thinking it's time she gets a little payback although I have to discipline you somewhat

-You are my little helper. You love to follow me around when I vacuum or wash the floors and you will spend hours pushing the steam cleaner around the kitchen. I hope this hobby lasts well into the teenage years

-You love to eat. You have what is called toddler diarrhea. With that comes a high metabolic rate but a immature digestive system. Meaning you are always hungry due to your body metabolizing food at a fast rate but you poop constantly because your digestive system can't keep up. You eat me out of house and home kiddo. One day you eat 3 lunches alone. Luckily we eat pretty healthy around here and I am under Dr's orders to feed you when your hungry.  But let's try and tone it down a bit ok. As it is I buy a thing of banana's every other day

-You are such a cuddle bug. Finally! You liked to cuddle when you were little but once you turned 6 months you preferred to be put in your crib and left alone. No rocking, snuggling or holding. It made me so sad. Within the past few month's you love to be held and rocked and you will come up to me and just snuggle into me many times throughout the day. My hear melts

-You are talking like crazy and saying no words any day

- You are quite the climber and have no fear. When I take you to the playground you will climb up the big kid's jungle gym and slide down the tallest slide possible. It gives me a heart attack but it makes you crack up hysterically

-You can sing and dance to Let It Go along with your sister and I. It is so cute

-You are 25 pounds and wear 24m to 2T in clothes.

-You are attached to your stuffed monkey and baby and need both to sleep. You can also imitate the monkey sounds when holding your monkey

-All of your favorite items are called "Baby" Whether' its a spoon, bottle, fork, blanket, monkey, toy, etc. Even though you know the name of the item you call it a baby. It is the cutest thing

- You love bananas and usually eat three a day

-You love your milk and bottles

-You love bath time but hate getting your diaper changed

-You still hate being away from me but are getting better at being in the nursery during church and things

- You are the sweetest, silliest, cutest little boy I have ever met. I just want to eat you up I love you so

Let Her Be

It's crazy to believe that Gianna is a few short month's away from turning 3. As each month passes Gianna's personality is starting to emerge more and more. She's such a little person with her own likes and dislikes. We  have full out conversations, she asks questions about everything and is smart as a whip. She is so much more than the picture I paint of her on this blog which usually tends to be negative since I'm venting about how to deal with her behavior. I just need to keep reminding myself that she is a child. A 2.5 year old at that. She is not a little adult and she also has to deal with her dad coming and going due to his job. I need to give her some grace and allow her to be who she is going to be. With that there are so many things that I hope she will be. Many of which will take guidance and teaching from her dad and I. Parenting is hard work and it's not a 9-5 job. So Gianna here are some of my hopes and wishes for you, my beautiful, sweet, funny little girl

 

Let Her Be...

 

Pretty( You already are)-Both on the inside and out. Let her be the one that everyone want's to be friends with because she is kind, honest and trustworthy. The kind that will befriend anyone and who treats her friends with respect

 

A Nerd-Let her love to read and hold on to the innocence of childhood as long as possible. Whether it's believing in Santa Claus or playing with dolls into middle school. Let her decide when it's time to give up those things instead of being pressured by society

 

Loved- Let her always know how much her Dad, Brother and I love her and that when it comes to finding the man of her dreams she falls for someone who treats  and loves her the way that we do.

 

Stubborn- Let her never settle for anything less than she's worth. Whether it be a friend, boyfriend, job, a grade, etc. Let her work hard and strive for the things that she wants out of life

 

Confident-Let her never have to struggle with or worry about perfecting the perfect duck face, a thigh gap or not having the "right" body type. Let her be confident in the body type she does have without feeling like she has to change herself physically to fit in

 

Whatever she wants to be-If she want's to be a ballerina, Great. If she want's to be a Dr, go right ahead. The point is you can be whatever you want to be Gianna. Never let anyone tell you otherwise

 

Herself-Always be yourself no matter what. Stand up for what you believe in. Stand up for other's. Don't follow the crowd and never let anyone tell you how who to be or how to act. You are your own person, with likes and dislikes that may differ from others. Never be ashamed of who you are and don't try to change who you are

 

These are my hopes for you baby girl.