Our first Thanksgiving

Well as a whole family that is.... I cooked for the first time since we didn't travel to visit family in hopes we'll be able to take a longer vacation for Christmas. Our turkey which I felt so sad for when I took him out of the bag. I used champagne and apples along with some seasoning....Doc Handsome and Mini DH gobbled it up so I think it's safe to say it was decent. Side note: I was so grossed out by the bag of giblets.


Our little dinner time set up.

The pumpkin pie I made which didn't turn out to be the most visually appealing pie, but I can say it was tasty to the max.


Food coma without a doubt...I was really falling asleep.

I adore him
We watched some of the Macy's Day Parade since Mini Dh has been waking up at 9:30 everyday...so we kinda missed the beginning. Then of course we watched football all day long while I was getting my cook on in the kitchen. Mini Dh was so easy that whole day and luckily didn't demand my unwavered attention until dinner was finished. We skyped with our family which was really nice because they were able to see Mini DH run all over the house and see all his new achievements. We ate dinner in candlelight with no other lights on and Doc Handsome even said a few words before asking me if I wanted to say grace. It was nice setting traditions for Thankgiving this year.

Say it ain't so

We went to talk to an Army Recruiter yesterday. And all I can say is, I can't imagine not being Navy anymore. It's all still in the works and nothing is definite yet but it's an option now. Serving through military is what we want and in the bigger scheme of things, branch does not matter. But our lives have been so involved with the Navy way of living for the past two and a half years that it's strange to think we could potentially be an Army family.

Army is sooo different. Not in a bad or good way...just a different way. It'd be weird to hear the restroom referred to as something different than "head." To hear "post" instead of "base." Advancements, ranks, rates, lingo...it's all so different.

Supposedly there's a warrior transition course Doc Handsome would take if he goes Army. Something along the lines of "trying to teach an old dog new tricks." So in otherwards teaching him to leave behind his Navy ways and integrate into Army ways. I sure hope they have a family/wife transition course....

A dime a dozen

So much has been going on lately in our ever changing lives. Hmmm let's see...



Breastfeeding - We have officially began the weaning process at 13 months. We're down to usually just one nursing session a day. Sometimes more and sometimes not at all. Mini Doc Handsome has been weaning himself for about 3 or so months now and after tormenting myself with the decision, Doc Handsome and I have decided jointly that at 14 months (Dec. 19th) this beautiful era in our parenthood will be over. *Insert very sad face* However, I do have to say that I am proud of US for how far we did make it. I say us because breastfeeding has to be supported by your partner to successfully work. Doc Handsome was so patient in assisting with pumping and warming frozen milk when I was away at work. 14 months of giving him the best of the breast and I can know with certainty that it is a benefit not just for his 14th months of breastfeeding, but for his entire life. I'm pretty obviously VERY pro breastfeeding so I'm proud that Mini Dh has never had a drop of formula and that I've never even had to purchase formula. I still dread the last nursing session as I can picture it perfectly in my head. Many times I've contemplated nursing until two years of age but after all the difficulties and heartache of trying to get Mini Dh to nurse when he very clearly is weaning himself, the beauty and bonding Mini Dh and I once shared in nursing has long dissolved.

(Please no meany face comments about how I should be ashamed of stopping. I have my blog set up to not allow annonymous comments because I put some of my most inner thoughts on here under my own identity, not annonymous, so I think a difference of opinion can be said respectfully and with an identity....and of course is always welcomed.)

Thanksgiving - We're spending at our house this year. We did three different trips to the SF Bay area in October for our niece's and nephew's births and Mini Dh's first birthday trip that we were drained of traveling so harshly with Mini DH. We also figured if we didn't take the trip for Thanksgiving, we could ask for more time of during Christmas time. So we did just that and now we get to spend an entire week in the Bay Area for Christmas and even New Year's Eve with our friends up there....which we've never done before.

So tomorrow we've got a huge shopping list for my first ever Thanksgiving cooking attempt. Eeks! Saying I'm nervous would be an understatement.

Military - Still no word from MEPS but this week will mark 3 weeks and we SHOULD hear back from them. Those prayers are much appreciated, if you could keep them going just a bit longer.

Mini Dh - He's walking like a pro and trying his very hardest to run which is so adorable to watch. He just got finished with antibiotics for yet another double ear infection mixed with a sinus infection which we both had for nearly four weeks. We were miserable and apparantly he is prone to ear infections. The antibiotics gave him an infection so now we're dealing with that. Mini Dh is such a good tempered boy though because through it all he's still so patient and rarely fussy.

He's saying all kinds of words now including mama, dada, ball, tree, car, doggie, light, and bird. He points out my nose, ears, eyes, forehead, and cheek. He's at such an absorbant age; everyday is more fun than the day before. And of course, more challenging too as he tries to assert his independence.

Me, myself, and I - I have began....drum roll please.......therapy for myself. It's been a long time coming and not anything I really plan on discussig here but I am excited for my very own road to recovery and hopefully a huge decrease in unfortunate emotions.

School - I started my third block in school last week and that marked my first ever class that is actually related to my major in Elementary Education. I really like how UofP threw in some major related classes with my general ed cause it keeps my eye of the bigger goal rather than just trying to get through the b.s. gen. ed classes.

Christmas break starts in just a few weeks and I'm so relieved that I won't have school work to do on our vacation up north.




Tonight it was raining and Doc Handsome stepped out onto the patio with Mini Dh in his arms, asking me to come out for just a few seconds. I gave him that "really?! In the cold?!?!" face as I threw on my jacket. We just watched the rain and in the middle of an ordinary night he said, "I'm so glad I'm here this year. I love you two."

It reminded me of the families that don't have their partner or parent home this holiday season like Mrs. S and Beka just for starters. Whether it's a military family or even one who can't be with their family for various reasons, please keep them in mind. Somewhere someone is missing what we are blessed for this season. Last year it was us.

Merry Christmas!!! We're so close to Thanksgiving so I've started saying it now!

100 Warm Feet Project for our Troops

My little ole' blog was featured in the 100 Warm Feet Project: For all you do, warm feet for you. And while I am beyond honored and surprised that I was included, there's more to this blog post than just that.

This project is sponsored by Verseo who is putting on a sweepstakes in honor of Veteran's Day 2010. This Vet's Day also marks our 10th year our brave men and women in uniform have endured cold Afgham winters. Verseo is asking anyone who is associated with an Armed Forces Service Member that can use a pair of ThermoSole Rechargeable Heated Insoles, to enter their contest that runs through November 29th. Verseo will choose 50 random winners to send their ThermoSoles to.

The video was created to celebrate military families while showing their stories to help promote the project/sweepstakes. I'm sure so many of you know her but Househol Diva 6 and This Military Mama help put this video together. I've been an avid follower of Household Diva 6 since she spoke out about protecting ourselves and our troops through OPSEC and PERSEC. She is also the one who made that little "Military Spouse Blogger" badge on the left side of the screen and created that long list of Military Spouse bloggers that we've all registered under.

So go ahead and register someone you know who could really use these warming soles during the cold winters...wherever that may be this Holiday Season. It's a small gesture but one that makes a huge impact.

Two marriage lessons

At the beginning of our marriage we started reading a book called "His Needs Her Needs : Having an Affair Proof Marriage." It's an ongoing read for us and I can't even sing this books praises enough. We just bought another book called "Why Marriages Succeed or Fail." We've always been firm believers in proactive work against issues that married couples WILL face during some point.

I remember that night before we went to City Hall in Chicago to get hitched. We flipped through a book that talked about big issues couples need to agree on before going into marriage. Things most people talk about long before getting married, usually while still dating. Religion, children, friends, living situation, etc.

The day we did get married we bought that first book (His Needs Her Needs) after Doc Handsome had taken it upon himself to ask the chaplain on base there at Corps School what he reccommended. And immediately started reading it.

So from day one with books, long talks, advice from others, and even marriage counseling, we've always tried to prepare ourselves for the usual challenges of a marriage. I mean afterall, that's all you can do right?! Prepare yourself and dive into a lifelong commitment to the one you love.

But there are some lessons you just learn as you go through life. No matter what others tell you or what you read, it just comes with experience. And recently we've learned two huge marriage lessons.

One: If you want something done a specific way, than you have to do it yourself. Once you hand overe the task to your spouse, you've relinquished all say so in the matter. For instance, Doc Handsome and I have very different views on what a clean house is. Let's just say I'm a bit more of a detailed freak. I want the books in the bookshelf to be lined up with the spines all the same distance from the ledge. And of course I expect the magnet on the fridge to be in some type of order. But let me clarify. Our house is rarely ever in this sort of condition. I mean after all, we are parents to a one year old. At this stag,e it's almost pointless to put anything away. But when we do a massive cleaning session, I would like it spotless. Well Doc Handsome has a different view. He does a lot of straightening up and rearranging of things. Neither of us are wrong in how we do it; it's just different. But the thing we're learning is just this. If I ask Doc Handsome to clean one night while at work, I am letting go of the responsibility and respecting his way to do the task. Simple as that. I can't expect him to do it my way. In the same manner that he wouldn't expect me to change the filter when doing my own oil. Because all I'd do is refill the oil.

It's such a simple concept but one that's really , hard to wrap my head around even now. I struggle with it constantly.

Two: Besides one of the biggest needs of men...ahem, let's just say intimacy. (Sorry to both sets of parents that you just had to read that!) Men need to feel respected and women loved. Of course, it's yet again so simple. But really one that takes work we've found. We both need reassurance that A.) He is the man of all men and B.) I am a loving and nurturing mother and wife. Respect and love. It is what God intended for a marriage anyways so it makes sense that the two go hand in hand.

That's what has been floating around in my mind this past week. We went to a wedding on Saturday for a couple of friends since Doc Handsome was a groomsman. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception and after a week of huge revelations in our own marriage, it was a really good way to capstone it all.

A taste of the first birthday

Now that things have settled down quite a bit, I have some time to update about Mini Dh's grand first birthday parties. He had two because where we live we have a lot of friends but on the other end of the state a lot of our family and even more friends live too. So to please everyone Mini Dh got two birthday parties about a week apart. I figured I'd split this post up into two different ones. These are just some highlights of his two parties. The next post will show all the little details and decorations that we all made to make it a memorable occasion.

The parties were fantastic and during the first one while everyone sung "Happy Birthday" to him, I admit I was a little weepy eyed. Mini Dh just stared around at all the people that loved him during both songs.

The next post will talk about his cake more but he even though he got lucky in the fact that he had two cake eatings, both cakes were made by me and were sugar free and egg free. Both cakes were little mini ones made especially for him. We hadn't introduced him to eggs at that point although now he does eat them. And surprisingly, they tasted pretty yummy.

























Washing off after cake eating in the enormous sized sink

Halloween 2010

This Halloween was Mini Dh's second Halloween and boy let me tell you, it was so much more enjoyable than last year. Mini Dh was just about a week and a half old last year, was already confirmed to have colic, and I had some serious post partum depression due to everything that happened, and Doc Handsome being deployed. Mini Dh hated his bumblebee costume last year and screamed for hours on end.

This year he wore his cowboy costume and never once tried to tug it off. Doc Handsome was a cowboy too and I was their Indian. We took Mini Dh trick or treating around our neighborhood. He sat in his stroller the entire time while Doc Handsome strolled him to door after door and we held his bag open for him. He was babbling to everyone which was pretty cute because even though he wasn't saying the right words, we knew he would if he could. It was such a peaceful walk, watching all the kids so excited, and even Mini Dh just staring in amazement at everyone. After we got home from trick or treating we ate dinner, took pictures, and then got Mini Dh's things ready for the sitter. Our awesome friend was going to watch him for a few hours so Doc Handsome and I could have a night out, which is always way overdue by the time we get around to it. We went to a bar and watched a band. It was kind of a bust since it was Sunday but it's always nice to have some adult time.

On our way to pick up Mini DH, we talked about setting patterns for our family. We agreed that everything we do like taking Mini Dh to Disneyland or trick or treating, or even to the beach are all things that set the pattern for how we will always be as a family. Because even though he will hardly remember any of these trips later in life, this is the type of family we will be. The ones that go out on random adventures and make the most of every trip, trying to create as many memories. We know that's what we want our children to look back on when they're grown up. "Remember when mom and dad took us here...." It's similar to the same patterns we set in his eating habits. What he eats now sets the pattern for the rest of his life. Isn't it scary how we as parents influence our children so much?!

Anyways, we picked Mini Dh up and apparantly he was just a doll. They said he was so easy to watch and he even got a "he's so smart" compliment. We drove home and tucked Mini Dh into his bed before heading there ourselves.

It was a great Halloween and I don't think I'll ever forget that our first Halloween together as a family was actually our second.

The beginning of the end

Did I spell beginning right? It's one of those words I can never seem to remember or get correct.

Anyways, today marked a monumental moment in our lives. Today was the day that our possible future in the Active Duty Navy jumped out of our hands.

As we've been a Reserve family for the last two and a half years, two of those years have consisted of our struggle to switch over to active duty. Two long and emotionally/mentally/spiritually/physically exhausting years. It's nearly impossible to explain the type of hardships our marriage, and relationship prior to getting married, endured because of this ridiculous challenge. The stress and unpredictability of not knowing whether our dreams were ever going to be reached was unbearable at times. We've had multiple back up plans since day one, but we knew we needed to exhaust this option before giving up on it. Our entire hearts have been into this choice to go Active Duty yet it seemed so unattainable and so far fetched until now.

Today was the farthest we've gotten in this process. And it's the last step in the process before we could throw our hands up and just let whatever happens, happens.

Today Doc Handsome went down to MEPS (the same place recruits and prior service members go) to submit his entire package to go Active Duty. He spent the night at the hotel in Los Angeles last night and woke up at 3am this morning to take a shuttle down to MEPS while he waited in line for them to open at 8. After being there all day until 5, he left with nothing else to do but wait. He had to choose three different rates he could possibly be interested in if his rate (HM/ Corpsman in other words) was too manned. He would hate to leave his rate but there are a few other rates that interest him so we'll see where that leads us. He went through medical check ups, interviews about how his "wife and son feel" about him possibly going Active, and pretty much did a lot of "hurry up and wait." And of course submitted all the paperwork that took us EIGHT months to acquire. I can still hardly believe it took eight months for this part of it.

So now that Big Navy has been sent his package, they'll review it, and hopefully get back to us within two weeks. Possibly longer if need be. They will either say no to everything, yes to everything, or yes just to a few things. But the relieving part is, from here there is nothing else we can do. We've done all that we can to achieve our goal and now that we've poured our hearts into all this, it's about to be over. It's the end. The very end of our next beginning. After we know what their decision is, whether its approved or denied, we can move on.

We are hoping that all this waiting around is just practice for the chance that we do get approved for Active Duty. I am choosing to think that God is testing us to see how badly we want this. And I think we've shown how much we truly want this. Good things come to those who wait patiently I've heard.

Doc Handsome's recruiter has been so amazingly helpful. Recruiters that will even take on a prior service member are few and far between. For one, they don't get credit for them. And two, the process is so long and the percentages of being accepted are so small. Many recruiters don't even bother in the first place. I can't tell you about the numerous recruiters that turned us down when we firt started this journey. Even when our recruiter moved an hour away, he tried to give Doc Handsome's case to another recruiter who said he would not do it. I don't think I could ever express how grateful we are to him. He has spent countless hours in meetings with Doc Handsome, drove hundreds of miles to make trips to us, and gone way above expected on anything he had to do. Ok, and he gave Mini Dh a Navy stuffed bear when he was crying.

So please one last time, keep us in your prayers that the news from Big Navy is good and sends us in the right direction. Doc Handsome wants so badly to stay in the military and serve. I just hope that's what God has planned for us.

Guilt of a parent

So many times I make myself feel guilty about everything I do as a mother. If it's not guilt I feel, than I'm worrying myself crazy about how I do things and if I do them enough.

I worry that when I'm sick and short with Mini DH, he won't forgive me for not having patience. I worry that he's not getting enough of his daily nutrients. I feel guilty when we're vacationing and there's no time to cook him a meal but rather get the quickest thing available. Yet I feel guilty when I tell others we don't let him eat junk food.

I worry that I'm not challenging his mind enough. That I'm not playing with him enough or being silly enough. I worry about the small amount of time we let him watch children's tv programs. I worry that we don't bathe him enough and I feel guilty when he's so sad about getting his hair washed. I worry that he doesn't listen to music enough because when he does, he's so happy.

I worry that I'm too overwhelmed to do school some nights. I worry that we don't read to him often enough. I worry that we're spoiling him by letting him do whatever he wants within reason. I worry that we don't let him explore enough to satify that young curiousity. I feel guilty when I ignore his temper tantrums and instead let him get over it without caving in. I feel guilty when I do cave in.

I worry about how our choice to be a military family will effect him and I worry that he won't understand his daddy's need to serve. I worry that he'll resent us for Doc Handsome missing his birth. I feel guilty that we don't take him to the park enough and I worry that he's not socialized enough.

The list could really go on forever. And despite all my worries and guilty fears, when it comes down to it, I am confident in the choices we've made over the big decisions. I feel like we do research upon research to know that we are vaccinating, semi cloth diapering, breastfeeding, independent sleeping, and healthy feeding parents. I feel slightly jilted when others are amazed (either in a good or bad way) by our choices, but when it pans out, we feel our decisions will benefit Mini Dh in the short and long terms. It's truly frustrating the amount of pressure parents feel. Always going back and forth between feeling confident and feeling unsure.

But when my precious child shoots his pointed finger towards the ceiling in a restaurant and says, "Light" for the first time, I know all those countless hours of showing him lights in every building we've entered for weeks was worth it. For a few moments, I am proud and reassured that I am doing something right.

Our birthday gift - Disneyland

That’s right. We took Mini Dh, my mom, and my best friend along with Doc Handsome and myself to Disneyland last week for Mini Dh’s first birthday. So you are probably thinking, "Disneyland for a one year old?!" That thought did cross our minds too but after really thinking about it and knowing what our little guy enjoys, we knew he'd love Disneyland. Not only was it Mini DH's first Disneyland experience, it was also my mom's, who was visiting from Alaska for the past week. Disneyland gave them both buttons that they pinned to their clothes the entire day saying, "First Visit." Mini Dh also got a "Happy Birthday Mini DH" button to wear.




Watching the parade at California Adventure.


Outside Disneyland City Hall


Waiting for us to finish at Indiana Jones


Goodbye Disneyland...=[


Auntie K loving on Mini DH


Waiting for the tram to take us to our car







His MOST favorite ride of the whole day was "It's a Small World."


See? Mesmerized by the entire ride.

So many of my own childhood memories (from ages I can remember and ages I cannot, there are pictures) include Disneyland. We'd go every year for one week the day after Christmas and stay through New Year's. With the entire park decorated for the Holidays, it was the most magical time and I've always thought the happy times I had at Disneyland was something I'd want my child to have without a doubt. Even as adults, Doc Handsome and I went often before Mini Dh arrived. We spent our last day before deployment at Disneyland. Anniversaries? Disneyland. Dates? Disneyland.



More "It's a Small World" fascination


Loved this picture with Mini Dh in focus and my mom and Auntie K in the background





What a good daddy. Doesn't he look good wearing a baby?!


My mom and my best friend


So after doing A TON of research and tips on taking a one year old to Disneyland, I felt confident in doing so. We found out that Mini DH could ride on any ride without a height restriction. You'd really be surprised how many rides do not have height restrictions. Among many others, Mini Dh went on Pirates of the Carribean. The drop didn't even scare him (although the teenagers who felt nit neccessary to scream did) and he was fascinated by the ride the entire time.



"Is it our turn yet?!" Waiting in line at Bug's Life Land




Just watching all the sights


His one breakdown the entire day. As we were sitting on "Storybook" he realized he could reach over and touch the water. I didn't let him in fear that he'd hurt himself so he had a melt down. I then of course did give in, and what ended up happening?!?! He smacked his head on part of the ride. It wouldn't be Disneyland without at least one meltdown from the kids right?!

This is how he laid on me the entire time during "Pirates of the Carribean." Afterwards, he was so exhausted.





Here we come Disneyland!


We also found out that for any ride that DO NOT have height restrictions (Indiana Jones, California Adventure's Hollywood Tower of Terror, etc.) they have a baby swap program where some of the party waits in line while the other part waits outside with the baby. After the first party goes through the ride, they switch off with the baby and the second party goes right through the fast pass line, with hardly no wait.





At last, a long needed nap in his stroller. Lasted two hours which gave all us adults time to do a ride.




We had a great time and we're already thinking about when to take him back. There's so many things we didn't get time to show him. It was really the perfect age to start taking him. When he got bored in the stroller, he was able to get out and walk. And when he was getting restless from being held, we did a grown up ride which gave him time to explore wherever we waited. I'm so glad we took him.