SFC Howland, we are so proud of you.
SFC HOWLAND
Thursday, December 1, 2016
When Justin and I agreed that we wanted to request Texas for his recruiting assignment, it was for one main reason - making recruiting easier for him. Here we are one day shy of being Texas residents for six whole months and I can honestly say that this place is starting to feel like home. I sometimes catch myself feeling so familiar with this community and I never EVER thought I would feel that way. For a good while I couldn't say a whole sentence without mentioning Washington State or making a "home sick" reference back to the PNW. Though I still would much rather be home - I don't find myself having to voice it outloud nearly as much. I've grown to love this Texas winter weather too. Back home, it's freezing. In New York, it's freezing. All you need is a light jacket, warm socks, and sunglasses in North Texas and you are good to go!
I think the major shift of heart here is due to Miss Ava Bug. She is only three years old and will likely be spending at least the next year or two here. So much of her preschool growth will be here in Texas. She's already changed SO much and has continued to show us the true resiliency of miltiary kids. Getting her involved in activites was the best move we could have made for her. She socializes with so many different kiddos her age, she's active, and she has a weekly routine that she anticipates each day. In turn I get to socialize with other mama bears in the community as well. It's a nice social hour for me and I think it's helped quite a bit with the move. We feel like we are apart of something bigger, something worth appreciating.
I sit here tonight browsing online to get our "thank you" gift bags ready for Ava's teachers and I can't help but have such a grateful heart. There are so many wise, kind, and thoughtful mentors in her life right now - we couldn't be more blessed. In the absence of our extended family, I am still certain that my child is very much so involved in a village of different positive influences. What more could we ask for? It dawned on me that Texas may be bringing more to our lives than we ever expected was possible. Maybe we NEED to be here right now. So for now, I'm going to enjoy this season of our life. Christmas always brings so much out of me and this year is no exception. The Christmas tree is up, our stockings are over the mantle, and we get family pictures taken next week. Everything is as it should be right now and it feels amazing.
Here is a collage of Ava's speech, swim, gymnastics, and ballet moments. She loves each and every activity - we are over the moon she loves being so involved!
♥- Leilani
I think the major shift of heart here is due to Miss Ava Bug. She is only three years old and will likely be spending at least the next year or two here. So much of her preschool growth will be here in Texas. She's already changed SO much and has continued to show us the true resiliency of miltiary kids. Getting her involved in activites was the best move we could have made for her. She socializes with so many different kiddos her age, she's active, and she has a weekly routine that she anticipates each day. In turn I get to socialize with other mama bears in the community as well. It's a nice social hour for me and I think it's helped quite a bit with the move. We feel like we are apart of something bigger, something worth appreciating.
I sit here tonight browsing online to get our "thank you" gift bags ready for Ava's teachers and I can't help but have such a grateful heart. There are so many wise, kind, and thoughtful mentors in her life right now - we couldn't be more blessed. In the absence of our extended family, I am still certain that my child is very much so involved in a village of different positive influences. What more could we ask for? It dawned on me that Texas may be bringing more to our lives than we ever expected was possible. Maybe we NEED to be here right now. So for now, I'm going to enjoy this season of our life. Christmas always brings so much out of me and this year is no exception. The Christmas tree is up, our stockings are over the mantle, and we get family pictures taken next week. Everything is as it should be right now and it feels amazing.
Here is a collage of Ava's speech, swim, gymnastics, and ballet moments. She loves each and every activity - we are over the moon she loves being so involved!
♥- Leilani
Monday, August 22, 2016
Last night was rough. I mean it was really rough. Both girls are currently sick (we just found out Ava was sick last night) and we are exhausted. Yesterday, I could tell something was off with Ava. Her face looked a bit sunken in, she wasn't being her normal active, bouncing up and down three year old self. She wasn't hungry, she looked exhausted to be honest. We had a really busy last three days, so part of me just assumed that it was due to being on the go so much.. but then as the night progressed, my mommy instincts just knew that my little girl was sick. Justin didn't think so at first, but I knew. Olivia has had congestion, a runny nose, and coughs for the last 2-3 days? So i knew with her cold we just had to let it ride its course.
We put Ava to bed last night and I kept telling Justin that she was going to puke. To my surprise, she didn't. In fact, Ava made her way into our room after midnight just wanting to cuddle... then literally moments after she got cozy in our bed.. VOMIT! I knew it. I knew it was coming. I was able to turn her body towards the end of the bed so the vomit was on the floor and not our bed. She did get some on the pillow she was using, but other than that- our bed was puke free ( I still changed the bedding, the pillows, and sanitized EVERYTHING). Justin carried her into the bathroom so she could finish puking in the toilet. I immediately go to work on cleaning up the vomit that was inches away from the bassinet Olivia was fast asleep in.
I have such a weak stomach for stuff like this, but when it comes to my kids.. I just suck it up and get the job done. I could tell that Ava had nothing left to puke up - partially by the contents that were on our bedroom floor and because I couldn't hear anything from the bathroom. Justin ran Ava a lukewarm bath and let her just enjoy the water while I cleaned up. I put a load of the vomit laundry in the washer, washed my hands, and then immediately went into the bathroom to bathe Ava. While I was doing that, Olivia woke up.. I'm sure it was due to the fact that our BRIGHT bedroom lights were shining on her face. Luckily, Justin was there to scoop her up and cuddle her.
I knew she wanted to nurse, so we had to switch kiddos after I got Ava out of the bathtub. I quickly got Ava dressed in her vomit free pajamas and all three of us girls settled into fresh sheets while Justin used the spot cleaner to take away the lovely strawberry stained vomit spot from the side of our bed. Both girls immediately fell asleep even with the loud noises of the spot cleaner blaring in our room. In those moments, I actually got emotional.
Emotional because I am so thankful that my husband was there. Don't get me wrong, I can tell he definitely misses being on the line with his combat brothers, but this recruiting assignment has been a god sent for our entire family. There have been many a puke nights where it was just me cleaning up after our little girl. Where it was just me trying to juggle everything all at one time. Every night that I lay my head on my pillow, Justin is right beside me. I can't tell you how amazing it feels not to be alone. I know this might not last forever, but I'm relishing in the fact that it's our current situation.
♥- Leilani
We put Ava to bed last night and I kept telling Justin that she was going to puke. To my surprise, she didn't. In fact, Ava made her way into our room after midnight just wanting to cuddle... then literally moments after she got cozy in our bed.. VOMIT! I knew it. I knew it was coming. I was able to turn her body towards the end of the bed so the vomit was on the floor and not our bed. She did get some on the pillow she was using, but other than that- our bed was puke free ( I still changed the bedding, the pillows, and sanitized EVERYTHING). Justin carried her into the bathroom so she could finish puking in the toilet. I immediately go to work on cleaning up the vomit that was inches away from the bassinet Olivia was fast asleep in.
I have such a weak stomach for stuff like this, but when it comes to my kids.. I just suck it up and get the job done. I could tell that Ava had nothing left to puke up - partially by the contents that were on our bedroom floor and because I couldn't hear anything from the bathroom. Justin ran Ava a lukewarm bath and let her just enjoy the water while I cleaned up. I put a load of the vomit laundry in the washer, washed my hands, and then immediately went into the bathroom to bathe Ava. While I was doing that, Olivia woke up.. I'm sure it was due to the fact that our BRIGHT bedroom lights were shining on her face. Luckily, Justin was there to scoop her up and cuddle her.
I knew she wanted to nurse, so we had to switch kiddos after I got Ava out of the bathtub. I quickly got Ava dressed in her vomit free pajamas and all three of us girls settled into fresh sheets while Justin used the spot cleaner to take away the lovely strawberry stained vomit spot from the side of our bed. Both girls immediately fell asleep even with the loud noises of the spot cleaner blaring in our room. In those moments, I actually got emotional.
Emotional because I am so thankful that my husband was there. Don't get me wrong, I can tell he definitely misses being on the line with his combat brothers, but this recruiting assignment has been a god sent for our entire family. There have been many a puke nights where it was just me cleaning up after our little girl. Where it was just me trying to juggle everything all at one time. Every night that I lay my head on my pillow, Justin is right beside me. I can't tell you how amazing it feels not to be alone. I know this might not last forever, but I'm relishing in the fact that it's our current situation.
♥- Leilani
Monday, April 4, 2016
That's right. I'm not totally sure that I shared the news of Justin's next recruiting station.. but if you didn't already guess by the title of this blog, it is Texas! This was the location that we decided as a family to head to, rather than Justin's home state, New York. While being near his family and familiar places would have been ideal, living in a state with a lower cost of living and a better opportunity to find recruits was a better choice. We have known that Justin was going recruiting for about 8 months now, so our mindset has been mostly positive. He was DA selected and apparently only a really small percentage of the ARMY actually qualifies for recruiting details. They go over all of your financial situations (past and present), your background, your driving record, etc. It's both a privilege and an amazing career opportunity for Justin.
We have lived in Texas prior to this occasion.. but that lasted about a month. If you are a long time reader, you know that a compassion reassignment was granted for JBLM just a week after we arrived at Fort Hood. Justin never did make it to his unit and we never really got to explore Texas the way we intended. We are so excited about all the opportunities that will arise for our growing family while in the South. It's funny actually because most of my marriage has taken place in the South as well. If you recall, we lived in Georgia for just about three years prior to moving to Fort Hood for a month. We have lived in Washington now for just over two years.. and although Washington is home for me, I am so excited about this change.
I'm definitely not ready to be moving there in the dead of summer... but I am SO excited about getting central air back into a home of ours... which brings me to our home.. We have been working with a real estate agent for about 1.5 months now? Aaron has been absolutely fantastic and has actually compiled a house list with homes 5 miles or less away from Justin's workplace. I have seen well over 100 homes from his list and out of over 100 homes.. ONLY TWO have actually made me scream: YES! I WANT TO LIVE HERE. Thankfully for us, one of those two homes is the home we will be living in. The process started on late Friday afternoon (when I first noticed the listing) and we just found out on Monday afternoon that we got the house!
Finding a house when moving is always a big stress for me. I need to *love* the home we move to, it helps with adapting to change for me. I also love being able to have an address for forwarding mail, the movers, and for our family/friends. My favorite part about this home is hands down the backyard and the kitchen. The backyard can be seen from the kitchen and I envision long summer days watching Ava bug play and run around having the time of her life. There are also three big windows with plenty of opportunity for light.. which means awesome for picture taking.
Overall, I am just so completely excited about this move and what it will mean for our family.
♥- Leilani
We have lived in Texas prior to this occasion.. but that lasted about a month. If you are a long time reader, you know that a compassion reassignment was granted for JBLM just a week after we arrived at Fort Hood. Justin never did make it to his unit and we never really got to explore Texas the way we intended. We are so excited about all the opportunities that will arise for our growing family while in the South. It's funny actually because most of my marriage has taken place in the South as well. If you recall, we lived in Georgia for just about three years prior to moving to Fort Hood for a month. We have lived in Washington now for just over two years.. and although Washington is home for me, I am so excited about this change.
I'm definitely not ready to be moving there in the dead of summer... but I am SO excited about getting central air back into a home of ours... which brings me to our home.. We have been working with a real estate agent for about 1.5 months now? Aaron has been absolutely fantastic and has actually compiled a house list with homes 5 miles or less away from Justin's workplace. I have seen well over 100 homes from his list and out of over 100 homes.. ONLY TWO have actually made me scream: YES! I WANT TO LIVE HERE. Thankfully for us, one of those two homes is the home we will be living in. The process started on late Friday afternoon (when I first noticed the listing) and we just found out on Monday afternoon that we got the house!
Finding a house when moving is always a big stress for me. I need to *love* the home we move to, it helps with adapting to change for me. I also love being able to have an address for forwarding mail, the movers, and for our family/friends. My favorite part about this home is hands down the backyard and the kitchen. The backyard can be seen from the kitchen and I envision long summer days watching Ava bug play and run around having the time of her life. There are also three big windows with plenty of opportunity for light.. which means awesome for picture taking.
Overall, I am just so completely excited about this move and what it will mean for our family.
♥- Leilani
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Today marks one week since Justin left, and ironically, this was my most challenging day with Ava so far. We both don't feel good, but I've been trying to keep us in good spirits despite the sickness. Today was also the first down pour we've had for a long while in this state. I love the rain, but not when I have a million things to do, and especially not when I feel icky without my husband to cuddle. Surprisingly, Ava was a trooper through the rainy errands. She likes splashing in the puddles with her hunter rain boots, she loves holding the umbrella and twirling it around. That was fun for me to watch. Because she hasn't been able to get good sleep for the last few days (thank you mucus for messing with my kid), she refuses to take naps. The last time she attempted to take a nap, she threw up. She gets so upset when that happens. I felt so bad for my sweet girl.
She woke up a bit earlier today, so I knew it was going to be a nap day, but she held out. Whenever this child decides to hold out on naps, it's always World War III in this house. I prepared myself for the meltdowns, the tears, and the constant crying for daddy. We experienced all three, but instead of me taking a deep breath and trucking through, I cried too. I cried because my heart hurts for my child. I cried because I can't give her what she really wants right now. I cried because I am exhausted. I keep reminding myself that being vulnerable is not a weakness. It is okay to express that I am not okay right now. Even while I type this I have shooting back pains, while Olivia kicks the snot out of me. I was proud of myself for snapping out of it real quick, for the sake of making Ava bug feel better. We made cupcakes today, and although I couldn't help but daydream about how much better they would taste if Justin was making them... it was fun none the less.
The most heartbreaking part of our day occurred this evening when I went out to check the mail. Walking back from the mailbox, Ava caught a glimpse of our neighbor near our side of the fence in multi-cams.. I haven't seen her light up like that in days.. She immediately ran as fast as she could and she yelled out, "Daddy!" only to be disappointed when our neighbor turned around. I tried to tell her,"Ava, that's not your daddy baby." But nothing I said was heard. My heart broke, yet again because I hate seeing her so disappointed and upset. She cried for a good five minutes, and she even kicked off a rainboot when we were heading inside. The only thing I could bring myself to do was to hold her. We watched videos of her daddy, looked at lots of pictures, and ended our night with strawberry-banana-kale smoothies (yes, she trusts me again with the smoothies!).
As I type this guys, I'm bawling. Partially because pandora likes to play the songs that evoke all the "feels" in my life right now, and partially because I never fathomed that raising a family while Justin served in the Army would ever be this hard. As Ava gets older, my job when he's gone only becomes that much more difficult. And as I read back on the blogs i've written in his absence, that statement couldn't be any more true. I'm really hoping this next week Ava and I both will feel better, and adapt better to our temporary situation. We are holding off on doing all annual traditions until daddy comes home, but I've got some ideas up my sleeve that should accommodate for that. Side note, I never imagined there would be another girl in Justin's life that loved him more than me... I have to say, I was wrong. Our daughter loves her father much more than I ever could. He has never disappointed her, he has never let her down, in her eyes, daddy is perfection. That, that right there is what reminds me that we are doing something right with her. It reminds me that his absence doesn't impact the way she feels about him.
♥- Leilani
She woke up a bit earlier today, so I knew it was going to be a nap day, but she held out. Whenever this child decides to hold out on naps, it's always World War III in this house. I prepared myself for the meltdowns, the tears, and the constant crying for daddy. We experienced all three, but instead of me taking a deep breath and trucking through, I cried too. I cried because my heart hurts for my child. I cried because I can't give her what she really wants right now. I cried because I am exhausted. I keep reminding myself that being vulnerable is not a weakness. It is okay to express that I am not okay right now. Even while I type this I have shooting back pains, while Olivia kicks the snot out of me. I was proud of myself for snapping out of it real quick, for the sake of making Ava bug feel better. We made cupcakes today, and although I couldn't help but daydream about how much better they would taste if Justin was making them... it was fun none the less.
The most heartbreaking part of our day occurred this evening when I went out to check the mail. Walking back from the mailbox, Ava caught a glimpse of our neighbor near our side of the fence in multi-cams.. I haven't seen her light up like that in days.. She immediately ran as fast as she could and she yelled out, "Daddy!" only to be disappointed when our neighbor turned around. I tried to tell her,"Ava, that's not your daddy baby." But nothing I said was heard. My heart broke, yet again because I hate seeing her so disappointed and upset. She cried for a good five minutes, and she even kicked off a rainboot when we were heading inside. The only thing I could bring myself to do was to hold her. We watched videos of her daddy, looked at lots of pictures, and ended our night with strawberry-banana-kale smoothies (yes, she trusts me again with the smoothies!).
As I type this guys, I'm bawling. Partially because pandora likes to play the songs that evoke all the "feels" in my life right now, and partially because I never fathomed that raising a family while Justin served in the Army would ever be this hard. As Ava gets older, my job when he's gone only becomes that much more difficult. And as I read back on the blogs i've written in his absence, that statement couldn't be any more true. I'm really hoping this next week Ava and I both will feel better, and adapt better to our temporary situation. We are holding off on doing all annual traditions until daddy comes home, but I've got some ideas up my sleeve that should accommodate for that. Side note, I never imagined there would be another girl in Justin's life that loved him more than me... I have to say, I was wrong. Our daughter loves her father much more than I ever could. He has never disappointed her, he has never let her down, in her eyes, daddy is perfection. That, that right there is what reminds me that we are doing something right with her. It reminds me that his absence doesn't impact the way she feels about him.
♥- Leilani
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
This year has been the hardest year (out of all five) being a military family. It seems like Justin has left a lot more, which I know he hasn't... I just haven't handled the distance as gracefully as I would have liked. When he's actually home for long stretches of time, I grow extremely accustomed. I get used to cuddles at night, enjoying dinner time with my little family, and being able to make plans through the weekend. We don't have to treat every single moment as bittersweet as usual, because daddy is there throughout the day. We love those long stretches together.... however, this is the Army, and those don't always last for long... or so we thought.
Justin's intention for his impending reenlistment was to reenlist for a duty station with tanks where he could get his tank commander time. I fully support his career and his dreams no matter what sacrifices I have to make along the way. I know that when it's my time to jump back into the work field, he will support me without thinking twice, no matter what I decide to do. I give him the same courtesies, even though it's not always easy. I was fully prepared to make a move next year to a different duty station that also came with lots of field time, training time, essentially time apart. Then, the Army decided to throw a twist in the mix. Justin got a text from one of his superiors saying that he had come down on recruiting orders. Initially, I was freaking out when he told me. I don't like change, I also don't like big news through text messages... but when your husband is in the middle of the mojave desert with minimal cell service, I guess a text message is better than not knowing at all.
I spent the better part of my day trying to figure out why this had to happen now. He knew what he wanted to do, I had an idea of where we were more than likely going, I had prepped myself for that type of transition. When I finally allowed my head to stop spinning and after I'd talk to about a handful of my friends... I realized, this wasn't such a bad surprise. Recruiting means Justin doesn't go to the field. Recruiting means Justin doesn't deploy, he doesn't have training months, he comes home every single night.... our long stretch would become a reality. The assignment is for three years. Three beautiful years of being able to see my husband every night when I go to sleep. Three years of our kids having daddy available for dance recitals, Ava's first day of kindergarten, and maybe another pregnancy?
I suddenly started to fill with excitement.. especially when Justin mentioned he's started networking with recruiters near his hometown. It is my absolute wish to be near family as often as we can. Justin is fortunate in the fact that his entire family lives in one general area. This means all of Ava's grandparents, her aunts, her uncle, her cousin... She could essentially live a normal life with family all around. The idea of recruiting has me feeling extremely excited and happy. When I finally talked to Justin, we were both on the same page. He was thinking about dropping a recruiting packet awhile back, but ultimately decided to try for his TC time first. I know this decision wasn't ours, but I'm glad it's happened. No matter where we end up, we will be together. Like any job, I'm sure there are things Justin won't like about it, but hopefully seeing our faces everyday makes up for what the job lacks! the picture I included made me smile... we won't have to limit beach getaways on Justin's block leave anymore.. exploration will be so much more open, and I'm ecstatic.
♥- Leilani
Justin's intention for his impending reenlistment was to reenlist for a duty station with tanks where he could get his tank commander time. I fully support his career and his dreams no matter what sacrifices I have to make along the way. I know that when it's my time to jump back into the work field, he will support me without thinking twice, no matter what I decide to do. I give him the same courtesies, even though it's not always easy. I was fully prepared to make a move next year to a different duty station that also came with lots of field time, training time, essentially time apart. Then, the Army decided to throw a twist in the mix. Justin got a text from one of his superiors saying that he had come down on recruiting orders. Initially, I was freaking out when he told me. I don't like change, I also don't like big news through text messages... but when your husband is in the middle of the mojave desert with minimal cell service, I guess a text message is better than not knowing at all.
I spent the better part of my day trying to figure out why this had to happen now. He knew what he wanted to do, I had an idea of where we were more than likely going, I had prepped myself for that type of transition. When I finally allowed my head to stop spinning and after I'd talk to about a handful of my friends... I realized, this wasn't such a bad surprise. Recruiting means Justin doesn't go to the field. Recruiting means Justin doesn't deploy, he doesn't have training months, he comes home every single night.... our long stretch would become a reality. The assignment is for three years. Three beautiful years of being able to see my husband every night when I go to sleep. Three years of our kids having daddy available for dance recitals, Ava's first day of kindergarten, and maybe another pregnancy?
I suddenly started to fill with excitement.. especially when Justin mentioned he's started networking with recruiters near his hometown. It is my absolute wish to be near family as often as we can. Justin is fortunate in the fact that his entire family lives in one general area. This means all of Ava's grandparents, her aunts, her uncle, her cousin... She could essentially live a normal life with family all around. The idea of recruiting has me feeling extremely excited and happy. When I finally talked to Justin, we were both on the same page. He was thinking about dropping a recruiting packet awhile back, but ultimately decided to try for his TC time first. I know this decision wasn't ours, but I'm glad it's happened. No matter where we end up, we will be together. Like any job, I'm sure there are things Justin won't like about it, but hopefully seeing our faces everyday makes up for what the job lacks! the picture I included made me smile... we won't have to limit beach getaways on Justin's block leave anymore.. exploration will be so much more open, and I'm ecstatic.
♥- Leilani
Thursday, March 5, 2015
I am exactly 9 days away from finding out if our assisted fertility cycle worked, and needless to say I am so impatient about it all. I've been cramping on and off the last few days and I definitely felt myself ovulate, which is a good sign. I'm a little nervous because I was sick during our baby dancing days and I wasn't staying as hydrated as I should have... I'm hoping I didn't ruin our chances though. Either way, I'll be finding out pretty soon here. I've got to admit this experience wasn't nearly as nerve wrecking as our first. Everything went so smoothly and I still can't begin to explain how amazing it felt to have our clinic within minutes of our home. In other news, Justin went to the board yesterday to ultimately obtain his recommended status for promotion AND he got it! I can't even sit still while writing this because i am just that excited for him. For future promotions, he will never have to go to a board again and I'm sure that's a nice little bonus for him. I'm so darn proud of my husband you guys. Good leaders are a dime a dozen, so I'm glad his skills and attributions are recognized within this battalion.
With his recommendation comes schools, which I absolutely dread. You'll have to forgive me if I become a little sappy on here. I don't do all that well without my best friend by my side, so Ava bug and I have some sad days ahead of us. The upside to this situation is spending more time with family and friends. The weather has been super nice and we will definitely be taking full advantage of that while we can. Here lately we've been talking about Justin's reenlistment window and where he'd like to go. His window opens in May, which is just two months away! At first, we discussed Fort Carson A LOT, but now he's leaning more towards Fort Benning.. back in Georgia. I cringe at the thought of moving back to Georgia, but I know it would be in the best interest of his career. He'd more than likely be in a non-deployable unit, and all the schools he'd ever need would be right there at that installation... yes, so he wouldn't have to leave us for weeks at a time to attend a school. We will also be a little more than 14 hours away from his family in New York. I could definitely see us driving to New York during block leave each year, and Ava bug and I taking spontaneous trips throughout the year.
All of those things definitely outweigh anything we could enjoy at Carson.. except for the Broncos. I truly believe being close to "our blue and orange people" would be an amazing experience for our family. We do have quite a few friends at Benning, so we wouldn't be completely anti-social, which is nice. And I wouldn't complain about the cost of living or how HUGE our house would be out there. I'd miss my family terribly though, and I'd feel extremely bad about moving Ava bug away from her grandparents. We've definitely still got a lot to discuss. This change could take place next year.. or maybe the year after. You never know with these types of things. I'm just glad that Justin and I talk about them. We remain on the same page which makes communication so much easier. Well, I think I'm off guys. A little TLC is in order so I think I'm going to take Ava bug and myself out for a pedicure.
Happy Thursday all!
♥- Leilani
With his recommendation comes schools, which I absolutely dread. You'll have to forgive me if I become a little sappy on here. I don't do all that well without my best friend by my side, so Ava bug and I have some sad days ahead of us. The upside to this situation is spending more time with family and friends. The weather has been super nice and we will definitely be taking full advantage of that while we can. Here lately we've been talking about Justin's reenlistment window and where he'd like to go. His window opens in May, which is just two months away! At first, we discussed Fort Carson A LOT, but now he's leaning more towards Fort Benning.. back in Georgia. I cringe at the thought of moving back to Georgia, but I know it would be in the best interest of his career. He'd more than likely be in a non-deployable unit, and all the schools he'd ever need would be right there at that installation... yes, so he wouldn't have to leave us for weeks at a time to attend a school. We will also be a little more than 14 hours away from his family in New York. I could definitely see us driving to New York during block leave each year, and Ava bug and I taking spontaneous trips throughout the year.
All of those things definitely outweigh anything we could enjoy at Carson.. except for the Broncos. I truly believe being close to "our blue and orange people" would be an amazing experience for our family. We do have quite a few friends at Benning, so we wouldn't be completely anti-social, which is nice. And I wouldn't complain about the cost of living or how HUGE our house would be out there. I'd miss my family terribly though, and I'd feel extremely bad about moving Ava bug away from her grandparents. We've definitely still got a lot to discuss. This change could take place next year.. or maybe the year after. You never know with these types of things. I'm just glad that Justin and I talk about them. We remain on the same page which makes communication so much easier. Well, I think I'm off guys. A little TLC is in order so I think I'm going to take Ava bug and myself out for a pedicure.
Happy Thursday all!
♥- Leilani
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Yesterday I did something a bit out of character. I decided to express an opinion about the Army on my personal profile on a social media site. Normally, I keep these opinions offline for the sake of not having anything come back to haunt me, but yesterday I just couldn't refrain. Before I go any further, I just want to say that I'm grateful for our servicemen and women, and I wholeheartedly believe that without their dedicated services, my freedom wouldn't be as it is today. But, that doesn't mean I'm not allowed to get upset when something happens that I don't believe in. In the grand scheme of things, it may not seems so serious.. but it was to me. Yesterday, I was going over the promotion list for the month of February because a friend mentioned her husband had made the cut for SGT and as I'm going through the names, I couldn't help but get a little upset when a familiar name popped up on the list. There on that list to give someone more responsibility, and more expectations, was a person who doesn't meet standards. I know, as just an Army wife, I probably shouldn't have these types of feelings, but let me tell you why I do.
You all know how much I love and adore my husband.. but a chunk of my respect, love, and admiration comes from his ability to be a natural born leader. He is a hard worker, he loves his job, and he's really good at it. Anything that he's received while he's served in the Army is because he worked for it and he deserved it. He has good work ethic, he doesn't slack off, and he meets ALL standards that are required of him. When he gets a promotion, it's because he earned it. It's because he did all the things he had to do in order to get that promotion. He has integrity, he cares about his soldiers, and he always puts them first. Whether it's job related, or their personal life. He cares about the well-being of his soldiers. When I think of leaders in the Army, I think they should all mirror some of those values and ethics.
So when you see people who don't uphold those standards, people who cruise through their careers making tons of mistakes, slacking off, and pretty much not giving their all.. you wonder why these people still advance? Why these people without work ethic are being put in positions to lead other soldiers. To me, that's suicide. That is a dangerous scenario..to be a soldier who is not equipped in a leadership position. Not only does bad leadership trickle down, but it could potentially get another soldier killed while these guys are in combat. I never want to think about a soldier dying, especially from something as easy to fix as bad leadership. I know, I know the Army like everything else, isn't perfect. But, come on! Standing beside my husband I have seen plenty of good men, with good ethics, and the right attitude ready to lead, but they were held back for whatever reasons. I just don't get the system. I don't get how people can be rewarded when they don't deserve it. That's not something to be proud of, and I know it's extremely disheartening for me.
I guess my real issue is just knowing that whomever is under that soldier, could potentially be hindered in a bad way because of this new leadership. Again, it may seem minor, it may seem unimportant, but it really isn't. I normally don't base judgments like this, because I'm not a soldier or a leader in the Army, but when you see things and hear things, it's only human nature to base an opinion. So there it is. This is what my comment yesterday was about. Nothing that impacts my family directly, but definitely impacts the Army as a whole. It got me thinking how many more people like this guy are being put in leadership positions when they don't have the correct ethic. Definitely made me sick to my stomach.
Rant over! Happy Tuesday all!
♥- Leilani
You all know how much I love and adore my husband.. but a chunk of my respect, love, and admiration comes from his ability to be a natural born leader. He is a hard worker, he loves his job, and he's really good at it. Anything that he's received while he's served in the Army is because he worked for it and he deserved it. He has good work ethic, he doesn't slack off, and he meets ALL standards that are required of him. When he gets a promotion, it's because he earned it. It's because he did all the things he had to do in order to get that promotion. He has integrity, he cares about his soldiers, and he always puts them first. Whether it's job related, or their personal life. He cares about the well-being of his soldiers. When I think of leaders in the Army, I think they should all mirror some of those values and ethics.
So when you see people who don't uphold those standards, people who cruise through their careers making tons of mistakes, slacking off, and pretty much not giving their all.. you wonder why these people still advance? Why these people without work ethic are being put in positions to lead other soldiers. To me, that's suicide. That is a dangerous scenario..to be a soldier who is not equipped in a leadership position. Not only does bad leadership trickle down, but it could potentially get another soldier killed while these guys are in combat. I never want to think about a soldier dying, especially from something as easy to fix as bad leadership. I know, I know the Army like everything else, isn't perfect. But, come on! Standing beside my husband I have seen plenty of good men, with good ethics, and the right attitude ready to lead, but they were held back for whatever reasons. I just don't get the system. I don't get how people can be rewarded when they don't deserve it. That's not something to be proud of, and I know it's extremely disheartening for me.
I guess my real issue is just knowing that whomever is under that soldier, could potentially be hindered in a bad way because of this new leadership. Again, it may seem minor, it may seem unimportant, but it really isn't. I normally don't base judgments like this, because I'm not a soldier or a leader in the Army, but when you see things and hear things, it's only human nature to base an opinion. So there it is. This is what my comment yesterday was about. Nothing that impacts my family directly, but definitely impacts the Army as a whole. It got me thinking how many more people like this guy are being put in leadership positions when they don't have the correct ethic. Definitely made me sick to my stomach.
Rant over! Happy Tuesday all!
♥- Leilani
Friday, May 9, 2014
I am so upset right now. Murphy's law is definitely hitting us lately. I'm not stressed over anything, just really confused as to why nothing can go according to plan. First, our friend/photographer had to cancel her trip out here (which I thought was going to be more devastating than it actually is), which forced me to evaluate our photo plans and the next couple of weeks. I found a new photographer, and I'm pretty pleased with that. I was even able to get my money back for certain tickets I bought for exploration. Now, Justin tells me that while he's at school for the month, he has to work two Saturdays because of the four days off due to Memorial day. Guess what sweet little girl had a birthday party planned on one of those Saturdays? Not to mention her actual birth date? Yep. Our baby.
Now, I know this isn't the end of the world, but I really am disappointed. I'm becoming less tolerant of people making comments too. I know they are trying to help, but certain comments don't help me. I know Ava won't remember anything from this birthday, I also know that no matter what we do, it'll turn out great. I really just had my heart set a certain way, and now almost all of those things have been compromised. Last year, Justin wasn't there when Ava was born. I mean, he was there, he just wasn't tangible. It meant the world to me to know that my two love bugs would together on Ava's big day. Granted, he will still be with us; just after his work day. Hopefully all of our family and friends can still make it out on Sunday for Ava's party. One of my little cousin's has a birthday coming up next week too. Her and Ava were going to blow out their candles at Ava's party. I am hoping we are still able to have that happen.
Justin is getting off super early today, and we have a fun weekend ahead. I'm trying to focus on that, and just enjoy spending time with my family. I'm really excited about my first Mother's day, and I'm almost positive I'm going to end up crying. More than anything, I'm pretty proud that I've made it through the first year of motherhood with minimal bumps in the road. This journey has been emotional, scary, and wonderful all at the same time. Well, thanks for listening guys. I really do have some amazing blog readers. I love getting the emails and messages from you guys. To all my fellow mama's, I hope you enjoy your special day this Sunday. There isn't any other job quite as special as being a mother, so give yourselves a pat on the back (and possibly a manicure)!
Happy Friday all!
♥- Leilani
Now, I know this isn't the end of the world, but I really am disappointed. I'm becoming less tolerant of people making comments too. I know they are trying to help, but certain comments don't help me. I know Ava won't remember anything from this birthday, I also know that no matter what we do, it'll turn out great. I really just had my heart set a certain way, and now almost all of those things have been compromised. Last year, Justin wasn't there when Ava was born. I mean, he was there, he just wasn't tangible. It meant the world to me to know that my two love bugs would together on Ava's big day. Granted, he will still be with us; just after his work day. Hopefully all of our family and friends can still make it out on Sunday for Ava's party. One of my little cousin's has a birthday coming up next week too. Her and Ava were going to blow out their candles at Ava's party. I am hoping we are still able to have that happen.
Justin is getting off super early today, and we have a fun weekend ahead. I'm trying to focus on that, and just enjoy spending time with my family. I'm really excited about my first Mother's day, and I'm almost positive I'm going to end up crying. More than anything, I'm pretty proud that I've made it through the first year of motherhood with minimal bumps in the road. This journey has been emotional, scary, and wonderful all at the same time. Well, thanks for listening guys. I really do have some amazing blog readers. I love getting the emails and messages from you guys. To all my fellow mama's, I hope you enjoy your special day this Sunday. There isn't any other job quite as special as being a mother, so give yourselves a pat on the back (and possibly a manicure)!
Happy Friday all!
♥- Leilani
Friday, October 25, 2013
So I probably won't be posting these next few days. We've got a busy weekend ahead of us and very little time. Tonight has been completely awesome (with the exception of Justin being on stand by) and mellow. I made a complete homemade dinner for Justin and I! It was delicious. I love when I cook hearty meals for my family. It helps that my husband doesn't like most store bought meals and he rarely ever chooses to go out (unless it's the olive garden).
We also discussed this "wonderful" Army life in depth. He said something this evening that actually made me tear up. In our almost three years of marriage, I have never been "that wife" that gets hung up on the label. I have never said I love being an Army wife, I have always said I love being Justin's wife. Even though I've only known my husband as a soldier, he's MY husband. and I'm HIS wife. No other labels are needed to glam up our marriage. I'm thankful that things like that make him happy. Someday the Army WILL be a distant memory. I can't say I'm not excited for that day.
This weekend we are heading to Savannah for some family fun. Since the weather is going to be on the chilly side, scarves and boots are a given. I'm very excited for this! Ava has yet to wear her cold weather clothes and she looks so cute in her little skinny jeans. She's so petite and she looks like a little princess! I love it! I can't wait to take her to the zoo (random) before we leave the state of Georgia. That's coming up in a few weeks and I just can't wait. She'll be decked out in her baby scarf and little mock uggs.
Alright, looks like I'm off. This week has been the best week I've had in a while. My mom sounded so much better this week. I literally lit up when I talked to her. She was trying to talk to Ava, laughing, and she's getting ancy for this compassionate reassignment verdict. I'm in the same boat as her, all we can do is wait and pray and then pray some more. I hope you all enjoy your weekend with your loved ones! Happy Friday!
We also discussed this "wonderful" Army life in depth. He said something this evening that actually made me tear up. In our almost three years of marriage, I have never been "that wife" that gets hung up on the label. I have never said I love being an Army wife, I have always said I love being Justin's wife. Even though I've only known my husband as a soldier, he's MY husband. and I'm HIS wife. No other labels are needed to glam up our marriage. I'm thankful that things like that make him happy. Someday the Army WILL be a distant memory. I can't say I'm not excited for that day.
This weekend we are heading to Savannah for some family fun. Since the weather is going to be on the chilly side, scarves and boots are a given. I'm very excited for this! Ava has yet to wear her cold weather clothes and she looks so cute in her little skinny jeans. She's so petite and she looks like a little princess! I love it! I can't wait to take her to the zoo (random) before we leave the state of Georgia. That's coming up in a few weeks and I just can't wait. She'll be decked out in her baby scarf and little mock uggs.
Alright, looks like I'm off. This week has been the best week I've had in a while. My mom sounded so much better this week. I literally lit up when I talked to her. She was trying to talk to Ava, laughing, and she's getting ancy for this compassionate reassignment verdict. I'm in the same boat as her, all we can do is wait and pray and then pray some more. I hope you all enjoy your weekend with your loved ones! Happy Friday!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Today was better than yesterday. I keep putting my train of focus on either Ava, or other positive things going on right now. The hard part about reality is there no escaping it. I honestly wish sometimes there was... On the positive side of things, The Denver Broncos managed to pull a fifth win this season! Romo managed to buckle under pressure (like always.) This made Justin's entire Sunday!
With the government shutdown I'm not sure where we stand with getting this whole compassion reassignment processed. I read on an Army website that schools, pcsing, and tdy's are being suspended. Great timing! I've been really anxious to get back home, but I know things will work themselves out.
This weekend, Justin made some leaps and bounds in the supportive/grief department. I remember the first time someone died while I was dating Justin. It was a boy I'd gone to school with, Dwight Clark. I was working at the Super mall in Auburn and missing signs were hung up everywhere. I never had a doubt in my mind that they'd find him. Well, they did find him, but he had died. I didn't expect that. I remember being struck with immediate sadness. I remember going around the mall tearing the signs down. Justin didn't know what to do or say and that was okay because I had the support of the community. We all grieved for Dwight's family.
This time around, dealing with the thoughts of losing my mom. I don't have that same support. I know it's weird for Justin (never personally having to deal with loss) but he's making a great effort. Letting me break down. Letting me cry, asking if I need help, taking Ava for a short time will I recoop. I know with the love of my husband, no matter how badly my heart hurts, he is someone I will always let in. I'm glad he's my best friend.
I'm hoping this week is better than last. I'm diving into my studies all week. I promised I'd do some form of cardio (more than likely yoga.) I'm carving out a pumpkin for a prop that will be used in Ava's Halloween photos AND I think we might be squeezing in a breastfeeding/lifestyle session with Victoria Simmons Photography. Hopefully that's enough to keep my mind busy.
I've been skyping my mama lately and that's helped a lot. It feels good having her see Ava and I in real time rather than just on the phone. I'm off for now, my lovey's are preparing for bed and I should probably get there too!
Happy Sunday all!
With the government shutdown I'm not sure where we stand with getting this whole compassion reassignment processed. I read on an Army website that schools, pcsing, and tdy's are being suspended. Great timing! I've been really anxious to get back home, but I know things will work themselves out.
This weekend, Justin made some leaps and bounds in the supportive/grief department. I remember the first time someone died while I was dating Justin. It was a boy I'd gone to school with, Dwight Clark. I was working at the Super mall in Auburn and missing signs were hung up everywhere. I never had a doubt in my mind that they'd find him. Well, they did find him, but he had died. I didn't expect that. I remember being struck with immediate sadness. I remember going around the mall tearing the signs down. Justin didn't know what to do or say and that was okay because I had the support of the community. We all grieved for Dwight's family.
This time around, dealing with the thoughts of losing my mom. I don't have that same support. I know it's weird for Justin (never personally having to deal with loss) but he's making a great effort. Letting me break down. Letting me cry, asking if I need help, taking Ava for a short time will I recoop. I know with the love of my husband, no matter how badly my heart hurts, he is someone I will always let in. I'm glad he's my best friend.
I'm hoping this week is better than last. I'm diving into my studies all week. I promised I'd do some form of cardio (more than likely yoga.) I'm carving out a pumpkin for a prop that will be used in Ava's Halloween photos AND I think we might be squeezing in a breastfeeding/lifestyle session with Victoria Simmons Photography. Hopefully that's enough to keep my mind busy.
I've been skyping my mama lately and that's helped a lot. It feels good having her see Ava and I in real time rather than just on the phone. I'm off for now, my lovey's are preparing for bed and I should probably get there too!
Happy Sunday all!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
On this day a year ago, I had to say goodbye to Justin. I had to wake up and dread going to sleep that night because I knew when I did, I'd be sleeping alone for nine months. I can't believe how distinct of a memory that day is for me, even though it's been an entire year. It isn't a happy memory for me, in fact I believe I spent that entire day crying. I spent that day gasping for air. My whole world was about to change and I wasn't ready for it. I didn't handle Justin leaving with any type of grace. For the first time in my life I had actual fear in my heart. I questioned my faith and I allowed pessimism to seep in.
You know that quote, "Don't fear, because the things we fear never come to pass" Truer words have never been said. For a long time (in my mind) deployment meant danger, and I'd say that's accurate considering deployment sends our soldiers off to war. It meant there was a good chance I'd never see my husband again. It meant that the baby I was growing in my womb may never have a chance to meet their father. Deployment meant I had a lot to lose. Little did I know deployment also left me with a lot to gain.
I've gone over this before, but my strength, my faith, my independence were all restored and enriched as a result of being on the home front by myself. I pushed myself more. I had to rely on myself more than I ever have in my life. I loved my husband even more effortlessly and on the days where my frustrations came to a head, I found a way to hash them out with him without having them carry into the next day. So many wonderful, painful, amazing things occurred for me during deployment. Deployment made me, a better me. I will never be that same person I was the day Justin left me. I'm thankful for it.
So yes, most of the things I feared actually never happened. I have zero complaints about that. I'm glad this deployment is behind us. In fact, Justin and I just finished reintegration! We've had to gain back some of our familiarity and sort through our differences, but all in all, we are doing wonderful! Ava is doing wonderful! With Justin still being in the Army, deployment is just a part of the job. Do I think I can handle another deployment? Definitely. Would I want to go through another deployment? Not so much!
I'm just grateful to have my family whole and together. I'm still floored that it's been a year since that first goodbye, put us closer to hello again.
You know that quote, "Don't fear, because the things we fear never come to pass" Truer words have never been said. For a long time (in my mind) deployment meant danger, and I'd say that's accurate considering deployment sends our soldiers off to war. It meant there was a good chance I'd never see my husband again. It meant that the baby I was growing in my womb may never have a chance to meet their father. Deployment meant I had a lot to lose. Little did I know deployment also left me with a lot to gain.
I've gone over this before, but my strength, my faith, my independence were all restored and enriched as a result of being on the home front by myself. I pushed myself more. I had to rely on myself more than I ever have in my life. I loved my husband even more effortlessly and on the days where my frustrations came to a head, I found a way to hash them out with him without having them carry into the next day. So many wonderful, painful, amazing things occurred for me during deployment. Deployment made me, a better me. I will never be that same person I was the day Justin left me. I'm thankful for it.
So yes, most of the things I feared actually never happened. I have zero complaints about that. I'm glad this deployment is behind us. In fact, Justin and I just finished reintegration! We've had to gain back some of our familiarity and sort through our differences, but all in all, we are doing wonderful! Ava is doing wonderful! With Justin still being in the Army, deployment is just a part of the job. Do I think I can handle another deployment? Definitely. Would I want to go through another deployment? Not so much!
I'm just grateful to have my family whole and together. I'm still floored that it's been a year since that first goodbye, put us closer to hello again.
It's amazing how much a year can change things.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
One thing I absolutely love about the Army, would be the comradery. It's a rare thing to see in our Military these days, but when you do, it moves you. My husband has been so fortunate to find life long brothers at each duty station he has been to. Since marrying me into all that is Army, I have had a chance to catch a glimpse of this myself. I think the ultimate test of comradery presents itself when our soldiers are in a battle zone. That's crunch time for them. With all the nasty, horrible things that war brings, I'm glad there is this beautiful silver lining. Today was nice, Justin and I had lunch with his squad. I haven't laughed like that, since before they deployed. All the soldiers were cooing at our baby, calling Ava their niece... And she is. They are brothers. We have this entire extended family away from family that I am so grateful for. There are a million things I can take away from the Army as of now. One thing, one thing I love love love about Justin and I, is that we put out what we receive. We aren't standoffish, we aren't artificial, we aren't zombies! We are genuine, and welcoming, and warm. When you put out that type of energy you are bound to make some sort of ripple effect. We have been fortunate thus far, of course we've had our share of bad apples, but all in all we can't complain. This is why I am so excited for Texas. It just gives us another opportunity to meet new people, see new faces, develop new friendships. Isn't that what life is all about?
Sunday, July 7, 2013
I've been doing some soul searching here lately. My results, while slim, were pretty remarkable. Justin and I have been in this "feel good" phase. We love that feeling. Life isn't going to offer us rainbows everyday, but they happen more often than not. More and more (if that's possible) I fall in love with something new about my daughter. Wether it's a new noise she's making, or the way her eyes light up when she looks at me... She is truly perfection at it's best. I started a "bucket list" with my husband this week.. Before you say anything, yes I know a bucket list is a "before you croak" list. For me a bucket list, is "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NEXT" LIST! So before we leave Georgia there are a few things we'd like to see.
HOWLAND BUCKET LIST
Jacksonville Zoo
Georgia aquarium
sitting on the Forest Gump bench (totally not my idea)
attending a SOUTHERN college football game
Jekyll Island with Ava
Hilton Head beaches and resort for a weekend
riverboat ride in Savannah
This is really all that's on it right now. With our trip to New York in a matter of days, We aren't going to be able to check any of this stuff off just yet. I'm getting more excited to leave the state of Georgia, even if it's just for a little while. This past weekend was a great, but busy one. I don't think I've been on the go this much since before I had Ava. I am totally burned out and I am looking forward to SLEEP tonight. We went to a four year old's party on the fourth of July! That was fun. BBQ, friends, and of course fireworks! Ava was a trooper through it all. Not fussy, slept well, and she wasn't too bothered by all the loud noises. I remember being super worried about her ears, so I had my hands glued over them the entire time. Friday, we had friends over for dinner. I got my grilled asparagus out of my husband again! YUM! Justin has some great battles here! Lots of laughs and reminiscing occurred. Saturday we went to a flea market! Haven't been to one of those since I was back home in Seattle. It was so great! So many vendors.Lots of animals,organic food, and southern style items! We picked up a lot of decor for Justin's man cave. Haven't seen that much Bronco stuff since we moved to Georgia. I got myself some cute stuff too. Found a hat that was calling my name!
We woke up at 7 a.m. and we didn't get home until after 6 p.m. A LONG DAY. Justin also got his motorcycle back that we sold over two years ago. so now we have this beauty with us until it sells, again. He keeps going back and forth with wether he wants to keep it or not. A conversation that will make for excellent pillow talk this evening.
HOWLAND BUCKET LIST
Jacksonville Zoo
Georgia aquarium
sitting on the Forest Gump bench (totally not my idea)
attending a SOUTHERN college football game
Jekyll Island with Ava
Hilton Head beaches and resort for a weekend
riverboat ride in Savannah
This is really all that's on it right now. With our trip to New York in a matter of days, We aren't going to be able to check any of this stuff off just yet. I'm getting more excited to leave the state of Georgia, even if it's just for a little while. This past weekend was a great, but busy one. I don't think I've been on the go this much since before I had Ava. I am totally burned out and I am looking forward to SLEEP tonight. We went to a four year old's party on the fourth of July! That was fun. BBQ, friends, and of course fireworks! Ava was a trooper through it all. Not fussy, slept well, and she wasn't too bothered by all the loud noises. I remember being super worried about her ears, so I had my hands glued over them the entire time. Friday, we had friends over for dinner. I got my grilled asparagus out of my husband again! YUM! Justin has some great battles here! Lots of laughs and reminiscing occurred. Saturday we went to a flea market! Haven't been to one of those since I was back home in Seattle. It was so great! So many vendors.Lots of animals,organic food, and southern style items! We picked up a lot of decor for Justin's man cave. Haven't seen that much Bronco stuff since we moved to Georgia. I got myself some cute stuff too. Found a hat that was calling my name!
Today we had a big pot of chili for lunch over at a friend's. and I can honestly say that topped off the weekend on a good note. I'm ready for recooping this next week. I have my postpartum appointment and Ava has her 8 week check up. I'm nervous about this whole vaccination ordeal. In my mind vaccinations make sense. I just don't know If i want to have them injected into my sweet little baby. Another conversation Justin and I HAVE TO DECIDE ON before the 10th. Alright, I'm off! I can barely keep my eyes open and it's family night in the Howland house. Snuggles and sleep time. Right up my ally!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Yesterday was quite a busy day for me. Aside from my mommy duties, I've had a lot on my plate. Planning activities for block leave, which is just around the corner.
Organizing a barbecue at my home this weekend with over 15 people in attendance. Mainly soldiers. But I don't think I've ever hosted anything with more than fifteen people before. I'm also tying in a celebration for my husband. He found out last week he is being promoted! I'm so proud of him. He's got such a great drive when it comes to career goals.
On top of that I managed to get my blog post out about reintegration. I got a lot of feedback on that, and I'm glad I was able to give an honest account. My biggest pet peeve with bloggers is how sugar coated details can be. I love the nitty gritty truth of things, that's always my goal in my writing. On an Ava note, my sweet little angel is getting bigger. She is over eight pounds and as of yesterday, she fits into her three month clothing. Another bittersweet milestone. Of course, I love that my girl is growing, but time is definitely passing us by. July will be among us in no time!
I figured out that I am going to be that type of parent that dresses their child up for all the special holiday's throughout the year and wants them to have pictures taken! I have tentatively scheduled another photo session for Justin, Ava, and I. I can't wait to see how those turn out. Also, I'm finally able to start reviewing some of the products I've received for Ava. Those include: cloth diapers, hemp inserts, and organic baby shampoos. There are a lot of various products that I will be doing sponsored reviews for as my baby grows and her needs change. So far one of the companies I took an interest in, that I will be reviewing for is
Citrus Lane. I've gone over Citrus Lane in a previous post.
I am receiving a newborn box and it should be arriving sometime next month. I'm anxious to see what type of developmental goodies are enclosed. I'm so excited about all the fun activities that will be taking place in just a matter of days. It feels good having all of our friends home.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
It's 5 a.m. and instead of sleeping I am up snacking on leftover macaroni and cheese. It's true what they say about pregnancy cravings, when you are craving something, it's best to just go get it ! I laid in bed for about ten minutes thinking about it before I actually got up. I bet you're probably wondering why I'm even up this early, right ? The answer would be my husband. Needs of the Army was the reason for a 4 a.m. call. I have to say his dedication to his Army goals are such a motivation for me. He never complains, even when he faces really hard days. He doesn't make excuses for short comings and he strives to be better every single day. I really hope our daughter carries on some of those strong characteristics.
Speaking of which, I'm 36 weeks pregnant today and I'm three weeks away from the induction date my o.b. gave me. I have another growth scan for Miss Ava in just 5 days, I'm anxious to see how much bigger she's gotten. I've been thinking a lot about my pregnancy this past week. I keep coming to the thoughts of how miraculous this journey has been. Pregnancy is the most natural feeling I have ever felt. A few things I haven't listed on my blog that I've done during my pregnancy that have been really great milestone reminders are:
As promised, here are a few photos from my maternity session:
Alright, It's now 5:30 a.m. I need to get back to sleep. It's just been awhile since I've updated so I thought when falling back asleep seems impossible what better way to use my time than to blog ? Have a Fabulous Thursday blog readers !
Speaking of which, I'm 36 weeks pregnant today and I'm three weeks away from the induction date my o.b. gave me. I have another growth scan for Miss Ava in just 5 days, I'm anxious to see how much bigger she's gotten. I've been thinking a lot about my pregnancy this past week. I keep coming to the thoughts of how miraculous this journey has been. Pregnancy is the most natural feeling I have ever felt. A few things I haven't listed on my blog that I've done during my pregnancy that have been really great milestone reminders are:
- downloading the baby center pregnancy app for weekly updates
- maternity photos
- writing letters to Ava
As promised, here are a few photos from my maternity session:
Photo Credit: http://www.victoriasimmonsphotography.com/
My three main goals these next few weeks are:
- small work out regiments. I walked 1.17 miles yesterday and did a few reps in the weight room. I want to tighten and prep my body for labor the best I can.
- redeployment is coming up ! taking the necessary steps to help for a smooth home coming for Justin.
- NO STRESS. I can't even stress this enough, ha ha. I made a funny, but seriously no stress. I have some final decisions to make about my L & D plans but other than that, I'm trying SO HARD to keep my stress levels down.
Alright, It's now 5:30 a.m. I need to get back to sleep. It's just been awhile since I've updated so I thought when falling back asleep seems impossible what better way to use my time than to blog ? Have a Fabulous Thursday blog readers !
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