Let the hotel living commence.

BIG CHANGES: Miss Tatum (24 weeks) + New York Living

The sun always shines even after it rains.

Its been a week

I’m going to try and cram the last week of my life into this single blog, brace yourself! This last week has been complete madness. Three days of having our household goods packed/loaded, two nights of a family of FIVE sleeping on ONE air mattress, and a rushed, but emotional farewell to the city that has treated us like gold since we first arrived. The movers arrived on Monday to start packing up the house and they didn’t really disappoint. We were pleased with the crew we had and they were quick with their packing skills. They did forget a certain size box they needed to pack up wardrobes, I think? So they knew they’d be back out on Tuesday to finish the job. It only bothered me a little because we’ve never had movers take the two full days to pack our things. Normally it takes a full day of packing and a full day of loading, but I digress.

Tuesday two of the three movers that came the day before came out again to finish the job. I wasn’t as pleased this time around. One of them wanted to leave without tagging everything and another just randomly didn’t pack certain things in the garage/backyard/office space. I don’t know if he just assumed they were furniture items (that is the driver’s job to tag/load), but regardless, I was annoyed. I kept my cool while they were there and requested tagged/put together boxes so I could finish packing myself. And thats exactly what I did. I really shouldn’t complain to be honest. I actually like handling my own stuff and the Army is paying for this move entirely.. yet still, I just appreciate when people do their job correctly.

Wednesday the loaders came along with the driver and the driver works for the same company as the movers. That was a bonus. We knew that everything would be in house. One of the movers from earlier in the week was there as well. So we saw him all three day and Olivia grew so dang close to him. He was great with kids and that is always appreciated. Anyways, the driver pulled up a little after 830am with a dang U-haul truck. I was expecting a tractor trailer, this was definitely a first. Apparently, his tractor trailer broke down and another driver was bringing him a new one all the way from Missouri. So basically he was going to pack our things to be transferred to the working tractor trailer later. Except the U-haul didn’t fit all of our things… so they had to call the moving company, who then had to send another driver with a truck to finish the job. YIKES! All I felt was absolute panic.

I didn’t like the idea of our things being separated. Wouldn’t that just increase the chances of part of our shipment getting lost? The driver gave us other options, but you know, after Justin and I talked.. we just decided to be positive and go with the flow. Let’s hope that decision doesn’t come back to bite us. They finished loading all of our things Wednesday and we spent that night and Thursday night in our empty home with just each other. Prior to leaving, we said our goodbyes to our Texas friends, Ava’s school (SUPER EMOTIONAL), and the house we’ve called our home for the last two and a half years.

Moving is never easy, but this move got me right in the feels. And you know whats bittersweet? I’m moving back home. My dad flew in this afternoon and the kids couldn’t be more excited. They love their Opa and have made sure to keep him busy. My dad helped us clean the rest of the house, load up the cars, and get the kids ready for dinner. All three babies have been asleep since about 730 or so and when they wake up they will be in Arizona. More specifically, The grand canyon.

Not Ready

I am admitting out loud (well, writing it) that I am not ready for this move. The moment we got the news that we were moving back to Washington, I was elated. I was overjoyed, I started thinking about all the new adventures we’d make, I didn’t have a single negative thought. Then, last week, Justin was told he couldn’t leave this station until the new station commander arrived - or until the end of the quarter for USAREC. That would have pushed us out to December 12th for packing, driving cross country, and trying to get everything set up in the new house just 13 days before Christmas. There is no way I could drag my kids across the country during this season. This season is supposed to be filled with family, food, and gratefulness. This season is not for suitcases on the go, new addresses, and a bare home that doesn’t reflect just how much we embrace this time of year. My stress wheels started turning and Justin and I decided that the move would have to wait until after Christmas.

I was bummed that our move was being pushed to the right and in an effort to make the most of our holidays, I decided to go and find the most festive activities to do as a family. The polar express, the lighting of the town tree, etc. I found myself getting excited about staying put for just a little while longer. Ava would be able to stay at her school until winter break too. The benefits were piling up and with that Justin and I placed the shipping paperwork (allowing the army to move our household goods) for a date after Christmas. And then, in Army fashion, this plan soon became a bust. Justin’s replacement for station commander took over officially today, but they found out Friday night.

Are you kidding me? We had just sold ourselves on one more Texas Christmas and now we were faced with staying and losing out on time we could be taking to get settled, OR trying to get refunded for all the holiday events we just paid for and trying to switch those Army move dates. Its just a mess. This will be our fourth military move together and its turning out to be the most chaotic out of all of them. That got me thinking about other factors surrounded by moving back home. My mom, especially. We left Washington a little over two months after my mom passed. Most of my grieving and attempts to understand have happened in Texas. It was a saving grace in so many ways, but now it’ll be like pulling off that bandage once more. Being constantly surrounded by all the things my mom loved…

I now get to live the heartache my baby sister has been left with since our mom passed. I’m trying so hard not to focus on just “the sad stuff” because I know there will be a million reasons we will smile because of my mom when we move back… thats just the first thing that hit me when i thought about this dilemma with the moving. I’m moving back to a home without my mom. And then I just don’t feel ready to move back at all.

Hello, Washington

I have not come off of cloud nine quite yet. I am seriously beaming SO BIG inside. Yes, you read those words correctly. Our family is relocating (at the end of the year) to the great Pacific Northwest. I cannot believe it. I'm just in complete shock and so dang thankful that Justin decided to fill out that "wish list" location sheet. I mean, I don't think either of us thought that we'd end up moving back to Washington this quickly, but boy are we extremely happy about it. We told the girls yesterday morning and I wish I could copy/paste Ava's face into this blog. She was SO dang happy! "We are going home!" - thats what my baby kept saying. I love that the kids consider Washington their home. I am often told that your home is where you make it...which yes, that's technically true. For us, its more than just a preference of region though.

Washington is the place that I first met Justin. It's the place where I fell in love with my husband. Washington is the home that blessed us with more time with my mom, SO many wonderful memories from Ava's toddlerhood, and the birth of our second born. We have so many stories and adventures that all tie us back to the place that made the last eight years of my life possible. I think thats why other places pale in comparison. Don't get me wrong, we make an adventure out of every move and we always leave a state with way more than we arrived with. I will never not appreciate the life lessons and memories I have made from moving with the Army. It is with the moves that I have learned to be flexible when need be. I have learned to adapt. I have learned to make lemonade when life affords lemons.

Those are some of the attributes I hope the kids take away from being apart of a military family as well. Adaptability is so key! Anyways, I'm rambling.. some of the things I'm nervous about? Moving Ava in the middle of her kindergarten year. I know, I know, its just "kindergarten" but for me its moving my child before she's barely tapped into the stepping stone of her education. Not knowing how different the structure of schools will be is something I'm worried about too. This whole move is going to be centered around getting Ava into a good school district in a good area. 

Justin and I talked about this last night and we will basically be living 35 minutes from his potential center just for our sweet girl. Education matters! I hope the choices we are trying to make result in the best outcome for my our kiddos. I'm also nervous about driving over 1600 miles by myself. We had planned on having the kids' god mama come down next summer (when Justin was originally projected to leave Texas) and drive with me and the kids to our next destination.... but with our move date being pushed up and right smack in the middle of the holiday season, I'm not so sure. 

We are likely going to have the Army move our home goods, so towing Justin's care behind a U-HAUL is not an option and it would still mean I'd have to drive the mom wagon alone anyways. Ahh! I'm trying not to let these worries eat at me because in the grand scheme of things, the outcome is going to be sweet. I need to just breath and buckle up. These next four months are going to be one heck of a ride! 

The Movers Arrive

Today was nothing that I expected it to be, even still, it wasn't a bad day. I expected a fleet of movers to arrive at 8am this morning.. Instead, we greeted two movers at about 9am. We have only done JPPSO once before this one and nothing that happened last time seems to be happening this time. One mover packed the entire kitchen, solely by himself. The other started in Ava's room and worked his way to the man cave. I guess we had more stuff than they realized because it ended up taking them until almost 630pm just to pack up two crates into their moving truck. I even pitched into help pack some of our things. We estimated the weight at about 7000 lbs, so I'm not sure if the company saw it fit to only send two packers... but boy did I feel badly for them. It was so incredibly hot today. Even I was a bit annoyed with the good weather. Normally I wouldn't be, but it made it harder to move around with Olivia in our arms and chasing after Ava. 

The main mover (we'll call him Mr. D) Mr. D was extremely friendly. He asked all kinds of questions to get to know us better. He came across my photography business license in the kitchen and asked about a dozen questions about how that dream came to be. He asked about Justin's interest in sports, our kiddos, and how long we'd been together. It was nice of him to be so personable with us. The other mover (we'll call him Mr. R) Mr. R was friendly as well. He caught Ava's attention pretty regularly as he was packing up her room. Both were great with our 3 year old running around and asking questions. That was so appreciated. Her entire world and normality was literally being uprooted right in front of her. I am so proud of my first born and how great she handled everything despite the crazy. 

We ended up ordering pizza for the movers to thank them for all their help. I think they appreciated it, since they kept thanking us and telling us how thoughtful we were. I think giving back in even the smallest amounts makes a world of difference. Justin ended up giving away his first coffee pot in our marriage to Mr. R... I don't know why that bothered me so much, but I got so emotional about it. There were several times during their packing that they would mention that my husband said it was okay to get rid of this, or my husband said it was okay to get rid of that. I wouldn't consider myself a hoarder, but more than ever now.. I try to hold on to my favorite memories... and I have a lot of those. 

On another note, I did appreciate that they waited to pack our master bedroom. Apparently they leave the master bedroom last because they try to let people have their beds an extra night. It was appreciated because our entire family piled in that night. Day one of packing was successful. We were exhausted, but the girls got to bed on time, Justin and I managed to get a lot of other things done, and two of Justin's soldiers came over to help. Justin ended up giving away his propane grill ( i was only slightly irritated by this) and a fridge full of food. It was great to go so much accomplished though.

♥- Leilani

Settled

As I'm writing this, Ava bug is sleeping in her toddler room.. in her toddler crib... alone (more on this later)! We are finally all settled into our new home, and we are absolutely loving it! I'm still super impressed that it took less than 72 hours to go through all of our boxed goods, hang up all the decor on the walls, and host our first family function. Justin and I are definitely a productive couple and it works in our favor pretty darn well. Some of the things that we are loving so far in the new house would be the kitchen, the spacious living areas, and the yard space. My kitchen doubled in size which seriously has me beaming! The counter space, the openness of the kitchen, and the fact that I have more than enough room for a little office space nook is just glorious. I think our next project we are going to tackle for the kitchen is making a movable island.

I'm elated that Justin is becoming more and more of a handy man around the house. I'm so excited to personalize the island the way we'd like. Aside from the kitchen, the living room, laundry room, and overall floor plan just completely makes our last house look so inadequate. The living room is pretty accommodating for the new sectional we just got, which has me feeling ten kinds of relieved, and the laundry room could pretty much be a mini play room if we wanted it to. There's also huge basin in the laundry room for my cloth diapers, and I'm super stoked about that. I still can't believe how much we like this house!

The overall neighborhood is pretty quiet and there are a few toddlers Ava bug's age that live pretty close by. We are within walking distance to at least three different parks, and we have the most beautiful view of the water, with an option of boating or playing in the sand. Today is Justin's first five minute commute to work, and I BEYOND grateful that we will get to see him so frequently. Ava gets to do breakfast and lunch with daddy, and it'll only take him five minutes to get home after work. I couldn't picture a better day for my family. I seriously can't believe that we managed to live over an hour away from post (in traffic) for an entire year. We will NEVER do that again.

Back to the toddler news... I seriously just laid her in her toddler bed, and she's been in a princess slumber ever since. We completely transformed Ava's room into this Paris meets Ballerina theme, and I know she totally loves it. She's always pointing to her initials on the wall and the eiffel tower we added a couple days ago. The room has the three dimensional pom poms that match her decor and we are painting this weekend (hopefully)! We spend a good chunk of time in Ava's room since we moved in, so I'm hoping the comfortability helps with this transition. Aside from that, things are pretty normal around here. I should be getting real internet today and we get our custom fence put it in a couple of weeks. I'm ready to get back to blogging more consistently, I definitely miss sharing with all of you!

P.S. this house gets amazing natural light in every room. Be prepared to see some awesome photos from me in the next few weeks!

P.P.S If any of my readers could suggest a good night light for Ava bug or possibly a projector, it would be appreciated. Leave your suggestions in the comments below, or shoot me an email!

Happy Tuesday all!

♥- Leilani

Bare Walls

These are the things that have bothered me most since we started packing up our home. I don't like the look of bare, off white walls. In this case it's a reminder that we are moving out. It's a reminder that my memories will no longer be tangible and framed on the walls here. It's a reminder that I'm going to invest time (all over again) doing this in our new home. That last part honestly doesn't bother me all that much. I rather enjoy decorating a home, it's become "zen" for me... I can't say that the same applies for my husband who spends no less than five hours trying to maneuver heavy pictures and decor on the walls to my satisfaction. At this point, I'm glad we only have 72 hours until we make the move.

These bare walls have also allowed for a different type of clarity, printing. I've seen so many articles and blogs from photographers going on and on about printing out those memories, which I always have. Now that I'm taking my own photos and learning how to give my family the best pictures I can, I'm at the point where I'd like to hang my own work on my walls. This new house is going to have a lifestyle dedication wall. All of my best work right on display as a reminder of why I picked up a camera in the first place. I think it's going to be a neat little project that I can do with my little family. I've already got a few photos in mind, so I can't wait to share the end result with all of you.

We also have quite a bit of painting on our hands. Even if we only stay in this house for the next six months, I want to give it that overly "homey" type of feeling. I want the walls to give off an expression of our family, and I want it to be light, bright, and fun. We've never been able to go all out like this in a rental property, so I am definitely taking full advantage. Speaking of  "homey" we got our new furniture this past weekend and I'm really glad we made the switch. The sectional allows for our family to be bunched together, without giving up personal space, and we love it! The recliners are a big hit for Justin and I, and I can't get over how much I love the color. I do miss our old couches.. sad, but I do! It's the memories, you guys! I absolutely hate having to part with those everyday reminders.

How many of my readers have had some emotional woes when moving? Did you part with anything sentimental? Share your experience with me in the comments below or by email.

Happy Monday all!

♥- Leilani

Emotional

Ava and Justin are already asleep for the evening, so it looks like this mama is packing up the parts of this house that she can do by herself. As I started packing up my child's first "big girl" bathroom, I noticed I got a bit emotional about it. I came across an empty vitamin d bottle that Ava had to use daily when she was solely nursed, and I started blubbering over it. I think about how long ago that was and it makes me completely sad. This house has been the place where Ava bug hit so many milestones, including switching from solely nursing. This was the home that Ava started crawling in. I'll never forget that day. It was before all of our things from our move arrived, so there was absolutely no furniture in sight. It was cold outside and I was still feeling a bit jet lagged from our travels. When Ava crawled, I took it as a sign that everything was going to be okay here. I was right, everything was okay.

This is the home we were in when snow fell from the ground on a random February day. It was Ava's first time playing in snow... I'll never forget her toothless grins. Speaking of, she got her first set of teeth in this home as well. She danced, stood, and walked in this very home for the first time. It's really hard to walk away from those types of memories. Although we moved from Georgia to Texas and then here, this has been Ava's home the longest since she's been alive. This is the state she's been in the longest since she's been alive. A huge part of me is really hating the fact that we won't be here six days from now.

I'm also a little nervous about how Ava will take to her new surroundings. The last time we moved, the only thing that seemed to change was her development. She crawled just two days after our move and she's been full speed ever since. I'm worried she won't take to the new house well. She's almost 20 months old and a complete sponge. Soaking in new surroundings, she knows her comfort zones, and I know this move is going to mess with that a little bit. I know this seems a bit ridiculous, but it doesn't matter how big or small the circumstances... I don't like goodbyes. It's not like I can just drive to this previous home of ours and enter whenever I want.. that's not how it works, and I hate it. I've always been a person that resented change. Then I became the person that accepted change. Now I'm the person that accepts change and takes the good from it, but worries terribly how the change is going to impact her loved ones.

I'm going to pray that I'm making this a bigger deal than it is. Military families move. We move all over the nation and we move to new countries. That's a reality. Although the move this time is only a whopping 15 miles away (if that), I'm going to do my best to make sure that my family is comfortable. There are a few things I'm excited about, so it looks like I'll be holding on to those thoughts this next week. I'm pretty proud of our packing progress so far, and I honestly can't wait to get out of boxes! If you guys don't hear from me much next week, give thanks to this move! I'll keep you posted once I have internet up and running in the new house.

** I'm curious. How many moves have you done in one year? two years? Did you notice that your little ones were impacted a great deal? Did they not seem to mind? Share your experiences with me in the comments below or by email! **

Happy Friday all!





♥- Leilani

Proud

My husband came home from work this evening, and he was so excited about his future college courses. He met with an Army counselor today, and apparently the guy was completely enlightening. Justin was able to discuss his career goals (outside of the Army), and he got his foot in the door with the path he needs to take. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my ambitious man take control of his future. I think it'll be interesting to see what this does for our relationship. We've never been in school at the same time... while being parents...while Justin is in the Army...while attempting to conceive this summer. That's right guys, no pregnancy for this mama. I've got say, I was honestly shocked. I do have to go back in a couple weeks just to double check, but as of right now, no baby bean is in the works just yet.

Ultimately Justin wants to be some sort of teacher (completely different from his cop aspirations). All states are different when it comes to requirements for teachers, so it's imperative that we choose the state we want to live in permanently. This is a much bigger decision than I anticipated. I never thought I'd ever want to live anywhere but Washington, but I could honestly picture us living somewhere outside of the Evergreen state. There's also the matter of which state we'll be in next year. As of right now, Justin says he plans to reenlist. I'd like to be in a state that offers Justin a lot of time to focus on family and school (more than work). Who am I kidding? This is the Army we are talking about. In all seriousness though, I seriously have an eerie feeling that we will end up back in Georgia.

I guess Fort Benning (Georgia) wouldn't be the worst thing to happen to us, but I'd really love to stay away from the Southern states for the rest of my entire life. We talk about Georgia or Colorado at least once a week. The window for reenlistment will be here before we know it, so decisions definitely need to be made. The only true benefit that we'd have from moving back down there would be a "no deployment zone" for our family. I would do whatever it took to make sure Ava bug doesn't have to be without her daddy for months at a time. With how attached she is to both of her parents (at this young age) I would hate for her world to have to undergo such a major change.  We definitely have a lot to sift through this next year. In the meantime,  I'm enjoying my family and friends while I can. Now that I've been away, I know that the genuine people that I love and care for will always be there.

Overall I'm just really proud of my life right now, and even more proud of my husband. He isn't only providing for this family, he's inspiring this family. He's already pursuing a career in the military, and making the choice to go back to school allows him so many other opportunities. Ahh! So much happiness right now. I know we all have someone we're proud of, so give them a smooch, or maybe a compliment! Happy Wednesday all!

- Leilani

Two moves in two months & 3000 miles

It's been awhile since I've been on here (busy, busy) and I feel like things are slowing down just a bit. As most of you know, my family went from the State of Georgia, to the state of Texas, only to move to the state of Washington just over a month later. While all of that was going on, I was (and still am) fully enrolled in college courses, raising and practicing attached parenting methods with Ava, and trying to keep every spark lit in my marriage. It's definitely a lot to take in all at once, but somehow we made it, and everything is just fine. My biggest fear with moving was that it was going to cause Ava's development to slow down. We haven't had true consistency in our home since the beginning of December, and Justin and I feel just awful about that. Luckily, with each move, Ava bug has advanced even more. I still can't believe how much she's grown since we've been in Washington. Pulling up on things, crawling, sitting in restaurant highchairs... I'm shell shocked at how rapid her growth has been. Even with being busier, we make sure to spend time with Ava at home, just hanging out, allowing her to play on the floor and grow.

I've also managed to maintain a 3.9 GPA with my university. I have gone, (and still am without) wifi for the past eight days.Thank Jesus for mobile hotspot, because I really don't know how'd I'd be blogging, let alone getting my school work done. Century Link is working on getting a crew out here, but I'm growing really impatient. Apparently the lines to our home were cut, so a crew has to come in and dig a new line. Even though I've got the okay from my professors to turn in my work late, I haven't taken advantage of that. All assignments and essays have been turned in on time. I'm pretty proud of the stride I make when it comes to my studies.

I have to say how impressed I am by my husband. If I had to to this type of move, or arrangement with anyone else, I would probably have failed miserably. I have learned the true meaning of patience during our move. I have learned what take it day by day really means. Justin has reminded me that romance does not take the back seat in our lives. Intimacy does not take a back seat. Even with everything we have going on, love in our home is a priority. I am so thankful for those reminders. When you become a mother, a student, a military wife, apart of a military family, a lot of things take the back seat in your life. Justin is an everyday reminder that our marriage and "dating one another" never takes a back seat. So even if it's extremely late at night, we always make sure to do something together. Watching a movie, cuddling by the fire, you name it, we do it. I fall more in love with the love my marriage presents, daily.

Last night I got a knock on the door, and it was a flower deliverer. I hadn't expected any flowers this year, but I actually got more than roses. Justin created a custom vase for me, with the most endearing words I had ever read. In those moments, I cried, and I just held him close. Without a doubt, my husband surpasses a best friend or soul mate. That man is a piece of me. A piece I am so grateful to have. Yesterday we celebrated three wonderful years, and I know this year is going to allow us many more wonderful moments.

Well I'm off all! We've got a busy day, and I'm already behind schedule! Oh, on the upside all of our Jppso shipment arrives in just five days! Yay for no more airbed sleeping!




 ♥- Leilani

Less than 24

Yep, we are less than 24 hours away from saying goodbye to the great state of Texas. I switched over all of our information to the new address, and it felt very weird. I don't think our feet will touch the ground until we get into the new house and establish (yet again), a new routine. I'm extremely lucky that my husband adapts so much quicker than I do. Even though I'm moving back to my home state, there are still a lot of factors that are going to be very different for me. I'm coming home with a husband, a baby, and a dog. My priorities are family geared; I'm just not the same Leilani that left home three years ago. Speaking of family gears, one of Ava bug's teeth finally cut through. It is so weird to feel an actual tooth when I rub her gums. She's been fussy, and all she wants to do is snuggle her mama, but other than that, everything else is great. It was actually nice having her sleep in my arms (for over two hours) Sunday. I usually lay her down, but instead, I laid my phone down. Sunday was a very relaxing day for the Howlands. Especially with our Broncos heading to the AFC championship game? Oh yeah, Mr. Howland had a fabulous Sunday.

I talked to my mom today, and can I just say I am EXTREMELY excited to see her. When we got off the phone I was able to say okay mom, see you in a couple days.. That was so surreal for me. Aside from my family, I've been connecting with so many friends from back home. It's great to see how distance hasn't really changed the dynamics of my friendships. I plan on spending the next few months getting reacquainted with everyone, and seeing how much their lives have changed while I was away. I really want Ava bug to find comfort around our extended family and friends too. It's going to be so good for her to be around other people, and other babies.

I was able to check in for our flight via online, and I found out where we are being seated. The seats aren't too shabby, and on the second flight we are being put in the main cabinet, which apparently has a little more leg room than other seating areas. Justin is getting a gate pass so he can see us off, and help me through security with Bug and all of our things. I'm really emotional thinking about how we are going to be spending some time apart. I guess things aren't so bad. We will see him the day we leave, and the day he arrives is shortly after. We are looking at one full day of not having daddy around. I know deployment has been over for awhile, but whenever it comes to distance, my mind reverts back to us being apart for so long.

I think I'm going to post a little video on our airplane experience, along with a post on travels with an (almost) eight month old. Since this will be my first time traveling via plane with Ava, I asked almost everyone with babies (including the airlines) what I needed to do/know. I think it'd be helpful to find all that information in one place, so definitely look out for that. Alright all, I am off. We've got to finish packing up the car, and spending time together before our big day tomorrow. Prayers are always appreciated too! Lord knows I have knots in my stomach thinking about this plane trip.

♥- Leilani

10 days!

So, we were able to take a video tour of our Washington home this afternoon, and I have to say, I am in love. So much natural light, and a lot of space. The five piece master has double doors, and this house offers a room that already seems perfect for Ava bug's nursery. The location is perfect for shopping, outings, and it's essentially close to everything we need. I think my husband was just elated over the garage door opener. Not having an automatic garage opener has been a pain for us in the house we are currently in. We are sacrificing yard, for house, which I am perfectly okay with. There is enough room for grilling, and for Cooper to handle his doggy business. The neighborhood offers walking trails, parks, and little poo bags for your animals. Overall, I am so relieved that I picked a house that will be great for my family. Looking out towards a golf course and view of Mt. Rainier is something I'm not complaining about either.

We opted to do a partial DITY move for a numerous amount of reasons (I'm not going to list right now). I think it'll be a smoother drive for Justin, and considering this is our second move in less than two months, I'd say smooth is exactly what he needs. This will be a different kind of experience for us, (as we won't have our things immediately), but I'm hoping the experience is a good one. I am excited that I won't have to pack anything. The moving company takes care of that (liability issues). We were able to pick a delivery date, even though they have the latest possible delivery date listed as the 27th. At the most, that's only 10 days without our things, and we are packing a lot of the essentials in the car anyway.

I am feeling a lot more confident about traveling with Ava on an airplane. I called the airlines (not so helpful) and was able to get some information out of them. I know what I can bring (baby wise), and I know what I can actually take on the plane. I'm so, so relived that we don't have to check bug's infant car seat. Thanks to my cousin-in-law.. I think that's the proper term Katie! I am waiting for this handy infant seat backpack to arrive for our trip.

I plan on using the ergobaby carrier the entire time we are traveling. Hopefully having my hands free will make this trip go smoother. Katie also filled me in on another handy tip. Since infants and typically kiddos under the age of two cannot pop their own ears, you wait to nurse them until you are taking off, or landing. The motion the jaw makes and the swallowing alleviates the discomfort from their ears popping. Justin is going to help as much as he can before we leave, so I guess the only thing I have to worry about is the layover. I'll have a lot of help with everything once we actually land in Seattle too.

I am getting so excited about this! Can't believe how quickly everything is going. Well, it looks like I'm off to watch some football! I'm rooting for Indy to lose today! Happy Saturday all!

 ♥- Leilani

Another year has past (almost)

Happy New Years Eve! We are just hours away from welcoming in the new year and I couldn't be more ready to take on 2014. So many (more) changes for my little family, and a lot of new adventures ahead. Today has been a busy one, we put in our 30 day notice for our Texas home, reserved the u-haul, purchased plane tickets, and more! Ava bug and I leave for Washington in just two weeks! Everything has gone by so incredibly fast, I can't believe I'm finally going back to my home state after three long years. We're in the process of getting everything set up with the new house, looks like the move in date will be a few days after we arrive in Washington. I am so nervous about flying without Justin, and Justin driving with Cooper without us. We have never done anything like this apart, and I don't like that we won't be seeing him for a few days. All in all it's what's best for our family, so I'm trying to just get on board, and be optimistic. We start packing today, (Which won't be hard) Once we got the call about the compassion reassignment, we stopped unpacking, and just kind of let everything we didn't need stay in boxes. The kitchen is the only thing we are really going to have do to work on, which is fine with me. I'm a little nervous about being in my second week of courses while all of this moving is going down. I did it while we drove from GA, to TX. but that was a much shorter time to be without internet, and in our new home. I'm not requesting a break, so hopefully things will go just fine.

I wanted to do a fun little " Look at 2013" video (classic Leilani style), so take a look at my past year and all the wonderful moments the Howland family experienced:

2013 was one heck of a year, and I have high hopes that 2014 will be nothing short of amazing for the Howland clan. I hope everyone is spending tonight with the people that care about most in this world. I know I will be. We bought party favors, 2014 tiara's and even fireworks to bring in the new year. The best part about this year? I get my midnight kiss. Make sure to stay safe and warm! and once again, Happy New Year all!

♥- Leilani

Settling In

The last 48 hours have come, and gone in what feels like just seconds. The movers came on Friday morning, and ever since then, we have been super productive with getting our things unpacked. So far, I've unpacked my new office/Cooper's room. We set up our guest bedroom and we've set up Ava's room completely. We finished organizing the living room last night (had to adjust our furniture), and the kitchen is almost done too! Friday night, we stayed up late to set up the Christmas tree! It was one of the first things I did that made this place feel like home. It feels so good to get our stuff out of boxes. It wasn't even a full four days, but It was driving me crazy not to be able to get what I needed, when I needed it. Also, I would definitely recommend using movers to assist with your needs while moving. I know I said this before, but I mean it. It cost us a whopping, $300 to have piece of mind, and piece of mind is priceless! We didn't have to worry about lifting a finger. We used local companies each way, and I will only use local movers, for future moves.

Please ignore my tinsel on the bottom. This is Cooper's first Christmas tree Christmas (that was a mouthful) and he doesn't know how to feel about the glittery tinsel. 

We took the u-haul to the weigh station on Friday and we weighed in over 5,000 lbs for our things! I felt great about that. All of the moving incentives we were given, were based off of 5,000 lbs. If we had come in any less than that, we'd be owing the Army money. Looks like they'll owe us a bit more now. Even now that the hard part is over with this DITY move, I still wouldn't change my mind about moving ourselves.There was actually only one moment where I'd wished we didn't do this move, and that was when Justin cracked the u-haul mirror!

Before I go any further, let me just say, I never knew Texas was a cold state. Oh my word.. It's like in the 20's here. We have ice on our car, we have icicles people! I can't believe it. We have frost on the roof, on the grass.. it's just freezing! Okay, so back to Justin, he decided to get an ice scraper so he could get all the ice off the windows... Well the u-haul's mirror cracked in the process. I was freaking out! Justin had denied the insurance coverage for the u-haul (against my judgment), which meant we were liable for any type of damage. Luckily, when we returned the u-haul, the rep was super understanding. She said, "It's not your fault that windows ice over, and as a result they crack." Yeah, we lucked out there. We didn't have to pay anything extra on the u-haul, and I was ELATED about that.

I have been so impressed with my baby. She has been up later than normal (one night), she had to adjust to eating in her car seat (while in the u-haul), and she had to adjust to eating in her bumbo (Thursday night). We've had to haul her around in that car seat non stop since we left Georgia, and she has been an absolute trooper about it. I think the day we arrived in TX, we had a moment where I tried to put Bug back in her seat, and she wasn't having it. I didn't blame her, If I had sat in a cars eat for all those hours, I'd want a break too. Since arriving in Texas, Princess A has been sitting up all by herself for a good chunk of time. She refuses to sit back anymore, even while in her car seat. I love seeing her grow up. It's a beautiful experience, and I'm glad both Justin and I are witness to this.

Alright, it's Sunday, so you know what that means, right? FOOTBALL in Howland home, all day! Enjoy your Sunday all! Make it a great day.

♥- Leilani

Goodbye to you

Today was so bittersweet. I woke up with butterflies/nervous bugs. The feeling you get when something big is about to happen. Graduation or your wedding day, you get the picture. I really hadn't allowed myself to cry, or to think about what moving meant for me. We woke up around 8 a.m. this morning (rental company was arriving at 11) took our time getting ready, got some breakfast, and packed the last of our bags in the car. Victoria was kind enough to take me to get breakfast for Justin and I (car on the dolly), and she was super helpful with helping us clear every room to double check that nothing had been forgotten.

The time really went by so quickly. I left Justin to deal with the rental agency, and Ava bug and I decided to spend our last moments in Georgia, hanging out with Adalin and her mama. Still, things did not feel real about the move. It wasn't until the point that Justin came knocking on her door, summoning his girls to the uhaul did I realize, this is real life. We are leaving, and who knows if we are ever coming back. Wow. I started tearing up, I look over at Victoria, and she was too.

I guess you don't realize how much someone really means to you, until having them around isn't an option anymore. I had a surge of emotions going through me. Here was a woman I had spent 9 months with, praying and hoping that our husbands would return from Afghanistan in one peace. Here was a girl that watched my womb grow, and followed me into labor and delivery. A woman that cooked mac and cheese almost always for a pregnant woman who craved it. Someone who saw me at my worst, and my very best. You can't replace people like that in your life. I'm not even going to try. In Georgia, I found the true meaning of a bond. I found out what makes us Army wives special.

She walked us out to our uhual, and she didn't leave her drive way until we drove away. In those moments my heart sank. I don't think I've ever hugged her that many times in such a short time span. If I learned one thing in this world, home is definitely not your zip code, or the state you live in. Home is where you make it. I never though I'd have such great friendship, and love in Georgia.. Now here I am, bawling like a baby because I didn't want to leave all the relationships I built. I know this goodbye, isn't a goodbye forever, but that hasn't made this process any easier.

This is one aspect of military life that will never ever sit well with me. Moving. I hope Texas knows it has some pretty BIG shoes to fill!

♥- Leilani

Moving day!

I can't believe I have the energy to write this right now. Wow! While my memory is fresh, here goes nothing. I woke up at 7 a.m. this morning, as did Ava bug and Justin. We didn't start the day off with breakfast or chit chat, we just got right to business. Justin took apart our bed, and we finished organizing and packing several things before the movers got here. We ended up getting breakfast, and picking up the u-haul at like 930 a.m. and immediately came home afterward. I finished our final loads of laundry, tended to bug, and started taping and writing on our things. I guess that took about three hours or so because at around 1230 p.m. the movers came. The next two hours were kind of a blur. I got visitors from my good friend, Victoria, and my new parent support program rep, Christa.

We got a 26 foot truck.. which we originally thought was going to be too big. It was perfect! Next time around we could go a little smaller though. The movers were able to pack Justin's motorcycle safely, and I think that was his biggest worry. Oh, for anyone moving locally, or even a PCS I strongly suggest finding a local business company to assist with your move. For over two hours, with four workers, we paid $150.00. In the grand scheme of things we saved over 100.00. I was thoroughly pleased with their work. I think that's one thing I'll be missing about Georgia, that Southern hospitality.

At around 2:30 p.m. the movers left, and we were surrounded by bare walls, and an empty home. I was able to nurse Ava without all the chaos of moving, and Justin and I were able to have a real conversation. We were able to get lunch in, and run a couple errands before it was time to get the dolly for our car. I think Justin and I have been more nervous about driving the u-haul with a dolly, more than anything else pertaining to this move. The truck is huge, and with the car on the dolly, it's just so long. Since this is our first DITY move, I think we did overall pretty well. There are a few things I would change the next time though.

Things I loved that we did

• waited until the finance funds hit to arrange dates for moving
• packing before we even knew which day we were moving
• finding a home in the area where the next duty station is located

Things I hate that we did

• procrastinated organizing and taping all the boxes we had
• not doing laundry prior to moving day
• not allowing enough time to say goodbye to all my friends I made in Georgia

Since we pretty much can't drive anywhere with our car being hooked up to the dolly, we ended our night with dinner at my neighbor/friend's home. I was finally able to have a salmon night with her, and given the rushed, tiring, fast paced day, dinner turned out okay. I've got to say Ava was a trooper all the way up until the end of the night. It was past her bedtime when we had dinner, and she was ready to nurse and KO. We were able to say goodbye to a few more of our friends here in Georgia this evening, and that was nice. I know I didn't get to see everywhere, and I feel terrible about that. 

As soon as we got home, we got Ava ready for bed. Tonight, she pooped in her bath! It was legit, hard poo. It was so gross! I was in a rush to get her rinsed off and out of the tub. I didn't double check to make sure Justin adjusted the water (I already assumed that he did) so I went to stick Ava's foot underneath it, and the water was hot. I felt SO SO SO bad. She fussed a bit, but no major tears. I immediately stuck her little foot under cold water after that. On top of an already stressful, and tiring day, I did that. I beat myself up over it, and consoled bug until she fell asleep.

So that was our day. Justin knocked out as soon as he got a free moment. I had to wake him up, just so he could wash the filth off from today. I'm really proud of how well I've stayed up on my school work, and my home life. I never thought I'd be able to balance so much at one time, but I have! Oh wow, it's almost midnight and I am still awake! I'm going to be writing a little something each day about our experience with our first DITY move, and our second road trip with Ava! Happy Wednesday all! 

   ♥- Leilani

48 hours

Today was kind of a wasted day. Well, not really. but instead of doing most of the things I intended to do.. I decided shopping for Christmas would be better. I got our Christmas tree topper, a few more ornaments, and a couple new outfits for Ava. Justin and I set out this morning to take care of some things at Pediatrics for Ava bug... that didn't happen. We can't even refill her vitamin d prescription because we already refilled a few days ago. I guess my biggest worry is having her run out before we get our PCM situation worked out. Breastfed babies need an extra dose of vitamin d, I don't want her to be without it. Here lately Bug has been making a funny noise.. when she breaths in it's like a wheezing sounds. I almost wish I would have taken a video, but I haven't. It scares me a little. She doesn't do it often, and it's mainly when she's excited.. but it's still there, and I'm still concerned.

I think we are opting not to drag her into urgent care or anything like that. I'm monitoring her, and it doesn't seem to carry into her sleep, and it's not so frequent, that I'm convinced something is really wrong. I am always reminded that babies make funny sounds when they are happy, sad, mad, etc. Today just did not go as planned. I planned on having a salmon night with a friend/neighbor.. that didn't happen. I planned on visiting with another friend later in the afternoon.. that didn't happen. I guess today was just full of things that weren't planned. As I'm writing this, everything still turned out okay. We managed to find a few things that still needed to be packed, and Princess A had her first serving of organic carrots. They were a hit! She loved them, and she ate an entire 2 oz.

I am so ready to not be living in a house full of boxes though.. This has been my life for over a week now.

The movers arrive tomorrow, and we get the 26 foot U-HAUL tomorrow as well. I can't believe this is my last night sleeping in my bed (as we are packing everything tomorrow). I can't believe we are leaving the house I brought Ava home from the hospital in. I can't believe we are moving away from the state I said goodbye and hello to Justin in. So many emotions running through my mind this easy. Georgia, you are so, so tricky. Here I thought I was going to make this move as easy as possible. No tears, no feelings, my family and I would just cruise on along to Texas.. So wrong! When you actually think about everything you're leaving behind, it gets you.

Well, here's to making these next couple days the most memorable and productive that I can. If you're reading this, and I didn't get a chance to say goodbye, I apologize. Thank you to everyone that helped me during my time here in Georgia. Everyone that was a comfort to me, that reached out to me, that befriended me. A special thanks to Laura A! If you are reading this, I just want you to know I appreciate you. From the first moment you saw a very scared and confused Army wife, you were there to help. Your words and your kindness never went unnoticed, and I thank you very much.

Alright, I'm getting all sappy eyed! Looks like I'm off to watch the Seahawks spank these Saints! I hope everyone enjoyed their Monday!

♥- Leilani

72 hours

I can't believe we are just days away from leaving. It still doesn't feel real. I have been spending my time with the good friends I have made here in Georgia, and I've got to say, it's been tugging at my heart strings a little. On the plus side of everything, my mother is going to be spending two glorious weeks with us once we get to Texas. YES! my mother will be spending Christmas with my little family. It'll be the first time she sees Ava in person, and it'll be the first time we've seen one another in over two years. I still can't believe either of us has gone that long without seeing each other. I plan on making the holidays this month, extra special for my mommy. I want to tie in a birthday celebration, since she'll be leaving us just a few days before her birthday.

So a few days ago I was given a task. I was suppose to come up with one value to teach my daughter, that my parents/elders taught me. I have finally decided which value I'd pick (aside from the basic, normal values). I would encourage Ava to always use her OWN judgement. There are good people in this world, there are bad people in this world. We can't separate the two based on the sole opinion of someone else. I would encourage her to base an opinion off of her own interactions; this way she isn't missing out on a really great human being. Too often, people are willing to base their opinions of someone, off of an opinion from someone else. That's no way to live, and that certainly isn't right. I'm glad I was raised that way, and I'm glad that Justin and I are going to raise Ava that way.

As the year is closing, I have noticed a lot of changes in myself. I can't tell you the last time I had to deal with legit chaos. I'm thankful for that. Minding my own business, and steering clear of those who don't has definitely worked in my favor. Justin and I have had such piece of mind, and that's exactly what we need, as we approach this big move. I'm nervous about networking in Texas. It isn't home, and it's still the South. When we first arrived in Georgia, I was a bit of a hermit. This time around I don't want to do that to myself. I don't want to do that to Ava. She's getting older, and socializing is going to be really good for her at this age.
I do know a few people that are down in Texas, but they are either distant relatives, or people I went to school with back home. I guess it's better to see a familiar face, than to not have one at all.

Well, someone has some packing to do, so I guess on that note, Happy 1st of December all! Thank you to all of my Washingtonians and Georgia readers, this blog has reached an all time high on views these last two weeks. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read about my family, and the obstacles we face.

♥- Leilani

In route

We leave the state of Georgia in two weeks! I'm still trying to wrap my brain around this. Calling power companies, cable companies, and transferring our internet service has made this process feel more real. I've actually stepped up and gotten on board with this whole moving ordeal. Tonight, I mapped out our trip. I figured out where we are going to stop, how long we are going to drive, the whole nine yards. I love that Justin lets me plan everything. My OCD  is completely satisfied.

Ava is still a bit sick. She got her "my first Thanksgiving" pictures taken today. She was such a stinker! I know she was tired (she knocked out right when we got home) but I was expecting her to give that million dollar smile... she didn't. Not even for her daddy. I was so shocked. I haven't seen them all yet, but I'm hoping there's a money shot somewhere in there. Tonight was round two of avocados, and Ava is a fan. She ate so much tonight (hoping she sleeps longer at night) I was surprised. We also started her on oatmeal yesterday. I didn't think we'd do any type of oatmeal or rice meal (organic or not) but Ava's Pediatric doctor stressed the importance of replenishing her iron. I researched and it was definitely a step we needed to take. Surprisingly, Ava likes her oatmeal. It's great for us, because now we are getting into a food routine. Oh, I think I neglected to mention that my Princess is saying mama now! It makes me smile, and completely warms my core whenever I hear her sweet voice utter mama. Princess A makes her mama's world a better place.

Justin got his bulldog stamp and has officially finished clearing this installation. This means he will be home with his girls until his forty days of leave are up (they haven't started yet) I am excited about that. Even though it's weird having him home this much, I am loving it. Having another set of hands to help with the baby, or to snuggle has been absolutely wonderful.

I realize I am getting behind with my thankful days, and I apologize. Things are only going to get crazier for me, but I'll try to stick to this for the rest of the month!

Day 19- I am thankful for traditions. Every month I have something to look forward to with my family
Day 20- I am thankful for my beliefs. Even when I feel conflicted about my faith, the lord is always with me.
Day 21- I am thankful for counselors. I don't know if my mental health will stay in tact like this forever, but I'm glad there are people available to help me if I go off the deep end.

This quote gave me pause.

I feel like I want to post a little something everyday. My mama reads my blog (among a lot of others) So it's nice to give her a full update on my day (on the days where we don't get to chat). I'm off for now! Homework calls. Goodnight All!

 ♥- Leilani