Whirlwind Weekend

With Nick being deployed, trying to travel, or anything like that is a challenge.  I mean, let's face it, trying to travel with a 20 month old is a challenge to begin with, but take away Dada, and all bets are off.  None the less, Mom and I decided to pack up, and head to NY for the weekend.  It was Whipple City Days weekend, and my Aunt was holding a going away picnic for my cousin and his new wife.

So, we packed our bags, a bunch of toys, snacks, and Aidan's Radio Flyer wagon, and set off.  Maybe the fact that it took me 2 hours to reinstall Aidan's car seat in the center of the Tacoma, should have been an indication of what was to come.  Maybe.  Yet, we plowed through and packed up, and took off.  It started out great.  Then we hit Putnam on 395.  We parked.  Yes, you read that right, we parked on 395.  For 45 minutes.  With a 20 month old.  Thank God for the DVD player that we now have in the truck.  Life. Saver.  Thankfully, for the most part, Aidan did AMAZING!!!  He was cranky from time to time, but nothing we couldn't handle.  We stopped at Westover, as we usually do, to gas up and hit the BX just for fun (and the potty, lol).  When we left base, I handed Aidan a cup of Teddy Grams.  When we got out at the next stop, I realized that he had held it up over his head, and dumped them all over him.  He had them under him, in his lap, and stuck to the back of his onsie! 

Once we finally got to Greenwich, I unpacked the truck (mostly) and decided to put Aidan in our Boba carrier, and head up to the park.  I hung out with our family for awhile, shared an ice cream sunday with Aidan, and then grabbed dinner for all of us.  When we got back to the house, I handed Aidan off to Grandma (my mom) and started to get our room set up.  I set up the pack n play, and my bed, the radio, the fan, and everything else that we usually set up for Aidan at home and away.  Being a sensory toddler (more about that later) the more we can keep constant, the better he does.  We had dinner, got changed, and did our bedtime routine.  I put Aidan in the pack n play, thinking I'd have a few minutes to go to the bathroom, and get myself ready for bed.  I was wrong.  Something about the pack n play, the semi new environment (we don't visit that often) and the fact that Dada wasn't there sent Aidan off the deep end.  Screaming to the point where there was no noise coming out anymore, bright red face, tears streaming down his face, screaming.  I tried everything I could to get him to fall asleep.  An hour and a half later, he was finally asleep.  I lay him down in the pack n play, and his eyes are instantly open, he's screaming, and standing in front of me, reaching up for me.  After a while, Grandma and I decided to barricade the bed I was sleeping in, and just put Aidan in bed with me.  Not gonna lie.  I really liked it.  Yes, he kicked.  Yes, he's wiggly.  Yes, he's a toddler, but, seeing that beautiful sleeping face as I fall asleep, and seeing that sleepy smile when I woke up, was just amazing.  No, I don't plan on making this a habit (although, I could without any problem) as I don't want to have to fight for our bed when Nick comes home.  But maybe every once in a while, it wouldn't be too bad :)

Saturday, Aidan and I met my friend Victoria and her 2 girls at the Saratoga Children's Museum for the morning.  It was AWESOME.  Not only to see my friend, and get to meet her girls (FINALLY!!), but the museum was awesome.  SO much for them to do and explore.  Including a fire truck, fire gear, and a fire station.  Guess what was Aidan's favorite?? 

We headed back "home" and got ready to head to Aunt Elaine's house for the picnic.  Aidan had a blast running around the yard, and "playing" ball.  We walked around the parks for a while, looking at all the vendors.  We got some food, and started to head back to the house.  By chance, I stopped at an It Works booth.  I decided to go ahead and get a wrap.  Oh My Goodness!!  I'm in love.  There was such a huge difference as soon as I took the wrap off.  And now, 2 days later, I'm still seeing a difference.  I'm thinking and praying about whether or not to become a distributor.  I really want to. 

Anyway.  That's our weekend in a nutshell.  My next post will be a big update on all of Aidan's evaluations, and dx's and plans for therapy.  And pictures...lots and lots of pictures!!

Enjoy the day!!

So, did you miss us?

Hey everyone! 

It has been almost 6 months since the last time we posted.  A lot had changed since then.  Aidan is now 19 months old.  He's an amazing kid, but I'll get back to him in a bit. 

We've spent the last 6 months preparing for, and starting our latest deployment.  I got pregnant, and the miscarried (I hate that word.  I makes me feel like I did something wrong).  We kept trying, but it wasn't meant to be before Nick left, so now I'm concentrating on loosing weight, eating better, and tracking my cycles, so that we can make a homecoming baby instead :)

Anyway.  There's a million things to update on, way too many for one post.  So, this will just be a quick update.  Like I said, Aidan is now 19 months.  He's awesome.  He's so curious, and intrigued by EVERYTHING.  He loves books, climbing, Bubble Guppies, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, among other shows.  Tomorrow is his evaluation (Finally) for Early Intervention.  We are thinking that he has a speech delay.  At 18 months (when we had his WCC) he should have had 8-10 words, NOT including mama and dada.  He still only has 3-4 that he says on a semi regular basis.  So, we'll see how the evaluation goes, and make a plan from there.  He started a mommy and me gymnastics class a few weeks ago.  He LOVES it.  After this session is over, I think we need to do swimming again.  Our pool was heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy, so that's not an option.  We have a membership to the YMCA (which by the way, Mil Spouse friends, is free during deployment!!).  Lately, Aidan has become deathly afraid of water.  I don't have any idea why, he's always been a water baby.  It makes me so sad.  Other then that, he's awesome.  He follows directions really well, he can point out all of the things in his baby Einstein ABC book.  He's just amazing.

We're finally getting into a decent routine with the deployment.  We've been incredibly blessed, and up until this week, we've been able to Skype every day.  Nick has been having internet problems for about a week now.  We still get to talk every day, but only get to see each other every few days.  I know it could be so much worse, and we're so, so blessed, but it still makes me sad.  Aidan looks for Daddy in my phone every day.  He'll stare at my phone and say "dada, buh-bye"  It rips my heart in half. 

I've lost almost 6 pounds since Nick left.  I've been going to the gym 5 days a week (plus Saturdays for Aidan's Gymnastics class).  I've had some set backs with it, with me getting sick, and the Aidan getting sick, and then my mom getting sick...you get the idea.  I plan to make it at least 4 days this week (not tomorrow, I'm just going to concentrate on Aidan's eval tomorrow). 

I've also started to get way more involved in our Church (the one that Aidan, mom and I go to...we're Pentecostal, and Nick is Catholic).  I go to women's prayer on Monday nights, and and starting to attend women's bible study with my mom this coming Friday. 

We have the most amazing friends and family, and I would not have made it this far into deployment without them! 

I think that's it for tonight.  I'll be back.  Soon.  I promise not to be gone for so long this time!!

Much love!

Getting ready for the new year...

As we look ahead to 2013, I'm really starting to dread it.   While I know that there will be a ton of great things this coming year, it makes me sad to think that Nick will miss out on most of them.  Military life means sacrifice, for all of us.  This isn't the first time he's deployed, it's not the first time he's deployed since we've been together, but it's the first time he's deployed since we got married and had Aidan.  I still completely think that the timing is good, Aidan's at an age where time will really fly for him.  I also know that it's kinda crappy timing, because Nick will miss a lot of milestones.  I know that is something that he's really worried about and sad about. 

I'm looking into all kinds of ways to keep us connected during deployment.  We know from others that have been to the same base as Nick's going that there will be internet and skype and the like.  I'm also looking to make some videos and recordable books before he leaves. 

Anyway.  It's been a mostly great year with a few really crappy things thrown in.  Aidan turned a year old in October, and we had an awesome party for him.  A week later our back yard was destroyed by hurricane Sandy.  We still have a ton of damage that hasn't been cleaned up, plus we have 2 huge trees in pieces all over the back yard that still need to be cut up and taking to my in laws for fire wood. 

The worst part of the year was just a few days ago.  Last Thursday (just a few days before Christmas) we lost our precious tiger cat, Keegan.  We still (and probably never will) have any idea what caused him to leave us, but none the less, it was completely heartbreaking.  I'm not really ready to talk about it, but I will post about it when I'm ready.

But, anyway.  This has kinda just been a giant ramble.  Oh, well.  I've been sitting at the local indoor play place with Aidan and our friend Jordynn from church, while they play, but I'm pretty sure that they are both ready to go get something to eat now.  So, for now, I'll end.  Keep any eye out for more posts as 2012 comes to and end and 2013 starts off (hopefully on the right foot!).