Home

Monkey and I fly back home to Iowa tonight for a two and half week visit! I can't wait to see my family and friends. I haven't been back for 4th of July in 5 years. I can't wait to watch the big firework shows and see them light up under a pitch black sky. I miss that about 4th of July up here. The sun is always illuminating the sky here in the summer, so fireworks don't pack the same punch. Growing up, 4th of July, created some of my fondest memories. I'm ready for my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Paul's picnic/pool party. All the cousins running around and laughing until your belly hurts at my goofy aunts. Fun times!

My best friend turns 30 while I'm back! I can't wait to celebrate her golden birthday with her. I'm ready to snuggle her girls and give her the much overdue hug and kiss that she deserves. You see, life hasn't been exactly fair to her lately, and it has absolutely killed me to be so far away from her during these times. I'm ready to kick back one evening out by her parent's pool and just chat it up like old times. We need our girl bonding session desperately!

We get to meet my brand new nephew when we are back home! Another I get to snuggle on! Another fellow Mommy who needs that other Mommy bonding. She called me last night in tears because she didn't think she was being a good enough Mommy. Oh, how I remember feeling those emotions. They are still so raw in my memory! I can't wait to watch my brother father his baby son! Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it!

I can't wait to sit and giggle with my baby sister! We were never super close growing up because we're 4 years apart. But adulthood has brought a new and wonderful closeness to us. She has blossomed into this amazing, kindhearted woman. The Navy has brought her man home to her and life has stopped throwing her black clouds to rain on her parade. She has a new addition in her life too.....a Shih Tzu named Mac!! He looks like a little black bear! She spoils my Monkey rotten, and he lights up when she is around.

I'm ready more than anything to see my Mom and Dad! To give them that Grandparent time that they miss out on. The webcam only does so much!! It's wonderful to have that technology to allow us to see one another. The only thing it lacks is the sense of touch and smell! Nothing like snuggling up to your grandbaby, and my Mom misses that too much! I'm ready to be spoiled too!

My husband once asked me not long after we got married why I continue to call it "home" because it's not my home anymore he said. I told him it will always be home. It may not be where I live anymore, but it's where I spent 26 years of my life. It's where everyone I know and love from those memories resides. It's not that this isn't home because it is. I'm just lucky enough to have two "homes". This is my home now. It's where I've started my own family with new memories to build. But Iowa will always be my roots. I was lucky enough to have parents who gave me wings to fly and fly I did! Further than my Mom ever imagined. She would probably take those wings back if she'd known now how far away they were going to take me. The neat thing about wings though is they can take you right back where you came from. Tonight, my wings are going to take Monkey and I back to the Heartland!!

Godspeed ahead!!

Nightly Check

Little Monkey...I just want you to know that even though there are days that you don't see your Daddy because he gets home late from work, he comes in the door every night, comes to kiss your Mommy, and then he heads straight for your bedroom. He ever so quietly opens your door and looks in on you for a few seconds. You are off in dreamland and can't witness this tender moment that I get to see. It makes my heart do flip flops to see him look in on you! He loves you so much and wishes he could be there to tuck you in too! Someday, little one, we will have your Daddy home in the evenings! Until then, know that he looks in on you every night and silently wishes you sweet dreams!!

Daddy's Day!

Am I the luckiest girl in the world or what? I get to share my life with those two handsome boys! Their smiles knock my socks off!

My Hubby celebrated his first Father's Day yesterday. It's so true that you fall more in love with your husband the minute they lay your child in his arms. I can still vividly picture him (even though it was just 5 months ago) standing there in the operating room in his scrubs with that little boy bundled in his giant arms. His eyes watering as he brought him over to me. There was so much pride on his face! His boy...we had waited so long and here he was now!!

Just seeing him with Monkey melts my heart!! He has learned patience and given so much love to his little boy! I can't wait for the coming years. To see Monkey toddling after him in the yard...to hear them tinkering away in the garage....to see the dirt pile up around the both of them....to have Hubby teach him to be the honest, hard worker that he himself is.

I know it's only going to get better! I just can't imagine it getting better than this! My heart explodes with love for the two boys in my life! Happy Father's Day to you and to many more days down the road!!

Introducing....

I'm a new Aunt, first time Aunt....YEA!!! I'm lucky enough to get to share my anniversary with my baby nephew! Layne Michael was born yesterday at 6:13 PM (central time) weighing in at 7 lbs, 8 oz. and 20 inches long.

His facial features are a good mixture of his parents. He has toes that look like fingers, and his little big feet barely fit on the footprint cards. The nurse said he had the longest toes she'd ever seen in her 35 years of nursing!!! Gonna be a soccer player just like his Daddy! He is a good little nurser for his Mommy and barely makes a squeak so far. I got the opportunity to see him on webcam this morning, and he's just precious!! I can't wait to snuggle him in a few weeks when Monkey and I go home for a visit!!

Thank you God for another precious, perfect little bundle of joy!!

3 Years and Counting!

It has been three years, since I walked down the aisle to meet the love of my life. In exactly half and hour from now, I was taking my Dad's arm, and he was "giving me away" to the most wonderful man I know next to my father.

I can still hear the music as we entered the church....the strings were playing "Canon" as the mothers and grandparents walked down. My Dad and I waiting in the background, so no one would see us. Then the moment I had been waiting for. There he stood waiting for me. He looked so handsome in his tux. I don't remember anyone but him as I walked down the aisle. I try thinking back to remember anyone's face as I walked down the aisle (I don't even remember glancing my Mom's way!), but all I see is him. Just how it's suppose to be.

I remember we never wanted to the night to end. We wanted it to go on forever because we were having so much! We were so tired toward the end of the night that we could barely stand up, but it was the most wonderful feeling in the world! All our dreams had come true!

Everyday I thank God for this wonderful man I call my husband. He is the most genuine, faithful, and hardworking man. He would do anything for his family! Now we have this beautiful little boy together. Seeing the two of them together makes my heart do flip flops and fall in love all over again.

I can't wait to see what the years bring for us. I know it won't all be easy, but together we can do anything together!! Our love will stand the test of time!

Almost Forgotten...

How can you almost forget those moments so soon. The moment I'm talking about is a walk-up in the night. My little Monkey hasn't needed his Mommy in the middle of the night for almost a week now. He has been waking up but talking himself back to sleep. Bliss....sleep!!

Tonight at 10:00 he cried just a little bit louder and more demanding than normal, so I went to see what was wrong. Nothing...just a smile for Mom and a motion for a late night snack. We changed the diaper and sat down to nurse.

How I almost forgot that I really do cherish our late night feedings by the light of the nightlight. It casts just enough light to highlight my baby's sweet face as he suckles away. His fist, tight around my thumb, every once in a while finds its way to my face to touch and feel. He drifts peacefully into that milky bliss and off to dreamland once again. Slowly he lets go and his little mouth falls away. This gives me the perfect moment to get lost in the sweet innocence of his sleepy face. How sweet it is.....just melts me!

I realize that I must soak these moments up as they are becoming fewer and far between quicker than I think I'm ready for them to go. Sleep is good, but we have the rest of our lives to sleep, right?!! These moments will only last for so long. And I'm not ready to say "so long" to them quite yet!

Good Night!