Game Update

Score: Mommy & Daddy ~ lots, Monkey ~ A couple

You are doing so, so good at putting yourself to sleep now little one. You only cry when the lights go out and the fan comes on. You are pretty smart and have figured out that this means sleepy time. You fuss for a couple minutes or more. BUT, last night, I was able to nurse you, sing you a few lullabies while we rocked, putted you in your crib wide awake, and you fell asleep on your own without a fuss!! You are such a big boy!! Momma and Daddy are so proud of you!!

Another big boy achievement.....Mommy doesn't remember the last time she had to wake up and go to you in the middle of the night. You are such a little slumber man!! Love you so much!

The Crying Game

Opponents ~ Monkey vs. Mommy and Daddy

Time ~ Naptime and Bedtime

Place ~ Monkey's Bedroom

Score ~ Monkey 1, Mommy & Daddy 1

Currently, you are on a 45 minute long stretch. I have gone to you after 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes. I hate hearing you cry. I keep telling myself and you that this is for your own good. It will make you a better sleeper and more rested in the long run. Do I miss letting you fall asleep in my arms? Like you will never know little one. It breaks my heart to hear you crying and screaming in there. Your little face, clean from your bath, is covered in goobers and slobber when I go in there. You clung to your monkey like he was your only friend when I went in last. And you just threw your bink out of your crib because I heard it bounce off the door. But I have to wait little one. Daddy and I have to let you work this out. I love you so, so much!

La Nina

No this isn't intended to be a beautiful picture of our snow capped mountains in the fall. This is a gloomy picture of the Chugach Mountain range YESTERDAY!!! Are you freaking kidding me???? Termination dust (what we Alaskans call the first snow of the season) on July 23rd. We haven't even had a summer yet. The paper said today that we are on track to have the coldest summer ever.....yes I did say ever!!

I can believe it since the temperature at my house this morning at 10:00 was 48 degrees...brrrr! My puppies were curled up like little cocoons on the deck! I knew it wasn't a good sign when I got home from vacation a week and a half ago and the fireweed was already blooming....ugh!! Beautiful it is but an ominous sign of winter to come and too early at that.

To blame for all of this, La Nina. The seas are 2-4 degrees cooler down in Peru in the South Pacific. Crazy to think that it effects us clear up here in the very far Northern Hemisphere. La Nina is probably going to cause more days of temperatures below 65 degrees than has ever been recorded in Alaska. Not to mention the fact that it's going to cause me to probably go crazy. It's been raining so many days in a row that I don't even remember the last day we had sunshine. Monkey and I finally had to get out so bad the other day that we went for a stroller walk in the sprinkles.

The only bright spot in all of this is that we're suppose to have above normal temperatures from October through December. I guessing it won't be the Indian Summer that I'm used to from back home though. Where is El Nino when you need it??

Two Sick Boys

My little Monkey has his first cold. My heart breaks for him. So pathetic with his little snorts from a stuffy nose. Poor guy is trying to adjust from vacation, shots on Monday, and now is bombarded with a head cold...ugh! I think he got it from his Daddy who is equally pathetic but in a different sort of way...heehee. His was exacerbated by working until 2 am last night in the rain....double ugh! Now I have to stay home from work tonight to take care of my two sick boys. I was actually looking forward to going to work too....imagine that!

Little Moments

We're back home from our wonderful, relaxing visit at my parent's house. We had a great time in the warm weather. Monkey loved having his toes free from socks and his little chubby legs out for everyone to squish and kiss. We visited Omaha's fabulous Henry Doorly Zoo where he was fascinated by the sharks in the aquarium tunnel and tugged on a goat's ear. We went swimming countless times, and he splashed to his heart's content. We visited so many family and friends without barely a hint of stranger danger.

I have wonderful memories etched from this trip. Many of my favorites are of Monkey with his Grandpa and Grandma. Feeding the fish with Grandpa riding way up high on his shoulders. Walking down to get the mail, just him and Grandpa. Standing with his Grandma on the deck the morning before we left watching the farmer pick the alfalfa field. He was so interested in that tractor. Monkey napping in their arms and the proud look on their faces. He blossomed in front of their eyes. It was wonderful to watch. Too bad we aren't closer, so they could see him blossom more often. Have to take advantage of these opportunities though. So sad to go but thankful for the means of today to keep in touch. Makes the distance and time apart a tad more bearable.

Watching him light up when he saw his Daddy again at the airport was another priceless moment. He shocked the heck out of his Daddy when he held his arms out to be picked up. I don't know who was happier to see who. Makes coming home and leaving my parents easier when you witness these little moments. Simply amazing!

Favorites....

My favorites about home....

• Endless blue skies
• The wind creating waves through fields of green
• The sweet smell of the corn turning to tassel
• Lightning bugs
• Songs of the locust in the evening
• Thunderstorms
• The smell of fresh cut alfalfa
• Warm Iowa sunshine
• Outdoor swimming pools
• The feel of a warm evening breeze
• Monkey's toes without socks and shoes 24 hours a day
• Homemade ice cream from Grandma
• The smell of my parent's house when you first walk in
• Watching my little Monkey be loved by his Grandma and Grandpa
• Seeing my little brother as a Daddy...unbelievable
• Watching my little sis "in love".....crazy
• Walking through my grandparents yard and showing Monkey the garden, flowers, and fish pond
• Spending much needed girl time with my bestest friend ever
• Being spoiled by my parents
• The moon and stars in the sky at night
• The love of family at your finger tips

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!!