18 Month Dinner Date

If I can't be there in person then the next best thing is sharing a pizza via facetime.  I know you don't have a great view of how cute she is, but I do, and I can assure you she is indeed adorable :)

Before I left she was coming up with so many new words and sounds.  No, Yea, Kitty, Bubbles, and Daddy were a few of her favorites before I left, oh and MOM, not Momma, Mommy, MOM...I am not ready for that! I am sure the list will be much longer by the time I return.  She is doing great at naming her "parts" and we are getting the hang of animal sounds.  She is taking instructions/understanding directions so well and can do two part tasks as well.  She is already loving picking out her outfits in the morning, cute now, but I am sure will be a battle someday.  Oh well, until that time I am just going to enjoy the ride!

52:13

Motherhood is:

Strength

It starts with labor, then sleepless nights that soon fade into distant memories, that will surely start again in the teen years.  Functioning in ways you didn't know possible.  Accomplishing things with one hand that you always thought took at least four. Then for the Military Momma comes the time when you are tested most. Deployment.

I know this is normally a one photo thing, but I had to share all of these

It is hard. It is hard everyday. I put myself in the routine, and just pray each night for strength to accomplish the mission. The mission here and at home. To make the most of each day and remember the cause for which we all stand.  This is a humbling place to be and that is part of what makes you dig deep within yourself and know home will always be there, but for now you are needed here.  You can find strength in yourself you never knew you had when you are put in a situation that it is required. 

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52:12

Motherhood is:

Open-Minded

"having or showing a mind receptive to new ideas or arguments."

It may not be the norm, or what you ever thought you would do.  But it if it is best for your baby and family and works then go with it!

I never in a million years thought I would be a cloth diaper Mommy....well, now I have been for over a year and my Husband and I both LOVE it.  He thought at first I must be crazy, I think I maybe even thought so after I had a stack of "fluff" sitting in front of me in our living room. But it works for our family so we will continue to do it.  That and so many other things that before I went by "Mommy" I didn't think I would do or be interested in.  Funny how those little ones change your perspective on what you want to be your family's "normal."

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Also, I am on round 2 of deployments, so hang with me.  I will try and get my posts done in a timely manor, but they will be as schedule allows :)

1st Haircut

Our 1st trim is in the record books, it actually happened just before I left for Guam, but I just realized the photos were on the computer and I hadn't posted them yet.  She was getting a bit "scraggly" so since I was going to have my hair cut before my trip it was a great time for Tenley to experience the salon too.  She did wonderful and was not freaked out at all, here is a photo recap of the big day!

Getting her cape on

maybe not 100% sure about this at first

OK, getting better

she sat so so still!!

Tim caught my hair for the focus, but I love her expression

she was so excited!

She had been to Hot Heads many times before, some with me and her sitter gets her nails done there and she had been with her.  I think that definitely helped make it less scary!  After she was finished it was my turn and the she still wanted in on the action and perched up on my lap while Cindy cut my hair and did my brows,  it was so cute to watch her take everything in.

Welcome Baby Abigail!

We spent our St. Patty's day meeting the daughter of some of our dear friends, the Hanna's, who live in Kansas City.  Abigail was born while I was in Guam and I wanted to make sure and meet her and see the proud parents before I leave for my next deployment.  We had a wonderful day hanging out with them and with the BEAUTIFUL weather we spent most it outside, which Miss Tenley was thrilled about.  Tenley was full of hugs and kisses for this sweet girl.  I just love seeing her with so much love in her heart already.  Makes me melt.  I am sure these girls will grow up to be great buddies!

52:11

Motherhood is:

FUN

Today was amazing.  We had a wonderful day together.  It was that little reminder that even though some days are tough, the majority are FUN!

This was part of our day.  "Pretty Piggies,"  I found this polish at a great cloth diaper store that we stopped at while in Colorado Springs called Cloth Diaper Market.  I had been looking for a Natural/Non Toxic polish to pretty up her toes with for a while, so I was thrilled to find this. When Tenley woke up from her nap I asked her if she wanted pretty toes like Mommy? To my surprise she answered "yes" so I told her that she would have to sit still in her chair while I painted them, followed by an "ok" from her.  I am not sure where or when she figured all of this out, but she walked right over to her highchair and waited for me to put her in it and then sat so beyond still and lifter her toes up for me to paint.  She did AWESOME! Then she even helped me blow on them to dry them faster.  Oh, my girly girl is so much fun!

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52:10

Motherhood is:

Re-Charging

 

Back from deployment, getting ready to go again.  I love the time with our sweet Girl, but Mommy and Daddy need some time too!

Ahh, I am still playing catch up from being gone (not just here on the blog, you should see the mountain of laundry I have to get through...yikes!)  Anyway, I am/have been back from Guam for a while, and then had to go to Colorado Springs for a class that was this past Monday morning.  Since I would be headed that way, Tim and I decided it was time for a Mommy and Daddy getaway.  We dropped Tenley off with my parents last Thursday and we stayed there the night. Friday we got on the road early the for Keystone, Colorado for a few days of skiing and Us time.  I was VERY hesitant to plan it because I had just been away from Tenely and didn't want to leave her again at all.  However, we needed to recharge and spend some time just being us, so we did.  It was wonderful.  We had a great time and so enjoyed doing whatever we wanted whenever we wanted for a few days.  By the time class was over on Monday though we were definitely beyond ready to see our Girl!!

Learn about my Project 52

Who else is on board with a Project 52? Let me know and we can link up!

Here are a few that are in on the fun

StyleberryBLOG

What We're Sayin

It's a Strange & Lovely Ride

From Stanwood to Seoul