Come and Gone

So our time with Hun has come and gone and now we sit in silence lol, kind of. He came home the 28th of June and left just today and it feels like forever since Ive seen him. It was a short 2 weeks but definitely worth it, I missed him so much, but now is the time to start the count down til the end of deployment. I cant wait to see him again.

When he got home I was alittle nervous of how hed be around Stormie and how shed react to seeing her daddy for the first time since she was 2 months old. Might I say Im proud of them both. He was so playful with her and loved her ever second he could and she was taken by him in every way. She loved the faces Daddy would make at her and would bat her beautiful eyes at him and just make him fall deeper in love with her by the second.

We enjoyed some alone Mommy Daddy time as well. My dad took her for a few days so Hun and I could enjoy some alone adult time, which i desperately needed. We went to Niagara Falls and had a blast. But when time was up I was more then happy to get back to our babygirl.

The rest of the time was spent playing and shopping and doing things together.

He even celebrated my birthday a few days early because he wouldnt be home. He was so sweet about it.

This morning came all too soon and way too early. We had to be up at 2am which ment no sleep for either of us. The baby was up at 3am and we trucked out the door with everything he and I needed in tow for the trip to the airport to say goodbye again, well see ya later...theres never goodbyes. The drive home alone was quiet and lonely, with a sleeping 7 month old in the back and an empty passenger seat it seems like just yesterday I was picking Hun up and hugging him and thankful he was home! But were back to square one and getting back into our routine is key for this deployment to fly by. Tonight will be lonely as will other nights but I will remember the 2 weeks I spent with my husband and be anticipating his return him, hopefully sooner then later.

But for now my little girl is napping and Im reminising on the time spent with Hun. So until I can get the pictures taken uploaded Ill be writing soon.

On His Way....

Hun is officially on his long journey home. No say what day hell be in but he is nonetheless on his way. Im super excited to have him here with us in our new home with our growing daughter whom he hasnt seen since she was 2 months old. Shes getting so big, crawling, sitting up and just loving to play. She talks and laughs and screams with delight. Hes going to absolutely love the litter person she has become!

Were in the process of unpacking whats needed for him to be comfortable during his time home and the rest will be left for when he goes back. I just cant wait to have him here with us, even though its only 2 short weeks Ill take what I can get, its better than not being able to see him at all.

But let me take this opportunity to say....WOOHOOOO!

Im excited :)

The Beginning...

In the beginning it was the most unreal thing to ever happen to me. Hun and I met on the internet and things progressed quickly from there. He called me after I gave him my number telling me that it was Dominos pizza looking for Shana...bc he didnt know how to prenounce my name apparently lol. And from that night on from the moment the 2 of us were out of work we were on yahoo talking until the early hours of the morning, on many occasions we were online until we had to get ready for work again. For days upon days he was asking for my address so he could come see me, and I always refused, not knowing if he was some crazy man that was putting up a really good front. So I agreed to finally meet him but he had to meet me at my softball game, where there was witnesses...and bats if need be :). He got lost (surprise surprise) not only once but twice and finally I had him wait where he was while me and friend went to meet up with him. It was crazy, the emotions were way stronger then I ever thought. He took me and my friend out to dinner that night and we held hands the whole time, not being able to take our eyes off eachother for one second. I brought him back to my parents house to meet them and to hang out for a bit. When we were hanging out my dad got al paranoid and told my Mom that he could be here to kill us (hahaha), so we went outside to hang out (much better idea dad) lol. So for the next couple days, everyday he got out of work he drove 2 hrs down to my house to see me, even if it was only for a few hours and then drove back to Drum the same night. A weekend came and he finally was spending the weekend in Auburn, well when we tried to find him a hotel they were all booked, so we found one and he stayed there for the weekend, my Mom felt bad and agreed to let him stay with us on weekends, but only if we slept in different rooms. Two weeks later when we were out and about he took off for about an hour, when he finally met back up with me he was shaking and really nervous acting. I asked him what was wrong and he didnt answer. So we went out to the Jeep to drive back to my parents house and he proposed to me in the Jeep on October 14th 2006. It was perfect. We didnt tell my parents for some time because I knew how they would react to us dating for 2 weeks then getting engaged, but my Mom knew right away! She always knew everything before I said something, of course she did, she knew her daughter well. For months he tried to ask my dads permission for my hand in marriage and he would say things like "over my dead body". So one night we were sitting in the living room talking and Hun wanted to tell my parents what was going on, but he was too nervous so I had to do it, it was pretty funny watching him squirm lol.

Ever since the day I met my husband on the internet I knew with my mind, body and soul that he was ment for me, MY soulmate! Ive had such bad luck with men in the past but my husband....hes one of a kind, Ive never met another man like him. I love him with all my heart and I wouldnt trade him for anything in this world.

Just about 4 years later we are happily married, have a beautiful daughter and were going stronger than ever dispite this deployment. I just know when he gets home things will remain wonderful, I didnt say we were perfect, we do fight once in a while but isnt that in every marriage?!

I just wanted to share my story with you guys in hopes that it will make you laugh or smile. I know alot of people have many different stories of how they met their spouses, so as I was sitting here thinking about the past I thought Id write it out to look back on in words at some point and laugh. There is alot in there I didnt add...its TMI or whatever else you want to call it, just wanted to stick to the main points :).

My husband is the love of my life, always will be. Hes my best friend, my soulmate, my cuddlebug, and so much more! Hes a wonderful husband, and father! Stormie is a lucky little girl to have such a wonderful Daddy in her life.

But anyways, enough of me reminiscing on things. Its Mothers Day and Im going to go spend some time with my beautiful babygirl.

So....

...we are about 3 months down on this deployment and might I say its been a pretty fast one so far. Stormie is growing and learning more each day which definitely makes me smile. She has her 4 month shots this coming week ( alittle late because of the move ). and Im excited to see what the doctor says about her growth. I cant wait to find out how big shes gotten (in a number form). Hun will be home for leave in a few short months and before that Im moving back to Drum to get our house in order so we have a place to rest our heads when he returns for leave. I really cant express in words how happy I am that well have a place again so Stormie can just be herself and play and play and make all the noise she wants and same for my Zoey. Most of all I cant wait to have my bed back and my snuggle buddy too! Leave will go by fast, and I know this, but every second will be cherished to the max! I cant wait to see Stormie with her Daddy, I hope to see him fall in love with her as much as I have if not more. She is my little angel! a Blessing to this family! Without her Im not sure how Id do without Hun home. She keeps me busy thats for sure. The days pass by without a second thought and although I hate to wish her baby days behind us its just happening, faster then I even expected, which is a bad thing but also a good thing because thats all the sooner Hun will be home with us and our family will be in one piece again. There are so many things I want to do when he comes home but physically they all wont be able to happen, with limited time well be lucky to get a few things off my checklist of things to do. Its getting nicer out and me and Stormie have been able to go outside to play for a bit at a time and its just nice being able to get out of the stuffy house for a bit to just be outside.

Its hard to believe that in a few weeks it will be the 1 year anniversary of the loss of my Mother, whom I miss terribly. Shes definitely missed thats for sure.

Ill write more when things go on...its bathtime for the little one so I must be off.

Till then....

XoXo

Sending our love

I just wanted to send some love to our good friends The Martins as they say goodbye to a husband, a father, and a best friend. I want to wish you luck Ty in your travels and I will pray for your safe return. If any of you need anything just let us know.




To all the other Army Wives Ive gotten close to over the years who have their husbands overseas.....I hope all is well and that your hanging on and taking things as well as possible. Times are tough but they do end at some point.




To all the soldiers Ive meet because of my husband....good luck.....have fun and come home safe! If you want anything while your over there just tell my husband and Ill be glad to send some stuff over, after all deployments turn me into a carepackage queen!

Changes

So its been almost 3 months since Hun left for Afghanistan and were still going strong. I moved home to my fathers mid March and things have been steedy. Although we miss Hun like crazy were carrying on everyday as normal as possible. Ive become very used to caring for Stormie on my own with no one elses help, which Im sure will come in handy throughout Huns career in the Army. Because Stormie was so young when her Daddy left I fear that she wont remember him when he gets back. Ive been trying my hardest to show her pictures of her Daddy, hear Daddys voice when he calls and talking about seeing Daddy again. I guess only time will tell if she truly remembers. This is one of the pictures I always show her.





Stormie has been growing up so fast. Its so unbelieveable. Shes recently found her feet, starting playing with her hanging toys (ALOT), putting her little baby feet in her mouth (so cute btw), holding her bottle at every feeding, rolling over, talking to me (in her own Stormie way), growling (thanks Hun), and so many more amazing things. She is such a good baby, Ive been so blessed.




Stormie has become facinated with her Mommy, sometimes it makes it hard for me to try to walk away from her for even a minute. She is amazing! Its as simple as that.

We still have many months left in the deployment and Im pretty sure itll go by fast. But in those months Stormie will continue to grow and learn and I hope when her Daddy gets back he gets to enjoy as much of the things she does as I do. Watching her grow up and become her down little person is one of the best things Ive ever witnessed. I just wish her Daddy was here to enjoy every second possible. Ive been taking pictures and videos of her in the thoughts that even though its not in person that Hun can enjoy seeing some of the firsts and funny times. We miss you so much Hun, be safe, and come home soon. Cant wait to see you again with our daughter!

3 Months Old!

So its been three glorious months since my little angel was born and my has time flown by. Its hard to believe that just 3 months ago I was sitting in a hospital bed giving birth to her. Shes grown so much in the past few months. Heres the latest:


She has given up her pacifier and replaced it with her hand, which is nice because she cant lose that in the middle of the night. She is now on a two nap a day schedule which is working famously. She is so much happier during the day with that structure in her life. She has become facinated by the tv, which she stares at like theres nothing else in her little world.






She is starting to hold things on her own, only when she feels like it that is. She loves her "Stormie Gail" blanket toy.



She recently started to lay under her little play gym and kicks at one toy while using her hands on another and staring at herself in her mirror, SO cute!

And her tummy time....dont get in the way of her tummy time. My brother was sitting her while I was doing something and she just decided instead of sitting upright that she wanted to be on her tummy so she put herself there.

Below is a picture of my brother and Stormie on his visit for a few days this past week. We had tons of fun, he brought his fiance with him and I got to know her alittle better. Stormie loves her Uncle John, it was so cute how she reacted towards him, and hes pretty taken with her as well. Its nice to have family that is so willing to be active in her life.

She has started babbling tons during her waking hours. She tells me tons of stories and laughs tons. This morning I went in to check on her while she was napping, well crying, and I looked over the crib and she smiled, she was on her back! I couldnt believe it. I put her down on her belly for her nap and she managed to get on her back. Im so proud!

Unfortunately Hun cant be here to see all her progress, but Im going to do the best I can to capture those moments that I know he wanted to see. Hell be home soon, and then he can see her progress for himself.