Tech School...I'm So Over You.

Okay, I am ready to have my best friend back home. One thing about these times apart is that I now know the saying, "distance makes the heart grow fonder" is so true. It's not that I wasn't already completely fond of him, but this time apart just makes me appreciate him so much more. I realize that all the little things matter so much! We are in the final stretch. Only about 3 1/2 weeks left and he can come home. I love Skype. Thank goodness for technology. Being able to see Berkeley and talk to him has been so nice. I took a few snapshots while chatting the last few times and thought I would share them. He is just so cute. I love this guy.

For the Best Husband in the World On His Birthday!

Berkeley, you are 30 and teenagers everywhere think you are OLD. It's a good thing I'm not a teenager! I love you so much. You are the best husband a girl could ever ask for, not to mention you are HOT HOT HOT! I love everything about you. I wish we could spend your birthday together, but since we can't, I thought I would give you your birthday surprise via the blog. When you get home the weather will be nice and warm and summer will be upon us! There is one thing that I hate about the summer and that is cooking INDOORS. I decided for your birthday present, you can do a lot of cooking OUTDOORS on this...



Yes, this is your new grill! I can't wait to have you grill up some burgers, hot dogs, and fish on this sweet little number. In order to grill all those delicious foods, you'll need some tools, so I got you these...



Once the cooking and eating is all said and done, your new grill will need to be properly stored so I made sure to add this to your gift list...



Happy Birthday! I hope you love the gifts and look forward to using them when you get home. You make me so very happy. You are a wonderful husband a great dad! We can't wait to get you back home with us. We love you. Have a great 30th birthday sweetie.

For Berkeley

Crap.

Does anyone else find it insanely difficult to ask for help? What is that all about?! Today has been a day from hell and as I type I'm listening to Asa scream it out in his crib all the while feeling sick with cramps and wanting nothing more than to just disappear to somewhere dark and quiet where no one even knows I exist. Privacy. I have forgotten the meaning of that word. I always have little eyes watching no matter what I am doing...using the bathroom...showering...it doesn't matter what. No amount of love can change the fact that being a mom is hard and sometimes really sucky work. I feel like I can complain double time considering I have been a single parent for 5 months out of the last year with one left to go. Right now I'm mad at Utah too. What the heck is up with this weather?! Now that my child has explored the great outdoors, keeping him inside is like trying to cage a wild animal. It has been rainy the last two days and we are both sick of each other. I am sick of his constant fussing and I'm sure he is sick of me for many reasons. Back to my asking for help bit...I have been this way my whole life. Independent and totally unwilling to ask anyone for help. It's like if I ask for help, I am confessing that I can't handle my own responsibilities. I also worry myself sick about burdening others. My mom is always babysitting everyone's kids (granted they are her grandchildren) but she needs her own life too. My mother in law is always willing, but she keeps herself busy with work so I hate to add to her schedule. Everyone else is just a plain out "no way". These are the types of thoughts that always come into my head when I am about to break and call someone for relief. Stupid huh?! All I can think about is that I have five weeks until we've made it through this ridiculous military training...and when I say ridiculous, I mean it. Berkeley would agree. Parenting is meant to be a two person job and I'm pretty sure spouses are supposed to be together. Here's hoping I will be able to survive a deployment if it happens. Blah.

Peek-A-Boo!

DESTRUCTOR!

I'm sure every mother has the routine of taking care of their kids all day, cleaning until bedtime and then starting over. Well, my routine is no different but holy cow! It is amazing what a one year old can do to a perfectly clean home over the course of one day.



This last video I just think is cute. We bought Asa his own little couch. Can you tell he loves it?

Bonney Lake, WA

Over spring break, I had the opportunity to go to Washington and visit my best friend Lexi, her husband Jeff, and their son Parker. It was a perfect mini vacation for me and a great distraction from school, Berkeley being gone, and the monotony of life. Lexi and Jeff, you have no idea how grateful I am to you guys for having me out to visit. Asa and Parker had a great time playing together (or around eachother). I finally got the pictures and videos uploaded so enjoy!


This one is just funny. Maybe I forgot to make his morning bottle alcohol free this time.


Here is a flashback section of the post:
This first video was taken back in May of last year, so Asa was about 3 months and Parker was almost 6 months.


This video was taken during my visit last month. Asa is 12 months and Parker is 15 months. My favorite part is Lexi trying to keep Parker there with her foot.







Last but not least...Lexi, Please don't kill me! Oh, and if you don't kill me, then don't hate me. I couldn't resist!

A Great Trip!

We spent last weekend visiting Berkeley in San Antonio, TX. It was so nice to be with him even for just a couple days. Asa had no problem ignoring me to spend all his time with his daddy, and I was just fine with that! We had a lot of fun going swimming and hanging out at our hotel. We went downtown and walked along the Riverwalk which was gorgeous and really unique. We also spent half a day at the San Antonio River where they have camping sites and open areas to play or bbq along the river. The wildflowers were gorgeous. We took a nice walk one morning in a neighborhood by our hotel. I swear everyone has 2-3 dogs in Texas (and bullhorns on their lawn), so Asa loved seeing all the dogs in the yards as we walked. The trip was so much fun. Now, we only have 7 more weeks until Berkeley gets to come home to us! Here are a few pics and videos from our visit.