Welcome Home...

One of my best friends, Kim took homecoming pictures for my friend Kari. She made this really sweet video for her, and I know it's long, but if you ever need a good, HAPPY cry, it's a great slideshow. Kari's husband was deployed in support of combat operations in Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. You can read about their deployment at http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/marine-battalion-returns-home-bloody-afghan-deployment/story?id=13357083 .

He also met his daughter, Madison for the FIRST time. She was born while he was deployed....

T.G.I. (almost) F.

It's ALMOST Friday...

I'm a few hours shy of it...

BUT Praise Jesus, Friday is here!

This week has been...different (to say the least).

It's the first time Dannika has been EXTREMELY clingy to me since Nick has been in the field.

She's normally really good with separation.

After all...she's been in daycare since she was 8 weeks old...

yes...that is 2 MONTHS!

Thank you Marine Corps...

cause if I would have waited any longer to put her in daycare, I don't think I would have been able to emotionally.

Nick comes home on Saturday afternoon.

I...

CAN'T...

WAIT!

Until then...it's just the two of us :-)

Today, after work, I didn't go to the gym.

(normally, I pick her up from daycare, go straight to the gym, put her in gym daycare, and we are home by 7)

I felt like playing outside with her (even though she gets PLENTY of outside time in daycare).

She had so much fun just running around outside :-)

These are the days I live for...

"Come one mooooom...enough with the pictures, please!"

My Cuddlebug

Nick's been in the field now since yesterday morning...

Of course I miss him...

I miss him when I go to Arby's on the weekend to get us lunch while he stays home with Dannika.

He's my better half :-)

But when he's gone...

Dannika and I get some super awesome "just the two of us" time...

She misses her daddy...

So she OVERCOMPENSATES her love to me...

and I don't mind...

not ONE bit...

This is her right before I put her to bed...she was laying on my chest while I was paying bills online....she's never THIS cuddly...

Just Another Marine Corps Morning...

Being a dual active duty couple...

Nick and I face some rather unique challenges that most marriages don't face.

BUT THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER BLOG POST...

So we won't go into that :-)

Lucky for me,

I am in a field of work in the Corps that does not require large amounts of time in the field.

I also happen to be going through some serious issues with cartilage damage in my knee from my years of running long distance which keeps me here in the states...and non deployable.

I guess it's a blessing in disguise?

(you decide)

HOWEVER...

Being married to an artillery guy...

It seems like when he isn't deployed...

He is ALWAYS in the field.

I have learned to adjust and get used to our periods of separation.

Dannika is at an age now though when Daddy is gone...

she has an idea of what is going on, and she is not herself.

This morning, Nick woke her up at 0500 (that's 5am for you non military types) to say bye to her before he left to go to the field.

Bad idea...

HORRIBLE idea.

After he left, she was attached to me like KRAZY glue.

While I love it when she's super cuddly...

HOWEVER...

I don't love it so much when I have a million things to do in a short amount of time.

This morning, I decided to relax and just enjoy the few hours I get to spend with babygirl everyday. 

Life is too short to always be in a hurry :-)

The tank top she is wearing is actually sent to us from my Uncle in South Korea...it is a French boutique original :-)

Osama Bin Laden is D-E-A-D!

I'm titling my post this cause THIS IS HUGE!

 

I have always been proud of our Marines, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen for all the sacrifices they make.

Not only for our country...but for their families.

So...it's about DAMN time!

Maybe Nick won't have to go back to Afghanistan in Jan?!?

I'll keep my fingers crossed...

and PRAY to our AWESOME Savior~!

 

And lastly...

My daughter has become quite the "DIVA".

As we were getting ready for church this morning, she picked out a dress and Nick proceeded to put her in it. 

The dress is adorable and it was one that Dannika's Godparents, Ben and Sarah got for her.

HOWEVER,

She wore it 2 Sundays ago, and I didn't want her to wear the dress AGAIN to church.

I picked out another one, and proceeded to take the one she chose off of her...

well...

 

THAT DIDN'T GO TOO WELL!

She threw a HUGE fit and insisted that she wear the one she picked out.

Well...as most of your mothers know...

"Sometimes, you just have to pick and choose your battles..."

She won this battle.

Don't mind the cable around her neck...she insisted.

and lastly...

21 months old?

Look at what a goof she has become...

acting innocent...

my dishtowel on her head...

she is walking towards me with this over her face...

she's a goof...