Pondering;

As I lay here next to my beautiful 10 month old, I find myself pondering what would we be doing if the sailor were here.  

It would be 11:15 in Virginia Beach right now. The last hour of Power Block would be blaring in the living room as I clean up from the fried egg sandwiches Chance begged me to cook. B and Roscoe would be out back frolicking or bothering Daddy as he tried to finish his shows and hunt for local car shows to head too. 

It's hard to believe that my husband has missed half of our sons life. He left when B was only 5 months old. Our little guy wasn't even sitting up and now he is running. Out of the 3.5 years we've been together Chance has been on two deployment. That's 16 months spent oceans apart. Out of those 3.5 years he's been gone at least another 12 months. States away or out somewhere floating at sea. 

With the end of deployment rushing upon us, I find myself in a panic. I have to find a new home, move in, & most importantly prepare my son to meet his Daddy. This is exciting and makes my stomach flop. The Navy leaves me with a feeling of joy. It keeps our love fresh. I get butterflies more often then not when my husband is near. It's always like we're falling in love. But how will B feel? He isn't find of men to say the least. He cries and rubs his face in my legs when men talk to him. My cousins and uncles try so hard to play with him and he won't have anything to do with them. This is scary for me. Chance and I have prepared for the worst when it comes to B. We've talked the situation over numerous times but I still can't imagine how I'd feel if my son cried when I tried to hold him. On this note, we must hope for the best. 

I can honestly say that the Navy is a blessing for us. My husband might be gone more often then not, but he's able to provide for us. B and I are beyond spoiled in every way. I drive a nice vehicle, we have nice clothes, & B is able to have anything he desires. We have great health insurance and I'm never worried about the bills. I will never take this for granted. I am extremely proud of my husband and I can only hope that B grows up to feel the same way about his Daddy. 

An update on B

B and I have been very lazy since our Daddy left. He however, is growing so fast!

My little guy is now 6.5 months old! He sits up in the bath tub and can even say momma when he's screaming.

A week ago or so we got our valentines pictures done. B was so fussy so I'm surprised that we for any cute pictures. In thankful we did though.

You never really know how fast a little one grows until you have one of your own. He's change so much since January. He's gained a ton of weight (he's nearly 22lbs) and has learned how to do so much now. I'm so blessed to have such a sweet little guy.

Be my deployed Valentine

Valentines day is right around the corner! I know most of you have probably already sent out your valentines packages (for once I wasn't a procrastinator), but I thought I'd go ahead and share mine with my lovely readers!

For this care package I once again used materials from Everything's a $1. That place is my best friend for decor! I also did a little Target $1 spot shopping. I'm addicted to target!!

For this package I used

Fabric rose petals

Foam glitter hearts

Stickers

Wrapping paper

Garland

Heart cut outs

Double stick tape

This package was made exactly like my birthday care package. I think wrapping paper is actually a bit harder then regular paper to decorate the lid but cute paper for $1 can't be passed up! My husband isn't big on Valentines day so we normally try to make it mainly about my birthday (which is on valentines day).

For the contents I sent him a magazine, boxes of sweethearts, pumpkin spice pop tarts (I know it's a completely different season), Altoids, sour ice breakers. i did add a few personal touches as well. I wrote 14 reasons I missed him on paper and kissed the back, I sent him a card, and I also did a boudoir shoot back in November and included those pictures as well as some requested pictures of B.

             

I try to cook something yummy for each box so my husband isn't as home sick. With this one I included his favorite cookies, white chocolate macadamia. They turned our awesome. The recipe made at least 4 dozen cookies. We enjoyed them so much that I plan to make more this week. I've read a lot about how to wrap the cookies so that they stay fresh and I took a few different suggestions and used them. I packages the cookies in a ziplock bag with a piece of bread. The bread is said to keep the cookies from going stale so fingers crossed for that. After bagging the cookies and getting as much air out as I could, I placed them in a decorate Pringles can. This keeps the cookies fresh and minimizes the risk of broken cookies. I added tissue paper to the top and bottom on the Pringles cans to cushion my cookies even more.

I'll update everyone on just how well this packing method works as soon as my package arrives!

Birthday care package

In the past four years my husband hasn't had a birthday off. He's had duty twice and this birthday was the second one he was deployed for. Last year we celebrated his birthday the next day but this year my only option was to make a pretty jam up care package for my man.

This care package was really easy to make! I failed to take any pictures of the actually process but I'll go ahead a list my materials and the way I found was easiest to go about decorating.

       For this package I used:

Wrapping paper

Double stick tape

Pre-cut letters

Tissue paper

Confetti

Scissors

I found all of my materials at Everythings a $1. That cut my cost way down from buying at our local Walmart.

First I measure my box lid and cut that amount from my wrapping paper. After cutting the wrapping paper I then placed double stick tape on all four corners of my box lid. I stuck all my wrapping paper on then lid and proceeded with applying my pre-cut letters with a little double stick tape. I'm very messy with glue so the tape was the way to go for me. It's held up pretty well and there's no drying involved so its faster over all. After decorating the lid I placed two pieces of my tissue paper down in the box and threw all of my confetti in. I must warn you with the confetti you might want to put some extra tape around the box. I failed to do so and the confetti escaped and they are still trying to sweep it up... Oops!!!

For my contents I picked up a few fun little treats for the guys such as water guns, noise makers, and party hats. I also made funfetti cake in the jar (I know there are risk with sending cake in the jar but my husband was aware and ok with the risk so I sent it) and included icing and candles to decorate it with. Along with that I sent a birthday boy ribbon so my husband felt extra special (even though he couldn't wear it in uniform), his oakleys with the new lenses, and his multi tool for a late anniversary present. I also took time to make sure I made it personal by letting our little guy scribble on a card for his Daddy. Chance dearly loved that part of the box.

Since he was newly deployed, I also took time to make a 'forgot this' package. I failed to decorate it but I out in everything he forgot and a few goodies to keep his tummy happy.

With sending care packages I always recommend doing them a month in advance (for Navy spouses). Depending on when the mail is sent it might arrive sooner or take even longer. His birthday package took one and a half weeks to get there where his 'forgot this' package took three weeks.

Deployment;

I know I've been a horrid blogger lately.

Today marks a month down in our deployment. I hate admitting it but it has taking me this long to accept it and I'm still not there. It's way different to have a baby here waiting for daddy. I'm very thankful though. Chance has ported four times this month so we have skyped numerous times. They're all so bitter sweet. I love seeing his face but it sure makes me miss him.

B isn't to sure what to think. I'm not really sure he knew who daddy really was. I know he knew daddy but I'm not sure how much. Chance was away for quite sometime when B was little. I can't wait for them to see each other again though. I'm so excited for Chance to be able to see what a great little guy B has became. He's wonderful in every way.

I think now that deployment has started my blog is going to take a different turn. I'll probably be focusing more on deployment and mommy things rather then just ramblings with life. I hope my followers will continue to support me through all of this.

It's that time of year again, baby fever;

You heard my right... Baby fever.

I thought after having B our life would be complete for a while. I figured we'd be done having babies until B was quite a bit older. We had discussed it and decided that once B got to kindergarten we could try for another one. I'd have my degree by then and it would just be the best for all of us.

Since B has been born we've been discussing the topic of a second baby. We've came to the conclusion that maybe after our upcoming deployment we should try again. This would be our last little one. It would give B a friend close to his age so he would never be bored. It would allow me to start school and a career without having to take off for another little one. Needless to say I think we both have made our decision.

I'm so excited to try for another baby. I'm ecstatic that we're going to try to plan for it him or her this time! We both really hope that a little girl will come out of this and already have her name picked out. If its a boy, we don't have a name and have been throwing different ones out there. We both like Noah but it doesn't really fit the last name.

I guess you can never truly get over a baby fever<3

My life;

Going back and looking through my post I realize that I always mention my life but I've never expanded upon on.

Today's post is about my boy, my world, my sailor.

Mr.Copeland, or my pumpkin, is my everything. The story of us is an awkward one. I first met him at a football game in 2007. His baby brother and I had just broken up (it was nothing serious, we never even talked on the phone!) and I had never really seen Mr.Copeland other then one time in his dress white in the band room earlier that week. It was freezing in November and I in my guard uniform hadnt even thought about a jacket. I called Mr.Copeland over and somehow I ended up with this boys jacket. It was a life saver ;)

He stayed on my mind after that and we ended up texting all the time. I remember my eleventh grade year I texted him during a football game when it was storming and he was always there to listen to me complain about my boy problems. We had talked about us but obviously over the miles and the age difference we weren't going to happen. My senior year came finally. During Christmas break Mr.Copeland had texted me and asked me to hang out. There were only two problems to this: #1 my mother was so strike that I wasn't about to even ask
#2 I had a so so boyfriend.

Although I never went and saw him we remained text buddies. I remember being at SEUS honor choir at Troy stat and texting Mr.Copeland how overwhelmed I was. He was always there for me when I was feeling not so brave. We started talking more and in February 2010 we began to talk on the phone more. We'd talked everyday on my way to my new job and text all the time. He was a bit upset with me at this moment because I got a boyfriend when I said I wouldn't (I was a little immature girl!!!!). Come early March the boyfriend and I were no longer. I spoke with Mr.Copeland about it often and we began talking about us. I was now 18 and could make my own decisions. One week I finally got completely sick of talking about us and not being together. I gave Mr.Copeland an ultimatum, we can be together or stop talking like we are. The poor man finally came to his sense and got with me ;)

Although he is 1000miles away he has been able to make it here to see me once a month. November of 2010 was the beginning of our first deployment. It was very very rough the first three months. We fought and broke up numerous times. It was exhausting but we stuck together and finally made it through our deployment. I was there smiling and waiting when the ship pulled in and ran and jumped in his arms. It was just like you'd imagine a fairy tale.

Since that day in June we've still had ups and downs. Things don't always go as planned and nerves get the best of people. At this very moment we have been together nearly 20 months and we are way better and more patient then we have ever been. I'll be flying up to see him on the 18th and spending thanksgiving with him. I'll be permanently up there sometime after Christmas (sooner better then later!!!).

This boy is my world. A lot of people said and still say we won't make it and that I'm too young for him. This doesn't discourage me at all. I know I love him and I know he feels the exact same about me. He takes care of me and spoils me when he cans. He listens to me cry to often and makes the best jokes. He keeps a watchful eye on me and is proud of me even when my accomplishments aren't up to my pars. He complains to me about the funniest things (a almost ripped sock) and listens to me complain about my everyday worries.

Falling in love is something that takes time, patients, and attention. I'm so lucky to have fallen in love with my soul mate. He is my hero and the love of my life<3