The "Routine"

"The One With The Routine" has to be my favorite FRIENDS episode of all time. In honor of New Years Eve I have attached a clip of Monica and Ross's "routine" for all to enjoy.

Uh Oh....

Julia has been a "jumping fool" ever since she first discovered how to jump a few months ago. Judging from the video, we have a little daredevil on our hands!

Funny!

Quite Possibly the CUTEST Photo Ever!

TRICK OR TREAT!

We had a great time with our little clown this halloween. My friend Betsy had a fun get-together at the park and then we all ventured out to Trick or Treat. The kids looked so cute in their costumes! Being as that Julia is not even two - the actual trick or treating only lasted for about 10 minutes...about 5 or 6 houses. But she was having a blast looking at all the decorations and costumes around the neighborhood. These photos were taken after the fact - her red nose is pretty much wiped all the way off - but cute nonetheless!

Fire Photos

Now that I am FINALLY back online....I am able to post a few photos of the damage that the fire caused. I will write more about the fire itself at another time - but these pictures show the destruction that it left in it's path. You can see just how close the fire came to our homes. The patio furniture photo was of my neighbor's backyard.

Bates Nut Farm

This morning we decided at the last minute to go to Bates Nut Farm - they have a pumpkin patch every October....this will definately be a new tradition for our family!

Take Inventory

I didnt know much about car insurance before Jeff's accident. I never really paid attention - in fact, I could not have really told you what our insurance covered if you had asked me a few months back. No one ever PLANS on an accident - they just happen so suddenly. One thing that I am SO glad we already had was "Uninsured/Underinsured Motrist" coverage. Because the state of California only mandates that a driver be covered up to 15,000 dollars - and if your medical bills are over that amount - this coverage can be vital and save you some headaches.

Read this to learn more about it - and then verify with your insurance company that your policy includes it.

Wildfire

One of the few downers about living in CA are the wildfires, I guess. We have a huge one blazing on base not too far from where we live. Here are some pictures...very, very scary indeed. Over 1000+ acres burned so far.

Our Other "Baby"

I talk alot about Julia on this blog...she is everything to me. Quite honestly, as a stay-at-home mom, my life pretty much revolves around her.

But I have not yet talked about my "other baby"...Harley. We got him a few months before I found out I was pregnant. The draw to be a mommy was so strong at that time, I needed SOMETHING to take care of. So along came Harley. He quickly became one of the most loved and spoiled dogs of all time (as most of you who read this blog are well aware of).

Juila's arrival was really hard on him at first, after all, he was our "one and only" for almost a full year. He was a bit of a mope for a long while...and it is only now - 21 months later - that he is starting to play with her. This is not to say he has completely warmed up but things do seem to be getting better. Harley could probably do without Julia most of the time...but his little sister loves him to pieces...she thinks he is the best thing on earth - her very best friend.

Harley loves going to the park with Julia and I - the picture above was taken today as he was lounging in the cool grass.

Bath Head

Sale Tomorrow!

Just discovered this...starting tomorrow you and a friend can save 20% on your entire purchase from Old Navy You have to use the phrase "BFF" as you are checking out. I know, cheesy, but hey - it is worth sounding lame in return for saving some serious cash!!

Oh Boy - Its My Birthday - Again....

Well, another quick year has gone by - I'm 32 years old today. I just cant believe just how quickly the years are flying by...and every year seems to go more quickly than the last! We were at church this morning and they were calling up the children for CCD. When they got the the third grade - I watched the kids come up to the alter. I could not believe just how small they all were, as I still can remember 3rd grade as clear as if it were just yesterday. The years just dragged on back then - but now they just zip by - it is absolutely incredible.

Today will be pretty low key. Jeff still is pretty limited in what he can do. So, tonight we are going to go pick up some sushi at a local restaurant and bring it home. We will have a great meal without having to worry about Julia...she is at that age when going out to eat just is not fun at all! So we'll eat it here - nice an relaxed - and most importantly not having to wolf it down when Julia decides to pitch a fit. :)

My wonderful and beautiful friend Betsy was thoughtful enough to make me a birthday cake too...A big thank you to her on that one. Otherwise it would have been a Happy Birthday oatmeal bar for dessert. :)

Above is a picture of Julia in one of her new Gymboree outfits that I bought at their Baby Sale. Isnt she just darling? This cutie is all I'll ever truly need for my birthday.

Patriot Day

Today we are meant to remember those who lost their lives during the terror attacks on 9.11. The world changed that day - and it has not been the same since. Lets remember those who lost their lives on that fateful day as well as those who defend our country each and every day to protect all of us from having to live through another 9.11.

Fun Family Times

My mother was here almost all of August to help out after Jeff's accident - then my father came during the last week of the month. It was great fun...I wish we all lived closer together. Here is a picture of Grandma, Grandpa & Julia goofing around at the Aquarium a few weeks ago.

October 4, 2008

Next month, some friends and I will be taking part in the MCRD Boot Camp Challenge in San Diego...check it out - how fun does this look????  :)

After almost 2 years....

...I have finally picked up a novel.  I was inspired by my friend Beth's blog to begin to read again. I didn't even know what the book was about...but the name and the cover were enough to peek my interest. I was at Target last week and decided on a whim to pick it up.

Well, NOW, I cant even put it down! It is such an intriguing story and the characters are just so interesting.  It is definitely one of those books that you just get lost in.  And knowing that that it is just the first in a series makes it even better because I dont want the story to end - it is THAT good!  

Lola's Successor

Here it is - our new car.  Yep, we decided to just go ahead and not mess with success.  This car rocks and even after looking at numerous other makes and models, we just couldn't think of a reason NOT to get another S40.  :)

Is It September Yet?

August 2008 has got to be one of the worst months we've had in a long while, if not THE worst.  Jeff having the accident was bad enough.  Add to that, a child with Phneumonia and the nasty stomach virus that has plagued my house this week...effecting not only me, but Jeff AND my mom too.  I am SO ready for this month to be over.  Ugh.

The Contenders...

Here are a few of the contenders for our new car.  

Volvo s60 (though this is not really how it will look - this is a concept for 2010)

Lexus ES

Toyota Camry Hybrid

A Tribute to Lola

Lola...you were a great car. You were also completely responsible for saving Jeff's life. I hate to think of what would have happened to him had he been in any other car. You did exactly what you were designed to do last week. I'll miss you...

Things Can Change In An Instant...

Yesterday I got the call that no one ever wants to get. It was the hospital calling - Jeff had been in a bad car wreck and was currently in the emergency room at a nearby hospital. Considering the fact that I dont usually handle things like this very well, I am glad to report that I remained relatively calm while I figured out what exactly to do with Julia. It took me 30 minutes to get to the hospital that morning. Thank God for my mom who kept me distracted on the cell phone while I made the drive....it seemed like I would never arrive.

Once I got there and found my way to Emergency, they informed me that he had already had his X-Rays and CT scans and had been sent up to another floor. I was so scared to see what condition he would be in...I didnt know at all what to expect. Thankfully, his face didnt sustain any injuries so he looked "normal". But he was all banged up and bruised. His leg was stablized in an ice cast and he had IVs in his arms. It was so hard to see him like that..I tried so hard to keep it together for him.

Luckily he was coherent and was able to tell me his recollection of what happened that morning. He was on his way to work after the gym and suddenly from the opposite direction he saw another vehicle lose control and fishtail towards him. He tried his best to swerve and avoid an impact, but it didn't work. Our car ended up on its side. Thankfully, because it was rush hour, there were lots of Marines on their way to work and he had people get him out of the window of the car and to the side of the road. The other guy was not so lucky - he had extensive injuries and had to be airlifted to San Diego.

Jeff's injuries are surprisingly "minor" considering that he was going 50mph and was hit by someone coming the opposite direction and probably going MUCH faster than 55 - which is the speed limit on that road. He had an operation on his right ankle last night and there is a possibility that there may be another "problem" with the other ankle too...they are running the tests tonight.

The more I contemplate the situation, the more I realize what a complete and utter miracle it was that he (1) survived, and (2) walked away with just a few broken bones. I thank God that we decided on the Volvo 3 years ago based on safety. You never in a million years think it will happen to you....but I guess the truth is, it can happen to ANYONE and ANYTIME. I am so thankful for that car. I loved that car - and I love it even more now that Jeff's life was saved b/c of it. He definitely had angels looking over him yesterday morning....

My First Attempt At Home Movie Making

Baking With Mom

My mom has a few treasured photos of us baking in the kitchen together when I was a little girl. I used to love to help her bake....so much so that the first thing I ever wanted to be "when I grew up" was a baker. I think that Julia may be taking after my mom and I with a love of baking - she "helped" me bake my locally famous chocolate chip cookies. Here she is in a picture after having her first taste of chocolate chips.

Wild Animal Park

I am a bit late in getting these up, but about a week ago Betsy, Beckie, Karna, Stacy and I set out with our brood to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. It was spectacular - albeit very hot by the time we left. Pictured are Garret, Lauren, Julia and Elena. The other picture was with the most ginormous balloon Julia had every laid her eyes on. She just loves Balloons and for awhile could not stop looking at it and "talking" about it.  The picture was taken from a deck with a vista view of the park.  It was a great day - cant wait to return!

Funny Jib Jab

This gave me a much needed chuckle tonight! Obama's verse about "change" is hilarious....

Julia Dancing

A classic.....I finally got the "julia dance" on video!

A Great New Find

Julia and I had dinner this past week with my friend Becky and her two toddler children. They ate at the table with us and sat/kneeled on my dining chairs. The following day Julia REFUSED to have anything to do with her highchair....and would only eat if I put her on the dining chair too....problem being, the table came up to her nose! I knew I had to find a solution - and that if I bought a strap-on booster seat, we would have the same problem.  So after browsing various stores I found this.  It is perfect and gets Julia up high enough to actually see her food. :)  She is happy to be a "big girl" and I am happy to not have food smeared and thrown all over - quite as often anyway.  

Our First Official Girls Night Out

Last night was the first "girls night" with my new group of friends. I am so lucky that I found such great women so quickly after moving here. We went to the Coyote Grill in Carlsbad Village....no kids, no hubby's - just the girls!

Living the REAL military wife's life

Well, the fun is over.  Jeff is now actually in a job where I almost never see him.  It sucks and he has only been in the position for a week.  :(  He has informed me that at least until the late fall, he will be working saturday's and nights too.  I guess it just prepares me even more for the deployments that we will face.  But I always have to remind myself that there are young marines and wives that do this all the time - many of them REALLY young with 3 or 4 kids!   If they can do it - I surely can.  I am just glad that I have made a few fast friends...otherwise I would be going crazy.   Actually we have a "girls night" planned for this thursday.  I have not had one of those in a very long time - and I am completely looking forward to it.  :)  

A New Addiction...

My new addiction is FACEBOOK.  If you have not checked it out - you must.  It is kind of like a  "mature" version of MySpace....more of a reconnection/networking tool than anything else.  I have already re-connected with about 25 people from my past and it is great fun seeing what happened to all those old friends and acquaintances.  Some people I never thought I'd see again in my life have reappeared.  The Internet is truly an amazing thing....

Its Time For TIMEOUT

Julia had her first official "timeout" today.  She was doing great all day - we were having fun.  Then we had some friends over...they left due to bad behavior...and somehow the "bad kid" aura stayed around my house!  It all started when Julia began hitting Harley.  I told her no - and she did it again.  I told her no again - this time much firmer - and, yes you guessed it - she did it AGAIN!  All this time she is giving me a smirk that says, "just watch me mom...I'll just KEEP doing it!"  

So we finally made use of that timeout chair that I bought in Florida.  It was a pretty short timeout, seeing that it was her first, I decided to have mercy on her.  Well, that set off the rest of the night - tantrums to be picked up, pasta thrown on the walls and the floor, etc, etc.  She went to bed an hour early tonight.....and me?   Oh, I had a drink.  :o)

Growing up so fast

Even though I call Julia my "baby girl", the truth is - she isn't a baby anymore!  She has now officially reached toddlerhood....complete with mind-blowing tantrums, fierce independence, spoon/fork meals...and last but DEFINITELY not least - graduation from the bottle.  Yes, it is true - the bottle is (almost) completely gone.  We still have our moments where nothing else but a bottle will do - but those are getting fewer and farther between.  Next step will be potty training!  Here are a few pictures from this past weekend...

Julia - Texas '08

An Update - Long Overdue!

We are here - we sold our house - we have moved into the new one and are settling in nicely.  I like living in a smaller space much more than I originally thought that I would.  It is great to just have to walk down the short hall to retrieve something!  How do those people who live in mansions deal with it?  I guess they just tend to live in one small area of the house???  :)

Moving always ends up more expensive than we think it will be - and the dislocation allowance never makes up for it either!  (Though I wont complain too much about it b/c we are lucky to get it in the first place!)  Of course we also seem to end up with things we dont really need - this time it was an IMac.  I look forward to next month and living like a pauper.  

I Am So Tired....

I am so tired of keeping this house looking "perfect"....I am tired of putting all of my stuff away in the cabinets to clean off the counters to create the look of "more space"...I am tired squegeeing off my shower and making sure there are no water marks....I am tired of vaccuming so often....I am tired of dusting and polishing everyother day....I am tired of windexing my babys hand and mouth marks off the slider constantly....I am tired of keeping my "used" towels hidden while the fluffy "for show" ones take up my towel rack....I am tired of making my bed perfectly EVERY DAY....I am tired of showing this house.....I am tired of worrying about this house...I am tired of people saying they want to rent or buy the house and never contacting us back....

I am TIRED!!!

2 weeks to go....

...until we leave Florida! I cant believe how quickly time has flown here. It seems like just yesterday we sold our house in VA and bought one here. I am definatly getting the "itch" - which is common when you are in the military. Jeff gets it too after being in for 14 years....I get it b/c I was an Army Brat and we moved every 3 years up until I was in highschool.

I am ready and excited about getting there, but pretty stressed out with the process. I am already working on my "to do" list trying to get everything in order. My parents are here visiting so that makes it a bit easier....i can do things all day instead of just during "nap time". :)

Gotta run, baby woke up...

Our New House On Base

Living In The Moment

I have a hard time living in the moment. I am always thinking about the future - will I like living in California, will I ever get pregnant again, will Baby Girl enjoy her new home, how about Harley?, what will I do when DH deploys and I am left alone to take care of the family?

When BG is playing around so sweetly, while I am physically there, many times my mind is elsewhere. I am worrying about this house sale, or the movers coming, or this or that. Then sometimes I stop and look at her and remind myself that she is this age only once - that once is NOW. I had better enjoy it and soak it up. She will only kiss and hug her stuffed animals for so long...I enjoy watching her carry them around and rearrange them from the couch to the chair to the table. Soon enough those toys that she loves so much will end up at the bottom of her toy chest - and later (in many years) in the basement of our house. That is where all my treasures are...in the basement of my parents house.

Just being gone for 5 days this past week, BG seemed somehow different to me. More grown up. I know that sounds very silly....as it was only 5 days. But it really made me realize JUST how quickly they actually change. She was doing new things already - things she didnt do before we left on our trip. She even looked more grown up (but I know THAT part is all in my head!!).

With so much in our lives it is difficult to live in the moment, but it is definately something I really want to work on. I want to savor it...every last sweet moment that she gives me.

New Home

Well, we did it. We found a new home when we get to California. Surprisingly we have decided to live on base. The house is about 1000 sq. ft smaller than our current home, has no AC, only one "living" area, and is about 40 years old. BUT, it is renovated, has a nice big tree in the front, has a beautiful view to the canyon out back, is within spitting distance to the playground, community pool, and officers club! I am very excited b/c the neighborhood seems very intimate and community centered. I have heard nothing but good things about how close everyone is. I am excited by the idea of building close relationships with other military wives and having many little playmates for baby girl.

Now, if only we could get this house off our hands.....

How Will I Do A Year??

With hubby being deployed for a month, I really am starting to wonder just how I will survive a year long deployment. Since he is at a joint command, he deploys here and there....for a few weeks at a time. This trip has been pretty long. But I guess I look at it as some sort of preparation for "the long one" that is to come. I know women do it ALL the time, many of them multiple times. And the fact is, alot of them are younger than I am and with more children. If they can do it, so can I, right?

It is just that these last few days have been mentally trying for me. Not for any one particular reason....but rather for many. Our house being on the market, Baby Girl has a constant cough, Harly is depressed about dad being away, the Xterra is acting up, and to to it all of we are BORED. There are only so many trips to Publix and Super Target that I can take....I wish we lived closer to the aquarium and the zoo....things that may entertain Baby Girl a little bit more than browsing the isles of the local stores.

Having to keep this house up with a toddler and a dog has proved to be very difficult. I am not a naturally tidy person. I like a little clutter in my life (much to the dismay of my hubby). But now that we are selling, it is like I am not even living in my own house anymore. I am constantly having to clean up after B.G....and once I am done putting something away, there she is getting into something else during her little adventures. By the time she is in bed, all I want to do it go to bed myself....but on the other hand I have a desire to just RELAX and veg in front of the TV! Usually, the bed wins b/c I am even too tired to stare at the TV.

I miss my hubby helping clean up the dinner, give BG bath time fun, I miss our evening walks and our cuddling on the couch after the baby is in bed. Only 2 1/2 more weeks to go until I get him back and we can get back to semi-normal.