Moving

So much as happened since we got back to Vermont! We've tried to get some stuff packed up so the movers don't have to move anything that could be given away or even thrown away. We've been somewhat successful! The movers were scheduled to come on Monday, June 23. On Wednesday, June 18, we were told our move date wasn't confirmed and may have to reschedule!!! What?!?!?! After going through hoops to try to find out what was going on, we were finally able to get it confirmed on Friday afternoon. We never even had a walk-through before the movers got here. (this is important to note because when we filled out the paperwork, Chris had to estimate how many pounds we had. Not having a clue as to what to put, he put 4,000 pounds. Pretty average, right? Well, apparently he underestimated by 2,000 pounds and the movers got a little irritated. But since we didn't have a walk-through, what the heck do you want us to do about it?!?!?!).

Anyway, I've been actively looking for a job down in NC for a little bit, but finally found one that would suit me perfectly. The only problem is that they require a typing test and a spelling test, that must be done in person. Yeah for me. Since I really want this job, we decided that I would drive down there on Sunday night, and on Monday morning, complete the appropriate paperwork and come home. So this leaves Chris alone to deal with Elijah and the packers/movers. Thank God for parents! (I did good on the tests by the way, but don't know about the job yet!)

So now our house is full of boxes, which are being loaded into the moving van as I type (I'm with Elijah at mom and dad's while Chris is at the house with the movers). Now begins the process of cleaning and getting the house rented and finding housing in NC. We're hoping to live on base, but we'll see how that works. Wish us luck! Once we get settled, I'll let everyone know our new information!

Vermont

We had such a great time in Vermont! (check back later for pictures, I'm not sure when I can upload them!!) We headed up there Friday, June 6 and came back on Sunday, June 15. The whole purpose for us going up there was so that Chris could do his residency with Norwich University to do his Master's. While he did that, mom, dad, Elijah and I were tourists!

We left on Friday afternoon and drove to NJ to stay the night at my aunt Linda's house. We didn't get a chance to really visit with her because we had gotten there so late and wanted to get on the road at a decent hour, but we still had a good time. And this is where Elijah started crawling! Go figure, we have 2 cats, but the minute he sees a dog, he takes off! We checked into our hotel on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday we checked out Ben and Jerry's and the Trapp Family Lodge (yes, the von Trapp's from the Sound of Music!!!). We had to drop Chris off at school Sunday afternoon and on Monday we decided to hang around the resort for a while and go to the pool.

On Tuesday we went to Burlington and then took the ferry over to Plattsburgh, NY to visit some family. Of course, there was some severe weather and tornadoes, and they shut the ferry down! It took us 3 hours to get home that night, but we got to see the Canadian border, so I can't complain too much! On Wednesday we went to St. Johnsbury, where my dad lived for a few years growing up and we got to get some maple syrup, and we toured the Cabot cheese factory. Chris had Thursday off, so we spent the day by the pool and then we had to take him back to school because the graduates got their master's "hoods". It was a pretty neat ceremony.

On Friday morning we checked out of one resort, then into another, then we drove back to Norwich so we could see the graduation. It was very hot where they had the ceremony, but it didn't last as long as we thought it would. I'm so proud of him! He worked so hard to get this and it's finally over!

We left early Saturday morning and drove back to NJ to stay with my aunt again. This time we had time to spend with her! We had a great dinner and we got up early again on Sunday and made the drive home. Overall we had a great time and we can't wait to check Vermont out again some other time! Now we just have to wait for the movers!

We have a crawler!!!

Elijah has officially crawled!! What's so funny is that he looks like he's drunk! He'll go about a foot or so and then fall down, but he's getting the hang of it. But he'd rather just sit and scream! He started crawling on Saturday at my aunt's house in New Jersey. We stopped there on the way up to Vermont (another post on that later!) and I guess he just needed a new environment. He's crawled a little since we've been here in Smuggler's Notch, but not that much. So now I get to look forward to keeping a better eye on him!

Ten months old!!!

Wow! Elijah is now 10 months old. I can't believe how fast the past 10 months have gone. (Why can't Chris' deployments go this fast?!?!) I haven't weighed Elijah in a while, but he's about 23 pounds and in size 4 diapers. Yes, he's a chunk!!! But I love it!! He's doing great. He has two teeth (and working on a few more, which is making my life miserable!) and he's rolling all over the place. Notice I did not say crawling all over the place!! He's still not doing that, but he gets to where he wants to go by rolling. And sitting up. Chris and I have figured out that's one of the reasons he isn't crawling. He's fasinated by the fact that he can put himself in a sitting position from laying down, so that's his new favorite thing! So as you can imagine, it's not fun changing his diapers! Not that it ever really was, but at least the most he did was kick his legs. Now getting him to stay on his back is a major challenge! He's also very vocal, always saying something. The only thing we can really distinguish is 'da-da' and 'ba-ba'. And he loves to blow raspberries and try to bite. Not fun, since those teeth are pretty sharp!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day has special meaning to me now. I guess being a military wife, certain holidays tug at your heart strings more than they did before, and Memorial Day is one of them. Memorial Day is a time to reflect and remember the sacrifices that the military gave us. It's also a time to remember the sacrifices that military families give as well. There is no doubt that while the active duty member certainly sacrifices a lot, the families they leave behind have their fair share of trials as well! We have to live every day life without our husband, wife, father, mother, son or daughter. Bills must be paid. Taxes must be paid. Houses must be cleaned. Trash must be taken out. Cat litter boxes must be scooped. Lawns must be mowed. And the list goes on and on and on. Then you have to add it the extras when children have arrived. Diapers, school, tests, after-school activities. We become single parents until our spouse comes home. Not something we like to do! And of course, it never fails that whenever your spouse is gone, something major has to happen. The car breaks down. Your child breaks and arm. It's never ending. Like I said, life goes on.

This Memorial Day we decided to visit the Fredericksburg National Cemetary. In July 1865, three months after the restoration of peace between the states, Congress authorized the establishment of a National Cemetery in Fredericksburg to honor the Federal soldiers who died on the battlefields or from disease in camp. The site chosen was on Marye's Heights, the formidable Confederate position which had proven so impregnable to repeated Federal attacks on December 13, 1862. The cemetery contains the graves of over 15,000 United States soldiers. Most of them are Union soldiers who died in the battles and camps around Fredericksburg. About 100 soldiers are 20th century veterans including at least two spouses. Over 80% of the soldiers are unknown. (I'd like to tell you I came up with that on my own, but I didn't! I got that information from the Battlefield Information Center! I'd hate to be accused of plagerism on my blog!) Each Memorial Day Weekend, the Boy Scouts light 15,000 luminaries to represent the 15,000 soldiers buried there and place an American flag at each grave. It's a breathtaking scene and I highly reccommend that people check it out if your ever in the area.

Just an interesting side note: only United States soldiers are buried in this cemetary, since it's a 'National' Cemetary. Soldiers that fought for the Confederate States are buried in the Confederate Cemetaries in the area. Since they did not fight for the United States, they are not allowed to be buried in a National Cemetary.

North Carolina, here we come!!!

Well, it's official! We're heading to Jacksonville, North Carolina. Chris finally got his orders to be transferred to Camp LeJeune. Chris checks in on July 1 and I'll stay in Virginia with my parents until August when (hopefully!!!) we'll have housing. We're looking forward to the change, even more so since we have a lot of friends there right now. We'll only be minutes from the beach (big plus!) and 3 hours from my brother and only about 5 or so from mom and dad. So that's always good. We're sad though because we'll be even further away from Chris' family (a good 11 or 12 hours) and unless gas prices go down considerably, I'm honestly not sure how often we'll see any of our family! I guess that's life in the military for you. It could be worse though, so we're counting our blessings that we'll still be on the East coast.

Of course, this move means lots of things, like leaving behind friends, making new ones, deployments, getting a job, daycare and dealing with life on a Marine Corps Base. Some I look forward too, some I don't, but I welcome the change and the challenge!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today I celebrated my first 'official' Mother's Day. I say 'offical' because I'll admit that I did celebrate last year when I was pregnant. Why not??? I was mothering someone and taking care of them, he just wasn't here yet! I started off my celebration on Thursday. (I know, a four-day celebration, I have to take advantage while I can!!) Anyway, I was finally able to get a manicure and pedicure, then on Friday I got a massage. We didn't do anything yesterday, but we invited mom and dad over for dinner and today we went to Outback for lunch with mom and dad. Afterwards we got new cell phones! I finally got my pink razor!!! Wahoo!!!

Since it is Mother's Day, I thought I'd share a little bit about what my life as been like since Elijah was born:
Shower: While I love taking my loooooooooong showers, those are nearly impossible. I take a shower when Elijah goes down for his morning nap. Since I never know how long that is going to be (30 minutes to 2 1/2 hours) I have to hurry, because once I get out, I have to get dressed, do make-up and blow dry my hair!! More often than not, unless I'm going somewhere, I don't blow-dry. My hair is easier to manage when it's wet. And when Elijah doesn't cooperate and take a nap, I don't get a shower, or I have to wait until Chris gets home.
Make-up: Since I consider 'no make-up' to be foundation, mascara and lipstick, I do try to put it on every day. Could also be the Mary Kay lady coming out in me!!! I have to say that I have gone out in public without any make-up on (I know, shock of all shocks!!!) but I do feel naked without it and being a Stay at Home Mom, it makes me feel better!
Clothes: I have realized that I was wearing the same 3 or 4 t-shirts in rotation. Mainly because the huge amount of shirts in my closet don't fit me and some of those are for when I worked full-time. I also own about 10 pairs of jeans, but again, only about 2 fit!!! Stupid pregnancy weight!!!
Hair color/Manicures/Pedicures/Massages: I used to spend a lot of money and time in the salon getting primped. Now, not only do I not have the money, I don't have time!! Plus I have to find someone to watch Elijah while I can go. Yeah, doesn't happen. My mom will watch him occasionally, but I can't ask her to do it all the time!
Earrings and other accessories: I barely remember to put my wedding ring on sometimes!!!! Earrings are just another step in my routine that is a waste and a necklace Elijah will just grab and try to eat anyway. When we do go out, I do have all of my jewelry on, but again, they become play things for Elijah. While I do still carry a purse (I can't seem to let it go!!) it is a pain to lug a purse, diaper bag and Elijah when we go somewhere. So I do need to just use my diaper bag as my purse, but what if it's not fashionable?!?! Chris gets mad whenever I come home with a new diaper bag. I told him those are like purses to me, you can never have just one!!!
House cleaning: Yeah, right!! Like I had time to clean my house before Elijah came along!!! Although I have to admit that I do keep the house as clean as I can get it for having a 9 month old. I do know that once he starts crawling, that's all she wrote. I put his toys away every night after bed-time and I also clean up the dishes and the kitchen looks pretty good. The sad part is that we're renting our house out so I have to have a clean house all the time now!! Yikes!!!!

I know, it sounds like I'm doing a lot of complaining, but I'm really not. I wouldn't trade Elijah in for anything, but I don't think anyone is really prepared for a child until they come along. I know I wasn't! While I have been blessed with 5 neices and nephews and a lot of my friends have children, I knew that my life would change, but I didn't know by how much!