Birthday Love

I've been trying to distract my toddler with activities to help her deal with the big "D".  Today, is my hubby's 38th birthday and to celebrate I had my daughter practice making "Happy Birthday" video messages to send him.  We spent a good 20 minutes laughing at her silly messages and watching them together.  She loved the process of picking out the best one to email him.  Afterwards, I let her creativity go wild with arts and crafts.  The project, put together a "master piece" for her daddy's birthday.  Since we couldn't send the actual picture we killed another 20 minutes taking the best picture to show off her creation and emailed it to him.  The day ended perfectly with hubby giving us a call.  All I had to say was "It's daddy on the phone!"

Happy 38th birthday my love!  We miss you!

"I Miss my Daddy"

My husband is on the big "D".  So I've been the mommy and the daddy for the past six months.  All military families deal with this, it might not be the lifestyle we choose but it's a lifestyle we learn to deal with.  My almost 4 y/o has been doing pretty good so far.  We have been able to hear her daddy's voice every once in a while and she understood that her daddy was working on his ship.  The past week has been extremely difficult for both of us.  She's been telling me every night before we close our eyes for the day "I miss my daddy.  I want daddy to go home."  The past three nights she's been crying herself to sleep telling me "I want my daddy. I don't like his ship anymore. I want daddy to go home."

 At anytime before he was selected for chief I had the open of calling his department so he could talk to her for a few minutes.  No, I'm not one of those wives that call all the time or even on a frequent basis.  However, I was fortunate enough to have a hubby work in a field that has access to phone, if I really need to get a hold him.  It helped keep most of the meltdowns at bay and I credit that to how long she's been okay with the big "D".

Now that he's busy with chief training we haven't really had many conversations with him due to his schedule.  I think that combined with the length of time he's been gone has taken its toil on my toddler.  I could see signs that she needed her dad even before this past week.  She would cling to my brother in law, our baby sitter's husband and the other day she hugged the delivery guys leg.  (That freaked me out!)

Last night she was finally able to hear his voice.  She took over the phone and told him all about her day, all her little owies and how much she missed him.  It didn't take much just the sound of his voice.  I don't doubt it was hard for him to hear her whisper "I miss you daddy. I love you daddy. Can you come home and play with me?"  I was certainly tearing up hearing their conversation.  Now we're just counting down the days.  Are you a military wife?  How do you deal with long separations?

Chief Select

I've been a navy wife for the past eight years but I never dived head first into the lifestyle.  I never became involved in military wives groups or committees.  We also never lived within a purely military neighborhood to make and grow friendships with other military families.  This was never a conscious choice on our part but just how things happened to turn out.

I'm extremely proud of my husband  and his accomplishments at work but I've always viewed it as his career just like my own career.  We are supportive of each other and understand the time needed devote to building our careers.  For example, we went into our marriage knowing that his career would take him away from the family for months at a time while my career required time to accomplish.  

This past month we were pleased to learn that my husband was going to be promoted to chief.  Besides an increase in responsibility, pay and training period I didn't realize there was also a different culture attached.  I've already been invited to join in on the chief's wives luncheon and received an email from his sponsor.  I was pleased to be included and a little apprehensive on what to expect.  I didn't think the transition to chief would be that much of a change.

 Although, it looks like there is much more involved that what I initially expected.  The only example I have to go on is from that show "Army Wives".  I know that is a poor, poor unrealistic example to go with but as a said before our family has never been deeply involved in the navy/military lifestyle.  I am hoping this will be a positive change and include future friends for my husband and I as well as our children.  Are there any other chief wives out there?  What was your experience transitioning?  Are you involved in the military lifestyle?  What benefits or complications have you come across as a navy wife?

Home Coming

It's coming to an end! My time working and living dual roles as a mother and a father is ending today! My husband's ship is coming home and we get to see his face. We get to hug him, touch him and to love him in person.

My toddler is not even three and these past few months was the first time she's been apart from her daddy for this long. I was worried how she would handle it. I didn't want her to forget him or his face. I don't know how other moms handled it but I talked about daddy a lot. She watched videos of the two of them together, over and over. When she missed her daddy she would hold and tell her "problems" to her daddy doll.

I'm getting more excited writing this blog. My hubby's coming home!!! Here's to all the other military wives out there!

Blood is Thicker than Water

Yesterday I shared with you my Child Care Woes.  The day care we use will be closed until August 13th for a suspected mold they found in one of the rooms.  On one hand I am happy they take any concerns like this seriously and promptly.  On the other hand I have been worried that I wouldn't be able to find child care for the days I work.  Right now we do not live close to family or friends.  I work outside of the home and I'm an "acting" single mom until my hubby's ship returns.

That makes it a VERY big deal when my main source of child care closes down at a moments notice.  I don't have anything concrete right now but I wanted to share something special.  As soon as I spoke to my parents about what was going on they started searching for a flight here.  It just goes to show no matter how far apart you are or how old you become nothing is stronger than a close family bond.

I'm so thankful my parents are healthy enough and so supportive to jump on a plane at a moments notice at times like these.  Hopefully, we'll get a visit from grandma and grandpa next week.  Was there a moment when your friends or family pitched in to help you and your family out?  What about it stuck out in  your mind?  Thank you for sharing!