A lot can happen

Tick. Tock. Tick Tock.

Time has slipped by since I've last written on this blog. A part of me missed writing on here, imaging someone out there misses my blog entries and enjoys reading what I have to write about, what craft project I did or food I attempted to make. The clock is always ticking. Just as I'm writing these few sentences, 2 minutes has passed by.  Type, type, type...delete delete delete...delete again. I'm pretty positive my brain is telling me to shut the computer off, slouch down into the covers of the bed and fall asleep before the little one wakes. 

Like I mentioned above, time has elapsed since I've blogged. You're probably referring "the little one" to our dog, Rusty, whom I blogged about shortly before I took a hiatus. But the truth is, you're wrong. I am indeed talking about our little boy. Our son. I was pregnant when I typed out my last post 2 years ago.  The traditional anniversary shot? Yeah, I was pregnant but it's okay because it was only water. We still went along with it and posted online to Facebook - people had no clue, thinking it was Absolut or some sort of clear liquor. 

I found out I was pregnant near the first week of January 2014. I waited to tell Matt until our anniversary....two long weeks. But it was so worth it to see how surprised he was when I gave him his anniversary gift. I placed a baby rattle in a box. When he opened it, he seemed confused and then.....it hit him! I made him promise not to tell anyone until the following weekend. That's when we planned out how we would surprise our family members. It was great; they were all thrilled.

Months went by, pregnancy was fantastic but trying to get Medicaid was a bitch. After that was set up, it was smooth sailing. I loved being pregnant; everything about it. Well, not everything. I could have done without the leg cramping in the middle of the night or the sciatica back pain near the end. Other than that, yep.. everything! It makes me excited to become pregnant again. It's just a matter of when.

Our son, Warren, was born on September 22, 2014. It was such an easy birth. I felt lucky. Hell, I didn't even know I was in labor. I was cramping really bad the night prior and in the morning I still felt very crampy. Not thinking of it as labor pains but more so brackton hicks. I took a shower, and in that moment.. I realized I'm in labor. I felt a very strong pressure sensation that didn't feel normal and I was breathing heavier. I called Matt and told him he better come home soon. He got home, we put the bags in the car and headed to the hospital. On the way there, I told him "I bet I'm only 2.5 cm." We get there, I'm getting checked out, the Nurse is giving me some breathing advice and tips. She checks.... "You're 7.5 cm and being admitted immediately. You'll have this baby in the next 2 hours." Matt and I looked at each other speechless.

Called our family and updated them. They all show up in the waiting room. I progress fast. They break my water. and I pushed 3-4 times, and out comes Warren. My life changed.

Motherhood with a son has been interesting. challenging. fun. rewarding. the best. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm pretty sure my sleep will never be solid until my kids are older, but that's okay.. it's only for a limited time. I love being a mom no matter how difficult at times it can be. It's sometimes hard to even imagine how I went about my daily life without Warren. It would feel very strange going back in time, I think. 

In other news - Matt is almost finished with his Associates degree. We've brought Rusty to dog training classes; which, has helped out with issues he was having.
We've crossed off quite a bit from our baby bucket list (by the way, we were at 53% when I got pregnant.. so that's not too bad! Here's the latest post about that), I left my job at the nursing home once Warren was born.. it was too hard for me to leave him for so long 5x a week so now I'm a stay at home mom and work the weekends as a server just to bring in a few extra dollars. Matt got a great job being a tutor at the college.
We recently found out that my brother-in-law and his wife is expecting their first baby so Matt and I will be an Aunt and Uncle again! I'm sure there are other things I've missed but I hope to update a bit more regularly. 

A Few New & BIG Happenings

Well, I took a little hiatus because the Lacey household got a little busy the past month or two. I know I still wrote a couple posts regarding food recipes but I never shared any of the exciting news! So here we go from March! (Told you I am behind.. I'll try to make it quick)

In March we went to Florida for a visit with family, a birthday party…. and to house hunt. Yes, you read that correctly. Matt decided he wants to retire from the military so we can start our lives together, build a family, and focus on what he wants to do in life outside of the military. While the military has provided us a great beginning to our future, it just felt like the right thing to do at the time (and still does even at times it is a little nerve-wracking).  Well, we quickly got ahold of an AWESOME  broker through the VA to help us along on our first-time home buyer experience. He set us up with a relator in the area of Florida where we were looking to buy. We looked at a total of 7 homes.  The 6th home we looked at, felt so right. It was close to both of our parents and other family members, in a good school district (thinking about that future, ha ha), good size house - not to mention MOVE-IN READY!! Scary, we took the plunge and told our relator we want to put an offer in. It was a foreclosure so we were hoping to get lower than asking price. Offer came back, they hardly budge. So, again - another offer. Hardly budge again.. we weighed our options and discussed what we could afford, and decided to say okay to their second offer. WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!  From there on, there were a lot of papers to be signed, documents to be read, papers to be faxed, money to be sent.. but about 30 days later, we were signing the official documents out in California (we flew back) on April 24, 2013. We were then new homeowners. It felt so great to have a house of our own that we could call a home. A home that will have our future pet and kids. A home where family can come over and celebrations can happen. A home where we will always be together! It seriously is still one of the best decisions I think we have made as a couple thus far.

Our last month, May, in the house on base felt like it dragged by. During that month: We ordered a fridge for the new house, I quit my job, I sorted out items for a yard sale, We both enrolled in school in Florida, and we started to prepare for our move by canceling services.
Yard sale day came the weekend prior to us moving.. it wasn't that huge of a success as I thought it would be, so I ended up packing it away for a yard sale in Florida.

and relaxed a bit

Moved out of base housing and began our move on Fri, May 31. Along the way we stopped and stayed with my sister, nieces/nephews 1 night. We arrived at our home on Mon, June 3. We made really good timing, and again - it was a nice road trip but we were so happy it was over too, haha.

Matt has not retired yet from the Marines, so he was on leave for a couple weeks to help with the moving process. During his time, he helped unpack boxes once the movers arrived, fixed the hose connection to the fridge, fixed the dryer connection to the wall, installed a garage door opener, fixed the  dishwasher and sink.  We went to get office furniture and set that up, as well as a few items for our home and set up all of our services. He really did help out a lot. I wanted him to stay because we just moved in but he had to go back to California for 3 more weeks (he will be back in 4 days now).

So, since my husband has been gone from June 10 until now June 28 I have been busy doing something every day. It has been exhausting but since he's left: Our fridge arrived, I bought and installed blinds, decorated the house, organized the bedrooms, bought a china hutch, changed the layout of the living room, sprayed the yard to start killing all the weeds for removal, and ordered curtains to hopefully have up before he comes home. I do have the picture frames laid out for him to hang when he returns! Haha, what a fun project (rolls eyes)

Not only the house stuff was accomplished. I managed to apply at 5 nursing facilities for a CNA position. I went on one interview, got hired on the spot but after further thought and research, I declined and decided I would rather take my chances to keep looking elsewhere.  Then just the other day, I got called in for an interview. I got hired on the spot, again. I accepted and so far I am happy with the decision I made. I will go in for orientation sometime soon and then start work.

'Tis The Season To Craft..

I have no idea where all my crafty spirit came from these past couple days, but all I want to do is make new things even if it's just a small project. Here are two crafts that I put together last night.

 I made this for Matt and had it waiting on the counter for when he came home from work.

 3-D Christmas Tree art

June Gloom?

Those two words will never be in my sentence this month! I am happy to say…… hubby and I will be reunited this month!!!! So so so excited.   I cannot believe this month is finally here. I mean, I can believe it, but I can't! This deployment went by fast for the most part with occasionally slow areas and I am so happy that it will finally be over.  With that being said, instead of Gloom - It's Bloom. I just have so much happiness going on, so I think I need to write a list of all of them.

Here are some things lately that have me feeling happy and put a smile on my face.

1. It's June!
2. Feeling sore right after working out; I know I had a succesful workout
3. Knowing we will be together in a few weeks.
4. Eating healthy 
5. Knowing good things are coming in the future
6. Having a paycheck in my name
7. Finding an insert of cologne Matt uses in the mail
8. Looking out into the ocean on my drive home knowing I'll be able to see his ship before I see him
9. Planning a vacation
10. Next time Matt calls my phone, it will actually say "hubby" with his picture!
11. Getting paid time + half for Memorial Day
12. New and LAST color on the deployment chain.
13. Selling items online that I don't use or wear anymore to get some extra cash 

and I am going to go ahead and apologize for no make-up and wearing pj's Lol, but I was so excited to get a picture of it. That's all there is left!!

No More Pencils!

No more books!  Yea, that was Alice Cooper rendition.  School's out! I don't think I will be taking any courses for the summer because of Matt just arriving home around that time. And I unsure if I will be able to take any fall courses due to us possibly moving and a much needed vacation Matt and I are going to take that will interfere with the class schedule.

I seriously feel like I am going to be in school until 30. Haha. I can't believe how long it has taken me. but that is okay.. one day I will graduate and be really proud of myself. I feel like I should be some-what closer than before. Guess I need to talk to a counselor and figure out if I'm able to jump right into the RN program without having to take the career ladder.  Maybe I'm not good at being my own counselor  Haha. 

On a happier and more exciting note, I still have a 4.0 GPA! I passed both glasses with high A's. and Aced each final. Feels great! I was so happy to finish my Pharmacology course, that class all semester was just annoying to me. So glad it's out of the way!

Now that school is out, I can concentrate on still working full-time, gym, and taking care of some last minute things I would like to complete before Matt gets home at the end of next month! I cannot wait until we are together again. Soo close to having him back in my arms!

Five Months

That's right.. I said it.. 5 months! Doesn't it seem like time is just flying by? It really feels that way for me lately and it's as if I have no time left to get anything done before Matt gets back, but don't get me wrong - I really want him home so if I don't finish a few tasks before then, that's okay!!
To make me really feel stressed about how close..... we got a homecoming brief the first week of May and that's also when the mail cut-off date is!!! Holy crap.  We both are really anxious to be together again.

So what's been happening here in California? Not too much out of the normal working and school. It's both going good.

Project I just presented for a presentation. This took too long drawing and coloring.

I cut my hair short again.. it grew to a little past my shoulders, so I decided to cut it again.. To be honest, I really do like short hair. I don't know if I am going to try and grow my hair out long, maybe I'll just get hair extensions when I feel like having long hair LOL

Oh I graduated from Physical Therapy. I am now on Stage 4 which is the at-home stage.. so I just need to make sure to keep up with all my exercises and stretches and then once a month I can go in to get adjusted. So that frees my time up a little bit more!

They gave me a coffee mug, candies, rubber stretch band :)

My baby has 12,000 miles on it :( Guess she cannot stay young forever.

FOUR

Four months down in this deployment was just a few days ago!! I am so excited that we are now more than half way finished with this deployment. I cannot wait until we are together again. Being in school, working over full time, appointments, gym, and care packages keep me busy and help make the time go by quicker.

Matt was able to call me too! I am so happy we got to talk. He is doing good and ready for this deployment to be over as well. We both are trying to make the best out of the situation though. It's really amazing what a phone call can do. Definitely put me on cloud 9 and hearing his voice is possibly the best sound.
We are still waiting for him to get a package I sent out a month ago.. but in the meantime, he got another package I sent out. I am hoping that he receives the other package though and that it's not stolen or lost!!

I am training for a half-marathon right now. I have ran 5k, 10k, and now I figured to boost it up and go for a half-marathon. It is on May 6th and the best part??? It's in the ZOO!!! I seriously love zoo's and I think it would be so fun to run throughout it. I am not signed up yet, because I have until the end of April, so I figured I would train all the way up to then and see if I will be able to complete it in 3 hours.

Anyways, I have not been up to too much other than what I mentioned in the first paragraph, but here's some Iphone photos:

gym time.

 Tebowing.. really?

I decided to read 24 books for this year, this makes book #4

My awesome new shoes!

Fruit salad

Hot Cocoa

Letter #100

Anniversary Package

Since last Tuesday I have been busy every single day. Whether it's an appointment, school work, finishing up Matt's care package or going to work! Working 12-13 hour days only allows so much in between time to work on anything before having to go to bed and work another 12 hour. But, I cannot complain because I am working now :) I cannot believe it took me so long to get back into a career, although I don't regret waiting to get a job because I have been able to enjoy the time with my hubby when he's not deployed or training.

Anyways, I thought I would post a few items that I made and sent Matt for his anniversary care package now that he finally received it a few days ago and that I made time to finish writing this since it's been in my drafts for the past 4 days haha.

 So one of the crafts I did was embroider this pillowcase for him. It's a boy and a girl long distance sending love letters in a bottle across the ocean between them. 

 Up close detail on the bottle 

 Pillowcase on a pillow and yes it's meant to be slanted a little bit

3rd year anniversary is the year for leather as modern or glass for traditional but since he's deployed I figured leather was the easiest route so it wouldn't be ruined. I made him a picture frame with one of our wedding photos inside. 

 A few things I put in one of his anniversary package. Mainly gifts.

 Anniversary box with some quotes

Another anniversary box but this was filled with all food

Two Months

Yesterday was our two month mark in this deployment. Man, does that feel good! I'm happy that the progress has been going at a steady pace, and I can only imagine when I start up school and my job soon that I will feel I have barely anytime between that and going to the gym 5x a week, working on care packages, writing letters each day, and occasionally hanging out with my good friend Sarah. You know what I say to all of that? BRING IT ON!

So far, I am on track for my new years resolution of going to the gym 5x a week. I always feels great after a work-out.
Today the Ravens played against the Texans and I'm proud to say that we won 20-13!!! That means Ravens are going to the conference championship up against the Patriots; which, I must I admit I am a little bit nervous about because the Patriots have played well too but on top of that, they have won 3 super bowls in the past 4 years! I say it's time for a change up.. so I really hope we win that game next Sunday.

Matt in Nov 2011

Me, today wearing his jersey!

Quick To The Point

I got a job! I'm excited that I am making the first step into my new career. It's quite exciting and nerve-wrecking too. It's just a lot to take in, but I'm ready for the experience that is going to come along with it. I'm happy I will be back into the workforce after taking time off.

I had my interview yesterday, I was interviewed twice within the same day and then hired on the spot. I didn't expect it to happen all that quick, but pleased that the process is over with. Who would have thought the first place I would apply to, I would get a call from just a few short days later and then hired? Not me.. I guess timing is everything.

Once I left the place, I wanted to call my husband badly to tell him about it or just go show up at his work but unfortunately that couldn't happen :( It's those little moments that you really miss your significant other.

I also knocked out two birds with one stone... Get a job was on my New Years List and Our Baby List

New Years Resolutions

The day before New Years Day is always a good time to reflect on the past year. Then the next day, is a good time to sit back and think of what you would like to accomplish this year, be, and become. I think it's important to set goals for yourself so you have something to live by, even if it's just for that year. It helps you achieve your maximum potential in life.

So, I have 9 goals this year that I hope I'm able to accomplish and a few of them are:

Get a CNA job.
Work out at least 5 times a week.
Find a new hobby.

Do you set goals or new years resolutions for yourself each year? If so, what is yours this year?


P.S. I see my husband this year!!!

Hi

• Classes have been finished for a little over 2 weeks. I got A's in my courses, still 4.0 GPA! 
• I'm enrolled for two other courses for the Spring semester
• Matt is in Singapore currently and he's enjoying being on land and seeing new places

This Christmas is our first Christmas apart in 7 years since being together. It definitely doesn't feel the same without him and it's my first spending it alone. I'm glad I have a couple craft projects in mind! I hope that everyone enjoys their Christmas being spent with family and friends. 

Blog Makeover

December is going by fairly quickly already. I find that I'm always having something to do and now I need to really concentrate for my finals that are coming up in a few days. 

Since I took the executive decision to not decorate the house this year for Christmas (bah humbug lol) I figured I should at least redesign our blog to make it more in the Christmas spirit. I'm still on the fence of even mailing out Christmas cards!

Things are going fine over here in California. I would post more of the crafty stuff I added in Matt's Christmas package but he has not received it yet (I know, right!) so until he does, I won't be adding any more just in case he reads this.

And speaking of that handsome guy, Matt is doing fine too. He's somewhere in that large ocean working. Not too much he can do since he's stuck on a ship,  but I think he is trying to make the best of it. Still no phone call or letters, but at least he has an e-mail account he can access. The only thing that I like better about the MEU than land deployments is that there is more updates on where they are and pictures posted from the actual ship. So it's always nice to read about and see pictures.

Sincere Thankful Words

" Today is a day of giving thanks, celebrating what you have in your life and what is good or what good is going to come. Today is a day of spending it with those you love and who love you, sharing memories and moments together with friends and/or family, all coming together, eating delicious food, and most importantly, remembering what is important -- life. You're only given one chance to live, so try to live it as best as you can, take chances and risks, enjoy each day even if all you did for that day was breathe. Let go of grudges and push arguments into the past, because letting it go helps bring you that much closer to better tomorrows.   And as you go on with your Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations of eating, smiling and laughing, enjoying the time spent with family and friends, some houses will have an empty chair at their table where their military loved one should be sitting. Some whom gave up their time and others who gave up their life. So always remember of those who are currently serving and have to be apart from their loved ones and family, and for those who did not make it back. "
--- Bridget Lacey, wife to a Sgt in the Marines, currently serving.


I truly am thankful for so much. I really feel blessed.

A Few Days In Iphone Photos

Neighbors invited me over for a get-together on Sunday. So much food; pork chops, steak, ribs, brats, hotdogs, sausages, baked beans, and corn. It was good!

School books and supplies

Sleep time with the hubby's t-shirt that smells like him (the shirt he had on before he left)

nighttime reading on the Nook -- Currently wanting to buy "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus"

New green hose since our blue one broke

Clean car (I love my car, it was well over-due for a cleaning)

And as the nice wifey I am, I cleaned the husband's car inside and out too!

I miss Matt but thankfully, he will be home in just 5 short days! My birthday is the day after he gets home and frankly, I haven't even really thought much of it because I'm counting down the days until Matt gets back so we can spend time together. Secretly, I do hope he surprises me when I pick him up with something though.. hehe, doesn't every wife?
Today, I did get that warm feeling inside when I saw on his facebook he updated his status to this:  Lady.... when im with you im smiling... Give me all all all of your love... Soon i will be home, 5 days to go.

Let The Education Continue

This fall I am going to take two courses. Both will help me to further my knowledge not only as a Nursing Assistant, but also to help me get into an LVN/LPN program (whenever we move again because I can't just quit in the middle of the program that is 2 years).
So, the course runs from August 22 to December 17th. As well as benefiting my future career, it will be beneficial to my own sanity because Matt is going away each month for training before he deploys in November. Also, another perk is that I will be able to do early registration for spring semester for the HHA (home health aide) course that will help even more for my career! The two courses I have registered are Body Systems Survey and Basic Medical Terminology.

I have also been contemplating about holding off at least until January to get a CNA job because I am more than likely flying to Florida to be around family during the Christmas and New Years months and I know that as a CNA you cannot take that much time off especially if you just started the job.

Other Random Talk:
Only 5 days until I leave to go fly to Florida to visit family on both sides, attend a memorial, and a family reunion (over 50 people and that's not our entire family! I really wish Matt could come so he could meet my family he's never met before) I am a still nervous about leaving. It feels weird for me to be the one leaving Matt, when normally he is the one leaving me at the house. Hopefully all will be good! So if the nervous nerves weren't there, then all that would be is excitment to see family that I haven't seen in a long time and then my immediate family members whom I haven't seen in over half a year.

And I guess you could call it bad timing, because the whole entire week I am gone in Florida, Matt has to go to the range. Why bad timing? Well, because he will be getting out of work each day around 1pm vs. his normal time at 6pm!!!! Lame, right? I'm not too happy about missing that. It is what it is, I suppose.

It could be a bad thing that I am already missing him and he still has a little while until he leaves. 

Hope everyone is having a good week so far.