Happy New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year's Eve 2007/2008!!!
This past year has been one of those years that I will forever remember. This past year I raised a baby by myself due to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Many of Jacob's firsts took place this year, from first tooth to first steps. This year was an emotional roller-coaster many highs and many lows. I am happy to say I survived and have even become a better person.
I have a hard time keeping my resolutions but I make them anyways, so here they are... My New Year's Resolutions:
1) Get down to and stay at 120 pounds.
2) Eat healthier
3) Save money
4) Exercise
5) Stop stressing over the small stuff.
6) Appreciate the little things in life.
7) Finish all projects I start.
Let's see how long these resolutions last. I don't think last years even lasted a month!
Tonight is New Year's Eve but no kiss will brush across my lips because I am saving my new year's kiss for my soldier...

Christmas has come and gone.

Merry Belated Christmas!
Jacob's 2nd Christmas has come and gone. He got lots of toys, and I am not going to take up an entire post listing them all because I am sure I would forget some. On Christmas Eve we spent the day at David's grandparent's house and left there to come to my parent's house at 10:30 pm. I got about 4 hours of sleep and woke up to open gifts with my family and then we went to David's parent's and opened more presents. I have to say this Christmas was good to me. I received lots of wonderful gifts and even some I didn't expect! I hope I thanked everyone enough and if not I hope you know I am grateful.
David's Christmas sucked because Santa doesn't go to Iraq. I guess the "bad guys" don't like Santa. I saved David's Christmas presents and he will be able to open them when he gets to Texas.
I will be leaving for Texas on January 7th. Everyone tells me I must be excited but really I am not. Maybe once I am in Texas the excitement will hit me. This reunion is long over do and I just want us to be together again.... I think I am feeling more of a relief then anything else.
Jacob has been sick with diarrhea for 2 weeks now. I am going to take him to the ER, again, if it isn't better tomorrow. Last night he screamed for almost an hour with stomach pain. He would pull his legs up and make tight fists, the whole time screaming out in pain. I knew it was his stomach and I felt so bad. I almost started crying myself.
I will be at my parent's place for a few more days then I am back to Grand Forks to pack up and then I am off to Texas.
Jesus came to bless this world, let us all rejoice in the blessing of the Lord.

Just some words that fell out of my head...

In about 1 month I will be back in David's arms. I am getting things situated for the move back to Texas. I got us a house on post. I had to throw some tears in there but in the end I got us a house. Looking at pictures of what it will look like online has me in pretty good spirits. I just hope I don't walk into a dump. I know I can make anything work but I would like to not have to. I will be "moving" down to Texas sometime after the 1st of January. I haven't decided on a date because I don't want to get down there too early and sit in an empty house but I hate to leave too late and feel rushed. The plan at the moment is for me to drive the car down there with clothes and whatever else I can fit beside Jacob in the backseat. When David is on leave, the whole month of February, we will pack up and move the rest of our stuff.
I applied for my Texas nursing license last night... There goes another $200. I have to get my fingerprints taken and then they will send me a permanent license. I am hoping to get a job at the hospital on post. We will only be living like a mile away from the hospital so that will be nice, anything is better than the 45 minute drive I had the last time I worked in Texas. I loved Scott & White but it was so far away.
I am pretty much done Christmas shopping. I have like 2 gifts to buy. Christmas is right around the corner and I am actually ready for it. I love the whole Christmas season but right now I just want January to be here like yesterday.
I am really tired tonight. I haven't felt good all day. The house is a mess but I think it will all still be here tomorrow so I might just call it a night and clean it up in the morning.
I believe at the end of the day a toy cluttered house means a child spent the day being happy.

Pictures of my big boy!

I took Jacob to Target for his 1 year old pictures... Of course they turned out great. These are just a couple of the ones I thought were great.

Put away the party hats and bring out the toys...

The living room has now become the toy room. Jacob celebrated his birthday with another party yesterday and received many wonderful gifts. Yesterday's party was at my parent's house and Jacob celebrated the big day with his grandparents, great grandma. Aunties; Diane, Myra, Wanda, Jamiee, and Dollyn. Cousins; Robbie, Nicole, Gavin, Abigail, Heather, Jordan, Lacey, Sam, Kiersten, Maddy, Hannah, and RaeAnna. Uncles Bobby and Billy. Oh yeah, and of course his Mommy.
He got a riding toy 4-wheeler, stacking toys, a coat, sled, mittens, a toy school bus, toy phone, toy fire truck, books, a toy red racecar, clothes, and teddy bears.
Jacob ate more sloppy joes, hotdish, and a cupcake... That little boy sure can put away the food!
We had a lot of fun but I am all partied out.
I just got off the phone with David. He wants me to make some plans on what I want to do on leave... How do I tell him I want a wedding?... I need to just put that on the back burner for now and wait and see but it's hard when it's something I really want badly. It does look like I will be flying on a plane come February. I always make plans to fly but never do and for once it looks like there is no other way around it. I am thinking for plans come February I don't really want plans. I do want a night away just David and I like we did for R&R.
Right now I am in a really good mood and am going to take some time to just enjoy my good mood.
Motherhood is so much more than dirty diapers and car seats. It's happiness, frustration, and love all molded into the the most precious moments of your life.

A great birthday party for a great boy.

One birthday party down one more to go.
Jacob had his first birthday party last night. He celebrated the big day with his great grandma & grandpa Gaddie, Aunt Bup, Ashley, Michael, Uncle Pat, Donna, Uncle Blane, Aunt Jan, Nikki and her girls, Mommy, and Auntie Susan. He had sloppy joes and crackers for supper. He had his own cake which he enjoyed. He got lots of great presents including; a flag from Daddy, sippy cups from Mommy, legos and a book from Auntie Susan, legos in a fire truck and a book from Nikki, a shorts outfit from Aunt Bup, a puzzle toy and race car from Uncle Pat, and a nice outfit from Uncle Blane and Aunt Jan. The evening was spent visiting, eating, and enjoying Jacob's personality.
Jacob will have another birthday party this Sunday with his grandparents and cousins back home in Minnesota.
A bitter sweet day is the day your baby turns 1.

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Jacob is one year old!
One year ago today I gave birth to the most beautiful baby boy and my life was changed forever.
I love my son so much. I never imagined feeling this kind of love. It's a love only a parent will understand.
Seeing Jacob's smile melts my heart every time. I fall in love with him all over again every morning I walk into his room and see him smiling at me from his crib.
Jacob has blessed my life and I am a better person because he came into my life one year ago today.
Happy Birthday sweet child, I love you.

Shopping in a snowstorm!!!

I have finally started Christmas shopping. I actually finished buying gifts for 6 people today. Even though it was near blizzarding I enjoyed my shopping adventure today. I have to admit I hated the walk to and from the vehicle but what can I expect living up north.
I talked to David today and even though he was stressed he was in a pretty good mood. I asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he said "I want to come home.", hearing him say that all most made me cry. I want him home so bad. I know he only has a little over a month and a half left until we are together but that time is still too long.
I have so much to do before Jacob's birthday. I wanted to finish the bathroom but I am not sure that will happen. Oh well, people are coming to celebrate Jacob's birthday not inspect my house.
Jacob is learning how to get his way. He has temper tantrums when I say "no" or take something from him. He points at stuff he wants, too bad it's usually candy bars. He will also put on the charm when he thinks he might get away with something. I do love my spoiled little boy, he is all I ever wanted in life and more!
Baby kisses really do make everything better.