Trevor's Bday

I always take forever to write these things (sorry grandma and grandpa). I just wanted to add pictures from Trevor's birthday party. I was so grateful for everyone that made it to the party. Trevor is one lucky and blessed child to have such good friends (both young and old). Anyway, we did a Thomas train theme. This train thing seems to be his newest obsession (Choo Choo!!!)

I am sorry it took so long

Okay so after getting a ton of phone calls informing me that I need to update this...I am finally doing it. As everyone knows, Matt did make it home from Iraq in late April. It's great to have him home and being settled again (you know until the next time)!

So originally we weren't going to be able to go back to California, but I found a great deal on tickets and we made the trip. I know everyone was really excited to see Matt because he hadn't been home in a very long time. We did get to see almost everyone given the time constraints that we were under. We love everyone at home and it was so nice to be able to visit. Trevor loved the trip home. He got to go see airplanes and go swimming naked :)

Okay so we've been home for over a week now. WE've accomplished quite a bit. We did add a new family member...her name is Montana. I have to admit that the puppy house breaking has been a bigger challenge then I ever expected, but she is adapting well. Anyway, here she is!!!

Other then the puppy, we have just been hanging out at home. We've done a lot of hiking, gone to the beach, cleaned a lot (the puppy) and just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. I can't complain that the military gave him almost a month off and it has been nice. He went back to work today and has duty tomorrow...looks like everything is going back to "normal".

The waiting game!

So as most of you know Matt is due home anyday now. I know the exact day, but I obvious reasons I cannot post it. Anyway, I just want to vent because this waiting game is the hardest part of the deployment. The first couple weeks are hard for adjusting. I call it the curse of the 1st month. Everyone I have ever talked to always has the first month curse. For me it was having to take Trevor to the ER for stitches 3 days after Matt left. For Alia, it was poor Gannon (we weren't sure he was going to make it). For my friend Meghan-first trip to the ER with her son. Another friend had a grandparent pass away. There is a first month curse. I think its more of a test really-something terrible happens in the beginning and you think "why-how am i going to do this alone?" Then, a few days later you find that you did make it through and maybe you'll be okay. And you are okay.
The rest of the deployment included some visitors, holidays with the family, more ER visits, lots of illnesses, getting back into shape, and starting graduate school. I would love to say it went by fast, but its not as fast as i would hope. The beginning seems like a distant memory. It's not an easy 7 months, but its do-able.
So now to my issue-the waiting. Why oh why was my husband in the first group to go, but the last to come back-because its the military i know!!! It just frustrates me...any other organization you return the way that you depart right! So then, they give us a wondow of the return. Okay so what is the point of the window if you aren't even going to send them home sometime in the window? Just don't get my hopes up!!! Then, luckily this didn't happen to Matt (yet), but they give you a return date and time only to have a sand storm ruin it all. My poor friends-their husbands' return was pushed back two more days because of a sand storm.
I know I should be grateful because he's alive and well and on his way home, but I still just wonder how I am going to make it through the next few days. Not only that, but now I have a sick child so i can't just keep busy. Oh well-life as a military spouse.
Okay I am done venting-sorry! I hope all is well with everyone and I can't wait to see you all in a couple of weeks with a husband in tow! Take care
P.S. I promise next time to put up pictures of Trevor!

Ah! Easter 2009

Okay so I have been counting down Matt's homecoming forever, but we are down to days now. I can't post the exact days, but it is so close I can smell it. We celebrated our last holiday without daddy today and the light is shining even brighter. I have to say-the last month of the deployment is the hardest part. You're used to being alone by now, but the days just drag!!!!
So anyway, we did keep busy this weekend with all the Easter festivites. On saturday we went the the Koolau church and did the golf ball hunt (they exchanged the blass for eggs at the end). Trevor finally got the point and collected like 30 some balls all by himself.

Today we went to church in the morning. He did pretty well, but the chapel on base has a great crying room with tons of toys so he was distracted. WE then did lunch/dinner and an egg hunt at Lindsay and Erics house (thanks guys). Trevor didnt do so well on this hunt, but he loved all his new cars!!!

On on other notes...Trevor changes more and more everyday. I can't wait for Matt to get home and see his baby is quite the little man. The lastest development...he's telling me when he goes to the bathroom (only occasionally though). The other day I had him in his diaper and no pants. I was in the kitchen and he came in and said "Mommie peepee diaper" (in Trevor words). He proceeded to remove his diaper and run to his room to throw it in his diaper pail...can you say stop growing up!!!! Not only that but now he's all about the "oh no mommie" and "let's go mommie" so stinkin cute. At playgroup he threw his cup in the trash. I had no idea where he put it and I asked "trevor where is your cup?" We walked all over the the playground looking. Finally I asked him again "Trevor go get your cup..where is it?" He walked up to the trash and says "mommie oh no!" I was like really Trevor. Sure enough there is was in the trash.

Sometimes I miss the little baby stages, but I am loving the toddler part. Yes we deal with fits and sometimes he makes me crazy, but he also makes me laugh so stinkin hard sometime. I love my little man and I can't wait for his daddy to come home!!!

Okay so we are getting closer and closer to the end of this seven month separation. I cannot wait until the end of April arrives. Trevor and I are so anxious to have daddy home. Matt is anxious to come home and actually be able to do guy stuff with Trevor. We've been practicing hitting a baseball off a tee for daddy-he's a picture of practice.


So I am officially on spring break now. I finished my final paper on saturday and I should be getting my grades in the next couple of days. I start my next quarter on April 6th. I am strictly online next quarter because i didnt want to miss Matt's homecoming. Also, Matt and I will be returning to California on May 10-19th. We are planning a BBQ at my parents house on May 16th so keep the day open. We have limited time home and this is the best option for being able to see as many people as we can. I know Matt misses everyone and he cant wait to see his family and friends again.So on a sadder note, Trevor and I went to the advanced party return on Tuesday. We were excited for Laura and Bishop to get Josh home, but I'll admit that it was hard to not have Matt be on the plane. Speaking of plane-my little man just loves them. When we drove to the hanger his little world just stopped. He LOVES Airplane..he'll stop anything if he sees a plane. Anyway here are some pictures.One final note about tuesday-matt was officially promoted to 1st lt. We are so proud of him and we can't wait till he is home so we can celebrate. Hope all is well with everyone. Take care!

Less then 2 months

Okay so it is officially March-WOOO HOOO! I can't believe that we are less then two months from when Matt comes home! OMG!!! I just cannot wait. I think Trevor is going to be so excited. He always takes the phone from me a says Hi Da! Its so stinkin cute.

Anyway, the two month mark did come with some unhappy news. Matt picked up a platoon and is not able to contact us everyday like he did in the past. I guess I am getting a taste of what all the other wives go through while their husbands are gone. I loved it when we was doing his other job because he wasnt allowed to leave and I'd get to talk to him 2 or 3 times a day. Again, I cant really complain because I still only have less then two months of this stuff.

On another note...I promised that I would add some photos for grandma and grandpa of Trevor. I swear he is growing everyday and it makes me sad that I no longer by month old clothes. He is still wearing 24 months (right now), but I have to buy 2T because he isnt getting any smaller. ( So here are the most recent pictures I have. A couple of weeks ago, at paygroup it started pouring. My chilld being the terror that he is decided it would be a great idea to get soaking wet. Mommy loved it! (Thank you Meghan for the photos)

Why i love my parents

Okay so I know that I brag about my parents all the time, but I do it for good reason. Out of my boredom today (more like avoiding homework) I was playing around on the internet. I typed in maiden name to see if my old wedding pictures were still on the internet (nope). Anyway, so when I googled, I only had like one hit-yeah kinda lame. Just to curious I google my mom (under her maiden name) and got 370,000 hits. Who knew?!?! At first I thought that it was a mistake, but no most of them are in regards to something my mom has done. It's craziness. So then I decided to google my dad cause well again I was bored. This time I got 1900 hits (sorry dad moms a little more popular). This time I know they were all about him becuase I dont think anyone else in the world has the same name.
I know that this is absolutly random, but I was so shocked. I know my parents are successful and well respected, but who knew. So anyway-back to homework i go.
PS-mom and dad-i love the descriptions of you on the UC Davis Forensic Science website. You guys sound like you do crazy CSI stuff-love you!

Okay so I promised to finally put some pictures of here of Trevor and everything that has been happening since we got back to Hawaii a month ago.

I guess I will start with the Aquarium. We went at the end of January with our playgroup from here on base. Here is Trevor with some fish and friends.

Okay so the next pictures that I have are of Trevor at the halfway party (yippie). I put Trevor in his 49er outfit because we were taking a picture to send to the guys. I wanted daddy to be able to spot his son in sucha huge group.

So the next picture is the mother of the soon to be Browning Family Dog. We are planning to get and Miniture Australian Shephard in May 2009. WE are so super excited!

The final pictures that we have are Trevor and his new haircut and his flattering black eye he got trying to put away his toys in the bathtub. This mom thing is so much fun!

Home Stretch

Hey everybody

I'm writing once again from my room in lovely Iraq. Things are going along really well here, and the whole deployment is starting to wind down. The elections played a big part of my last month, we didn't have a direct influence but did a lot of behind the scenes work. It's great to see this country move forward and have a democratic future. 

The month of February is going by as well, pretty soon I'll be getting ready to come home in a few months. Don't expect me to leave until sometime in the middle of April. As of now though, coming back to California doesn't look like a plan. If I only get two weeks off, then I'm going to stay in Hawaii and spend time with the family. Sorry to disappoint some, but that's how it will work out. 

As for my time here in Iraq. This deployment has been great for me so far, I've learned a lot about the Marine Corps and dealing with my subordinates. I feel truly blessed and honored to have these kids underneath me. They've taken everything I've thrown at them and excelled. Hopefully they continue with their progression and we have furthered success. 

Well, I need to get going. Take care everyone. 

Going back to school!

So as most of you know I decided to go back to school to get my Masters in Criminal Justice. I am so excited to be there, but not looking forward to the amount of money that I am going to owe my Uncle at the end of two year (Thank you again Uncle Larry).
Okay I had my first class night, but all did not go as planned. My poor little man managed to catch the stomach flu on Tuesday night (along with ear infections and a cold). He was feeling fine adn I put him to bed and he just spent the whole night throwing up. So neither hium nor myself got any sleep on Tuesday. We spent all day Wed. going to the Doctor only to be told there's a whole lot of NOTHING they can do for him. So my poor little man is miserable, my husband is in Iraq and I am exhausted...and I had no choice but to go to school seeing that it was the first day :(
Anyway, I left little man with April (friend/babysitter) and I left for class. It's probably one of the hardest things to do as a mother is leaving your sick child with someone other than yourself or husand. Apparently, he did great and just went to sleep early. Thank you to April agian for taking car of my sick little man.
So school was torture-4 hour classes suck!!!!! I love the topic, but I feel like I'm in school with not so smart people. I guess that we will see how this class turns out. Anyway...miss you all and talk to everyone later. Keep little man in your prayers because he's still under the weather.
-Monica