Almost 30 & Still a Baby

In 57 days I will turn 30. And tonight, I miss my mommy.

Tonight as I took out some trash, I looked west and saw all the beautiful colors of the desert sunset (get a lot of those here in New Mexico). With all these people around me, I suddenly got lonely. Sometimes I just want to share things with my mom. And she's 1200 miles away.

My mother is my best friend. And not like a junior high girl has a best friend. This woman is my BEST friend. I have other family that is very special to me, but there's just something about a mama...

I'm so blessed to have the mom I have. She's been with me through everything, from sporting events and school plays, post-college job interviews and the birth of my first child. I lived within 35 miles of her until I was 27 and my husband went Active Duty. My mom has ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

But when Uncle Sam calls (or you call Uncle Sam and he says "Sure, come on over!"), the comforts of home need to change, because "home" changes. We've lived in three different states in less than three years, and we have seen and done some amazing things. I've made new friends, some of which were the type that just get you through your current phase in life, some that will be my friends til my last breath. Through it all, when I experience something new and exciting or find myself in a situation I don't know how to deal with, "call Mom" is my first thought.

For now, thank goodness for cell phones and email, text messages and Facebook...even though she isn't on Facebook yet...we'll work on that.

I have to wonder if this feeling will ever fade. I don't want it to. And it gets easier as time passes. I wonder if a part of me has yet to grow up, and if it ever will. I hope I can be as awesome of a mom to my boys, and let them know I will always be there for them. I've had a good role model.

Book Giveaway

As I mentioned in my first post, I want a new book. And one way to get it, is to have a blog and mention the giveaway.

My friend Sierra Tervo was fortunate enough to read and review a book before it's release. The publishing company was kind enough to give her two copies to give away. You can find details on her blog:

http://tervotimes.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway.html

Head on over and check her out. She'd love to have ya!

angel

The Little Things...

A big transition happened today for my two year old. His crib is no more, having been converted to...dun dun dun..."THE TODDLER BED!" He is the second child, and as such is quite often compared to the first. The first, Logan, went from a crib to his "big boy bed" (a full twin, lucky guy) about a month after he turned 2 (not because we wanted him to, but we needed the crib for kid #2, Ian). So naturally, because Logan did it, so should Ian.

It's just another of a million milestones, milestones I've been through with my oldest. It was bittersweet with Logan, because it meant he really WAS a toddler, not my baby anymore. But not calling Logan a baby didn't hit me too hard -- I had Ian, 6 months old at the time, and HE would always be my baby. But...now my second baby isn't a baby either.

Yes, there were several instances of Eric heading back up the stairs to hand out the firmly stated "I said stay in bed." Yes, there were some tears shed from those sweet little eyes that didn't understand why he couldn't explore this new-found freedom. But he fell asleep relatively quickly.

I went in to check on him, as I do every night. And my little boy lay there, in the crib with just three sides and a little half-barrier. My eyes got a tad misty...kinda seems like he grew leaps and bounds in that second of laying down in his "new" bed.

Who knows...there may be another "baby" in the future. But for now, it's Ian. I keep reminding myself, especially when those boys push my buttons, that God gave me these precious children for only a short time. And I MUST enjoy the little things while I can.

First Time.

What have I done?

All for a book? Yes. I'm an avid reader (sometimes?). I enjoy books, always have. And if I had my way, I'd probably split my time between my Kindle and the Xbox 360. But then the thought of two little "man cubs" (so eloquently put by a military wife-friend of mine) creeps into my mind and *poof* books and games are gone.

So, I guess this is it. For a free book, I'll write about my life. If anyone wants to read, great. If not, that's ok too. Part of me would like that reassurance that there are folks out there that think like me, are pleased by the same things, annoyed by the same things, all that jazz. And if my words make someone smile, great! If I upset someone, oh well. I can do that all by myself, regardless of any internet intervention.

Learn with me. I learn every day. Let's see what we can do.