Thursday Countdown 4 weeks until I see Gary and 10 until this difficult time is OVER!

Loads of fun! 

Gary surprises me every day! Its hard for both of us, some days we are feeling the same things and some we try to buoy up one another. This past week one of the days in particular was a little more difficult. I just wanted Gary to be with me, doing what I was doing, spend time with him and Jackson together, to be able to talk to him face to face about the stuff you typically get to discuss with your husband about (the good and bad). I can do that on the phone but its just not the same.

Thanks Michelle for your kindness and
friendship! You are amazing!

God has always sent me people in my life. ALWAYS! Its amazing to see and recognize. On that difficult day a very good friend of mine asked me how I was doing-as she does often. I said okay. She must have sensed something because this time she probed more. I didn't realize how much I was holding in at that moment. Tears I couldn't control welled up in me. She gave me a big hug, let me talk and gave me encouragement. She has sure been there for me through this all, and was guided by the Spirit for sure! Thanks Michelle!

Look how cute. Michelle got us all
bandanna's- even Jackson!  

Later that day when I talked to Gary he too was having a difficult day but told me to go out and do something for someone else. He is amazing. My love for him grows everyday even though I swear there isn't a way to love him more than I already do. So I am wanting to find a cause and do something for it/them/whatever it is. If you have any idea's let me know.

Team Paige's group! (Most of them)

I was able to do the Apraxia walk this week as well. It was fun and cool to feel connected in a small way to a great cause! I want to keep doing things like this often!

No matter how hard this can be I can do 4 weeks! RIGHT? I get to see him in a short (hopefully) 4 weeks.

Even though this is difficult I can't complain. I am blessed. I have a very healthy, happy and good baby. I live with people I love, I have amazing people in my life, and I have the best husband there ever was for me!

Thursday Countdown! 5 weeks until I see Gary and 11 until he is ALL DONE!

He's pretty good at lifting his head

YaWn

This past week has had lots of ups and downs. A good friend of mine took some pictures of Jackson for free for me. Jackson was more fussy that day than I have ever seen him. My friend Duzz says its the camera, it always happens to her. But nonetheless she got some good shots.

So adorable

The beginning of the week was a little more difficult as I feel like I have a million things that I HAVE to do. No I'm not talking about the dishes and other things everyone talks about not worrying about in this stage of having a baby they are all things I don't have a choice in getting done. I need/needed to get Jackson's birth certificate, put him in the military system, fill out everything to get him on the insurance, a few bills I have to figure out, my real estate classes have to be done by may 3rd, figure out if a breast pump is covered or not from insurance, and more.

Jacksons first bath

A little cold after his bath

ALL I have been wanting to do is cuddle with Jackson/focus on him, I started Bikram Yoga to get back in shape and hopefully look as good as I did when I was dating Gary, put together a baby announcement, spend time with family, and read about how to be a good mom.

I like the slightest smile he has

I get to talk to Gary EVERY DAY! Its the best but at the same time there is this mixed feeling as saying goodbye is always hard on me. Mostly on those postnatal hormonal days or times that something goes wrong and I just want Gary there to comfort me. I would much rather have the hard goodbyes though verses what we had in BMT.

STOP TAKING PICTURES OF ME!

Squirmy

Gary still wrote me a letter too! He knows how much I love them and so he took some time and wrote to me even though we talk so much. In it he explained all the things that was a benefit of him being gone. One of which I didn't think of but thought was insightful. He explained how its good for me (although difficult) to be getting confident as a mother on my own. I can tend to be a little too dependent on Gary since I see him so highly, and Gary is so good at being there for me. So his point was that I am stronger than I feel like I am and I will gain more confidence and strength at being a mom for the beginning part on my own. I will realize how strong I am and how capable I am to doing a good job. This has helped me A LOT! When something may be difficult I think of how Gary see's this strength in me that I can do this.
Isn't he Great? I think so.

Seriously guys I'm done!

Hungry boy

Cutest pouty face I've ever seen

May 22nd is what gets me through. I fly to see him in Mississippi and he might be able to stay WITH me on the weekend I am there! (instead of having a curfew like the rest of the nights). 5 WEEKS! 5 WEEKS! I can do 5 weeks. July 4th seems daunting but thanks to my mother I have a BOOKED flight!

Countdown THURSdAY- yes thursday 12 weeks to go!

First time holding Jackson

So I realized that Gary gets home on a Thursday so I decided to change my countdown to Thursdays.

There seems to be WAY too much to catch up on everything so I will get the gist down and if you have questions or want to know more you can call/text/facebook me (or come see the little guy for yourself.)

I went and surprised Gary at BMT. It was AMAZING. He didn't know anyone had come at all. At the end of the first event he started walking off with a buddy thinking no one had come. I started calling out his name and when he turned and saw me he instantly teared up and gave me a huge hug. What an amazing reunion after a long 2 months away and only weekly talking of 15 minutes a time. I couldn't have asked for a better surprise.

Gary being funny Gary

Gary was really cute with Jackson. He kept calling him "little guy." He would tell everyone to come see his little guy. (he would do this even before introducing me- he was just a proud daddy!) It was fun to see. It was amazing to have him help me with all the simple things and parts of having a baby. All at the same time it made it all that much harder on me to leave. He was such a tremendous help and it was amazing spending the weekend with him.

Sexy Lyman Boys

Gary is looking amazing. Gary had gained 80ish pounds after we got married. Surprised? I'm not exaggerating! In May he started to loose weight to even be eligible to join the military. He lost 50 pounds by the time he left for boot camp. The past 2 months of brutality he lost another 20! So he is almost back to his premarital weight! He's so HOT! :)

Brag time:

Gary's Dorm

Gary graduated BMT with HONORS! Just so you know this is AMAZING. only about 70 people got honors out of 700! So about 10%. You have to excel in every area to get it. Gary did absolutely amazing at boot camp and I can't tell you how PROUD I am of him. He was looked up to, admired and asked for help by his fellow airman. He gave blessings, brought 15 people to church with him once, helped out others when they would have gotten into trouble if he didn't and so much more. This story is basically the story of how amazing he was.   There was once where his whole flight was at the dorm and many of them were laying down. The MTI came knocked and everyone jumped to their feet and when he came in he asked what all the wresting around was. Then asked who was laying on their beds. Even though many of them were Gary steps out and owns up to his actions. Only one other person stepped forward after. His MTI had a big respect for Gary because of his actions, obedience, tough, and amazing he was. He even got a big compliment from him at the graduation saying how good he did. -As the MTI went down the row he didn't say things to many and only a few others did he even comment on.

Caught a little smile-Gas?

There are so many stories and things that has happened. I am so incredibly happy I got to go see him even though leaving was the hardest thing on me. I didn't think about me leaving him only the arrival and spending time with him. So the leaving came as quite a shock and realization that I was going back home to do it all alone again. Soon enough this will all be over and Gary and I will be all that much stronger for it.

Family photo!

I love Gary so much. His sacrifice and hard work for Jackson and I are amazing and I couldn't be more proud. He is such a sweetheart to me and says just the things I need him to. I am sure blessed.

A quick update…. Plus countdown Tuesday- but less than a week I get to see him.

For those of you that don’t know I AM A MOTHER NOW! I gave birth to Jackson Richard March 27^th. He was 8 pounds 1 ounce.  There is a lot to this story alone which I can’t go into right now as I don’t have the time.  So stay tuned.

Easter outfit! 

Jackson has been a great boy. Doesn’t cry much and is very healthy. I am also doing good- especially as I am looking forward to going to see Gary. AND SURPRISE HIM! I can’t stop thinking about it and every night I count down until I get to see him, I imagine what to wear, do and how it will be like for Gary to see his little guy for the very first time. I can’t stop talking about it when people come to visit.

Once again I feel very blessed and grateful that everything has been working out the way it has. God has sure blessed us and I want to exclaim it.

I had to be the one to make the decision about getting induced last Tuesday night. My doctor said that I wasn’t at a favorable cervix but she would do it if I wanted. She let me take some time and as I thought tears rolled. When she came back in she asked what I was feeling –sheepishly crying I said that I feel like I am going between my desires and what’s best for the baby. She reassured me that getting induced wasn’t going to hurt the baby and to take all the motherly instincts out of it. It merely brought up the chances of a c-section to 10% chance or a little more.  So once I really thought about it the chance of getting to see Gary was worth the chance and pain of getting a c-section in the end. I know I was risking a lot because I really did NOT want a c-section but I miss Gary so much and want to see him, and have Gary see Jackson that I couldn’t not take that chance.

Everything went well. My doctor was surprised at how well in fact. I am doing good and I get to see Gary Thursday! I’m surprising him. Which I will also get to another time.

Time to feed the external parasite now…. Owie! Wish me luck J