What's Been Going On...

Sometimes I'll sit around, have random thoughts and think "I should blog about that", but between the dirty diapers, running here and there, bath time, bottles, play time and finally bed time, I'm exhausted and barely make it to the "New Post" screen before I shut the computer and go to bed myself! I'm not complaining... there is no other person I would rather spend my day with than Carson. Well, maybe having her Daddy here would make it a million times better, but since that can't happen I'm making the best of it!
I've tried my best not to "whine" about the deployment. I mean, it sucks. Plain and simple. But, whining about it isn't going to make it easier or help me deal with it. I see many wives who complain day after day... while it may make me feel "sorry" for you after a while, it just gets OLD! Yes, we all miss our husbands, but face the fact that complaining isn't going to make it go by any faster (in my opinion, it makes it drag on even more!). I know that if my husband could be here, he would.. and that's what comforts me. Don't get me wrong, of course I have my "woe is me" moments, but I get over it and try to remain happy... especially for Carson. :) End Vent.
On another note, today has been filled with a few "firsts" for Carson. She pooped in the bathtub for the first time. Okay, so that's not exactly a "first" that many people write down in their children's baby books, but I thought it was hilarious! The water had already drained out of the tub, so I went to grab her towel. After I got back, I noticed she was playing with something brown (with a hint of yellow) in the tub. I got a little closer only to realize it was fecal matter. I couldn't help but laugh, if only she knew exactly what she was playing with! I was just thankful she didn't eat it! :) My friend Lindsey also came over today. While I was outside, she was in the room with Carson. She said she looked up and Carson had pulled herself up from the sitting position and was standing while holding onto her activity table! She's not crawling yet, but yet she's already pulled herself up! Of course she hasn't done it since, but where is the time going? Where is that itty bitty baby? I am so thankful for her health and that she is growing, but I want her to remain a baby for just a tad bit longer! She's also started to get up onto her tippy toes trying to crawl. She'll only move one hand forward and move about an inch before she falls back down onto her tummy. Again, I can't believe how fast they grow!
I'll leave you with a few pictures of our sweet girl! We have our first Gymboree class tomorrow, so I'm excited for that! It's also my birthday so we'll be going out to breakfast with my two very best friends beforehand. :) Hope everyone has a great week!

 Carson's "Daddy is my hero" shirt she wore to bed tonight!

 Our perfect, precious little girl!

Here's another first for the day! Drinking out of a sippy cup!!! :)

I'll be blogging more in NO time! :)

So, as a birthday present to myself, I got a new computer! It's not anything fancy, but it can get the job done! I can now blog, post pictures from my camera on Facebook for Matt, etc. Our old computer kicked the bucket about a week ago and wouldn't even pick up my Dad's internet connection when we first got here a month ago, so it posed quite a challenge for me to get anything on here! I also want to include pictures on future posts, but I can't do that from my phone so hopefully this will help! :) Very excited! After I get everything set up and (hopefully) get all of our pictures transferred from the hard drive (I'm hoping I can. I will be heartbroken if I can't get Carson's birth pictures), then I can update a little (or a lot) more frequently! :)

The Countdown is ON!

As of tomorrow, we will already be two weeks into this deployment!! Only 50 more weeks to go (approximately)! I went out to Colorado to spend some quality time with Matt before he left (my mom graciously watched our Carson). The days we were able to spend together were/are priceless. Yes, I spent a lot more than I intended to on the plane tickets, but all the money in the world can't buy back the time we were able to just hang out and enjoy each other. Being able to see him walk onto the bus is something I didn't want to miss out on. For me, it gives me closure. The feeling that "yes, this deployment is starting... and it's starting now. The next time I see him will be R&R." For the wives that have done this.. you know what I mean! ;)

After my trip, I went back to Mom's to pick up my Carson! I was so, incredibly happy to see her again. It felt like it'd been months, but it had been less than a week! All I could do was hug and kiss on her! I cannot imagine how Matt and the other soldiers who leave behind little ones feel. It's one thing to leave your spouse, but to leave your child... knowing how much they will grow while you're gone and that you will miss out on things... that's true sacrifice!

While I had anticipated all the "free time" I would have to blog, it hasn't happened. We've been visiting with family and friends since we've made this our new "home" for the time-being. Carson is keeping me extremely busy! While I'd hoped to get a part-time job while Matt was away, I'm still on the fence about it. (Maybe I can just focus on blogging more... haha)

Matt has safely arrived at his new home in Afghanistan. He's described it as... hot. Very hot. After speaking with him for a bit yesterday, he's told me that he was able to get a lot of what he needs over there from the guys who are leaving to come back home (yay!) and that there isn't much to send him except for pictures, cards and, of course, baby wipes!!

While any deployment/seperation from your husband/loved one (who is not just anywhere... but in a war zone...) is hard, I've actually been less "on edge" this deployment than last one. Matt hasn't been able to call for a few days at a time and when he has, the calls have been short. Basically a "Hey, I'm here. Love you. Give Carson kisses. Bye.". Thankfully, we were able to chat a little bit yesterday. Anyway... the point is.. if that would have happened last deployment, I probably would have been really worried and anxious. However, this time it's one of those things where I genuinely realize that "No news is good news" and he's busy so he will call when he can.

Carson has continued to grow and grow. It amazes me how fast children learn. She isn't crawling yet, but she's working her way up to it. She's slowly adjusting to her new environment here as her "home". She makes me laugh every day and is such a happy baby. I made her baby food for the first time yesterday. Up until now, I have been buying the organic baby food. I found that I really LOVE making it. It tastes so much better, I feel better about it and the fact that there aren't any preservatives and it's cheaper! (There could be an entire post on the funny looks I've gotten when I told certain people I make Carson's baby food, but oh well! I don't eat all organic myself (or close to it), but I want to do what I think is best for our daughter... and that's all that matters! :) ) Okay, off of my soapbox..

I'm off to do my "stay at home mommy" duties... laundry, feeding, diapering, etc. :) Hopefully I can find the time (sooner rather than later) to blog a bit more!