My Deployment Schedule

As if I won't be busy enough with just life, here are my runs:

FL Challenge 1/2 Marathon -Tampa 1/31/10
ING Miami Marathon -Miami 1/31/10
I can't decide between these two. I may take the boys down to have a night with Noni & Pop Pop and drive to Miami, see my SIL and run the ING. Not sure.

Breast Cancer Marathon -Jax 2/21/10
This is a definite. I've wanted to run this since the inaugural year and now have the chance to do it.

Guana River 50k Train Run -PV Beach (Jax) 3/28
The piece de resistance! Yes 30 miles. Once you get up to 26.2, who's counting?

These are the races I've found and am interested in so far. By the time March comes around I am assuming a substantial break will be needed, there will be sparse races in the south and I will be house-hunting for our next duty station!

My goals is to run and complete these races. I am setting these goals not just for myself but for the boys, too. I will start this deployment-with-kids-stuff off on the right foot. It's important for my kids to understand that life doesn't stop with daddy's gone. I want them to see that not only can we survive (my back up plan) but we can thrive and succeed in living a great life.

Stand By to Stand By

I haven't been in the blogging mood. As soon as I'm "done" for the night, I just crash. John has been working a lot, finishing up all sorts of inspections and certifications. After six months of absolute chaos, it's over. He is finally done. To prove it to us, he went in for a meeting this morning and then came home! Seriously, just a half day at work. It feels like a Saturday on a Friday.

I feel like a new woman...almost.

I am resolving to get back on the wagon and post regular updates. I think it will be important for deployment time. John explained his internet connection like as pretty archaic. Sweet. The way I fiugure, if he's got a second, he can long on and find the blog *hopefully* updated.

So, to my loyal few friends, stay posted. Things may actually get interesting.

The Sweetest Boy in My Life

My sweet, kind hearted little man is 3. Most days I can't believe it's been 3 years. Some days I know, without a doubt, he is in the throes of toddlerdom.

John and I had no idea what we were doing when Turner arrived. We were squeaky clean, brand new, parents. Looking back, I can say he is probably one of the most easy-going babies I have ever met. He rarely cried and, when he did, he was actually hungry or wet. His first full-blown, on the floor, tanturm didn't occur until very close to the age of two.

I look at him and see an 80 year old man in a 3 year old's body. Turner is gentle and kind-hearted and the warmest spirit. If he is cranky, there is almost always a reason. In fact, it is so out of character that John and I often have to remind ourselves that he is just a three year old. Some days it's hard not to expect perfect behaviour because we see him as years beyond his age.

Just when I don't think I can possibly love him any more, he says "Wow! You look so handsome today." and I fall in love all over again.

I love you, little buddy.

You Can't Control the Wind, But You Can Adjust Your Sails

It's not often I get the chance to meet other CHENG wives. They are usually holed up somewhere, holding down the fort. I did, however have the chance to meet one about a week ago. She was so sour and spiteful she had a puckered up look on her face. I had to stop for a minute and realize we were both in the same boat with the difference being she's just been at it about a year longer.

Wow! Does a year make that much of a difference? Am I just going to let myself be a hateful, spiteful bitch to the world because I don't like my husband's job? I really hope not. What a waste of energy. Have I been looking all stick-up-my-ass-ish?

To the Other CHENG's Wife: It might be the crappiest job in the Navy, but at least your husband is safe on a ship. Hell, at least you still have him around to be a father to your children (when he's home). At least he's still on a boat, and, at that, not even on the top side. You know, Other Cheng's Wife he could be in Iraq or Afghanistan leading an EOD squad but he's not.

How about you have a nice cup of STFU. It'll do ya some good.

Jacksonville, round 2!

When John and I got married, we agreed the plan was to get to as many duty stations as possible before we were told where to go. As luck would have it, we're repeating here in Mayport just 7 years in. It's alright, though, as it's been a blessing in disguise to be in a comfortable place with John gone so much. I think it means we've come full circle Navy style so now we're free to get on with the show!

I honestly never could have asked for such a beautiful, fun (read: crazy), loving family from a chance meeting at Beef O'Brady's. We had as much fun as two people, head over heals in lust (ahem, love) could have in just two months. Romantic walks on the St. John's, nights on the beach, dinners at anywhere from the Chart House to the Ale House, bar hopping at the Ritz, The Pub and so many more other random places.

Never did I realize where the Children's Museum was, or the book store with the coolest train table, or the best kiddie care at the gym was. I had no idea what the name of local hospitals were, or the mommy's group or even why people bought memberships to the zoo. Now, I know.

It's been a wild ride and I expect much more for the future!

My Baby is 1

I can't believe how my sweet Ollie suffers from 2nd child syndrome and he has no idea. It is two weeks after his birthday and I've finally had the chance to take a minute to remember his first year.

Weighing in at 21.2 lbs and measuring 31.5 inches, Eli has made his mark in a year. He is a force to be reckoned with. In fact, I actually felt his craziness acknowledged and thought "FINALLY!!! Someone really sees it!" The doctor that saw him started with the normal "So, is he walking?" My automatic reaction was to laugh. Um, how about running XC? Yeah.

Next question: "Does he have many words?" What doesn't this kid talk about? All day long is chatter, chatter, screaming, grunting, chatter. Aside from "Mama, Dada, Turtur (which he always whispers for fear of being pummled, probably), Pop-pop, Non (Noni =Grandma), dog, woof (does that count?), bup (up) and dow (down)" his all time favorite is "liiiiight." He loves to say light, point at the light source and then just do this cute little attached-too-close-to-the-gum tounge roll. For the past two days, he's been obesssed with a picture of John. He stands at the wall and just babbles and says "Dada." Tonight, he said "luh loo" (we've been practicing love you). I about fell over...and then cried. Apparently, his Daddy was the same as a child.

Mr. Elias is passionate, fierce, loyal, destructive and opinionated. I can't believe I know all of those qualities exist in a one year old. He is everything I am not and I love that. I really see all, or most, of the qualities I love about John in Eli. It makes me happy that those qualities will some day shine down from the White House. What? A Mamma can dream...

Every day this child, wanted or not, makes me a better person. He tests my limits and warrants patience the most gracious Southern Belle would be jealous of. He makes me more creative, efficient and loving.

He is, by far, the one person in my life who makes me a better mom daily.

Happy Birthday, Olliewog!

Married Single Mother

A friend made the comment that she was a "married single mother" while her husband was on a 6 month cruise (I use that term loosely as it means deployment!). At the time I thought "I have no idea what I'm going to do when the time comes!" The kids, the housework, the absence of showers, down time, and not having family or many friends in the area. What in the world do I do every day with two toddlers?!?

Well, it might not be a deployment, but it's been a long month. I've done little things like drive the three hours to my parents' for a visit, grocery shop, run errands. Today, though, I decided I was going to take the kids to the beach. Just us on a quick trip to the beach on base. The heavily life-guarded strip of beach on the back side of Mayport Naval Station. Finally, something out of my comfort zone. The big Atlantic ocean that could swallow a child whole and all that sand. What else am I going to do, though? Wallow in my sorrow? It just makes the kids whine more.

Getting out like that made me realize that I can't wait for John. I already knew that, right? I mean, in San Diego and Japan I learned to go to movies, dinner and just explore on my own. Sometimes I still expect John to come home by 4 like in Monterey and Newport, but it's more like 10 (or not at all) these days. I feel like the initial shock has started to wear off, but I would never wish the "single" parent life on anyone. It's hard work. At the end of the day, I feel like I've walked around Disney 10 times. BUT...I'd never want to be on the other side of the fence. I'm pretty sure John's job, especially being away from his buddies, is even more difficult!