Month 7 is DONE.

Yes, month 7 is OVER. 

Good old March has drawn to a close.

One month closer to being with my hunny bunny!

This month has been a roller coaster.

I've felt every emotion you can imagine. My bipolar-ness kicked in.

But in all, I've gotten through it....

For my March Bucket List, I've gotten 80% of it done!! 

[yay me!]

April, will be my month I'm claiming it.

Murphy's Law strikes.

Murphy's law strikes again! 

I have no idea how this happened, but I was locked out the car by my lovely 2 yr old.

Yes, my TWO year old. 

 After doing a little retail therapy to cheer up my already  dampened day, I went to pick up the boys. Like most mothers, I had a long day and couldn't wait to see my babies. I leave my car running so the car would be nice and toasty for the boys when they got in. Just in case I got locked out I took my remote off the keys and took them inside with me. I gather the boys and walk outside. Anxious to get home, I hurriedly throw Kaleb in the car and run around to the other side to throw Darryl in his seat. "Yes, a nap!" my thoughts as I strap Monkey into his seat. Subconsciously, I placed the remote in his seat and shut the door. As I go to open the front door Monkey presses the lock button and locked the car doors. In a state of panic I run to the sitters door to ask if she knew how to open the door. She was no help (Love her dearly though) on that part. I start to try to coach Monkey to press the lock button.

[FYI: he knows how to take his self out of his seat, roll the windows down AND open the door]

He presses EVERY button except the unlock.

Sitter gets this great idea to call a locksmith.

I wait still trying to coach Monkey into pressing unlock. 

Then, I hear sirens get closer and closer.

A fire truck pulls up and out jumps three fire fighters as if the car was on fire.

They approach the scene with serious faces. 

After they accessed the situation, up comes two police cars. 

They on the other hand were already tickled pink with what was going on. 

The police officer walks up to the window to see if he can coach monkey into unlocking the car and Monkey just looks and laughs at the man.

10-15 min later pop a lock [the lifesaver] comes and gets the car open. 

Luckily, they don't charge for emergency situations! 

I'm sure I was the laughing stock of the Newport News fire and police departments.

I was a little upset and annoyed today but of course my babies always make me forget what I was angry for 

They are just so freaking adorable! 

Operation Homecoming.

I've been on some sort of blogging hiatus due to writer's block! 

But, I'm back now!

Yesterday marked month 7 of deployment and it's finally coming to an end which means it's time to think about OPERATION HOMECOMING. 

This is my first deployment so I'm trying to take in everything I can to make it the best I can for me and Butler. Today, I heard from two of my friends who have already gone through 2 or 3 of them already. What I learned is:

-Parking is scarce and you need to be there early to get a spot.

-There will be benches on the pier and if you want to sit on them, gotta be there early.

-It may take the boat about 6 hours to actually show up.

-It takes forever for them to dock and to let the sailors off 

-And traffic will be ridiculous.

   

Now, this has ruined EVERYTHING I thought this would be! For some reason I have the fairytale that Butler gets off the boat, drops his sea bag and runs to me and the boys (well not that perfectly, but something of that nature.) 

Now my worries are what should I wear if rains, what time should I make my way to NOB, what am I gonna do with the boys while I wait, where should I park, wear is Butler's sea bag going (I drive a tiny neon with 2 car seats and a double stroller in the trunk), whose gonna take pics son on so forth.... This should have been something I should have started a month ago! We'll see how this goes!

In other news, my Monkey peed on the potty today!! I was SUPER excited!!! Hope this is a good start to potty training!! 

I have so much more respect for the wives whose husbands are on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan.

These men have sacrificed a lot. I never realized how scary it was to be a military wife and will never experience how scary it is to be an Army or Marine wife. Not that Butler hasn't sacrificed a lot in the Navy, but as I think about it, they don't put themselves into that much great danger as the Army and Marines do. 

I don't get how my mom dealt with my dad being gone for a year straight in Korea or Egypt. How she didn't dwell on the fact that he wasn't here and how she went on day by day not knowing if they would come to let her know her husband died. She did a great job of disguising that my dad was gone and I thank her for being both my mother and father at times. 

I feel scared and nervous with Butler being secure on a boat in the middle of the ocean away from danger so I can just imagine how she or anybody else whose significant other is on the front lines feels. This Libya Operation Odyssey Dawn has me shaken. I've cried for the past two nights. I know, really dumb. My head realizes it, but my heart isn't getting the picture. My heart tells me to cry my eyes out until he's home but my head is saying he's okay what the hell are you crying for!

I don't think I'll be completely sane until he is sitting here next to me and I can see that he's okay in person.  

My anxiousness is starting to get the best of my emotions. I can't wait to see him home! 

First day of the beach

I was  off work for the first time this week and we couldn't let the lovely 80 degree weather waste away.

So, we dug out the shorts and enjoyed a day in the sun! 

Our first stop was to lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Darryl decided to get his "GQ" on and pose on the curb 

(I love this little kid) 

After that we headed back to Hampton to take a stroll on Buckroe.

This was the first beach day for the summer season 

Kaleb's first day ever putting his feet in the sand 

Darryl being Darryl and exploring

He was interested in the sun setting.

In all, we really took advantage of this beautiful day! 

I hope more come soon! 

My deployment letter

Dear Deployment,

We are finally near a close. We've had our ups and downs, but I've grown to appreciate you and all that you have taught me. At first, I hated you and really didn't want anything to do with you but now I actually like you (but it's just a tad, so don't flatter yourself and keep appearing in my marriage.) You stole my husband, but we can call a truce since you'll be returning him soon. I thank you for teaching me what bills looked like and how to pay them, showing me that I really do need Butler as much as I rant and rave that I don't, and that I really need to go get birth control ASAP because my boys are ENOUGH right now especially because you're = the mistress that keeps coming back. In all honesty, you did more than I give you credit. Because of you, my bills are lower, less laundry, my grocery bill is twice as less than when Butler was home, I have the whole bed to myself and can sleep peacefully without the snoring! But, I'm really over you now and would really love if you gave my husband back.

Meaghan 

The End is approaching!

We are in the home stretch! 

It's finally time to start preparing from homecoming. It's like a mirage in the desert, we can see it but just can't touch it. 

 I'm a semi-perfectionist so everything has to be perfect, well on my end at least. No telling with the military how this will go.

I've been looking at homecoming banners, and I don't know what I want to pick. I'm still working on it.

Luckily, I'll get to stand under the "new daddy tent" since littlest Butler was born after deployment. 

Tomorrow I decided I am finally going to a FRG meeting. I decided I couldn't knock it until I try it, plus i want to know what I've been missing since Butler can only say so much and is somewhat clueless. I've had my doubt about the FRG and the negative connotation it has really swayed what I thought about it. I just thought that I wouldn't fit in with the wives because I'm not that wife. I'm very shy when i first meet people and especially when I go to places I have never been with people I've never met. Hopefully I enjoy my FRG meeting and become involved with what goes on with the ship. I'm a little nervous though and I usually amp myself more than needed. But this will go well tomorrow, I know it!

I'll keep you posted!  

Today was DJ & Kaleb's first day at daycare or home daycare. 

They loved it, I'm relieved!!

 I may actually complete all the things on my bucket list for the month!

Short & Sweet

I've had a hectic week.

Still looking for childcare.

Working and trying to keep sane.

But, I'm thankful that Butler and I decided to stay in the US and picked Norfolk as his duty station instead of Japan. 

Praying for Japan.... 

Gotta be to work @ 11....

Keeping this post short and sweet.

Blue camouflage & black eyes

Today was my first day crossing the HRBT and going to NOB.

It felt so awkward to not see Butler's boat from the highway in the pier. I thought once I finally mustered up the strength to go to NOB it would be going to watch the ship pull in. But I bit the bullet and took the plunge across the bridge! 

I went to put us on the waiting list for CDC and pray that our turn comes soon.

Trying to find a provider that will take BOTH of them and I really don't wanna go the daycare route but I can deal if I have to!   

This is what DJ's eye looked like when he woke up this morning. 

It looks horrible.

I keep repeating the words "boys will be boys" in my head to keep from crying when I see it. 

I hate when he hurts hisself!  

But then he always seems to find a way to turn my frown upside down. 

(or maybe I just miss Butler!)

Well now I'm off to search for my missing GS cookies. 

This crime has Monkey's name written all over it!

Is it over yet?

shh, you hear that? YES, it's SILENCE. 

The boys are sound asleep. Finally peace and serenity. 

Well,  I was so wrapped up and excited about me and Butler's Face Time, I forgot to let everyone know I got my job back!! So, for the past 2 days I have been working my booty off.
I feel like it's been a week.
Which is one of the reasons I'm in the "I'm ready for this deployment to be over"moods

Yesterday wasn't as bed as today, just worked all day then came home forgot to make dinner and went to sleep.

Today on the other hand, not so easy...
I barely got any sleep and had to be up at the CRACK of dawn to go to work. Thanks to Butler's 6 hr time difference, his good morning email woke me up.
Had a semi great day at work other than rude customers and being on my feet in one spot all day.
Once I picked the boys up, my day went from bad to horrible! Chubby's stomach isn't feeling well which reminded me I had to go to Tricare to switch our insurance back to North region. Before I headed to Langley, I went to walmart to buy Monkey a new car seat cause somehow Destructive Dan broke his belt on the seat. Walking around Wally World and Monkey falls out of the cart onto the ground and is screaming. Panicked and embarrassed, I pick him up and start to proceed to the front, forgetting EVERY thing else I needed but the car seat.
I finally get them in the car and  head to  Langley. I get to the Tricare office and in the car the sign said they closed at 1830. Well, that was apparently just Meaghan vision because the sign clearly said 1630 and it was already 5:01.
(guess I need glasses with better lens)
Gave up on tricare and went to the commissary to pick up something for dinner.
Forgot the WORLD goes to the commissary after work.
Stood in line for at least 30 mins.
Got dinner stuff and headed home.
Get home and it always takes me more than one trip to get the boys and everything into the house, but today it took at least an extra 4 trips.
The last thing I take in the house id the car seat.
Walk in the house and somehow forget I had a door knob and jammed my fingers (not one but THREE) between the door knob and the box.
That was the straw that broke the camel's back.
I stormed upstairs and just sat there dwelling on my miserable day and how Butler should have been here to help!
But, now I'm over it and moving on with my night!

Today, A GREAT DAY.

On a lighter note, today was a GREAT day.

After the disappointment of just having to go up to my job JUST to fill-out paper work, I got a phone call from Butler excitedly saying he's going to be FaceTime'ing me today!

YAY!

I don't know about other ships, but ours doesn't have equipment to video chat. 

(They stopped today and had wifi.)

 So, for the past 6 months I only hear his voice or imagine hearing it over email. I rushed home, just to see my hubby! 

It was about an hour later and I was looking at my husband's face and lips move at the SAME time. 

I was so giddy with joy, as was he, we spent the most of the conversation staring at each other smiling!

It was so refreshing to talk to him, hope we can do it again soon!

On another note, Chubby never ceases to amaze me! 

He learns something new everyday.

Here is today's lesson.

He's holding his own bottle! 

Proud parent moment :-)

Don't ask, Don't tell.

I'm watching What would you do? 

The scenario is what would you do if you seen an openly gay couple in uniform. 

This is the second time the DADT policy has been brought to my attention, I take it as a sign to blog about it. 

Personally, I wouldn't say anything.

I don't agree with the PDA that is outside of military guidelines, but just being affectionate and letting it be known is okay with me.

I support the gay & lesbian community.

As Americans, we live by freedom of expression, but we aren't free to express who we love? 

It doesn't make sense. 

The heart wants what the heart wants, this phrase has been ringing in my head all week.
In my opinion, you can't help who you love.

  I feel that nobody has the right to direct what  goes on in your personal life or your bedroom.

To me, I think the don't ask don't tell policy should be at a person's OWN discretion. If he or she wants to be open with their sexuality, its THEIR decision. They shouldn't be forced to not be themselves. 

They serve in the same military, they protect and serve the same way every other service members. The only difference is their sexual orientation. 

We are all human whether gay, straight, black, white, green or yellow :-)

Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and I would love to hear yours! 

What would you do?

*This is MY opinion. I know it's very controversial, but please respect MY opinion.

Proud wife.

As you know, this is only Butler's second year in the Navy and our first deployment. Last week he was working very hard and studying to get his 1st pin for aviation (I think that's what he said), but to make a long story short,  he got the pin! Yay! I know I'm extra excited for no reason but just to hear something good come out of this deployment made my day and I am extremely proud of the progress he has made.

I feel like such a proud wife :)


Back in America.
I gotten one of my tasks on March bucket list  crossed off and I'll be starting working again tomorrow bright & early!!
Now hopefully I can finish everything else!

Rolling in the Deep.

Of course I purchased Adele's CD, 21, on Monday. I loved Adele since her 1st CD, 19, with chasing pavements. She has such a great voice. The fact that I can hit the notes in the shower is just a plus...

Wordless Wednesday

I miss this guy.

Soon, he'll be mine again.

hello, I'm a Mac.

I've FINALLY ditched the PC!

Yesterday my MacBook Pro came! After waiting ALL day for FedEx to get here, Christmas (in March) was finally here!!!

This was Butler's "I'm sorry for leaving you alone with my 2 monsters and missing every holiday imaginable" gift! The guilt FINALLY paid off!!

Isn't she a beauty?!

I fell in LOVE.

Thanks Hubs!!

(happy wife, happy life)