Friday, May 29, 2015
Monday, October 27, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Traveling for Two
With Brendan in and out of the field frequently, it's nice for me to be able to travel sometimes to visit family or friends. In the past 6 months, Luke has gone on four trips which included airplane rides, two to Orlando, one to Maine, and one to Key West. After this last one, I finally feel like I have the art of traveling with a baby down to a relative science.
I always make sure to start laying things out a few days in advance. As far as packing for Luke's clothes, I usually make sure to pack pj's for the amount of nights we will be away plus one extra pair and usually two changes of clothes per day. If it's during warm weather I usually throw in one sweatshirt and pair of pants to make sure he doesn't get too cold.
Below I have a list of my most valuable items for on the road!
1. First Years Umbrella Stroller- when Luke was smaller, I used our BOB stroller which was great for maneuvering but difficult to fold down and check. Now that he can hold his head up well, we use this umbrella stroller a lot more often. It gives me the option to have him ride in the stroller or if I use my Ergo to carry him, I can put some of my stuff in the stroller. Plus, no one wants to have to use the bathroom with a baby strapped on your chest.
2. Aden and Anais Swaddling Blankets- I try to carry at least two of these in my diaper bag. If we get to the airport early or have a long layover and the airport isn't too crowded I will lay one down and let Luke stretch out and play with his toys. I use the second one on the airplane if it's a little chilly. Once I get wherever I'm going, they're great for draping over the car seat if Luke needs a nap on the go or if he needs a little extra shade. (They're also great for spit up.)
3. Nuby Sippy Cup- Luke has just recently started to use his sippy cup. He isn't very great at getting water out of it without my assistance... But it keeps him busy trying for at least 10 minutes every time.
4. Plum Organics food pouches- Luke loves these! They travel well, are 3.5 ounces so there's no issues with TSA and they once again keep Luke busy. (See a pattern here?)
5. Ergo Performance Carrier- I love using this carrier, the TSA will let you carry your baby through the metal detector with this and it's great for keeping your little one contained. The one weird thing is that you're not allowed to have the babies in the carriers for takeoff or landing, but I really don't know how I would travel (or do anything for that matter) without the Ergo.
6. Bright Starts Lots of Links- Luke loves to chew on the different textures of these and to play with them in general. I usually hook a bunch of them from the stroller when he's in it and then look like a crazy person with a bunch hanging from my backpack too.
7. Drawstring Backpack (similar)- I have stopped using a diaper bag for now and get more use out of a drawstring backpack with lots of outside pouches and a diaper clutch! I really like being able to carry it on my back. (Yes I know they make backpack diaper bags but they're so dang expensive!)
8. Infinity Nursing scarf- this keeps me modest while nursing during takeoff and landing, plus the cover helps Luke not get distracted while nursing and sometimes he even falls asleep!
9. Brica Carseat Bag- this thing is awesome. It has straps to wear as a backpack and also wheels to roll it. It also has enough storage in an outside pocket to hold a weeks worth of clothes for Luke which makes my bag a while lot smaller!
So how do I maneuver all of that stuff? Well, here's a step by step:
It looks a little like this:
We have been pretty lucky so far with Luke not having issues with ears popping, but we nurse during take off and I always have at least one to two pacifiers on hand! This past trip, my iPad has really been useful not only with distracting Luke, but also for reading or watching videos when he sleeps! Books are difficult to maneuver while holding a baby.
I hope this has been helpful for you, and happy traveling!
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Florida with Luke
So, last week Luke and I took a trip down to Florida to visit my parents and see my Grandmother's new house (she recently relocated to the same community as my parents!). I've been trying to visit my family as often as I can because chances are our next assignment will not be as close.It's so nice to be able to take a quick trip down when Brendan is gone. Traveling with Luke is definitely getting a little more interesting. On one hand, I've got the maneuvering down, but on the other hand he's getting more active and less likely to sleep during flight. [post on how I handle traveling is in the works] Luke loves seeing his grandparents and swimming, and I really appreciate the extra set of hands.
When I've gone down in the past, we've usually made a trip to Disney to walk around or something, but this week we figured it was way too hot and that Disney would probably be really crowded so we hung around my parents house and swam and went to a nice dinner in a small town called Winter Garden. I love quaint little town centers, it reminds me of the Hudson Valley in New York.
Over the past week or so, Luke has definitely gotten way more interested in food the past few days so if I'm eating he wants to be too, I have a feeling I'm going to have a good eater on my hands! He can chew most foods with his gums so I've been giving him small bites of whatever I'm eating. So far he hasn't spit anything out.
Here are some snapshots from our trip:
 |
| My little water baby |
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Are you new here?
I decided to write this post after having spent the past few years getting acquainted with the subtle nuances of Army life. I am definitely no expert, but these pieces of advice are what I have felt have helped me embrace this journey. I will say that so far, I am one of the lucky ones, Brendan has not been deployed yet and our longest separation has only (I know to civilians this is abnormal to say only right now) been six months. I have an immense amount of respect and admiration for my friends and those military spouses I don't know who have kept the home fires burning during long (and usually multiple) delployments.
Hi, you must be new,
I might not know you but I feel like I do. I was you only three short years ago. In the grand scheme of things I'm still new. I don't know everything, but I do know how you feel. You are probably miles away from friends and family (because Army posts aren't usually located in convenient locations). You might be in a new area of the country or even in a different country getting used to not only the culture shock but also the subtle differences between the civilian world and this new military world. You are doing this while your husband leaves you alone in this strange place for a few weeks for training or possibly for a 9 month deployment. I want you to know you're not alone; Even though you probably feel very alone right now. I also want to give you some pieces of advice that I wish I had taken from the beginning in hopes that it will make it easier for you.
Plug in. Plug in no matter if you're going to be there for 3 months or 3 years. Get involved with the FRG or ask your husband to introduce you to the wives of his married co-workers, get involved at your church. When we first moved to Ft. Benning, I was determined to steer clear of the dreaded FRG that I had heard so many horror stories about and was convinced I had enough friends and didn't need any more. I was wrong. Although we were only there for a year, I ended up making some of by best friends during that year. When you move somewhere and then your husband is gone for 10 out of the next 16 weeks, then for 6 months straight. You need friends; and more importantly you need friends that understand and that are going through the same thing. Don't believe what you hear about FRG's or other army wives, I mean you're pretty normal right? There have to be other normal wives for you to hang out with. Plus, when they say "it's a small army" they're right. Chances are you'll run into some of these women again.
Ask for help when you need it, give help when you can. Being far away from family can be frustrating and sometimes life doesn't happen when it's convenient. Babies seem to have a way of being born as soon as you move to a new area or while husbands are deployed, and things have a tendency of breaking as soon as our husbands head to the field for a week. If someone offers to help, accept it, and if you see someone in need of a meal, a lawn mowed or just a bottle of wine and a shoulder to lean on, be that person. You'll learn quickly that the army is a family and just as our husbands take care of their guys and we take care of our own too.
If you don't know, ask. There is nothing wrong with not knowing something whether it be an acronym (how are we supposed to know that DONSA stands for "day of no significant activity" aka a day off?) or what to wear to a social gathering (each unit varies depending on the preferences of the commander and his wife). I still ask a million questions about everything.
Try not to get angry with your husband for circumstances he can't control. It's frustrating after a long week when your husband calls you and says he has to go in on a Saturday, or when it seems like his phone rings as soon as you fall asleep and he has to get up and go back to work. Try not to get mad at him, chances are he isn't pleased about it either. Sometimes it's hard to keep things in perspective when we look at their training calendars and realize they will be gone more weeks than home over the next few months. It's hard to remember that chances are, they didn't make the schedule, and the importance of their training. It's something I struggle with, especially now with having a baby that misses his daddy and a mama that sometimes just needs a break, but when I get upset I try to remember that Brendan misses us too.
Don't be offended when you realize that your husband wants to deploy. This is a tough one. For the most part, our husbands want to deploy, especially if they haven't yet (from what I've heard the novelty wears off after the first time around). The way it was explained to me was: imagine training every day for years for a marathon that you never get to run. That's what they feel like sometimes. The fact that they want to deploy doesn't translate into, "I want to leave you behind for nine months," even though we sometimes can twist it into that. Our guys are a rare breed that take pride in their job of defending our country, so as much as we want them here you have to understand and respect their desire to serve overseas.
Always remember what it felt like to be "the new girl". The best thing about the military community is people are always so welcoming and it's easy to connect if you want to. I think this is because since we move so often that everyone remembers what it's like to be the new people in town. That mutual experience quickly turns strangers into friends and friends into family. So in a year or even six months when you spot someone looking a little lost and out of place, remember that you were them not so long ago, and in a couple of years you will probably be them again.
Don't get frustrated or jealous if some of your non military friends don't understand. Sometimes it's hard to explain for what seems like the millionth time why your husband is gone again, or why it's easier to reschedule things (like weddings) than hope the army will give you time off. Chances are if they're asking questions it's their way of trying to figure out how best to help you, so try to express your needs to them. It's easy to sometimes be jealous of our friends who can actually choose where they live and seem to have endless quality time with their spouses, but different isn't always better. The grass is always greener, right? The Army isn't forever. Eventually you will be able to choose where you live and will have time to spend together. Embrace where you are now and enjoy the time you do have.
Always make your marriage your number one priority. Unfortunately sometimes our husbands have to put the needs of the Army in front of the needs of their families. It's frustrating, and sometimes you might even feel like your husband is mentally checked out of the relationship and constantly in another place. These are the times when you must be the one to press into the marriage even more and remind your husband that you will be there long after he ends his time in the army. Often you might feel like you are giving more of yourself than he is, but that is what marriage was designed to be. Love is not a conditional thing, you cannot love someone because of what it gives you, you have to love them regardless of what they are able to give at the time. Although this is difficult, I feel extremely blessed to be in a situation that really shows me what unconditional love looks like lived out.
I hope that you will take some of this advice and that it helps you feel less overwhelmed. Marriage is great, and so is being a military spouse. You will get to travel the world and have the adventure of a lifetime with the love of your life! So have fun creating your memories and enjoy everyone you meet along the way.
Hi, you must be new,
I might not know you but I feel like I do. I was you only three short years ago. In the grand scheme of things I'm still new. I don't know everything, but I do know how you feel. You are probably miles away from friends and family (because Army posts aren't usually located in convenient locations). You might be in a new area of the country or even in a different country getting used to not only the culture shock but also the subtle differences between the civilian world and this new military world. You are doing this while your husband leaves you alone in this strange place for a few weeks for training or possibly for a 9 month deployment. I want you to know you're not alone; Even though you probably feel very alone right now. I also want to give you some pieces of advice that I wish I had taken from the beginning in hopes that it will make it easier for you.
Plug in. Plug in no matter if you're going to be there for 3 months or 3 years. Get involved with the FRG or ask your husband to introduce you to the wives of his married co-workers, get involved at your church. When we first moved to Ft. Benning, I was determined to steer clear of the dreaded FRG that I had heard so many horror stories about and was convinced I had enough friends and didn't need any more. I was wrong. Although we were only there for a year, I ended up making some of by best friends during that year. When you move somewhere and then your husband is gone for 10 out of the next 16 weeks, then for 6 months straight. You need friends; and more importantly you need friends that understand and that are going through the same thing. Don't believe what you hear about FRG's or other army wives, I mean you're pretty normal right? There have to be other normal wives for you to hang out with. Plus, when they say "it's a small army" they're right. Chances are you'll run into some of these women again.
If you don't know, ask. There is nothing wrong with not knowing something whether it be an acronym (how are we supposed to know that DONSA stands for "day of no significant activity" aka a day off?) or what to wear to a social gathering (each unit varies depending on the preferences of the commander and his wife). I still ask a million questions about everything.
Try not to get angry with your husband for circumstances he can't control. It's frustrating after a long week when your husband calls you and says he has to go in on a Saturday, or when it seems like his phone rings as soon as you fall asleep and he has to get up and go back to work. Try not to get mad at him, chances are he isn't pleased about it either. Sometimes it's hard to keep things in perspective when we look at their training calendars and realize they will be gone more weeks than home over the next few months. It's hard to remember that chances are, they didn't make the schedule, and the importance of their training. It's something I struggle with, especially now with having a baby that misses his daddy and a mama that sometimes just needs a break, but when I get upset I try to remember that Brendan misses us too.
Don't be offended when you realize that your husband wants to deploy. This is a tough one. For the most part, our husbands want to deploy, especially if they haven't yet (from what I've heard the novelty wears off after the first time around). The way it was explained to me was: imagine training every day for years for a marathon that you never get to run. That's what they feel like sometimes. The fact that they want to deploy doesn't translate into, "I want to leave you behind for nine months," even though we sometimes can twist it into that. Our guys are a rare breed that take pride in their job of defending our country, so as much as we want them here you have to understand and respect their desire to serve overseas.
Always remember what it felt like to be "the new girl". The best thing about the military community is people are always so welcoming and it's easy to connect if you want to. I think this is because since we move so often that everyone remembers what it's like to be the new people in town. That mutual experience quickly turns strangers into friends and friends into family. So in a year or even six months when you spot someone looking a little lost and out of place, remember that you were them not so long ago, and in a couple of years you will probably be them again.
Don't get frustrated or jealous if some of your non military friends don't understand. Sometimes it's hard to explain for what seems like the millionth time why your husband is gone again, or why it's easier to reschedule things (like weddings) than hope the army will give you time off. Chances are if they're asking questions it's their way of trying to figure out how best to help you, so try to express your needs to them. It's easy to sometimes be jealous of our friends who can actually choose where they live and seem to have endless quality time with their spouses, but different isn't always better. The grass is always greener, right? The Army isn't forever. Eventually you will be able to choose where you live and will have time to spend together. Embrace where you are now and enjoy the time you do have.
Always make your marriage your number one priority. Unfortunately sometimes our husbands have to put the needs of the Army in front of the needs of their families. It's frustrating, and sometimes you might even feel like your husband is mentally checked out of the relationship and constantly in another place. These are the times when you must be the one to press into the marriage even more and remind your husband that you will be there long after he ends his time in the army. Often you might feel like you are giving more of yourself than he is, but that is what marriage was designed to be. Love is not a conditional thing, you cannot love someone because of what it gives you, you have to love them regardless of what they are able to give at the time. Although this is difficult, I feel extremely blessed to be in a situation that really shows me what unconditional love looks like lived out.
I hope that you will take some of this advice and that it helps you feel less overwhelmed. Marriage is great, and so is being a military spouse. You will get to travel the world and have the adventure of a lifetime with the love of your life! So have fun creating your memories and enjoy everyone you meet along the way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)