Updates, Updates, Life moves on...

I know, I'm terrible.  I keep telling myself that I just need to post something small, some pictures or something.  Since Mike left in November, I have been journaling in different ways.  I have written letters almost daily.  I don't even know who looks at this blog (if anyone), so I figure it's more important to share what's going on in mine and Anabelle's lives with Mike than everyone else.  Sorry to those of you who may be waiting for a post from me. 

Anyway, in less than 3 weeks Mike will be an Ensign in the United States Navy.  I leave in 2 and a half weeks, along with Anabelle and Mike's parents, to fly out to Rhode Island for Mike's graduation.  I can hardly wait!!  I've been working on some projects for this event, so I will share them soon.  So much has changed in our family's live and plans within the past 6 months, and we are thrilled about the new adventures that lay ahead.  Our next step after OCS graduation is to move to Charleston, South Carolina for 6 months of Nuke school (training for those in the Nuclear Engineering program for the Navy).  After Nuke school will be 6 months of Prototype (training on live nuclear reactors), which will be either in Charleston as well or in upstate New York.  Then, 12 weeks of Submarine school in Groton, Connecticut will finish up his training.  At that point we will be stationed somewhere for 3 years while Mike fulfills his first Sea Tour.  We don't know yet how long his deployments will be but they will range anywhere from 2-6 months.  I know, that's a big range.  It will all depend on what type of submarine he is placed on.

For now, Anabelle and I are enjoying time spent with family here in Utah.  Thank you to all the family who has invited us into our homes.  It's a strange feeling not to have a home.  Although, right now I feel like I have 3 or 4 homes, just not one of our own. 

Well, Mike is doing fantastic at OCS.  He is now a Candidate Officer, which means he is in the final phase.  They are now the "top dogs" of OCS, or the oldest class there.  They have the responsibilities of making sure everyone at OCS fulfills their responsibilities and that everything gets done.  It's hard work, but I imagine very rewarding as well.  At least it will be once graduation is over :)  Mike gets to carry his cell phone with him all the time now, so I get to talk to him once or twice a day.  This has been amazing.  I know it sounds a little crazy being giddy about talking to your husband for maybe 15 or 20 minutes a day, but I absolutely am!  It's much better than the one time a week in which I could hear his voice.  I miss him so much, and this time apart has been very challenging.  In some ways it has been very rewarding though.  We have grown closer together through the letters we have written and our time apart.  I can't really explain it, but I'm grateful for that blessing.

So now, I have to change hears and focus on preparing to move.  I have to make sure that everything is ready to go before I leave for RI, because we still don't know whether we will be coming back to Utah to get our things or if we will just drive straight to SC and have movers come pick up our stuff.  Crazy life, not being able to plan anything until the last minute and then having to rush to get everything done in just a few days.  The craziest part is that we aren't even the ones who have the final say in how things go.  We wait for the military to give us our orders, telling us when and where to report.  This is why the famous military motto is "Hurry up and wait".  ha ha

Anabelle will be two years old on Friday.  I can hardly believe we will have a 2-year-old.  Mike will miss her birthday, of course, so we will just celebrate it again when we are all together.  AB, as I like to call her in writing (it's shorter), is doing very well.  Her vocabulary is amazing, and growing every day.  She speaks in complete full sentences all the time, and even uses proper grammar most of the time.  She is so intelligent and wise, and every day I have to stop and marvel at something she says or does.  She understands so much.  Today, she heard the dogs chasing each other in the other room, huffing and puffing, and she stopped playing with her puzzle to say, "The dogs are laughing!"  She loves to play with babies and stuffed animals, especially to take care of them.  She'll get right up close to their face and whisper to them things like "Are you hungry?"; "Are you okay?"; "Go to sleep. I love you."; and so on.  She responds so matter-of-factly and with such confidence somtimes when I ask her a question.  This exchange from the other day just made me laugh: We were getting out of the car.  When I put AB in, she had a flower bow in her hair.  As I got her out, I noticed it was gone. So I asked her, "Anabelle, where is your hair bow?"  She just looked and me and replied, "I took it off.  It's in the car seat."  I looked in the seat and there it was.  Just the way she said it made me laugh.  Another thing, she always knows where things are.  She remembers just about everything.  She's also a bit OCD.  Each thing has its proper place.  Only certain babies go in the stroller, cupboard doors must be closed and not left open, Mommy has to be sitting in the driver's seat or she gets upset and whines, "No, that's Mommy's seat.  That's Mommy's seat."  She does enjoy structure.  I'm learning this as well, since I am definitely not the most structured person there is.  I love her so much, and I am so blessed to have her in my life, accompanying me with my everyday adventures.  She is my little buddy, and her presence and bright personality lights up my life.  I am so grateful for the honor and blessing of being her mother.

Well, I think this is a good update for now.  A little long.  I do hope you enjoy :)