What a difference a year can make; a bit of reflection

This time last year I was on deployment with the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN and my son and best buddy were with me for Tiger Cruise. What an amazing feeling it was to pick him up at the airport and kiss and hug and smell that kid after not having seen him for 7 whole months!
I'm pretty sure this was the week I finally got pinned for my surface warfare, hoooooray!!!! My sweetie pie was taking the pics wearing a shirt that said "XXL FART TEAM" which made everyone in the room laugh hysterically.

I was anxious to get home to my husband, as we were still newlyweds who had only spent about three weeks of our married lives together. We had the rest of our lives to live! We had plans to go to Leavenworth, WA for Oktoberfest. Oh joy! Cold weather, snow (just got outta the Gulf) and beer! It was a blast and a great reunion. This was even sweeter because that's where we had been married just that February, it was our special place.


One year later: I am now single (physically and emotionally, if not yet legally), living in Guam with my sonny boy, and looking at going to Oktoberfest on base. MWR is pretty awesome here, but you just can't compare a hot Oktoberfest with a nice cold one! And this year there will be no punkin' patch...bummer. First year I can remember since the kiddo was 1 that we haven't gone.

This just says so much to me. Mostly it says to me: Hey, your life can change in the blink of an eye, so don't take anything for granted and enjoy every single second of life you can and the people in it, because you never know when you'll have those opportunities again.

It also says to me: IT'S TIME TO GO OUT AND MAKE NEW MEMORIES!!!! (any takers?)

Everytime I look at him

I fall more in love with my son everytime I look at him. Just when I think it's not possible to love this child anymore, it happens. And my heart gets even bigger.
Last night he was sleeping next to me and I looked over at the most beautiful, precious child I have the fortune of being mommy to. Despite his huge attitude and stubborn ways (he comes by them honestly), and the bickering we do all day long because he is so fiercely independent, it's his way or the highway. I am getting better at helping him compromise though. I have a most amazing, intelligent child.
His beautiful blue eyes were closed and his long eyelashes were touching his still baby-chubby cheeks. His lips were bow shaped, breathing out and his little freckle speckled nose was moving just slightly. How beautiful can one child possibly be? I just sat there and listened to him breathe, watching him sleep. I may have even cried a little...
And in the mornings when we are on our way to base, I look over at this wonder of a little human being, taking in his beautiful profile, and his smile that just lights up the whole world. I love this child. More than anything. In the whole wide world.

(I know I am not the only mommy to ever feel this way, but I just had to get it out!)