A late night run.

Couldn't sleep. Shouldn't have had a cup of coffee after dinner. Oh well, good reason to go for a run! I did 1.83 miles in 14 minutes. :) Feeling accomplished.

Must work out!

I need to get my butt into gear and get physically fit before I head off to boot camp!

Also, my mind is full of ideas of things to make, notes to write, little gifts, etc to have Jimmy give the kids while I'm gone. Like one shoe box will be filled with little surprises for when Audrey or Jacob had a bad day, or really misses me a whole lot. And there will be little notes with smiley faces and encouraging words, little candies, etc.

Plus, I'll write them each letters every day in boot camp.
I will miss them like crazy.

Civilian wives miss their husbands, too.

You know why? Because they're so busy all the time!

The weekend just ended, which means I just got done working two doubles at the restaurant. I'm exhausted. Slept as late as possible this morning, and am now nursing this cup of coffee.

Jimmy left at some rediculously early time to go get some extra studying done before his classes today. He kissed me goodbye and we discussed trying to get a sitter on Thursday so that we can have a long overdue date, and actually see one another for more than an hour at a time.

The majority of the weeks are spent passing off the keys to each other, just kissing each other goodbye or goodnight.

The time apart to time together ratio is probably pretty similar to how we spent our lives in the Navy, it's just more broken up.

And we have less money.

These seem to be more reasons indicating that joining the Navy myself might be the right decision. Better quality of life. A house, even. A second car. Awesome vacations and fun family trips when I'm home.

Waiting tables isn't great, and I certainly don't want to do it forever.

Navy Blogging

So, I'm obviously terrible about blogging regularly, but I've been feeling the need to lately. And here's why. Not everyone knows, but I've decided I'd like to join the Navy in about six months.

So, here's my first Navy-themed blog.

It's morning. But instead of making coffee, I'm dressed and ready to go on walk with the kids to Target to buy a few things. No coffee, because guess what? You can't have any in boot camp. Of course, I don't have to quit yet, but I just don't really like feeling so dependent on it every day anyway.

And besides, let's be real, I'll probably buy a Dr. Pepper at Target.

Ha ha.

That's all.

Sincerely yours, a sassy soon-to-be sailor

Why This Woman Loves Her Man

Deployment #2. January 10, 2013. Audrey is 4. Jacob is 22 months. We have less than two weeks left before Jimmy is done in the Navy. Another two weeks or so and we're moving home, to Texas, to live in Austin again.
While emailing back and forth I told him I loved him. He replied with 'Why?'. and this was my response.

Because you said in an email "Tomorrow makes two weeks until I get to come home. I like all the ways time can be measured, but what I like most is that when it's done, I get to be with you." 

Because you're sexy and smart and honest. Because you make me laugh. Because you call me. Because you work really hard, for us. Because you're a fantastic kisser and make my knees turn into jelly, and my toes curl. Because you're romantic and sweet. I love you because you love me. I love you because you're the better part of me. I love you because you make me a better person and you make me happy.

The reason that is on my mind most lately is the kissing... I hope I don't lose my mind before he gets home, because I just might. Sometimes the days drag on and one can feel like a week. Before I know it we'll be looking back at this time in our lives, remembering fondly the homecoming, the smiles, the kisses, him hugging the kids, laughing with them, holding my hand again... feeling whole again. I know we're going to be so happy in our life together. I can feel it inside me, I can feel it for certain. 

I'm the luckiest woman in the world, and so extremely happy. I love James Allen Tedder and can't wait to see what the next chapter of our life includes. 

-Mrs. Victoria Nicole Tedder

Meltdown

I just read something about homecoming on the Stennis wives' page and... I kind of lost it. I got up and checked on the kids, and Audrey had snuck into my bed (she does this sometimes and i have to move her back to hers). I was going to move her, but then I thought for now, until I go to sleep, it's okay. I turned back to leave the room. I felt so restless. I just had to move. My gaze landed on the picture of me & Jimmy sitting on our dresser... we were sitting on a late night train from Chicago back home to Waukegan. Our heads were together, foreheads touching, smiling. He was looking at me with that sexy grin that he does. That look. My god.

I walked out of the room and sat on the stairs and burst into tears.

I don't know why, exactly. I missed the frg meeting yesterday... and it was such a huge one. They gave all the information about homecoming. A friend gave me the info. this evening post meltdown-crying-jag-on-the-stairs, so that was nice.

I just... ache for him. I tried to write him to explain it, I tried to think of some beautifully poetic metaphor for what it was like being without him, being so close to having him home again.

I wrote:

...and then ofcourse the reunions will happen...

 and i'll be whole again.

anyway...
i just miss you so much, you know? it just hurts. it's so close now i can feel it. but i can't, too. it's... like...

i don't know. i can't write anything poetic sounding right now, i'm tired. i'm tired of feeling like writing poetic things about how much i miss you, because i'm tired of missing you. i'm tired of missing you.

i want to go to sleep now so that i can wake up and it's one day less and we're one day closer... i'm just going to put this stupid day behind me and move on.

What can  say? He's my everything. He's been gone for seven months and sometimes I'm not sure if I remember what it's like to be kissed, to be held, to be made love to, to see his smile, to hold his hand.

God I can't talk about it... I just can't. I want it now. This is torture! The anticipation is torture!

Goodnight... when I wake up, it'll be one more day behind me. A stupid day at that, Valentine's Day. While I didn't get flowers, I did get a wonderful phone call. He loves me with all his heart.

Pop Up Card with Vellum Paper & Sewing!

I made this card tonight & am so thrilled with it. It's the first time I've ever: (1) made a pop up card, (2) used vellum paper, and (3) did some hand sewing on the card.

What do you think? Likes? Dislikes? Let me know!

Front View

Inside View

Maybe the inside is missing something, but I'm too tired to work on it anymore tonight.

Valentine's Day "Tree"

Audrey just adores it. :)

Card Folder

After lovely baby showers, making & writing thank you cards seemed like a very daunting task. Plus, I still had to unpack all the gifts & organize the baby's room, & & &! So, for my friend, Brenda, I decided the perfect gift would be a set of already made thank you cards.

Today I made a folder to hold them. I'm very happy with the way it turned out. I followed a very good tutorial here. Thanks Hand Stamped By Lacey!

I hope my friend really enjoys my latest project. I had so much fun making it for her. Can't wait to meet the beautiful baby boy that will be arriving soon.