The Lucky One

So...

where was I?

Oh yeah.

Hi, I'm Neidy. 

I'm a wife to the sweetest man alive.

He's a veteran now.

He used to serve active duty with the Marine Corps and has longer hair.

He works late nights now at a scheduled time.

He has a million and one appointments with the VA.

I'm also a very blessed mother to the sweetest 9 month old baby who continues to surprise me every day.

We play, I change his diapers, we read books, I chase him all over the place now that he crawls.

And that's it.

Weird.

It's odd how quickly your life changes once you're out of the Marine Corps. Something that used to define me now doesn't. 

I feel like I don't have to be in a hurry anymore...it's all...here.

And yet I get so angry because the world is continuing.

The world continues on with living...shopping, visiting, walking their dogs, driving, etc.

All my husband thinks about is that one cooler in our living room that has his friend's graffiti on it...the one that died.

All we think about are how we have friends who can't see their families because for them...it isn't peace time...it's war time.

And yet we're the lucky ones.

We get a Christmas tree. He gets time off for Christmas. He gets to play every day with his son. We're carefully wrapping presents so he doesn't see them (even though, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't care).

So our story begins again...but not in the same way I thought it would.

It's this kind of bittersweet start. 

And maybe we'll never fit in...

but days like where Charlie laughs like he does...I think I could get used to that :)

♥

On Top of the World

First of all....

Sorry, sorry, SORRY

For my absence!!

Yes, Charlie (getting ready to crawl now as well!) is a handful. Also, catching up with Mr. H after deployment.

But there's a bigger reason why I haven't been showing up on my blog.

Mr. H EAS's next week.

So what does that mean?

1. We had to plan what we're going to do for the rest of our lives...in 3 months.

2. Mr. H got a job within the time

3. We needed to find an apartment in that amount of time.

4. Saved money for that as well.

5. Move across the country.

6. MOVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY

I'm thrilled for our move though! :) 

AND WE'RE GETTING OUT OF THE MARINE CORPS! 

(I don't think I was meant to be a Marine wife forever...but once a Marine wife, always a Marine wife right?)

I'll have to update you guys later on our progress :)

For right now, thank you to all who have supported me (and given me super sweet awards that I have yet to post and comment on!), given great advice, have been the BEST of friends in the mili-spouse blog community, and above all, have taken time to even give my blog the time of day. 

So here's a cute picture of Charlie and I

and the song that's been stuck in my head for the past day (and is super fun to sing!)

♥

First Day of My Life- Harley & Jane journal prompt

Hi and hello once again! I'm back with another special treat from my friends Harley & Jane!
I'm starting to really love these journal prompts. It really keeps me grounded...and blogging haha!

This journal excerpt is especially important to me...and sacred. 

Enjoy peeking into my soul a little bit!

One, two. 
Two little eyelids. One tiny mouth. One button nose. Two itty bitty hands.
One full head of hair.


It was a long night. I was weary from feeling pain and staying up all night.
And I missed my husband. 


But, in this moment, all I could feel was peace and gratitude...and the warmth of a brand new little being.

In that second it hit me. I knew how God truly looked at me and loved me. I felt the very same feeling as I stared at this tiny bundle after struggling for 17 hours. 


Brand new.
He was a brand new person and I, also a brand new creature.


I was now mother. 
What an opportunity of a lifetime.


I gave him a sweet little kiss on his forehead. Not even a stir. He was sound asleep.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I continued to behold him. He had Zach's lips and furrowed brow.


It was as if God gave me not only one brand new little being, but another who was so very far. I couldn't believe that we were given the precious gift of being parents. 


To feel just like Him as He has created something...that's an amazing feeling.
And He knows us...and He's known us from the very beginning.
"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..."

So Contagious- Harley & Jane: journal prompt!

Hi guys! :) My good friends over at Harley & Jane have this awesome journal prompt for today–a first in love. Enjoy this little excerpt from my own journal!

As much as I complain about how hard military life can be there is ONE thing that I'm really lucky to have.

No one gets to experience their firsts over and over just like I do.

My first kiss with him was just like the California air which we were in.

It was sweet, airy, and like paradise. I remember giggling at first because he had also missed. I'll forever have those feelings treasured in my heart forever.

My second first kiss was just the same, but a bit different.

It was a kiss of joy and relief...a sense of forever.

When he came back from that first deployment, it was all thrilling.

My head was spinning about a million miles an hour because I knew then that the last name on his name tapes on his camis and written on the dog tags of his boot meant it would be mine soon.

My third first kiss...
I could hear my heart throbbing into my ears. After 7 months, I felt like I had forgotten how to kiss.

My nerves were at an all time high...because I knew this would be the first time, after delivering my precious son, that I would be kissing his father for the first time.

Would it be the same?

Had he changed?

Will it be as gentle and airy as the first first time?

It was even sweeter like the California sunshine that hit our faces as soon as we stepped off the plane after we came back from Georgia being newly married.

It was intense like the heat in Georgia the day we got married.

It was just as thrilling as the first day he kissed me under the stars.

And it was perfect like that little bundle that was held between us at that moment.

Yeah...I'm lucky.

I get to be stuck in time.

♥

Kate- Chicago, leave, and fun!

Hey, hello, and hi!

I'm finally back from my little hiatus from vacation and leave with my dear big Mr. H and little Mr. H!

So as you can very well see, our family went Chicago.

And I know what you're thinking...

"Neidy. You live in Southern California. And you went Chicago for vacation?"

What can I say? Mr. H and I are city kids at heart. And we miss the midwest like crazy! (And not to mention, it's one of our favorite cities!)

(We're at Potbelly's....YUM!)

Anyway, we got to meet up with family, go to an AWESOME Ben Folds Five concert (Mr. H's first concert actually... INCREDIBLY fun), enjoyed time walking down Michigan Ave with Charlie, went to the Navy Pier, and of course, dined on some fantastic Chicago foods!

So first...here's a cute photo of Charlie on his first plane ride. 

(Kid did a great job! He was the quiet kid on the plane. :D)

And then once we got there, Charlie was in a shopping mood (note the Lacoste cap.)

And then it was our turn for some grown up fun :D
Ben Folds Five!!

A little bit on the concert...
something very important about Mr. H and I. We don't drink. And this was a 21 and up concert that had included with the tickets for 4 drink passes...ANY drink passes. Everyone at the concert used those to get beer. We, on the other hand, went on a trek to find pop.


It was nearly impossible to find any! Anyway, everyone was drunk and we were the only sober ones...so it was actually very entertaining. 
Anywho, we're rocking out to Ben Folds in all our soberness (and still acting like fools because everyone around us wouldn't remember it the next day) and they start playing Kate.


Right next to Mr. H was this chick who was completely gone, smelled like pot, had dreads down to her ankles, and was grinding up against him.


Instead of reacting like a normal wife would, I totally just laughed and laughed even harder because she was totally Kate from the song.  


Great moment :D (Mr. H wasn't amused.)


Anyway!

We had fun irregardless. I wish we had taken a photo of Kate though.

Charlie's totally taking advantage of his vacation.

Mr. H and 3 of his brothers! He's missing one brother, but it was good for most of them to be there :D

Mr. H and the rest of his siblings! A lovely bunch huh?

Charlie taking advantage of his vacation time again.

Oh and his rental car. I don't know how he could afford a Lamborghini either.

He heard about our Ben Folds concert experience and said he could play better.
He can. 
:D


Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that! It was a nice vacation with the awesome husband and my cool baby. 
We'll be seeing ya! :)
blessings ♥

Simplest love- Leading Lady Nursing Bra review & breastfeeding story!

Hello lovely ladies!

And a special greetings to any mommies who breastfeed :)

I have something special today for moms and women in general!

Leading Ladies, a premiere intimate apparel company dedicated to creating comfortably functional, remarkably affordable, stylish and easy-to-wear bras, camis and sleepwear, asked me to review a couple of bras! They are a family owned and operated business and have been expertly tailoring nursing and full figure bras for top brands and retailers across North America for more than 70 years. Leading Lady’s comprehensive line of nursing and full figure intimates – including sexy stretch lace wire-free and underwire bras, supportive and seamless sport and yoga bras, and cozy sleep and leisure bras – can be purchased directly on LeadingLady.com.

I was so privileged to try out a couple of their nursing bras! 

This is especially important to me because of this little critter that I have. :)

For any ladies going through your breastfeeding journey,

I hope to provide some encouragement to keep going and pressing forward!

And even if you're not, a large part about being a woman is wearing a great, supportive, and comfortable bra...it can seriously make a world of a difference!

Anyway, for those of you who are breastfeeding though,

you would know by now that it is not easy.

It was very difficult in the beginning, but I can tell you that a comfortable nursing bra made the difference!

But sadly enough, many companies don't usually mesh comfort with stylish until I came across Leading Lady.

These are the bras I was able to try out and I highly recommend!

(This is the Lace-cup Underwire Nursing Bra)

(This is the Organic Molded Underwire Nursing Bra)

Who says adorable and comfortable can't be characteristics of a nursing bra? Nursing mothers should especially feel wonderful themselves–after all, they're doing a huge service for their children giving them the best start in life!

And here's the best part:

They're affordable.

And here's a good deal that can help you a little more...

For any friends and family of military (or are military themselves!) you can enter the code MBLOG20 for 20% off your purchase! And they are also having a great sitewide 20% off sale from July 1 through July 7 (cannot be combined with the aforementioned code).

So breastfeeding mommies, do something for yourself–get yourself a comfortable, cute, but affordable nursing bra from Leading Lady. I know I'll be buying a couple more! (They make it so easy!) 

And mine aren't the only in selection– try a couple out. What I don't particularly care for in a bra you just might! (And this applies, as I said, to other women as well!)

So good luck on the breastfeeding journey! :)  

I'll be back soon with some stories! (Some of which include crying, pain, laughter, and squirting milk into my baby's eye...)

♥

Guest post! :)

Hi darling readers! 

In case you haven't heard, I'm over at Chambanachik guest posting! :D

You should go over and read it :D

It has to do with my little guy's smile...

Enjoy!

:) ♥