Feelings of Relief!!

I HAVE FINISHED THE PETTICOATS!!! And on time, too, I might add! I was stressing pretty bad about getting them done, as I mentioned in my last post, but thankfully they are finished. I took some of it to work to work on in my "down" time between babies, so that helped a lot. A friend at work helped me cut the tulle and that was fabulous!!

This is what the finished product looked like. Don't let the picture fool you, that thing is poofy!!

The first petticoat was my "learning experience." They got progressively better. (Which is a good thing since Lay wants one for Ally's flower girl dress!!) By the time I made the third one, it was a cinch! I put way too much stress into the fact I had procrastinated, but they were actually not too hard to make. I made a bit more work for myself because I wanted the petticoat to be comfy for the girls. So, I made the satin as long as the tulle so it wouldn't scratch their legs. When I gave the lady at work the first one to try on her granddaughter, she came back and told me that the granddaughter loved it!! The second little girl wore it home from "the fitting." It made me feel good that they liked them so much!! They will look so cute skating around with their very poofy poodle skirts. The party was today, so I can't wait to go to work and ask my co-worker how it went and how the girls looked! She said she'd take pictures of how they all turned out.

~Just an update, the sis and I are going to our "perfect tote" class on Monday!! We can't wait!~

It was a sew, sew day...

Ok, so by now, everyone has read about the wrap me and the sister made. I was so stoked to go to this class, I kept giving people at work the countdown to the day we went!! Everyone was like "Just do it already, and bring it up here when you've finished it!!" I do believe sewing is my new favorite past time. Next week, the sister and I are going to make "the perfect tote." She didn't want to go, but then she saw the cute fabric I chose for my tote and decided she wanted to take the class after all. I have a confession, though, it was a premeditated fabric-ing. I knew as soon as she saw my fabric she'd want to make one for herself...and it worked!!! We'll let you know how it goes!!

(Pardon the bleary eyes in this picture, I had just come off four days of working and had been up for 24 hours!)

Another cool thing I got on our "minky dot wrap day" was a sewing machine tote!!! It's so cute... and PINK!! We got a dust cover with the machine when we bought it, but this tote is just that, a tote!! It's got handles and a shoulder strap and everything!! Did I mention it's pink?? Sis and I had gone to Hancock's to look for fabric and I found this instead.

I just wanted to share a sampling of what I have been sewing on my new favorite toy!! I have discovered the art of pillowcases!! I love to make them. I have made three to date. This one is the cutest so far. The other two were for Blair so the "cute level" had to be toned way down.

My newest project is petticoats. A lady at work's granddaughter is going to a sock-hop themed skating party. The little hostess wants all of her friends to wear poodle skirts. The lady from work decided the skirts aren't "poofy" enough and wanted me to make three petticoats. Yes, I said three. Now, I undertook this project because it sounded fun and I thought I had way more time than reality is allowing. I know sis has talked about her procrastination problem and just to inform those who don't already know, that problem is GENETIC!! Meaning, I have three days till these petticoats are to be finished and I just started!!! And the tulle isn't even here yet!!! It's ordered though, so that's a bonus!!

Well, that's all for now, I suppose. I'll keep everyone updated on the petticoats. I will be sure to take pictures to share with everyone!!! Take care and God bless!!

My Thoughts

Ok, so by now I'm sure everyone thinks that I have the saddest life ever. Well, last night when I was at work, I had a thought...I am very blessed!! Yes, I know, my husband is gone and I am extremely saddened by that fact, but the other facts are as follows:

• I have a wonderful and loving husband
• I have a great and supportive family (thanks for the other night sis!)
• I made it through nursing school (by the prayers of my family and the grace of God!)
• I am a Registered Nurse in the NICU (which I LOVE!!)
• I have an adorable home that I love
• I have super friends that I enjoy
• And most of all, I have God on my side through the tough times (like now, for instance!)

Sometimes as a whole, the world gets sucked into all the bad things going on everywhere. This includes me. For the past week, five days, and four hours, all I could think about was "poor me, my husband is gone." But there are people out there that aren't blessed with loving husbands like I have been. There is always someone out there that has it worse, no matter how narcissistic we are in thinking its "all about me." I am going to really try hard to remember how extremely blessed I am, even when things are tough.

Now this is not to say that I won't miss Blair, because I WILL!! Anyone who really knows me knows how much I love him! This is just to say that even through my sadness I will remember that he's only going to be gone for a while, I can still talk to him, he's not in any more danger than I am, and that he loves me and wants to come home as badly as I want him home. So next time I'm sad (which by the way, don't watch 'We are Marshall' when you've already a really poopy night) I will work really hard to remember all the good instead of dwelling on the bad.

One week down...

So Blair has been gone for five days now. This week has not been as bad as I thought it would be. (I guess prepare for the worst and hope for the best, huh?) I kept super busy on Monday, fairly busy on Tuesday and Wednesday I slept all day. Wednesday was ok until I was fixing my dinner for work and as I was putting the lid on the container I saw our last name. For some reason that made me really sad and I shed a few tears. Thank God for my sister, though. She must have known that I was sitting there watching Sweet Home Alabama and crying, because she called and invited me over. It was just what the doctor ordered!! My sister has been great through this, very supportive, willing to help me keep my off of things.
It also helps that Blair and I get to talk on the phone frequently. He's not been as busy this week as I thought he would be so he's not been to tired to talk. I really love to hear his voice and it helps me to imagine that he's still close. I'm hoping that the days will pass by quickly. This week has, thank goodness.

A Hard Day

Today, Blair left for Minot, ND. I was ok getting ready to go and on the way to the airport. And standing in the line to buy his ticket I was only a little weepy. But boy, did the dam of tears break loose when it was time to say goodbye. I had been trying to be strong; let him see that I'm tough and have the grit it takes to be a military wife, but I couldn't hold back any more when its time for the last hug, last kiss for two, maybe three months. As I stood there sobbing on his shoulder, he just held me. It was just what I needed. His last words before leaving were "I love you, I'll see you in a couple weeks." Oh, if only it were a couple weeks. So I left him grudgingly at the airport to cry myself home and to sleep.
But I can do this, I can make it through this...This is what I tell myself. I keep a litany of my pros running through my head. I have family, friends, and work, lots of work. Today I kept busy. I hung out with a friend, Anna, went to a great get together at Laura's house, and it was ok. But now, as I sit here in our bed, alone, I really miss him. I miss his snore, yes, I said snore. I miss the way his chest feels under my hand. I miss the cute little gleam in his eye he gets just before pounces to tickle me. I just miss my Blair. He is my rock. He is my love, my soul mate.
But I can do this, I can make it through this. I knew when I married him that this day would come, I'd just hoped a little later than sooner. I tell myself to be strong and brave and not to make this harder for him, he's the one leaving. But it's hard being left behind.
In all of this, in all my sadness that my husband of four months tomorrow is thousands of miles away, I am still grateful. Grateful that he's not being sent to Iraq. Grateful that he won't be in imminent danger. Grateful that he's only states away, instead of countries. Grateful that we'll be able to talk everyday. Grateful I will be able to go see him. Grateful that I have family and friends near. Grateful because I know God will bring us through this and we'll be stronger for it. Grateful Blair is able to serve to his fullest capacity. Grateful he is my husband, a man who won't shirk his duty when called on. I am grateful for Blair.
But I can do this, I will make it though this, to the end, and I will rejoice when the end of our seperation is here. The journey to the end; however, will be difficult.
I know I am not alone. I have God on my side. Also, there are many wives who don't know where their husbands are, if they are alive, if they are eating more than once a day, if they will come home at the end of their deployment walking or with a flag over their left shoulder. I take courage from all the military wives before me who are strong for their men, who hold everything together and make life easy for him while he serves our country and it's people proudly. Though I am sad he's gone, I am proud of him. When asked, "Who will go?" my husband replied, "Here am I, I will go," just as we are all supposed to do. He displayed a willingness to give of himself not oft seen. He is my hero. I will miss him every day, every hour, minute, second he is gone.
But I can do this, I can make it through this, I have to, for him...