Long Walks on the Beach

By now, my friends and family on Facebook have figured out that I have fallen in love with the town of Long Beach, WA. If you remember back in August, a friend and I went camping with our kids and had a great time. So it only makes sense that when my mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I basically shouted "All I want for Christmas is another trip to Long Beach!" Thanks to my thoughtful camping friend, I was able to point Mama Dearest to a fantastic deal on Groupon. It was for two nights at the Adrift Hotel in Long Beach with the option to upgrade. When making the reservations, we upgraded once, then they called to upgrade us again so they could make room for a group at no additional charge. So, for just $40 out of our pocket (Thanks, Mom!) we were in an ocean view suite. Sweet!

Where to Stay: Adrift Hotel

The Adrift Hotel is a weather beaten gem on the shores of Long Beach. From their website:

"on the ocean, in the heart of long beach you will find a modern and unique eighty room hotel. with a focus on value and sustainability, we provide each and every traveler with a different and exciting experience we hope you will not soon forget."

True to their word, T2 and I will not soon forget our weekend stay with them. Unfortunately, I lack a decorator's vocabulary, so forgive me if "modern, beachy feel" does not adequately describe the interior. The important thing is that we felt very comfortable in our surroundings. The lobby has some snacks and drinks sourced from locally owned businesses available to purchase. Expect to be greeted by rows of shiny beach cruisers and a real key to be handed to you on check in. The hotel offers movies and board games for use in your room and the beach cruisers are free to borrow when you go on your beach adventure. They also have a mini shuffleboard game and foosball. We tried out The Pickled Fish for dinner our first night there. We were a bit disappointed by the limited menu, but soon came to understand that it is more of an "appetizers and drinks" kind of place than a dinner destination. Portions are small, but priced right. The atmosphere is warm and the staff are pleasant.

Our room was on the 3rd floor and faced the ocean. A picture's worth a thousand words, so take a listen...

The living room

The Bedroom

The Ocean view

Think this one speaks for itself...

Where to eat: Laurie's Homestead Breakfast and Chico's Pizza

T2 and I in Laurie's for breakfast.

Check out these huge portions! I got the Hawaiian Omelette and T2 got the biscuits and gravy. Now, if memory serves me correctly, he requested 2 instead of one thinking he would get something similar to those you find in a can. Um... no. These are massive! Expect the plates to be on the pricey side, but when you consider that he and I could have eaten off of one plate and still had leftovers, it's well worth it. It was a Saturday morning in March, and we were seated right away. I've heard though that it can get a little crowded, so plan ahead for the weather as guests are asked to wait for seating outside.



We didn't take any pictures of Chico's or the pizza we got, but boy oh boy was it good! Chico's is a very spacious restaurant. They offer a salad bar and will put just about anything you desire on a pizza. The price was reasonable and the staff were very friendly.

What to do: Window/ Souvenir shopping, Antiquing, Funland Arcade, Hike to Cape Disappointment lighthouse

I've said it before, but Long Beach, WA is a very tourist friendly place. There is free parking everywhere, and even though a lot of the businesses had closed up shop for the off season, the ones that were open were really cute and offered some pretty neat things. T2 and I wandered the main strip popping into little souvenir shops here and there and found some nice treasures for our kids. Here are a couple pics we took on our stroll through town.

Just trying to grab a shot of the statues. The building in the background is not The Adrift Hotel.

We battled each other in the Funland arcade. Games are reasonably priced and powered by a fun card rather than tokens. Tickets are bar codes printed on thin strips of paper. I was able to get a pretty little shell necklace with most of the tickets we won that day. They have a variety of games that include old favorites and exciting new ones too.



Fort Canby state park






Without our kiddos in tow, we were able to browse antique shops and mini museums and not have to swat at grabby little hands. Later, we went out to the Lewis and Clark Center at Cape Disappointment and saw all the exhibits. This time though, we walked around Fort Canby and hiked up to the light house. On the way up to the lighthouse, we were treated to a view of Dead Man's Cove. It's a secluded little beach that is both romantic and spooky at the same time. The next time we go out there, we might try to get down to the beach.


Dead Man's Cove

All along the coast in Long Beach there are various outdoor exhibits like the one below. I still haven't gotten over to see the Gray Whale bones.

love birds...

Hammer (blue) and Flo (pink) Hermit crabs for the kids.

We had a fantastic weekend spending couple time together in this cozy seaside town. We were given the opportunity to reconnect after our long separation and spend some quality time getting to know each other again.

Have you ever gone away with your sweetheart for a day or two? What's your favorite part about quality time for just the two of you?

Green Acres

Well, the view has changed tremendously since my last posting. Let's start with the view around my dining room table. My better half returned home from a (loooooong) 9 month deployment in February. Hooray! We've been spending time as a family getting reacquainted and falling back into a normal rhythm. Block leave was amazing even if we didn't go anywhere. It was great just having him home every day. Every time he leaves for a deployment, I tell him that I can't wait to trip over his boots again. I was able to spend 20 precious days tripping over them again (he leaves them all over the house!!) and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

The view in my living room has changed as well. Luke is still waiting to find his matching kidney, but while we wait, we'll start him on peritoneal dialysis. We've been going to trainings in Seattle to learn how to operate the machine at home and how to care for his catheter. How has this changed my living room? I now have a mountain of boxes of PD supplies to contend with. T3 and Luke have been competing with each other to see who can climb the highest before Mom notices... Still, we are nervous and excited that he'll be starting at home dialysis soon. Hopefully, we can get this little guy to grow a little quicker!

The view in my kitchen has changed right along with everything else. As the weather warms, tiny seedlings have sprouted in my window sills. We are anticipating the arrival of long sunny days and have started our garden. Last year, I tilled the ground on fort Lewis in a rented patch of the community garden. This year, I've got about 1/3 of an acre around my home that is all mine to cultivate. We've started a compost system of sorts, and as it progresses, I'll keep you updated. Here's a list of all the yummies I plan to grow this year:

Lettuce
Broccoli
Swiss Chard (Because it did so well last year!)
Carrots
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Egg Plant
Jalapeno Peppers
Bell Peppers
Celery
Strawberries
Blueberries
Cucumbers
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Pumpkins
Yellow squash
Green beans
Sunflowers

Whew! What a harvest it will be. It will be a lot of hard work, but in the end, knowing where our food came from will be all the reward I need.

So now you've gotten a glimpse at my green acres. Let's hear about yours! I'm hoping to make this a weekly feature on the blog now that the Vitamin D has lifted my spirits a little. Here's to sunny days, sweet tea, all the little things, and a glorious spring...

Catch you later!
Adrienne



Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Skipping Santa (Part 2)

How on earth do we make it work?

Well, it's not easy, I can tell you that. Especially when we are battling well meaning teachers and child care workers who love to insist to our kids that Santa is real. And it's not just at school or daycare, I am somewhat surprised at the "Santa education" that goes on in church. Everything from coloring pages to Santa appearances at parties and asking the children what was on their Christmas list. In the grand scheme of things, those few activities may seem completely innocent, but when you are trying to lay a groundwork of faith and trust in a child, there is little room for out right lies just to encourage a little imagination.

And what about imagination? 
The biggest concern that is expressed to me regarding our choice to skip Santa is that my children will not be able to develop a healthy imagination. Let me assure you, they are not hindered in that at all. My children love to play dress up and pretend with their toys, and we've even had visits from two imaginary friends when my daughter was two (a rabbit and a baby grob (frog) haha) While we're talking about Santa, I may as well let you know that we skip the Easter Bunny too for the same reasons. We do however play around with the idea of the tooth fairy and have some fun with her, and I have been reading up on Mini Mocha's idea of a Christmas Mouse to spice up our Christmas tradition. I love having fun with my kids, but I really think that allowing them to play with a story I have just read (extend it, act it out, etc) is a better way to cultivate their imagination.

Well how do you avoid Santa?
Now this is a tough one. The most obvious way we avoid Santa is by not allowing our children to sit on his lap in the mall or at Christmas parties. I'm not completely blind. I've seen the way our kids look when they wish they could go sit on his lap, and it breaks my heart. But I also know that it has a lot to do with wanting to be like everyone else. Here's the thing though, we've got to be careful how much we encourage fitting in, and how much we encourage standing out. I don't want to be a contradiction; one day my kids will notice. Like most families, we display a nativity scene in our home, but I go one step further and do not put out traditional images of Santa. My one Santa indulgence is on mine and my husband's stockings. His is a Woodland Santa, like this, and mine is a White Christmas stocking like this. I feel like these two images give us a chance to tell our children about who Santa, the man, really was.

But Saint Nicholas WAS real!
A wonderful part of our family tradition is discussing who Saint Nicholas actually was. I like to refer to the Saint Nicholas Center  and other resources for the real story on this treasured part of human history. I choose a few age appropriate facts and tell my kids that he lived at one time and did many good things for adults and children. Some of that involved giving gifts. But the fact is, just like any other human, he lived and he died. Now to keep his memory alive, parents tell stories to their children about him and people like to pretend that he is real. Then I ask them why we celebrate Christmas and go into the story of Jesus' birth. I feel it is my responsibility to be careful not to attribute eternal life to any man other than Jesus. Teaching my children to believe in magic as anything other than an optical illusion or interesting diversion is a slippery slope as well. Here is a list of children's books that talk about who Santa actually was. I have not reviewed them all, so it would be wise for you to do so before you read one of them to your children.

Your kids are missing out on childhood memories!
Maybe one or two, but that really depends on what age they are when they discover that Santa is not real. Frankly, my only memories of Santa are making a couple of lists, opening a few presents, and finally when I found out the truth. He wasn't a BIG part of my childhood as I recall, and if he was, it happened before the youngest age I can remember. So I don't really see this as being a problem for my kids. Besides, we create many other lasting memories for our kids that are just as sweet. One more thing about this particular protest; would someone ask the same thing of a Jewish family or one who celebrates Kwanza instead? Few seem to be worried about them missing out on Santa... or Jesus for that matter.

But finding out the truth is a Rite of Passage!
Seriously? Now that's just cruel. I don't have much to say about this one because I am not terribly interested in watching my kids' childhood beliefs get crushed by some older kid or crazy uncle for sport.

What if your grandkids are taught to believe in him?
First off, that is far too many years away to be worried about it now. Secondly, my grand kids will not be my kids. I will share responsibility for their spiritual up bringing with my children, but in the end, their parents are the ones who get to make this decision the same way my parents have graciously allowed me to make this decision now. Finally, no, I will not be a grinch and dash their hopes and dreams about Santa. Instead, the focus when they come to my house will be right on Christ where it belongs. I promise you, I am not trying to single handedly kill Santa. I couldn't do it even if I wanted to. However, it's important to note that folks got on just fine celebrating Jesus' birth before Saint Nicholas came along.

In the end, the reality is we spend way too much time criticizing people for their choice in Christmas traditions. We are called to be fishers of men, not Santa's helpers. There are so many people who need God's comfort and we should be focusing on reaching them with love and compassion all year, not just at Christmas.

So there's my two cents, and for what it's worth, I hope it maybe got you to thinking about ways that you can shift the focus of Christmas away from Santa and presents and back onto Jesus who really is the reason for the season.

-Adrienne

Here's what you missed!

Skipping Santa

Skipping Santa

6 Reasons why Santa Skips our House:

I realize going into this post that not everyone will agree with me. However, bear with me and know that I do not pass any type of judgement on folks who do allow Santa down their chimney. In fact, I rather enjoy all the Elf on the Shelf pictures that I see on Facebook. It's amazing how creative us moms can get when it comes to our kiddos! I was a kid once and I remember looking forward to Christmas and Santa Claus like many other children all over the world, my husband too. This list is not written from any traumatic childhood memories of the creepy mall Santa or when I found out that he was hiring my dad to do all the shopping... this comes from a conversation my husband and I had before our oldest daughter's first Christmas. I will say that it is certainly unconventional in our circle of friends, and we've drawn some funny looks from family, but hey, this works for us. And guys, remember this is an opinion piece, K? Thanks!!

                           Excuse Miq's messy face. I'm almost positive chocolate was involved...

6) A case of mistaken identity-

 The very first comment out of my husband's mouth when we discussed this was, "My hard earned money is not going toward gifts with some other guy's name on them." At the time, this seemed to be his number one definitive reason, but the more we talked about it, we realized there are other more important reasons to skip Santa...

 5) Be good or else-

Santa, along with his little Elf on the Shelf, are the ultimate bribe for good behavior. T2 and I would like to think that we are teaching our children about the importance of good behavior and how it builds character. Not to mention, that the absence of Santa teaches our kids a very important lesson about our belief in Christ. If good behavior won't get you into Heaven, try explaining that to a child who thinks good behavior will get him everything on his Christmas list and then some.

4) Thankfulness above all else-

My husband and I strive to teach our children that a thankful heart is a happy heart. I will be the first to admit that our kids have way too many toys. I intend to fix this problem this year before they add more to their collection. And it really is just that, a collection. I would venture to say that 75% of the toys they own have become curios from sitting in the bottom of their toy boxes. When this whole "kids in the nest" stage has ended, I'd like to have produced adults who are thankful for what they have and do not expect anything more based solely on what national holiday it is.

3) Following the Example-

 Christmas is all about giving right? Well, that depends on your point of view. If you are a child, 'getting' is likely what's on your mind when you write out your list and then go sit on Santa's knee. We've already discussed your motivation for good behavior... While it's true that the Christ child received gifts from the 3 Wise men, it's also true that their gifts foretold of coming events in the King's life. Their gifts to Him also model the way in which we are supposed to offer our hearts to the Lord. God gave us Jesus as a free gift, so removing gift giving from Christmas all together would be a tragic injustice to our children. There is no need however, to focus on jolly old Saint Nick as the ultimate gift giver. That title was reserved hundreds of years before he was even a twinkle in his mother's eye.

 2) Only slightly off the beaten path-

 We're all a little off- every single one of us. There are times in our lives when we decide to bust out with a solo when everyone else is drudging along singing the same old tune. Will Santa ever get too old to saddle up his reindeer? Probably not, but I could also ask the same thing about the Super Bowl and April Fool's Day... The reason these things live on is because of our traditions. New things pop up and we follow them for a little while, maybe try to incorporate them into the other activities (like Elf on the Shelf). We really can't be faulted for skipping Santa. He just doesn't work for us. Instead, we follow our family traditions and make really great memories while doing so. We do the normal Christmas movies, driving around looking at lights, and decorating the tree, but we also eat Chinese food on Christmas day rather than a huge dinner. In fact, we've decided that a big Christmas breakfast is more our speed followed by a restful day enjoying our family.

 1) Focus, people-

In the end, it all boils down to our focus. Every Christmas, I hear or see "Jesus is the reason for the season." I really love that because it is so catchy, but looking around, I begin to question if that's really the case. Everywhere I look, I see mass consumerism but at the same time, homeless people doing without. Parents who feel inadequate because they cannot provide their children with the same level of "love" the other kids in class receive. Some of us go into debt that will require many months of credit card payments. And for what?? A bunch of stuff that loses its novelty after a day or two. If we want to instill these radical ideas into our children's hearts,we're going to have to do it in a radical way. Instead of Santa, my family chooses to place our focus on the gift of our Savior and how we can help others do the same. In the end, we want to celebrate Christ, not Christmas.

-Adrienne

Don't miss:

Skipping Santa (Part 2)

When U-Pick local, you pick smart!

One of the healthy habits I have begun to adopt for my family is choosing local, in season produce. Unless you live in a tropical climate, there is a very good reason that pineapple at Christmas time cost you your first born child at the checkout. Here in the Pacific northwest, tropical produce does not grow very well without many other factors added in to create the optimal environment. It really is a waste of resources to urge a watermelon to grow when it just doesn't like the weather here. Of course there's always the option to truck it in from California or elsewhere, but we see a rapid loss in nutrients the longer the fruit or vegetable is off the plant. The way I see it, why eat a veggie if it isn't going to pack its maximum punch?

The kids and I have rather enjoyed ourselves this summer picking local organic blueberries and raspberries. It kind of goes back to what I was saying before about breaking the hold "city life" has on them. The best part? The kids got to see where their food actually comes from! It is important for children to connect their food to its source. This is one reason why picky eaters do so much better come meal time when they have picked the produce that goes into it.We are anticipating apple picking in October!

                        Local organic raspberries. First time my girls ever had to worry about cow pies...


 No matter where you live, a kitchen garden is possible. If you do not have a yard, consider container gardening. You would be surprised how easy and fun it is to grow your own food in pots on your back patio. Check out Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew for some great tips on how to get more veggie for your square foot. My husband and I put together a garden over on North Fort (JBLM) where we have been busy growing Swiss chard, carrots, lettuce, spinach, jalapeno peppers, broccoli, strawberries, tomatoes, and sweet peppers all summer. All that in two 4 ft x 10 ft plots, and there is so much room we didn't use! I have saved much of the Swiss chard by freezing it in individual freezer bags for use in soups and stews during the winter. Freezing is a great way to lock in nutrients from fresh picked produce. I hope to get my fall crops in the ground this weekend. I realize I may be a week or so late, but hopefully, the weather will hold out. If not, then I'll just have to use some of the tricks I found in Steve Solomon's book Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades.

                                                             Not bad, for my first haul!

If gardening just isn't feasible for you because of work or school, then be on the lookout for sales on local produce at the grocery store. Pears and peaches are in season here, so when I saw a sale on them (pears .58/pound, peaches .99/pound) I snapped up at least 5 pounds of each. Admittedly, the peaches were a bit bruised, but boy were they sweet! I cut off the bad parts off and sliced those bad boys up and put them in the freezer for use in smoothies, desserts, and shakes. The pears I intend to turn into glazed cinnamon pears and can in glass jars for use on the kids' ice cream. Yummy! In late July, early August, apricots were on sale at a local farm stand. I picked up a large basket that was overflowing with the little jewels, brought them home, and turned them into apricot preserves. We're pretty excited to see how it turned out as soon as the store bought runs out in the fridge.


(Pardon the technical difficulties; it would appear my phone is not interested in cooperating with pics today!)

This summer has afforded me my very first chance to actively participate in stocking up for the fall and winter. Seeing my freezer stocked with yummy fruit and veggies that I either grew myself or got a killer deal on gives me such a sense of accomplishment and well being. I know that I will not have to worry about selling my first born or forking over a kidney for my kids to have healthy produce through the winter. I still have quite a bit left to do, like turn all my tomatoes into salsa and spaghetti sauce, plus manage the fall veggies, but I'm really looking forward to it!

Not only does local produce benefit your health and wallet, but it also benefits your neighbors- the farmers who live to grow healthy food to share with others. Check out pickyourown.org for a list of U-pick farms near you. Localharvest.org has a list of CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) to consider if you'd rather have someone else pick your veggies for you. In this type of agriculture, members of the community buy shares of produce from the farm, usually paying up front for a few weeks or an entire season. These farms work through the year harvesting seasonal produce, so don't expect pineapples for Christmas unless you live in an area where they grow year round. Finally, farmers markets are excellent places to immerse your children in local culture. Visit localharvest.org for a list of these unique markets that are near you.

U-Pick is one of the many fun and inexpensive activities that will engage your children at dinner time. Give it a try! You just might find that your picky little monster turns into a broccoli eating angel when she's had the opportunity to wash the garden dirt off of it herself!

Kites and Camping

All of the moves we have made while being in the army have brought us to fairly large cities. Considering that I grew up in a town with only one stoplight (there are two now!) and my husband only had a caution light, the change has been a big one. I grew up camping with my family and loved every minute of it. We've gone in the heat of a FL summer, the cold (c'mon 50/60 degrees is cold to a Floridian) and the rain. I think my favorite trip was one we went on to Salt Springs where we stayed for a week in a pop up camper. I spent the week reading the Yearling for the first time. (You know, it was actually written in that area?) Sure I was a bit of a girly girl back then, I loved dresses and Barbie dolls, but when it came to enjoying the outdoors, camping was the best way to do so.

Since making all of the moves for the Army, I have become increasingly concerned with my daughters' fascination with "city life." They would rather be inside than out and are completely terrified of insects. (Trust me, there have been blood curdling screams over love bugs and house flies. I kid you not.) A lot of this comes from us hurriedly signing leases on apartments so that we can move out of the hotel we stay in upon arriving at a new destination. But no more! We have a beautiful home now with a large backyard where I hope my youngins will learn to love and appreciate nature. We have tiny little frogs, garter snakes, and even ducks out there for them to look at. To say I love this place is an understatement.

Still, bless their hearts, the girls are more afraid of the critters than the critters are of them, so my husband and I have taken up camping again. This past week, the kids and I went camping with a good friend and her kids. We went down to Long Beach Washington and enjoyed the Kite Festival. I'd like to tell you a little about our trip and encourage you to visit as well if you are ever in the area.

Where to stay: Wildwood Campground

We were expecting a much larger group than just the two of us and six kids, so I reserved a site they call the "Back 40." The rate was very affordable and cost less for both nights than if we had stayed in a local motel. It had two picnic tables and one large fire ring as well as ample space for our two tents. We used much of the space as a playing field for the kids where they flew the kites they made at the festival and played all sorts of other games. The campground has two bath houses, a pond for catch and release fishing, basketball, tether ball, and volley ball. The family that owns and runs it is very nice and accommodating, and the grounds are very quiet in the evening- no worries about traffic noise, etc.  The best part about this place is the location! They are situated very near the beach and the town of Long Beach, WA.

                                            Our tent site... So much more behind the camera!


What to do: Beach, Kite Festival, Cape Disappointment
Long Beach Peninsula
Kite Festival
Cape Disappointment State Park

My kids saw glimpses of the Pacific ocean when we went up to La Push in April, but this was their first time being able to actually see and touch the water. The beach out here in the Northwest is very different from the East coast. I recommend long sleeves or sweaters in the morning right up till about lunch time. After the sun comes out, bathing suits are comfortable. (Remember this is August in the NW, we actually do have lots of sunny days in the summer!) The kids got to play in the surf, but because the currents are so dangerous, we didn't let them go past the middle of their shins. There is no swimming at this beach. But oh what a beautiful beach it is! The sand is dark gray with little flecks of black (volcanic perhaps?) There are plenty of opportunities to build sand castles, and if you go the third full week in August, you will get to take part in the kite festival!

 I had no idea there was such a large following in this niche! The town of Long Beach is so accommodating to their tourists. Parking is free just about everywhere, the festival is free, and they have a number of free activities for the kids to participate in during the festival. Ours enjoyed making kites with a couple of veteran kite fliers/makers. Later, they played in the sand at various kids "camps" that people set up on the beach. We watched aerial ballet with kites and music and enjoyed one show the most as it was put on by an 80+ year old man who goes out and flies his kites every day of the year. The sheer number of kites in the air was absolutely beautiful, and from what I understand, the mid week was nothing compared to what they expected over the weekend. The experience of it all is so much more than what I have written here, so if you get the chance, do not miss this!

 

 The last day we were there, we visited Cape Disappointment and went through the Lewis and Clark interpretive center. You will need a discover pass (state park permit) to park in the parking lot, but they offer paid parking as well. After a steep climb up a ramp to the top (there is handicapped parking available without the climb) we were able to see where the Columbia River meets the ocean. We saw the lighthouse up there, but did not hike to it. Instead, we wanted to visit the interpretive center before nap time. Admission is $5 for adults and $2.50 for kids 7+ This place is great! It includes highlights of Lewis and Clark's journey west as well as what they did when they finally reached the area. There is a 20 minute video downstairs and interactive exhibits that the kids are encouraged to touch. They also have a gift shop and beautiful panoramic viewing of the cape.

            Where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. I didn't think it would be this calm!


Even the ride out and back was great. We skipped the interstate and stuck to the smaller roads and went through some great little towns. All in all, it was a very relaxing trip. One might think it would be stressful with 6 kids and tents plus sand that sticks to everything, but it was actually a much needed break from the every day.

I encourage you to make a connection with the activities you loved to do as a kid. Our moving habits offer perfect opportunities to show them that we weren't always mom and dad. Playing with our kids is one of the best gifts we can give them because it is a tangible way we can show them that we love them.

What's there to do around where you live? What sorts of activities do you enjoy doing with your kids that you used to do as a kid yourself?

Adrienne

Spotlight: Lukey

So my littlest love is always on my mind and his sweet little cheeks are solidly imprinted on my heart. Luke is only one, but already he has a gift; he is a ray of sunshine. Even when he wakes me at 1 am, it's with his precious singing, so how can I be mad? I just love his bubbly laughter and the way his whole face lights up when he smiles. He claps his chubby little hands and giggles at my mom's little dachshund. He absolutely adores that dog. Know how I can tell? He was very interested in pulling Stryker's ears and even pinched his lips before leaning over to peer intently into the puppy's eyes. Then he grabbed a handful of fur and gave a little yank for good measure, and all the while, Stryker, the old man that he is, just sat there and let him love on him. He's been a part of my family since he was still squatting to pee, so I whispered in his ear "Thanks for loving my baby as much as I do."

(Come back another time, and I'll let you see these two in action!)

But back to Luke. My sweet little ray of sunshine. You'd think I'm just partial to him, but no, everyone else thinks so too. Even with so many clouds in his life, he still remains the happy little cherub we all love to pieces. See, what I failed to mention was that Luke, my sweet baby, has Stage Four Chronic Kidney disease caused by psuedo prune belly syndrome. He has been in and out of the hospital his whole life thus far. The dark clouds piled high over us the day we had my 20 week ultrasound. We were given many problems and fewer solutions that day. I chose to wait to find out what sex he was. I figured it was my last pregnancy and this was the one great mystery left in life. But once we found out our baby had troubles, I had to know. I stopped the stroller in the parking lot, looked up at my husband with tears in my eyes and said, "I have to know. I must know now. This little one needs a name." We carefully opened the little envelope they had sent us home with and stared at the grainy black and white picture. There he was! Our little Lukey. I named him on the spot. 

                                                Thumbs up. Everything's alright in here, mom!

He came to us four weeks early, but weighing a healthy 7 pounds 6 ounces. He was ready! We prayed mightily, as did all of our friends and family that he would get to come home with us when I left. But alas, he was called to the NICU where he wrapped every nurse and doctor in the joint around his little finger for 18 days. It was absolute torture. If you are reading this, and you have gone through this, or are about to, trust me, I empathize. I sobbed for days in my room at the hospital and at his bed side. I rarely got to hold him because of all the tubes and wires. It was excruciating, and even that might be an understatement. He was finally discharged and since then has spent many more visits to our local Children's Hospital (which is AMAZING by the way). Every time I am worried sick about him, but every time we joke halfheartedly that he just needs a vacation from his rowdy siblings and that he wants to go see his pretty nurses. They take such good care of him there.

                                                                              4 days old


Even with all of the sticks and surgeries, he has developed his sweet disposition and anyone that sees him, instantly falls in love with him. So ladies, lock up your daughters. I have a feeling he may be sweet now, but those chocolate brown eyes and long eyelashes are going to make him into a heart breaker one day! So that's my little Lukey. He'll be signing autographs later; you won't want to miss it ;)

                                                                So much fun in the wind!

I think we can learn a very important lesson from this precious little one year old. Especially us deployed spouses. Pain hurts us for a little bit, we cry about it, and rightly so. But the sooner we move on and smile, laugh, and get busy, the better our quality of life will be. It takes a little while. For Luke, he had 18 days of constant reminders that he wasn't with me. 18 days to a newborn with no sense of time, probably seems like a lifetime to them. (wait, does that even make sense? You get my point...) It probably seems like a lifetime until your beloved will return to you. But smile, baby. Light up a room. It will be over before you know it and when it is, you will be remembered as the one who held it all together. The one who encouraged others and took the time to meet their needs.

Ok seriously, you should probably comment about how cute this kid is before you burst... =D

Adrienne