Clayton James

Clay,

I can't believe how such a tiny little person can bring so much joy into a mother's life.
You've been laid back since the day you were born, never in a hurry, and always happy.
Although you had a rough little start, things were soon normal and you thrived (and ate, and ate, and ate) like there was no tomorrow.

I'm sorry that I never filled out your baby calendar quite as I had imagined. I'm sorry I didn't record all your wonderful little milestones. But you'll be glad to know that none of things really matter later anyway. No one's going to ask you the age you first rolled over on a job interview. The woman you marry isn't going to rate you based on the date you started crawling.
And even If I don't remember the specific dates, I could tell you that you were smiling (and probably eating) when it happened.

Your brother loves you a little too much. But I'm glad you love him back. Day after day, Carter is very rough with you, and you keep coming back for more. You know, just like your father and I, that he loves you more than any other person on this earth. The bond you two share as brothers is already so strong.
I can't wait to see that grow in years to come.

You are definitely a mama's boy. But made your father happy when your first legitimate word and sign was Dada.

You also sign milk, can wave bye-bye, give kisses, and raise your arms up when we say, "touchdown!"

You are such an easy, wonderful baby. You have traveled the world, eaten everything but peanut butter, (In fact, tonight you had an entire chocolate milkshake for your birthday) and sleep wherever we lay you down. (Even if that's on the floor or a department store while mommy continues to shop)

You are quite adaptable and happy. You want someone to hold you and kiss you. You love to laugh and you love to poke the dog in the nose.
Your hand probably hurts at the end of the day from pointing so much, but you never complain.

You just started climbing up playground equipment this week and can to the whole thing yourself now including the stairs, the tunnel and the slide.

You don't have much interest in walking, and that's fine with me.

You love Korean ladies because they love to hold you. I think our Ajima is going to be the saddest person of all when we leave here in 2.5 (pilsung) weeks.
(Although Dene might be a close second :)

We have a very special bond, you and I, and it's something I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it's because we had those special moments as you were nursing, or maybe it's because I think we have similar personalities. Regardless, I don't know how I could ever love you more than right this very moment.


Happy 1st Birthday!
I love you,
Mama
































If you'd like to read how my life was changing exactly 1 year ago today. Click here and here.

Family Pictures

When I look at these, I realize how extraordinary our lives are. Every year, we have our family pictures taken on a jet.
And it's completely normal.
And that's cool.

Dilemma

Your child has to poop and the toilets don't work....

What's the right answer here?

Ungrateful

I've been wanting to post all these thoughts as little tidbits on facebook or twitter or something (If I had a twitter) but with everyone's statuses reflecting, "I'm so thankful for yada, yada, etc." I can't be the only ungrateful schmoe on the internet.

Here are things that really 'grind my gears' these days.

1. Moving
2. Children who only take a one hour nap and then are miserable the rest of the day
3. Friends who tell you, "Let me know if you need anything at all! I'll help with whatever you need." but are NEVER available to help. It doesn't count if you only do things for people when it's absolutely convenient for YOU and YOU only.
4. We're moving to the MIDDLE OF NOWEHERE, AMERICA. No, I'm serious. The closest Walmart is over 25 miles away. What's goign to be inbetween my house and that Walmart? DIRT. Don't get me started on how far away the closest Target is. I'm 100% serious when I say I'd rather be here in Korea with good friends, an awesome squadron, Emart, an ajuma and not need a car.
5. the president
6. The whole Sarah Palin mess
7. Everytime we move now, we will move right in the middle of T-giving, X-mas and BOTH boys' birthdays. I feel like we will almost never have birthday or X-mas decorations in our house again.
8. Dogs who poop in the dining room
9. The fact that I can't sign for anything for my move. I 'don't count' over here, even though I'm command sopnsored. But my husband is too busy working to just sign things. And they think they're going to normalize this place.

The end, I'm done. Hopefully I'll be in a better mood tomorrow.

You'll never guess

who called me.














**This is in no way edited, photoshopped, or altered. I solemnly swear my phone rang with this display on the caller ID.

TDY Blues

It's actually been awhile since Cory's been TDY and left me here alone. I think the last time was Safety School, 10 months ago.

Maybe that's why this time seems a lot harder than I remember.
Don't get me wrong, a lot of things are easier: I don't cook much, We aren't scheduled to "When Daddy is going to get home", and anytime after bedtime is MY time.

But more than not, things are harder. Weekends especially suck. That's when you see a lot of the dads out on the playground with the kids, giving mom a break.

Families are walking to the bx together, and moms are at the commissary sans children.

It also doesn't help that it's wet and stormy outside, we're stuck in the house, trying to keep from overdosing on Mickey Mouse Three Muskateers and Cheese-its.

We do have the new bowling alley play place, which is AWESOME, but Clay can't really enjoy crawling around there without eating leftover french fries that missed the trash can, or licking the floor. (See Anna, I have SOME standards..geesh)

The bx play area is pretty good. But it's hit or miss as far as packed, or empty, people I do or don't know. (And let's face it, I don't want to make small talk with people I don't know when I only have 30 some-odd-days left here)

Wednesday is a holiday, everyone and theirs will be traveling to Everland. It was going to be our last trip there before we left and now instead I'll probably be reading about Cadavers and going to bed early.
I thought about going on my own, but Carter can't ride many rides himself and Clay's not old enough for anything. Even in the ballroom, I'd have to hold him the whole time. And have you held that kid lately? He's got to weigh 50 lbs!?

Marshmallows

In the 60s, there was a famous study done with immediate gratification as it's subject.

Basically, 4 year olds were given 1 marshmallow, and could choose to eat it then, or wait about 15 minutes and get a second one.

The results weren't astonishing. 15 years later the kids who could wait for the second one were happier, positive, and self motivating.



"They had the habits of successful people which resulted in more successful marriages, higher incomes, greater career satisfaction, better health, and more fulfilling lives than most of the population."




The kids who couldn't wait were more troubled, indecisive and less self confident.

My mom and I were talking about this subject related to our own children and came upon the following conclusions:

My brother would have conned everyone into paying him to eat their marshmallows, stealthily stolen the rest of the bag and sold it to unsuspecting kids at recess.

I would have eaten the marshmallow right away, and then argued, then charmed my way to getting a second one anyway.

My expectations for my family?

Cory would have waited until 14:59 seconds, eaten the first marshmallow, then found the loop hole in the reg that says he is still entitled to the second one.

Carter would have eaten the first one right away, then screamed, cried and begged until everyone's eye balls were about to bleed and they had to call a priest because they thought he needed an exorcism.

Clay would have eaten the first one right away, farted, and been happy and content about the whole situation.

What would you/yours do?