Lovely Leisly.

Sunday night we had to say goodbye to our dearest friends Leisly and JP. JP got orders, so they had to move to Pensacola Florida. And yes, they took their baby Melanie with them... despite my pleads for them to let me adopt her. As many of you know, Leisly and JP are the first couple we met here. I will always hold a special place in my heart for them.

Leisly and I have been through so much together, and I consider her one of my bestEST friends. It would be hard to find someone who I'd have more respect for than her. She is an unbelievable person with wonderful qualities. I can't even begin to tell you how much I admire her. She is a great person and I'm lucky to have her in my life. I'll miss them so much, but I'm looking forward to a trip to Florida to visit. Here are a few pics of us in our past....

Me, Wayne Newton, Leisly, and Christie -- and yes Wayne did kiss my cheek that night.

Christmas Party for the squadron.

Christie, me, Leisly, and Eddie- isn't my scrub top just so hot!

Leisly and Brayden.

Our last dinner together... We look like we're polygamist from Big Love without Troy or Damon there.

JP and Melanie.

'Til We Meet Again'

Trouble Sleeping....

Since Troy left Brayden and I have had some trouble sleeping. Brayden has only slept through the night a few times since he's been gone.... this coming from the child who has actually been pretty good about sleep. He usually wakes up once around 2 and wants to be held. I've had trouble too. Not only do I need to sleep with 19 pillows to make it seem like someone is there with me, but I read to make myself tired and it doesn't seem to work well. I read and read and read... and still my eyes don't get very heavy. Any advice would help. Brayden is starting to get clingy and wants me to constantly lay with him before bed.... something that he never used to do... and now he does! Ugh, I keep telling myself its because so much of his household has changed... but I can't help but wonder if it might be age too. And it freaks me out because you always hear bad things about those kids who can't stop sleeping in their parents bed. Plus its so weird that we've never had this problem until Troy left. He has learned to climb out of his crib too, which is a complete pain in my butt! The other night I had this feeling to wake up, and when my eyes opened... his eyes were looking straight back at me. He had climbed out of his crib, in the dark, walked to my room, and stood by my bed. I feel bad that I didn't hear any of this on the monitor- but with lack of sleep lately, when I actually do sleep.. I'm out. When I lifted my head to get a better look at him- with a creepy feeling inside because he was there- he simply said 'mom-mom, up' and reached to get into bed with me. I was soooo unbelievably tired, that I just grabbed him and put him on Troy's side of the bed. He was out before his head hit the pillow, I feel back asleep pretty quick too. But it worries me that I didn't hear him. I have plenty of gates, and always close important doors before bed- because I am crazy/ocd about that... but still it makes me feel uneasy that he was up, chillin, in the middle of the night, climbed out of his crib, and walked into my room and stood by me like he was some kid from The Shinning -or whatever that creepy show is. If any of you have had similar problems, please give me some advice. It feels overwhelming that I can't fall asleep until 12 or 1 and he wakes up soon after and just wants to be held... ugh... I love my time with him... but its hard enough to try and fall asleep on my own....only to be woken up soon after. Advise.....

Hide and Seek!

Brayden's favorite game is 'Hide and Seek' and he absolutely loves it!! So tonight we were playing it, and I couldn't help but get some pictures of our adventures in seeking and hiding!

I found you!! (I'm sooo good at this game!)

Getting ready to hide...

Behind the door....

Still behind the door.... He thinks if he doesn't look at me, I can't see him! Hehe, silly Brayden!

He randomly laid down in the middle of the floor and closed his eyes... I had to say the following: "No, lying on the floor with your eyes closed DOESN'T count Brayden!" Then he started laughing.....

Peeking around the corner... wondering why I haven't found him yet.

Brayden wins!

Afterwords he got bored and tried to be bulimic, ugh, he's soooo naughty!

Halloween

For Halloween, we attempted "Trick or Treating" key word: attempted- for Brayden anyway. My friends Corina and Christie came over for some 'Halloween' Taco Soup and Trick or Treating. We took the kids out for about an hour, and Brayden did better in his stroller rather than walking. He was content at just looking at the kids in their costumes. This year he was a race car driver. I thought it was appropriate considering every time you see him- he has a hot wheels car in his hand. I, on the other hand, was a crazy Cowboys Fan! I think I got the psycho-crazy eyebrow enhanced look down.

Christie and I. According to Krystal, Christie is my "wife" this deployment.

Brayden kept trying to kiss Kylin! Despite our "no-no's"

Christie, Dillon, and Kylin.

Brayden playing with my wig.

zoom zoom.

Corina and I.

Dillon getting some candy- the people got really into it this year.

Red Ranger Dillon!

Reece and Corina.

Brayden and I, psycho brow enhanced.

Christie, Dillon, and Kylin-sleeping.

This smashed car has a story also. Before Corina came to my house, she called and said that her car wouldn't start. Curious as to why her car wouldn't start (since its barely 2 years old), she decided to blow it off and took Marty's Ram instead.... While she was on the freeway on the way to my house, this car started swerving right in front of her! Soon it hit the middle barrier and flew through the air and landed right in front of them! Luckily she was in their Ram because her car would have never stopped in time!! God works in mysterious ways. For those of you concerned about the driver, she climbed out of the passenger side a few seconds later. Thankfully she was fine and all was well on this Halloween night.