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I got my lip pierced last night. It feels weird having it again. I *sortof* wished I waited, but it's okay. I admit I missed it. I used to have snakebites, but took them out when I got pregnant with Braden in 2007.

Things with Brendon have been... better. He's okay with me driving him back and forth to work as a "punishment", I guess. In all honesty, we can't afford him wrecking all the time. We just can't.

We spent a few hours at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo today, it was fun. Braden got to feed one of the giraffes.

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Winter Weather

Well, Brendon is in the field until Thursday afternoon sometime. Lamesauce. I'm going to have to work around Braden's sleeping schedule to get school work done, and working out. His naps are scarce and starting to become non existent! What's a mom to do?

Next week is my last week of my first class, and I got my new textbooks yesterday. There's 3 for my next class. It's a PSY 202... Adult Development and Life Assessment. I'm excited, but at the same time, I need to be in the ball to pass my final. I'm sure I can do it.

We decided to get Braden a big big boy bed. He hates his toddler bed. I think he's so used to sleeping in a bigger bed when we co-slept. So we'll see how he does in his new bed. Brendon also promised to get me a new camera when the taxes come back, and I'm learning towards the Canon PowerShot A2000 (silver) or Canon PowerShot SX200 (black). I miss my Nikon, but this will be as close as we can get, I suppose until reenlistment time. Then we can get me a DSLR camera. Maybe a Canon Rebel.  Unsure.

It's supposed to snow for the first time since we got back from Georgia for Christmas. 3 - 5 inches expected, but we'll see how it goes.

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Braden's hair, or lack of.

 

We decided that it was time for Braden to have a hair cut. It was always getting tangled up, and it was long, just curly. Brendon wanted to cut it this time, since I cut it back in August for the first time. It turned out wonderful. This time not so much. I wanted Braden to have more left on top, but Brendon was like "oops, used the wrong size clip for the clipper". Wonderful.

I'm not upset about it now, I've grown used to it, he looks older than he really is with it, though. I can't believe he's two years old, and he's almost 30 lbs. For the longest time, he was in the 10% for his age, and now he jumped up to 30%. I think most kids start slowing down with growth at the first birthday, but Braden continued to grow.

Brendon and I also talked about what we can do when he comes home for r&r on the next deployment, which is coming up soon. He'd fly into Colorado Springs, and we'd rest a day or two, then drive to California, and go to the beach. I doubt he'd want to be on another plane after traveling from Afghanistan. And since the deployment is shorter, so is r&r. Last deployment was 18(I think?) days and then guys after that were getting 12 or 15 day r&r's because the deployment was cut down. I think going there would be beneficial for him. He wants to stop in West Convina to visit Trimble's(his close friend who was KIA) grave. I really think that might help him open up. We'll see. I think we could use that vacation when r&r does come up.

There's supposed to be block leave in June - July, but I'm pretty sure we aren't going home then. We went home for Christmas, and the drive was horrible. I'd rather drive, in all honesty, especially with a toddler, instead of being stuck on a plane. Part of my mission 101, is to drive home by myself, if I do, there will be LOTS of breaks, and hotel stops. I can't drive 30+ hours by myself. And flying by myself would be a challenge, especially with Braden, and carrying in the luggage, AND car seat. Maybe if I were back at Campbell, it'd be easier traveling, but not from Colorado.

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He's 2!

Braden turned 2 years old on January 12th. We still cloth diaper him, but getting ready to start potty training soon.

We're in the process of moving/setting up our new apartment(long story), so updates have been sparse.

I'm realizing after arguing with Brendon, the PTSD is getting worse. He's admitting a problem. But the problem is him trying to get time off to get help for it. He's afraid that they will discharge him for it. He had a soldier who was fresh out of basic, being suicidal, and claiming PTSD, and was released medically. I guess I can see his worry, but he's not suicidal, just very on edge and paranoid. We've got to get this fixed soon. He goes to JRTC at Fort Polk in April, and a little after that the next deployment starts. I'm just worried about him.

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School!

Today was my first day of school with Ashford. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of my classmates are either: prior military, a military spouse, or Active Duty military. It's nice to be in a class full of people who can relate to me. They all seem nice enough, and my professor seems okay. I'm such a nerd... I did my first weeks assignments today. I'm that much of a nerd.

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It's 2010!

Happy New Year! 

New year, new decade, new attitude. I'm going to try to have a more positive outlook on everything.

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Mission 101

Start January 1 2010
End September 28, 2012

Italic - In progress
Strikethrough - Completed


1 Lose 100 pounds
2 Get straight A's in my classes
3 Learn to love myself more
4 Participate in NaNoWriMo
5 Run 10 miles

6 Run 5 miles
7 Run 1 mile
8 Learn to control anger
9 Get out of debt
10 Buy a home

11 Save money
12 Survive deployment # 2
13 Drive to Georgia by myself with Braden
14 Fly to Georgia by myself with Braden
15 Ween myself off caffeine

16 Attend a UGA football game
17 Become less addicted to Farmville
18 Hang out with friends more
19 Find a best friend
20 Eat Healthier

21 "Date" nights with Brendon before/after he deploys
22 Buy a Nikon DSLR camera
23 Read 100 Books(4/100)
24 Watch 100 movies(6/100)
25 Buy new furniture

26 Buy new dining room table
27 Visit another state not visited before
28 Find a church worth attending
29 Buy a new car
30 Do not WRECK

31 Spend a weekend in Denver
32 Visit Montana
33 Visit Arizona
34 Visit Utah
35 Buy new wedding ring sets for Brendon and myself

36 Grow hair past shoulders
37 Buy a treadmill
38 Stop eating out often
39 Make Jello successfully
40 Visit NWS in Denver

41 Visit the SPC(Storm Prediction Center) in Norman, OK
42 Stop watching soap operas altogether 
43 Have a lot girl nights
44 Get a small part time job
45 Try eating less red meat

46 Go skiing
47 Go snowboarding
48 Visit a ski resort
49 Eat more vegetables
50 Have a book/wine night once a week

51 Buy sexy lingurie
52 Try not to have phones thrown in the toilet
53 Clean daily, not every two days
54 Potty train Braden(day time)
55 Potty train Braden(night time)

56 Do away with diapers
57 Not go commando anymore
58 Not play xbox 360 games as much
59 Be a better mother to Braden
60 Write one entry a day on livejournal or my blogspot blog

61 Calm down and breathe during aunt flow's visit
62 Visit my grandpa's grave more often
63 Go to a tail gate party
64 Make 5 Afghans (0/5)
65 Visit Cheyenne Mountain Zoo again

66 Visit the Denver Zoo again
67 Visit The Children's Museum in Denver
68 Visit Estes Park
69 Get another tattoo(Braden's name and date in Japanese)
70 Buy a hand gun

71 Shoot a hand gun
72 Go hunting
73 Start & finish Project 365(during the deployment)
74 Start the 'Simmons Emergency Fund' with Chase
75 Start banking with Navy Federal


76 Invite friends over for a drink/dinner
77 Get Braden's 3 year old pictures done
78 Get Braden's 2 year old pictures done
79 Teach Braden to ride his tricycle
80 Try taking Yoga classes

81 Attend Mommy & Me classes
82 Meet other military wives and become good friends
83 Visit the Melting Pot once
84 Visit Pikes Peak again
85 Visit the top of Mount Evans

86 Visit Disneyland
87 Visit Las Vegas
88 Scrapbook everyday of the deployment, starting with day 1.
89 Write letters for Brendon to take with him until we get a address.
90 TTC Baby # 2

91 Complete 10 Crockpot recipes for dinner(0/10)
92 Fry a turkey for Thanksgiving
93 Get 5 massages for a mommy break day(0/5)
94 Order Braden custom name items
95 Take my parents to Mount Evans

96 Visit Mount Massive
97 Learn to knit
98 Knit a jacket
99 Attend a NCAA Bowl game in 2011
100 Visit California

101 Get at least 10 credits from Ashford.(1/10)

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