The Darville Daily: Deployment Month One

Top Ten Lessons from Month One of Deployment

1.Scabies are no joke and spread like wildfire
2.When you hear moo-ing coming from the crib that just means Matthews awake
3.When everyone in public stares you just say, "yes, they're 15 months apart"
4.Care packages are harder to put together than I thought
5.Ring worm doesn't have anything to do with worms
6.Tricare referrals while away from home are a nightmare
7.Driving cross country with two babies is actually possible in one day
8.Skype is my best friend and what I plan most days around
9.You can keep going even when you think pure exhaustion has set in
10.Carrying a car seat and diaper bag with a 1 year old on your hip is an achievable (and common) task

We spent month one of this deployment in College Station, Texas staying with my family, and just trying to figure everything out. It was such a blessing to be around my loving family for those first weeks that were rough at times. Combine having a new baby, adjusting to life with two little boys with having a husband deploy was a lot to take in. Through the tears they loved us anyway, changed diapers for me, held babies for me, and shared a lot of laughs with me. My family is hands down the best family ever. Needless to say we had a great time in Texas and knocked an entire month off our countdown!

Matthew had no fear of Bobby (my parents Emu), which made this mom a little nervous. Bobby is huge, but friendly, sometimes too friendly for a one year old!

We were so excited Nonna, Aunt Laura, and Uncle Ross all came to visit and meet Michael!

Watching the animals at Grammy and Pawpaw's was Matthews favorite activity

Matthew loved getting to run free out on the farm.

We enjoyed some beautiful weather.

My sweet sister-in-law, Laura, and dear friend.

Meeting my first nephew baby Will for the first time!

An added bonus of being in Aggieland in February was the start of Aggie Baseball!

Matthew has yet to meet an animal he doesn't want to touch, follow, watch and imitate! Although the cows are probably his favorite.

The boys enjoyed lots of fun times with their cousins. We loved having all of our family in one town together!

To say that Matthew was obsessed with Pawpaw would be the worlds biggest understatement. He loves Pawpaw, and Pawpaw loves Matthew. Many days Pawpaw stayed home late in the mornings just to eat breakfast with Matthew, and Matthew was always waiting for Pawpaw to get home in the evenings so they could go feed to cows on the gator together.