The Marine Corps motto is "Semper Fidelis", or "Always Faithful" in Latin. As Marines, we have a motto that we say to each other: Semper Gumby, or Always Flexible.
See, the Marine Corps tends to occasionally throw curveballs at its servicemembers. Case in point? My husband and his orders.
For a background: He is an E-8, which is the rank of Master Sergeant. (Incidentally, I'm an E-5, which is a whole 'nother story in itself.) He got selected for a pretty impressive position working in Washington, D.C. He is currently working at a university teaching ROTC candidates. I chose orders to Quantico, VA, because of the close proximity to where he will be. We didn't want our monsters to be separated from him while they are so young. I received my orders to report in on May 15th to Quantico, expecting him to be showing up around that time as well.
Last week, we were told that he might not be going to DC after all. His monitor (the Marine who selects where to place Marines across the Corps) is telling him that he might have to be stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC or Camp Pendleton, CA. Being from San Diego, hearing that really stings.
Our options at this point:
1) He gets his orders to DC, and all is well with the world. (With the exception of my usual bitching when winter comes around on the East Coast.)
2)He gets orders to somewhere else at Quantico due to the Marine Corps actually instituting the policy that it will "try" to station married Marines within 50 miles of each other.
3) He gets orders to CL or CP, and I deny my orders, effectively ending MY Marine Corps career and getting "blacklisted" from reenlistment. (Obviously, this really isn't an option for me.)
4) He gets orders to CL or CP and we live apart for the next three years, seeing each other every couple of months.
Let's all pray for #1, or at the very least #2. I really don't want to contemplate the other two options at this point. Call me an ostrich with my head in the sand.
The funny thing is, through it all, I still love my Corps. When this is all said and done, I may be grumbling under my breath, but nothing can ever make me hate the Marine Corps. Might be hard for others to grasp, but my loyalty will never waiver. I just hope its loyalty to me doesn't either.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Elbow Fetishes and Fashion Mavens
Another theme day at the CDC today. Clothes were to be worn inside out or upside down, and breakfast would be served for lunch and vice-versa.
I got #2 dressed in her inside out clothes (I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to dress them upside down...anyone?) but #1 was NOT having it! She refused to wear her shirt and pants out of the ordinary way. No matter how much I prodded and how often I told her that EVERYONE was wearing their clothes that way, she refused to budge. Good thing, I guess, since when my Hubby took the girls in, NONE of the kids in #1's room were dressed inside out. It appears that these lil munchkins take rules and status quo quite seriously at this age! I guess after being told over and over again how to do things the RIGHT way, doing them the wrong way, even when urged to, just isn't happening. Way to stick to your guns, baby girl!
#1, that one is just something else entirely! She has this odd obsession with our elbows!!! She lays next to us on the couch, in bed, ANYWHERE!!, and starts stroking our arms and pinching our elbows. It's kind of sweet at first, since #2 was never very affectionate as a young infant. In fact, she refused to be kissed, and would thrash if you tried hugging her. Now though, oh, it's all about the elbows. She'll only fall asleep holding onto my arm. I wonder where this new fetish comes from, and what exactly it means. For now, though, I'm happy that she's showing her love in this physical manner. Pinched elbows and all.
I got #2 dressed in her inside out clothes (I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to dress them upside down...anyone?) but #1 was NOT having it! She refused to wear her shirt and pants out of the ordinary way. No matter how much I prodded and how often I told her that EVERYONE was wearing their clothes that way, she refused to budge. Good thing, I guess, since when my Hubby took the girls in, NONE of the kids in #1's room were dressed inside out. It appears that these lil munchkins take rules and status quo quite seriously at this age! I guess after being told over and over again how to do things the RIGHT way, doing them the wrong way, even when urged to, just isn't happening. Way to stick to your guns, baby girl!
#1, that one is just something else entirely! She has this odd obsession with our elbows!!! She lays next to us on the couch, in bed, ANYWHERE!!, and starts stroking our arms and pinching our elbows. It's kind of sweet at first, since #2 was never very affectionate as a young infant. In fact, she refused to be kissed, and would thrash if you tried hugging her. Now though, oh, it's all about the elbows. She'll only fall asleep holding onto my arm. I wonder where this new fetish comes from, and what exactly it means. For now, though, I'm happy that she's showing her love in this physical manner. Pinched elbows and all.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Pajama Day...a.k.a. Mommy's Easy Morning
Today, the Child Development Center had "Pajama Day". The kids and teachers got to go to school in ther favorite pjs. This made my morning SUPER easy, since the girls love to wear their pjs.
#1, of course, chose her Ariel ones. She is into all things girly, especially Disney Princesses. She waltzed into that classroom like she owned the place.
Teacher: "Oh how pretty! Is that Ariel?"
#1: "NO! It's mermaid!"
Teacher: "Oh! Right! What is your mermaid's name?"
#1: (with a DUH!! look on her face) "Uh. Ariel!"
Yup....she takes after me.
#1, of course, chose her Ariel ones. She is into all things girly, especially Disney Princesses. She waltzed into that classroom like she owned the place.
Teacher: "Oh how pretty! Is that Ariel?"
#1: "NO! It's mermaid!"
Teacher: "Oh! Right! What is your mermaid's name?"
#1: (with a DUH!! look on her face) "Uh. Ariel!"
Yup....she takes after me.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Genesis
Most mothers are WONDERFUL at documenting their child's milestones. Most mothers have baby books for their kids that are filled out meticulously.
That's MOST mothers.
That's not me.
Me? I'm the one who turns to my husband and says, "Hmmm...#2 really isn't talking much and she just turned 2. Wasn't #1 talking well already??" Or, "How many months was #1 when she started crawling?"
Which might not be TOO much of a problem if my husband's response wasn't a shrug and a grunt that sounds like "Idunno".
#2 DID just turn 2 last week, though, and by golly, I feel downright guilty for not having kept track of their milestones. I can't make up for the past, but I can make sure that from now on, we have a way of documeting these special moments! So, the beginning of Sergeant Mommy.
I'll write about my girls, my life as a Marine and a Mom, and the world in general as it relates to parenting. I hope you enjoy "watching" my girls grow up. I know I am!
Baby's first word: "Mama" when baby was 14 months, 3 days, and 10 hours old.
Baby's first tooth: 9 months (and it will be taped right HERE when it falls out in a few years!)
Baby's first steps: On a trip to Grammy's house on Sept. 9, 2005. The day was rainy and gloomy. Baby wore a blue dress with pink leggings, grabbed onto the maroon sofa, stood, and took two teeny steps forward to the many excited squeals of mother. Father, of course, was watching the ball game and missed the little miracle!
That's MOST mothers.
That's not me.
Me? I'm the one who turns to my husband and says, "Hmmm...#2 really isn't talking much and she just turned 2. Wasn't #1 talking well already??" Or, "How many months was #1 when she started crawling?"
Which might not be TOO much of a problem if my husband's response wasn't a shrug and a grunt that sounds like "Idunno".
#2 DID just turn 2 last week, though, and by golly, I feel downright guilty for not having kept track of their milestones. I can't make up for the past, but I can make sure that from now on, we have a way of documeting these special moments! So, the beginning of Sergeant Mommy.
I'll write about my girls, my life as a Marine and a Mom, and the world in general as it relates to parenting. I hope you enjoy "watching" my girls grow up. I know I am!
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