Change of Plans

In July, we found out some news that will be changing our plans for coming home in September. Now that we have told our family and it is for sure, I can come out and say that Andrew is deploying. I can't say when or where but it is very soon and I'm pretty sure most people can guess where they are sending him. With that said, Oaklie and I will be coming back home to Idaho. It is definitely a bittersweet feeling. I will be home for fall and winter. Which fall back home is gorgeous and I can pull out my boots and winter clothes which I have not really worn in a few years. Andrew will miss all the holidays including Oaklie's birthday, but this is what you sign up for when you join the military. All I can do is stand behind him and encourage him that everything will be ok while he is away. We are so lucky to have family supporting us and being there for us because it makes things a lot easier for me to handle everything on my own. Last week Andrew received all his gear for his deployment and it didn't feel real until then. So I have been trying to get things done and put things together now so I can enjoy my time with him when it gets closer to him leaving. I've come up with a few ideas to send with him, like open when letters that he can read on special occasions like his birthday and all the holidays because who knows how long my letters will take to get to him for him to read on Thanksgiving or Christmas. If anyone has anymore ideas I can send with him or put in care packages that would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to being home with my family and catching up with everyone. :)

Quick Update

             I have been so busy, I have had little time to blog. I started school recently and between both work schedules, homework, and spending time with Oaklie and Andrew, I have had little time for myself let alone blogging. So not much has happened since the last time I was on. Oaklie is talking more and more. Her vocabulary has broaden tremendously. She can say so many words and she talks nonstop. She can now do somersaults. It is her new trick and she does them all the time at home. Oaklie is such a smart girl. She will take her dirty diapers out and through them away on her own. She knows how to throw something away in the garbage can if you ask her to. And she even knows to put her own dishes in the sink when she is done eating. The only issue with that, is she cant reach the sink so after standing on her tippy toes and reaching as high as she can, she throws her dishes in the garbage can instead. She means well and I know she is trying so it is hard to get mad at her when she throws her dishes away. We took Oak to the zoo a couple of weeks ago. She loved it! She had the best time seeing all the different animals. If it wasn't so hot, we would take her a lot more. On really hot days we try to go to the beach if neither of us is working. Oaklie loves the beach. She could spend the whole day playing on the sand if I would let her. On the fourth of July, I had to work most the day, but when I was off we had a BBQ with some friends and went to watch fireworks over the bay later that night. Oak loves fireworks so she enjoyed them. We ended the day with roasting marshmallows and having smore's over our new fire pit. I loved seeing all the family pictures of everyone at the cabin over the weekend. We really wanted to try and make it home sometime this summer because Oak would love going to Bear Lake but my mom got all of us girls concert tickets to the Katy Perry concert in September so I had to decide what I would rather do. You cant go to a KP concert just anytime you want so I put off coming home. It is a good thing they invented Face Time. Oak ALWAYS wants to Face Time Grandma and Grandpa Campbell. She has learned from watching me and Andrew on the Ipad so she will call them or Aunt Courtney all the time. It makes being so far away a little easier. I think I caught up on about everything. I hope everyone had a safe weekend and enjoy the rest of this HOT summer.

Fourth of July attire.

 Face Timing in her little corner

           

Memorial Weekend!

So Memorial weekend came and gone. It went by way too fast. I enjoy weekends me and the hubs have off together. Family time is the best time. Yet again, I did not get to spend my memorial weekend at the cabin in Bear Lake with all the Campbell family. That is what I love about my family. A couple times out of the year, the Campbell side gets together and have family Christmas parties, Easter egg hunts, BBQ at Grandma Reeder's house, and during the summer, spend Memorial weekend, 4th of July, and Labor day at the cabin. Can you see why I hate living so far away from my family? While my fam was boating and spending the weekend together, I tried to make the best out of the weekend that I could. I came down with a double ear infection last Thursday so for the most part of the weekend I was home in bed. Sunday came around and I felt a lot better then I had the couple days before so we decided to through on our suits and head to the beach, because unlike most people, we both had to work the next day. So we figured why waste a perfect day stuck inside? And I will use about any excuse I can to go to the beach. I am so glad we did because the water was so clear. I have never seen the water that clear before. We were watching sea turtles swim by and manta rays. Little fish would swim by our feet when we were in the water. And when your husband and toddler are happy and having a good time, you are having a good time. Oaklie LOVES the beach. She could spend the whole day out on the sand or in the water if I would let her. Last summer, it was hard taking her to the beach because she didn't like the feel of the sand and she was just too little. This year is so much better! She kept asking us to take her in the water and once we were in she would kick her feet and relax. Most of the day we spent making sand castles, letting the waves hit our feet and overall enjoying each others company. To end the day, we went home and made a fire in the backyard and roasted hot dogs and had smores. Even though I have been really sick, we made the best out of it and made a lot of memories. Yes, I hate living so far away from my friends and family. But if I am going to be stationed clear across the country, I am so glad it was here because you cannot beat these gorgeous white sand beaches and crystal blue waters. I am sure you will see a lot more posts of us at the beach this summer. I hope everyone at home had a fun and safe Memorial weekend.

Waiting for the fire to start.

She loves to swing.

Loves looking at the fish in Bass Pro

April Update

So I have been extremely busy these past few weeks. Actually, the whole month of April. We have been constantly going all the time. With work, going between houses painting, and moving. It seemed like I was never going to get a break. I still haven't got my lazy day I so desperately need, but that day is coming soon.

So many things have happened in April. Of course there was Easter. Andrew had to work. I swear he works every holiday. So Oak and I spent most of the day cooking and hanging out. The Easter bunny hid eggs around the house for Oaklie to find when she woke up. That was probably her favorite part of the whole day. She loves finding things and putting them in buckets so she was really excited and happy waking up to a bucket and Easter eggs on the floor for her to play with. The Easter bunny decided to hide her present until Daddy came home so he could see her open it. She got big Lego blocks, Strawberry Shortcake movie, candy, and of course an outfit. Yes, I know I have a bad addiction with shopping in general but with her, its really bad. But that's what is so much fun about having a girl. I love to dress her up.

Finding Easter eggs.

 So we are finally moved into our house. We still have to put most of the house together but decorating is the fun part, so I don't mind. I am so glad it is all over. I absolutely hate moving. The sad thing is, is that I know that this move wont be the last. I told Andrew we are not moving until we absolutely have to so that will be when we get orders to move and at that point TMO will move us. I love having a clean house so when everything was pulled out and boxes were everywhere, it was driving me up the wall. I am OCD about having my house clean. Rarely will you see it messy unless I am sick or I've been extremely busy which even then I try to find time to clean it up even if it means staying up a little later. There is nothing wrong with wanting a clean house, right?

Helping Daddy paint.

Yesterday was my birthday. It was a busy one at that. We had a huge rain storm come in the night before and roads were flooded and some destroyed. Homes and parking lots were flooded. People were kayaking in the parking lots of grocery stores. It was crazy. They even shut down the base. The last time they shut down the base was almost 2 years ago when Hurricane Ivan came through. So you know its bad when they tell all military personnel to not come in for 2 days. But even with the rain I still had a good birthday. We went out to Texas Roadhouse with friends. So all in all, I had a good birthday.

Grocery store parking lot flooded.

On the 29th, it was also mine and Andrew's 3rd Wedding Anniversary. I can't believe its already been 3 years. We both had to work but it was still a good day. We went out as a family and had dinner. Once things settle down though we plan to go do something really fun.

I am so happy the month of April is over. It was a long stressful month for us, but we survived it. I am ready to enjoy my new home and job. Spend time with family and friends. And overall enjoy Florida. Yes, we have some major rain storms but you cant beat these gorgeous beaches. Now that we have a toddler and not a little baby this summer, we plan to take full advantage of it.

Fishing on the pier

A big Turtle we found on our front door step.

New things coming our way!

Lately days at the Stiffler household have been really busy. We found out recently that Andrew's deployment got cancelled, again. It is a little frustrating when we make plans for him to be gone for 4-6 months then they decide to push it back or cancel it all together. Budget cuts have a big thing to do with it and where we are pulling away from Afghanistan at the end of the year, they just decided not to send anymore Airman from Andrew's squadron. Andrew will deploy, its just we don't know when or where. Now that Andrew is staying at least until the end of the year, we have to move. Our contract is up in a little over a month, and as much as we love this house, we decided to move closer to work. We got a cute house 10 minutes away from base and just right by the beach. Summer is going to be so much fun with living only 1 mile away from the water and Oaklie being as old as she is, we will be able to do a lot more things. Most of our summer days will consist of laying out on the sand, fishing, and hanging out with our friends. I have mix feelings on moving. It stresses me out a little just because I hate the process of it all. We have so much stuff to move and I am so OCD about my house being clean so having everything in boxes and the house being unorganized is going to drive me up the wall. I will probably stay up all night unpacking and putting my house together. That's just me though, I wont rest until its done. Oaklie is a whole different story. You cant keep this girl down. She is going to be running wild while we try to pack and move things. Days like that I wish I had my mom and dad around to babysit.

I have also decided it was time to get a job. A job I can make a career. I just had an interview yesterday with an out patient Spine Surgery clinic and I am crossing my fingers I will get it. Working in the medical field has always been an interest of mine so getting this job would make me extremely happy. I will miss not having my little shadow with me everyday but with both Andrew and my work schedule, she will only have to go to a babysitter 2 times a week and the rest of the week she's either with me or her daddy. I also think having her around other kids will be good for her. Crossing my fingers it works out.

Oaklie is growing up so fast and saying so much. She just had her 15 month check up yesterday. I still cannot believe she's 15 months. You would not believe her vocabulary. She says sentences in baby gibberish and she is starting to say a lot of words. She can say up to 10 words now. Its pretty impressive on what she has picked up. She says I love you, thank you, please, uh-oh, oh man, mom, dad, baby, ball, papa, and she tries to say her name. She shakes her head no when she means yes and no. She is obsessed with combing hair. She got a Minnie Mouse hair set for her birthday and she is constantly combing her hair, mine, or Andrews. A couple of weeks ago she went with me and my friend Shannon to get a pedicure and she loved putting her feet in the water with mine. Oak has an obsession with playing outside. We try to go to the park a couple of times a week to let her run around for awhile. She likes to feed the ducks and go down the slide. And everyone knows how much this girl loves to dance. Any music comes on she will stop what she is doing and start dancing. Cutest thing in the world. We only have to wait until she is 3 and we can put her in dance class.

I think I caught up with about everything that is going on. I am going to try to come home this summer. I don't know if it will happen if I get this job but hopefully it will happen. I miss my family too much to not see them for a year. April is going to be a busy month for us with moving alone but our 3rd anniversary is coming up and my birthday. Its going to be a busy and a little stressful month. Praying for patience and for everything to fall into place.

 Pedicure with mommy

 Combing Daddy's hair

Chilling on the beach

Playing at the park

Feeding the ducks

Update

I have been so busy lately, I haven't had anytime to blog. Oaklie is keeping me really busy. She gets into everything and tries to climb up on anything she can. The other night, she climbed up on our table. She has learned how to open my dresser drawers and my make up bag. Lets just say this little girl can make a really big mess in a short amount of time. Can I just say how much I love my little girl! I will turn on music and Oak will just break out dancing no matter what she is doing at the time. Her most absolute favorite song right now is Timber by Pitbull. She is so obsessed that whenever she starts crying in the car, we put it on because it calms her down. Oak is just a little character. You cant help but not laugh and smile when she is near. :)

So many new things are taking place. Oaklie top two teeth finally broke through. We have been waiting forever for them to come. She now has 4 teeth. She has also learned how to take her clothes off. While I was home, I chopped my hair off to my shoulders. I cut off 10 inches. Surprisingly I'm not missing my long hair. With how hot and humid it is in Florida, I enjoy having short hair. Its easier to take care of. I have finally decided it was about time to go back and get my schooling done. My brother n law introduced me to Medical Coding. I'm excited but its a lot of material so that means a lot more studying for me.

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. We spent the day at home. We really weren't in the mood to go out and deal with all the craziness. Andrew made me heart shaped waffles for breakfast and spoiled the crap out of me. I am not really a flower type of person. I feel like for the price they ask for a bouquet of flowers is a little ridiculous considering they only last a few days, so instead he bought me a shirt and sandals. And to top that off, he got me a 5 foot tall balloon. He knows me too well.

Of course we had to spoil Oaklie. We gave her an outfit of course. I have a bad addiction with baby clothes shopping. I buy Oak way too many clothes but I cant help it. Remember those jelly shoes we once had when we were little? Well they are on the shelves once again. I just had to get Oak a pair. So I gave her some really cute pink ones to go with her Valentines dress. And to my surprise, Oak really likes them. She wouldn't take them off last night and shes wearing them again today. I think shes obsessed with shoes as much as her Aunt Courtney. We also got her a baby doll which babies are her favorite thing right now. A lot of our friends say its a sign that shes ready for a little brother or sister. But no one get there hopes up because that is not going to happen for a couple more years. Oak keeps me busy enough. I don't think we can handle a baby on top of it all right now.

Valentine's Outfit.

I think I pretty much went over most of the things that has gone on for the past couple of months. Andrew is still scheduled to deploy this summer so we are just working and trying to spend as much time together before he leaves. But baby just woke up so its time to stop blogging and chase her around the house. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of there weekend.

1 year mark

Oaks first birthday has finally made it. I can't believe how fast this last year went. I couldn't help but reflect back on the day she was born. She was so tiny and was completely dependent on us to take care of her. Now she is a walking, talking, independent toddler. This last year has taught Andrew and I how to be the best parents we can be. We were a little worried when we left the hospital how to take care of her when we got home. We learned day by day and I'm not saying we are pros at parenting, we still have a lot to learn as she gets older. But we have a healthy happy baby to show for it. Oaklie puts a smile on our face everyday. She has her own little personality and she picks up on things fast. She only has to watch you do something once then she'll try to do it. This last year went by way too fast. Oak changed so much. She achieved so much in so little time. She went from crawling to walking at only 9 months. She is starting to say words like hi, yeah, and uh oh. Easy words but I'm impressed with how much she says. I can't wait to see what she learns this year.

Newborn

3 months

6 months

9 months

 one year

This last Sunday, we had most of the family come over to celebrate her birthday. It was so nice to have family around to celebrate with us. Andrew and I made Oaklie 2 birthday cakes. One for us to eat and one for her to dig into. They were both tye dye cake and I thought they turned out really good. She didn't really eat her cake. She thought it was fun to feed cake to her cousins then eat herself. She eventually took a little taste but she mostly played in it. Oak got spoiled by everyone for her birthday as well. We have so much stuff to send home with Christmas and her birthday. I don't know how we are going to get it all home.