About 5 minutes after we planned the trip, we found out we were pregnant. We weren’t really expecting it so soon, but it was exciting nonetheless. We were going to be cutting it close with the baby’s due date so we kept our fingers crossed that Jon would be home in time. Italy was surely going to be a different type of trip for me, but I was so excited to see a country off my wish list.
We did it like only the Carter’s can-we road tripped it. It was the best (and longest) 10 days. I loved everything about Italy. We started in Venice (where it rained, rained and rained some more),
then headed to Rome (where the weather was cool, but beautiful and the sights even more awesome then we could have imagined),
then on through the Tuscan countryside to Florence where enjoyed the most AMAZING dinner ever (and had it paid for by a sweet gentlemen from the states on vacation with his 3 daughters),
lastly we headed to Lake Como (which is definitely much more fun in the summer, but was the most beautiful place that I’ve ever seen).
Lucy was amazing (as always) and hardly complained at all about riding in the car for up to 8 hours some days. She slept on the run for the first time since she was a newborn and ate gelato on the Spanish Steps in Rome. It was the best way to spend our last few days with Jon before he left.
Then the inevitable came. Jon finally found out he was leaving in March. We prepared ourselves as best you can for the separation, but it was still difficult to say goodbye. I didn’t know what to expect from Lucy or how I would handle our first long separation.
Lucy and I headed to Arizona in April, about 4 days before her second birthday. Lucy spent time with Nana, Papa, Uncle Adam, Auntie Chrissy and most importantly Carter (one of her cousins). We spent lots of time swimming and enjoying the sunshine. It was tough to say goodbye yet again but it was a great trip and Lucy loved having a good old fashioned American Birthday cake loaded with frosting. She even got to have a cupcake for breakfast that day so she could celebrate with Daddy via Skype.
Along came summer and with it potty training and the terrible twos. Potty Training was the longest 4 days I’ve ever lived, but it was the best feeling when I could officially put away the diapers and say “So long” to the pull-ups.
We spent lots of time at the pool and even more time dealing with tantrums. Not my favorite memories, that’s for sure. We came out on the other side unscathed, but only because I have amazing friends who helped me when things were at their worst.
Through the potty training and tantrums, little baby Carter grew. I had a difficult time being able to focus as much attention on the little babe inside, but I was healthy and so was he or she. Jon and I decided not to find out the sex because he wasn’t here for the ultrasound. We both wanted to hear “it’s a ---!” at delivery. Lucy attended almost every appointment with me and would get super excited to hear the baby’s heartbeat every time we were there.
At the end of summer, Lucy started Pre-School which gave me a much needed break before baby came. Then the worst news came down the wire…Jon wasn’t going to be home for the baby’s birth. It was devastating to say the least. But I scrambled to put together a birthing team to help me through and made sure Jon had the ability to Skype with us.
Minutes after finding out Jon was going to be stuck at his deployment station, my parents saved the day and put together enough money to send my Dad over here for 8 weeks. EIGHT WEEKS! I was beyond overjoyed at having him here for as long as I did. Lucy got to spend some one on one time with Papa and I got the help I needed.
Baby Carter was born in October. SHE is one of the most beautiful things in the world and I was fortunate enough to be able to birth her without any drugs. My team was AMAZING and I don’t think I could have had a better birthing experience had they not been there. It wasn’t the same without Jon there, but he was still able to see his newest baby girl seconds after she arrived.
When this year started, I had no idea what was in store for me. I made it through a 9+ month deployment (that’s still going…), a pregnancy, raising a 2 year old, raising a newborn and celebrating the holidays - all without my husband. I found strength in myself I never knew I had. Sure I had moments when I would break down crying. I worried at times that I would fall into a deep depression that I wouldn’t be able to get out of. But with all those scary moments, I found that I had moments of such happiness and joy that they outshined all the bad ones. I can’t even begin to describe how proud I am of myself. I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I was pretty awesome considering the struggles I faced. I coped with such positivity that I deserve to be proud.
I’m glad 2010 is coming to a close. I’m ready for a new year and a new beginning. We have a very special wedding to attend in the Spring and an even more special homecoming to look forward too. I just pray that 2011 is filled with a little less struggle and lot more excitement.
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