It's August already?

WOW! Time is really pushing forward faster than I EVER imagined. It is going on 5 months since Eric left for his Japan tour but it feels like he just left. I have an A+ in being mentally prepared and keeping busy. Eric and I have our tour theme song "Cold Blooded" by Rick James (we feel that is what other couples who don't know us must think since we are cool with this living arrangement). I take comfort in the fact that we will never do this again and 2 plus years is such a small blip of our 18 plus years together. I have also lived in worse situations, so in all honesty, it is really not that bad. He has been so darn busy (as we anticipated) that quality time with him is next to nill in Japan anyhow. We are grateful that I am surrounded by our friends support here in San Diego and spending quality time with our family as we intended so Sophia does not miss out on knowing our loved ones. Eric has been busy flying, working 12-14 hour days and will be leaving on his second deployment only to come back when we go visit for a month later this year. Skype has been amazing and we usually talk twice a day. Where was this technology when Eric deployed for almost 10 months years ago? It is amazing how things have changed in a GREAT way! We make a conscious effort to make good conversation, which is easy to do since Eric is my best friend...but can be something easy to overlook in regular day to day lives when with each other every single day. This whole situation is making us stronger and we will come out with more love for one another as it teaches us not to take one another for granted. It also teaches ME how to run the house better and be a better independent woman by working the power saws, repairing sprinkler heads, using the drill more often and the like! So, we are still very pleased with the decision we made, no matter how untraditional it is.

Sophia has had a few milestones in these past months. At around 20 months I finally took off the front screws to her crib and turned it into her daybed. I really wanted to do this at 18 months since our little monkey set herself free and was able to get out if she wanted. I am amazed at how agile she is and hope one day she is not climbing El Cap rope free. Thankfully she was so excited about sleeping in her big girl bed that no transition was really needed (thank you Mr. Ferberization). It was standard operating bedtime procedures as usual and in fact, she did not want me to read or rock her that night since she totally wanted to lay her head down on her new big kid pillow!
Sophia also started potty training. We are still SLOWLY working on this one day at a time as my little girl is stubborn and wants to do this on her terms, which is totally naked. She pees like a champ in her potty when she is free of any clothing (socks and all). Unfortunately, this situation does not work well on trips out and about so we are currently slowly introducing panties (that she also likes to pee in). I got some sparkly Dora panties today, so I am hoping this may change my little free naked spirit.
I have also been busy channeling her endless amount of energy into Mommy & Me Soccer, a class she has a blast in. She is in session two of swim class and finally floating on her back by herself! Sophia is also attending part-day Montessori School 3 times a week, which she has a fun time socializing in. We will have to miss some classes until the beginning of the year soon, but for great reasons. We will be on our way to the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone for most of September! The Shafers have graciously invited us to go on the camper driving journey of a lifetime along with their family and little boy Bjorn who Sophia adores. Gail's parents will be taking care of Sophia as we hike down to the bottom of the canyon and stay at the Phantom Ranch! I will be happy to have a day of rest and ranch life as we depart for our hike up the canyon the following day. Then onwards to Yellowstone! October will be my annual visit to Palm Springs with my most awesome friend Dani. It's a much needed girls trip and the weather will be amazeballs for pooly time and adult beverages! Soon after my sister is due. We are SO excited! Little Ava is going to take up a lot of our time, hugs, and kisses! Halloween and Thanksgiving will blow by with our fam here in San Diego and before you know it, we will be visiting Eric for a month in Tokyo in our "Japan condo". Yippee!              

Hear ye, Hear ye, Princess Sophia is TWO!

SO thankful she has been a good sleeper since 3 months old. It's God's way of giving me a break for the time she is AWAKE and with enough energy to run our city!!

Picking our first crop of organic heirloom tomatoes. Sophia was SO excited to eat one, until I cut it open and offered. Looks like we'll be making spaghetti sauce instead.

Canning the tomatoes so they don't rot! We had quite a few and more on the way.

No worries. You don't need to submit this to shitmykidsruined.com. It is a Crayola bath time set Sophia got from her buddy Bjorn. Lord knows what chemicals they used to make that work, so I'm gonna try my best to not read the ingredients and pretend it's all natural! Besides, it is an extra 30 minutes of happy quiet time for mommy as she plays so contently!

And lastly, a little brown widow friend crawled it's way into Sophia's bike, called it home and is clutching it's nest sak per the above picture. I am not terrified of spiders like most of my friends. Having lived in SoCal most of my life I've seen my fair share of gnarly black widows ...but add my daughter into the pic and let's just say I was pretty freaked out knowing she's been scooting all over the place on this for quite some time before I noticed. Sweet dreams, and Goodnight!