Support our Troops

My husband is currently serving our country. Isn't he hot? He wants to be there, he chose that career. He chose it after we were married and asked me what I thought. I supported him. This was even when the war was already in place so we both knew what we were getting into. Don't get me wrong, I would always prefer to have him home with me and our son and son to be. But I could not be more proud of him and I'm glad he has this wonderful opportunity to make the world a better place. So if you whine, or hear someone else whine about bringing our troops home, give them this message.
A point to ponder: If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq Theater of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000.
The rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 100,000. That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in our Nation's Capitol, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the nation, than you are in Iraq.
Conclusion?
We should immediately pull out of Washington.

baby names

AAAAAAA!!!!! Why was it so easy when I was in middle school or high school to pick out names for my future children but now I can't even think of a backup name???? To be honest, I don't even remember half of the names I picked out, and the ones I do remember I'm too embarrassed to admit. The baby is due in April and here I sit, fat, with a kicking human male inside me with no name. For now we just call him Squirt. His uncle Sid came up with that nickname. I have read every baby name book on the market and have searched the web until my eyes rolled back into my frontal lobe, I have even read genealogy charts dating back to the year 80, but he still remains nameless. The Name. It is what you are called the rest of your life. There is too much pressure in choosing a good name for your child. I remember getting a stuffed animal when I was young or even a pet in my adult life, and naming it within minutes. Done. So why is this so hard? Maybe I am putting too much thought into it. Just relax, breathe... not working, ok, I'll take suggestions if anyone has any.

Merry Christmas

I thought a lot about Christmas this time around. I thought a lot about the media hype about being politically correct by saying' happy holidays' to include all beliefs. 'Merry Christmas' isn't heard that much anymore. Many people are getting really bent out of shape about it, fighting for their rights to celebrate their holiday, and good for them. I also began the same quest. Then I realized that my family traditions never included anything spiritual. There was no reading of the scriptures about the birth of the Savior. The prayer we had before we ate was short and sweet so the food wouldn't get cold. And since Christmas fell on a Sunday this year we went to church, but the attendance was very low. Everyone was anxious to get it over with and go back home to play with new toys and eat ham. I watched my son open presents and play with his new 'things'. But did he learn about the birth of Jesus Christ? Granted he is young, only 19 months old, but what will he think about next year? Will we be hearing 'Merry Christmas' as we shop for gifts? Will he know what 'Merry Christmas' means when he hears it? It looks like my job as a parent just got a little tougher. It makes me think the second coming must be just around the corner. That would be the best gift, if I am prepared, and if I am teaching my children to be prepared. By the way, I hope everyone did have a Merry Christmas.

why papaya flower?

A good friend of mine asked me how I came up with the name papaya flower. It's a short story, so I guess I'll tell it. When Buck proposed to me he had a dozen roses. These roses were the color of papaya. (Kind of a coral looking color.) Very beautiful, I still have them. I also choose that color for our wedding theme and for bridesmaid dresses, etc. To me, it is the color of romance. Sounds mushy, right? It gets better. My husband is overseas, but we get to email daily, and he started calling me his papaya flower. It melted my heart. Oddly enough, the flower is actually white. But the inside of a papaya is the color of love. So, there you have it. When I had to choose a name for my blog, papaya flower was the only answer.

My son, Caimen

Caimen will be 19 months old on New Year's Eve. He is a big fan of trucks, cars, bikes (any kind) and animal sounds. He loves being outside no matter what the weather is. He loves to talk and sing and count to 10 and take baths. He is very sweet, but has not yet reached the 'terrible two's'. He is a daddy's boy and wants to be just like him. (help) He is always surprising me with new words, new games, and even phrases. He hates getting his diaper changed, getting dressed, and going inside or getting out of the tub. He is a well-behaved little boy and adjusts quickly to military life. He has lived in 5 different homes and has traveled thru 19 states (many more than once) by the age of 15 months. His daddy is deployed and sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night calling for him and he won't settle down until I show him a picture of his daddy.

Am I a blogger now?

Wow, this is so much fun, I can't believe I blog now, thanks to my friend from Vegas, Elizabeth. It's all her fault.
I'm doing this while I'm staying with my folks in Arkansas. My sexy hubbie is deployed and since I have a toddler and I'm prego with #2, I thought grandparents were vital for my survival during the holidays.