Buddy Bee Turns 28 Months

November 13, 2012

28 Month old Buddy Bee

Official 28 month photo. 

Buddy Bee turned 28 months a few days before our Gulf of Mexico vacation however, I could not pass up the opportunity to take his 28 month pictures on the Gulf. 

Daddy dug Buddy Bee his own little Buddy Bee hole.

This boy LOVES the sand.  

The Buddy Bee hole soon filled in with water and the boy had another favorite activity. 

Inquisitive looks for Daddy. 

Buddy Bee, You are so full of life.  Your smile and laugh light up every room you are in.  You are expressing your personality and independence these days.  We are figuring each other out, little boy.  Just when I thought I had my baby boy figured out, you grow up and now I am figuring out my toddler....I guess I have many years to come where I will feel like that.  We got to do a lot of new discovering this month.   You loved the beach!  Your Mommy loved the beach as well, however the most touching was the relationship with your Daddy.  You absolutely adore your Daddy.   You are going to miss him.  I am going to miss him.  I am so thankful we had this time together, just the three of us.  We have a long 9 months without Daddy ahead of us....we will make it, Buddy Bee.  Always remember that Daddy and I love you to pieces.  Keep developing your personality, Buddy Bee.   I am loving watching you grow and develop. 

Love, Mommy. 

Gulf of Mexico: Goodbye

 It was Thanksgiving Day and we have been dreading this day very much.  Today we say goodbye.  We left our little beach island and started our way back to Camp Shelby. Half way there we partook in a very memorable Thanksgiving dinner, casino buffet style.  After lunch Buddy Bee slept the rest of the way and Andrew and I did not talk much. We were content to just hold hands. 

 Deployment goodbyes are never easy and right now I can’t talk about it without crying so the details will be left for Andrew, Buddy Bee, and I to cherish.  The hardest thing was driving away from that loving husband of mine, but Buddy Bee and I had a 2.5 hour trip to New Orleans ahead of us.  

I have never gotten that movie style goodbye...The one where soldiers are lined up in uniform and march out to a waiting plane.  This goodbye just involved us 3.

Our journey home started early, around 6:00 am.  It was not as exciting as it was going to see Andrew.  From our hotel in New Orleans I returned the rental car, rode the rental car shuttle to the airport, checked our overweight luggage, made it through security, and with 2 hours before our scheduled flight…..apparently my judgment for how long things would take was a bit off.  From New Orleans we traveled to Atlanta.  It was the worst flight ever with the boy which, was all over not being allowed to let the Bee sit on my lap.  There were tears for all.  Our flight from Atlanta to Philadelphia went much better, thankfully.  We arrived around 3:00 pm to familiar faces.  After collecting our luggage we started on the 3 hour trip home.  I am so thankful for my tablet and the capabilities to watch movies to keep the boy occupied.  We were finally home around 7:30 pm….over 12 hours of travel with a two year old.  After some toy discovery we both slept great!

Our beautiful shells made it home safe!  

Six days after our goodbye, it was just an average morning at the Park house.  Buddy Bee went to school and I was able to accomplish housework and enjoyed a quiet tea break.  It was an average day until I realized Andrew’s phone was turned off that evening.  His phone being turned off only meant one thing……Andrew had left the country.  

I had been anxiously waiting for a phone call and 2 days later I received it.  Andrew called us from Kuwait.  He had just arrived and was settling in on base.   As long as Andrew was still in the states I felt connected to him.  He is a world away and I couldn't feel any further away from him and alone as I do now. This deployment was real now.  My husband is deployed again. 

Gulf of Mexico: Day 6

 It is our last day at the beach house. We started our morning with a breakfast from this quaint, little bakery followed by a little souvenir shopping. 

Our afternoon was spent soaking up the beach and sun. 

 We really enjoyed watching the cranes this week.

My dear husband couldn't resist trying to get as close as he could to the crane before disturbing it. 

With a turn and wave, Buddy Bee was done with the beach.  The Park family moved from the beach and settled in on the porch for our last sunset together. 

Each sunset has been impressive however, this one in particular was fitting for our last night on the Gulf.

 There was something about it that expressed our families feelings that night. 

Tomorrow we say goodbye.