The Nowaks

Our New Addition

2009-03-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

So after a week of dog sitting for my dad the boys and myself fell in love with the dog and when we had to give her back we all were crushed. That started a search for a dog of our own. I know that we said that we would never have a dog again and I believe that the whole puppy experiance cause too much stress on our family so I was looking for an older dog that had been rescued and was already housebroken. I found Lilly on line and knew she would be a perfect fit. We arranged to meet her and we just couldn't help but take her home with us. The boys just love her and she is great with them. She was just drawn to me and felt right at home with us. We have a few things to work on with her, but I do believe that she came from an abusive home so she is a little scared, but as time passes I pray she get more comfortable. We are very happy that we got Lilly and I am so glad to have someone to cuddle with while Chris is working.

Gavin's 2nd Birthday

2009-02-23T20:35:00.000-08:00

So I have to say that Gavin and I had such a wonderful birthday! I am so tried with everything that we have done the past couple of days, but it was so worth it. Gavin had his party yesterday and it was so much fun at Joe's Crab Shack with his Finding Nemo party theme. The cake that I made turned out awesome! Then today I took Gavin to Downtown Disney to pick out the toy of his choice. He would not let go of Wall e and Eve so I got him both it is his birthday after all. I really think that he had fun having time with just me. I know that I really enjoyed spending that time with my big boy. I can't believe that he is 2 already! It has gone by so fast! Next thing I know he will be a teenager. Scary! I hope that you all enjoy our photos from the party and for those that couldn't make it we missed you and were thinking of you!

The Worst Virus

2009-02-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

Gavin, Logan and I all got this nasty virus this last weekend and it really through a wrench in everything. I have been doing tons of laundry and Gavin has regressed from potty training. He was completly trained and now I feel like we have to start all over. That bums me out and Chris is gone all week which doesn't help. Chris and I have been talking about the idea of having a third child, but I feel like I have enough pressure. I know my limit and I truly believe that two is it! I am learning more and more how much Gavin is just like me and that cause a lot of conflict between us. He is my little perfectionist, but it seems that he never wants to do what I want. Logan is doing great and is moving around a lot now. He is always happy and just loves his brother so much. It is so much fun to see them laugh at eachother.

How I am feeling now!

2009-02-05T12:18:00.000-08:00

After posting what I did last I felt so relieved to get that out. I am very confident now that I am doing great. It is really hard to feel that way when you are surrounded by babies pulling at you all day. I believe strongly that I need to take more breaks for myself, but that too seems to be difficult to break free when all I have done for two years it taking care of my babies needs above my oun. When I look back at all that I have accomplished with our boys I do feel that I have it all under control and I have to because I have to be mom, dad, and maid. What a load! Chris being away most of the time does make it hard on everyone, but we are so proud of the work he is doing. It seems worth the sacrafice. I know that God will provide for us and keep us close. We have been blessed with two beautiful boys and that fills my heart with so much joy. Thanks to all that uplifted me since my last post.

Honestly

2009-01-29T09:17:00.000-08:00

I am putting it all out there just to get it all off my chest maybe then I can let go. I struggle a lot with the children. It is difficult to not have a break. I feel like I am the worst mother. I so badly want to do better and am working my hardest to be what they need. I am still trying to figure out how to keep Christopher a live in our house while he is away. With Gavin being such an intense child I find the life being sucked right out of me. I am trying to think of ways to handle my emotions as well as Gavin's many emotional outburst. Play dates quickly turn to melt downs and fun is hard to be had. I am at a loss really. I am hoping that once Logan is old enough to move around that things will become easier for all of us. I am so tired and overwhelmed that I find it hard to hear my own inner thoughts. I have lost a lot of myself and I need to slowly regain control of who I am and not what motherhood has made me. Please understand that our children come first and that they mean the world to me. I guess when I used to think of mother hood I never realized all the joy that I would feel, but also how much pain I will experiance along the way. I have my bad days just like everyone else, but I just talk it more personally. Like I did something wrong to cause it. God is directing my path and I know that he is making me a better mother everyday. I think that I tend to feel this way when it gets close to Chris coming home. I miss my love so much and desire to see his face. He always brings a smile to my face and peace to my heart.

Potty Update

2009-01-26T19:51:00.001-08:00

Gavin is doing better than I expected. I find it really hard to handle it while we are out and about, but for being 23 months he is doing great. I decided to chart the times he is drinking and when he goes pee pee to see if I can find a pattern. I am determined to figure this out. I can't be more proud of our son. I am waiting for the day when he tells me he has to pee. That will be the moment when I know we have made it!

Potty Training

2009-01-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

So Gavin is on day 5 of potty training. He is doing so well I am so proud of him. He is staying dry all night and through his naps. He does have a lot of accidents, but for not even being 2 he is doing very well. Two days ago he actually went pee on the potty 6 times. He has also pooped on his potty at Oma's house. I know that a lot of you would really rather not know all this information, but I am so excited for him. Good Job Gavin!!!

What a great Christmas

2008-12-26T06:26:00.000-08:00

I am so sad that Christmas came and went so fast. We had a great Christmas and we feel so blessed to have such amazing family and friends. Gavin still wasn't all that into it, but he did get some things that he really liked. Logan got a lot too that I hope he will enjoy playing with in the next few months. Christopher was so adorable and wrote me two beautiful songs. That is the best gift that I got this holiday season. I hope that everyone else had a great day.

2008-12-09T08:51:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all! This is my favorite time of the year and although everyone has very little to give this year I am inspired to give more of my heart. I am baking this year and giving gifts that are more personal. I am so thankful that we have both of our boys this Christmas and I am looking forward to see how Gavin will react. Last year he was more interested in the wrapping paper so I am hopeing that he really gets into it this year. We are also very thankful that Chris is home to celebrate with all of us. That to me is the best gift I could get. God Bless and remember the reason for this season.

Chris got Promoted

2008-11-23T14:12:00.000-08:00

After a lot of hard work Chris picked up E5. We are so proud of him and are so relieved.

Finally Home

2008-10-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

Chris has been home for two weeks now and just returned back to work yesterday. It has been so wonderful to have my husband home. It has been a lot of work to adjust to having him home, but he is such an amazing dad and always willing to help me. I am so thankful that we got to spend as much time with him as we did. Life is feeling somewhat normal now and I know that this has made us stronger as parents and as husband and wife. We feel so blessed!

So I am a nervous reck

2008-09-25T19:16:00.000-07:00

So we only have one week left until Chris will be home again and I don't even know what to do with myself. I have so much I would like to accomplish, but all I really want to do is sit on our couch eat nothing but sweets and feel sorry for myself. That is the honest truth! Even though that sounds awesome to me I can't do that. I have to keep pushing forward and be the best mother and the best wife that I can be. Now is the time when all my boys need me the most and I hope and constantly pray that I can be that for them. I really couldn't have done this without God on my side. It is so miserable being away from the love of my life, my best friend, and the best father for my children. This has been the best experiance and the most important experiance of my whole life. It really took a lot of myself to be strong for our kids and to support my husband while he was at sea. I felt like above all else that was my most important job and I know in my heart that I did the best that I knew how. I can't wait to see my husbands face again and all I really know at this point is that God is the only one that can get me through this hard time with such grace and peace. I give God all the glory!

2008-09-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

So we got good word that Chris will be able to fly home once his ship reaches Hawaii. So we are expecting him home a week earlier than originally planned. I am so excited and stressed. I know how close we are to seeing each other again. I keep thinking of how that moment is going to feel. I hope that it feels as if no time has passed before. I pray that Gavin still remembers his Daddy and that Logan is just drawn to him as if he was here all along. We are doing great and I just hope that I can keep myself busy enough until he comes home.

So Close

2008-08-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

We are getting down to the end of christopher's deployment and I am starting to get excited and nervious about his return. When I think of him getting to meet his second son I am overwhelmed with emotions. I feel so much joy with Logan in our family and Chris has been missing out on that joy. I can't wait to see the expression that comes over his face when we see each other again. He has been so missed, but this time has really created much change and I have learned so much more about myself that I wouldn't have learned otherwise. I love him so much and thank him everyday for his service.

A Military Wife

2008-08-31T13:09:00.000-07:00

A military wife is mostly girl.

She wonders if this is worth the sacrifice. An ideal military wife has the patience of an angel, the flexibility of putty, the wisdom of a scholar and the stamina of a horse. If she dislikes money, it helps.

She is sentimental, carrying her memories with her in an old footlocker. One might say she is a bigamist, sharing her husband with a demanding entity called "duty." When duty calls, she becomes No.2 wife. Until she accepts this fact, her life can be miserable.

She is above all a woman who married a man who offered her the permanency of a gypsy, the miseries of loneliness, the frustration of conformity and the security of love.

Sitting among her packing boxes with squabbling children nearby, she is sometimes willing to chuck it all in until she hears the firm step and cheerful voice of the lug who gave her all this.

Then she is happy to be... his military wife.

Update

2008-08-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

Things are going well as we were informed that Christopher will be returning home on Oct 10th. We are doing our best to be as busy as possible until then as well as planning a great welcome home suprise. Gavin has moved on from the binky and Logan is doing great on a bottle and sleeping well at night. We feel so blessed and thank God for all that is happening in our life.

Organic

2008-07-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

So I have decided to go organic to improve on what we are consuming. I am really excited about this new change in our lifestyle. This may sound very strange to some people, but I feel closer to nature and also much closer to God now than ever. It has a lot to do with recycling, using hybrid diapers, and choosing to eat organic. I just feel like I am in such a good place in my life and I feel like I am doing really well because I am forced to do it on my own in this moment and because of our two wonderful boys that challange me to be better everyday. It is amazing being green!

Special Thanks

2008-07-06T13:16:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to take a moment to give special thanks to my wonderful husband for his service to our country and to this family. I wanted to also thank him for making me a mother to our two beautiful boys. I am so full of happiness each morning when I wake to see our children's faces. I feel so honored to have children with such a awesome, brave and loving man. We miss seeing your face, but we always carry you in our hearts.

Going Green

2008-07-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

When I became a mother I finally came into my own, I feel like I found my true self. I want everyone to know how serious I am about doing what we can now to help the quality of our environment. I am so excited to have found these amazing hybrid diapers ( g diapers) that are breathable like cloth diapers without all the mess. You can flush the liners or throw them away. It only takes 50-150 days for these liners to break down, unlike disposibles that take 500 years. I also discovered "Green Baby" a book that shows you how you can make a differance and help save our planet while improving your familys quality of life. I feel it is so important that we teach our children by example, we need to show them how to recycle and incourage them to do their part.

Our New Born Son

2008-07-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

Born June 23, 2008 at 12:58 am Logan Christopher Nowak weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measured 18.25 inches long. His big brother Gavin welcomed him with open arms and has been dealing with the change with such grace. Logan is such a wonderful baby with such a mellow personality and has brought so much joy to our hearts. We thank God that we now have a complete family and are excited to watch them both grow up together.