A Letter for Hallmark

To Whom It May Concern regarding Gift Books from Hallmark,

I am writing because I noticed on the back of our recordable story book that if it was touching in some way, you would love feedback. 

                My name is Marisa Prosser, and I would like to share our family’s story with our first recordable book.  When my husband deployed our daughter was six months old, and I was three months pregnant. Wanting to keep our daughter connected with her dad, I purchased All the Ways I Love You recordable story book and mailed it to him overseas.  He recorded the story he mailed it back.  I will always treasure the moment when our nine month old first heard her dad’s voice reading to her.  The story is now part of our nightly routine. She also sleeps with the “Until We Hug Again Bunny” so her dad can wish her sweet dreams every night before bed.

 I plan on buying more recordable books for my husband to record, as well as the “Until We Hug Again Bear.”  In July we will have a son and I plan to play the story books and bear for him, so he is familiar with his dad when my husband returns home.

While our family is growing and my husband is away, I am so thankful for these special ways to keep connected.  These books and stuffed animals will also be keepsakes as our children grow up.  I would like to thank you, and invite you to see the video of my daughter and I listening to our first story book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4R2x8G687E. My family and I will always be grateful.

Sincerely,

Marisa Prosser

As Moonlight Through the Pines...

Georgia is an all around kinda state.  There is a little bit of everything for everybody.  I never realized how nice it was until I left it, but how can you know if you don't try something new.  New York is okay, really. Just too cold.  I have never had a real support system besides my family, however here I do. I am so grateful but seriously, it is cold here!! Did anyone else hear the weather forecast today? High near 50? Sunshine? I want to know where this was, because I was freezing and went grocery shopping in the snow.

So, back to Georgia... I had a good trip. It really went by fast.  It was good seeing my family again, especially my parents.  I consider myself very lucky to have grown up with both Mom and Dad, who both supported me, (and still do) and guided me to be a good person in a world of crazy. I already miss them.  I really enjoyed getting to do the same things we always do together. Shopping with mom, watching the Braves opening game with Dad, and of course eating some chicken, fried.

It is hard to believe that I'm back already. The trip was something to work towards. Now that its over, there is nothing in the near future to look forward to.  My next big event is bringing our baby boy into the world, and that is 15 weeks away.  LONG weeks. The more pregnant you get, the slower it goes.

Keeping busy helps, so I have been very productive the past two days.  Thursday I spent way too much money on things I needed around the house and today I spent way too much money on groceries.  I have installed soft edges around the coffee table, put together a walker, and cleaned out the future playroom (not including the closet). I organized and filed away a years worth of paper work, and put together a box for Seth. It just needs some freshly baked PB &chocolate chip cookies and it will be ready to go!

Speaking of boxes, Seth sent us a box. It had a recorded story book and plush bunny for Briley.  Oh my goodness that baby's eyes light up when daddy's voice reads her the book. And when she hears daddy as she hugs the bunny she gets the biggest toothless smile I have ever seen.  I cried. Tonight, after she went to bed, I hugged the bunny, and had just uncontrollable tears listening to his voice.  I had an involuntary smile as well. Tomorrow I am going to record her listening to the story. I think I am going to write Hallmark and tell them how wonderful it is.

Maybe I will post the letter as a blog entry, too.

I miss Seth more and more as I watch Briley grow and my pregnancy progresses. I wish he could hold her hands as she does little side steps in a circle. I wish he could feel our son kicking. But I am so thankful that Seth is mine. I wouldn't trade this life. Every tear and lonely night, every exhausting day, and every hard obstacle I have to conquer alone, will be worth the moment when we are together again.

It is another day closer.

Picking up my gloves

Well, I'm here to type up a new blog entry.  I am not feeling very positive today, which is why I am writing. Writing a blog will force me to think positive.  Each night I want to think of 3 things that I am thankful for, or made me happy THAT day... this practice will remind me that there is happiness during deployment. As I said in an earlier post, I do not want to miss out on happy moments because I am focused on being down. So even on the down days, I need to think of 3 good things from that day. 

1. I had a great workout this morning! Even though I feel like a manatee trying to do squats, or a cow trying to do a plank,(and cardio is pretty much impossible) I feel so good afterwards. I also love the company of other moms and adorable babies.  I love that I get to do this with Briley.

2. I talked to Seth.  Even though we didn't talk long because the Internet cut off (2nd day in a row..UGH) I heard from him and I know he is well, and he knows that Briley is growing by the minute. lol.

3. At&t overnighted me a new air card FRIDAY, and I got it TODAY. The positive aspect to this annoyingly long wait is that is is working so far, which makes me happy.

 

 

-Tomorrow I am picking up my gloves.

 

American Dream

It's been a while since I posted, so just in case you missed my facebook announcement, IT'S A BOY!!!!!  I am SO surprised and excited!!! I just feel so complete now, I have a handsome husband and I am a stay at home mommy to a daughter and a son. One of each. HOW PERFECT IS THAT?!? Honestly, I am living my American Dream.

I know a lot of women now a days have a modern version of a woman's American Dream.  A career for themselves, money, and independence.  But I am very traditional.  I have always wanted to be a house wife and a mom. I don't want a career, I want to stay at home and bake cookies for my husband and kids. I am so lucky that I have this! I am so lucky to have Seth, to have my beautiful girl, and a bundle of blue on the way! I wouldn't trade this life for anything.

I just read my comments from my last blog, and I have to say thank you ladies! I am glad you guys like reading my blog!

Stephanie- Its funny how we live for 5 minutes of Facebook messaging, but its so worth it and can make the day 100 times better.

Susan!!! I miss you!!! I want you to know that your strength has been inspirational in my life! I hope you and all of my little friends are doing well! Thank you for your prayers, because no matter how strong we are, we still need them!

Aunt Cheryl, THANK YOU. I want you to know that even though you are far away, I still love you and miss you!  I have a purple and pink blanket that you made me, that is now in Briley's room (which of course is purple) and she loves sitting on it and playing with the tassels.

I think that one of the most important lessons I have learned in my lifetime thus far is to think positive. It has always been a challenge for me as I am naturally a pessimist. However, life would just be unbearably too hard if I didn't train myself constantly to be positive, and think of the happy moments and the happy times ahead.

Another exhausting day is done. Goodnight!

Black Licrorice

Seth Skyped me this morning, and I was not expecting to hear from him that early.  Of course, my hair was tangled, I had no makeup on, and I was wearing sweats.  Since I am finding out what we are having tomorrow, I asked him to think of some girl names. (Our boy name is set.)  He told me he would look some up and call me back.  Now, when he said "call" me back, I assumed Skype.  I rushed to put on some makeup and a nice top to redeem myself. Over an hour later he facebooked me and said he would Skype me tomorrow.  (Seriously?!) I told him I got dressed and put on makeup, and his response? He apologized for making me "get ready" before 11am.

Now I "LMAO"ed for real, and thinking about it now I am laughing. Although, it kinda hurt my feelings he didn't want to skype me, I'm kinda flattered he never noticed that I quit putting on make up to just sit around the house.  When we first got together, I would climb out of bed early to put makeup on and look pretty. For over a year now, make up has been for going out somewhere, and I don't mean the grocery store.

Oh, I am still Laughing at the thought. "Hold on Briley, Mommy has to put makeup on!" " Let me fix my hair so I can play with the dog!"

Then, he told me he received his small box. SMALL BOX. I really only sent it because he broke one of his banjo strings, so I added some goodies in with some new strings. This was his 2nd box in 10 days time. He COMPLAINED about what I sent!!! 

It reminds me of my first deployment with him.  He asked for black licorice. I sent it. Then he calls and tells me how much he hates black licorice.  What is wrong with this man? Someday, somehow, he will learn to be grateful. And until then, I will continue to laugh at him and send him black licorice.

And seriously, all complaining and joking aside, I truly love him.  Being separated brings back all the feelings of our previous separations, and falling in love.  When he messages me I get butterflies. I wait by the phone like a teenage girl. I try to look pretty for him on our skype "dates."

Seth is the only person in the world I can fall in love with over and over again.

Today, 5 weeks are over.

Gender Reveal ?!?!

Monday is the day I will find out who our 2nd Little Prosser is. I am so excited.  A lot of people have asked me if I have a "feeling" one way or another.  Usually if a woman has a feeling she is right. However, I KNEW Briley was a boy, and so did everyone else.  I was even given boy stuff AFTER we found out she was a girl.  I was so shocked when we found out. So, NO!! I am giving up on the feeling thing. I have no clue.  But I will say, a few days before we found out that Briley was Briley, I had a dream that we were at the ultrasound and found out it was a girl. This time, I have had two ultrasound dreams that had the same outcome. Interesting! I'll find out Monday if I have dream power.

With big news on the horizon, I am seriously debating how I am going to tell Seth.  Here is a list of my ideas:

1. A gender reveal box.  I could do SO MUCH with this... the possibilities are limited, but also endless, so If I do tell him this way I need to decide how. Also, I would have to keep my mouth shut for 10-14ish days until he opened the box.  I think it is only right that he is the first person I tell; however, keeping such exciting news a secret will be hard!  Here are my box ideas:

• I could bake cake pops. A hard chocolate shell surrounding pink or blue core.  I would wrap them in press and seal and put them in Tupperware to hope they last at least 10 days.
• I could send a message in a bottle
• The whole box can be decorated in pink or blue, filled with appropriate colored items, confetti, cookies, candy, etc.
• I could to an Easter theme. I would send a bunch of plastic Easter eggs, all filled with candy except one with "its a boy" or "its a girl" message.  He would have to do an egg hunt to find out.
• There are tons of other things I could send to tell him.... Tell me your ideas....

  2.  Over Skype now this idea is good, because I can see his reaction, but its not as exciting, so I was thinking of revealing it on skype in some kind cool way, such as:

• An appropriate colored bow on my tummy that I could flash him.
• An appropriate colored balloon
• I could reveal a onesie that says "little brother" or "little sister"
• Again... Tell me your ideas.

   3.Make him wait until the baby is born.  The doctor can tell him on skype, when the baby is delivered.  Funny but I really couldn't do that to him ;)

So I need non judgmental ideas, input, and opinions. Comment on the blog or facebook under the link! Thanks friends!

-Officially 1 month down!!!! (how exciting?!?!)

Driveway Drunk

Finally starting to doze off, I was disturbed by voices yelling out on the street.  It was sometime after 11 last night, so I figured it was people making their way to or from the Pewter Mug a few blocks away. It is a usual occurrence on a Friday or Saturday night, but it has never been too loud or disruptive.  However, last night the voices just got closer and closer. Some one was in my front yard. I sat up and listened closely.  Yes, the voice was outside my window. Then I heard the crunching of snow going up the side of my house... Is there someone in my driveway?! I grabbed my phone and climbed out of bed to look out the side window of my room.  Sure enough, a man is stumbling around in my driveway. He's looking at my car. My first thought is hes going to break in and steal the pack of red vines off the passenger seat. I unlock my phone and get ready to call the police when I hear the voice coming from the front yard. Crap, there is two of them. I go to the front window and see another man gesturing to the man in my drive way.

"You're going the wrong way, Dude come on!"

Okay, so at least he's trying to get this guy off my property, not encouraging him. I opened the window and shouted to the sober man,

"Do you guys need help?"
"No, I am so sorry, my buddy is just drunk."
"Well, he is walking around my driveway," I reply, "and it's weird"
"I know I am trying to get him home. He is really drunk, we just got back from Afghanistan."
Ugh. I can't call the cops on them..
"I'm glad you guys are back safe, just make sure you get your buddy back home safe."
"I will try!" He calls to the drunk, who stumbles back toward the sidewalk, falls, gets back up and they start walking down the street.
 

I chuckled as I climbed back under the covers.  I will never forget being 21 and hitting up downtown Athens, Georgia with Seth after  he returned from Iraq for the first time. Despite many rounds of celebratory shots,  I knew that night that I would marry him; that he was mine, and I was his.

Happy memories make me smile.  And they make me think of the whole future of memories waiting for us to make.  Soon this deployment will be nothing but another memory.

One less day!