Just a little catching up

Hello everyone. Sorry its been so long since I have last posted. I have been so busy making up for lost time with Jared and our close friends who are now home as well. Our friends Jeff and Derrek made it home from Afghanistan to days ago. I went to there homecoming to take pictures for my friend Sarah. It was strange but I was far more emotional at that homecoming than I was at Jareds. I think it was because since Jared came home with such a small group it was less dramatic. At Sarahs homecoming, the boys marched up in a big formation right in front of the families. Everyone I knew was there and in tears. It was so emotional. As soon as I made it to my car I cried my whole way home. As soon as Jared finally made it home (which was at like 3am that night) all I wanted him to do was hold me. It had finally hit me I guess. I finally realized he was home and not going anywhere. Now that the boys are home, everything is back to normal. Jared and our friends met up at the bowling ally on base yesterday and had a blast. It was just like old times. Right now we have Derrek and Sarah over to celebrate new years with us. Its so nice to have everyone home again.  Well I dont really have much to say so I guess I will get back to our guests. I hope everyone has a very wonderful new years! I will write as soon as I can.

Lauren

Its been a breeze

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long since my last post. I have been so busy making up for lost time with Jared. Im sure everyone is wondering how it is having him home again. I can tell you I have never been happier. It took no time at all to re adjust. Its like we just picked up where we left off six months ago. We havent really gone out to do much. Jared and I are both pretty good with money and put quite a bit back over deployment. So we really have no urge to go and spend any of it. We feel safer having a safety net of money, especially with the baby on the way. Speaking of the baby. The day after Jared got home he got to go to the first doctors appointment since my first one almost eight months ago! It was so good to finally have him there with me. While we were seeing the doctor I explained that Jared had just gotten home the night before. I also told her that I had been having some painful contractions. She laughed and said "yall had sex didnt you". Jared and I just smiled not really saying anything. She then walked out of the room. A few minuets later she walked back in with a handful of condoms! She explained that the prostaglandin in sperm can make you have painful contractions and she said she knew we would be "busy" so she had brought us extra. It was hilarious, and Jared was mortified. My doctor is this little short older woman about 65. I love her because she is just so open and comfortable about everything. I really hope she is on call when the baby is born. It will make the whole birthing process so much better to have a doctor with a good sense of humor. Sine the appointment Jared and I have mostly just stayed home and enjoyed each others company. We snuggle on the couch or in bed and watch movies, or we take Teddy on his walks together. Its been wonderful. Its so stupid but I hate it when he gets up at 5am to get ready for work. I want to be selfish and keep him home. But I know he has to go. Well thats about it. So I am going to go. Its cold and Jared and I are about to get in bed and watch Lord of the rings. I will write soon! Have a good week everyone!

Lauren

My hero is home

Hello everyone!! Finally made it on here. Forgive me if this is a little scatter brained. Im rocking two hours of sleep :D Well Jared is finally home! Last night was so absolutely amazing. Tanna and I got to the homecoming location at about 830. We met up with a friend of mine Katherine, who we chatted with for about an hour. Finally we were told the buses were in route.( I was getting incredibly nervous. We all went out side, had a brief with the guy in charge and lined up along the side of the rode. Finally at about 10pm the buses rolled up. Everyone was screaming and cheering. Tanna and I stood up front by the first bus. One by one Marines filed off. But some how i knew Jared wasn't on that first bus. I took off for the second one. Making several people angry in the process. I could hear them yelling about getting in the way of there photos. What did I care? I was there to find my husband. I pushed my way to the second bus. Losing Tanna in crowd. Right as I made it to the second bus I saw him. He was just about to step off. I ran to him. He didnt even expect me to be right there. Some how in the chaos I had found him. I grabbed his sleeve, he turned. Completely surprised I was there. Finally I got my "first" kiss. It was short and sweet. He needed to go turn in his weapon and locate his bags. I reluctantly let him go, expecting it to be an hour or more before I saw him again. To my surprise 15 min later he was walking twords me. Goofy smile and all. I was so happy. I ran to him and hugged him. It was deffinatly the most amazing night of my life. It is just so weird how in just a few minuets things can go from being sad and lonely, to being right as it should be. I have my family back. I wouldnt trade it for the world. There are no words to express how it felt to have Jareds hand on my tummy. Or to see his face when Ryder moved. I am happier than I have ever been. My hero is home.

Lauren (btw really bad pic of me!)

Not what I expected

Hello everyone! I know what everyone is so excited about! Im getting there. I actually woke up this morning and it felt no different than any other day. I had no feelings about what is going to take place tonight. I don't think its really hit me yet. I don't think it will until I wake up next to him tomorrow morning. I don't want to sound like a bad wife and I hope it dosnt come across that way. I just got so used to living by myself. Its going to be such an adjustment to have him back. Don't get me wrong. I want him home. I have missed him more than anything. I just wonder if this is a normal feeling. Maybe its just nerves. Who knows. Im sure as soon as Tana and I pull up to our homecoming location things will change. It just still feels so far off. I know I shouldn't complain. Its only hours compared to the months I have waited. It just feels like an eternity. I love my husband more than anything. I am so ready to have him back. I am ready for the other half of my bed to no longer be empty. I want to wake up to his happy smiling face again. I just want it to feel real. I want it to hit me. I want to be excited just like all the other wives. I guess its just going to take some time. If anyone has felt this or knows what im feeling please leave a comment.

Lauren

Its over. FINALLY!

Well everyone tomorrow is the big day! Tomorrow I will be in my husbands arms for the first time in six and a half months! Not to surprised that I am pretty cranky today, considering I still have like 35 hours!!!! Thats far to many. I swear though, It feels like the morning he left. We woke up around 8am and from the second he got out of bed all I could do was cry. I feel really bad looking back. I know Jared wanted to enjoy the last day he had with me for the next six months. I pretty much ruined it for him. But heck I was hormonal and about to let go of the love of my life. I was terrified. What if something happened to him? I would never see him again. My son would never know his father.How could I raise my son with out his dad? It was all to much for me to handle. All I could do was cry and beg for him not to go. Even though I knew no amount of crying could keep him home. What made it even worse was we were told to be at the base at 11am. Then we sat there all day until about 6pm before we finally put them on the buses. It was like pulling a band aid off really slow. It was incredibly painful. All I wanted to do was say good bye, go home and crawl in bed. Finally when it was time to say goodbye, I lost it. Jared literally had to pry me away from him. Jared has never been good with goodbyes. I know he just wanted to get it over with so he wouldn't cry. I got one last kiss and he was gone. I wouldn't see his face for the first five months of the deployment. The very first time he finally had access to Skype I cried. This whole journey had been the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I never want to do it again even though I know it will always be a possibility. And who knows. With Ryder being raised as a military brat, he might want to follow in his daddies footsteps. Its a terrifying thought but I need to settle down and realize It something I am just going to have to get used to.  I just thank god every day that he took care of Jared for me while he was gone. I prayed every night for his safety. And honestly since I have never been particularly religious. I now believe my prayers were answered. During this deployment Jared's truck hit several IED's, and some how he managed to come out of each one with little less than a mild concussion. I got lucky. If I had ever gotten that knock at my door, my life would have ended then and there. I know  that sounds dramatic, but I would have lost my best friend, my lover, my husband, the father of my son,and the keeper of my secrets. I would have lost everything. Tomorrow I know as soon as I see him walk twords me I will burst into tears. They will be happy tears but they will also be tears of relief. I will no longer have to go to bed and worry about him. He will finally be right where he is supposed to be. Its over. Thank god.
(The photo up top is a photo taken right after our husbands boarded the buses. Our face says it all)

Lauren

Time flies!

Morning everyone! I feel great today! I actually had no insomnia last night, and I think I slept longer in one stretch than I ever have since I got pregnant! Yay me! I feel great. Now I just need to gather the effort to get out of bed. Im starving but its FREEZING, and my bed is just so warm. Well I cant officially revert my homecoming count down into hours. I still have a few days but its enough to were I think hours sounds better! I still cant believe this deployment is over! It feels like yesterday I was putting Jared on those horrible white buses , and crying my eyes out days afterwards. But now, after six and a half months my best friend and husband is finally coming home! Im not going to lie. I adjusted to living by myself very well, and its going to take a little while to get used to having him back. But regardless I am so happy. He is my other half. More than anything I think I am more excited for him to get to feel Ryder move. I want him to start building a bond with him. I know Ryder knows my voice, and books say he will recognize it after birth. I want Jared to spend lots of time talking to him. I want baby to know thats daddy. We only have 8 short weeks until Ryder gets here so Jared has his work cut out for him. Plus Jared needs to figure out the car seat base in my car. I tried and failed miserably and decided thats a "daddy" task. Well im gonna have to get going. I need to go get ready. Tannah and I are going to go hang Jared's homecoming signs today! yay so excited! I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!

Lauren

True love does exist

Hey everyone! Normally I dont post twice a day but I just wanted to share a little something with you. Today I got to instant message with Jared almost all day. It was so good to know he is making the journey home after so long. I have missed him so much. It has been incredibly hard being pregnant all alone. Especially when all you want is to share it with the person who created that life along with you. Our conversation was sweet. We exchanged about a million "I love yous" and expressed how much we missed one another. We talked about how amazing it was going to be to finally have that "first kiss" again. Then I told him I was very nervous about homecoming. I told him that last time he had seen me I was barley 5 weeks pregnant and I was tiny. Now he is coming home to a very different me. I mean yeah I havent gained all that much but I still look like I have swallowed a basketball. I have been so worried that all the change would scare Jared. But instead of getting the response I was afraid of, he told me that it didnt matter. He said " Im still in love with you" I laughed and jokingly said even though im all big and pregnant. He told me he loved me more than anything and that I was his life. I love my husband so much. I know we are young. I understand we got married and pregnant before most do, but Its no ones business but ours. I love my little family more than anything, and I think thats all that matters.  Now all I have to do is sit back and be patient. We are seriously so close. I love you Jared Lee. I always have and always will. Im one lucky girl to have found someone as amazing as you.

Lauren