Tuesday, February 28, 2017

San Diego, CA

What a great trip we had to San Diego last week.  It's taken us a couple days to recover from the time change and getting back to our routines.  Lucky for us Noah slept in a couple of mornings after our trip but we're back to normal now with an early wake up.  Peyton had a great time with Grandma but we we're all happy to see him and get some hugs and kisses.

The wedding turned out great!  We did get a little rain but nothing we couldn't handle.  Laura was a beautiful bride and we're so happy she finally made it down the isle.  After the wedding Jeff, Noah and I enjoyed an extended vacation and did lots of touristy things.  We visited a naval ship, walked around the whole city enjoying yummy food, visited Lego Land which was a blast, and even visited the seals at the beach during an awesome sunset.  We can't wait to go back to visit again since we have so much more to see.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Partners

Disclaimer:  Having been in a marriage with a shared computer many passwords are saved for many different accounts so I am using this as an opportunity to (lovingly) hijack my wife’s blog for this Valentine’s Day 2017

Being in law enforcement we use the term partners a lot, sometimes very loosely and sometimes very directly.  Some departments have assignments where officers work with each other all 40hrs a week for years at a time and others may just refer to their shift coworkers as partners.  Officers will tell you that these partners out in the field are essential to their work and also for life balance.  They are closest person to help in an emergency, the person who will help you process things that are tough to handle, and serve as a buffer to general life.  There are jokes, disagreements, achievements, successes, disappointments, and bonds that occur as a result of being with your partners all the time and there is not one person I have worked with that hasn’t helped me with some little piece of knowledge or advice that have helped make me better.
Post GVSU Football Game
The youngsters together at the 2009 MADD Awards
Similarly, and the central topic of this post, is how important domestic partners are to police officers as well.  And for me there is no person more critical to my everyday balance and growth then my partner, my wife.  Being a law enforcement partner is the worst; we work terrible, inconsistent hours, ruin weekends, sleep weird hours, mess up family time, and more.  We don’t exactly bring home a ton of positive work stories, although some are funny.  Instead you find our 3 year old son knows what a Taser is and asks if I took any bad guys to jail.  At most we go to bed together 45% of the time.  But the toughest part will always be that little doubt when I’m late or if you hear a lot of sirens going by the house.  I am in the fortunate position of knowing the situation while my wife may have to call in to check and make sure I am okay.  It has only happened a couple times but those phone calls are not fun to make for anyone.
Fortunately my wife is the best and she deals with all of these challenges I create and shoulders the load like a champion.  This was easier back before she was a mom and was given a bunch of solo free time but now with the two boys it’s a little trickier.  She willingly listens to my stories and frustrations and provides endless support to my needs, my goals, and career.  I trust her to say “hey dummy that’s a terrible idea” and sometimes (the less common) “Awesome suggestion, you should do that”.  She has without question helped me steer clear of some pitfalls as an officer and a supervisor with the insight and the viewpoint I do not possess.

This dynamic lifestyle is not without little victories.  Hugs with a bulletproof vest on are a little bit tighter even though it can be awkward to avoid touching any weapons.  Random middle of the week days off are fun to run errands and have dates.  And consistently one of my most favorite moments is when you crawl into bed in the late late night after a 10, 12, or 15hr shift after a big incident, arrest, or accident.  And there is that moment as you get settled in that my wife sometimes rolls over for a hug, or maybe just a hand squeeze or maybe just a little leg move to say, without any words, “Hey hubby, glad you’re home”, and then it’s back to sleep.

I am thankful for my partners at work, and I love my partner at home!!

Happy Valentines Day to all the partners out there supporting all the officers, hope you get to go on a date sometime this week, you know, when the schedule works out.

Peyton - 27 Weeks Old

Noah 26 Weeks
Yes, Peyton is 27 weeks old, but most important; It's Valentines Day!  My most favorite day of the year.  How great that we get to show the people we love, just how much we love them.  I know we should do this everyday, and although I'd like to think I do show my love here and there, this holiday is always a good reminder and a great jumping off point for the rest of the year. I took the morning off work today and I surprised Jeff and Noah by staying home and making some of Grandmas cinnamon rolls, and some eggs and bacon. I'm excited to see Noahs face when I give him his giant dog and some bath bombs which he loves to bathe with.  For Jeff, some hand made pocket hearts we can exchange and hide so we'll find them when we're thinking of each other.  Noah helped me make them and was a great helper stuffing the hearts when I was ready to sew them up.   He's been told what they're for and is really excited to hide them around the house for everyone to find.  Not to mention he said we, "have to make sure and give all the hearts kisses before we hide them to make sure daddy knows we love him..."  He's the sweetest most romantic kid ever.


Anyway, on to the update, right?

  • How old is Peyton?: 27 Weeks
  • Peyton is how big?:  18 lbs | Size 3 diapers | 6-9mo clothes
  • Sleep: ...and we're still still still swaddling, and just like last month, still chicken to let him be unswaddled.  Anyone else out there like me?  Yikes... I should really work on this, or really it'll work itself out when he can't fit into the swaddle any longer, right?  Otherwise though, he sleeps great, 12+ hours straight through the night so I'm not really complaining.  During the day he's still on the same schedule so it's really predictable and I'm loving it.
 Up for the day around 8
 Nap an hour later
 Nap 1: 1.5-2 hrs
 Up for 1.25 ish hours
 Nap 2: 1.5-2 hrs
 Up for 1.25 ish hours
 Nap 3: 1-1.5 hrs
 Up until about 7p
 Down for the night around 7-7:30p
  • Milestones: Food-wise, he's eating everything we give him.  We're slowly adding more and more food.  He's starting to take more solids at mealtimes and we've offered him some puffs which he's not really into but he is practicing picking up.  Once in a while he gets one. He's doing much better sitting and is much stronger.  He can pick up toys pretty easily and transfers them to the other hand or in his mouth.  I'm pretty sure he's teething but no sign of a tooth yet.   And finally, he's getting a little better at crawling although it's more like a little scoot on his tummy.  He can get up on all fours and then just rocks forward and back. 
  • What I’m excited about/looking forward to: We're heading of to San Diego this weekend to my sisters wedding.  We're going to do some sightseeing while we're visiting and we're staying a couple extra days to take it all in.  Can't wait to finally see her walk down the isle and become a wife!  P.S.   I should get writing on that maid of honor speech.  *Yikes*

Saturday, February 4, 2017

Life with the Boys

We're finally getting to the point where Noah is slightly more interested to "play" with Peyton.  He'll give him kisses and hugs, give him a toy back when he drops it and pushes him around in the walker when he gets stuck.   That's the best.  I love seeing Noah playing with Peyton and being such a good big brother.  Peyton is also in love with Noah.  He smiles so much when he sees him and I'm pretty sure Noah is his favorite person. Even if Noah does occasionally hide from Peyton.
We've gotten in a good routine around the house.  We're finally over most of the sicknesses, everyone is sleeping at night and has a good schedule during the day and things are running smoothly most of the time. I'm already looking forward to summer.  I can't wait 'till Peyton starts walking, the weather gets warmer and we can run around in the grass, go on walks and play on the beach. For now, I'll take all the cuddles inside while we sit by the fireplace and I'll sit back while the boys play together.   Life is good.