Turning 27...

So my birthday is actually next weekend, but I never know when I'll get time to blog so I'm jumping for it right now while Elise is napping.

I'm about to turn 27 years old. I'm getting awfully close to that first "hill" we all joke about. I thought as I climbed up, I'd turn around and see what I've done thus far. (Stealing your idea, Andie!)

So far I've...

-graduated high school
-got my bachelor's degree
-married my soul mate
-lived in 7 different cities
-moved exactly 10 times!
-adopted our fur child
-traveled to St. Thomas, Costa Rica, Hawaii, and several US cities
-gotten certified to teach in TX and OK
-reached my goal weight!
-been through a deployment (and countless TDYs)
-suffered two miscarriages
-had one beautiful baby girl

All in all, I feel like I've accomplished a lot. One that was really important to me was that last one. I know a lot of people (my mother included) have perfectly healthy babies into their 30s, and maybe I will one day too. But I definitely wanted to start that road in my 20s while I was in good shape.

My 26th year was the best one I've had so far. Simply because of my daughter. Oh and no deployments! :)

My 27th year will be different and probably the most challenging year to date. Not only will I be a mother to a child that needs me, but we are gearing up for another deployment for the fall. This time it will be 6 months instead of 4. My husband will miss Elise's first holidays and first birthday. I know that fortunately she won't remember him being gone, but it will be really hard on both of us to know everything he's missing. We're very grateful for technology so we can share moments still, but it's definitely not the same as being here to witness it. I've always been an emotional person and becoming a mother hasn't made that better! My goal is just to hold it together for Elise when the time calls for it.

The next 27 years I'm hoping to do the following (keeping in mind my previous blog about planning!)

-FINALLY start teaching
-Enjoy my time as a stay at home mom while it lasts
-Have another baby? (ask me again about this in two years!)
-Take a really nice family vacation
-Take a romantic 10th anniversary trip with my husband
-Possibly start saving serious money to open my own cupcake business?
-Continue to exercise and eat healthy

Hopefully the next 27 years are kind to me!