The Mighty Green Bay

David was able to give us a quick tour of his new ship. He kept it pretty brief because he still gets lost when trying to get around. It is so much bigger than the Ramage, it was nice to see because I've never been on anything other than a destroyer and a battleship. It was really cool to see the different features of an amphibious ship. I love seeing the ship because it helps me imagine things better when David is telling me stories. David is really enjoying his new shipmates and his new job, so that is always a good thing. 

It's massive!!!

The flight deck, David is really excited that they can land 4 helicopters at once, or drive tanks and jeeps up there for the helos to pick them up and carry them away.

Obviously as it is the USS Green Bay there is a strong Packer theme

The well deck can be filled with water. The big gates in the back open up so they can drive amphibious craft in and out.

David's new room

View from the bridge

The mountain you see is pretty special to me, I wanted to get a picture of it with David's ship. I promise I will write about it soon!

David's desk

David's desk

 I thought painting was tricky business, until I saw these poor guys painting the ship while rocking away on a buoy.

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Reunions

The movers finally arrived with our household goods. It was 3 weeks past it's "required delivery date" unfortunately the word required doesn't mean much in Navy terms. They only thing they would do is reimburse you for an inconvenience claim for items that you would have to buy while waiting for your late shipment to arrive. Inconvenience is however an excellent word to use for the claim, because it is very difficult to jump through the hoops to file and they said they would only cover a few items like paper plates and plastic silverware, and that it could take up to 6 months to process.  I decided it wasn't really worth the hassle. I was so relived to see that all of our stuff arrived *mostly* unscathed and that it didn't fall off a ship in the middle of the ocean. Our Japanese movers were awesome, we had 6 sweet little guys and an even smaller woman. They were very efficient and nice and they all took their shoes off at the door before bringing stuff in, They were all wearing these funny little toe socks. I have some awesome friends that watched over Eisley while I worked in the hectic mess of movers and boxes trying to make sure everything was accounted for and noting any damage. My favorite part of the whole experience was seeing the shock of the Japanese when they assembled our bar-height dining room table. They made a huge fuss over how they could stand and eat their meal at the table and informed me that their tables at home don't even have chairs because they sit on cushions on the floor. 

Meanwhile the USS Green Bay was pulling into Sasebo. Since I couldn't change the day that the movers set, I wasn't able to watch them pull into the pier. I was still very excited to pick up David! Luckily our awesome Welcome Home banner came just in time :) I think Eisley was just as excited to see daddy as I was, she even took two steps for him. 

It's so nice to have our little family together again! I told David that the battle stash had to go so he shaved it off once we made it home. 

This post from the Green Bay facebook page shows just how hard our boys have been working, and how ready they are to come home and have a little Liberty and R&R before heading out again!

USS GREEN BAY (LPD 20)

11 hrs · 

2015 Spring Patrol By Numbers

1,118,309 gallons of F-76 Burned

510,000 gallons of F76 Received

148,114 Intel Reports

$98,018.67 Ship Store Sales

11,000 Naval Messages Transmitted and Received

10,388lbs of Laundry

8,965 Short Tons of Marine Cargo Carried

8,473 Nautical Miles Steamed

3,993 Passengers Transfers

1,700 Rounds of Ammunition Fired Down Range

1,340 Personal Electrical Gear Safety Checks

971 Haircuts (Navy Only)

936 Administrative Effectiveness Reviews

886 Total Flight Deck Evolutions

572 Electrical Troublecalls completed.

428 Photos Published

416 Pallets of Supplies, Mail and Cargo Received

286 Air Control Hours

258 Dental Exams

248nm Surveyed by FST

175 Craft Launches and Recoveries

140 Navy-Wide Advancement Examinations

130 VERTREP Drops

123 JP-5 Refueling Evolutions

120 Toilets Repaired

112 Fast Rope Evolutions

71 Fillings

45 Critical Voice and Data Circuits Set Up and Maintained

44 ESWS qualifications

36 FOD Walk-downs

30 Sea and Anchor Details

29 Immunizations

28 Wisdom Teeth Removed

27 LCU Operations

21 Photos of the Day

20 Small Boat Launches and Recoveries

10 LCAC Operations

9 Man-Overboard Drills

6 Flag Letter of Commendations

6 Air Plan Cartoon’s featuring ISO

5 Anchorages

5 AAV Operations

4 Surface Warfare Officer Qualifications

4 ESWS Re-qualifications

4 CRRC Operations

4 “Ship Alterations” courtesy of CCO

3 Underway Replenishments

3 Officer Promotions

3 Navy Achievement Medals

2 Enlisted Advancements

2 Detect to Engage Exercises

2 Aircraft from Foreign Countries

2 Straits Transits

1 Navy Commendation Medal

0 Liberty Ports

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Fujiyama Shrine, Saikō-ji Temple, and Milky Way Farms

 It was a beautiful May day so we went with the Callihan family and our friend Sarah to see the beautiful Fujiyama Shrine, it was after peak wisteria season, called Fuji in Japan, but there were still some blooms left. This shrine has Fuji "Trees" that are over 600 years old. 

 Afterwards we stopped at Milky Way Farm, which is a cute local dairy/fresh gelato place. It is so delicious and creamy, you can definitely taste the difference. 

They have pretty normal flavors along with some interesting ones. I've seen Asparagus here and today they had "newly-picket tea"

Mint Chocolate Chip

They have cute cow shaped benches

Eisley was enjoying playing with the Callihans and this sweet Japanese girl. She picked a dandelion and gave it to Eisley

 On the way home, Eisley and I stopped at Saikō-ji Temple. It is a Buddhist Temple in northern Sasebo. I met this really nice Buddhist Monk who was trying to explain some things about the temple in very broken English. Across the street is a shrine where they bless cars/vehicles/transportation and they ask for safe trips. It is common thing to bring a new car here to get it blessed or a new driver asking for safety. 

My new monk friend, notice all the shoes lined up on the temple stairs

Tori gate shrine across a rocky bridge

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Plain White T's

I really liked the band Plain White T's when I was in high school. I was excited to see that the MWR had them coming to play for the military at Nimitz Park for Cinco De Mayo. It was a beautiful day, and it was so relaxing to sit in the park, eat a burrito, and listen to some good music. It is awesome that the MWR is so good about giving us a little bit of home every once in awhile. 

After the show Leisa and I did the "meet and greet" with the band, because why not? You know that you and the band are getting old when all the chit chat was about Eisley. They were so excited saying "Oh, Look at the Baby! How old is she? I love her shoes!!!! I want to sign the baby!" It was funny, in the end I was awkwardly thanking them for coming. It was also funny to meet Tim because he was on this crazy dating TV show like the bachelor called "Ready for Love" that I used to make David watch with me. If you are looking for some weeknight TV to watch on Hulu or something look it up!

After the show we walked over to the Japanese McDonald's in the Ginza. Japanese McDonald's is quite a bit different than American McDonald's. It has a nice second floor sitting area and some interesting menu items. I had the current sandwich special and a Sakura shake. The sandwich was chicken covered in Terriyaki sauce topped with an egg and a lemon cream curd sauce...it was... interesting.

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All about Eisley

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Big emotions come in little packages...

     If I had to use one word to describe motherhood it would be overwhelming. I thought I had sufficiently prepared before having Eisley, but I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I am completely overwhelmed by how much love I feel every single day. I honestly have no idea how to describe it to people that don't have children because it simply just changes everything. I always think of the book "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" where in the end it says his heart grew three sizes that day. I'm convinced that the second you have a baby a huge vault in your heart is opened up, one that you never knew was there before. Your capacity to love something and someone other than yourself is inexplicably changed. I thought I loved my husband, but seeing him interact with our little girl has made me love and respect him in a whole new way that I didn't even know was missing. I am in awe of this beautiful, intelligent, and perfectly innocent little person that we prayed for and were subsequently blessed with. 

     I'm overwhelmed by how many things I said I would or wouldn't do as a mom that I did a complete 180 on once she got here. I didn't realize how much of my life I would spend second guessing myself and agonizing over the smallest decisions just hoping I would do the right thing. I didn't know google would become my best friend and my worst enemy. I didn't know you could feel your intelligence draining away one minute (thanks mommy brain) but have deep philosophical thoughts the next about how you want to change the world for your baby or about how you need to teach them the right traits and values to truly make a difference. I didn't believe in maternal instinct until I was up at 3 am staring at my tiny newborn praying that I could protect her from the dangers of the world. We've been through our share of trials and triumphs, and we've learned so much about each other and about ourselves along the way. 

     Most of all, I wasn't prepared for all of the contradictory emotions. You're dying for them to crawl, and wishing they would hold still. You are so frustrated they won't leave you alone, but you cuddle them when they are asleep because you immediately miss them. Today during church Eisley walked for the first time. It was so hard not to clap and jump up and down with praise for her in the middle of a solemn sacrament meeting. Every milestone she reaches brings a new flood of conflicting feelings. I am so proud and filled with joy when she learns something new, but in that same moment I am reminded that my precious tiny baby is changing forever. Sometimes I find myself clinging to each moment as I snuggle her; smelling her sweet baby smell, kissing her perfectly chubby cheeks, and feeling completely overwhelmed by how much I love her. Sometimes it feels like more than my heart can handle. Now I know where are the sentimental old ladies come from; I'm already there and my journey has just begun. I don't ever want to forget her sweet baby snores, her soft, fine baby hair, the chunky thighs, and her fluffy little hands grasping mine. 

     When I wake up in the morning I am going to have a one year old. It's incredible to think about how big of an impact such a tiny little person can make. This year I've learned a lot about how NOT to be a mom, and a little about how to be a great one. In the end, this year was mostly just about learning to embrace this new, crazy kind of love. I am so proud of this little sweet spirit I have been given to teach and adore. I thank the Lord every day that I have her; she is one of the most beautiful blessings in my life.

     

So think of me as I kiss my sleeping baby goodnight tonight. I'm also kissing my baby's first year goodbye and looking forward to what each new year with her will bring. 

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