Once upon a time, there was a girl and she met a boy. And they fell in love. Well, since they were in high school it was more “Like.” But, like, a major “Like.” Like, she was seriously crushing on him. And he was sorta into her, too. So, they dated and they broke up. A couple of times, because, you know…that’s what you do in high school.
So, the boy and the girl went away to college and didn’t see each other for a while. They grew up a little, lived a little. And one day, the boy and the girl met again. And they fell in love. For real, this time. The only problem was, the boy was a soldier and was headed to South Korea for a year and the girl was in graduate school in Virginia. Thanks to the wonders of webcams, they stayed in touch and became closer over the year. The love deepened and when the boy came back to Virginia a year later, he asked the girl to marry him. Actually, he said “How would you feel about being an Army wife?” The girl said, “I could probably handle it. Are you trying to ask me something?” And so, they were engaged and married six months later.
At the wedding, we walked through the Saber Arch. I got whacked in the derriere by a saber and heard as I walked away, “Welcome to the Army, Ma’am.” At the time, I knew it was tradition but didn’t understand the full implication and symbolism. I have now come to realize the extent to which marriage to a soldier fully indoctrinates you in all things Army and that sometimes, Army Life kicks you in the butt.
Soldier Boy: The boy grew up to become Soldier Boy. He loves the Army and loves the soldier life, but, like anyone, is occasionally frustrated with his job. He’s calm, level-headed and steady…all the things you’d want in a leader if you were in the Army. As you might expect, he likes tanks, big machinery, big guns and health/fitness. (CrossFit cult, anyone?) But, he has a softer side: he’s creative, artistic and musically inclined. He’s also bizarrely knowledgeable about pop culture and related trivia, something he shames Household 6 with regularly. And, of course, he’s a devoted father…the kids always cheer when Daddy walks in at the end of the day.
Household 6: For those of you non-Army folks, Household 6 is a common joke among military families. The “6” designation is traditionally used in call signs to refer to the unit commander, so wives earn the title of Household 6 by commanding their home and their family forces with pride. I suppose I’d probably be considered a stereotypical Army wife. I’m a stay-at-home Mom, by choice. I’m a joiner and a helper, so I can’t help but to get involved wherever we are. I do volunteer work with our Family Readiness Group (FRG, henceforth) and various other groups around post. I’m a board member for the Officer and Civilian Spouses Club (OCSA) and for the Protestant Women of Chapel (PWOC). I like Hail and Farewells, Balls, Unit Coffee Groups and other social opportunities. I’m also a Representative for the National Military Family Association. So, though I might be a stereotype, I still have dreams, ambitions and plans for myself and I’m pretty determined to make them happen when the time is right. If only I could decide what I want to be when I grow up.
Monster Boy: So called, because, like many first children with their parents undivided attention, he was such a good, sweet, friendly baby. So good, in fact, that, like many other first-time parents, we deluded ourselves that our child was so perfect and we were such awesome parents that we should have a whole pack of kids! 4, 5, 6? Sure!!! Then, right around the time Baby #2 arrived and Monster Boy turned two, that all came crashing down! We love our little Monster Boy and the name has stuck, not because of his behavior or lack-thereof, but because he embraces all things MONSTER. In his world, louder, stronger, faster and bigger is always better. His inspiration for the day varies, a dinosaur, a lion, tiger, monster truck, firetruck, or rocket ship, but the theme is always the same: Big, LOUD, FAST! The child does not lack in imagination. Monster Boy is currently three and a half.
Bunny Girl – Bunny girl earned her moniker in utero, courtesy of her big brother, Monster Boy. We had a book about a bunny with lots of brothers and sisters, so when we asked him if he wanted a brother or a sister, he naturally assumed he was getting a bunny. The name stuck since she was quite active and jumped around incessantly in the womb. After she arrived, she was this adorable round, chubby, fat-cheeked baby that just wanted to be snuggled. She’s one and a half years old now. We are learning the dangers of underestimating the younger one. She’s quiet and innocent looking, but underneath those sweet round cheeks is a little mischievous imp. She’s far too clever for her mother’s peace of mind and much too fast on her feet already.
H3 – As in, Baby Hooah #3. We don’t know if H3 is a boy or a girl and we’re seriously struggling in creating a list of names for the poor child. Regardless, we’re pretty excited that H3 is arriving in November 2011. Monster Boy is totally on board with the idea of a new baby, but Bunny Girl has no clue what’s going on yet! Soldier and I are pretty excited that H3 will be our first child to NOT be born during a deployment. This is our third child, but Soldier’s first real newborn experience. (Sorry Soldier, 9 days on R & R does not count as a real newborn experience.) When folks find out we are expecting baby #3, generally the next question is, “How many kids are you going to have?” So, to preempt that question, the answer is: I have no clue but we’ll keep you posted.
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