Checking Off The Wyoming

Well, this is it. One of, if not THE LAST time Jacob will have to don the old kakis. I can't report to you that he had any sense of nostalgia or wistfulness...just relief. We are both terribly excited for the transition. He didn't even have to go in to work today; just on base to get a physical, check out, and turn in his supper sneaky get-down-to-the-boat badge. He's done. ... In fact, no shit, as soon as I typed "He's done" I answered the ringing phone to the sound of his voice proclaiming, "I'm done!" Cool huh? We're in sync. I know down the line there will be days that he wonders, "What if?" And perhaps when he hears other's talk about the good experiences they've had in the service he might wish things had gone different. But I think that is healthy and normal. I am sure if he had done twenty years in the Navy he would have days when he contemplated what he could have made of himself in the civilan world. Once in a while everyone daydreams about the paths passed by for different roads.

I for one, am very proud of my husband. He has balls. It would be SAFER in many respects for him to stay in. Initially the civilian world just can't compeat with the Navy in terms of money and benifits. Jacob however, is driven and he has an entrepreneurial spirit that just won't quit. Now is the time for him to get out there and make it happen. It would only get harder for him to do that if he stayed in even the two years of a shore tour. It's better that he take this step now while there are only 2.5 or 3 of us. Besides, I know that whatever job he does, or plan he makes is bound to be a success. He has that perfect blend of brains and intestinal fortitude to accomplish anything. OK, I'm done bragging about him. :-)

In other news, today I received the coolest birthday package from my Mom and Grandma. It was an awesome pick-me-up. It was like getting a hug in the mail. Only better, because it was a hug with presents! ;-) Thank you both! Included in the package was a cassette tape made of me as a little kid...5 or under? The date wasn't on the tape, but it was so special. It was a recording of me singing the 12 Days of Christmas (my all time favorite Christmas song). It is so hard to imagine that little voice used to be mine. I have no memory of ever sounding like that. Does my Mom? Or did the voice on the cassette sound as alien to her as it did to me? After I finished my little solo everyone in the room cheered. I can imagine my grandparents and both parents were in the crowd, but really the only voice I could pick out for certain was my Mom's. Probably in part because she was always my most zealous cheerleader. I can still clearly remember her shouts from the stands of countless softball games.

There are only a handful of people's voices that I can remember after going a long time without talking to them. But really my Mom and Dad's voices stand out the sharpest in my memory. And I just must be hardwired to remember their voices. I love reading that when a baby is born it recognizes it's parents' voices and will turn it's head to face them. How wonderful! I can't wait to meet my little Jacob. His Daddy and I sing and talk to him all the time. I can't wait to make recordings of him singing his favorite songs. It is all going to be so much fun!

Thursday I'll be 22 weeks pregnant. Hopefully Jacob and I will take some belly pictures soon so I can share with you all the massively expanding dimensions of my stomach. I feel him kicking al the time now. Jacob has even been able to feel him finally as well. This is really starting to be fun!