I'm leaving for Texas

Well, today is Big E's birthday! Of course we're not planning anything. I baked him homemade mac n cheese last night for dinner because that's what he requested. I tried baking a square-type sheet cake today from scratch. I may have to try again. The middle seems a little squishy (the oven here is horrible) but it seems mostly done. When I stick a toothpick in it comes out clean, but it's not spongy-like like the outsides. I guess we'll see when we go to eat it. Hopefully it just means that it needs to just sit and cool and the inside will cook the rest of the way. Otherwise I'll try again but will have to use margarine this time. And a cake that should take 30 minutes to bake takes 2 hours it seems like with Squirt crying to eat, Little E is sick, and having to pump.

I've been dying to run, but it's hard to do with 2 kids. Especially because the double jogging stroller we got doesn't hold a car seat. So I was looking around for a cheap jogging stroller (single, I plan on meeting Big E at the paved trail by his work after he's done with work and we can run together) that will accommodate a car seat and found this Instep one for $99 at walmart (cheap, we can't afford expensive right now).

Hopefully it works out. We used the gift card that Big E's grandfather sent for Squirt being born to purchase it. It'd also be nice to have a stroller that we can use everyday. The Britax bnimble we have isn't great, it's very hard to steer 1 handed.

In other words, we have a lot of strollers to sell at a garage sale when we move into our house.

Speaking of our home, we're still waiting to hear about whether we're approved for the loan or not. I'm getting very anxious about it. I just want to know this place is ours. Plus, the closing date is set for July 11th and it's getting close.

So I'm glad I went to drill this weekend. I was supposed to be in a school but ended up being dropped due to not having an updated fitness test (since I was pregnant, but that shouldn't have dropped me, it was someone not doing their job that ended up with me being dropped). But this weekend we found out we're being mobilized and are going to spend a year in Texas. Thankfully it's not a deployment to Afghanistan (have done that) or Iraq (I know they say it won't happen but I don't fully believe it right now). I'll be able to Skype every single night with Big E and the boys. Big E can focus on school and either work part-time or not work at all. We can save and fix the house how we want it. It'll be nice.

On the other hand I'm really sad about it. Yes, I should get weekends to be able to fly home and spend time about once a month at home for a couple days. But that means having to leave my kids for a year. Especially Squirt, he won't even be a year old when I leave. Especially because that means I'll need to stop pumping and give him formula. I haven't decided yet if I want to do that at 6 months, or just suck it up and start it now. I'm going to miss so much with them.

But, with job searching it's come at a good time. I can't find anything. I'm not a strong interviewer to begin with, but I don't think I'm the worst. Except I keep interviewing with these places and when I mention I'm in the reserves I get that sense that it knocks me down to not being first choice. Especially for jobs that I'm more than qualified for. But with this news I've basically just given up trying to find anything. I do need to still search, we need the money, but it's just made me give up. I excel at everything military, but I have no chance to prove that in the civilian side. I may just give up and try applying for a part-time cashier at walmart or somewhere just for the space between now and when I get mobilized.

Alright I'm being called so time to go.