Army Wedding Vows

I found this on one of my boards.
"Army Wedding Vows"


Dear family and friends, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and the Department of the Army, to witness this exchange of vows, and see the love that these two dedicated, loving people have for one another.

"Wilt thou, __________, take ___________ (who will now be referred to as the"dependent"), as your family member, to dwell together in so far as the Department of the Army will permit?" "Wilt thou love her, comfort her, via the postal service or over the phone, make sure she knows where the commissary, PX, and church are, and what time she is scheduled to use the laundry room the day she arrives, wherever you are stationed?"

"Wilt thou attempt to tell her more than 24 hours in advance that you will be leaving for two weeks, beginning the next morning?" This especially applies to the years you will live in a foreign country!

"Wilt thou ____________, take this soldier as thy wedded husband, knowing that he is depending upon you to be the perfect (well almost) Army wife, running the household as you see fit, and being nice to the commander's wife?" Furthermore, you understand that your life with your husband (little that you may have together) will not be normal, that you may have to explain to your children, not once, but twice, and more often in the same day, that mothers do have husbands, and that children do have daddy's, and that the picture of the man on the refrigerator is not the milkman, but the same individual who tucks them in at 2200 hours, long after they are asleep. This soldier is their daddy, who loves them very, very much.

"Wilt thou love, respect and wait for him, preparing his favorite cookies and pictures of yourself and the kids, so he can remember what you look like?" And last but not least, put on the outside of your door his"Welcome home" sign when he's due to arrive?"

"I, ____, take thee ____, as my independent wife, from 1900 to 2200 hours or as long as allowed by my Commanding Officer (subject to change without notice), for better or worse, earlier or later, near or far, and I promise to look at the pictures you send me, maybe not when they get to me in the field, but before I turn the lights out. I will also send a letter, if time permits, and if not, to somehow, some way, make the time."

"I, _________, take thee _________ as my live-in/live-out husband, realizing that your comings and goings and 0330 staff meetings are normal (although absurd to me) and part of your life as a soldier. I promise not to be shocked or taken by surprise when you inform me that, although we've just arrived at our new duty station, we will be leaving within the month. Yes, I'll have you as my husband as long as while your are away, my allotment comes through regularly, and that you leave me a current power of attorney and the checkbook at all times. I am a family member and proud of it, dependent upon myself and my resources. Although I miss you when you are away, I know I can handle whatever comes across my path."

"Now then, let no man or woman put asunder what God and the Department of the Army have brought together. The Army hereby issues you this lovely, dedicated, independent woman, knowing that she'll be an asset not only to your marriage, but also to the mission of the United States Army, which is, as you all know, to remain in a state of "Readiness." By the authority vested in the Bible, elaborated in the regulation and subject to current directives concerning the aspects of marriage in the Army, you are now a Soldier with a Family Member. Best Wishes and good Luck."

Monkmee Family Update 8-28

I've been lacking in my actual blogging so here goes a REAL update. He he!
Mama Monkmee

I'm doing pretty good considering it's been 2 weeks since I dropped of Joel for basic training. But then again he was in holding for those 2 weeks and got to text and call a couple times a day. Now he's in actually training as of yesterday and his phone has been locked up. 14 weeks and he'll be home. I'm keeping myself busy with the kids, my blog reviews, and extra stuff I'm taking on even though I probley shouldn't but it keeps me busy. I've gotten 3 letters so far from him and thats awesome.

I'm working on my HTML and coding skills. I've only been doing my own blog layouts (as you've seen me change countless times) but I sat down with my friends blog and gave her a bloggy makeover for taking Alex to school in the mornings for me. Indeed I Am Blessed, she loves it, me, eh I still wanna improve it. But I'm a little OCD when it comes to my grapic skills. Im trying to improve them. This is just my list for today!

Daddy Monkmee

He said he was doing good. He said he misses us more than he thought he would but he was ready for basic to start so he could do what he had to do and finish so he could come home to us.

Alex Monkmee

Alex has been in school for over a week now. He's doing good and enjoys it. they go by a color system. Green is good, Yellow means they got a warning, Orange is they were redirected, Blue is they loose privlages, and Red is a phone call to parents. He's been on green everday until Wednesday he got yellow for talking after his teacher told him to stop. Imagine that Alex talking. LOL. Mr I talk in my sleep cuz I never shut up lol. But other than that he's been doing really good. I got him a job chart yesterday and I got it filled out and hung up. I'm trying to get them on a schdule. I also have a bunch of pre-school and 5k work books he's gotten and we gonna start doing a page a day. He's starting fall soccer on the 7th with his best friend and godbrother Curtis. That should be good for him.

Eian Monkmee

Eian is doing good. It's a fight to get him to wear his glasses. He misses his daddy, he's had the most trouble adjusting to him being gone. He's a total daddy's boy! He starts 3k the 2nd week of September. He'll be going 3 hours a day 5 days a week, just like Alex did for 2 years. Eian is completly off the bottle and we are getting ready to see if he's ready for potty training. He's talking more and more and still signing good. He loves to dance and I'm thinking about putting him in dance classes.

Will Monkmee

Woo was almost 18lbs at his 4 month check up. Dr said he was perfect and keep up the good work breast feeding him. He's rolling all over the place, trying to sit unsupported, and discovered toys. I had to start buckling him in his bouncy seat cuz he leans over and has tumbed out once. My mama got him a stationary play chair and he loves it.

Wordless Wednesday- My Soldier

Disappeared?

I swear I'm still here. I got more giveaways and reviews to post.

I'm just a little down today. I take Joel to his recruiter's office tomorrow at 11am. I wont see him again for atleast 8 weeks and even then it'll be just one day. He won't be home till December. I know 15 weeks ain't a long time compared to some. I promise I'll be back posting fun stuff Monday.  For now I'm gonna enjoy my husband's company and maybe snuggle some while the little ones sleep.

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Monkmee Update

I know this is long over due. Forgive me I've been busy. We are all doing good. The boys are growing and learning so much.

Alex has discovered Silly Bands and well lets just say we all own some thanks to him and his love of sharing. Even little Will was sporting a Silly band the other day. He's excited about starting school. he told me the other day he wants it to start already.

Eian, well Eian is learning by leaps and bounds.He started a few months back patting his diaper when it was dirty, then he started patting it before he used it so I decided to try to potty train him but before I could start he decided he was done with his bottle. Well he got a new cup and drank outta it the whole day without asking for a "ba" so I continued to not give him one. He's been 5 days without his bottle and I'm happy to say we are "ba" free. So I'm gonna give him a week or so then see how he does with potty training cause i don't wanna take too much away from as one time. The boy has become a talker. He can say anything he wants. Manpa, Aly(Alex), Woo(Will), head, xbox, snack, nitenite, bye, and way more than I can list lol. If he's in a talking mood you can get him to repeat anything. He's also signing more putting 2 or 3 signs together along with saying the word, to make a sentance. At the mountains in the hot tub he signed and said water mouth. To let us know he got water in his mouth. I'm so proud. He told me I love you the other day. he's said it before to my mom and grandma but never me. I can't believe he'll be 3 years old in a few months.

Will is growing up fast too. We had to pack up the tiny baby clothes and pull out the bigger stuff. He's learned to roll over, laugh, smile, baby talk and he's trying his best to sit up. He thinks he's a big boy. We started baby food the other day as he's always trying to get our food and watches us like a hawk when we eat. He had sweet potatoes and he loved them.

Me and Joel are doing good. He leaves in 3 weeks for basic at Fort Benning. I'm busy working on planning going away parties for him. I'm gonna miss him but it's for the best. I knew I'd have to make scrifices being an Army wife but I just learned that when we move with him next summer, if we live on base we wont be able to take our dog. Jada is one of the banned dog breeds, Pit. That makes me so sad she's part of the family. Jada is my girl, my only girl. We've had her for almost 3 years now. Atleast we have family that will take her so we don't have to lose her just relocate her lol.

The Mama Behind The Blog

Wanna know more about Mama Monkmee? Ok here goes. I'm Dawn aka Mama Monkmee. I'm 26 and have 3 little boys, Alex (5), Eian (32 months), & Will (2 months). I'm married to my high school sweet heart Joel.

I started blogging on MySpace on August 23, 2005 my 1st blog entry was.
"Hey everyone. It's me Dawn, and for those of you who dont know me you will very soon.

I just wanted to get this up and running , now I must get back to Alex.
Dawn's the name, Mama's what they call me!"

Not the greatest but everyone has to start somewhere. I moved over to blogger on May 10, 2008. I choose the name Mama Monkmee cuz I loved monkeys and my oldest son Alex called them monkmees.

I blog about my life the ups and downs of raising 3 boys all 30 months apart, my life long love of Joel(ok half my life), my son's Down syndrome and anything and everything in between.

I was your typical 23 year old mom of 1 son and another on the way when Eian was born with Down syndrome. It changed my whole life. It made me a better person. Most importantly it made me a better mom. I wouldn't change Eian for the world. I love him just the way he is.

So me, well I'm a computer geek. I love making graphics. My biggest passion is photography. Although I've been slacking in my photo taking. I deal with anxiety issues. I get stressed out super easy. I used to be a cutter, but I've not gone that route in years. I wont lie life is stressful being a SAHM of 3 small boys. Eian has therapy twice a week outside of the house. It's a 45 min drive to and from his therapy. He also has Early intervention once a week at our house.

I have 2 on bottles, ok not really I have 1 on a bottle and 1 on the breast. I have 2 in diapers. I use cloth diapers, most of the time. I try to live green. I love text messaging. I've been married for 10 months. I got pregnant with Will the night of my bachelorette party. Lol I found out I was pregnant 5 days after I got married.

My 5 year old is a video game nut just like his daddy. He'd play all day if I let him. My 2 year old knows more sign language than I do. My 2 month old is spoiled.

I'm real and this blog is about my real life. I started doing giveaways to give me something todo while nursing Will since I spend a good bit of time hee at the computer.

My husband leaves in 2 months for basic training with the Army. He'll be gone for 16 weeks He'll miss mine, his  and Eian's birthdays. He'll be home in time for christmas. then he'll be gone again. Me and the boys are stay here until next summer when we will join him provided he's somewhere we can go.

If there is anything else you wanna know about me, the boys, our life anything leave a comment and I'll answer it. Thanks

Life With 3 Boys

Ok first off my blogging has been very lacking for months and I apologize. I will do better, I promise.

Second who ever said going from 2 to 3 kids was easier than going from 1 to 2 must not have had a High-maintenance 5 year old and a special needs 2 year old. Then throw in a colicy 1 month old that wants to nurse all day. I'm going outta my mind some days. But really guys it's not that bad and we are adjusting. We have had some new behaviors pop up with the kids that we are working really hard to stop since Will came. I know it's just jealousy issuses but they do make day to day life very difficult some days. Alex started talking back, being just down right mean to Eian, threatening me, trying to bully me, etc. He loves Will but man he's worst this time than he as when I had Eian. I really thought he'd be the one ok with a new baby since he'd already done this once. I was wrong. I worried about Eian and a new baby. Eian has been wonderful with Will, I have to remind him to be gentle and no he isn't old enough to pick Will up yet (he's tried and actually done it once before I could get him), but over all he's adjusted just fine. He's jealous of him but mainly when he's sleepy he wants mama or if my mom holds Will, Eian's not a fan of that. Eian has learned that if mommy is nursing the baby he can do things he'd normally get in trouble for and since i'm tied down feeding the baby he doesnt get in trouble right away. Man the messes that kid can make. But you know what, I can deal with that.

Ok so on to other news.

Alex's 4k graduation is this Tuesday and his last day is Friday. I'm so proud of him and everything he has learned. He can count pretty high (I heard him count to 30 something yesterday counting pennies) he knows his ABC's, he can spell and write his name and several other 3 and 4 letter words. His speech is improving but I really think he'll end up in ST in the fall when he starts 5k, which is just fine. I registered him for 5k last month and he's so excited. He starts August 18th. It's gonna be a change for him he's been in a private chruch preschool for 2 years now, just 3 hours a day. He's gonna be in public 5k and it's all day, but he'll be just fine.

Eian is doing great, he's talking more and more. His speech has really took off since having tubes put in his ears in Jan. I'm amazed everyday. Friday he learned to drink from a straw (he still forgets to swallow the drink sometimes and it comes spitting out, like it did yesterday in my eye) he's so proud of himself. He clapped and danced everytime he did it right. We've been working for a year now trying to get this and he couldn't until now. We made the decision to send him to the same private preschool that Alex has been in, with "typical" kids his age and not the special needs preschool this year. So Eian starts 3k in Sept. it'll be just 3 hours a day 5days a week, but I think it will be great for him plus he'll still be getting his private therapies at the hospital.

Now on to my littlest monkmee. Will is doing great. He's a little piggy. he was 7lbs 4oz when he was born at one month old he was 10lbs 10oz. We have already had to pack up the newborn clothes and move to size 1 diapers. He's been a little colicky the past few days. I'm pretty sure he has reflux just like Eian. He fits in just fine in the family lol. He's too cute sometimes when he's sleeping he'll smile and then giggle.

I don't think I've talked about it here yet, but come August we'll be an Army family. Joel decided to go a head and enlist. He leaves August 15th for 15 weeks of Basic training down in Georgia at Fort Benning. He'll be home the 1st week of Dec. it's gonna be a big change for us. Me and the boys will stay here in Union proli til next summer after Alex finished his 1st year of school and after Wwill's 1st birthday. Then more than likely we'll join him where ever he's stationed at if we can.

I guess thats all for now. I better run. But before I go I leave you with pictures.

Eian after he helped himself to holding Will

Eian walking like a big boy with his monkey from therapy

Will just hanging out with his mama

Alex's 4k school pix

A few of Will's 1 month pictures I took

His 1st bath

Getting fat

Alex multitasking. Holding Will and playing the xbox.