He’s Gone…

Nate left yesterday afternoon for his year long tour of duty.  There was another send-off at the 32nd Brigade Headquarters guard unit (which is the unit he is now with).  This is at Camp Douglas which is an almost 2 hour drive from here in Madison.  Add in a snowstorm and that is how our day went.  Of course we haven’t had any significant snow fall for weeks but we would have upwards of 5 or 6 inches on the day he leaves. I guess the Wisconsin snow was sending off it’s soldiers properly.  Well it made for kind of a crazy day with trying to leave a bit early to battle the crappy roads, not to mention trekking through the unplowed parking lots etc. Snow or not I knew that the day was going to stink.  After all this preparation and Nate’s coming and going in the last several weeks it was finally the day we have been dreading since late August when we first found out there was the possibility of Nate deploying.  He is actually not flying to Fort Bliss until Monday and I was able to chat with him last night even after the tearful goodbye in the armory. I am sure I will be able to talk to Nate on a daily basis until they leave Fort Bliss in April or May and then we will see. There also is a possibility that Finley and I will be able to fly down to Bliss in April for Nate’s four day pass but  I am not going to get my hopes up just yet!  Finley was so over-stimulated at yesterday’s send off he was “drunken-tired” by the time he had to say goodbye to his daddy!  Poor guy!   This deployment has meant a lot of schedule changes and running around for our little guy but he has done just wonderful.  Nate and I both know we have the best little baby and think the world of him.  Together, yet apart we will all get through this next year with each others love and support!

Bottle with Daddy

Playtime (we took over the little gym in the armory!)

Posing for pictures with parents

Family shot

Finley getting very sleepy..

Bye Daddy