I am now a mom of a soldier too...

Here is Nick and Derek arriving at reception, ready to start their new lives in the Army
Here is Nick on the left and his friend Derek is on the right. Really it seemed soooo surreal to see this picture. It reminds me of when he was little and would play dress up in Sal's uniforms. He would say, "mama, I get the bad guys, okay?" "I go work with daddy, okay mama" Gosh, where does the time go? My sweet baby is now a man and training to be an MP in the US ARMY. I cannot tell you how proud we are of him. I am proud of any person joining the military, BUT especially proud of those that join during times of war. A CSM talked to me the other day at work, his son was graduating OSUT and I said oh that is great, our son just started his journey and with tears in his eyes he told me, "ma'm, those warriors are the true heros, the ones that join during wartime, KNOWING they will be deployed and KNOWING that they may not come home, he said you shake your sons hand for me and tell him we are all proud of these young heros." That was truly the sweetest thing anyone told me about Nick. I think Sal is having a harder time with it, more than he probably expected. He is SOO very proud of Nick and even more proud that he like his father is going to be an MP. Nick is continuing the tradition, he is becoming a legacy. Sal of course has the same fears as I do, but I think his are more of a reality due to the fact that he knows EXACTLY what Nick is going to see, hear and be apart of. I just want to give him a hug.. We are writing letters and just letting him know we love and miss him and are UBER proud of everything he is about to do. My sweet 1st born, we love you, we miss you and you make us very proud each and everyday.. Love, Mom...

I am ONE TODAY!!!!

For my birthday I got a cell phone and new keys because my brother Domini has some and I always want his. I also got a big riding dump truck, books, also mommy and daddy got me some new clothes. Papa and grandma sent me my 1st check!mommy said I have it for shoes, eventhough I dont like wearing them, she insists!