Happy Birthday Byron and Daddy!

1. Happy Birthday Byron ! This is just a little something I made to let you know exactly how much I love you and what you mean to me. I hope you have an awesome birthday!!!!

2. “ Hey. . . It’s Byron. . .” “ . . . Hi . . .” And so our life together began!

4. “ Wow this is all just entirely too weird. It is so good to be talking to you again though!! “ “ Hey girl I was so excited to see that you wrote me back. “ “ What about you? Do you have a special someone?” “ Hi sweetheart how are you? I miss you so very much. “ “ Then Byron called me!! AWWWWWWWWWWW! I seriously missed him! “ “ I'm a little scared though. . . “ “ it's like there's still something there. “ “ I cannot wait for him to come here. Only 8 more days. “ “ I was so nervous I thought I was going to throw up. “ “ He kissed the top of my head and then he kissed me and wow.. just wow wow wow.”

5. It wasn’t long before we knew wedding bells were in our near future . . .

7. “ So far Germany is fun” “ I cried all last night without you. I'm so used to having you to say goodnight to and I guess I finally realized what it means to be a soldier's wife. “ “ I miss you so much you are the best wifey in the whole wide world.” “ Trisha I LOVE YOU more than anything in this world” “ I look up at the stars and I think that those are the same stars that are over you while you sleep. “ “ I miss you so much in every way possible but we will make it”

8. And so we went through the next several months with an occasional weekend trip to see each other. The deployment was quickly arriving and we were both feeling the strains. “ I was just informed that when Byron goes out on the field for ten days he's not allowed to take his cell phone. That means 10 days of not being able to talk to my husband. I am supposed to deal with this how? I found my breath catching in the back of my throat and the tears welling up in my eyes... and I sat here wondering why... why I have to go through this- why I have to be separated from him for an entire year. Why why why. So many of them unanswered and I just hate it. “ “ The loneliness sets in and it's all downhill from there. Actually, it set in awhile ago. But now with Byron gone it's multiplied greatly. I miss Byron so much.”

9. And so April finally came and we spent those last days together. You flew off to be my brave soldier and fight in Afghanistan for our freedom. . . And my life went on somehow. . . “ So I cleaned the house, talked to my mom on the phone and went to bed. 3:30am rolls around and Byron calls. I love him to death and miss him so much but I was just not totally awake for that phone call.” “ I'm going to lose my mind before the year is over and done with. Stupid Army. “

10. “ He just sounds so sad and I want so badly to be able to hug him and tell him that everything is going to be okay. December cannot come soon enough.” “ You are absolutely goofy but you are my wifey and i am proud of that.” “ I'm hoping and praying that he'll be okay. I just don't know what I'd do if something happened to him. “ “ The only thing I look forward to everyday is hearing your voice or maybe reading some words that came from your heart. “ “ I have never been more proud of a single person in my entire life. Come home to me safe. I love you so much!” “ I just need you to wrap your arms around me to comfort me. I'm so alone here and so miserable without you. “

11. Finally, mid-tour leave. . .

12. After what seemed like forever, that year finally ended. You came home, safe and sound and we finally began our life together with a little bit of relaxation and fun!

13. The next thing we know. . .

14. And what a long 9 months it was!

15. January 2, 2007 January 3, 2007

16. The first week. . .

17. Week 2

18. Three Weeks Old!!!

19. At 4 weeks it was all sleep or smiles. . .

20. Two months. . . The perfect home. . . The perfect baby.

21. 3 Months

22. Four months. . . And beautiful

23. There’s no doubting how much she loves us. . . . . . Or how much more we love her. . . We make the perfect family!

24. And this year on your birthday we wanted you to know just how much you are loved and cared for. You are a great husband and the perfect daddy. We couldn’t ask for anyone better!