Meet BabyHomePages.net member Bridgette and her daughter Amaya!

Bridgette is a working mom, student and a member of the US Air Force. Amaya’s dad is also in the US Air Force and has been serving in Iraq since January. Bridgette is scheduled to deploy next year. We talked to Bridgette about being a mom, raising Amaya with her father away and their plans for Easter.

How do you do it all by yourself?
I just live everyday for my daughter and do the best I can. Not to mention, I have one of the best day care provider’s around that helps me out in every way she can. Right now, I don’t have any “me” time but that is completely fine for me. I live for the weekends when I can spend the whole day hanging out with my Princess. I guess I don’t know it any other way so doing it by myself is just my “normal.” I worry about her Dad every single day. He is not in the “thick” of things but his base gets bombed very frequently. He is a very strong man but his emotional state is what I worry about most. He is really struggling because he has to see all of the traumas that come through his ER. He may see someone eating in the chow hall one day and then they are laying in his ER with no arms and legs the next. It is very sad.

Will he be home to take care of her when you go?
Yes, he will. We are assigned to different “buckets” so he comes home approximately 19 May and I depart mid Jan 09 for this cycle. We will get 6 months together before we are separated for 4 again. He has missed first steps, first dancing, beginnings of talking, and will miss her 1st birthday. I will miss her second birthday and all of the great stuff that goes along with those months.

Is there a chance that both of you would be deployed?
Yes there is always that chance. Does that happen? That would typically only happen if they decided to do what the public is hearing called a “surge.” For us that just means they may send more than one “bucket” at a time.

Favorite hobbies?
We both love to roller skate! I also love to read, swim, and take our dogs to the beach.

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The Good Old Days

BHP Tested Easter Traditions, did we survive?

5 Flavor Pound Cake - Our Grade A++
My great grandmother made the best 5 flavor pound cake. Back then they called it 5 friend pound cake because everybody brought one of the flavorings. We know the flavoring is expensive, but it’s well worth it!!
Click here for the recipe

Natural Dyed Eggs - Our Grade B-
We tried dyeing Easter eggs the old fashioned way with home made dyes. We boiled the ingredients with vinegar and alum powder (or a little salt), soaked for 15 minutes, drained thru a coffee filter and soaked eggs in the dyes. Since natural dyes take longer to be prepared and to color the eggs, allow extra time for this project. The eggs turn out a pastel shade of the color with variations of swirls.

The pros – all-natural, educational for kids, rewarding
The cons - can be messy, more prep, needs patience, had a couple of eggs that wouldn’t dye

Click here for a list of kitchen items needed to make dyes.