I finally figured out the video links!

Alright! I finally got this I think....Here's a video of Eve and Sy, Sy's in the box, Eve's walking and the legendary Diaper Hijinx as only told by the Mercado Twins. Is a few links below.
Enjoy!

Wow, what a week already!

Well, coming at ya live again. I had contracted a trojan virus and am now clean once more. I was perusing the Exchange on base and found they have a "Computer Care Center" back behind the electronics department. So I had quarantined the virus with a program John suggested. I spoke with the guy there at the exchange and explained what had happened. He said to bring in my laptop and he'd remove the virus for me. Needless to say I was there 10 minutes after his day started and it took about 15 mins for him to delete files and double check that he'd cleared it all out. When I asked him how much it was going to be he said he wasn't going to charge me anything. (it was supposed to cost 40.00/hr or $25 minimum) I just about cried. He had said since I did most of the work myself there really wasn't alot he did other than just delete stuff. What a relief. Sylvin's in Honolulu this week and next, but then after that hopefully they'll be on their way home. Which should take about 2 weeks or a little less in transit and the only communication we have is email. I don't know how old sailor's wives did it before email? It's such a luxury to be able to get word from him every night.
Of course it's been raining most of the week as usual, there's a 40% chance it'll rain tomorrow too, shocking....
The three of us checked out the flea market Saturday afternoon. I think we'll have to get there ealier next time cause mostly everyone was packing up to go home. I did happen to meet a girl with her son walking around. She was there from Japan visiting. Her husband is on the Kitty Hawk and she came to see him while he was inport. We exchanged information and she invited me to call if we ever got to Japan. We've been emailing one another and I might have a new penpal. We're going to make friends all over the world! It's amazing.
I had visitors over the weekend. Kerri, one of the chief's wife that serves with Sylvin, she's the ship's ombudsman. Came over Saturday night and we sat out on the patio and had a few beers. Basically a smorgasbord for the mosquitoes was more like it. But it's nice to have some adult conversation. Monday night, the neighbor Becky and her teen girls came down to remind me of a 'play date' the on Tuesday. Are you familiar with the term "play date"? I'm half embarrassed to admit I know what it truly is....I used to make fun of people who would bring this term up in polite society. Anyway, a bunch of mom's get together with their children and turn them loose, in this case,in some one's volunteered living room. We were supposed to go to the beach here on base, but as stated earlier it's raining. It was fun. Eve is so sociable, she just charges in and digs in. Playing and letting Becky's daughter Jessica hold her. Jessica is our perspective future babysitter. She's 14 and super sweet. She's got 2 younger brothers 2 and 1 year old and so I trust her for the short term babysitting jobs and she's cheap too. Only 5/hour for both of them! So I see many date nights with Sylvin when he's home. Yahooo!!! Back to the play date....I met a couple other new ladies today who seem very nice and interesting. A girl named Bethany who is a elementary school teacher. Her and her husband came here to teach in Guam. She's been all over on missions trips to Africa and he's been to Asia. They were looking for a place in between that was culturally diverse and they ended up here. Then I also met a lady names Hesiah, "HE-sy" she's Japanese married to a fella here who is a diesel mechanic that travels alot. Her nickname is "Sy". Cool huh? She like Syani's name but would turn around alot when I called out to Sy. Poor lady, she's probably used to having her name all to herself.
And lastly before the update on the girls. The household goods stuff is due to arrive here Friday. They'll be dropping it off and unpacking. Hooray! I'm going to have Jessica hopefully watch the girls while the movers are here. Nice way to spend my anniversary, Sylvin won't be here anyway so might as well. At least it won't feel like a glorified hotel anymore, it'll really feel like home.
Eve's been walking more and more everyday. She'll actually gets up right on her own instead of me putting her on her feet. She was walking quite a bit today over at the play date thing. Little stinkers, it's hard for me to tell who's who. I confused Eve for Sy a couple times yesterday from behind. They both have colds again, me too. I don't know when they're going to get over the 'Guam crud'? They've been interacting and laughing with one another more. They are learning that Beans likes to chew on his bone and so they'll pick it up for him to come and get from them. It's so cute. They still love the tub and I think we've got it worked out now that I've deterred the turds in the tub. We haven't seen any lately, but I don't want to jinx myself either. We're missing Sylvin terribly. I thought I would have pulled my hair out by now, but I think I'm holding up nicely. It helps to stay busy with them and get them outta the house. I think they get a little stir crazy....I hope the rain lets up soon. We all miss the beach pretty bad. Well, I don't want to ramble so better get. Love and miss you all.

We're renewing our vows!

Coast Guard Wedding Vows

Dear family and friends, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and the United States Coast Guard, to witness this exchange of vows, and see the love that these two dedicated, loving people have for one another. "Wilt thou, Sylvin, take Danielle, as your dependent, to dwell together in so far as the Unites States Coast Guard will permit? Wilt thou love her, comfort her via the postal service, E-mail, or over the phone, make sure she knows where the commissary, Exchange, and church are, and what pier your ship is docked at and your department telephone number (so she won't bother the Messenger of the Watch on the quarterdeck) the day she arrives, wherever you are stationed?" "Wilt thou attempt to tell her more than 24 hours in advance that you will be pulling out for two weeks or more, beginning the next morning?" This especially applies to the years you will live in Virginia, California, Washington State, and Florida! "Wilt thou Danielle, take this Sailor as thy wedded husband, knowing that he is depending upon you to be the perfect independent Coastie wife, running the household as you see fit, taking part in established Coast Guard traditions even if no one can explain them anymore, and being nice to the Captain's wife? ( though she may remind you of your new mother-in-law.) 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 the same individual who tucks them in at 2200 hours, long after they are asleep. This Sailor is their daddy, who loves them very, very, very much. "Wilt thou love, respect and wait for him, preparing and mailing his favorite cookies (including some for his shipmates) and pictures of yourself and the kids, so he can remember what you look like? And last but not least, always pick him up at the pier when the ship pulls in (or the day after if he is in the duty section) and put on the outside of your door a 'Welcome Home sign".

"I, Sylvin, Take thee Danielle, as my wife, from 1900 to 0430 hours or as long as allowed by my duty section leader and the Captain (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, but not until after my watch is over, but before I turn the lights out in my rack. I will also send a letter or E-mail (if I am allowed access to a terminal), if time permits, and if not, to somehow, some way, make the time by sleeping even less than operational tasking permits."

"I, Danielle, take thee, Sylvin, as my husband, realizing that your comings and goings and 0530 musters are normal (although absurd to me) and part of your life as a Sailor. 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 because of a detailer mistake or a Commandant Priority billet. Yes, I'll have you as my husband as long as while you are away my allotment comes through regularly, 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 and make you proud."

"Now then, let no man or woman put asunder what God and the United States Coast Guard have brought together. The United States Coast Guard 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 Coast Guard, which is, as you all know, to remain Semper Paratus. By the authority vested in the Bible, elaborated in the regulation and subject to current Tech. Pubs and directives concerning the aspects of marriage in the United States Coast Guard, you are now a Sailor with a Dependent. Best Wishes and good Luck.

Hallelujah for sunshine

It was beautiful outside today. It was only like 88 degrees and not a whole lot of humidity. It had been raining off and on, so the water at the beach was a little turid, and there were some waves, but not bad. It's been raining here all week. Today was the first day in a long time the sun shined. So we took the opportunity to go to the beach today. "Dadi, or Old Wives" Beach. Being by myself with the two girls wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I took a long nylon rope and tied the girls two floaties to me so I could sit in the water with them right by me, without fear of them floating away. I'm sure it was a sight to see. They protested at first cause I was flipping them all over trying to get them into the floaties and fighting the waves at the same time. Getting them out of the water proved to be a little more challenging but we managed. It helps that Syani can stand on her own. She stood by the car with me while I changed Eve on the hood and took off her wet suit, changed her and put her in her carseat. Then I worked on Sy. I was proud of myself too cause I managed not to get the car full of too much sand. We had fun definitely worth the work of going. Probably spent an hour there. It was SO nice to get outta the house and get the stink blown off us.
On a funny note, I can't keep the girls out of the dog food. Seems like every time I turn around Sy's chewing on it and I have to fish it outta her mouth. I don't know how she can stand the taste of it? But then again, I haven't been drinking formula for the last year either. Might taste pretty good when you compare it to that. We've accomplished breaking the bottle habit. They're only drinking outta sippies now not even a bedtime bottle. I give them a sippy of milk with their dinner and whatever they don't drink,...well they don't drink it. They've been doing pretty good at dinnertime so I'm not too worried. We take a bath brush their teeth and read a book in their room and then I lay them down and they go right to sleep without fussing. I'm so proud of me and them! YIPPEE! I don't even think they've noticed I've taken the bottles away.
I'm still working on painting the living/dining room. The color that I got initially was too blue so I stopped and got a little can of white to try and lighten it up. It worked well, so I've got one wall down and two to go. I love the color now. Not exactly what I had in mind, but as they say, "There are no accidents". I guess it was meant to be. Adding color to this sterile environment makes it a little more homey. (A put a picture up of the one wall that's done)
Well it's late here, so I guess I'm getting off here to go to bed. Hope you all are well and happy. We miss our Sugarlips, but we're doing alright anyway.

Sneaky Diaper Hijinx

As I've said before, the girls are getting big and into stuff. Well, I have proof...see the picture above. I snuck up on them and found them tearing the diaper drawer apart! While Beans was on the floor snorting and squirming on his back on the floor among the diapers. Beans was contributing to the chaos as well.
I have other stories too, but they're not for the faint of heart! Let's just say I'm officially intiated as a full fledged mommy.
It sucks around here without Sylvin, but we're counting down the days.

Papi's underway.....

Well, Sylvin's off. I'm alone until late September, so if anybody would like to swing by, I'm all ready for you! No bed up in the extra room yet, but the couch will be free.
We got our car today too! Just in time, yipee! It was nice of the neighbor's to loan us their extra, but you all know like I do....there's no place like home, or in this case your own.
I wrote a bunch below so keep on reading if you haven't already. Love and miss you all.