A Big Day!

Today is a big day in our house...

Today I am 24 weeks pregnant.

24 weeks...should I have to deliver after this point, the odds of survival are pretty good. I feel like after today I can really take a big deep breath and relax a little. I know that won't happen, but I can do it if I want. :)

Today I am 13 weeks from being full term.

Today I am 16 weeks from my due date.

This is getting real folks. In just 16 weeks I will be holding my sweet baby squirrel! That is so painfully exciting! I really want to scream from the roof tops that I get to meet my baby in just 16 weeks.

I love watching my husband get excited about meeting our baby. Some days he gets so excited, he is almost giddy! He can't wait to meet our baby squirrel either.

But, what really makes today a big HUGE day in our house...

I am taking out my tongue ring.

I got my tongue pierced while I was college and my husband was deployed overseas. I had to do it while he was gone because he doesn't like piercings. He is ok with tattoo, but he thinks that piercings are mutilating your body.

He didn't hate the piercing or anything, he just isn't a fan. When I did it, years ago, I promised that I would take it out when I got pregnant with our first child. That's when it is truly time to grow up.

When I got pregnant this time I didn't take it out right away because I know that things can change very quickly. I'd had it happen before, so I told my husband that I would take it out when I was 12 weeks pregnant and the risk of miscarriage went way down.

When the 12 week mark came and went, I said I would take it out eventually.

A few weeks ago he asked me when it was going to come out. I told him it would be out before that baby made it's entrance into the world. But apparently that wasn't a good enough answer for him. He wanted a date. So after so serious feet dragging I decided I would take it out at 24 weeks. Viability.

Sunday night my lovely husband reminded me that Tuesday was the "BIG" day. I'm not going to lie...I got a little panicky. I don't know why, but I did.

Taking my tongue ring out means that this is real...I am really going to be a MOM!!

So there ya have it folks...it is a big day in our house. All because I am taking my tongue ring out...and of course because I am 24 weeks pregnant and I get to meet my baby sooner rather than later!

Remembering a Hero. Our Hero. And the Foundation of Our Family.

On Saturday August 6 my family held a memorial service for my grandpa.

He passed away on November 5, 2007 at the age of 87. My grandmother followed him just a few short months later on April 17, 2008 just 2 months shy of her 90th birthday. They had been married for 65 years, raised 4 children, had 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

My grandpa fought in World War II. He was a Major in the US Army. He served throughout Europe while his wife was at home with their youngest child. He was shot in the war and spent a full year in a hospital recovering. For his service to our country he received two purple hearts.

With his death and funeral falling so close to Veteran's day there were not enough people to give him his full military honors that he deserved. For that reason, we had a memorial service to remember the two people who meant so much to us.

They are both truly missed in our family and everyone was eager to be there to honor them.

The service was a full military honors service for my grandpa, but it was also a time to remember my grandma, who was the foundation of our family.

When my grandpa was choosing their burial plot years ago, he specifically chose a spot under a large tree. He always said that he chose that one so that when people came to visit them they would be comfortable in the shade. When we arrived at the cemetery that Saturday it was raining. When the service was about to start the family gathered under the tree to get out of the rain, just as he would have wanted. And then, as if he were watching over us, the rain stopped. It stopped just until everyone was in their car after the service, then it poured. But, we all knew he was there with us.

We buried them 4 years ago, but there is something so devastatingly final about the shots being fired and taps being play. It was like a wound that had been healing for almost 4 years had been freshly opened again. I have missed my grandpa every single day, but this day I felt like the hole in my heart was being ripped open.
 

 
My amazing husband was a part of the ceremony and he read the meaning of folding the flag as they folded it. He loved my grandpa and my grandpa loved him like he was his own grandson. He was so proud of him for being a Marine. I know he was honored to have him be part of it all.

After the military portion of the service was finished, we had a family service. The ivy wreath was empty and each person came up and told a story about my grand parents. As each person finished their story they put a flower in the wreath. It was such a wonderful way to remember them. Even a few of the great grand kids that are old enough to remember them stood in front of us and spoke. People spoke of how they know they are with us every day, funny stories or something they will never forget.

The memory wreath looked really nice when we were done. Before we left the cemetery My mom and aunt filled a small vase with flowers, one for each person who couldn't be there. They now have 16 great grand children and the 17th is on the way, so they left a flower for each person so that they knew we were all thinking about them. 

My grandpa was one of the best people in my life. I saw him all the time. He always had an excuse to see me and to spend time together. When I was in high school my grandma went in to a nursing home. I went and visited with her 3 days a week and I would drive out to his house 2-3 times a week just to chat with him. I would call to tell him I was on my way and he would put a beer and a soda in the freezer. When I got there we would sit and chat over drinks. I loved spending time with him. When I moved away he bought a cell phone so he could call me and I wouldn't get charged for it. We had a weekly phone date.

I am certain that he is the reason I am pregnant. He always said we would be good parents. My due date is December 21, which I feel is his doing. He loved Christmas and in my crazy mind I feel like he is showing me that he loves our baby to be and that hes got our back.

I miss him.

I miss them both.

Military Spouse Friday Fill-in

 Every Friday Wifey of a Sailor does a Military Spouse fill-in. It is a fun way to get to know other military spouses. Head on over to her blog and check it out!  

Do you eat raw cookie dough?  
Why yes, yes I do! That's the whole reason to make cookies isn't it? I don't eat a whole batch, but a few bites here and there. :) My aunt used to tell us that we would get worms if we ate cookie dough...

When you get online for the first time of the day… what site do you immediately head to? 
I usually check Twitter and Facebook first. Gotta keep up with the social networking lol

What was your favorite pet as a child and why? 
As a kid I had fish and bunny rabbits. I loved my bunnies! I could pet them and hold them. I would let them out in the back yard and they would just hang out near where we were hanging out. They never left. My family has a plethora of pet allergies so we could only have rabbits because they lived outside.
I had chickens too, but they were mean. They liked me and would follow me around, but you couldn't really pet them of play with them, so the rabbits were cooler. Though I was quite a sight to see with 7 chickens following me in a line!


If you had a snail that could magically grant wishes, what would you name it?  
I would name it dead. I hate snails! I think they are gross and slimy. I think I would leave it nameless and once it had granted my wishes I would give it a shower of salt or a swim in a beer pool!

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?
I have tried to count...I really have, but I get bored after about 100 licks and lose count. I do have to say that Tootsie Pops are one of my favorite candies! :) 

 

I Just Thought You Were Overweight...

All my life I have been the fat kid.

As an adult, I finally came to terms with my body and that I was never going to skinny. And, finally, in the last few years...I was ok with that.

When I got pregnant I knew that I wouldn't have the cute little bump in the early weeks, and I was ok with that too. Even if no one else could see it, I knew that I was pregnant and that was all that mattered.

Yesterday, I was sitting in my mom's store with her business partner and her business partners son when a customer walked in. The two ladies were chatting and it came up that I was pregnant. The customer, an older lady, looked at me and said, "oh, I didn't realize you were pregnant, I just thought you were over weight."

At that point I could have just crawled in a hole and died.

When she asked me how far along I was, I told her I was almost 18 weeks. She looked at me and smiled as if to say, "I knew it! You really are fat!"

Needless to say, she left me feeling pretty low.  And, while I am still happy to know that my little squirrel is growing inside of me, I can't help but wonder...when am I going to feel pregnant and not just fat?

My WTF day!

Today has been a weird day, with a capitol W!

W-E-I-R-D!!

I started out my day by running a few errands. The first store I went to was a local business that sells cloth diapers and I wanted to check them out. The woman who owns the store brings her 5 sons to work every day. As I was looking at diapers, one of the little boys squatted next to me and peed on the floor...

Yep. He peed. On the floor. Next to me!

Courtesy of Goggle Images

I left.

As I was driving to the next store I needed to go to I witnessed an accident. Not a big deal in this town, it happens all the time, and yes, everyone was ok. But it just added to the day.

I ran a few more errands with no trouble, but then as I was heading to my mom's store with lunch I witnessed ANOTHER accident. This was only 45 minutes after the first one. And it was only about a half mile away. This time it was just two little old ladies, who were too old to be driving, that slammed into each other. Again, everyone was ok, but really...I had witness ANOTHER traffic accident?!

After lunch with my mom I went home. I got a few things done at home and I had just sat down on the couch to work on a new knitting project. Just as I sat down I noticed a little old lady walking up my front steps. I got up so I could answer the door, but she just walked in.

Yep! Walked right in my front door. No knocking. Just walked in.

As she came in the door she looked at me and said, "am I in the right place?"

Uhhh...NO. Get the HELL out of my house!

Turns out she was looking for the office up the road that has the same address as I do. I live at 555 S. Wannabbaker Rd and she needed 555 N. Wannabbaker Rd. It happens all the time, but no one has ever just walked into my house! Not to mention the fact that my house most definitely looks like a house. Not a business!

 

I very happily gave the crazy old lady intruder directions to the correct location. She argued with me briefly and then headed on her crazy way. 

As she was walking out the door I noticed she was wearing a name tag. The tag said Sister Crazy Lady. Ok, so it didn't say crazy lady, but it did say sister. 

She is a NUN!! A nun just barged into my house today!

Courtesy of Google Images

After I recovered from the crazy old lady nun walking onto my house I left to take dinner up to the husband at his office. As I was walking to my front door Santa Claus rode by on a bicycle wearing neon green bike shorts.

That's right folks...Santa Claus. In bike shorts.

I wish I had pictures of that!

AT this point I should have called it a night, but I didn't. I decided to go to Walmart...after dark.

There really are no words to describe what I saw. Here are a few visuals, but if you would like more, please check out The People of Walmart.

Courtesy of thepeopleofwalmart.com I did not take these photos

I couldn't even get what I went to Walmart for...I had to leave. And FAST!

When I got home I was informed that THIS was going on in my home town. The guy is has killed 7 people including his own daughter and is holding 2 people hostage while snorting some sort of powder.

That isn't happening directly to me, but it just adds to this crazy messed up day!

I am going to go crawl into bed and hide under the covers where I am safe! Tomorrow has to be more normal!

Getting Over Myself

We moved to southern Indiana last October and it is no secret that I have had a hard time adjusting. We lived in San Diego before we moved and I was spoiled.

I loved living in San Diego! It's a gorgeous city and there is so much to do. I had some really great friend and I had great fun. I always knew that it was not permanent. Nothing is in the military. But, that didn't stop me from being sad when we moved.

I have been finding all the negative at every turn since we moved to Indiana, but last night I realized it is time to get over myself. That life here is not all that bad.

Our friends who live down the road invited us to a BBQ last night. A few of thier neighbors get together for the 4th of July every year. They have BBQ with tons of food and then set off fireworks after dark. In Indiana fireworks are more than just sparklers, bottle rockets and snap pops. You can buy the HUGE fireworks that shoot WAY into the sky.

The BBQ was fun, it was good food and it was fun and refreshing to just sit around and chat with friends. The defining moment for me was when we sitting outside waiting for the guys to start the fireworks.

It was humid, just sitting still your skin is a little sticky. The bugs were out so we were coated in bug spray. A couple of the kids were running around catching fire flies and putting them in a jar. Just as the sun set, they were ready to start the show. Everyone gathered together on the front lawn. We sat in the yard drinking sweet tea with the summer humidity leaving it's mark on our skin. As the fireworks were booming just above me I realized that this was perfect. Just how life should be.

And with that, I realized that instead of looking for reasons to be unhappy and dislike Southern Indiana I should be looking for the perfect moments like that.

Also, for what it's worth...the fireworks display last night rivaled that of many small towns!

Five Years Together

5 years ago today I married my best friend. Today we are celebrating 5 more anniversaries than many people said we would have, and we are still going strong. Last night we were chatting with my mom and my husband said he didn't know anyone who had a relationship like ours. <3

I have never shared pictures of myself before, so in honor of our anniversary I am going to share a few pictures from that day.

It was 95 degrees and humid that day!

They threw bird seed and all seemed to collect in my dress!

These are my favorite kids in the whole entire world! The boys will freshman in high school this fall!!

I love this one of the wedding party

Us with our bridesmaids and groomsman

 One of my favorites

Our 1st dance with our parents watching in the background

I wanted fireworks (which I realize is a ridiculous request) and DH wanted a sword tunnel. Our parents surprised  us with this!

Happy anniversary to the love of my life!

Here are a few pictures from the last 5 years:

2007

2008 - Vegas

2009 - Miya Jima Island, Japan

 2010 - Road Trip

2010 - Road trip South Western Colorado