half way there

 

I am 20 weeks pregnant with baby #3! I can't believe I'm already half way through with this pregnancy...I think the time is going to fly from this point on. We plan on flying out to Virginia Beach in the next week or so. then there's moving in, unpacking, and once we're kind of settled in I plan on potty 'teaching' the kids. So I'll be quit busy. We'll be back in VA for maybe 5 months... we really have no clue yet. So where will I have the baby? I have no clue! yes, the perks of military life.   anyway, back to my pregnancy update... I just started feeling movement not long ago and it's still very subtle. that's because the placement of the placenta is towards the front right up against my abdominal which explains why it's hard for me to feel much and also why I experienced a lot of cramping. besides the constant back aches and sciatica pain, there's really nothing out of the ordinary I'm experiencing. I was EXTREMELY tired and nauseous the first trimester but things have gotten better.   as far as names go...I'm totally set on a name! the only thing is Chris thinks it sounds like a stripper name!! What!? no way does it sound anything like a stripper! but I have a few months to convince him to like it...and he will like it!  

california here we come

"California here we come,   right back where we started from...   CALIFOOORNIAAAAA!"  

  this is the song that has been playing in my head over and over and over again since the time we were FIRST supposed to find out our duty station back in March. NINE MONTHS AGO! I was really hoping that we would be headed back home permanently, or at least a few years. Instead we're going to Japan... I really can't complain... I mean how many people can say they've been to Japan let alone live there! I am really excited about our moving there.   but anyway, back to talking about the 'Golden State,' 'The Land of Milk and Honey,' 'By 30 Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda' my good ol' home, California... yes, we are headed there in 2 days! (maybe 3...) I am beyond excited about it.   We plan on driving down this weekend and hopefully we'll be there in about 5 days with a few stops we plan on making. Chris will only be there for about a week and then he'll fly back up to Virginia Beach for Ground Intel training while I stay back with the kids, then we'll be headed to Japan as a family.   so California... here. we. come!   I've missed you, Crystal Cove. I've missed you beautiful mountains. I've missed you city lights. I've miss you, 91 freeway traffic. I've missed you, warm, sunny days. I've missed you, palm trees that don't make me feel Closter phobic. I've missed you, In-N-Out. I've missed you beautiful downtown Riv. but most of all, I've missed you, mommy and all my other family and friends. I can't wait to go home.

 

 

My Little Terrors {3rd edition}

I wonder what's going through their head when they do these crazy things...

 

"these toys are way better!"

"perfect hiding spot for my marine"

"church is the perfect place for a wrestling match!"

"what are these plastic bags doing here!?"

"look mom! we decorated that boring wall!"

Lincoln - "success! I carried it out of the dish washer all by myself!"
Ella - "ooh. this looks fun."

"we play like rock stars!"

"let's mix the rice and oatmeal together to make it easier for mom next time she cooks it."

"what is this thing for anyway?!"

Ella - "how did he do that?!"

"I just need a spot to rest for a minute before i destroy something else."

"I'm just sharing with my cars"

   

these are just some of the things that keep me busy during the day, every day...

  

crazy, exciting, overwhelming news!

 

Looks like we will be moving to Okinawa, Japan. How do I feel about this? Well, considering we've been given quite a few different duty stations...

 

in September we were told 29 Palms, CA

October we were told Camp Lejuene, NC

and now, in November, Okinawa, Japan

 

and Chris still has at least,  5 more months of training left.

 

...I'm not completely convinced.

 

It's not very likely that it will change, it is a possibility, but not likely... only if Chris is reassigned into a sniper or recon platoon (which is currently the position he wants), is when this would change. And that also requires more specialty training so... yeah.

 

It's really hard for me to figure out the emotions I'm feeling when nothing feels 'for sure.' Chris just told me to try to focus on our current situation... packing up and moving to California with family (during his training).

 

but I can't help but wonder... "is there an IKEA out in Okinawa?!"

 

there's a hole in my life

i'm having husband withdrawals. he's been gone for about a week and there's nothing i want more than a hug from him right now.

 

  surprisingly, i have gotten used to sleeping alone, which i think is a great thing and a not so great thing. i'm not as terrified at night without him. every now and then i leave the hall light on and sleep with a gun. last night in particular, i heard a knock on our door at 2 am so i grabbed the gun and checked down stairs. my paranoia must have kicked in because there was no one there. i also sleep diagonally across the bed when he's not there...is that weird or what!?   chris is more than half way through IOC! less than a month to go and he has most of next week off because of thanksgiving. i'm so proud of him and how well he's been doing in this course. it's so intense; mentally, emotionally, and especially physically exhausting. plus his birthday was this wednesday so he got to spend it in the freezing cold doing who knows what.   this week hasn't been too bad for me, it could just be that i'm getting used to not having him around to help as much. i'm slowly packing, it is ridiculous trying to pack while my kids are pulling things out of the box, throwing random things in, and climbing all over me! so i've just been packing about a box a day. our current plan is too pack up all of our belongings, put them in a storage facility here in VA, we'll all drive to CA for christmas, i'll live with family while chris flys back to VA to finish GIOC, and then, depending on where we will be stationed... well thoughs are our plans so far. we'll have to finish our plan once we get orders.   ok so, our duty station... well after chris found out we were on the list to go to NC, i called his captain and asked him to change it to CA (either pendleton or 29 palms, it's about the same distance from our families). he was so nice and said he's do his best to change it for us. so that's why i've been hopeful that it will change. just recently, the infantry guys got their official orders. the intelligence guys (chris is intel) are supposed to get their official orders next week. (more waiting)! so once again i am very anxious to see where we are actually being stationed to. (oh, but it could change again during the rest of his training...blah).     i'll just focus on getting though these next 2 days for now!    

a stroll down memory lane

  since i've been packing up to move again, i've been going through so many old photos. it's crazy looking back, especially at the times when chris and i were just starting to date. it brings back those giddy feelings of when you're first getting to know your crush. we always went on so many fun dates together. for a short time there we each went to RCC, but had different classes, and when i'd walk back to my car i'd always find a flower on my wind shield. he also gave me a flower every time he picked me up for our dates (it was always stolen from my yard or the neighbor's ha ha), then i'd always forget it in his truck when he dropped me back off at home. oopsie. oh and my favorite part about these pictures... his HAIR! dang you marine corp for stealing that gorgeous head of hair!  

hiking up the angeles national forest

this was at the 'night in gale' play in LA

the sweet side in him... one of the surprises i found on my car



my first (and only) hocky game

after a day floating down the kern river

yep. it was really 4:30 in the morning!

check out my cool flip phone and ed hardy hat

 

Sleep Challenge

Oh beautiful sleep, I miss you dearly.

 

I have been sleep deprived since...oh, my first child was born, 2 1/2 years ago. And lets not forget my kids are ELEVEN MONTHS apart meaning I really haven't gotten a break. I even had some post partum depression for 6 months after Ella was born due to lack of sleep.

 

Sleep is vital and one of the most basic necessities. More sleep means lower stress (big one for me), improved memory, live longer, healthy weight (a huge plus!), and it's the omega 3, vitamin D, and antioxidants all wrapped up into one cozy package. We all know how cranky the kids get if they miss a nap. I don't mess with their sleep schedules or else I'll be dealing with two never ending tantrums. When we lack sleep, our immune system shuts down, we become forgetful, we're low on energy, and I know I'm on the edge of throwing a tantrum myself! 

 

I'm guilty of staying up late, doing absolutely nothing. I put the kids to bed no later then 7:30 and I usually don't go to bed until 11 pm and right when I lay down, without fail, Ella wakes up. If I don't get her right away, then Lincoln wakes up. On average I have to get out of bed 2-3 times a night. (These past 3 weeks have been worse because of the kids being sick and teething). I've accepted the fact that I'm probably never going to sleep through the night because I'm a mom and this truly is a 24 hour job. To be honest I love it. I love knowing that I am the one that brings comfort to my children when they aren't feeling well, even if it is in the middle of the night. There's just a few things I could do differently, or sacrifice some of my very coveted free time at night so that I can get the rest I need.

 

So lets do this.

 

I've come up with a few personal goals to help me catch up on those Zs.

1. eat well balanced meals throughout the day. (This has been proven to help with sleep).
2. turn off all screens (TV, phone, computer) at least 1 hour before bed. For me this will be 9 pm.
3. no sweets or other stimulates after 5 pm. (also proven to help)
4. small snack before bed (Mama Natural suggested warm milk with honey and a dash of salt, but we'll see about that one).
5. have a strict cut off time to start my night time routine. I'll make it 9 pm. (I think this is important and will help a lot).
6. I bought a Book of Mormon study guide I'm excited about so I think I'll add that to my night time routine.
7. my goal is to have the lights off and in bed by 9:30 (it takes me awhile to actually fall asleep).
    

So, I know 10 pm isn't that early to be going to sleep but I want to make small changes so that I don't get discouraged. Hopefully some the things I listed above will at least help me to relax and sleep quicker.

 

This post might sound silly; Sleep, REALLY!?! But yes, I do believe sleep will help me be a better mom and a happier person over all (and help with those dark circles under my eyes).

 

Ahhh! It's 8:45 right now so I only have a few minutes left before I start counting those sheep!

 Good night!

 

Part of the Plan

Last night I had the privilege of seeing the First Lady of the Marine Corps., Mrs. Bonnie Amos, for the second time at a dinner social put together by QOSO (Quantico Officer Spouses Organization). She is such a spunky lady, so funny and so much wisdom to share. I love how open and real she was with all of us marine wives.

 

She met her  husband in September, got engaged in October, married in December, and they've been happy married for almost 50 years! When someone asked her how her marriage has lasted so long, she replied, "Well, I'm sexy!" I told you she was spunky! ha ha ha. She then went on say that the foundation of their marriage is God. I really enjoyed everything she shared with us. She helped me realize that it's perfectly normal for me to throw my "pity & pissy party" (first you feel sad, then you're mad) every time I move. Her and her family have moved to over 20 locations and she said she kicked and screamed every time! Mrs. Amos is such an inspiration to me. I want to enjoy every location we're stationed at and really embrace the changes and all of the different opportunities that come with that.

 

 "We're in this position because God put us here."

-Mrs. Amos.

I couldn't agree with her more. One night, 3 years ago, as I was trying to understand why my  husband should commission into the Marine Corps, I got the impression that I was also called to this life. There is a reason why I would be moving around with my family to new and different places and meeting new and different people. I'm still not exactly sure what I have to offer, but I'll continue being myself and work on being and instrument in His hands. I know that this is Heavenly Father's plan for me.

 

 

I wanted to share this reading list with you military (or non-military) friends that Mrs. Amos put together. I just ordered 1001 Things to Love About the Military Life! Can't wait to start reading it!

1. Separated by Duty, United by Love  -Shellie Vandevoorde
2. 1001 Things to Love about the Military Life  -Crooks, Henderson, Hightower, Scherer
3. Help! I'm a Military Spouse--I Get a Life Too  -Hightower, Scherer
4. Confessions of a Military Wife  -Mollie Gross
5. The Military Spouse's Employment Guide: Smart Job Choices for Mobile Lifestyles -Janet Farley
6. The Road Home: Again. Smoothing the Transition Back from Deployment -Elaine Gray Dumler
7. Transformation: The Mindset You Need. The Body You Want. The Life You Deserve -Bill Phillips
8. Faith Deployed / Faith Deployed Again  -Jocelyn Green
9. Courage After Fire: Coping Strategies for Troops Returning from Iraq & Afghanistan & Their Families  -Keith Armstrong
10. Wounded Warrior, Wounded Home  - Waddell, Orr
11. The 17 Day Diet  -Dr. Michael Moreno
12. Service Etiquette, 5th Edition  -Cherlynn Conetsco, Anna Hart
13. A Family's Guide to the Military for Dummies  -Melissa Seligman
14. The Day After He Left for Iraq  -Melissa Seligman
15. Eating For Life  -Bill Phillips
 

long day...

                                                                                                         ...good night.       

 

My Little Terrors {2nd edition}

I just finished cleaning up the whole living room and as I'm cleaning the kitchen there was silence... this was going on!

"that's enough crying na-na."

I took out the trash and when I came back to put in a new bag this is what I found in there.

I was fixing breakfast and stepped out to get my crying Ella... Lincoln managed to find away to reach the counter tops.

"I just wanted one sprinkle."

"where did my play mat go?"

throwing out all of the toys isn't enough...

and he recruited some help



I don't even know how he  got into this mess.

she started screaming for me because she got stuck

at least he'll be warm for his nap

I found a surprise in water

and she found a way to climb up the table.

she's pinning Lincoln down and trying to steal his cup.

he knows how to use mascara...

 

Close Enough to Kiss

Oh no! I think I'm becoming semi "crunchy!"

 I'm not a tree hugger, or vegetarian, I don't cloth diaper, and I definitely don't lean to the left (so I guess I'm not even close to being "Crunchy Granola"). But I do BABYWEAR! (Which I learned some what falls into that category of people). For me, babywearing just makes life a little easier. I can have Ella in the sling with me while I'm chasing Lincoln around or if Lincoln is tired of being in the stroller I can carry him around with me. I love it! It's so nice having them near me and always at eye level. I'm even trying to master wearing them both together! There are so many benefits of babywearing. My sister says I look like Sacajawea, which I'll take as a compliment.

Babywearing seems like it's becoming more of a fad lately. Every time I'm out I get so many stares and people saying "Awe, how cute..." It's actually pretty awkward, but maybe there will be more babywearers because of it... So if you want to start wearing your kid around to make things more convenient, or to bond, or because you simply want to look cool, here's what you need to make your very own Ring Sling:

• a shawl (or fabric that has some give to it but not stretchy) I got one at JcPenny on sale for $10!
•two 3" aluminum rings (slingrings.com $4/pair)
• your newborn, infant, or toddler (some even wear their DOGS!)
• and follow this video I found on YouTube

Now you're ready to start babywearing. There are so many instruction videos on YouTube on how to put your child in properly.
HAPPY BABYWEARING!

Here are some of my babywearing moments...

 

Even dogs like to wear their babies....

hee hee!