So proud...

Of myself!

My friend and neighbor H sent me a text a couple days ago about taking part in a garage sale this Saturday. I knew we had a few things we were going to post on the base's "yard sale website" so I decided to go through the house and collect old clothes, books, purses and other miscellaneous items to try and sell. The garage sale is still 3 days away and all the purses are priced and in a pile; the clothes are in a pile ready to be priced, and I started sorting through the books. I'm so proud of myself for being on top of things AND for taking part in the first place!

I've also sent D two letters already and tomorrow I've got to go pick up some items to go into the first package I'm sending out later this week. ANNND he called me Sunday evening and it was wonderful! :-) It was good that I was getting ready to go grab some chinese food with a friend because otherwise I might have gotten a little sad after we hung up.

Oh and I decided to take my brother A and sister in law S up on their invite to visit in Washington. I found an awesome priced ticket from LAX to Seatle so I've got a little weekend trip planned for mid April.

And, as if I hadn't already gotten enough planned out, I finalized plans with my brother M on our scheme to surprise and get my sis in law BL out in May for my baby shower and birthday!!! I finally told her today and after being completely stunned and now a little nervous about flying alone, I'm pretty sure she's excited about spending a week in California!

So I think I've set myself up pretty well to keep busy for the next couple months at least and hopefully time will slip by!

Taking deep breaths and getting off the couch...

I gave myself the weekend to be lazy and mopey to my hearts content. (And to eat every bit of junk food I wanted.) I watched a marathon of the Harry Potter movies; enjoyed a bonfire with my friends and neighbors (most of whose husbands are also deployed); and spent time with the pups.

Speaking of pups...those two gave me quite the afternoon on Friday. I came home from the squadron and farewell planning to curl up in bed with the both of them and have a good cry. Luna, it seems, is having some stomache issues and Boo decided to rip the stuffing out of their kennel bed so I had quite the lovely mess waiting for me! Such stinkers!! But they were generally well behaved the rest of the weekend, considering I didn't do much with them...oh right, I bribed them with raw hides and lots of treats! ;-)

Anyway, my sulky time is up and now I need to start getting things done around the house. Tomorrow I have some "deployment business" to take care of and then in the afternoon I have my 24 week prenatal check.

So it's back to the real world and off the couch for me!

Goodbyes

They suck.

Actually, I don't think we ever really said the words "good bye" and maybe that's for the better. I did my best and honestly, I made it all the way until we were right outside the bus before I broke down so he never really saw me a mess...which I like to think helped him. I couldn't stay standing outside the bus to wave goodbye, I just couldn't. So I walked back to the car and sat inside watching the busses take off...I just didn't want to be around other people...

We had so many special moments in the days leading up to his departure and I'm glad we made the time to have "us" time and that we made it as special as we could. I found that I was feeling so many different emotions I couldn't express them, so I wrote him a little note and gave it to him before he left.

I personally didn't take a camera but S brought hers and snapped a few photos of D and I...I hadn't brought mine because I didn't think I'd want pictures; thinking that I didn't need a picture to remember this day, I'd look forward to the pictures of the return because that will be SOME day to remember! But after seeing the ones S caught...I'm so grateful to her because I'm really glad we have a visual memory to look back on...

S saw D doing this and told him to do something cute with the belly...he did this:

He's playing drums. :-) I miss him so much already...

We all find our own way to deal with stress; this is mine...

Don't laugh, I'm serious. Since I first picked up book 1 in my sophomore year of college, I've noticed a trend: every stressful event I've been through in life since, I've gotten through by re-reading these. (And obviously by dealing with whatever issue was at hand, eventually.)

There's just something about diving into Harry's magical world that I can completely escape to and forget what reality is facing me...

I started re-reading them about 3 days before we took off to Virginia. Finished the first one on the plane and started the second. Finished that one while in VA and since we've been home I've made it through books 3 and 4 and now I'm half way through book 5. At first I was only reading them at night so that I could fall asleep thinking about what I knew came next for Harry rather than what I knew was coming in the next couple weeks for me. Now that I'm so close to having to just deal with what's coming for me, I'm reading them more and more during the day, as well as night, when D's at work...so I don't have to walk around the house seeing his bags slowly getting more packed and realizing how quiet the house is going to be without him rough-housing with Boo every night, or laughing with me over something silly on TV or listening to his crazy music and videos on YouTube.

It's not as though I haven't known this moment of seperation was coming for a very long time now. I thought I was prepared. No, I knew I was prepared. Then I became pregnant. NOTHING could have prepared me for dealing with a long seperation AND him not being there for the birth of our first child...NOTHING. Will I get through it? Of course. Will I be all alone? Of course not. But it doesn't matter whether I'll get through it or not, whether I know that deep down I do have the emotional strength to get over the disappointment of him missing that moment, and that I can get passed the fear I know I'll have that only D can squelch out of me with some retarded joke or simple touch. He still won't be there, and nothing can change that fact.

I suppose it's for these reasons that I've been removing myself from reality and into the world of Harry Potter. If I face that this deployment is here and now, then I have to face that he won't be here then...

Lake O'Neil

There's this man made lake on base about 3 minutes from our house. It's a recreational place and it's nice and scenic. Since people can't swim in the lake and we haven't found any signs telling us otherwise, we've found it to be a nice place to take Boo and let him run around after a toy and practice his retrieving skills in the water. He loves it and loves getting wet and we love watching him have so much fun! Luna likes just sniffing around marking everything she can. ;-) So far we haven't seemed to bother anyone so I'll keep taking Boo until told something else!

Anyhoo, I really wanted to get some "family" pictures before D left and our good friend S just acquired a new spiffy camera so she was nice enough to come and take some photos for us. Some are just fun since we were trying to coordinate two very independent dogs and the sun was starting to set (I have now learned that that can cause more issues when taking pictures!) and a few are really awesome ones that she edited and made special. Overal, I LOVE all of them because they're mostly candid and really, that's what hanging out at the lake with the dogs is...free and fun and whatever goes!

Here are a few of my favorites:

It took about 6 shots to finally get both pups looking the in the "right" direction! That's why we're laughing so much.

We didn't plan this shot, I think S called my name and I turned and honestly, I just love it!

:-) I just think this is a good picture of D...

We're watching Boo run after the ball into the water...or maybe we're just staring off over the lake! It's a thoughtful looking picture of us, regardless of what we're doing.

D had said he didn't want to do "belly" photos with me because he thought he'd feel silly. Then, much to S's and my surprise he voluntarily put us into "belly" photo poses and was a really good sport about it! :-) And as a result S got some really sweet "belly" photos with the two of us! He's such a sweetie when he wants to be...and when he knows it'll make me really happy!

If you look closely in the far left background, there's Boo!

:-) Up close, edited version...S is really getting talented with the camera and photoshop!

He was making me work for it...so damn tall!

:-) Love him...

Love them!

Thanks again S!!

Fun with G&C!

Of course we were able to spend some time with G&C while we were in VA. D got to meet Maggie finally and apparently they hit it off great...but who wouldn't love her, she's as sweet as can be and totally holds her own with her big "brother" Sammy!


At one point she rested her head on my shoulder and started to fall asleep, it was just too sweet and of course, made me want a puppy. ;-) I know, I know...I'm crazy! We're about to have a baby!


At the Oyster Roast, L, my MIL, made this fabulously delicious strawberry/banana dessert...C tried to hog it all!


Just kidding! After this picture, she probably dished out some more for me since I couldn't get enough of the yummy goodness!

G came over to help D set up his Dad's birthday gift - and by set up, I mean get it into the house!


C and I got a little shopping spree to DSW in where we bought a pair of matching sandals...we're not dorks - they were Coach and we both LOVED them, so we got them regardless of what our hubbies would say! 0:-)

One of the days G was hanging out with D, he found a clip in a magazine that he couldn't resist cutting out for me...then the two guys insisted I tape it to my belly:


At dinner later that evening, D pondered this question:

Ha ha ha! Always a laugh when the four of us get together! I can't wait for G&C to get out here and hopefully it all works out so they're here for Baby T's arrival...we'll be praying that God and Baby T work out the timing in our favor!

Virginia, Part 2

Ok to finish up the summary of our trip to VA...

D and I took a trip to Mt. Vernon which was really wonderful since I'd never been and it turned out to be the last sunny, warmish day we'd have while out there!

Our first president had a pretty sweet piece of property with a lovely view. I wish we could have seen the third floor!

D got the idea to have an oyster roast while we were on the East Coast, so we planned a "seafood" themed get together for family and a few friends...

...and I got to see my good friend K (who D loves too!!) It's pretty convenient when you have friends who end up living near relatives, isn't it? ;-)

This is what the Sunday morning after our 3D Ultrasound and Oyster roast looked like...

....this is what it looked like by the late evening...

...and then this is what it looked like the next morning!!

I was so excited because I rarely got to play in snow when I was a kid - usually only when we'd go visit NYC. So needless to say I couldn't wait to get all bundled up and outside so I could do this:

I was laughing hysterically the whole time because once I got down there and finished up my snow angel, I couldn't get up without help!! My sis in law helped me out. Then when the family dog Palo was let out he couldn't quite make it to his "pee tree" and my snow angel was peed on!! Oh well, it was so much fun making it!

D was a sweetheart and helped clear some driveways (he's making a silly face):

Then he took me on a sleigh ride!!


We couldn't do a whole lot after the snow came because it was so cold and obviously not the greatest conditions outside to drive. But we did manage another day of exploring and ended up in Fredericksburg so I could get some Sonic Drive-In and then to Montecello; where I'd never been as well!

The highlight of D's trip was honestly the arrival of a Birthday gift he'd been orchestrating for his Dad for almost a year. It arrived while we were in VA, albeit a couple days later than planned, and D was bursting with excitement until his Dad came home from work:

It's an ejection seat from the type of jet D's dad used to fly for the Marine Corps: the Harrier. D worked really hard to find one and find people who could get it all together for his dad. It turned out that the guy who put it all together not only knew his dad but had flown with him so it turned out to be quite the special project and a great Birthday present and moment for D and his dad.

Overal we had a great trip seeing friends and spending time with family. It was sad to say goodbye since we knew they weren't going to be seeing D for a while. Me, on the other hand, they'll be seeing lots of (I hope) during the month of July and into August probably! :-)

Virginia, Part 1

So we made it to Virginia with no hiccups in the travel. In fact, we weren't charged for luggage which was awesome and they included military in the early boarding group! It was a nice two weeks spent with family and friends. The weather kept D from being able to do any outdoor activities that he loves (hiking, fishing, etc.) in addition to the fact that all of his gear for these activities was still here in California. None the less we made the most of the time we had away from here and with family and friends.

I had made it clear to D that this trip was all about him since this was his time before he deploys. But somehow I got lucky and ended up seeing a few relatives I haven't seen in a few years and a Charleston friend who happened to be in DC for business!

My good friend K, also known as my "co-spouse" :-) I got to see her the night before she flew back to Charleston, what luck!!

Me, my aunt E, and second cousins S, V and O

My aunt E actually lives in Summerville now with another cousin of mine (her daughter) but happened to be visiting her grandchildren (from her other daughter) who all live in Maryland, about an hour from D's family. D had planned a day with G so I hopped on 95 North and took advantage of the opportunity!

And because she loves and misses me so much, my cousin C, who is genetically practically my sister (our dads were brothers and our moms are sisters...you do the genetics on that!) Anyway, she drove down from Long Island, NY with my aunt N and goddaughter G...just to see me and meet D finally! The made it in time to be at the 3D/4D ultrasound that we had and were able to hang out for a full day before heading back to NY. Everyone loved G and the energy she brought into the house; she loved D's sisters old ballet costumes, being the budding ballerina that she is! D thought my extended family were pretty awesome and nice and they, likewise thought he was pretty cool and his family very welcoming...because they are!!

Aunt N, G, me, and C

I was so excited to have gotten to see some of my family while out on the East coast! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that some of them will make it out this way sometime this year, or at least before we move. I mean, come on, even if you don't come to just see my happy face, think of all the attractions around me?! Ha ha ha, you think I mean Disney Land, Sea World, Legoland and the San Diego Zoo...I'm totally referring to Baby T!

18 week 3D Ultrasound

Images from the February 28 3D ultrasound that we did while in VA...Enjoy!

Hi everyone!

Look, I'm sucking my thumb already!

Everyone's favorite image: "Gang signs!"

Ugh! Stop taking my picture already!

I like laying against Mommy's belly best! It's the perfect pillow...

*Sigh* One day he's really going to hate me for this!!

I promise!

I will update the blog tomorrow!! I got all the pictures uploaded (finally) and my good friend S took some fun family pictures of D, the pups and I at the lake this weekend and some of them are just so sweet I can't wait to share! I'm too tired now to write out the rediculously long update...maybe I'll break it all up. But I promise I'll do it tomorrow.

Someone hold me to this...