A couple of Halloween pictures. The pumpkin that Hubby and Monkey carved. Monkey picked out the pumpkin and instead of picking a typical orange one she decided to go with the Cinderella pumpkin. After Hubby carved the face Monkey realized that her pumpkin needed arms. After searching the backyard and finding two perfect branches, Monkey decided that maybe her pumpkin needed antlers instead of arms. Then we had to find something red for his nose, so after coiling a red pipe cleaner and sticking it in the nose hole, Monkey had a Rudolph pumpkin.
Last night Monkey and I made Spider Cookies. They turned out really cute and yummy! Monkey and I like to bake and do crafty things, so these were the perfect outlet for some creativity!
Monkey has been working hard on decorations too. She and I were so happy that her art box came with the first load of household goods. She’s been painting ghosts and pumpkins. If I could only find the tape so I could hang them…
Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween
October 31, 2008 at 4:31 pm (Crafts, Monkey)
The Room
October 27, 2008 at 9:03 pm (Crafts, Kendal)
Even though we are still waiting for the other two crates containing our household goods, we are getting everything put together. Monkey’s room is finally done with the exception of hanging art on the walls. Today Hubby put the crib together and moved furniture around in Baby K’s room. Monkey has her name above her bed and I wanted to do the same thing for the new baby. Unfortunately, we can’t shorten the name we picked for the baby like we can Monkey’s name, so I decided to do her initials instead. I went online and found letters in frames that I really liked, but they were expensive and after looking at them closely I realized I could do something similar at home. On Saturday we went to Michaels, the craft store, and I bought wood letters, paint, sandpaper, scrapbook paper, glue, and ribbon. I painted the letters and frames an antique white and after they were dry I sanded them to give them a worn look. I glued the pink toile paper to the frames and the chocolate ribbon to the backs. When everything was dry I glued the letters to the paper. After the room was put together Hubby hung the letters for me. I was very pleased with the way they turned out. I posted some pics below. Only a couple of things left to get and her room will be ready!
The finished product
The Crib
The letters hanging above the bed
Alaska in the Fall
October 26, 2008 at 1:20 pm (Alaska, Monkey)
Alaska in the fall. Where are the beautiful fall colored leaves? Buried I guess under this beautiful blanket of white! I took these pics of Monkey last night while she and her daddy were playing in the snow. She was having so much fun making snowballs and sledding! I’m glad we found a new use for the sled we bought to sled down the sand dunes in White Sands!
Oh Happy Day
October 24, 2008 at 1:30 pm (Moving)
Some of our household goods were delivered yesterday! Five of the seven crates to be exact. I would assume that the other two crates which house our couch, Monkey’s mattresses, some of my shoes, and hopefully the hardware to assemble the dining room table and bookcase would arrive soon. We were all thrilled to see the television and Hubby and I were ecstatic to find our bed! Monkey’s bed frame arrived, but she could have cared less about that, all she was interested in was what toys were in the shipment. Fortunately, the princess vanity that she’s been asking for was in there, so the day was worthwhile! Another high note, our truck has arrived and we get to go pick it up this afternoon!
Break Down
October 22, 2008 at 8:35 pm (Army Wife)
We went to an FRG meeting last night, actually an FRG deployment briefing. I’ve known since before moving here that Baby K would only be a couple of weeks old when my husband deployed. And, I’m incredibly grateful that his unit is letting him stay behind until she is born. But, on the way home my husband made this comment, “I was scared to death that I was going to see my name on the rear d list.” I looked at him and said “What? You’d rather go to combat than stay here for a year with me, Monkey, and the baby?” To which he replied “I see how you’re looking at it, but I’m looking at it in a whole other way.” So I have to ask “How are you looking at it?” He says “I came here to do a job, not sit around for a year.” I totally took it as a personal attack and stared blankly out the window. “Are you mad?” Tears are welling up in my eyes and all I think is My husband would rather be in a combat zone thousands of miles away from his family than at home with us. What is wrong with him? What is wrong with me? What is wrong with being with us? I managed to squeak out a “No” and I wasn’t mad, I was hurt, even though I know where he was coming from. I don’t think I said but two words to him the rest of the night. Even after he offered to go buy me Pop Tarts at 9:00 because I was hungry and that’s what I was craving. I hardly slept at all. Not just because of the conversation in the car, but every time I closed my eyes I saw myself sitting at the table with the casualty officer. I tossed and turned all night, almost happy that Monkey kept waking up for water or trips to the bathroom. I know that I have to get a grip, not just for me but for Monkey and soon for Baby K. It’s not like I haven’t done the deployment thing before, this time it just seems like it’s so much harder. I am hoping that it’s because I’m pregnant and hormonal and that it will be better once I get used to living here, meet some people, and get involved in things.
Added to the Collection
October 21, 2008 at 2:19 pm (Monkey)
My Monkey loves all things Disney Princess, but her favorite is Sleeping Beauty. Before we moved we went to the Disney Store looking for a mermaid costume for Halloween and ended up pre-purchasing the 50th Anniversary edition of Sleeping Beauty so we could get the free lithograph set. Unfortunately there is not a Disney Store where we live, so my dad and step mom agreed to pick it up at the store near their house and send it to Monkey. It arrived last night via FedEx and has been playing on the portable DVD player ever since.
When we packed our unaccompanied baggage Monkey put her Sleeping Beauty dress, slippers, and crown in. Last night she got all dressed up in order to watch the movie. Then, we all had to act out the movie. Her daddy played the prince and I got stuck playing the evil Maleficent. Finally it was time for bed.
First thing this morning the dress and slippers were back on. We even had to find a sweater that could be used as a cape so she could “pick berries”. Fortunately I found a sweater that would work along with other props so we could act out the story, which we have done all day, while the movie plays.
32 Weeks
October 20, 2008 at 2:25 pm (Kendal, Pregnancy)
I had my first doctors appointment at the hospital at our new duty station. It’s a rather unique facility that includes a player piano right there in the center of the building. Monkey likes it and says “The ghost is playing the piano.” Anyway, last Friday I was sitting on the floor playing with Monkey and her alphabet zoo, I stood up to get something and my pants were soaking wet. I changed my clothes and again, more fluid, then the seriously painful contractions started and the ripping pain in my pelvis. I thought, Ok, I’ll just wait it out, I’m sure it’s fine. I realized at this point I had not felt the baby move in some time and that was very unusual. So, I made Monkey and myself some lunch hoping it would kick start Baby K. Nothing. I decided maybe I should call Hubby, so I did, and his response was to call an ambulance. Umm, no thanks, I’ll be alright, I’ll take a shower and call you back if things don’t get better. I shower, there’s still fluid, still having contractions, still no movement. Hubby comes home and finds me in tears. I’m terrified that something has happened to my baby and am afraid that he is mad at me for disrupting his day (he’s not, but I’m hormonal). I called the Labor and Delivery unit at the hospital and in between crying fits explained what was going on. I was told to come in, so we loaded up in the car, drove over there, and spent the next five hours trying to figure out what was happening to me. Don’t ask me how far apart my contractions are I’ve been too busy crying and playing the what if game to time them and how many have I had? Well, I don’t know, again too busy worrying that something horrible has happened to my baby, so I really haven’t been counting them. How about I just say a lot and I’m in a great deal of pain, please fix it! They hook me up to a monitor and Thank God, the baby has a great heart beat (I guess she was just napping, thanks a lot Baby K, you could’ve kicked or turned once in a four hour time period.) They picked up the contractions (well I wasn’t making them up) and then tried to figure out the mystery fluid as I have come to call it. After being poked and prodded they decide it’s not amniotic fluid and it’s not an infection. Ok, what is it? Why are my pants getting soaked on a regular basis? Well, it could be urine. Ok, hold it right there, I am thirty years old, I know when I have to pee, and I am most certainly not peeing on myself throughout the day. Talk about making an already very hormonal woman cry some more. Anyway, eventually they let me come home with instructions to rest and hydrate. Uh huh, the majority of my day is spent sitting anyway, since we have NOTHING to do and if things get worse to come back. Well, alrighty then. Over the weekend I still leaked the mystery fluid, I still had contractions, this time accompanied by some bleeding. Oh joy! Today at the doctor I told my provider all of this (except for the bleeding part, because really I didn’t think it would do any good) and she decided to run the same tests they ran Friday. Nothing. Although this time I was told that the contractions were causing some changes to my cervix. Could be urine she says. Not again, I have told you people (in my head) that I am NOT peeing on myself. Her advice? Yes, you guessed it, rest and hydrate and if the contractions get stronger or I have more problems come in. No thanks, I’ll just wait.
I am concerned about the mystery fluid because, well, it’s a mystery and I had a similar thing happen when I was pregnant with Monkey at about the same point in my pregnancy. I ended up in the hospital with an infection that could have been fatal to both of us had they not treated it as quickly as they did. I really don’t want to go there again!
I was told by the midwife in L and D that if I had pre term labor symptoms with my first pregnancy (which I did, it required shots to keep Monkey in) that I’d probably have them with this baby. Great.
Then there is the issue of my low lying placenta. I was supposed to have an ultrasound at 30 weeks, but we were traveling, so I assumed they would schedule it pretty quickly after we got here, I mean it is written in red ink on my chart. But no, not even a mention of an ultrasound. Hopefully it has corrected itself or someone that looks over the OB charts will notice the bright red instructions or maybe I just need to call and mention it to someone. I have to go in Friday for a glucose test. I pray that it is alright. I am a little irritated, tired of my clothes being soaked by the mystery fluid, tired of having contractions, and just uncomfortable. Only eight more weeks to go. Eight Weeks!
On a high note, Baby K’s heart rate was 153 today, which is excellent and I have gained a pound!
A Little Less Crazy
October 19, 2008 at 8:44 pm (Dear Hubby, Kendal, Monkey, Pregnancy)
Our unaccompanied baggage arrived early Friday morning! Monkey was so happy to have some of her toys, but a little miffed that she had to leave them so we could go to the hospital for five hours because our baby to be decided to give us a scare. After being released and ordered to rest, I thought I’m going to go even crazier that I already am, but no, things are looking up!
Last summer I kept a friends little girls for a week and they had Nintendo DS systems and they let me play. I’m not big on video games, but I liked the system and it offers a wide variety of games. So, last night during a Wal-Mart run, my DH told me that if I wanted one, I could get one so I’d have something to do while I’m resting and when it’s time to be in the hospital for the birth of Baby K. I picked one out and a crosswords game to play. I love crossword puzzles, really they are the only reason that I’m a committed People buyer. I played it well into the night last night. Of course Monkey wanted to play, and became rather upset when I told her that she had to know how to spell and read before she could play. Today we went to look for a game that she could possibly play, but everything requires reading, so instead we bought her a video game of her own. Actually, it’s a Leap Frog Leapster video learning system. She has played it all afternoon. It has built in software and cartridges to buy with different skills. At least it’s educational! Me, on the other hand got Guitar Hero On Tour! It’s so cool! Hubby and I have been taking turns playing it and if I do say so myself, we totally rock! It’s a super fun game and time goes by a little faster when you have something to do! I am seriously considering buying the system and game for my brother for Christmas, I know he’d love it! Anyway, tomorrow I have a doctors appointment and my new awesome game is going with me! I’m sure everyone in the waiting room will be impressed by my mad rocker skills 
!
Slowly Going Crazy
October 16, 2008 at 2:40 pm (Army Wife, Monkey, Moving)
Monkey and I sit here in our house, snow covers everything, and the temperature is -4 with a high today of 13. Are we going outside? No way! She’s whiny because she has a nasty cough and she wants her toys. I’m on the verge of whiny because I want my stuff. I do feel bad for Monkey, she brought a handful of things in her carry on and we’ve bought her a couple of things at Wal-Mart so she has something to do during the day. We’re really working hard on our alphabet, numbers, and some pre writing skills with flash cards and workbooks bought at Wal-Mart. I usually loathe the big super center, but I actually look forward to our trips, probably because it means I’m getting out of here for a little bit. I’ve read two books in a little over a week, if you knew me you’d know that reading isn’t one of my favorite past times, but I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the two books I read. I now have two more to read. We only have to survive until next Wednesday and our stuff should be here. I can’t wait to sleep in my bed, cook in my pots and pans, eat off my dishes, and get my clothes out of the suitcase on the bottom of the closet floor and into drawers in my dresser! I have mentally laid out Baby K’s and Monkey’s rooms and am doing craft projects in my head to decorate their new living spaces. I was even sad that I had done all of our laundry on Tuesday because it meant I had nothing to do yesterday. I’ve watched more Disney movies in the past three days than I think I’ve seen in my lifetime, although I am most grateful for the portable DVD player. I can’t wait to get my TV, we have cable and a DVR box that taunts me every time I walk into the living room, oh what a joyous day it will be when I can watch Dr. Phil and Reba again! Monkey and I have been listening to iTunes and doing some dancing which helps alleviate some of the boredom, sad as it is, I am so thankful for my computer, iTunes, and Monkey’s love of hair bands and southern rock. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be living without my stuff. I guess that about sums up this rambling post!
New Recruit
October 14, 2008 at 3:10 pm (Family)
My brother is the Army’s newest recruit, he left today for Basic Training. Monkey and I are pretty sad about this. My brother and I are super close and he and Monkey have a bond like no other, which I find sweet and pretty incredible since we only see my family once a year. Monkey and I talk to him daily, either on the phone or on IM. It’s going to be a real adjustment for us to not talk to him everyday. Yes, we will be able to write to him, but it’s just not the same. He called us this afternoon from the airport, Monkey and I were so happy to hear from him!
I wish him all the luck in the world and I pray that this is all he wants it to be and more. We will miss the comfort of knowing he’s only a phone call away. Good luck little brother! We love you!
