The one where I disappeared for a month... WHOOPS

So uh, remember that one time, I was going to write on a blog and update everyone about the pregnancy? yeah, uh, about that. Kind of fail at life on that one.

But I have excuses (so much work! family issues! college reunions at homecoming! working on the house!)... however I will not bore you with them. Just know that I'm sorry for being so forgetful...

Speaking of forgetful... you remember when I talked about The Stupids?! Totally found out there's a medical awesome term for it: Preg'nesia. It has also been to blame for triggering Tim's comment last night saying "Do we live in a college dorm!? Seriously, we are grown adults, what the heck!?"

I wish I could say we were doing something uber cool, or Tim was playing a game of beer pong or something... but it was actually about dinner. We were having leftover food (his Red Lobster from Sunday and my Jimmy Johns from Monday... I've been cooking dinners frequently. Obviously) and he went to get some lemonade. Well it was empty so he rinsed out the pitcher but it was still gross (days of sitting with leftover crud at the bottom). He asked where the other pitcher was and I informed him that was the only one we had, so he would just have to hand wash it. He opens up the dishwasher and tries to put it in there and I told him "Yeah, that would work, if we didn't run out of dishwasher detergent like 2 weeks ago."

Sooooo I haven't been so awesome at the whole cooking/grocery shopping thing. Uh... I'll work on that...eventually....

Moving on from my obvious domestic skills...Like I told you last time, we had our gender ultrasound and found out we were having a little boy! Three weeks later we had our actual doctor's appointment and I was a little worried they would switch and tell us it was a girl. Not that I wouldn't want one or the other, but I feel like I wouldn't trust either until the baby actually came. And I'm a planner. So having to spend 5 months without planning things like the name, or colors for the nursery... not cool. BUT it was confirmed, we are definitely having a little boy!

The rest of the visit didn't go so well though :(. We were told that the baby has an arrythmia, meaning he has an irregular heartbeat that skips around or pauses. The doctor assured us it was pretty common, as the circulatory systems are still developing but at our next appointment she will check it again. If he still has the irregularities they are going to bump up the frequency of my appointments to every 1-2 weeks until it corrects itself or delivery, just so they know what is going on as much as possible.


Eh, that news wasn't great but the doctor wasn't concerned so I told myself I wouldn't be either... and then she had more to add.

The whole point of the 19 week ultrasound I had was to check the baby, do measurements, check the organs and vital systems, check the face and spine; basically make sure everything is forming as it should. Apparently the little boy is measuring great physically, he's actually 2 days ahead... but his organs aren't. They had a hard time getting a view of the organs and being able to check his systems. The doctor was really vague about all of this, but told us we aren't going to worry yet. She wanted me to come back in a few weeks to redo the ultrasound, to see if giving him a little more time to develope might do the trick... so our next ultrasound will be November 8, and hopefully all is well at that one! Tim told me later (in my stressed-out, worst case scenario emotional mess state that I worked myself into) that it is after all his son... and he will be ready when he's damn good and ready to be viewed. I just had to laugh at that, because yep... even though I'm a planner Tim is the DEFINITION of a "winger." I can't even get him to commit to a place to eat dinner! (you know... with all my culinary skills in high gear I never have to ask that anyway...)

SO that's where we're at. A few other updates:

1. We have offically decided on the name... Aiden Ryhan. Ryhan is actually Tim's middle name so we thought we'd keep that tradition. I'm just so glad we finally came to a consensus. We're both a little.. uhhh... stubburn.
2. We finished the ground work on the nursery! We painted the walls and Tim installed a chair rail. We have absolutly no idea what we're doing with this whole home improvement stuff, but we wing it. Sometimes it works... sometimes not so much. Luckily this time did though! It looks great!
3. We got the crib! Mom and dad took us shopping and let us pick out the crib and they got it for us (some kind of tradition in mom's family that the grandparents buy the first crib!? Or she used that as the excuse... I have no idea BUT I am very grateful! Thanks mom!)
4. We finished the registry for the baby shower! Everyone keeps asking me about it so I figured I might as well get it done now!
5. Aiden has started kicking up a storm at certain times. The rest of the time I'm pretty sure he's just chillin in there, legs and arms crossed, probably even sleeping. Again, this is Tim's child haha. BUT when he does kick (usually after I have a fair amt of chocolate) it is the weirdest feeling! I kept getting it confused with a rumbling stomach, but finally got a good defined KICK and knew what it was. Tim keeps asking if he can feel it from the outside yet but sadly not :(
6. WE ARE HALF WAY THROUGH THE PREGNANCY!!! I'm at 20 weeks... only another 20 more weeks until we meet this guy!

I think that's about all I've got for now! I will try to update again soon... I also want to give a shoutout and say Happy Birthday to Chelsea (edited: this was written on her birthday, but published the day after. STILL COUNTS!)... Amazing how those friends you've had since 7th grade, you can still remember their birthdays, yet I can't for the life of me remember what I ate for lunch yesterday. Eh, priorities!


Lastly: some pictures for you!

 

The one with the Gender!

I know... I'm sorry I've been neglectful. Life has gotten in the way, but I'm not going to unload it here.. just know that it's been a roller-coaster.

ONTO THE GOOD NEWS!

We had our elective 3D ultrasound on Saturday and my mom, dad, sister and Tim were all there to find out what we're having. We sat there for a good 10 minutes while we tried to get the baby to move to show us the "goods."  And I realized during that time that this kid is DEFINITLY ours... with our, uh, best attributes...

The baby had its back to us when we first got a glimpse... Back to us, legs crossed AND arms crossed. The ultrasound tech kept trying different angles and was getting nowhere, so he... started poking baby. Like, legit pushing on my stomach repeatedly to make the baby move. And you know what baby did? Shuffle around a little (as in get off me, How RUDE--in Stephanie Tanner-voice) and would go right back to his comfortable sleeping position. CAN WE SAY STUBBORN!?!?

The big news--its a boy!

I was so totally wrong about my little diva. Apparently all my symptoms are just because of my stubburn, pain in the neck little BOY who I already love, but holy cow is this kid gonna be a handful!

Not much else to update... we started on names but couldn't decide... and since we're both stubborn we're stuck on our top 2 favorites each... and neither one seems to be budging. Hopefully we'll figure it out in the next 4 months!

The one with the survey

Ok... I'm  not feeling on my "A" game these days, and I think it's because Timmy has given me a cold. He CLAIMS he can't give me a cold if he doesn't have a cold himself but I disagree... that kid has the immune system of a god and NEVER gets sick (the last time he was sick was almost 2 years ago when the Army gave him the live flu virus). BUT I argue that all those little germs he's picking up from the high schools where hes recruiting at are CLEARLY jumping onto him and coming home with him. Because you know... I'm not out in public all day too but WHATEVER... I'm a little cranky these days too (yeah, in addition to hormonal..yayyyyyy!).

So instead of updating you on my adventures of trying to find a comfortable sleeping position and making Tim watch hours of "Ghost Hunters" where I won't let him fall asleep because hello? I can't watch that stuff alone... I'll just cop-out and do a survey today!

Due date:
March 9, 2012

How far along are you now?:
15 weeks & 6 days

Boy or girl?:
Ask me again in 2 days, around 11:00am!

Was baby planned?:
Uhhhh... define planned :)

Do you know who the babies father is?:
Well... since I was in Texas for work a week before I got pregnant, the ongoing rumor is the baby will be a little Jesus or Juan. I have faith that Timmy's BLINDING WHITE genes will put that rumor to rest ;)

If so, who is it?:
Timmy... or Juan...

How did you find out you were pregnant?:
Well they have this test that you pee on. I thought I was doing it for a science experiment, but apparently my body had different plans!

What were your first symptoms?:
At the very beginning? Tiredness and bloating

Who did you tell first?:
Timmy... I decided to wait until after the baby to tell Juan

Who was with you when you found out?:
Shadow and Callie (our pups) haha

How far were you when you found out?:
4 weeks... it was 2 days before my period was due

What was your reaction?:
The first time I took it, shock... then when I showed Timmy and he called me a crazy lady (see here) and I took it the second day... I felt smug. Then scared. In about 2 nanoseconds. but some excitement too I guess...

What was the baby's father's reaction?
First day he called me crazy (again... ) or maybe just said he didn't see it. Whatever, details... The second day I didn't get to see his reaction because I, uh, you know... TEXTED HIM THE PICTURE AT WORK... Hmmm someday I'll have to ask the guys in his recruiting station if he puked. and then when he got home he was a little excited too...

What was your parent's reactions?:
We told mom first because dad had just left to run an errand and Tim and I can't keep secrets to save our lives... she was SO excited and wanted to know when my dad and sister would be home because she was bursting at the seams. She was already testing out grandma or nana variations...

My dad was bombarded with the news when he walked into the house, just kind of looked at us, poured himself a drink (scotch maybe?) and just sat down... He told us congratuations but I don't think the shock wore off for a good 30 minutes! Then he called all his family and friends and got harrassed by everyone because he'll be the first one to be a grandpa! He already was lining out what SIU and Colts gear he would get the baby...

Any names?:
Uhhh one of the first days after we found out we started talking about names... and HATED each other's picks for names. We decided to table the discussion until after we know the gender :)... He can't hurt a pregnant lady right?!

Have you heard the heartbeat? If so what was the HR?:
Yes! twice at the doctor... first time was 165, second was 155...
Secret confession: I ordered a Sonoline B pocket fetal monitor last week for $53 and got it Friday night... I spent Friday night trying to find it with Tim cracking up at the sounds I was picking up (the placenta makes a "whooosing" noise) and it also picks up my heartbeat with the baby's... which sounds like a galloping horse. Add it all together and Tim thinks I've got a mini-version of Jersey Shore in my stomach, complete with baby fist-pumping. I've listened to it 4 or 5 times since but the baby is a little jumping bean and hard to nail down!

Baby ancestral types?:
my side: mostly Italian and Irish, but I've got some English and other random European bloodlines in there as well thanks Grandpa B!
tim's side: mostly Irish.... his siblings have names like "Loriegh, Bridget, Avryl, Culhain, Ehrina..." And we have a "MC" last name... do you sense a heritage there?!

Will baby have any siblings?:
For the first 3 months we swore we hoped we were having twins because this was the only time I was going through this... everyone has told me though that once you have the first baby you'll want more... and I don't think I want my child to be an only child... there's something special about having siblings so we'll see!

Have you and dad felt baby move?:
Not yet... I do have gas pains but I'm pretty sure its just gas pains...

Who will be in the delivery room?:
Tim... he did thist to me and he can be there to face the pain with me!

Will you use medication?:
oh HELL yes... immediately please!
On my first doc. appt I asked my doctor her views on medication in labor... She just started  laughing and said "Erica, I wouldn't ask you to get a tooth pulled without medication... why in the hell would I ask you to push a baby out without it?!"

I love her.

Did you have morning sickness?:
Yes. I'll just leave it at that. I'm sure you all have heard more then enough about it :)

Cravings?
Yep... and it changes EVERYDAY... the past two days it was homemade chicken noodle soup.

Did you have any mood swings?:
Does constant bitch mode count as a "swing?" (sorry Tim)

Formula or breastfeeding?:
I'm about 99.9% sure this baby will be lactose intolerant (as were my sister and I) so I'm just assuming formula. If the baby isn't... I'll cross that bridge when I get to it!

When did you start to show?:
I think in the last day or two I'm getting to the point where I can't suck in my gut anymore, and its started to get harder... so I suppose around now. I don't think that I look pregnant yet to strangers though. Just that I like my doughnuts too much.. (whatever dude, you only WISH you could eat all those doughnuts...)

Are you excited?:
Yes... we are getting really excited. When we were talking about the ultrasound appointment on Saturday and Tim asked if I wanted to swing by Lowes after the appt. I asked him why and he said, "Because you know we will want to go get the colors for the nursery right then, and that's what can be our project for Saturday afternoon!"

Who will help with baby after their born?:
Tim... the Army will give him 10 days paternity leave so he can be home with me. In my head right now I want to start off on my own... I want to learn my own way with the baby and figure things out without fear of others being there to watch my mistakes. This is all in theory though and when in reality I'm sleep deprived  and overwhelmed I have faith my parents and/or sister will be at my doorstep. Hey there's a reason we moved just 15 minutes down the road!

What is your favorite thing about being pregnant?:
wait... there's supposed to be a good part to this!?!

just kidding... hearing the heartbeat and sharing the excitment with Tim is pretty good :)

What is the worst thing about being pregnant?:
All. The. Symptoms! and no drugs to make it better!

What one thing do you miss doing since being pregnant?:
Tanning! that might be superficial but I haven't been pale since I was 15 years old. It's going to be rough in the winter...

Any days you wish you weren't pregnant?:
No,  but there are days when I wish every pregnancy symptom would just go to hell

How many kids do you want?:
2 months ago? ONE

Now perhaps 2... I'm not even going to say the potential for 3 if the second one is as bad as the first!

How many pregnant women do you know?:
Two... one of the girls I work with and my cousin

Are you ready for baby?
define ready...

The One with the Cravings

Warning to Chelsea... you will probably be mad at me for this post because it will make you want to eat everything listed. Hey... I warned you :)


So people have been asking me if I've been craving anything, especially anything weird. For the past few weeks I'd tell them, no, not really... no huge cravings that I know of... but this is a lie. Not an INTENTIONAL lie, mind you, but still a lie. Or a blackout. I haven't decided which. Because there are some moments were some food is mentioned or there's a commercial on the TV and OMG I WANT IT NOW.


I always thought cravings meant something you craved throughout the pregnancy, so that's why I didn't think I really had any... because my cravings change about as often as my little diva changes my symptoms! One minute I'd be sitting there, trying to think of what sounded remotely good for dinner and what we had in the house when BAM! a Taco Bell commercial would come on the TV and OH MY GOSH I NEED A CHICKEN QUESADILLA RIGHT NOW!

And that's exactly how it happens... most of the time I'm not especially hungry, and nothing really sounds good. I'll nibble here and there but about once every 1-2 days IT will hit me... that got to have, don't care who gets it, what is this cost you speak of, craving for SOMETHING. Here is the list of the most persistant cravings... and possible most random ever:

1. Taco Bell Chicken Quesadilla. I think I've had this at least 10 times in the past month. Maybe more. I tend to become too overjoyed while eating them to keep track.
2. Sushi. Usually just sushi itself (a  nice California roll which is COOKED sushi)... but every once in awhile I will CRAVE that delicious spicy tuna roll... which is a big no-no for the raw fish and risk of mercury in tuna. Boooo.
3. Blue Moon Beer. Since when did this beer start running commercials?! I'm pretty sure it started the day I got pregnant, and all I want is a delicious Blue Moon draft, with an orange slice on the side.
4. Hot dogs. All day everyday. In fact, I had a footlong coney dog for lunch. Nutritious huh? Again, proving my theory that I'm carrying a redneck.

Those seem to be the nagging cravings that come and go. These are the random one-time cravings (for now!) that seem to have no reason!

1. Shrimp. Specifically, hibachi-style shrimp. I mean... who doesn't want to pay an arm and a leg for a few pieces of shrimp and rice (but a show too!)...
2. Brownies. If you recall, my random grocery shopping trip included the infamous pan of brownies that I ate (ok... maybe in like 2 days. DON'T JUDGE ME!) and haven't had the craving for since... although now that I'm thinking about it...
3. Breadsticks. Only from Fazoli's though and I MIGHT'VE gone through the drive through and ordered a dozen. and they were gone by the next day. maybe.
4. Cucumbers. With Italian dressing and salt on them. I had my fill and didn't look back... who needs veggies anyway.
5. Hershey's cookies and cream. I haven't been craving sweets this pregnancy but every once in awhile the need strikes...

I'll have to update you on anymore of the randomness. That's all I've got for now. I really do have a theory going that this little diva is going to LOVE McDonald's. uh oh...

The one with the Pain in the Butt

So Tim told me yesterday he thinks I'm becoming a pregnancy hypocondriac. I told him I really, truly wish I was, because it would mean I really WASN'T experiencing all this stuff. But alas, I speak the truth... and my body has now decided to jump in and wreak havoc that I can't (fully) blame on my little navel orange (approx. 4.5 in).

Have you ever fallen on your butt while roller blading, sliding down the slide too fast, falling off a place you weren't supposed to be sitting on, or even slipping on ice and landing right on your tailbone? (I mean... me either. I'm TOTALLY graceful and haven't done the above mentioned multiple times). A few days ago I SWORE I must've taken a roller-blading trip and fallen during my dreams because my tailbone HURT. Like... I would grimace and usually groan out loud when sitting and standing, and walking for that matter. It was THAT painful!

I didn't attribute it to pregnancy at first because really, how random? The baby is in the front, and the emotional/hormonal/nasal/intestinal issues I understood (as the baby is the perfect parasite according to my doctor) but my tailbone? What the heck!? Well I Googled--yes I know... I'm not supposed to but let's be honest, will I ever truely NOT Google?!--and couldn't find any defninitive answers if my tailbone issues were related to my pregnancy or very violent dreams.

So I finally went to my last resort and called my doctor. Turns out, ready for this, it IS related to my little naval orange, as my body prepared for the massive basketball shape it would have to support. Simulataneously, your spine is curving to balance your weight the bigger you get, while your hips, joints, and liagments are becoming more relaxed and loose to accomodate widening and supporting the baby. From E-medicine: "Women experience a progressive increase in the anterior convex shape of the lumbar spine during pregnancy. This change, termed lordosis, helps keep the center of gravity stable and over the legs as the uterus enlarges."

Don't worry-- there's a picture to illustrate!

Oh my gosh, I know how jealous you all are of this, as it sound EXTREMELY fun and not painful AT ALL. But you lucky ladies will just have to wait until you get knocked up to experience these joys!

The other shifting and changing going on is something called round ligament pain, which occurs in your lower abdoment and happens when you strain your muscles that are slowly stretching out and expanding for your increasing stomach (uterus is entirely too adult for me to use seriously). I've learned... in conjuction of course with my bruised butt... that when you cough or sneeze... it creates and incredibly sharp shooting pain sensation in said area.

The key, then, is to avoid you know, coughing and sneezing... but when you're dealing with allergies (HI NETI POT) its not so easy to just switch off.

I swear I'm not complaining (much)... and I swear I'm not exaggerating. I can't even make half this crap up if I really tried (seriously... a bruised butt!?). Hopefully next week all my hunches about my little diva will be confirmed... but as Tim pointed out, any son of his is bound to be a pain in the butt JUNIOR soooo it looks like the good times will just keep rollin' either way. :)

The one with the Neti Pot

Well I'm back with some fun, new, exciting symptoms! I literally told my doctor this morning that I must be having a girl and she will be a DRAMA QUEEN because holy mother of God I feel like I'm up to my eyeballs in symptoms!!

New life event: Allergies!

Now, I know that the summer-fall transition is always a time for allergies, and every year I might get the occastionally stuffy nose.. but this year it OUT OF CONTROL. I have TERRIBLE post nasal drip... where I can feel it all day long in the back of the throat, and all it does is aggrivate my already-annoying acid-reflux! WHAT THE HECK!?

Two weeks ago I was self-medicating (under doctor's approval!) with nightly Benadryl-induced comas, that at least offered me SOME relief from the runny nose, post nasal drip, and itchy eyes.This is not really an option during the days however... as my new bosses tend to FROWN on sleeping on my desk (probably with drool) in the middle of the day. Whatever, I'm pregnant, but apparently that excuse isn't good enough... slavedrivers! :)

SO I started taking Claratin-D but decided it stopped working after 2 days. Have I mentioned I'm impatient? Well... I am. I like things NOW. But... apparently allergy medications don't work like that so I was told that I need to try to take it for at least 2 weeks and see if that helps. (Rude Claratin!)

Well then I started googling... even though I've been forbidden from my husband, doctor, mom, friends, etc from googling because OMG those women on those boards will scare you about their 15 miscarriages and their kids with 3 arms and obviously it is SO COMMON AND OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MY CHILD BY SLEEPING ON MY RIGHT SIDE!? (True story... one lady blamed herself for sleeping on her SIDE for her miscarriages).

SO... GOOGLE. I googled Post-Nasal Drip rememdies for pregnancy and you know what kept coming up? The dang Neti-Pot. I don't know how many of you have ever even heard of this little gem, but basically its a teapot-like devices (smaller scale and plastic) that you fill with warm water and salt, and send it up your nose. You tip your head forward and to the side and the water is supposed to run out of the other nostril. HOW SICK IS THAT?!

During a particularly bad cold last winter I gave it a shot (my sister had one) and I honestly couldn't tell if it did anything, other then feeling incredibly weird. Never gave it a second thought until GOOGLE KNOWS ALL. So I got the neti pot, salt and water and attempted to clear my sinus cavities last night and see if it would help... SHOCKINGLY ENOUGH...IT DID!

I probably should've warned Tim that was what I was doing in our bathroom... So that way when he walked into the bathroom to get something he wasn't totally bombarded by the sight of water flowing out of one of my nostrils but whatever... WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF PREGNANCY, where there is no room for shame! I used it again this morning and it seems to be helping. It hasn't completely kicked the post nasal drip, but I also don't have a runny nose anymore, so YAY for that!

In other news, I had my second appointment this morning. Which I went to alone because Tim made the mistake of asking "Are you just going to complain to the doctor about all the symptoms at this one? Because I've already heard those" when I asked if he wanted to go to that appointment. Well not with that attitude mister! Everything is going well though... I was down 1 pound, which I had already lost 6 pounds my first visit... so at almost 15 weeks pregnant I'm down 7 pounds... wait, what?? No worries, doc said that's not uncommon and that she has faith I will make it up :)

I got to hear the heartbeat again today... a very health 155bpm (Tim was mad he didn't go when he heard this... hmmm should've listened to my complaining dear!). We made our next appointment for Oct 13, and we get to have the gender ultrasound!

But, I am impatient (warned you!) and we are going to a local ultrasound place that does gender scans starting at week 15, next saturday when I will be 16 weeks. We honestly don't care whether its a boy or girl, we just want to know :)... We are planning on testing some of those old-wives tales thanks to my friend Lauren who sent me a site with 51 of them!! Clearly they're all VERY scientific and I have faith the results will be....entertaining if not quite accurate.

That's all I've got for now... Probably not as snappy as my usual posts but I'm trying to at least give everyone an update :)

The one with the Pregnancy Stupids

Have you ever felt like the connections are just not being made in your brain? Like the little neurons are having some serious communications issues the likes of Dr. Phil can't even fix? As if your hair was not just blonde, but the blonde-ness had seeped into your actual brain?? That, my friends, has been my life the past week. And I'm dubbing it "Pregnancy Stupids" because honestly, I think I would need to check myself into a padded room if I DIDN'T have an explanation for it!


Recent events involving Pregnancy Stupids:

1. Repeating the question I asked my husband 1, 2, 3 times, all immediately after the other, until he finally got tired of repeating his answer and just silently looked at me... I didn't even realize I kept asking the same thing!
2. Forgetting my purse in my desk drawer, making it halfway home and pulling into the gas station because I had been on E since that morning, and finally REALIZING the purse was at the office. Added to that my husband was out of town for the week. So I ended up doing what any normal 24-year-old, married and pregnant girl would do... I called my mom. Who graciously brought me gas money and a good dose of sanity for my hormone-crazed  mind. (THANKS MOM!!)
3. Calling Tim in a very accusatory/panic-driven mood because the day he left for Fort Knox, I went to turn our AC on (that had been on that morning and I cut off) and IT WOULDN'T COME ON! I called and bitched at him (it was all his fault for leaving me for a work commitment and leaving WITH the AC ON, which I had to turn off... BUT STILL SOMEHOW HIS FAULT!) and bless Tim, he tried to talk me through checking to make sure things were running and finally just told me to let it sit for an hour and see if it cooled down.... which after the hour, and it was still not cool, I went to the wall thermostat to glare at it and its 80 degrees accusingly, only to realize I hadn't switched it to "COOL" 
4. Having to have a colleague ask me 4 times for the same document before it suck in that I literally just had to open up an new email, attach a document, and send it off. For some reason remembering all those steps just really boggled me...
5. Remembering my to-do list to the point where I had to REWRITE it every day on a new post it just so it would stay fresh in my mind... things like "Call Insurance Company before XX date--BIG DEAL TO GET MEDICAL BILLS PAID!"

I'm sure there are more examples of the pregnancy stupids, but this is all I can remember.  Can I chalk writing this post up with more amusing stories to a fault of the pregnancy stupids!?

mom... you need to buy more dogfood and pick up our medicine... mom... mom... MOM!

The one where I return

Ok... OK.. I KNOW! I know I said I would update this (fairly) regularly and...clearly... lately I have not. I apologize but I really do have good reasons for it!

Reason 1) I got a new job! I'm still with my agency, and actually in the same office AREA but I'm switching divisions and I'm upgrading from my cubicle world to my own office... with a door and everything! We'll work on the window thing later...

Reason 2) Tim has been blowing the Army away with his mad skills and has been in a flurry of boards. First he had to go to the "NCO (Non-commissioned Officer) of the Quarter" board for his battalion (in recruiting world, his battalion is Indianapolis--which covers all of Indiana and all of Illinois). He kicked serious butt on that board so he got sent to the NCO of the Year board for his battalion next, and again kicked butt. So they informed him with 3 days notice that he would next be sent to Fort Knox, KY for NCO of the Year for his Brigade (which covers the entire midwest). So that is where Tim left for yesterday, and where he'll be until Thursday. If he wins this one he goes to the NCO of the Year board for ALL of Army Recruiting. Kind of a big deal... and maybe I like to brag a little :)

Reason 3) I was dog-sitting for my friend Chelsea while she was in fabulous Jamaica so my week was spent in a little limbo between my house and hers in the evenings.

SO its been very hectic but I am back!

And good news! I'M OFFICIALLY IN MY SECOND TRIMESTER! YAYYYYY!!


Bet you though the pregnancy symptoms would disappear or at least ease up? ME TOO! Guess What? The little PEACH (3 in long) is still working up a flurry of excitement over here! The latest development... LACTOSE INTOLERANCE! Yes, apparently you CAN grow back into it (as I thought I got rid of this at age 5) and so goes all your dreams of ice cream induced comas and cheese-filled quesadillas. THANKS PEACH!


Now for the normal person, they would diligently cut out all lactose products from their diet, right? Well I went out and bought sherbert, and I had Tim wander the aisles of Wal-mart searching for something called SOY MILK--as he cringes as he asks the sales lady where it was. But these were the easy changes... the real hardship comes with CHEESE. Because suddenly, everything I've ever wanted to eat most in the universe, contains CHEESE. That salad I eat? Cheese. Those muffins--cheese strudel. Everything on the Taco Bell/ Qdoba menu that I crave now on an almost hourly basis--CHEESE.

Its a cruel, cruel world this little peach is coming into!

BUT hopefully I will figure out a way around this. Mostly it just gives me the most irritating heartburn and acid reflux known to man (have you ever felt like there is ground beef stuck in your throat? When I have dairy it is that feeling 24/7). Luckily Prevacid seems to help a lot (and is safe for pregnancy--thank you for the small miracles!!).

We have also realized that now that I'm in my second trimester, and able to you know, eat, I should NEVER EVER BE ALLOWED TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING ALONE EVER AGAIN for the following reasons:

1) I forget all sense of "meals" when wandering through those glorious aisles and instead pick out things that alone seem delicious, but tend to be ONE part of a normal person's meal. Let's look at strawberry jam for instance. Most people would at least buy bread with this and put it on toast, if not peanut butter also and make a sandwich. I however, had a huge urge to just take a spoon and eat the jam out of the jar. Yes, clearly that is healthy/normal.

2) I buy things that have zero nutritional value at all. My recent trip? Brownie mix, three boxes of toaster strudles, chocolate chip cookies, and jello mouse-pudding among other equally nutritious things. Please explain how my baby is craving a certain nutrition from any of that!?

3) I tend to ignore prices in search of things to satisfy said cravings. Again, witness the fact that that shopping trip to include the brownie mix and a few other items, making a total of two grocery bags, came out to be a whopping $53.00! I still have no idea how I managed to do that. Before I could get an entire week's meals for that amount--lets not even talk about how much of that brownie mix/toaster struddles/cookies are left after 3 days.


So... looking back at all this I clearly should not be left alone with a purse in a store that sells food. And as we saw earlier, Tim's idea of grocery shopping is picking up packages of Ramen noodles in mass quantities.

So little peach, thank God we have family dinners at grandma and grandpa's house on Sunday nights. Otherwise, I think you might pop out with a Taco Bell wrapper around your little body.

The one with THE CRAZY

So folks, I am FINALLY inching my way out of the first trimester and setting sail into the second. Today started 11 weeks, so just a few more weeks to go (don't even get me started on how 40 weeks makes 9 months?). I am happy to report though, that the never ending nausea seems to be easing (Yes, I did actually knock on fake manufactured wood as I typed that. I'm taking no chances here, people).


What doesn't seem to be easing? The never ending emotional ride. And I wish someone would give me and Tim a helmet for this stuff because it is not going to be easy. Especially if it gets worse, as people have warned me.


I'll give you a few examples of THE CRAZY that has been invading our household. (Hi TIM! Look, I'm telling other people about THE CRAZY so you know I'm not really mad at you, I'm just emotionally unbalanced!)

• Bursting into tears at a Chinese Buffet. While I dragged Tim to go to said buffet (Chinese not being his favorite) I then decided it was a WONDERFUL time to unload on him about not doing enough around the house (which I was SO JUSTIFIED in my head!). When questioned what he's not doing, (after he had just done laundry and cleaned and swept the living room) the examples I came up with included "Going grocery shopping" "reading the baby books" and my favorite "not telling me I look pretty 24/7." Note: These are all horrible examples for the following reasons:
• Tim has been a soldier for the past 6+ years of his life, living in barracks with food provided, or having all of his check to blow on daily fast food runs. His version of grocery shopping includes buying ramen noodles, apples, maybe some deli meat (but forgets bread) and cereal (sometimes remembering the milk). I have said I will soon teach him how to grocery shop (THEN tackle, you know, how to COOK) but have not yet done so. SO really, I'm not sure how I can expect him to do the grocery shopping in this case.
• Tim has read a few chapters in the baby book, but he also has 5 sisters and 10 nieces and nephews. Two of his sisters lived at home when he was growing up when they were pregnant, so the concept of a pregnant woman is not new to him. I also make it a point to tell him every new thing I read in the book... so really, what's the point in him reading the book himself?
• Tim does tell me I'm pretty. I choose to imagine he does so only when prompted or I choose to brush it aside. He told me I was glowing when we first saw the baby and my response was "you feel like you have to say that whether I was or wasn't." So, hmmm. Maybe I should stop complaining and listen more?
• Volunteering to pick up Tim's dress jacket from the alterations place on my way home from work yesterday, since I didn't want him to go on Wednesday after the doctor's appointment. I wanted him to go to my parent's house with me instead. And this dress jacket had to be done and picked up ASAP since it has to be dry cleaned before Monday. I KNEW all of this. This did not stop me from calling him up in a frenzy because OH MY GOD YOU HAVE MADE ME DRIVE TO THE GHETTO TO PICK THIS UP AND SCARY GUYS ARE LOOKING AT ME AT 4PM WHILE I'M IN MY CAR AND HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME. 
• Ok. Maybe I knew to begin with the place he used (he still doesn't know Indy very well) was at the corner of Lafayette Rd and 38th Street. By an old run down mall we refer to as "Lafayette Scare" instead of Lafayette Square, and where they have bars on the store windows. And maybe, the place really isn't TERRIBLE, especially during the day, and is just 2 minutes out of my way on my drive home. STILL! HOW DARE HE MAKE ME VOLUNTEER TO GO THERE!
• Almost coming at him like a hormone crazed spider monkey when he very politely asked if one of the tubs of ice cream that I bought were for him. As in, asking if there was one he was specifically not to have. And in my mind he was TELLING me that he was going to eat all my ice cream and HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO ME! And he ended up eating a very small bowl of ice cream in fear THE CRAZY would come find him in his sleep if he dared eat more.
• I actually bought the ice cream on impulse, not out of a craving. I figured eventually I would want ice cream and it'd be nice to have for those moments, but I was not knee deep in mint chocolate chip like a starving woman trying to fend off the animals from my life source. But... I guess I might've reacted like that. 

That's all I've got for now. I'm sure more episodes of THE CRAZY will come up, and I will look back on them like I'm doing now and just cringe. I honestly wonder why that man hasn't started turning our guest bedroom into a mancave, or at least why he still agrees to sit in the same room with me. By the end of this I think he will deserve that newer TV he's been hinting for (but maybe not so much the gun he also wants... at least not until THE CRAZY is gone.)

The one with Baby's First Picture

We had our first ultrasound yesterday!

It was wonderful to be able to see the baby, to hear its heart beat (a very healthy 165 bpm!), and know that everything is just fine for the little prune!

I won't even try to make any sarcastic comments about the moment, it was wonderful. Tim got a bit teary eyed when we first heard that heartbeat :)

Instead I will share the first picture with you and apologize for the quality. It was a 3D scan, printed on 2D paper, and then uploaded to a computer... so its gotten a little fuzzy in the mix... I added where the limbs are so you can know what you're looking at (since at 10 weeks it looks more like an alien then a baby :)).

We have our next appointment in September, and we can find out the sex of the baby starting at 16 weeks, so hopefully by the beginning of October we will know if its a boy or girl (and I can start shopping!)....

The one with the Little Prune and the bible

So in my posts I've been referring to the living creature inside me (that's what Tim lovingly calls it as he's holding my hair back from the toilet and getting me water) as "Little Green Olive" and now, we have graduated to a Little Prune.

I'd love to tell you that I'm witty enough to come up with these adorable food comparisons on my own, but I steal them from my current pregnancy bible, What to Expect When You're Expecting. And not just the book people... there is an APP for it!

Now for those of you non-creature carrying ladies out there, you might not have heard of this book, but believe me, you will. It covers everything you ever need to know about pregnancy, broken down by weeks, and includes tips to deal with all the symptoms you find overcoming your body. It also has little tidbits... like... this Little Prune is going to have MASSIVE amounts of hair because apparently the more heartburn you have during pregnancy, the more hair your child will be born with. WHO KNEW!?


There's also a section for dads that explains THE CRAZY that will be going on in their partner for the next 9 months. Every few days I ask Tim if he's read the book yet (he loves that question, especially as he's trying to fall asleep!). I now completely understand Katherine Heigl's anger in "Knocked Up" when Seth Rogan didn't read the baby books! "I'm not crazy honey... just read the book... the author will be a completely non-biased third party that will tell you I'm not crazy and oh yeah how to be prepared for a baby too."

Now, ladies, if you don't want to take the time to read the very long book--never fear! There is a movie coming near you in 2012. The synopsis is "A look at the lives of four couples as they prepare to become parents"... ohhhhhh intriguing and never been done in Hollywood! BUT never fear, as there are many well-known names to add to this complicated plot to include Elizabeth Banks, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, and Chase Crawford. You're salivating over that list aren't you?

I'm positive it will show every angle of pregnancy discussed in the book. Especially the chapters about varicose veins and constipation. And include the pictures that show the size of your uterus (now a grapefruit!).

But I digress, as I have read the book, but will probably still see the movie as it will undoubtedly be portrayed as a chick flick, and I usually don't miss a good chick flick!

Onto stuff the Little Prune did this week!

Last week, Tim and I went to eat at Red Lobster with my parents to celebrate his promotion at work.

Side Rant: actually, he's not officially promoted because its the Army and they make everything difficult. Basically his unit made him go in front of a bunch of commanders ("The Board") and answer questions to include being scrutinized down to the last button on his uniform, and in the end they recommended him to become an E-6 Staff Sergeant. (YAY!) But it's not that simple, unit! You must wait until 30 days are up AND THEN the soldier must have enough points! Ah, you might ask how you get the points and how many you need? Well the answer is that changes every single month so really you will never know in advance when you might actually make it. HA. We're the Army and we're here to help!

Anywho. We went to eat and as the all day nausea has still be just hanging around (so nice of it to spend my days with me. Just when I thought I would get lonely there it is!) and I THOUGHT I'd be safe with some steamed crab legs (PROTEIN! OMEGA 3! GOOD!) and regular broccoli, both without anything on them including butter. And we had a lovely time and a lovely meal and then I got home.

And the Little Prune DOES NOT LIKE SEA FOOD HOW DARE YOU TRY TO FEED ME THAT! And so that nice (expensive) dinner was not to be digested that night.

The next night, we went to BW3's with my sister and I tried the mini corn dogs and they stayed down! Yay! And Monday night I worked my agency's booth at the Indiana State Fair and had a pork sandwich and corn on the cob and it stayed down!

Then last night we went to get Chinese food because OMG FRIED RICE IS THE GREATEST THING EVER MADE AND I NEED TO EAT ALL OF IT NOW! Except. Little Prune does not like Chinese food. So it wasn't digested that night.

So based on these facts I have come to the conclusion that my Little Prune is a Redneck.

It hates seafood (that fancy stuff!), it definitely disagrees with Chinese (Where' the Amerrrrcan food?!) but LOVES fried, fatty foods (mmmm, where's the beer to wash it down!?). I can find no other reasoning for it. 

So Little Prune, looks like we're going to be having some etiquette classes when you start having tea parties.

The one that's not so funny today...

Well, I'm not sure how witty or amusing today will be. I know I made big promises about not complaining... but today... today I need to vent a bit.

I'm feeling completely and utterly overwhelmed (and hormonal... HI HORMONES... glad you're still around!).

On a good day, I hate change. Ask my parents, they'll tell you how much I would enjoy the slightest mix up in my daily schedule (in elementary school I always watched Scooby Doo before school. So help anyone in that house if there was something wrong with the cable/we had to leave early/someone else was watching something you know, important). Now, I think I've gotten a bit better with change since meeting and marrying Tim, since at some point you just have to roll with the punches the Army throws at you. Mind you, this coming from the girl who chose to stay in Indianapolis and start my own career for the first year of marriage... so... yeah. Change = Bad.

Now throw in a baby in the mix. I think the only reason I haven't felt overwhelmed yet is because it wasn't quite real yet. It was still a novel thing, not much based in reality, and too many months down the road to worry about the big picture. That, and the fact that I was secure in the fact that Tim is non-deployable as a recruiter, and his recruiting tour is not up until 2015. But then he told me last night that he wants to become a Warrant Officer, basically the middle ground between enlisted and an officer, and become a pilot.

I was on board with this (and to be honest, he throws out ideas on what he wants to do next all the time--half the time he's staying in the Army, the other half he's getting out, joining US Marshalls or a local police dept, etc) as it is his career, and we wouldn't have to make any decisions for a few years yet and we'll decide then. But then he adds that a friend of his that was in his recruiting class in March/April had submitted a packet (you have to be picked for it) and was selected last month, and goes to Fort Rucker, AL to start the year + training in January. And that... is a 9 month time-frame. Not a 2 1/2-3 year time frame. And... I panicked.

Now, I know the hormones made the situation seem worse then it was, but at that moment I think I felt the need to cry, throw up and yell all at once. I understand the realities of the Army. I understand that when Tim comes down on orders, it is his duty to accept the orders and go where the Army needs him. I do NOT understand volunteering and leaving me alone with a newborn. In Tim's defense, that was not how he saw it but the sudden blinding reality that I will have a BABY, a living, breathing, survival-rests-on-me BABY in 6 months came crashing down on me... along with the thought that Oh My God I Can't Do This Alone!

Tim's answer, of course, was that I would come with him to Fort Rucker if/when he was selected. But... Tim has always been the single soldier when he's on orders to PCS or headed to a school. He didn't think through the fact that we now have a mortgage, a house that we can't just "get out of." We have 2 dogs that can't just stay with me in Indianapolis, they would have to come with us, which would require a new home to accommodate them. We would have a BABY, that would require a support network that we have in Indianapolis, that we would not have anywhere in Alabama. I have a job, that's in a very specific field that can't just be transferred. All these thoughts were rolling through my head, and he had just barely mentioned the idea of this.

Now, realistically I know that all these issues will have to be dealt with when and if he decides to stay in the Army and go back to Infantry after recruiting is done. As he reminded me, if he were deployed I would be doing it all alone as well... but that's 2015 and beyond and I still have TIME to filter through all of those pieces. We would have a toddler, not an infant, and the economy would have a few years to rebound so we might have a chance at selling our house. And most importantly, it would be the needs of the Army, not a volunteer packet submitted.

I think Tim was a bit overwhelmed himself at the emotion I threw at him (its not me! Its the Prune! The Prune is clearly my child and hates change as much as me!) and he just simply said, "Ok, I'll drop it." But the fact is that the reality has finally hit that I will have the responsibility of another life in 6 months. And 6 months... is not  very long... at all. I feel like we just closed on our house, and that was 4 months ago. And in the 6 months, all the holidays will happen. I guess all these feelings are normal, that it has to hit everyone at some point. I think I would just prefer a point that it hit when my first reaction ISN'T to immediately start crying and stressed.

Because crying and stress just makes the little Prune upset. And when the Prune is upset... I get the pregnancy symptoms doubled. So... today I am going to try to work on calming myself down, on not panicking, and on putting some perspective on that thing called change.

And tomorrow I will try to be a little less whiny, a little more entertaining, and hope you stick around for the rest of the journey, with lots of changes I'm sure.

The one with the story of us, and also SITCOMS LIE.

My husband is the youngest of 10 (8 living), 10 nieces and nephews, and twice as many "Extended" family members (close family friends) and THEIR kids. This can make for an...overwhelming meeting to say the least.

When my husband and I first started dating he was actually stationed in Iraq. We met through mutual friends (his best friend that he met in boot camp and was stationed with the 101st Airborne in Kentucky went to high school with me) and decided around January of 2008 (after many long hours of online talking, Skyping and late-night rushed phone calls from Iraq) to bite the bullet and "be" together... as much as you can across the world. I had not met his family (he was from North Carolina) or his friends, other then his best friend. Intimidating? Yes... but we both knew we really liked each other and we wouldn't let minor details like not knowing family or being in separate countries stop us. Again... this is typical of us.

SO fast forward to May of 2008, Tim was given his mid-tour leave and we planned to spend as much of the 2 weeks together as possible. It just so happened that he flew home on his birthday (April 26) which was the Saturday before finals (I was in college at the time--finishing up my Junior year) so I had to stay put at school. Which by the way was Ball State--home of the Garfield creator and David Letterman... and Oprah's "husband" Stedman. Does your school have those kinds of claims to fame? Yep... didn't think so! Anyway... when I finished my last test, I would fly to NC to spend a week there. After I met all his family/friends, we would fly back up to Indiana to meet all MY family and friends. It undoubtedly would be exhausting, but since his 15 month tour wouldn't be up until January of 2009, we decided it was important to get this part done with while we could.

If you caught that last part, you probably realized that he had yet to meet my family... aka my mom and dad. I am one of two pride and joys (and pain in asses :)) for my parents, and they TEND to be a little...protective. Not in a overbearing manner, just, we will definitely let you know how we feel about this and we do not approve kind of manner. They did not like the fact that I was flying to see him first before they met him. My mom had visions of the Craigslist killer (who serves in the Army in his spare time, and who's father is a preacher) whisking me away to some slum in North Carolina. It took many months to convince her and my dad (we won't even TOUCH the threats he gave!) that I would not be killed by a psycho killer in flying to NC first. I don't even USE Craigslist, MOM!

Well, I finished finals and headed to NC to see Tim, all the while promising my parents I would call the second I landed and stay on the phone with them until I met up with Tim and THEN hand the phone to Tim so he could very awkwardly reassure them I was alright before we even got to hug. Yes. That was fun. SO we got my bags and headed towards his hometown (Fayetteville, NC--home of Fort Bragg) so I could meet the clan.

One word to sum that all up: overwhelming. By the end of the first day I had broken down into tears because I had met 3 sisters, 4 "extended" sisters, two parents, 5+ nieces and nephews, all while juggling their daily adventures (someone's softball game, going to his parents house before running errands, etc) and it was just...overwhelming. They were a big, noisy, intimidating bunch, but there was so much love between all of them, I felt envious. And also... worried. Because I realized how comfortable Tim was with the children especially... and I am, shall we say, awkward around them.

Despite what my college roommate Beth will tell you, I really do LIKE children. Ok, ok, I might've made comments to her along those lines with the caveat "when they are behaved" but only because otherwise I have no idea how to interact with them! I was the youngest grandchild on my mom's side, so growing up I WAS the child. My dad's family had a couple kids younger then me, but they live in Chicago and Kansas, so we didn't get to see them often. And like I said earlier, I was one of two, just my older sister and myself. So... awkwardness ensued when around children.

BUT going back to children... I just need more time with them for me to feel less awkward--I'm sure of it (gulp)! I always wanted kids, I imagined Tim and I would have kids... and now, suddenly we are.

I haven't thought a lot about the months to come. I'm still trying to juggle how I'm going to take off work (my boss jokingly told me that early March wouldn't work for him, could I wait until May?) because we've got two huge exercises planned in March and April, and I'm actually the lead planner for the one in March. And my due date is March 9. So yes... I'm still trying just to figure out the schedule at work, let alone what will actually happen when I'm OFF work!

I do have to say though, that I have two of the BEST bosses to have right now. My immediate boss is a grandpa, who is months out from retirement, and enjoys telling the world about my pregnancy, because he is just so happy for me. The other boss (above him) is expecting his third child with his new wife, who also works with us, and they had their wedding a couple months after Tim and I, so we got to swap all our wedding planning stories and now we get to swap pregnancy stories. SO on this note, the pregnancy is going very well... again, couldn't ask for a better situation.

And its pretty good that they're so understanding because I have to tell you folks, the last 5 weeks have been BAD. Like... I feel irrational anger at Aunt Becky from Full House because she did not warn me what I would be facing BAD!

Now, when you see a movie or a TV show with a pregnant lady, it shows her running to the bathroom to throw up, making pithy comments about morning sickness, and then she is always in the next scene bright eyed and sunny and fine. AND THAT IS WRONG PEOPLE. When one of my favorite movies of all time was on TV Sunday on Lifetime, Father of the Bride II, I was SO HAPPY, I LOVE that movie! Then, they show the scene when Annie is pregnant in her first trimester, and they are arguing about the name of the baby, and she's sitting at the dinner table happily enjoying the meal, I actually called her a liar. Not just... you know... in my head. Out loud, to the TV, I called a fictional character a liar. That is the kind of hormonal craziness they do  not show you. And also, they don't show when your two dogs start judging you because they look at you and I'm pretty sure they are saying "who are you talking to mom? You have not said any of the words we enjoy such as walk, treat or daycare. Also, you are angry. We don't understand anger, where is it coming from? Are you mad at us mom?"

WE ARE JUDGING YOU! (or Sleeping)

And clearly, the fact that I typed that out, shows to my level of crazy.

Its not so much the bloating or fatigue that gets to me. Its not even the LOVELY constipation that NO ONE warns you about. Its not even the occasional throwing up that gets me. It's the non-stop, all day, can't get out of bed or concentrate on anything because I'm so consumed with this overwhelming nausea that gets me.

I have found little things here and there that seem to help, and all these coping mechanisms (peppermint candies, ice chips, lemonade, potato chips, saltines, water, sea bands accupressure wrist bands) seem to get me through the day. Its not pleasant, and I'm shocked at my own work ethic these days, but everyone has been really understanding. And poor Tim who was sent out one night to BUY ME SPAGHETTIOS... they are all that sound good right now and for the love of GOD I haven't eaten a full meal in about 3 weeks NEED SPAGHETTIOS and also Eggos while you're out please. So Tim buys the entire shelf (kid you not--it takes up half of a cabinet) because he doesn't know what will help but just wants to make the crazy lady stop!

So Tim  (Even though you don't read this and am probably appalled I'm spilling the beans)... thank you for dealing with Crazy right now. Everyone says it gets better in the second trimester.  But then again, this is the same "everyone" that doesn't tell you about all these other symptoms until you mention it and then its "oh yeah, I did deal with that" (MOM)... and also the same people that write lying sitcoms and movies.

So. Our Little Green Olive continues its journey...

The one with the long story...

I have finally done it... I have caved and joined the blog world. I'm not sure how this is all going to turn out (or even how often I will remember to update) but... I am making an attempt (HI CHELSEA!).

I am going to lay out the one ground rule I think I will need, and have to remind myself of:

I WILL NOT ENDLESSLY COMPLAIN ON THIS BLOG.

It seems like that would be the easiest thing to do these days, however I will try to come up with something witty, amusing or even slightly remotely funny to offset the whining (hey, I said TRY).

The other rule I will TRY to follow will be:

DO NOT GROSS OUT READERS OF THIS BLOG WITH PREGNANCY TMI.

Because, the reason of all that complaining, is the tiny little Green Olive (approx. 1 inch in size) growing inside me currently. I am 9 weeks pregnant with my first child, and experiencing the never ending JOYS of this journey (sarcasm isn't really complaining, right?).

On today's post boys and girls, I will start with a little background...
My husband Tim and I got married on April 23, 2010. If you ask my mother, however, that date is not valid and we were actually married October 16, 2010. And I guess my mother has a point, as we decided to secretly elope in April without telling any family or friends....and it just HAPPENED to be on her birthday... MINOR DETAILS. Needless to say whether it was by a Muscogee County Judge (oh that's right... classy Fort Benning, GA, because they NEVER see elopements with soldiers at that courthouse. We were the 4th wedding that Friday morning!) or by my father-in-law, we are bound together for life.

Now, another MINOR DETAIL is the fact that Tim is active duty Army. Those of you who know me know how WELL I do with not being in control, just leaving it all up to the government to decide for me, and not having any say in the direction my life will head in the next 3, 5, 10 years. So, I fought. I decided to stay  in Indianapolis after we were married, even though it meant we would spend the first year of our marriage apart; I fought to establish my career in the meantime in state government, and try to find my own way in the world. I fought to make the Army bend to my will (YEAH... RIGHT) by fighting the system, and I lost. I'm not sure if you all know this, but the Army is a big machine. And just because one Army wife is complaining that they haven't gotten their travel pay for moving expenses in the allotted time frame, doesn't mean anyone has to...care. It is the Army and it does what it wants.

I have given up fighting the Army. It is a bigger beast then I, and also I was warned that commanders do not like wives who meddle. So. Anyway. Back to life in military-base-free Indiana :).

Around October of 2010 (wedding time!) we found out that Tim came down on recruiter orders. He had put in to be a voluntary recruiter back in 2009, when he was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY, and instead got orders to go to Fort Benning, GA. We figured the Benning orders cancelled out the recruiter packet and promptly forgot all about it. Tim had roughly 2 years left in the army at Fort Benning, so we would just survive those two years, and then he could get out and move to Indy. But alas, the Army knows and remembers all. So he re-enlisted for 3 more years to accept the orders, and we waited for the ball to drop on where he would go.

His first assignment he was told was the Indianapolis Battalion (YAY!)... but then he would told the actual city would be Vincennes (BOOO!) which is about 2 1/2 hours south of Indianapolis, where I worked and lived, and that commute is just not going to work. Well, that same day Tim was able to call the headquarters, explain that we were buying a house in Indianapolis (a little premature--we were just looking at that point) and could he be stationed closer. AND THEY DID. The first time the Army has ever worked in our favor, and I couldn't be happier. His recruiting station is about 25 miles from our recently purchased (shhhhh! not THAT recent if the Army asks!) first home!

SO... we moved into our first home in late May, and promptly started tearing the place up (more to come on that later!). We were blissfully enjoying the married life, learning how to live with each other for the first time with shared responsibilities and hurdles (and dogs... can't forget our pups!)... and then... it happened... the POSITIVE TEST.

Now, I would love to tell you what a cute, shared, poignant moment that was for Tim and I... but, like most other things in our lives... it was very... not. Cute and poignant that is.

Months and months ago, BEFORE 2011 STARTED, I had an HSA (Health Savings Acct) from my employer that due to new laws, could no longer be used for over-the-counter medications. Well I also had a few hundred dollars in this account since I hadn't had many doctor's visits that year, and I was starting on the military's insurance TRICARE at the first of the year, and I wouldn't be able to use the HSA. So Tim and I set out one new years eve to blow a few hundred dollars on over the counter meds, and THAT didn't get me flagged or anything.

After maxing out my Sudafed-buying abilities, I had to turn to alternative medicines that weren't, you know, meth ingredients, least I find myself part of some Channel 13 drug investigation. So naturally, I turned to pregnancy tests and bought one (or 2, or 3) of every brand, basically, and considered myself stocked for life (and probably a VERY worried cashier... HI cashier, I just like to give these out as... uh... parting gifts... that's why I need 3 years worth!).

SO going back to THE TEST... needless to say I had every variety imaginable under that bathroom sink. Well a few days before THAT TIME OF THE MONTH THAT MUST NOT BE MENTIONED BY GUYS AROUND THE WORLD, I started to feel "off" like something just wasn't right... I wasn't getting my normal cravings to eat everything in sight around me, I wasn't feeling like my pants were tighter, etc. I know Friday was THE day, and by Tuesday I was curious. When I got home from work, I figured I'd test out one of those suckers and went about my business waiting for the results, expecting a big fat NO and feeling justified in my massive pregnancy-test-buying-spree (LOOK! I used one within the first year!). Except... there was something there. Not a HOLY CRAP YOU'RE PREGNANT, PREGGO kind of there, more of a very subtle, you're mind is playing tricks on you, go scour the internet for every site you can find about false positives and evaporation lines kind of THERE.

Well, of course Tim was working late that day, so I immediately start texting him and pestering him about when he would be home. I had not told him my suspicions or plans to take a test, so he had no idea why all the sudden I need him to be home NOW. So I waited for him to come home (while still surfing the ever-informative internet on sites like peeonastick.com... yes... it's real!) to get his opinion. And, like any normal wife, I made him come to the bathroom before he even took off his coat to show him THE TEST. And... this is where the typical-us comes out... he basically called me a crazy lady who was just desperate for a baby.

OK Maybe that's not what he said, he MIGHT'VE said something like "I don't really see anything there, but I guess we can check tomorrow" and in my head it just sounded SO ACCUSATORY. So, naturally, I ignored him the rest of the night because I AM NOT CRAZY AND WE WILL SEE TOMORROW!

SO the next day, I decided again to wait until I got home from work (why? I have no clue) and took two more tests... this time the FIRST RESULT WE WILL TELL YOU 2 MINUTES AFTER YOU CONCEIVE IF IT HAPPENED BECAUSE YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY $20 FOR A TEST test, and the digital THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND HERE BUDDY test.

And guess what? Both said "PREGNANT" in big loud pink and digital ways and there was just no mistaking. So I, like any sweet wife who just finds out this wonderful news and wants to surprise her husband do the only natural thing--I take a picture, TEXT IT TO HIM AT WORK with the caption "Still don't see a line?!"

Now... in retrospect... maybe not the best time to hold a grudge or a way to break the news. But hey... it works for us because his response was "The blue (digital) one doesn't have a line!" And thus begins the journey of this little Green Olive growing inside me, which I will try not to complain about but will instead update you will all the wonderful hurdles on this journey.

And thanks for sticking with me til the end. I promise I'll try not to be so wordy next time :)