Apparently Just a Drill

So last week I had the stressful doctors appt where my bp was much higher than it has ever been. EVER. Knowing a few medical things, I think pre-emclampsia, high bp can lead to a stroke, seizures... Now add being a quasi-single mom since the hubby is deployed didn't help. I just kept thinking, please let the baby be okay... When the doctor confirmed Bean was perfectly fine, the selfish side came out. Please let me be okay... Three hours, 5 blood tests, and 1 non-stress test later I left the hospital with strict instructions to relax, and to return 3 days later for a repeat test. The next test displayed a similiar bp, but all the blood work was good and Bean was still perfectly fine. The next day was a follow up with my doc, who was fairly certain I'd deliver this past weekend as I was having contractions every 2-3 minutes on Thursday and was now dialated 1cm on Friday. I even cleaned yesterday to help start contractions, I mean CLEANED!!!

Yet, here we are on Monday, I'm home and Bean is not here yet... The fire drill has ended. Now we wait until the boss decides when he wants to join us. I have my theories on why he is waiting...

1. He wants to be born on the 4th because he'll be a energetic little spit fire like his dad!

2. He is waiting for Grammy & Grampy E to arrive from Charlotte, which is today around 3pm.

3. My husband was right when he said our son is going to like to tease him mommy and get her going.

4. He heard is cousin Landon screaming and figured, with all that ruckus I'm pretty comfy right here in mommy's belly!

5. He is already showing us who is the boss. This way there will be no attempts a coup after he arrives.

He'll get here when he gets here. Knowing he is just fine is all that I need to know at this point though. Appreciate the small blessings.

A meme

Because this is what one does during early labor and is trying to pass the time... Found here.

1. Where is your cell phone? Next to me.

2. Your significant other? The hubby, he's in Belgium.

3. Your hair? Flat from all this humidity

4. Your mother? So wonderful

5. Your father? Right around the corner waiting for Bean to arrive

6. Your favorite food? Mom's mashed 'taters & meatloaf

7. Your dream last night? Dreams??? I am constantly waking up due to what it takes to roll over at 8.5 months preggers & the acid reflux that follows

8 Your favorite drink? Water & cran most of the time, but if out - Malbec wines, rum drinks or blue moon...

9. Your dream/goal? To be happy in life, which I am

10. The room you're in? The bedroom

11. Your hobby? Right now it seems preparing for one little bean to arrive

12. Your fear? Disappointing the hubby w/caring for the new baby since he won't be back from deployment until Dec. Typical first time mama stuff compounded by being a Navy wife...

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Possibly Hawaii or Europe on the Navy's dime, living & loving life with the hubby & kids, 6 years from retirement for the hubby, & working from home with the current employer...

14. What are you not? Comfortable

15. Muffins? Mmmm, blueberry, coffee cake, or chocolate chip

16. One of your wish list items? SUV version of the actual car we are buying this fall

17. Where you grew up? Massachusetts

18. The last thing you did? Spoke with Nat on the phone, progress report


19. What are you wearing? Comfy green shorts & a navy T... Almost PJ time, and I just got a pajama-gram!!!

20. Favorite Gadget? I would say the Garmin since we're new to VA, but I'm home in MA since the hubby is deployed and there is a new baby on the way... Other than that, it's Bean's toys & contraptions!

21. Your pets? Some day

22. Your computer? 1 Dell laptop & 2 HP laptop... Wonder what field I work in? :)


23. Your mood? Happy, but ready for bean to arrive!


24. Missing someone? Absolutely!!! The hubby is in Belgium this week & won't be back until early Dec!

25. Your car? Acura TSX, which will soon be handed over to the hubby and I will get a more roomy, family friendly car.

26. Something you're not wearing? My engagement ring & wedding band. Damn swelling!

27. Favorite store? Right now Target... Maternity clothes & baby stuff all in one place!

28. Like someone? Love my husband!!!

29. Your favorite color? Emerald green.

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today, my nephew is just too adorable.

31. Last time you cried? Monday when my bp jumped and I had to go to the hospital from my doc appt.

Holy Contractions

And this is just the beginning... Oh lord!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Birthdays are a great way to celebrate another milestone.

2. Summer is my favorite season because I love lazy days at the beach, times on the ocean, & family cookouts!

3. I feel my best when I see random acts of kindness. It is like all is right with the world at that moment.

4. Aside from dessert, mom's meatloaf & mashed potatoes is my favorite food!

5. First impressions are not always how people should be judged.

6. The best piece of advice I ever received was life happens as your making plans. My mother shared John Lennon's wisdom with me at a time when I was so intent on things be doing in a certain timeline.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to hopefully a comfortable sleep filled night, tomorrow my plans include the town fair with sister & sister inlaw where I will walk my way through labor, again *hopefully* and Sunday, I want to relax and possibly have this baby!

But honestly, this weekend is all up to my new boss - Bean. Contractions are steady, increasing in strength just a tad & I have started dialating...

Misconceptions of a 1st time preggers lady

The thought that the tightness was from bean moving too much isn't really just because he is moving... I felt an occassional stronger contraction but that was it in the last 24 hrs. During today's non-stress test the doctor looked at me, and then looked at the test and said, "See this, you are having contractions every 2-3 minutes." And that was over three hours of testing. I'm home with strict instructions to come back for a plethera of things. They are definitely getting a little stronger. So it might not be long.

For now we're just sitting & waiting... I.AM.SO.EXCITED.

Tick-tock, Tick.-tock

The days are just melting away, and within 2 short weeks our little man should be joining us! A few weeks ago I felt great. So when people would ask, "are you ready yet?" I would tell them that I had a very good pregnancy and was just fine waiting it through. After this week, I.AM.SO.READY. Let's just say it has been eventful thus far and tomorrow will be consists of more tests to check blood pressure & blood work... The bean is great though. It's more of Bean's progression and claiming of space that are wearing mama down. Knowing he is full term is amazing though. Until then, this mama is kicking back & taking it easy.

The only thing on the agenda this week was my office party today. My coworkers had a luncheon for me. There was yummy food and great company... Should company come first, or is it okay for a pregnant woman to praise food first? Hmmm... Connor received some more great gifts. This little boy has such a collection of clothes for the 1st year. He is a lucky little lad! I am also very lucky to have such great friends at work!

I've been tagged

The rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

"Pretty much anyone is qualified to lie on your couch and watch TV while you enjoy an evening outing, right? Here's what you do: Put your baby to bed the way you like. When you're confident she's asleep, head out to any of your favorite restaurants."

It's from a book called The Rookie Mom's Handbook, which I got as a gift from a dear friend. Not only is it a cute book, but any rookie mom handbook is a great gift for this newbie!!! Plus it recommends going out for dessert. That is never a bad thing!

I would love to tag 5 people. However, I have been away for sometime. So I think that most readers are family keeping up with what is going on... So I'll put this out there, any who would like to do this... Tag, you're it!

As for she who tagged me, thank goodness we bonded over the AF & LOTR when I first started at my last job... Had it not been for that, I might have missed out on a truly special friendship!

A good weekend indeed

It was another good weekend in my corner of the world. However, since I've cut back in hours at work & work from home a couple of days a week, weekends are more like weeks to me... Something I truly appreciate after 13+yrs of working full time.

The upside to this weekend was not only getting to talk to my husband on the phone because he was in port in Rota, Spain, it was also getting to have a video chat with him on Saturday!!! Thank you Skype!

I also got to catch up with an old friend. We had lunch out on the water, lobtahs & quahogs, but no rum drinks for this mama-to-be... We walked to the beach where we took pictures and J found some great sea glass. As always, we chatted about the most random things transitioning ever so quickly. Sunday, the boys (minus my hubby) went fishing, so the girls, well we were completely lazy. We walked down to the beach in the morning, sat by the pool in the afternoon, and laid around the house this evening...

It was the perfect weekend for one very pregnant lady. Chats with the hubby, chats with family, time with the girls, and catching up with a good friend. I hope all were able to enjoy a summer weekend just the same.

Friday Fill-Ins

Found here

1. A smile is an infectious, beautiful thing.
2. Apples to Apples is my favorite board or card game.
3. I would love to have more husband time in my life and less deployments.
4. When I think of the Summer Solstice, I think of longer summer days and warm nights.
5. I just remembered I need to shut off our electric in VA since I'm in MA through Dec.
6. One of my favorite song lyrics goes like this: I may not always love you, but long as there are stars above you, you'll never need to doubt it. I'll make you so sure about it. God only knows what I'd be without you...
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to not much, tomorrow my plans include maybe a visit to see baby Ethan or a visit from Janetand Sunday, I want to clean & rest!

Yeah not much excitement for this 37.5 week preggo woman whose husband is deployed... Boy have times changed!!!

And it begins

I have started to notice more braxton hicks contractions today... Not bad at all, just uncomfortable at times. I know it is only going to get more intense. July 6th is coming quickly, but that's okay. I can't wait to meet the little guy!!!

Happy Father's Day

Well the weekend is officially over seeing it is just past midnight. It was an extremely productive weekend for this mommy to be! Connor has his very own corner in this part of the world! I'm just waiting on the furniture to arrive. It should be here in another week or so. I'm just hoping the furniture arrives before my son!

Also, the hubby has asked me to use our travel blog for his deployment. This will help keep family & friends in the loop as to where he is going, what he sees off the ship & that he is safe since we don't know where he is going prior... It's all part of the game. It's kind of a "Where in the world is Carmen San Diego my hubby?" with a little Navy mixed in...

Well off to rest. Tomorrow includes a day of returning a few duplicate shower gifts, the baby bag purchase, and a few other odds & ends.

The mind of a 4 month old

Tonight was a order out dinner night at the parent's house, which is where you will find me these days since the hubby is deployed. It is also where you will find my 4 month old nephew 4 days a week (Papa's Daycare Inc) & possibly once a weekend. Tonight is one of those night's where we are all there. A little side note, when g-pa walks into the room, Landon knows that if a little whine comes out g-pa is there to save the day, i.e. pick him up, cuddle, & feed him.

So back to dinner... Landon was placed on the ground so we could all eat comfortably. Half way through dinner g-pa checked on Landon but did not pick him up. As g-pa turned away Landon let out this god awful high pitched scream. G-pa jumped. The cat dashed out of the room. Landon just laid there quietly watching g-pa for a reaction. No cries. He amused himself through the remainder of dinner. After dinner I got up and put him in his activity center chair, but sat back down. No problem. He was smiling away at me and at nana... Then g-pa went towards him. He wouldn't even look at my dad. He would turn his head to nana & aunty, give a smile, and then look back with a very serious face. This went on for a few minutes. I couldn't stop laughing. He knew exactly what he was doing. It wasn't until my father picked him up and walked to the chair with him that he gave up a loving smile. My nephew is a genious. My father, well he is puddy in the tiny little hand of a 4 month old.

It only scares me, because my little one will soon be here...

Friday Fill-Ins

Courtesy of Janet

1. Travelling throughout Europe is high up on my bucket list.
2. My favorite quote is "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out and proclaiming. "Wow, what a ride!" ; it's from author unknown, by I heard it from Janet.
3. Janet inspired me to start blogging.
4. Strawberries are best dipped in chocolate!
5. My husband & son were in the last dream I remember having.
6. The most enjoyable time to go for a walk is on a cool summer morning along the beach, after a light shower that cools down a warm summer day, or after work when you can smell people grilling, flowers blooming....
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to sleeping comfortably in cooler temps, tomorrow my plans include shipping some goodies to my husband, organizing Connor's stuff, and cleaningand Sunday, I want to enjoy time with family for father's day!

A Party for Connor

With the hubby deploying last Monday, the family decided that this past weekend would be a great time to celebrate Connor's impending arrival! My MIL & SIL even came up for a long weekend. The baby shower was absolutely wonderful. The gals set everything up and decorated Saturday morning. The party was set to a sailing theme complete with nautical flags that spelled Connor courtesy of Nana & Grammy. My "cousin" Liz made the favors, which were so perfect!!! She is also a crafty godess. It couldn't have gone any better! Even the weather cooperated. Thankfully the heat wave hit the next day!

Connor made out like a little bandit. I cannot wait to meet him... July 7th will be here soon! This mommy was tuckered out and overhelmed from all of the love shown by family and friends. We are truly blessed!!! Thank you to all!!!



And at the end of the day, this mama curled up on the chair with her favorite bubba nephew and slept!

Lazy Sundays

After bringing my MIL & SIL to the airport on Sunday, I made it back home just in time to catch some more zzzz's. I managed to peel myself out of bed by noon to go to my Aunt's 70th bday party, which also meant some pool time! Cool water is a god send to a very warm & swollen preggo mama! It was also my nephew's first time in the pool, which was too cute. No worries, the pool is heated and did not send little quivers running through his body or shock my unborn son. It was the perfect temperature to cool down all on a warm summer day.
The one realization on this Sunday was that our generation has become out numbered by the little kids running around. And it's only going to grow with recent newly weds, soon to be newly weds, and growing families... That is a wonderful thing to see though, and it is even better to see extended family still spending time together as the generations go on!

36 weeks and all is well!

Grammy & Aunty Aimee were able to be there for my last appointment. They also got to hear little Connor's heart beat! Just a few more weeks and he'll be here!!! I.AM.SO.EXCITED.