We're having a...

I've been sitting on pins and needles every since we found out we were expecting. Waiting and Wondering what our sweet baby was. Were we having a Boy or a Girl. If you know me at all, you know I've always been 100% girl. I always said I would cry my eyes out if we had a boy. At the beginning of the pregnancy I was still all girl. But as time progressed I started leaning more and more towards really really wanting a boy. I found myself thinking that I would actually be disappointed it we ended up not having a boy. Regardless it was all silliness. As long as our sweet little baby was HEALTHY, that was all that matter. People would ask me what I want and I'd say "a girl but I'm almost most positive we are having a boy." Boys are much more dominate on both our sides of the family. When the hubbs was asked by anyone he would reply with "healthy" but deep down he wanted a boy. 

We weren't going to find out early what we were having. The hubbs theory behind it was "why pay for something when we get it for free through our insurance." Yes Yes, I totally get it and understand BUT if we wanted until we where able to find out through the military hospital on post we would not find out till Mid May and I just could not at all wait that long. I mean sure it's only a month and a half away but STILL its so far away. I wanted to know, I needed to know!!! 

We made a appointment during my lunch break and met up to at Baby Bump. That morning getting ready for work and all through the work day I was a nervous wreck. I new I wanted to know what we where having, but a little part of me was thinking "once we find out, then its really real." "Wait who am I kidding its already real". I think it was just a bit over whelming maybe. 

I knew, I just knew it was a boy. The night before I asked the hubbs what he though we where having and he said a "girl." But the day of he said a "boy." 

We where all set up in the room it was about to happen... we where going to find out the gender of our sweet baby. The In-Loves were able to view the entire sonogram live on line. It was so cool to have them be apart of such a special time in our life, being so far away. 

Clear as crystal there he was, our little guy. You couldn't have mistaken it at all. 

We where able to watch our little guy on the big screen for a good 20 minutes during our appointment. He is such a active guy, even at our first ultrasound our midwife made a comment about how active he was. 

We couldn't be more excited about having a little boy. Everything looked good during the sonogram. Since its not a OB office they aren't able to really tell you details, but the tech informed us that nothing at all looked alarming to her. Blood flow was great, all his limbs, fingers and toes were accounted for. We couldn't be more blessed. 

I posted this picture on Instagram and Facebook this evening sharing with all our family and friends. 

We love love cupcakes so when I was tossing idea's around on how I wanted to share with everyone, this seemed perfectly fitting!!! 

I have another appointment coming up in about two weeks and I'm curious to see how our little man is doing, hear his heart beat and to hear what our mid-wife has to say. I only wish the hubbs was going to be here to go with me. At least he'll be here for our appointment in May, which is a big one. 

Not Exactly How We Planned It.

We had been planning our long Easter Weekend camping trip for a good few weeks now. Knowing the hubbs was leaving for a while right after, we knew this would be a great little get away for us. Back up about 3 weeks. We took the Westy out for a drive and on our way home it started making this awfully loud beeping noise. We both looked at each other with this "what in the world, is going on" look. We pulled over in a parking lot and let it cool down for a minutes and the beeping stopped. But we knew something wasn't right. We continued home, not far down the road it stated up again. "This is not happening" I though to myself. Knowing the Westy is well over 20 years old and it was going to come with its problems at some point or another but the timing could not have been worse. The hubbs added some water to the anti-freeze compartment. Crossing our fingers we headed home. Stopping to grab lunch on the way. Just out side our sub-division the beeping started again. Just let us make it into the garage we said. Sure enough it was leaking pretty bad from under the engine compartment. Blah!!!! Total bummer. After a little research we where able to determine the problem. We ordered the part to fix it with and crossed our fingers that all would be done in time for our get away. Skip ahead a week, the evening we received parts in the mail the hubbs got right to it. Maybe 30-45 minutes into it and he called it quits. Turns out simply just getting the old parts off was harder than he though it was going to be. As he said it "I'm not going to loose sleep over this." You could tell he was getting frustrated with it. We called U-haul to see what time they closed, rushed down and picked up a flat bed trailer to load her up on and take her into the shop the next morning. Thankfully prior to ordering the parts the hubbs had found a local shop here that could do the repairs but he was pretty sure we could save money doing it himself. Sadly it didn't work out that way. 

We loaded her up with the help of our neighbors. Let me say that was a scary scary ordeal. I started out in the driver seat and then the hubbs quickly kicked me out. E hopped in and took control as the hubbs pushed her out of the garage. Then it as up to the two of us and C to push her up on the flat bed. They must have determined that another man would do better at pushing so E and I switched. I was in charge of the break, making sure she didn't slide back or go over the front right into the bed of our truck. Talk about a huge responsibility. No pressure, none at all lol. 

The hubbs dropped off the Westy the next morning but we didn't get a call back on a it for two days since they were busy. We still had high hopes that she'd be done and ready for our trip over the weekend, We scheduled our check in for Friday evening just to give a little extra time. Friday afternoon rolled around and we'd just returned from our bike ride. We received the call, it wasn't happening. They had found another leak and needed to order parts to fix it. I was heart broken. We did a little shopping that morning for our trip, but stuff that we needed, for the van its self. Thankfully we held off on food shopping till we knew fore-sure. 

We made the most of our weekend now that we didn't have any plans. The hubbs sprung a trip to Bowling Green, KY on me that afternoon. It's about a hour an a half to two hours away. Why not. We made a afternoon of it, came back to town and had dinner out. Saturday we spent the day down in Nashville and then Sunday we went out to LBL - Land Between the Lakes and did a bit of exploring. I was totally bummed our trip was cancelled but we still had a great time on our long weekend together.

Wednesday afternoon we finally received a call that the Westy was finished and ready to be picked up. The hubbs wasn't able to pick it up till the next day but coming home that evening and opening the garage door and finally seeing it back was such a exciting time. It was the first of sadly I'm sure not the last time she'll be in the shop. Thankfully going into this when we first bought Westy we set up a Westy Fund, incase something like this were to come up. I'm forever grateful we did to, because that would have def. hurt our account had we not. 

Plans are set for a weekend camping trip when the hubbs returns. It'll be the perfect way to celebrate both of our birthdays. :) 

Taking Time for Me

The last couple weeks I have been completely consumed, wrapped up and busy with school. I'm sure I've mentioned before but I'm taking 3 classes this semester. Two of which are online and the Third meets twice a month on Saturday's for 8 hours. The work load of the assignments in themselves have been a handful. Lets not forgetting the actual reading, learning and remembering part of it. Often I would find myself simply trying to complete the assignments on time that I wouldn't even take much from the lesson / module for the week. That's not the way it should be. This is the first time I've taken three classes at once, but I can almost guarantee that it'll be the last time. On top of working full time, its just a lot to take on.

I spend my lunch breaks working on homework here at work, typing up assignments, doing research to complete a paper. I haven't really been taking my lunch break to have a break and step away. Most day's I come to work between 7:15 and 7:30 and I don't leave the building that day until I am going home. Many nights as late as 5:30pm.

I've decided to put a stop to it, well a little at least. I need to take time for me, I need to get out of the building, I need to get fresh air, I need to put the computer down and walk away from my school work every once in a while. Classes end the first of May and won't pick back up till the mid August but we've got some things going on right now and I know life isn't going to slow down.

I've decided to make more time for me. I need to, it'll be good for my soul and those around me. But mostly for me.

Last week on my lunch break I went up to Dunbarcave. It's a local park less than half a mile from were I work. There's picnic tables, walking / running trails, a cave to explore and much more. I was planning on just walking the long loop but something sparked me when I was leaving on my lunch and I decided to run it. Boy was it ruff but I felt great afterwards. Nothing like a good trail run to get your heart pumping and your blood flowing.

Yesterday I decided to grab a sandwich from Jimmy John's and go to Dunbarcave for lunch. It was such a beautiful day out. The sun was shinning, the temperature was perfect. It was so peaceful and quite just to be outside away from work and the hustle of life. I'm pretty sure it made my sandwich taste even better because it left me wanting more.

I've defiantly decided that I will be doing this more often. I'm planning on taking one day a week and getting out of the building and going to do something for me. Even if it is just up to Dunbarcave to have lunch by myself. It's well worth it. The school work will be there the next day and so will everything else. I need this, I need this for me. 

Take a Bit outta Me.

Its not secret that this girl loves being in the kitchen, its one of my happy places. I would cook and bake all day long if I could. Sadly I can't though, there's this things called life, work, school and a house to keep up with. But here's a little peak at some of the tasty goodness we had here lately.

*Loaded Veggie BBQ Chili with homemade Cheddar Biscuits on top. It was pretty tasty. Not one of those I'd be jumping up and down to make again but we enjoyed it.

*Pecan, Coconut, Banana Nut Bread. Now this was marvelous and I'll jump at the chance to make this again. I pretty much love any kinda of banana bread, well without the chocolate chips. So this was def. a keeper in my book.

*Homemade Biscuits, Homemade Sausage Gravy with Crispy Bacon and Scrambled Eggs for our Sunday morning breakfast. Don't mind if I do. I recently figured out that making biscuits really isn't that hard and I'm loving it. I'll never buys pre-made again.

*Grilled Chicken and Veggie Kabob's. Actually the night before we had these I had grilled Turkey Sausage and Veggie Kabobs served over Whole Wheat Pasta. Those were mouth watering, let me just tell you. It was the first time I'd ever grilled Sausage. Where has this been all my life. Well we had plenty of Veggie Kabobs left over so we decided to grill up some chicken the next night.

*Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan served over Whole Wheat Pasta with a side of Squash and Zucchini.We haven't had Chicken Parm. in a while and when I suggested it to the hubbs he was all over it. The breading mixture was a new one and I was hoping it turned out as good as it smelled when I was mixing it together. And of course it most certainly did. I'm sure the homemade pasta sauce help tip it over the edge just a little as well.

There's been so many other meals we've cooked up over the last few weeks these where the only ones I happen to snap pictures of before we sat down and dug in. You can bet there will be plenty more to come in the near future. :) 

Feeling a bit Blue

As the army has it, its done it again. Taken away another sweet friend of mine. I feel like just as we get close, get into a routine and comfortable its time to start over. I knew this was coming well before but that doesn't mean it made it any easier. My sweet friend Gill who I'd met through work when I first started here is moving / pcsing to Germany with her little family. 

A little back story...Gill and her Hubbs where suppose to pcs to Germany back in the fall of 2014 but her husband ended up coming down on deployment orders. With the arrival of their first baby in March G. decided it was best to move back home to Texas to be around family. Spring of 2015 she moved back to TN and came back to work. It was so awesome to have her back, to say we were all excited was a little lie, we where over joyed. However there was that little debbie downer that hung over us all. Those pcs orders to Germany still stood. Around August- September 2015 time frame Gill took over the 4 year old class so we worked hand in hand. As the days came closer to her last day, reality began to set in that she was really leaving. Gill is one of my closets friends at work and not having her here any more is really hard. It truly breaks my heart. I'm lucky enough to have another friend who I adore and who is also a Milispouse step in and take over her class. I love A and I know we will work great together, we have so much in common. You know though, when your used to one person and the way you two work together and jell it just flows. Here's to the next few months of getting into a routine and flow with A and figure things out together. It hasn't even been a week and I miss Gill already. I texted her on Tuesday and told her it just wasn't the same with out her here. I'll miss my morning Hot Chocolate that she would bring me sometimes, I'll miss our lunch dates and all the stories we'd share. I'll miss her sweet little Cammie and watching him grow. I'll miss picking her brain about life and everything we are both going through. What who am I kidding I'm going to miss everything about her. 

Of course we will stay in touch, we'll still have our chats and even lunch dates via Skype, its just not going to be the same. 

I put together a little going away dinner for Gill with some of the other girls we work with at her favorite Mexican joint here in town and we had the best time. I'll miss our Chips and Salsa Dates for sure. 

Uncle JT

How I told my Brother aka Bubby he was going to be a Uncle. 

About two weeks prior to him finding out during our weekly chat's we were talking about something and he had asked me then if I was pregnant. I quickly changed the subject and went on talking about something else. Later in the conversation it came up again. Seriously dude would you just drop it already I thought. I already had a plan of how were were going to tell him  and I've held out this long two more weeks wasn't going to hurt anything. 

Once we to our sonogram picture from our first appt. we made a copy of it and put it inside a card one of the girls at work helped make for me. 

I wrote a little message in it, told him I was sorry for not telling him earlier (which I knew he'd totally understand). I dropped it in the mail Wednesday afternoon and sat by my phone for the next few days. Friday came and went Saturday came and went. I figured 1) it didn't get there by Saturday and would arrive on Monday or 2) it did and he just didn't check his mail since they'd probably been out on the water all day. (they have a community mail area at the bottom of the hill, where he has to go check his box, so its not as simple as walking out the front door.) Sunday we were out grabbing lunch in the Westy and I left my phone in the van when we went inside to get our food. When we got back in the van I had 3 texted messages from Bubby. My heart immediately started racing and I got so excited. I looked at the hubbs before I even opened the texts from him and said JT know'. Sure enough I opened the text messages to find this. 

I figured he'd call me when he opened the card, but either way he finally knew. 

I called him back and he was so excited. He say's he knew it but I don't believe him, he's crazy. But hey maybe he did. Maybe its a sibling instinct. Who know's!!

Baby is due 15 days before Bubby's birthday which makes it that much more sweeter. My Bubby is one of my best friends and I just know he's going to make the best Uncle JT ever. 

Now that he know's I can finally fill him in on what we sent Nene for her birthday. She's the last Grandparent between not just JT and I but the Hubbs as well. We knew we wanted to do something extra special to let her know she was going to be a Great Nene. 

The First 3 Months / The First Trimester.

Well the first month was a breeze seeings as I had no clue I was even pregnant. I thankful didn't have any symptoms of pregnancy. In fact nothing at all seemed different or out of the norm for me.  My appetite was the same. My work outs where the same. I didn't seem anymore or less tired that I normally did. I still was eating the same foods. In fact I lost 2.2lbs. in the first week of the new year. 

The only thing that did change was my worry. Not being able to be seen by a doctor until almost a month after I found out drove me absolutely crazy. I was so worried, I just wanted to know that baby was ok and that I was doing everything I could to have a safe and healthy pregnancy. Our first appt. rolled around and I almost felt like it was a waste of time. It was a orientation appt. that took maybe  30 minutes. Answered some questions, had some blood work done and we where on our way. I was a bit disappointed. Still no morning sickness but the headaches have been something awful. I got the ok from the nurse to take tylenol which I've tried really hard not to have to do. But I have had to break down and take it 3 times now because my headaches were so bad. I'm not one to take meds just because, its gotta be really bad for me to take something. So when my headaches were so bad it had me sitting at the kitchen table in tears I had to given in and take something. 

The following month seemed to go by pretty quickly which was nice. The nausea that I did have has slowly gone away. Still haven't had any sickness thank goodness. I'm such a baby when I'm sick so I could only imagine how this would have turned out. March 1st, at 13 weeks we finally had our first real appt. Were we where able to see our growing baby. The hubbs I guess didn't realize we would get to see the baby on the ultrasound, he though we where just going to hear the heart beat. Which we did as well. I wasn't excepting to see a fully formed baby. I was expecting the baby to still look like a blob or a little gummy bear of sorts as people call it. But no you could clearly see the little legs, arms, head. It was so surreal. I knew at this appt. it would really hit me that we were having a baby. Not that it hadn't before but seeing our baby made it that much more real. We both quickly confirmed that there in fact was only one. I'm thrilled to report that there is in fact only one baby. With a strong heart beat of 176. Our midwife said everything looked great and seemed very happy with how things were progressing and going, which was a sign of relief. We are still tracking September 15th due date. Which seems so far away. Yet I know it will be here before we know it. 

I don't wanna say the first trimester was a breeze because it definitely came with its fair share of struggles and hard times. However I know compared to many others I've had it pretty easy. Here's to hoping the next 6 months go by with little to no problems or sickness. 

Not the greatest of pictures (on the ultrasound it's self it looked much better) but we officially have our first picture of our baby.