Weekend Fun...

What happens when daddy goes to Texas for a few days?

Kristen, this one's for you!

Yes, the princess crown is upside down.  She likes it that way...don't mess with her!

Updates for my poor, neglected blog

This is one of those nights when I wish I could use my blog to pour my heart out, but I realize how foolish it would be for ME to use this blog for such purposes.  Many of you are able to use your blogs as a forum to vent and express yourselves, but I have readers from many aspects of my "real" life, and spilling my guts online would be less than prudent.  I'm sure some of it is my pregnancy hormones, but there is just a lot going through my mind and burdening my heart tonight....

That being said, I realize I have been a bit absent from this blog of late.  Some of it is just fatigue.  Although I'm sleeping a lot, this baby is taking a lot out of me at this point.  It takes a lot more energy to complete simple tasks, and I always said if blogging became a burden I would stop.  I don't need one more thing to add to my "things to do list"....and those who know me, know I am ALL ABOUT my lists!  I still enjoy the fellowship here, and I'm not ready to give up this outlet yet.  I'm just doing it when I really WANT to and when I have something to say.  It is hard to believe I used to post almost daily.  I think I just had so much more material when I was living in another country and traveling the world.  Many thanks to those who have written or commented recently asking how I am feeling.  Here are some updates about how and what I have been doing...

---We found a midwife practice that we are excited about.  It is across the street from a hospital, which is comforting, but this setting is more in line with our ideal birth plan (briefly, we used the Bradley method for Adeline and successfully had an unmedicated birth).  I would like to go home sooner than hospital standards (I really don't like being awakened to have my blood pressure taken in the middle of the night).  There are many other reasons, but let's just leave it as we like this practice, and we are thrilled that the military approved the use of this non-military site for our care.  I thought I would have to switch to a different form of Tricare (long story), but they approved full coverage for this practice.

---I am still working.  In fact, I am picking up a few extra days at the end of April because there are several therapists at courses or vacationing, so they needed the extra help.  My last day there before maternity leave should be Wednesday, the 29th.  It is getting harder at this point, but I still enjoy having the change of pace and giving my mom a chance to have some bonding time with Adeline.  Of course, I also love that she cooks dinner, does the dishes, and helps with other random household chores.

---For a long time, I was telling people my due date is May 15.  When we were getting my medical records ready to see the midwife for the first time, Patrick told me my due date is the 11th.  I was sure he was wrong and promptly flipped through my calendar.  Ahem, I am due the 11th.  However, Adeline came a week early, so I have in my head that this baby will be early as well.  If late, I may be back to vent...

---On Monday, I will be 36 weeks.  This baby is VERY active.  I love it!  I think the head has finally shifted down (I'll let you know for sure after my next appointment).  I don't have many aches and pains....no back pain, swelling, or leg cramps.  However, I'm still having some low blood pressure issues, especially in the morning.  It is sometimes hard to breathe, and I have had some reflux, mostly at night.  I have been really tired throughout this pregnancy.  People say it is because of Adeline, but I don't agree.  I sleep at least 8 hours a night, and I STILL take a two hour nap most days when she naps.  I have NEVER been big on naps in the past.  They would throw off my sleep schedule, but I'm just more tired now.

---Patrick just returned yesterday from 6 days in Florida for a family practice conference.  He had a lot of fun visiting family while there and catching up with his residency friends.  It is really nice to have him home again.

---While he was gone, I...

-had a girl's night out in Baltimore with my friend, Lauren.  Dinner at Blue Agave...yum!  It was really fun to catch up with her and not need to feed anyone before leaving or be home by a certain time.  Adeline was at my parents' for a few days.

-met with one of the families of the TWO weddings I am helping to plan right now.

-hosted three girls from the Grove City College choir overnight after a concert at our church.

-hosted book club for 15 women on Tuesday.  More book reviews to come...

---Adeline has been transitioning to her big girl bed.  That is a post all of its own.

That is enough recapping for one night.  It's soon past my bedtime.  Again, thanks for all your prayers and well wishes.....goodnight.

Alphabet meme

My blogging friend, Mari, had this meme on her blog, and I thought it would be a fun (and easy) way to complete the "25 random things about me" meme that I've been tagged to complete a million times on Facebook.  And since there are 26 letters in the alphabet...you get a bonus.  To see more random things about me, see this post.

A is for your age: 31
B is for your burger of choice: half pound, done medium, with cheese, ketchup, and occasionally bacon (yeah, I'm a real health nut).  
C is for the car that you drive: Honda Accord
D is for dog's name: I love visiting others' dogs, but we're not really animals in the house kind of people.
E is for an essential item you use each day:  right now...my body pillow (only a few more weeks!).
F is for your favorite television show: Lost or The Office
G is for favorite game: Ping pong (if that counts).  Right now, Patrick and I are into Blokus (I never win, which usually means I quickly hate the game, but for some reason, I like this one.  Our scores are usually only a few points apart).  Favorite Facebook game is Scramble (Hi Kristen!).
H is for hometown: Manheim, PA
I is for instruments played:  Flute, piano, and a little guitar
J is for favorite juice: white grape
K is for what you'd like to kick: mean people
L is for last restaurant you dined at: Pomo Grille
M is for your favorite muppet: The critics  
N is for number of piercings you have: just one in each ear (and that's all I want)
O is for overnight hospital stays: 1 (when my baby girl was born)
P is for people you were with today: Patrick, Adeline, my parents, and my parents' friends (Mike and Kay Fisher).
Q is for what you do in quiet times: SLEEP, read, pray, blog, scrapbook.
R is for regrets: No big ones...I've learned from most of the mistakes I've made...not sure why I have to make some of them several times to get the lesson.
S is for status: not sure what they're going for here...I have been happily married for 7 1/2 years.
T is for time you woke up today: 7 am
U is for what you consider unique: people's taste (in clothes, food, decor, beliefs, etc).  I love to "people watch."
V is for favorite vegetable: I really love most of them.  Potatoes (although I know that doesn't REALLY count), edemame, snap peas, carrots, mixed vegetables (the organic ones from Costco) with Velveeta cheese. 
W is for your worst habit: sarcasm 
X is for x-rays you have had: dental, my leg (when I broke it at age 16)
Y is for yummy food you ate today: My homemade blueberry pie with ice cream.
Z is for zodiac sign: I don't believe in this stuff or even know what any of the signs mean.  I only found out what mine was after college at my first job.  I'm a Virgo.  I have no idea what Patrick or Adeline's signs are....and I don't care.

Those #$J#^@&JG# Squirrels

Late fall/early winter, we bought a bird feeder for our deck.  We thought it would be nice to watch the birds, through the sliding glass doors, while sitting at our kitchen table.  People warned us about the squirrels.  They came.  First, they were entertaining.  I mean, positions like this warrant a culinary reward.  Now, months later, I want to shoot a rubber band right in this guys belly....or a little lower, ahem.

(and no, this Christmas bulb is no longer hanging on my deck)

The smarter ones cling to it like this...

THIS is the look and sound we were going for....

We've decided the joy of bird watching (and hearing our toddler squeal with joy whenever she sees a red cardinal) outweighs the negative side effect of having to fill the feeder about once every 5-7 days.  I have ideas of what *I* would like to do to the overpopulation of squirrels, but my humane, law abiding husband does not agree.  So, I decided we need a super soaker.  I know it will not solve the problem, but it sure would make me feel better than having nothing to thwart their plans than banging and stomping....which works for about 30 seconds.  Any advice?

Our Love Story--- Part 4

This is why I rarely do series of posts...I am terrible at following through. Anyway, click here for Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Excerpt from my journal...

This was Patrick and my first Valentine's Day together. He planned a date for us on the 15th, but the 14th was nice as well. I came home from work to find a vase of the most beautiful red roses imaginable. This was the first DOZEN roses I ever received. My roommate had a few friends over for dinner, so Patrick and I decided to have a pizza picnic in my room. We spread out a blanket and sat on pillows. We ate by candlelight and even shared a dance...before Patrick had to study again.

I was VERY excited about our date on February 15th. I LOVE surprises!!! While we were driving, Patrick asked me if I was hungry. I didn't know if this meant we were about to eat a huge meal or if it meant it would be a while before dinner...he didn't give me any other clues. We were walking towards the restaurant (I thought) when he said, "We are going to do a little shopping before dinner." At that moment, we were ringing the doorbell of a jewelry store in downtown Baltimore. My knees were shaking. I was in complete shock. He met with the jeweler a few weeks prior and had done a lot of research. I was SO impressed! I tried on a lot of different rings. I told him what I liked and what I didn't like. I felt like a princess.

Lynn's interjection for clarity...

Patrick and I had a conversation about ring shopping before we were ever dating...before marriage was even on the table in any way. I think one of my friends was going ring shopping, and we talked about the general idea. I said I thought it would be fun and that my friends who had gone said they felt like "princesses." Patrick said he planned to buy a ring and completely surprise his future bride. Based on that conversation, I never thought we would go ring shopping. Patrick decided that if he couldn't completely surprise me with a proposal, he would surprise me with ring shopping. I loved it.

After shopping, we went to dinner, and for the first time we were really free to talk about the probability of us getting married. We were careful while dating to not make comments like, "when we get married... or when we have kids..." Being able to talk about the future together felt like a dream.

The next week, we went to visit a few more stores in my hometown. I had no idea what ring he would buy, where he would buy it, or when he would propose. There is more to this love story, but it will have to be continued...

Friday Fun

Always check your child's homework...because they make drawing like this...

Note sent the next school day with 1st grader...

Dear Ms. Davis,

That is not a dance pole on stage in a strip joint... I work at Home Depot... that's me selling a shovel.

Mrs. Smith

Wordless Wednesday---Studious...

A favorite souvenir from Korea...

Any of you who are new to this blog may not know that we recently spent a year in Korea.  If you want more details, click on Korea or Korenglish on my sidebar, and you will get more info than you need.  There are many souvenirs I treasure that we brought back as reminders of our time there and our travels through the year.  This is one of my favorites that I have yet to post.  I was waiting to actually display it on a bed.

I chose these fabrics from Happy Quilt (with some help) and took them to a quilt maker to make a bed set for Adeline's "big girl bed."  I LOVE how it turned out, and it cost a fraction of what it would have cost to get something similar here.  I love the girly scalloped edges and the 5 decorative pillows....and it's one of a kind!

For those wondering if we are working on transitioning Adeline to this bed...not yet.  The mattress just came in last week, and the bed is almost as tall as her.  I think we need to take out the box spring for now.  Our plan is to talk about her "big girl room," let her sleep in there for naps, and make the transition when she is ready.  I am in no hurry to have her unconfined.  I figure we can use a bassinet for a few months with the new baby before really needing the crib, and shoot, Adeline slept in a pack-n-play for most of her first year of life because we didn't want to send her "nice crib" to Korea.  She's been pretty good with most transitions so far (weaning, decreased paci use, moving around the world), so we figure she'll let us know when she's ready.  I'm just having fun getting her room ready for now...

Thank you Jesus for...

We have been praying with Adeline for most of her life.  At the dinner table, she knows to fold her hands and "close" her eyes (doesn't last long) to pray to Jesus.  For a few months now, we have encouraged her to join in prayer time by thanking Jesus.  Here are some of the things she has thanked Jesus for in the past few weeks...

park

swings

sliding boards

grandma

pawpaw

mommy

daddy

bunnies

airplanes

Florida 

milk

paci's

sheep

ice cream

Mommy's version....."Thank you Jesus that when Adeline found self tanning lotion (from many years ago that I will NEVER use again) while mommy was in the shower AND opened the lid AND had some of the lotion land on the floor that she LISTENED and OBEYED mommy and DID NOT touch the lotion."  Yeah, God knows how to bless me...

Wordless Wednesday---Addie loves making silly faces with daddy...

Snow Day!!!

It's the one I've been waiting for!!!

I know, some of you are so sick of snow you could scream....I just wanted ONE decent snow this season.  Unfortunately, it was not packable snow for snowman making, but fortunately, Miss Christie was here to play with us!!!

My favorite...

Adeline thought daddy and Miss Christie throwing snowballs at each other was the best thing since ice cream.

Don't blame Christie for her mismatched clothes...we were trying to piece together snow gear for all.

My other favorite...

Miss Christie comes to visit!!!

You may remember posts about Miss Christie from our time in Korea.  She was in residency with Patrick and then also stationed with us in Korea, and she is now stationed in Germany.  We love her.  We were honored that during her brief visit back to the US that she chose to spend a night with us.  She and Adeline have a mutual admiration for each other.

Here, Christie is helping Adeline with her new US puzzle.  Thanks Aunt Brooke!

And, Miss Christie brought MORE birthday presents for Adeline.

Lego train...woo hoo!!!

More puzzles...(yes, we're very into puzzles these days)