Open House at Kaleb's School

Today was open house at Kaleb's school. Tyrone was able to get off work for a little while to be able to go, and so it was a whole family thing. Kaleb was so excited! They had the kids bring all their supplies in and their bookbags so that they could get a feel for what they were really going to be doing. We found Kaleb's desk, put his supplies in it, and found his cubby, where his blanket for nap time goes. Then, we explored the classroom, getting him used to where everything was in there.

His teacher, Ms. Marshall, seems very nice, and excited to meet her new students, which I took as a good sign! Also, it is a nice small class with only about 12 students, so I know Kaleb will be able to get plenty of attention. Ms. Marshall told us about some of her plans for the year, including raising a caterpillar to a butterfly, which made Kaleb very happy!

Kaleb even got some presents! Ms. Marshall had balloons for everybody, and there were huge packs of magnetic letters for the kids to work on their alphabets at home. Plus, there was also a coupon for free ice cream from one of the local places. You would have thought from Kaleb's reaction that it was Christmas!

As if all of that weren't enough, then there was cake! After doing all of that in the classroom, we went to the cafeteria. The principal was there to meet everybody, and they had the largest cake I have ever seen in my life! It all went very well, and Kaleb can't wait for school to start. He is going to ask me approximately 4,387,209 times by next Wed. (the 1st day) when he gets to go to school!

The picture is one Kaleb is very proud of. He is wearing his bookbag, just walking out the front door on his way to school, like the big boy he now is!

Crazy Belly!

Here's a video I took a couple of days ago of the baby "dancing". I thought it was so funny!!

My Latte personality!

What can I say? I'm bored, Tyrone's pulling 24 hour staff duty again. But how did a quiz know about my secret caffeine addiction?

What Your Latte Says About You

You are easygoing and pretty simple to please. You don't put up a fuss... ever. You can be quite silly at times, but you know when to buckle down and be serious. Intense and energetic, you aren't completely happy unless you are bouncing off the walls. You're addicted to caffeine. There's no denying it. You are a child at heart, and you don't ever miss the opportunity to do something playful. You are sophisticated and daring, but you are never snobby.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourlattesayaboutyouquiz/">What Does Your Latte Say About You?

Happy Days

Got him!

Sleepy puppy

Is this really a nap, Gabe?

I am amazed....

I know that I just posted pregnant pics of me on Sunday afternoon, but that night, the baby dropped. I can not remember being so aware of exactly when it happened with either of the boys, and it was definately not so visually obvious! Normally I am not very fond of pictures of myself, but I am just amazed at the change. And yes, I am in my mismatched PJs, but they are just so darn comfortable!

Kaleb is taking all of this pregnancy stuff quite in stride, he seems to have some vague memories of doing all of this before when I was pregnant with Gabe. I am happy that he is so unconcerned, besides, he starts school 2 weeks from tomorrow. He is beside himself with excitement. We went to register him yesterday, and it is all he can talk about!

Gabe, on the other hand, is quite curious about Mommy's changing tummy. I explained to him early on that it was a good thing that my tummy was getting bigger, that this meant that his sister was growing. So pretty much everyday now, Gabe comes to me and tells me very seriously that he needs to look at my tummy. I will pull my shirt up so that he can, and he will put his hands on it, be very still for a moment, and then smile broadly and say "Your tummy's growing up Mommy! Good!" I wonder if he'll be disturbed when it starts getting smaller??

37 Weeks!

Well, I am 37 weeks pregnant as of today! It seems to have snuck up on me a little....doesn't seem like very long ago that I had all the time in the world to do stuff that needed to be done...and now this baby will be here SOON! As none of my pregnancies have gone to 40 weeks, I'm really not expecting this one to. I am thinking probably sometime next week (but I could be so far off....it could be tonight or the second week in Sept. for all I know!) and Mom is voting for Sept. 1st. She thinks that it would be neat, since Gabe's birthday is July 1st, and mine is August 1st.

I am going to the doctor every week now, I had my 36 week appt. last Thursday, and everything seemed very well. The baby's heart rate is in the right place, and she is measuring perfectly. All the tests and such from my hospital stay came back looking like they should, and it would seem that all of that is behind me, for which I am grateful. I go back to the doctor on Thursday, assuming that I'm still pregnant (I really don't think she is coming THAT soon....but it makes me a little giddy to think of her being here.)

The only other interesting pregnancy related thing is that there seems to be a cruel joke being played on me. My hearts greatest desire at this exact moment in time is to clean everything that I see....but just walking around for a few minutes leaves me in need of a nap! {sigh} Such is life.

Mandatory Fun!

Today was a "mandatory fun day" for Tyrone's Battalion. We always do have fun at these things, but it cracks me up that they basically say "You will show up and you will have fun!" Mostly, there's alot of playing and free food (which is wonderful with 2 growing boys!). I didn't get as many pictures as I should have, because I am getting tired so easily, and spent most of the time sitting in the shade with Tyrone's Sgt.'s wife.

The boys spent most of their time jumping in the bouncy hut, blowing bubbles (bubbles for the kids was Tyrone's platoon's project), and eating snow cones. Tyrone also played a rowdy game of flag football, but there were too many people to get good pictures of that. All in all, it was a pretty good day.

First to try out the bubbles!

Those bouncy huts are tricky! They'll throw you right out!

More bubbles!

Snow Cone Face!

Just a Couple Pictures

Silliness

So Handsome

Thank you

I wanted to thank everybody for their thoughts and prayers while I was in the hospital. They finally sprung me this morning after four days. I am okay, and little-miss-no-name is spunky as ever. Tyrone was wonderful, as always, and was by my side almost constantly, while also taking care of the boys. One evening, Tyrone even brought the boys, dinner, a movie, and the laptop up to my room, and we had a movie night together! I am blessed with such a wonderful family! More posts and pictures soon to come!

The not so fun stuff....

Well, I haven't talked about any of this stuff because I don't really like to, but I also believe in the power of prayer (even more so lately, thanks for your example, Mom.) So, I am posting this asking everyone for their prayers for my family. Some of you know all of this, some none....and I know I have lurkers---my Mom tells on you! :)

Tyrone's Brigade is set to deploy to Iraq in September, just about right on my due date. His wonderful Sgt. went up the chain of command to get Tyrone approved to be put temporarily on Rear Detachment, which means he gets to stay after the bulk of his brigade leaves. When the baby is born, they will grant hime 2 weeks of emergency leave, and after that, he will go to Iraq with the next group out for the 15 month deployment. It only happens like this if the baby decides to wait until 38 1/2 weeks at least.

After this happens, and Tyrone is gone, the kids and I are all moving down to Georgia (driving) to be close to Mom and places that I am familiar with. I have made very long trips before (from Georgia to Missouri and Missouri to New York) by myself with the boys, but I am nervous about this one....especially with a new baby. We are making arrangements with my good friend Miranda to come up here and make the trip with me, but that's not set in stone yet.

Okay...that's the story. These are my specific requests....

1.) First and absolutely foremost-For Tyrone's safety in Iraq

2.) That the baby waits for her due date....the longer she waits, the more time we get with Tyrone

3.) That Miranda will be able to come help me with the move

4.) That the trip will be a safe one

I know that I can count on everyone for this, and thank you so much.

Swimming at Remington Pond

We spent this afternoon at Remington Pond Park on post with my new friend Britney and her 4 year old son, Wade. We had so much fun! We got there at about noon, had a picnic, and then played in and around the water until about 4pm. The boys had such a blast with their new friend, and Tyrone got to be one of the kids with them.

I also really enjoyed myself, Britney and I have so much in common! She is about 6 months pregnant with a little girl and is pretty new to this army thing, as I am. Our husband's are even in the same Brigade (although they don't work together, this means they are pretty much on the same schedule.) So, while we spent some time in the water with all the boys, we also had plenty of Mommy time in the lounge chairs, just chatting.

I was really very suprised by how well the boys did with just floaties on....I think that we are on our way to having real swimmers! Gabe was especially fearless, wanting to go out past where he could touch and demanding that he be turned loose. We would do it, and stay right there with our hands all but on him....but he figured out very quickly how to keep himself balanced with his arms and legs while the floaties held him up. Kaleb had the most fun splashing everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE! No one was safe from the water monster that was Kaleb!

It was really great, and I can't wait to be able to do it again!

Having fun!

Kaleb's swim look

Brave Gabe, swimming with Daddy

Kaleb and his new friend, Wade

Mommy & the boys

Gabe building a giant rectangle

Sunbathing belly buddies!

A great day!

Today....

Today was my 34 week appointment, and everything went very well. The baby's heartbeat and measurments were both perfect. I am now going to have to start going every week until she is born. The doctor talked to me about starting to be alert to signs of labor, which is the same talk that everyone gets at this point, but really made it sink in that this little girl is going to be here soon!

Today, I got a package from my Grandma Bailey with a beautiful baby blanket and hooded towel with matching washcloths that she made! I have always liked the things that Grandma has made, and these are awesome! I took pics so that everyone could see. The blanket is two sided, and I tried to fold it to show both sides, which accounts for the funny folding job, in case you were wondering. Thanks, Grandma!

The blanket!

The towel & washcloths!