I guess it is "time" to announce to the social networking world that baby #3 is on the way. I am 16 weeks pregnant and due May 28. We are really excited about the new baby, and the boys are excited for a little brother or little sister (although, Cole doesn't quite understand, Jake is on board - and seems excited). Jake goes back and forth with whether he wants another brother or wants a little sister. He says both, but thankfully he will only be getting either/or :-)
A week before we found out I was pregnant, we found out Chris is going to "unexpectedly" have to deploy to Afghanistan in February (if you can use the word unexpectedly in the Marine Corps). So, after much discussion, we decided that the boys and I will head back to VA when Chris leaves for Afghanistan, so that I can have the baby back near family ... and know 110% that the boys will be taken care of. It was a hard decision - mainly because I thrive on routine and structure - and wanted the boys to feel settled, BUT at the same time, I don't think there is a better place for them (especially Jake) than in Virginia with lots of family, love, and attention - because that boy is really going to miss his Daddy (he's 100% daddy's boy)! I'm obviously looking forward to being with family and friends, too - just really, really, really wish (times a million) that Chris didn't have to go. It's all part of it - and we've done it twice before ... it somehow just never gets easier. I keep fast forwarding to his homecoming, though ... and getting to meet his new, little baby for the first time! THAT will be a special moment. AND ... as much as I wish he didn't have to deploy at all, I'm very thankful that he is here for the Christmas season and the boys' birthdays in January before he has to go.
So, until then ... if you're reading this and don't mind keeping our family in your prayers during this deployment time/transition, we'd really appreciate it. I've said it so many times, but I'm so thankful for my selfLESS husband. I truly do look up to and admire him - and am thankful for the sacrifices HE makes to help keep all of us safe. It is something he feels called to do, and he does it so well. I love and respect that guy so much!
Until the next baby update .... here's a quick picture. Since I was so far along at my first ultrasound, I could actually make out where the baby's head and body was at :-) He/she is already so so so precious. I'm in love ....
There's obviously been a lot of football watching in our household this season. I took this video of Jake the other weekend while we were watching football. He was "practicing", he says :-) He puts on the Dolphins helmet that Andrew gave him (that he LOVES) ... and watches what they are doing on the TV ... and then does his "own version" of it. It's a riot. Football player in the making.... you never know :-)
I LOVE Christmas. Like, I don't think you understand ... I really LOVE Christmas. REALLY REALLY LOVE Christmas. REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE Christmas. I always have. I love everything about Christmas. I love all the busyness of the season. I love all of the delicious BAKING that is done throughout the season (and eating). I love Christmas trees, I love lights, I love the decorations (both the gaudy and the nice) ;-), I absolutely LOVE the music, I love the Christmas parties, I love receiving Christmas cards from friends I haven't talked to all year to find out how they are doing, I love buying presents for people, I seriously love.it.ALL. I especially LOVE the Christmas traditions (old and new) ... and of course I absolutely LOVE a season dedicated to celebrating the birth of Jesus. I love celebrating Jesus' birthday. I love thinking about that special night ... shepherds just minding their own business and then suddenly being told by angels that Jesus was born. How AMAZING that would've been! So, it's no surprise that I'm excited that it's Christmastime again. This year has been a little bit of an "adjustment" for me .... because with all of our transitions and decisions that have had to be made, we are in a furnished apartment - without our tree and decorations :-( That is hard for someone like me who was determined 2 years ago to still put lights on outside of the house, even though I was 8 months pregnant :-) BUT, we did go out and buy a 7ft tree to give our apartment some Christmas flare. So, here are the pictures from our tree decorating family night :-)
Jake chose the colored lights ... and we got 5 CARS ornaments and 5 Woody/Buzz ornaments. Ha. Memories, memories. Jake and I also made a Christmas chain to go around the tree .... The chain lasted about ... 3 days. It no longer exists on our tree. And yes, the tree has already come down on top of Cole. Only once, though. Pretty good, since we've had it up since the weekend after Thanksgiving. So, even with all my LOVE for Christmas, I also am a stickler for waiting until AFTER Thanksgiving to begin all the festivities. BUT ... the day after Thanksgiving, let the Christmas music START TO PLAY ... and play it did, and play it continues :-) Hope you all are enjoying your Christmas season! Here we are decorating our California tree :-)
Oh, the trip across country. This blog could also be called "Making Memories" :-) Driving across country is a little different w/ a 22 month old and a 3 year old. The riding in the car part is pretty easy, actually (I mean, it WAS Jake's 4th time across country in his short, little life of 3 years). We are lucky to have such wonderful travelers! The hotel part was a little trickier, b/c by the end of the driving each day, you have very ENERGETIC boys that are ready to make some noise. Unfortunately, it rained about 2/3 of the trip. That wasn't supposed to be part of the plan! BUT all in all .... it was a fun trip - and we made it safely - and made plenty of memories!
A few things, though, I continue to learn about long-trip car rides:
-Each State Welcome Center should have a playground. Period.
-3 year old boys LOVE when their only option is peeing on the side of the road (sorry, New Mexico, but you have to have more gas stations/rest areas between a 200 mile radius).
-I LOATHE public restrooms. LOATHE. Gross. Yuck. Blah.
-Staying on a high floor at the hotel is key. The boys loved pushing the elevator buttons.
-The swagger wagon made for such a smooth trip - just cleaning it out on the back end is a nightmare (i should actually get to that one of these days).
-Note to self: when you get snacks in gas stations every day for about 7 days straight, your 3 year old starts to think that is just normal habit - and wants a snack every time you stop at a gas station.... even when the trip is over.
-You can never pack enough wet-wipes.
-There is nothing quite like driving across country. Every one SHOULD plan to do it sometime. It is amazing seeing the different scenery each day of the different states - such an amazing experience. It's almost even worth having to use public restrooms ..... almost. :-)
So, ready to go through our journey with us .... HERE WE GO:
VIRGINIA .... colorful leaves, beautiful mountains ... sun was shining!
Probably couldn't have fit anything else in this van .... yes, the boys are in here safely :-) Tennessee .... and the rain began.... Ooops, out of order. When we entered Tennessee, it was bright and sunny - but by the time we got to Knoxville (above picture), it was raining! Of course, a highlight of the trip was our stop in Memphis. We wanted to be able to stop in Jackson, too, but because plans had changed, the timing didn't work out with her schedule to stop and see Mary Ellen, but thankfully she was able to make it to Memphis while we were there.
Andrew and Chris ran a 5K .... here is the proof. This is one of my favorite pictures of Dad and his siblings growing up. I love it. Don't they all just look so cute?! I think Dad is just so handsome in this picture .... It's my favorite!
(from left to right: Aunt Alice Marie, Dad, Aunt Mary Anne, Uncle Ben ... oldest to youngest). We watched some good football while in town .... Jake was cheering for Vandy! Jake thought he was big stuff! He wanted to wear his hat just like Andrew was wearing his. Baking cookies with Aunt Alice Marie .... Playing some football w/ Daddy, Worth, and Andrew (video at the end of blog). Cole was joining in some, too .... BUT he especially liked the pond that Uncle John made several years ago (with live fish)! More football....
What a wonderful time we had in Memphis. They are always so hospitable .... yummy food, great company - they put their lives "on hold" when we come to town to hang out - and we appreciate it more than they know!! Jake is still talking about the trip - he can't wait to go back (us, either)!!
Thank you guys SO much!! They also got the boys 4 different gifts each for them to open on different days across country. That was a HUGE hit!! Again, can't thank you all enough!
Our GPS took us a different way into Arkansas (unfortunately), so we didn't go right through downtown and see the Pyramid and go over the BIG bridge. With all that confusion, I didn't get a shot of entering Arkansas. :-(
Oklahoma sunset.
Oklahoma City .... As we were eating lunch in Oklahoma, we heard people talking about a tornado coming through, SO WE JETTED. Here was the sky. It looked scarier in person. Chris and I decided if we saw a funnel in the distance, we'd just find the closest ditch?! I mean, isn't that what you would do in the wide open spaces?!!! TEXAS .... same day that we were "out driving" the tornado .... and we ran into a hail storm. We stopped under a bridge. Thankfully, no damage to the new swagger wagon (oh, and no damage to us, either - we were just ready to be at the hotel once we got to it at the end of this day) :-) More Texas scenery .... This was in Texas at a rest area ... I wish I would've gotten pictures of the signs that said, "CAUTION: SNAKES." I wish I would've gotten a picture of Chris's face, too - he almost didn't get out of the car ;-) But when you gotta go .... Finally some blue skies in Texas .... NEW MEXICO New Mexico remains my favorite state to drive through - and I LOVE Albuquerque. It is this big city in the middle of nowhere. I've ALWAYS liked making stops in Albuquerque! The boys loved NM, too, b/c we stopped at a Chick-fil-A ... and let them play for a couple of hours, so they were in HEAVEN. Continuing through New Mexico .... A little village off the highway in New Mexico. Chris said this is EXACTLY what some of the Iraqi villages looked like when he was in Iraq a few years back. When Jake saw this, he immediately said, "Like Nana and Papa's house on the water." I was shocked he could remember that! GORGEOUS! I mean, really .... how cool?!!! Almost to AZ. ARIZONA There was SNOW on the ground at the hotel in Flagstaff. It was freezing! Leaving Flagstaff the next day ... I have to say that Flagstaff is awfully beautiful, too! The mountains are just - amazing! God's creation seriously leaves me speechless - especially when driving across country. I mean, there are no adjectives to fully describe it. On our way to WARM Phoenix! Seeing snow 1 minute .... And NONE the next .... See the cacti?! Since we weren't in any rush, we decided to drive to Phoenix - one place we had never been. It was a fun day trip, b/c it was only about 2 hours from Flagstaff, and we hit up the Phoenix Zoo (lots of fun - and perfect for the boys)! Phoenix. A's Stadium PHOENIX ZOO ... eating lunch by the giraffes .... I seriously LOVE the desert. I really do! Lion sleeping on the rock. Monkeys We were actually IN an exhibit w/ these monkeys .... a nice thing to be able to say you've done once, I guess. We didn't stay too long ;-) They LOVE them some Daddy, that's for sure! Jake "navigated" the whole day. :-) They had such a blast. It was such a nice break for us to spend the day in the nice weather, walking around after a long trip! Bears The gorilla was looking right at Jake - ha! Tiger! Rhinos resting.... Haha. I think Jake is like, "is he still looking at me?" We were literally SO (too) close to this leopard .... and it kept pacing back and forth, and I swear it was trying to find a way out to eat us. I mean, I'm talking like 5 feet away! Camel RIDE! Poor Cole couldn't go (you had to be 2) :-( Jake had a blast - and so did Chris! There's a video at the bottom of this post. Love :-) Cole was chomping at the bit! More navigating! There's that leopard again! Play area at the zoo! Milking a cow! The peacock was just chillin' Of course Cole loved the "mooo" cows Ending the day with a YUMMY snow cone! You can only "picture" the hot mess that Cole was after eating his snow cone, BUT he loved every last bite (me, too)!! Sunset as we were leaving.... SUCH A FUN DAY at the Zoo! Definitely our favorite zoo we've ever been to! CALIFORNIA!!! Passing the exit for 29 Palms ... a little sad. As we were passing the exit I used to get off at for work, Chris said, "Jake, see those buildings off in the distance? That's where Mommy used to work." Jake quickly said very matter-of-factly, "MOMMY DOESN'T WORK." Oh, how honest they are :-) Yes, Jake... I had a "life" before you - but I wouldn't trade mine now for the world .... most days, at least! How can you NOT love the desert :-) AND finally Oceanside, California .... this is the street we turn on to for our condo. Not too shabby of a view, huh?! I can deal with this for the next 8 weeks! First stop - BEACH!!! Which Cole LOVES!!!! Endless amounts of running, dirt, mud, rocks, sand! What's not to love for this boy?! Cole = no fear. Gotta watch that kid. HI FAMILY (and friends)! We made it safely ... it's 75 degrees ... and we miss and love you all!
(Camel ride at the Phx Zoo)
(Playing football in Memphis with Daddy and cousins)
SEE YOU IN ABOUT 8-9 WEEKS for our journey back EAST (yes, I realize I'm crazy - but that's for a whole other blog post).
