Sunday, February 20, 2011

We're on our way!

Rick's class start date for Security+ is February 25th!  We're so excited!  We're pretty sure it's still the two week course, and that means we'll be out of here on March 11!  We are so happy about leaving Mississippi and moving on with our lives!   We're so over the south (especially since it's Mardi Gras right now, and that's like a big deal here)...

But, most important, we're really excited about seeing our family and friends in Phoenix and Rancho.  We're so excited about taking Evan to Disneyland for the first time (that's what I am anticipating the most!)  I'm really bummed that my sister, brother-in-law and my nephews Oliver and Casey will have moved to South Jordan, Utah by then.  Really excited for them, but bummed that I won't be able to see them in March. 

By the way, if you're military, a do it yourself move is the best way to go for getting some extra cash.  Seriously, a lot of work, but we're pocketing so much, it's awesome.  So excited to pay off my stupid health credit card (from when I had to get a root canal last year) and to get a brand new vacuum cleaner (so we don't have to only use our hose to vacuum!) 

In other news, this has been the second week in a row that I have worked out at least 6 days.  I feel so empowered by this!  Seriously, I am feeling awesome.  I think I am going to take workout clothes so I can jog/walk in the hotels and at my aunt and uncle's house in Riner.  I really don't want to get out of the habit. 

I do need better running shoes though.  I'm not getting enough support with the ones that I have right now.  Any thoughts on good brands?  Has anyone ever been to one of those running stores where they watch you run and then they pick out the best brands/ shoes for you? 

President's Day tomorrow!  So happy Rick has the day off! 

Sunday, February 13, 2011

What have we been up to lately?

-YW New Beginnings 2 weeks ago. 
-YW Camp Fundraiser just ended today.  Why has this kept me busy?  Because we decided to sell chocolate dipped treats including:  chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate dipped pretzels, chocolate dipped coconut pecan balls and chocolate dipped peanut butter balls.  I was gone from 9:30 to 7:15 yesterday, helping our girls finish the treats and package them in time to deliver them after church today.  I am very happy that this is over (and I didn't even do a lot of the work!)
-YM/YW Book of Mormon  Murder Mystery Dinner, coming up on this Wednesday.  I am the main person in charge of this one, so I will be busy tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday.
-Exercising---I am very happy to say that I have been active in some shape or form this week for 5 whole days!  I haven't exercised that often in a week since I was probably in college, so I am very happy with that.  Of course, 2 of those days were just walking outside with Evan (I don't have a jogging stroller to jog!), but it's better than sitting around and doing nothing!
-Reading a book called The Happiest Toddler on the Block...  It's a very good book that has already helped with communicating with Evan and understanding my little cave child a little bit more.
-Cleaning for our pre-inspection--the inspection where someone goes through the house to look for repairs and tells us what to do to clean our house and what repairs to make.  She told me I shouldn't worry about cleaning ourselves AND moving ourselves, but we should hire someone to clean for us since we'll be too busy with Evan.  Our plan?  Pack a little bit at a time over the course of a 2-3 week period, one room at a time.  We'll have people from church help us actually move the stuff in to the moving truck.  And then, we really don't have that much cleaning to do, especially since I'm making my husband help me this time... quite different from when I was leaving the apartment in Phoenix. 
-We received a call from the Fort Meade housing office.  And we already have a house!  It will be ready for us to move in by March 13.  So nice to know that we most likely won't need to put our stuff in storage and that we won't have to stay in temporary housing! It's a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath in this neighborhood.  We're not sure which style house/town house we're getting, but we do know it's either brand new or it's been recently renovated.
-Waiting for Rick's stupid W-2 from Phoenix.  It was never forwarded.  So, Rick's had to call and bother people.  FINALLY, they told him to fill out a replacement W-2 form and then fax it back.  Apparently, it will take 7-10 days to get here.  Lamest temp agency ever. 
-Evan's 15 month appointment and my own doctor's appointment. 

It's been crazy busy, thus the reason why I haven't blogged as much as usual.  Now we're just relaxing, waiting for Rick to get into Security+.  As soon as that happens, everything will go by very quickly because he'll graduate in 2-3 weeks from that, then we're out of this place!

Happy Valentines Day!


Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Holy Shnikies!

I am so tired and sore today. 

Why?  Because I woke up when Rick went to PT this morning (he has to go in at 4:00 AM).  I decided to start my workout regime. 

Yeah.  Totally sore and tired now.  I only worked out for 20-25 minutes or so doing the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels.  But, I feel so good that I actually made it through the workout without stopping for more than a few seconds to catch my breath. 

It was so hard.  Probably because I haven't worked out like that since November or so.  I can't wait to continue to work out (I think I am planning on alternating that DVD with walking/jogging).  I'm a former athlete, so I know that it will get easier the more that I do it.  What I like about the DVD is that she has 3 different workouts and you start on the lowest one and make your way up. 

The only thing is that now, I am completely exhausted with my little boy running around while I am in an almost semi-comatose state. 

15 Months!

Evan is 15 months old!  Only 3 more months until he can go to nursery in church!  This is very exciting for us because it means we only have to wrestle with him to sit still for 1 hour instead of 3. 

Anyways, doctor said that Evan was looking really good.  She is a blond so he let her touch him everywhere.  He really has a thing for blonds.  And he is getting bigger!  So happy!

Length: 31 inches
Weight:  22.5 lbs
Head Circumference:  I forget!

He's in the 20% for weight.  About 6 months ago he was only in the 5th percentile so he's made some strides in that. 

He's in the 30% or so for length.  So, he's getting slightly taller, but he's still short. 

Everyone loves Evan.  Strangers on the street, nurses, doctors, grocery store workers, hardened Air Force commanders and officers. 

I love Evan so much with his big blue eyes and blond hair!  I am having so much fun watching Evan learn and grow everyday. 

He's starting to bite people and things, including his books. 

He's also starting to throw himself on the ground when he doesn't get his way.

My new favorite thing he's been doing?  Marching/ running in place.  It's a form of dancing for him. 

I was singing the song that goes "Your love is a drug" (don't know the same of the song) and Evan started dancing like crazy.

His favorite foods are fruits, vegetables, spaghetti, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chicken, ground beef and macaroni and cheese.  And of course, milk, juice and water. 

Here's to the next 3 months going by that my little boy will continue to thrive and grow! 

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Formal Dress

Rick's squadron is having a Dining Out on March 5.  I was so excited.  I've never been to any fancy or formal dinners all that much.  The main thing I was excited for?  Shopping for a dress!  Well, it took me a while, and my good friend Megan had to point me in the right direction. 

For less than $30 (shipping and handling included) this dress was a steal.

I ordered it in the black because I think it's easier to find colors that go with the black.  The silver was really nice too though.  Now I get to wait for it to come, so I can try it on and make sure it fits.  If it fits well enough, then I get to work out hard this month to make sure that I can still fit in it.  If it doesn't fit well enough, I get to work out even harder this month to make sure I can fit into it.  (and maybe get some supplemental accessories that might help with any unsightly bulge).

Now I need to get shoes and other accessories.  I just wonder what color I should get to go with the black.  Nothing to dark... maybe a teal? Red? Turquoise?  Who knows?  I'll know it when I find it!

Evan, asleep

This little boy plays so hard that he just crashes when he has to stay still for a minimum amount of time.



As you can see from the first three pictures, it's after he's done eating/ while he's eating that he falls asleep.  This last picture is so weird.  Evan just randomly fell asleep where he was playing.  This is super strange, because Evan NEVER fell asleep that easily.  He still cries (for a small amount of time) when we put him in his crib to go night night.  So, him just falling asleep everywhere is still weird to me.  I think it's because he's finally learned how to put himself to sleep?  I don't know.  I just think it's cute to snap pictures of him all the time, just sleeping.  It reminds me that even though he is growing so fast, he's still a small little guy that needs plenty of rest (good for mommy solo time too).

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Dejavu

WARNING-Emotional Post

Rick and I found out that we were expecting in January and last Thursday, I started having a miscarriage. Another one.  Two within 2 months.  I went to the doctor for the first one on November 28 and I went to the doctor for this one on January 28.  Lame.

I was really upset by the news obviously.  All we want to do is have children and raise a righteous family.  Is that too much to ask for?  I've been serving faithfully in my ward and supporting my hubby the best I can with his stressful school.  I was pretty bitter and upset at first, taking it a lot worse than the first one.  I think because this time, I just felt more pregnant. 

But I've noticed during these rough times that Heavenly Father nudges you in a way, in a direction that you were hesitant about taking before... Let me explain.

I've always wanted to get a Masters Degree.  I just didn't know what I would get it in.  Money has always been an issue, even though I might be able to get grants (our family is at poverty level on paper, they don't include the allowances Rick has in his paycheck).  I've loved history since I was young, so I really thought about studying that.  I love teaching.  Especially those insane middle schoolers. 

I have always had the thought of getting a masters in the back of my mind.  In my Patriarchal Blessing, I was told to "seek after the knowledge that is available".  But I kept pushing it back and back, putting other things first like Evan and Rick getting a masters degree. 

Well, I had an epiphany; an aha! moment this Saturday while I was nervously moping around trying to figure out something to do to keep my mind off of this last pregnancy loss. 

And here's what I found out.  The Air Force has a program for spouses of specifically ranked members of the AF.  Basically the lower the rank you are, enlisted or commissioned, you have the opportunity to receive funding to aid you in education.  Well, I was looking around on the website to try and see if there was a program that I would want to try and maybe get a certificate in, maybe so I could work from home. 

I liked the idea of a health/fitness/wellness counselor, but that's only because I wanted to learn about it for myself. 

I liked the idea of a lactation consultant, because I loved nursing Evan and it's a hard thing to do, so I thought maybe I could help mothers to learn--- but I didn't want to look at boobs all day. 

I had a strong feeling that I should look up education certificates on the website, so I did. Now this program usually doesn't cover masters degrees, but this one online accredited university gave you a certificate with your masters degree, which is how I think they get around it.  (MA-education-administration- you get a principal's certificate). 

I had this major AHA moment that this was what I was supposed to be doing. Heavenly Father knows me so well.  He knows the plan that He has for me also.  Seriously, at that moment I knew why I wasn't "allowed" to carry those babies yet.  Heavenly Father needs me to go to school and continue raising my baby boy. 

For some reason, I need to get this masters in education curriculum and instruction with ESL certification.  And, I wouldn't be able to do it with a newborn baby and a toddler running around.  This instantly made me feel better.  Now I have two goals before I have another baby.  The first one is to lose weight and just get healthy.  The second is to get my masters degree or at least to start the process. 

The program is 18-24 months long.  I hope to start it in May or June, whenever we're settled in our new home in Maryland. 

It's always amazing to me that when one door seems to close, another will always open for you.