Mom & Dad Visit

Mom and Dad were here this weekend! We didn't do anything too exciting: went to the holiday parade, checked out the local art museum and did some baby shopping. Hard to believe that next time I see them, it will be baby time! Hard to believe and terrifying!
Love you!

Nursery Progress II

I've been painting for at least a bit every night after work. The walls are painted. The ceiling is half painted because I ran out of blue paint. I thought a quart would be enough for the tray part of the ceiling, but the plaster walls are so dry, they suck up the paint so quickly. I'm hoping to finish the blue and the white parts of the ceiling before my haircut tonight. We shall see! I've been running on 8-9 hours of sleep each night and I wake up at 5:15 so that means an early bed time.

Then comes my least favorite part of walking around the room like a crazy person with my tiny brush and filling in all of the white spots in the textured walls. It usually takes me about 3 laps around the room to find them all. Then I clean everything up and find more! Drives me crazy.

Should be painted and cleaned up just in time for my parents to come. Good thing since the guest room is now full of all the baby's stuff!

Miss you!

While I was in Minnesota for my baby shower last month, I got the chance to catch up with my girlfriends. It's never enough time and now that there is a slew of kiddos in the mix, it gets even harder.

Ali even flew in from California. Thank you! We saw Sarah the next day, but minus Annie so it has been a long time since all of us have been together. Maybe 2 years?! We need to start planning a reunion now for next year or I know it won't happen!

Hayes wasn't a huge fan of Glenn. He kept giving him the stink eye all afternoon. Miss you all!

Bellography

Weeks 24 through 28. We're in the third trimester already! Crazy.

I'm not sure horizontal stripes are my wisest choice at this point, but I'm wearing what fits! I've managed to only buy 2 pairs of maternity work pants, 1 pair of of maternity jeans, 2 dresses (for my showers and a wedding), 1 sweater, 2 maxi dresses and a pair of shorts. A few of those I only bought for our trip to Mexico in a couple weeks. I've gotten a lot of use out of elastic extenders for my pants and a few rubber bands. Luckily most of my tank tops were really long already (love the H&M brand).

I'm feeling great still. Sleeping is getting a little difficult. I find myself having to flip over a couple times throughout the night because my hips get sore. And of course the 2-4 am bathroom break. I'd say the only major pregnancy symtoms I'm having are leg cramps at night, an increased appetite and the occassional emotional episode. (Glenn might have a few more to add to the list).

I borrowed this shirt from my boss' daughter. Yeah, she had her baby at 18...not sure it's going to last too much longer on this old lady.

I couldn't decide which jersey I liked better- Glenn's or the baby's!

I think the most frustrating part is not being able to do things I am used to doing. Yes, I still cleaned the gutters a few weekends ago (dang Glenn's fear of heights), but carrying a large flower pot full of dirt is getting much too difficult.

Only 76 more days til our due date. That is craziness. I started painting the baby's room on Monday so that should be done by this weekend. I'll be glad to have that checked off the list and I can start getting things a bit more organized! Just in time for my parents to show up with a carload full of stuff from my brother and our Minnesota shower.

Voted!

Three weeks ago that is. Glenn and I sat down after dinner and cupcakes on my birthday to fill out our absentee ballots. We are still residents of Minnesota and voted in Rochester since my parents' home is our home of record. I'm guessing our ballots may never be opened unless he election is close, but I'm proud to vote. Too bad I don't get a sticker!

Happy Election Day!

Pumpkins!

After my birthday trip to the pumpkin patch it would be a shame not to show all my hard work!

I used a jig saw blade since I thought we had a carving kit ( we don't). My fingers were tired. Next year: carving kit.

The 27 got a few questions from the neighbors, but most just assumed it went along with the Vikings pumpkin. We used the pumpkin for my bellography series. I'll post the next set next week!

I just love the fall. Although VA has seemed to skip right to their winter. It was 45 on the way to work yesterday morning. That's not so bad I know, but I could have used a few more weeks of my favorite season.

Just Like His Daddy

Our little boy is acting just like his daddy- he doesn't want to have his picture taken! We tried for 30 minutes to get him to roll over and show his face, but he wouldn't do it! He was facing head down and his face towards my spine with a hand on each side of his face. He was working pretty hard to keep everything hidden.

Fortunately, the 3D ultrasound place will let us come back another time, free of charge, to try again. Unfortunately, Glenn is gone pretty much the entire month of November (literally taking the red eye in from California and then we leave the same day for another trip), so we can't go back until the first week of December! The tech said is was good that we came at 28 weeks because we still have time to try again. The baby starts to get too big to see very much after about 34 weeks.

Here are a few of the best shots we could get! What a booger!

And my personal favorite. Maybe he has a little Japanese culture in him!

Happy Halloween!

Our first trick-or-treater was little lion Isabel, the daughter of Chris and Marcy. She didn't quite get the idea of taking candy, but I'm sure she will next year!

We sat on our front porch with Chris and Gizelle and ate chili, hot chocolate and pumpkin seeds while we handed out candy. We had a bunch of neighborhood kids come to the house and went through about 3 big bags. We still have a bowl full left. I don't think Glenn is too sad since the last bag contains his favorites. :)

I can't wait to dress up our little guy next year!

Thanks for the costume Blair! It was a big hit at work!

Our Little Gentleman!

A few weeks ago, my wonderful Navy spouse girlfriends through Glenn and I a baby shower for our little gentleman. It was a bowtie and mustache theme and they did the cutest job putting it all together. It was a couples shower so the hubbies and a few kiddos joined in the fun as well. I loved that Glenn got to enjoy the party too - although the guys might have been enjoying it a little too much! ;)

The decorations were so cute. We played just a couple games. A baby bottle of beer-chugging contest for the guys and a bingo game during gift opening.

Gizelle, Angela and Marcy were the fabulous hostesses! Angela and I are due about a week apart!

Guess where the keg was?? We had a beautiful day and the guys enjoyed the beer, sunshine and bean bags/corn hole out in the back yard.

I love our Navy family down here in Virginia. It's so nice that many of our friends are back (or still) here as well as several new families. It's not quite the same as Japan since we aren't all neighbors too, but it's a great group of friends.

Our dear friends- the Morans. They get orders in the next couple months and we're REALLY hoping they stay in Norfolk!

Even our little guy got a mustache! Nancy made us a quilt that even has E-2 Hawkeyes on it. I don't know where she found the fabric!

Our friends were so generous. I can't wait to see him in all of the little outfits that were bought and made for him!

Janel, Sophia & JR, Sarah & Audrey, me & Dylan and Allie.

Can you tell that the squadron we are in is on shore duty? That means no deployments and lots of new babies!

Angelica, Russell and Charlotte made the trip down from Pax River. Thanks for coming friends!

Thanks for throwing us such a fun party!

Sandy

Glenn and I made it home to Virginia from Minnesota last night after two cancelled flights and a 5 1/2 hour drive.  Our house is fine, just a ton of pine needles and leaves everywhere. We were expecting a few puddles in the basement, but we didn't have any!

Our original flight from MSP to Philly was cancelled on Saturday so I rebooked through Charlotte (with a complimentary first class upgrade!) but while we were in the air to CLT, our flight to Norfolk was cancelled as well.

The next flight out was Tuesday morning so rather than pay for a hotel and losing a day of work, we rented a car and drove the 330 miles home. It rained the entire 330 miles, but wasn't terrible. A few spots and strong winds, but it was relatively smooth.

We picked up our car at the airport, picked up Stella at our friends and headed home. It was a long day! Thanks for asking how we were doing. The house faired our first hurricane pretty well and we got to miss most of it!