Nesting already?

Probably not...I just go through these cleaning sprees and am overwhelmed with all the stuff that gets accumulated. I did the girls room and did a major clean/moving furniture around (Dan did the moving furniture since like my mom said, "You're older now Bobbie, you can't be doing the things you did when you were pregnant with Madison and Hannah.") Oh how I love my mom....I'm only 27!!! Some women don't even have any kids by the time they are my age.

Anyways...so gross, I found tissues, wrappers, cups, I just about had a melt down thinking...ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Do you see me doing these things and stashing things under my bed??? My bed is completely empty under neath...I hate stuff under beds...perhaps it is cause I know it's there and then mostly since I can see and check under my bed for monsters...that movie with the monster under the bed and then the kid would go with him and go to this other land FREAKED me out when I was younger....anyways...so I feel so relieved their room is super clean. Now on to the playroom which is just about done. I am just tossing things today...I'm so in that mood. I hate clutter right now and I think my kids try and hold on to every thing possible...possibly an Aunt Nicole gene???

But I had to take a break...I had to shower and I need to go into town to buy Madison some new school shoes. First I think we'll stop at Starbucks, I'll get a vanilla steamer so I won't freeze. A snow storm is suppose to hit here starting tomorrow. I'm hoping if it does snow it will be a lot, I hate the little bit of snow and then that's it. I'm sure it's not going to be very much though. All I know is that it was so stinking cold yesterday and it's just going to get colder.

Mud slide

After dropping off Madison at school this morning, Hannah and I were walking back to the car in the rain. We had been running a little late since Madison HAD to have a packed lunch since Hannah was bringing a pack lunch to school so I had to park in front of these houses. Little did I know that there was a little hill with a whole lot of mud right outside the door of the car. So I did fine getting out of the car taking Madison to school but coming back to the car with Hannah I totally slipped and was covered with mud on my right side. I had it on my hands, under my fingers, this was really some gushy mud. I would have worried but it was so squishy I'm sure I could have landed on my stomach and been alright. Hannah states the obvious, "Mom! You are all muddy!" We laugh...we race back to the house....I quickly change....and we're off again taking her to school. (my shoes are outside...I can't even bring them inside they are so caked with mud.)

Decision made

Hannah has been asking me if she could eat at school for lunch the past couple weeks. I have caved and she will now be in school Tuesdays and Wednesdays and possibly Thursdays, if her teacher sees enough kids want to stay, until 2:40!!! I'm excited...I mean I love spending time with her during the day but sometimes it really breaks up my day when I have to hurry and pick her up at 12:10. I figured it would also be good to slowly work her into longer days at school since, come September, she'll be in school until 3:15.

I was also told by some of the women who've had babies at Hinchingbrooke that I can request a date for my c-section. I really don't want to be having a baby on the 5th of September...school starting and all that. So I figured a week and a half earlier would be great. So now that I know I can request I'm going to do that and when they see both my kids were early and still over 8 pounds, I'm sure they will let me do it. YAY!

Today was seriously the weirdest day. As soon as I came home from being out all morning...my phone was ringing non stop. I seriously haven't had that in forever. Anyways...one of the calls was for some information on a referral. I guess while I was at the Lakenheath ER, the doctor looked at my records and saw my last echo was 6 years ago so they put in a referral for me to get one. I'm kind of relieved since I've kind of been having that on my mind since I've had more pain in my chest lately. I know what it's from, the back flow of blood but I'm curious to see if my regurgitation has gotten worse. So hopefully that can be taken care of soon. I also went to my first lesson in quilt making. I know how to quilt but I've never done the hand thing and they are teaching that in these lessons and all these other types of squares. I'm super excited to get started...the only bad part is that every one from here says they have very limited amounts of fabric stores and most aren't very good. How I loved going into fabric stores like the quilt shops up in Anacortes and just look at all the fabrics and figure out the ones that would look so cute together. I get excited about putting colors together...I'm weird I know. Anyways....Liz told me of a couple so I'm excited to go check it out and hopefully they have a good selection.

New Calling

Last night I had a call from the exec secretary to see if I could meet with Brother Hubbard today before church. I figured not a big deal, perhaps if anything I would maybe be released as Assistant Secretary since seriously, how much did they really need me. But then I got to thinking about wouldn't that be the bishop? Why is the first counselor asking me? So I moved on from that thought quickly and then panic came in and was thinking, "there is absolutely NO WAY I'm giving a talk in Sacrament!!!"

So I go in this morning with the girls and he sits me down and tells me about these changes that are happening in the ward and how primary is getting all rearranged and if I had heard anything and if I knew why I was there. I honestly told him I had no idea. So he continues and tells me that there is a new Primary President and how she has asked me to be the 1st counselor. So I'm like are you kidding me??? The last time I was in a presidency was in Young Womens when I was a Laurel and seriously, that is not really a big deal. So I accept of course but have no idea who the new president is. So I go into Sacrament and three people came up to me and asked me if congratulations were in order and I was thinking....I am SO OUT OF THE LOOP! Other people knew besides the obvious who would know about my calling.

I am excited about this new calling. It is something I have never done, the only thing I've been in Primary is a student and a CTR A teacher. I'm excited to get to know the other women in the presidency. A new adventure and I'm always up for one. I know some of you are thinking....she's just excited to be out of Relief Society and Sunday School and while I have to admit that part of me is like "YES" I will miss it a little and I'm sure more days since there are tons of kids in a teeny tiny building.

"It looks like a sea-horse mom!"

So today after spending 5 hours in the ER room, I was able to find out I have a healthy baby that is one day short of 8 weeks (I seriously was hoping to find out I was further along) with a strong heart beat of 162. This brings the due date to September 5 even though the doctor told me that the ultra sound isn't always correct. I was having some issues last night so after calling the RN, I decided to go in the morning to see the doctor just in case, although I knew I was going to be ok since Hannah was fine and the same thing happened when I was pregnant with her. But like Dan says, it's my job to worry. We went to Lakenheath, the other military hospital, and waited FOREVER and then when I got in to see the doctor I found out it was going to be my first experience with a British doctor. He was super nice, cracked some jokes I was like thinking, oh man, this guy is nuts! The exam is so different from an American doctor exam. They don't use stirrups, you lay down on your side and curl up like a ball, that's all I'm going to say. The nurse who was American was funny and asked me how it was since she never had experienced that. I said it was defiantly different. Then I went to the stirrups and he did an ultra sound and I was in a panic because he couldn't find the baby. He had already told me he wasn't an ultra sound machine expert so I was calmed just a little and he said he would call in an OB. So after waiting a few more minutes a very pregnant OB came in and found the peanut right away (I could breathe again.) I got to take home some snazzy pictures and when I went out to show the girls, they were super excited first off that the baby was still there (they were very worried it had died since they know those things can happen) and then to see the baby's picture. As Hannah was looking at and it her words were pretty much, "I see a sea-horse in a hole. Is that the baby? It looks more like a sea-horse then a baby mom."

Now that I know there is only one baby (I knew there was only one but it's nice to know for sure), the baby is healthy, and roughly when it's coming out, I feel so relieved.

Nothing but a whole lot of nothing

I haven't had a very exciting life lately. Besides the constant feel of my stomach saying...JUST THROW UP ALREADY....which I have learned to just live with. It's a part of life...hopefully not that much longer. (I really need to stop complaining about it...I'm starting to sound like a whimp!) The girls were so excited on Wednesday...they finally got their ballerina stuff. I was out that evening and came home to Hannah, who laid it oh so nicely on the foot of the bed and Madison hanging on the bed post. It cracked me up...I'm sure Hannah wanted to sleep with it on but Dan convinced her otherwise. Although he protested the whole "dancing" thing he does find it quite cute when they use our rug in the lounge as a stage, put on their leotards and shoes, and prance around on the carpet. Hannah even does this body dive....I'm not quite sure how she does it since I'm sure if I jumped onto the floor doing a belly dive, my internal organs would hurt, but for her, I guess not so much since she does it repeatedly. She can also stand on her toes (major ouch!) and it pains me as well to watch her do that.

On to other news...I have convinced Dan to try and take a few days off for the girls mid break that's in the middle of February. There is a Viking Festival he wants to hit up in York and so we figure why not spend a few days up there and do some sight seeing (I hope it's not raining and freezing). I'm excited. Dan tonight said he needed a vacation which in fact he does...the man has so many days of leave and when he does have it, we never go anywhere (well that's a ways away)! So YAY! He's starting to realize it's ok to spend money on hotels....I think he got scared the first time we went to D.C. and oh man...it was so ghetto....so ghetto....that he tries to stay away from them. Now I need to read all about York and make an itinerary since my husband likes things to be some what organized or he gets a little stressed....so not the way I was raised....but if it makes him feel better....then that means more vacations for me. The girls have another school break in April and it would be nice to go somewhere warm as a family and perhaps work on some kind of tan....I don't think my girls have been this white ever! So I'm excited...we're excited...perhaps you all are not so much....but I had to share.

4 weeks!

Febuary 16th and I will know exactly how far along I am! So exciting...wish it was a little bit closer but I'm sure 4 weeks are going to fly by.

Facial Expressions...

Sometimes I see myself in my kiddos...and I think...do I really look that ridiculous when I do that face? Guess so.

And YAY! Madison's hair is getting so long! Finally!!! It only took years from the horrible incident of the "mullet" hair cut she gave herself.

Dan caught!

I'm in the other living room talking to my mom on the phone with both doors closed...in our house every room has a door....since the smell of dinner was making me sick. So I'm sitting here talking and I hear the TV turn on in the other room and hear that it's Tinkerbell. I think nothing of it since the girls are up but then I realize that the girls are talking in the kitchen since they still aren't done eating their food. So this thought in my head...that isn't Dan watching it is it? Really quick, before we started eating I had to call him a few times to come in and set the table and he came rushing in apologizing saying he was getting into the Tinkerbell movie with the girls. So back to current time....so I walk out and this is what I see:

That's right, just Dan in the TV room, watching Tinkerbell! I had to take a picture...because how often does this happen? Usually it's Batman or something I don't want the girls to watch and he's watching it while they are still awake, but tonight, I need not to worry, my husband is enthralled with Tinkerbell. He's going to kill me...not really but not something I'm sure he wants everyone to know.

First doc appointment

Today I went and saw the nurse practitioner who handles all the pregnancies at Upwood clinic. She was so super nice and I got all my blood and lab work done. I even had to get a tetanus shot and flu shot, which I must say, shots don't hurt as bad as I remember. I think my last tetanus was when I was 12 or so and today was a realization...holy moly cow....I'm 27! I better get one done. I didn't hear the heart beat or anything, it was more of just a consultation about being pregnant, and we just brushed on that since I'm like so experienced with this being my
THIRD (HOLY COW I'M GOING TO HAVE THREE KIDS) and where I was going to have this baby. I was relieved they are giving me the option to have it at the local hospital which is an English hospital even though I'm having a C-section. So YAY to that! Other wise the other medical hospital is about an hour away and that would be tough with kids in school and all that. So I am going to make an ultra sound appointment next week and find out exactly how far along I am. YAY!

Now is my beyond cheesy confession. I so am getting emotional with this pregnancy. I wasn't too thrilled even though I had this inclination I was pregnant before I took the pregnancy test and it was a positive about this whole thing. I had a lot of things bugging me about it. First, I was so looking forward to having both girls in school ALL DAY come September. I was going to take some more classes, maybe find a part time job since I love to socialize, just have even more "Bobbie" time then I have now and I was set on this. I also feared the age gap between Hannah and the baby, 4 years is a lot when Madison and Hannah are just 22 months. They are so close now and I fear the baby will be labeled as the "annoying baby baby" (I don't know if it's a boy or girl so hence the name baby baby). Then having to rearrange the house was like on my mind since I like how it is now. And lastly but pretty important, my loss of sleep!!! How I love putting the girls to bed and knowing they only get up at night to use the toilet and that's something they don't need my help with. All these petty little things were getting to me and then I realized they were all really not very important and me just being selfish on this baby that we are going to blessed with. So many couples try to have kids and are unsuccessful and I was just taking this little miracle for granted. It's been super nice to have Dan and the girls so excited. I think back to when Dan and I were engaged and I wanted 4 and he wanted 2. Then I switched after Madison to being DONE DONE DONE and he wanting 4. After Hannah we felt like our little family was complete. Today as I had time this morning to just think alone, I realized my family isn't complete. I also so look forward to Dan being home for the baby. He'll actually get to see the baby when he/she starts crawling, first steps, first eating solids all that fun baby stuff he missed out with the girls. He saw bits and pieces of Madison and Hannah he about missed all together being deployed so much. I am more then excited for this new addition we will have come!!! Now just the wait to see how far along exactly I am and then to know if it will be a boy or girl!

Bobbie

Dan asked me to rub his feet.

I said no since they were super stinky earlier.

He says they aren't smelly anymore (he holds his feet up to my nose)

I actually sniff...and I about DIED! Add the fact I have pregnancy keen smelling senses...seriously...I almost died.

Like Dan says, "Who does that?" Obviously I do.

Drama! (well in the life of Madison and Hannah)

So today was the second time we had ballet class. I was hoping the lady I ordered their leotards and slippers from would show up but she was a no show.

So Hannah is like, "Mom, where is that woman?"
"She said she won't be able to come until 4 o'clock."
"Well it's almost 4, I just can't dance without new ballet slippers and a pretty dress."
"Well she'll be here when you are in class so go ahead."
"Fine, but I won't be any good."

So Madison and I are chilling while class is in session and still the lady hasn't come and it's 4:10. Madison keeps asking me as if I know why the lady hasn't shown up. So Hannah comes out and she is deeply disappointed and tells me how she just can't dance anymore since she has no slippers *pout face*.

So Madison still has hope that she'll come while she's in class, so meanwhile Hannah is so distraught over the whole situation....whining, pouting, saying how she doesn't like dance.

So Madison comes out and she says out loud,"That lady stood us up! I need ballet shoes and she said she'd come and she didn't. We just need to find some other lady who sells and will actually show up."

The whole car ride, I have a flabbergasted Madison and a Hannah who is on the verge of tears both angry and fighting. They never want to go to dance again! Too bad I already paid and we are so not doing what we did we tennis (Madison)...."Mommy I want to do it"...so I pay over $300 for her to sit on the sidelines and cry how she doesn't want to do it and so all that money is just gone ....she's so going until it's over.

The feeling just won't go away...

Yuckiness...complete and total yuckiness. I'm tired all the time and seriously would sleep all day if I was able to. This baby better be a boy because I better not be going through all this yuckiness for a girl when my other two pregnancies were so easy, never tired, never sick, life was normal except that my belly grew. It better be those weird - crazy boy hormones that are so foreign to me that are making me sick!

I can breathe

So as "assistant secretary" (I still don't get why I have this calling) I am now in charge of the quarterly news letter. Now usually I would be like that's not a big deal....pretty simple. Well it would be a lot less stressful if I wasn't still gathering stuff at 9:30 p.m. the night before I'm suppose to have it done. Then my laptop is wiggin out and not letting me finish! It just kept shutting down. So Dan cleaned out the fan and there were chunks...perhaps why is was shutting down...since it was getting too hot. So now they are printing and I'm just hoping I don't run out of ink since do I plan ahead in case that happens.....ummm NO! So far so good.

Dan and I also were able to go out again. We had plans to go to a cathedral but it was so freezing that a stone building would not be the best place to go today. So we tried Buckden Towers but we had just missed the time it was open. I found out tonight that we can call and make a tour appointment....so we tried going to a movie but decided we didn't really want to sit....so we went for a little drive and then out to a long dinner. Food was tasty but every time I eat I feel gross afterwards. Then we went into Tesco....I so miss an indoor mall since it's so cold and the thought of walking around in it just doesn't appeal to me. It was nice to have some time alone....even though I was stressing about the newsletter the whole time.

it made me laugh

So Hannah and I were sitting on the chair when she told me how she needs to be careful or the baby would cry. She then went on to tell me that she's going to help change the baby's diapers. Hannah then says, "Mom I will then know if it's a boy or girl by seeing if it has a vagina or if it has a hose.

Dan then does the old school trick of "look I can magically make my thumb separate." Madison is so terrified she's crying. I was seriously busting up, not that she was sad she thought her dad's thumb was broken but the fact that she is so gullible that she fell for it....I wonder where she gets that trait from....


I'm also including this dead sexy picture of what Dan does best, veg and look up stuff on his little space ship game....oh what I put up with.

Complete and total CHAOS

We received a letter mid December about the property management coming out to the house to do their quarterly inspection. Some might find it a little extensive but I actually like it. It makes me do those things I tend to skip out on (like cleaning the base boards for example) and will in turn make the move out a lot easier. So I have had the date January 9th stuck in my head for this to occur. Since I've been home I've been doing my thorough cleaning but decided to leave showers, finishing up putting the Christmas decorations and reorganizing the playroom for today. I had started on all these projects last night but decided I wanted to be lazy and hey, I have all day tomorrow. So this morning around 7:30 am while I'm putting the kids in the bath since they didn't take one last night, I find the letter and see it says they are coming January 8th at 9:40 am. I'm freaking out. I have the kids room all a mess, laundry everywhere since I was taking it to the laundromat after I take Hannah to school, kitchen not so clean; basically morning mess plus a huge disaster upstairs. I seriously make a mad dash, put the laundry all in the car, strip the beds since I'm washing the linens, shoving extra things that are out in cupboards, closets, a dining room hutch just to make it look clean. I run the vacuum quickly and then tackle the girls room by shoving more things in drawers, cleaning my shower doors and when I look in the playroom and see no hope in getting that done, because remember, I have two kids in the bath I need to get ready for school and it just so happens to be hair washing day (we wash every other day just so you all know and don't think it's less then that) and I need to find uniform stuff and Hannah this morning has magically forgotten how to dress herself....I kindly write a surrender note to them that states:

Sorry the house isn't as clean as I would have liked it. I just came home from the states and still trying to organize and put away Christmas things. Could you please make note of the plaster problem in the master bath and the water heater settings? I keep reading the manual but we still have a hot water problem. Original curtains for the lounge are at the dry cleaners and sorry I didn't have time to put up the mirror. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call...

So as I'm scribbling this note, I have kids running out to the car since we are running so late. I leave the house at 8:39 to get to school by 8:50 to read to Madison (parking, walking, putting things up in the cloak room all take time), well it was 8:48! We did make it on time just before the bell...thank goodness although Madison was not too happy she had partially damp hair (I know I know mom....that's not good when it's cold) and we didn't read and I forgot my purse. So I speed back home, pick up the purse and then head to Hannah's school. I finally feel this burst of relief as soon as I'm headed back to my car from dropping off Hannah. I can finally breathe!

Here is our messy messy playroom....seriously, I think my kids have too many toys sometimes.

This is why I have a calendar and usually write down important dates for some reason, I spaced!

spoiled with space

Our house in Washington had three bedrooms and so we had the girls in one and the toy room (obviously the other was Dan and mine) and I LOVED having a toy room...the toys were contained in that room and their room was always clean. This house here has 4 bedrooms and is quite bigger but my compulsive buying of furniture (it so doesn't help when your husband is gone and he can't say "no") and then the two living rooms...I have now the girls in one room, a toy room, an office, and then Dan and my room. So now I'm like a little bit freaking out since I'm now in baby mode and have to turn the toy room into the baby room. This means toys in the girls room. It would be ok but they have a kitchen, this ridiculously huge horse that still freaks me out to this day when I walk by and it "neighs" at me, a tea table and a doll house. WHERE AM I GOING TO PUT ALL THIS STUFF???!!! And the thing is, I just went through their stuff before Christmas and got rid of two huge black bags full of stuff. So I'm dreading the idea I'm going to have to bring stuff down to the TV room. It does give me another excuse to buy some more furniture but seriously, we are going to have to buy one massive house by the time we get back to the states (I still have a living room set in storage along with a whole bunch of other things) with all this furniture we are accumulating. Anyways...so Hannah and I went to IKEA today and we bought some kids storage bins and holders thinking I will put them in the closet. I probably subconsciously didn't get every thing I needed so I can make another trip down there. So my evening has consisted of putting the two I bought together and trying to organize their HUGE mess of toys. ARRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH to toys! Like I don't have a huge load of laundry to do as well...

Most definatly number 3 is coming

I had a blood test today....since I was already at the hospital and they require a test done before you can schedule an appointment. Now just the waiting until we find out what the baby is....I hate waiting!!! I at least am going to start buying furniture and baby necessities....woo hoo! I'm excited now!

So Madison and Hannah were both with since we were there really for Madison's appointment. We went into the lab (I had no idea they had a lab at this teeny tiny hospital) and I sit the girls on the bed they have there. I get in the "blood drawing" chair and Hannah says, "Mom, I really need to leave this place. Are they cutting the baby out to see if it's there? (She knows I have to have surgery since we've told her that's how she and her sister came out)" I tell her it's ok and that it's just me they are going to put a needle in. As the tech is getting the needle ready both my girls are freaking out saying how they can't watch and they both cover their eyes. Hannah's eyes are squinted so tightly with hands over them and Madison is every now and then peeking. Both are have a hue of green on their face. While the needle is in my arm drawing the blood Madison cries out, "Oh my gosh there is just a needle stuck in you and it's sucking your blood!!! Are you in pain mom?" When I smile and say no (needles don't really bother me) she is beyond belief. Hannah finally uncovers her eyes when we say it's all done and she is deeply impressed by the sparkly band aid I was now wearing. They were so impressed they told the doctor how well I did when the lady in the other room locked me in the chair and sucked out my blood. Oh how my kids interpret things.

Things I missed

After being away for a week, it was so nice to come home to a loving husband who tried and did so well keeping the house clean, kids fed (healthy food), and to my girls who are seriously the cutest kids ever! While I was back home (parent's home) I came back from shopping and it felt so weird to open the door and not have two little girls run up and say something like, "did you get me something mom?" Today I decided I should at least clean the upstairs (clean as in disinfect and scrub toilets and tubs) I had the windows open to let some fresh, FREEZING air in. Dan was outside sweeping and the girls were out on the trampoline. They were playing so well and having the best of times with constant laughing. I love hearing them laugh, it warms my heart and even in the grumpiest of moods I am in, hearing it or seeing them smile makes me smile. I'm so glad Madison is past the stage of "I don't like her."