Things to remember...

How Hannah and Madison started singing when Dan kissed me bye in the kitchen....

"Mummy and daddy sitting on a log. Oh my gosh they're starting to snog."

And Madison stating how I'm always on the phone with some sister of mine. I told her when she's older she'll do the exact same. She told me no she won't want to talk to them...well maybe Isabella since they look like each other and of course she'll talk to me...and dad sometimes...but he really doesn't like to talk on the phone so it'll mostly be me. It made me smile.

And I love how Bells instantly cheers up when Dan comes in the house. She's been grumpy all afternoon...she heard the door open (we were upstairs playing in her room...wait it was more she was sitting on my lap in her room) and then she pops up and walks over and says, "Dad!" Those two have a special bond....he's such a great dad.

And so it begins...

Cold and flu season. Hannah starting breaking out with this rash Friday night...it progressively got worse and by Monday night I was running her to the Emergency room. She had some allergic reaction to something or it's from the virus she had 2 weeks ago. She really wasn't that sick...she coughed a bit but that was it so I wasn't too worried about it. She's been doped up on Benadryl that past couple of days so no school for her but today I took her in to see her regular doctor after waiting on the appointment line for over an hour...and she's on Zyrtec so she won't be so drowsy. The hives are still lingering but the doctor said it could be a couple of months! I'm like seriously???!!! Hopefully it clears up soon....the medicine helps at least so it's not AS bad. Bells has had a fever all day today and she's super clingy...that's always fun. She so takes after Dan when she's sick. It's pretty pathetic...she'll be fine playing and then all of a sudden she cries and walks over to me arms open. It's like she's thinking....oh my gosh...I just remembered...I'm sick....I need to act helpless. Good times. Abigale is starting to really move around. I think she changed position because I think my stomach grew over night. It's getting exciting!

Just a whole lot of nothing

The weather is officially gloomy and so we've been hanging out inside or going on little car rides. This morning I woke up Madison for school at 7:45...the girl was still asleep...she asked why I was waking her up when it was still kind of dark. Hannah now wants school dinners....I think she likes having the warm food in her stomach and Bells is so wanting to be a "big girl." I can't stop thinking and looking at homes....I'm obsessed....I'm super excited about buying our first house. I feel so grown up...my friend asked me, "And you don't feel grown up with almost 4 kids???!!!" I do and don't...it's just another one of those milestones I can't wait to get checked off since we know where we're going. As you might have concluded...I am not moving back to Medford while Dan is gone....I don't want to move the girls more than I have to....and to be honest...I kind of like being just "us"...well I like it more with Dan and the girls but you know what I mean. We can do our thing....and I will have all my things so I really think we'll all just be happier about it. And I'm going to be in California...land of the sun! I am super excited about that!
She's telling me no...she points the finger a lot and says, "nanananan"...it's kind of cute now. I know...it won't be so cute when she's older but like Dan says to the everyone, "Do you see this kid...she looks just like your mom or Bobbie; that means she can do no wrong."

Playing with dad...

I love the part where Bells is trying to say, "me." I also love the guy who's playing with our kids...we're all pretty lucky to have him.

Love

Waking up your kids and driving at 1 am to find your wife since she wouldn't answer her cell phone. I was at a girl's night at a friend's house....Dan called since I said I wouldn't be very late...11 probably the latest...and it was getting late...I left my phone out in the car. By 1 am he was at her front door....he got a lot of "awwwww's" from the women and "he loves you so much...you have a great guy"....he said he was just worried about having to raise 3 girls alone. I think I'll go with what friends said about him.

Things to remember

How Bells wakes up so happy in the morning...especially when one of her sisters come in her room while I'm changing her and she pops up and waves and says, "Hi didder!" I'm in an instant happy mood no matter how early it is and can't stop smiling....I smile just thinking about it. She adores her big sisters.

Hannah and Madison's conversation with someone who works at the commissary. They asked if she had kids...she said yes....they asked about her husband...she said she didn't have one....they asked then how she had a kid....she told them she once had a boyfriend but he's gone now....they asked why....she said they fought....Hannah then says, "Sometimes my mum gets mad at my dad because he's doing something annoying but then they make up. I know they'll never leave each other...they love each other....they kiss on the lips and it's sooooo gross! I see them sometimes doing that....yuck!" And even though I was embarrassed that my kids were prying into this woman's life...she didn't mind...it made me feel good that my kids know I love their dad and he loves me....and we'll always be together.

Oh...

I had my doctor appointment today as well as Bell's 1 year well baby. It was a crazy day full of doctor stuff and I still had to get dinner ready for guests. We did it though...and I even made meringues that were oh so good. Abigale is doing great....140 heart beat, measuring just above the belly button and only a 3 lb weight gain this pregnancy so far. I thought I gained about 10 lbs this past month....good thing it wasn't so. I didn't realize I was 21 weeks...just about 22. This pregnancy is flying by. Then I was thinking...in no more than 18 weeks we get to meet this little girl. C-sections are done between 38 and 39 weeks. This is getting exciting. I had to get my flu shot...I never usually get them but the doctor mentioned it and I figured I better since last year I was so sick, I didn't want to chance it. I felt a little bad since it's on a priority basis right now but the tech said to come on back....and so I took my husband's or someone who was suppose to get it before me....oh well.

Bell's is doing wonderful and growing in all the ways she should and doing everything she's suppose to and more. The doctor was impressed with her talking...he kept mentioning how he understood what she was saying. She had to have 5 pokes though so that was hard on her and she's a little bit dramatic so we've been having to have a lot more cuddles than usual. It doesn't help that the store is all out of Motrin and Tylenol....but miraculously I found some Motrin in the back of the cupboard and it hasn't yet expired so I think that's helping a bit. Oh so Bell's weighs 25 lbs, she's 31 inches...still following her growth chart. That's my kids though...they top off around 30 and then stay that weight for forever. I was thinking she weighed more....but I can tell she's thinning out since she's started walking....and she likes walking everywhere. She's pretty proud of herself for figuring out how to step down and go out the front door....I'm so not looking forward to the day she can reach the door handles....she's going to be escaping all the time....she loves being outside.

Date night

I think Dan and I had almost forgotten what it was like to be just me and him. Bells is not too keen on staying with anybody...and so we just take her to the movies when we go. Dan found a babysitter for us the other day and so we went out last night to a movie and dinner and had a great time...well minus my melt down at the beginning....I blame pregnancy. So we went and saw, The Other Guys, and we laughed. We needed a stupid, funny movie and throughout the whole movie I kept wanting Mark Wahlberg to say, "say hello to your mother for me." (SNL) Anyway...then we went out to the restaurant right by the cinema and ran into a couple we knew so we had dinner with them and had a great time. AND I got to eat my banana cheesecake....it was a PERFECT night!

Peterborough Cathedral

Dan and I have been meaning to go to this cathedral but we find other things to do besides go to Peterborough. We took the Bells and enjoyed our day out....we were suppose to go to London but the Navy Ball meeting just HAD to be that day. I think Dan was secretly excited he didn't have to go...to London that is.

I was able to see where Katherina of Aragon was buried. Ever since we went to Kimbolton Castle were she was banished by King Henry VIII, I have been wanting to go to the cathedral to see her grave. And I did not take one picture of the cathedral from the outside...I don't know why. I think we were just busy with Bells...she wants to walk everywhere now.

And this is why I have girls....

Last night, Madison, Hannah and I had a girl's movie night. They had seen the previews for Letter to Juliet awhile back and so I rented it for us last night. After dinner and baths, the three of us snuggled on the sofa while Dan was on the computer...he had no interest in watching the movie with us....and are our sweeties. I know it was a school night but we had all wanted to watch this movie and had been waiting for it release onto DVD. The girls were totally into it! It was so cute. Then at this one part I look at Hannah and she is bawling her eyes out asking me all sorts of questions pertaining to that part of the movie. Dan and my little romantic. Madison just held my hand and when I looked at her I saw her eyes were watery...I asked if she was okay and her reply, "Mum, I just have watery eyes for some reason." It made me smile. Dan looked back and laughed, not meanly, but just the, "why in the world are you guys all crying over this" look and laugh. I love how I have chick flick buddies...well still PG and under but still....it's nice!

Rednecks, walking and crushes

Yesterday while driving home, I was telling Dan how I know he needs a sports car....he is going to have 5 women in his family....but I am opposed to him getting the new Camero. I know...it looks cool but seriously...everyone is going to have it! The other day while I was one base I saw one. I also saw the people getting into it and I was describing the father telling Dan how that was another reason as to why I oppose the Camero idea. Hannah all of a sudden says, "Mum, besides having a red neck what else did that man look like?" Dan and I busted out laughing. It was too cute. I know....I probably sound so mean and bad but I'm totally for Dan getting this OTHER car....I like to think of myself driving it occasionally.....

Here's Bells doing that she does now:



Madison's slipper is soft...she loves that texture so that's why she's holding the slipper.

And Madison has caught the eye of some younger boys....she's so cute....wait....all my girls are. Dan and I really lucked out and they got the best of both of us.

She's walking!

Bells has been taking steps for the past two weeks but the last couple of days she's been doing really well. She now thinks she needs to be down all the time now so that has been a little annoying...she's still getting the hang of it and so she's not a total pro but she's trying. I love seeing her little face while she walking...it's a, "do you like see me? And you should be so proud and clap," thing she has going. I notice how much more relaxed I am with a third...she spins on the floor, we were at the Laundromat and she was walking and then she'd fall and crawl a bit....I would never let my other two do that....GERMS....and so I just put her in a bleach bath as soon as we got home and things were good. Just kidding about the bleach but I did give her a bath. She was so good and I had like 17 loads of laundry to do....it was duvet day...and so we were there for quite awhile.

Madison and Hannah are doing great in school and loving their new teachers. Every day they home a reading book....Hannah hadn't been so I told her she needed to go get a book while we were in the classroom for drop off. She looked at me and with a serious face told me, "Mum, I don't need to. I'm in Year 1." Nice! Madison has so much more homework now....I like actually have to do it with her. This is going to be work.

Dan has a whole week off! I'm excited....although a little bummed since he had to burn 20 days and could only take a week off since somebody else was taking leave the following week. Oh well...but what I was even more upset about...our day trip to London has been cancelled due to a Navy Ball meeting...LAME!

Oh and I found a dress....now just need to find some accessories and get the dress in the mail in time. Hopefully....

It's a....

Big surprise....(I'm saying that with sarcasm)...and so Abigale will be joining our family of girls.

Shoes

Bells needed some shoes desperately. I had been avoiding it since the shoe store was complete madness with kids going back to school and needing new shoes. So went after we went after we dropped the girls off and got these.

She doesn't really like walking in them....she just likes to point and say, "shooos."

Bells is a size 4...the last shoes I bought were 2's! I'm so horrible with her and shoes. She just tends to take them off so I never really bothered. Is my 4th even going to be wearing clothes???!!! I'm such a slacker!

First day of school!

Dan and I pretty much have the cutest Year 1 and Year 3 students in the whole world!

Tough Choices

Dan and I had been anticipating these past few days. He was able to talk to the detailer about what our future...well somewhat...more like the next 3 years hold. It was hard since what we were thinking were all taken and then we had to make a tough choice between two options. We opted for the harder one...harder on us as a family...but in the long run we thought it would be the best and benefit us all. Dan has his verbal orders to do a 1 year unaccompanied to Bahrain and then he'll be the CAG-AI for I forgot what specific CAG but we'll be in Lemoore for that....well minus when he has to get on the carrier based out of San Diego. The plan so far...it could change and I could move just to Cali straight away....is for me and the girls to live in Oregon while he's gone for the one year, I'll be working on prereqs for nursing school and then we'll move on down to Lemoore when he gets home and I'll finish up school there. We had the other choice but Dan chose the "hard" tour to see if he could negotiate and get his next orders and do THE job he wanted for a sea tour. We didn't think we'd get it since there is only like 10 of those kind of jobs but it worked out! It is so funny that we are excited about moving back to Lemoore. Yes the air sucks and it stinks some times but to be somewhere warm is going to be so nice. And the air base is nice...so there are some positives....and the strawberries....I look forward to those. Wait....all the fruit....it is so much better there. I'm excited to do family road trips (no, not to Oregon) to sight see some of those national parks and go camping. Have I mentioned how excited I am to know where we will be going next???!!! And the more Dan and I talk about it...the more we realize we made the right decision since we feel good about it. That in itself is a relief. We still have about 8 months here more or less and are so glad to know what our plans are...well as much as you can be in the military with verbal orders....and so our new adventure will begin around May or June 2011. I sure hope that first year goes by fast.....