uh?

I can't think of the word I was wanting to use for the title of this post. I'm sure the reason is due to pregnancy/mommy brain, being sick out of my and doped up on benadryl and not having slept the past 3 nights.

Mug shots.

There's the word(s).

Don't judge me. Please.

I seriously considered posting a picture of myself today. I got up this morning and went to a dermatologist appointment and Eli and I came home and crashed. I actually looked somewhat nice, as in hair fixed and a little make-up... I can't go anywhere without mascara and blush. I woke up from the nap and went to the bathroom and when I looked in the mirror I laughed and cried. Laughed because I look hideous and cried because I really look hideous. {hormonal?}

You know when you're watching the news and they start talking about someone who has beat a kid that they were babysitting and flash their disgusting MUG SHOT? You, or at least I, sit there and you say, "Who in their right mind would leave their kid with someone who looks like that???"

Well ladies and gentlemen, that is me today. I know now that those people may not always look like they have been eating crack rocks 3 meals a day while washing it down with a bottle of Jack. (I tried to think of some type of redneck liquor but I guess Jack will do)

Uh, so I forget where I am going with this post. I guess I just wanted you to know that I look, and feel, like a meth junkie living in Cragford, Alabama's old Mellow Valley school house.

You know what, just because I can laugh at and with myself...

Picture included.

Ladies, show this to your husbands. They'll be so grateful for your beauty.

Daniel, If you read this... please don't leave me.

I may delete this when I'm coherent so enjoy for now ;) Please notice how swollen my face and nose are from all of this congestion. To be completely honest, this picture actually makes me look a little better than what I actually do. And of course no picture would be complete without my little bed bug who is sickly himself.

"I'm A Big Brother"

This book has been at the top of our reading queue for a few days now... Along with "Tractors" and "Big Rigs."

In the book there is a brown headed little boy who is now a big brother. It's kind of funny because he favors Eli before we cut all of his hair off. We read it several times a day and I always point to the little boy and say, "There is Eli and here is his baby brother Drew." Eli kind of laughs about it and turns the page.

A few minutes ago I had walked out of the room and Eli was pulling the books out of the end table for the 100th time today. I came back in and caught him looking at the book.

Is this really what he thinks about being a big brother?

I really hope not...

Eli understands...

Even though I've "known" for a while, yesterday it really hit me...

Eli understands so much of what we say.

For the past couple of weeks whenever I tell Eli we need to go change his diaper, he tootles right on back to his room and stands a few feet from his changing table. I use to just pick him up in the middle of whatever he was doing and just tell him we were going to change his diaper. Even after he started walking. I'm not sure how we evolved to him actually walking to the room himself but yesterday it just amazed me. I had not even told Daniel about it until a couple days ago because it just hadn't sunk in that we had a new little routine.

We are working on body parts. He's really good at finding everyone's noses but he has no interest in belly button or ears or anything else... But that's fine. Eli only has a nose for now. ;)

He understands what talking on the phone is. He knows that he's pretending because if my phone actually does ring he grabs it and brings it to me. He even will race me for it just so he can actually be the one to pick it up and hand it to me.

He hums along with a lot of the songs we sing during the day. When we sing "This little light of mine" he holds his little finger up and waves it around. When he's playing with his cars and trucks, his trucks make a louder noise than the cars. And he always brings the same book about tractors to sit in my lap and look at with me. Is that coincidence or does he understand that we talk about Grandpa's tractor when we look at it?

I wonder what else he understands.

It makes me think of the Sunday school song we use to sing "Oh be careful little..." and you would insert with each verse "eyes what you see, mouth what you say, ears what you hear, hands what you do, feet where you go..." Good little song. Even better for mommies and daddies to remember!

Whooah, we're halfway there...

Uh huh. A little Bon Jovi for yah. Who, by the way, I think didn't lose his looks like a lot of 80's icons.

Anywho, we really are halfway there!!!

...that is unless Andrew decides to make an almost 2 week late appearance like his brother did.

I found a really cute baby book today and picked it up. I was really excited as to how similar it is to Eli's.

Weight gain: about 3 lbs... I am suppose to gain a pound each week from here on out!

Baby's size: He weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now and is about 6 1/2 inches long from

head to rump! He's swallowing these days and gearing up for his first dirty diaper!

Woo hoo!!!

Gender: A boy :)

Maternity clothes: Sometimes... they are way more comfy!

Stretch mark: Nope, hopefully I received enough from Eli!!!!

Sleep: I really only wake up when Daniel and Eli are snoring.... And occasionally

a trip to the potty...

Movement: Yes! I don't remember feeling Eli moving this early. Daniel even felt him last Tuesday!

Cravings: None really, I have just been hungry a lot.

What I miss: Nothing at all! I'm too excited to have another sweet little boy!

Looking forward to: Our 20 week ultrasound and seeing him again!

And a look at my growing stomach...

It's awkward trying to figure out what to do with my hands?

haha....

And my main squeeze... who is too big to sit still to take a picture these days...

**** I just hit post and forgot to set it to publish tomorrow, oh well... I only know how to go back and edit...

I want...

I started this post after I had been looking at a bunch of stuff online...

then I realized how stupid, for lack of a better word, that was of me to post about a hat and new shoes I wanted, so I deleted it... I saw the site below, and now I know what I really want...

http://www.lakenheath.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123247949

I want these guys and their families, as well as the thousands of troops who aren't with loved ones, to be in your prayers.

And I want to be in your prayers also.

Pray that I always remember that every day that my husband is alive, I'm blessed.

Pray that he returns safely in November to meet his new little boy.

Pray that his team returns safely as well.

That's what I want.

Sick Prize

I can remember just about every time as kid and I had to go to the Dr. I would always get a prize.

Well, for the past 2 weeks or so, Eli has been in a funk.

I'm not sure what is really going on with him but on Wednesday we finally have an appointment to get him checked out. He's constantly digging in his ears, but not tugging or crying about them. It's like they are just annoying him. He had a cold towards the end of last week and lately he's been wheezing and that just freaks me out.

Today, part of Eli's Easter basket stuff came in the mail. I thought that since he hasn't been feeling so hot, he could have part of it. And honestly I just wanted to see it on him...

Here is he... My little handy man :)

The little tool belt has a button on top and makes little hammering and twisty/screw-driver noises. He is so funny using the tools to push the buttons.

Just Eli...

Eli is just himself. I can't explain the joy he brings to our lives but I am so thankful that my days are full of Just Eli.

I hate editing videos, but I had to share this one. He knows when I am recording something and he usually won't do whatever "trick" I'm trying to capture.

His "conversations" are usually a little bit longer though.

****please notice at the end when I asked who was on the phone he put his finger over his mouth, went "shh" and pointed at the TV. I may or may not do that to him when I'm on the phone, hoping the TV will entertain him for a few...

And here are a few pictures I hadn't realized were still on my camera...

Eli got this for his little brother after we did the gender scan :)

Celebrating at Frank&Benny's

Aren't they so handsome!

Seems like all British restaurants give away balloons.

{Yay........}

All that excitement can really get to a little man!

Headed to the Zoo! He NEVER takes a picture with me so I'm proud of this one!!!

We have to stay barefoot until we reach our destination!

Socks and Trains...

I'm not really sure where to begin this post... I guess I will start with socks...

For some unknown reason, E REFUSES to wear socks. They will only last about 2-3 minutes, sometimes 5 if he's trying to please me. On Sunday Eli kept going out into the sun room where the dogs are staying and it was pretty cold out there (we've turned on the heat now). Eli wasn't wearing socks and I kept thinking to myself, he's going to get sick being out there without shoes or socks on.

The following morning he woke up with a cough and I'm guessing a sore throat since he makes a sad face whenever he swallows food.

I'm not going to lie, being that we usually don't go anywhere during the day, we usually wear PJs all day long. Unless it's nice enough to play outside. I try to keep him in footed PJs but once again I am not going to lie, I have about 10 loads of laundry that I need to do and his footed jammers are most likely in one of the piles.

I can justify our massive laundry overload with the fact that our miniature washing machine only holds about 3 or 4 items! It takes about an hour and a half to wash one "load" of clothes on the lightest cycle but some items have food or dirt ground into them and require a longer cycle. It takes twice as long to dry a load than wash so I always end up with a pile of wet clean clothes waiting to be dried.... Excuses, excuses. Right?

Anyway. Back to Eli's bare feet. Today I sat and watched him as he tore his socks off and now I know why he likes his tootsies free.

But I can't lie. I do love his little feet. They are so monkey-ish. I think it's because the big toe is so big and he always has it stuck straight up.

His toes needed some play time too!

On to trains! Lately Eli has been obsessed with the Thomas the train we bought him for Christmas. He totes it everywhere and has to show it to everyone. Yesterday we received a package from Grandma and inside were the PJs he's sporting in these pics. He pulled them out of the box and let out a big squeal and an "oooooooh!" (these jumped to the front of the washing line and he was able to put them on this morning since last night he slept in his diaper.)

I love that little pot-bellied boy!

OH YEAH!!!!

On April 11, 2011 we will have the keys in hand to our awesome and huge house on base!

I am SoOo fracking excited, you don't even know!

We will live near our friends and maybe even get new friends!

Lately, I've been pretty tight frugal and I am really hoping to buy:

1. A king size bed. A queen with a Daddy, baby and prego Mommy do NOT go hand in hand.

I'm always the one getting pushed out of bed.

2. Eli a new bed... maybe I won't need a larger bed?

3. A table that isn't tall like the one we have now. I thought that's what I wanted but it definitely isn't. I want one that has the bench on one side and chairs on the other. Our four seater table just isn't cutting it whenever we have friends over...

4. Lastly, a buffet. I'd really love an older one or unfinished one so I can do it myself.

I'm not sure if I've been THAT "frugal" to get all of my list accomplished right away.

I just can't explain how thrilled I am about all of our closet space, the HUGE laundry room, the closet space and the closet space. I may even have an empty one or two...

But on another note, I am so saddened by the disaster in Japan. My heart and prayers go out to all who were affected and lost loved ones. I saw a picture today of a man holding a little baby and it just brought me to tears. I can't imagine the panic I would feel being separated from my Eli. Or Daniel. It's just so devastating and I pray that the death toll isn't as high as experts are predicting and that families are quickly reunited with one another.

House Guests

For the next 4 weeks or so we have two house guests.

They arrived around noon today and have provided my young child with lots and lots of giggles (when he hasn't been screaming his large head off about complete nonsense) and top notch entertainment.

Too bad they will probably be the ONLY house guests we have the WHOLE 3 years we will be living here in England. Actually we have just a little over 2 years now...

These 3 have played SO hard today! Eli reallllly wants a dog. These two are SO well behaved and trained. They stay on their bed until you tell them they can get up. They are passed out in their kennels as I type. I'm sure they are dreaming about running away from Eli.

How cute is the Westie? His name is Jasper. And he kind of reminds me of Jasper from Twilight although I really doubt that is why they named him so...
The bulldog's name is Churchill. There is an insurance company here named so and its mascot is an English Bulldog... like Winston Churchill. get it?

Born to be wIIIIIiiiilld...

However, all of the animals we visited yesterday were quite un-wild and seemed a bit sedated.

Eli had a ball though walking all over the zoo. I always SWORE I would never put my kid on a leash but yesterday I would have slapped one on if he had one!

notice the ring around e's head?

apparently his toboggin' is too small these days...

checking out the birds

this guy's name was chester and he TALKED!

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

Sing-A-Ma-Jigs.

They're all the rage these days. At least for me...

The day we landed in B'ham coming home for Christmas we had to pick up a few things at Toys 'R Us. My mom noticed these funny looking little toys that made funny sounds when you squeezed their tummies. She picked E up one and we annoyed the daddies all the way home. About two weeks later I found out you could squeeze his hand to make hi sing differently. With one setting it sounded kind of like he was talking. After another 3 or 4 days, I found out if you timed his "words" just right he was singing Twinkle Twinkle. Duh, we should have read the tag. We all had a good laugh that we had spent so long trying to figure out what the little guy was saying. Now I am seeing them everywhere!

I was shopping on Amazon for things to put in Eli's little Easter basket and saw this little guy. He sings Peter Cottontail. Eli will be pretty excited since his other one had to stay in Alabama. If you haven't seen these, be sure to look for them next time you're out. I know they also have them at Target. I can almost guarantee you're little one will be provided with hours of entertainment.

I'm having to step up my game this Easter. Last Easter Eli only got baskets from G'parents. I didn't really worry about it since he was so young and we were in AL and I didn't want to deal with dragging MORE stuff to England. He did get his picture made with the Easter Bunny though. He was a tiny little sleeping thing. I am wondering if this year he will be as freaked out by the E Bunny as he was by S Clause?

And here is another sneak peak at what might be in E's basket. I'm in love with Mr. Potato Heads. I've found a pirate one that I really need to get too.

I have about 10 different things in my cart, most of which are books with the touch and feel.

They are his favorite! And I still keep looking at more. It's so hard not to go overboard once I get going...

I want this in my Easter basket... hah

Before there was a baby & other stuff

Last night I was cleaning the kitchen up and Daniel was talking to me, I noticed Eli running around from room to room. It's amazing how quickly he picked up on walking. He just started one day and kept going. Now if/when he falls, he gets right back up and keeps going. To begin with he would crawl since he was already on the floor. We kind of laughed at his tired little body roaming around trying to get into something to keep him awake. I asked Daniel if he could remember a time before Eli. Must be easier for dads because all I could remember was thinking my dogs were my world. His reply was that we went to the movies a lot and wasted a lot of money.

Ooooh. Yeah. Now I remember.

We seriously hit the theater at least twice a week. We had about as much money left over at the end of every month as we do now. How is that possible? What did we buy? I really can't even tell you... probably food. We did eat out a good bit, especially towards the end of my pregnancy. But it's just so weird to think that we are spending as much or maybe even less than we use to.

Oh yea, it's that budget thing we do now.

I really do miss hitting up the movies as often as we use to.

Today I logged onto IMDB to see what was coming out in the states. The Red Riding Hood trailer looks AMAZING! Someone please watch it and let me know what you think. I like kids stories turned darker adult-ish movies. I don't want to know who the big bad wolf is, so don't tell me! Hopefully it will be out to rent by the time we are back in the states.

A couple of random things I don't want to use a whole blog on:

We have picked out a name! Christopher Andrew Land and we'll call him Drew. I'm not big on "nick names" but I love the name Drew and to me it just didn't sound right all together without the "An." Kind of the way we did Elijah. It needed more substance (I guess you would call it that) when you say the full name. But for boys I really like the short one syllable names.

We've decided since the boys (I love saying that...the boys) will be so close in age, having them share a room will work out for a couple of years. As of yesterday I decided that we would stick with the pirate themed nursery... I love all of our pirate decor and I really don't want to get rid of it... And I probably never will. But this morning I saw this. They have it for twin beds and for cribs. Decision made.

Tomorrow the housing office will do an inspection of the house we are moving into and by Monday we should know what day we will be moving on base! Woo hoo!!!

And I've really been meaning to talk about this for a while. But the blogs that I read and follow are all listed to the right. About half, or maybe even more, of them contain some of the cutest little girls you will ever see. Reading these blogs and seeing these cute little girls grow are what caused a large amount of my anxiety of the possibility of having a girl. They're all gorgeous. Like, really. They range from about 1 week to not a whole lot older than Eli and they are all adorable. You see these cute little things and think 'oh gosh, I don't want a little girl because there is no way she could be cuter than that!' Or maybe that is just my warped thinking!

Finally, along with another thing or 2 I have given up Facebook for Lent, and quite possible for good. A lot of times I feel like it's just an excuse for people to brag about a new car or how amazing someones life is compared to your crappy one. I don't need to hear about how busy you are folding clothes and washing dishes. Or read your complaining about not having money one post and then your bi-weekly trip to Outback along with the shopping spree at Wal-Mart.

And the biggest one that gets on my nerves is complaining about your husband working overtime. Um, hello! With this economy I'm sure most are thankful for OT!

If I do reactivate it, I will be doing some serious "weeding."

Didn't that last bit sound Oscar the Grouch-ish?

Happy Thursday!

It's a...

Well, Daniel is going down to Germany in the morning to visit the guys who were wounded in Wednesday's shooting at Frankfurt so I got up early this morning and called the Babybond Ultrasound place and asked if there was any way we could be squeezed in today. The receptionist called me back a little later and they had an appointment available! Daniel was so excited that he wasn't going to miss it.

I'm not going to draw out the whole day so I'll get to the point. The ultrasound tech went to the "between the legs region" and just as clear as day we saw it. Yes, IT.

It's a boy!!!

I could not be more thrilled! I knew that I would be happy if it was a girl and I wouldn't have been disappointed, but I am so beyond excited that I will have 2 sweet and wonderful, precious little boys. Dirty, rowdy, messy, stinky, sweaty, WiLd little boys!!!! Being so close in age they will get to play on the same ball teams every other year and they will play peewee football together (if they want to). Ride dirt bikes together. Fight each other. Cowboys and Indians. Cops and robbers. Pick up girls together. I mean, I just can't wait to see what the future holds for us and our boys. And I can't wait to wear have a wardrobe full of team t's with "So-and-so Name's Mom" on the back.

Daniel is excited about taking his boys camping, playing catch, teaching them to tee-tee outside and all that other fun "boy stuff."

AND I already know how to take care of little boys. Over the past year I've learned about taking proper care of little boy part and making sure you get a diaper on fast enough to cover "that thang" up before he gets you... and trust me, having another little boy makes learning it the first time really worth it.

Well, just thought you all would like to know! I'm going to love on my first born and get him to sleep.

Days like this...

Days like this make me so thankful for everything in my life that I have been blessed with. My material blessings, my spiritual blessings, and most of all my little baby blessings and husband blessing.

Living abroad, my eyes have really been opened to just how much Americans take for granted. We have so many freedoms that are being tossed away one by one, and believe me... I do not want to live like people over here.

Even though when I heard about the shooting at Frankfurt Airport I was already told that Daniel was safe and not involved, I hadn't felt such a sick feeling of pain in my stomach and heart in a long time.

After hearing that the Airman who was killed was actually part of Daniel's unit, it was just too close to home. I have honestly not had such a sick feeling and feeling of loss without having known those involved since 9/11.

Daniel and I talk about his deployment regularly and we always look at it from a money standpoint. We talk about how much we will be able to save and what we will be able to do with the money.

Money will never bring that guy back to his family. It won't ease their pain. It's more of a slap in the face. Because my husband's life means a whole lot more to me than the few thousand dollars going into our bank account.

So tonight, late tonight, when my husband finally comes home, I will hug him. For a really long time. Because knowing that our soldiers, men and women/mothers and fathers, like my husband are still dying and being shot at fighting for our country and all of our well being makes me really proud and sad for the losses of their families at all once. I am so thankful for all of our troops and what they go through to provide freedom and acts like what happened today from happening on our home soil.

God bless America and our Troops :)

True Story

Tonight as I was giving Eli his bedtime bottle I could tell that his nose was a little stuffy but there wasn't anything in it... just that night time stuffy-ness I guess. After he was just about finished with his milk, he had decided that enough was enough. If I wasn't going to do anything about it, he would. He got out of the chair we were rocking in and went to the side table drawer. He proceeded to pull out his nose spray, put it up to his nose and with his mouth he made a squirt/spray noise. He walked around the living room doing so until he felt his problem was relieved. I have kept his spray and nose bulb in there since his last cold. It was just easier to have it handy. I guess it will stay there so that he can tell me when he feels he needs it again.

How I wish to God that I had my video camera near by.