Happy birthday...

.... to me! I'm not gonna lie y'all... I was not looking forward to my birthday this year. I wasn't dreading it, but I was no where near as excited as I normally am. Maybe it's a "mom thing?" Well, even though I was not all giddy and revved up about today, it turned out amazing. Daniel got off work today at noon and brought home some BK (not my fav place but I didn't put up left-overs last night and I honestly didn't have anything else to make for lunch except PB&Js.) So after my crown shaped nuggets, I enjoyed a piece of cake that the L-t made all by him self last night AND iced AND decorated. I took pictures but my camera is out in the car and it. is. COLD. He made my favorite, the yellow butter cake and chocolate icing.

After our gourmet lunch, we hopped in the car for my awesome massage and pedicure. Wow. It was amazing and much needed. I laid on that table face down for 1 hr while that chick did her magic. And I'm not gonna lie, I wanted to moan like Monica on that episode of "Friends" where she doesn't want Phoebe giving her a massage and the she lets her and Phoebe gets freaked out. I refrained. Then a laid on my back with a heavenly scented, warm eye cover over my eyes while she "did my front." She pulled out one limb to rub at a time while the rest of my was covered with warm towels and blankets. I kept wanting fall asleep but I didn't want to because I wanted to enjoy the massage! I felt like a new woman after she was over. Then I got my pedicure... I had painted my toes a dark plum color a few days ago without a clear base coat and she had a hard time getting it off. Now I felt like that part of Dumb and Dumber when they are trying to file the guys toenails down with a power tool. My toes are now a beautiful, bright, sports car red WITH a base coat.

As I reluctantly left the spa, Daniel pulled up and I jumped in the car barefoot. I forgot to bring flip flops so I looked like an idiot leaving, I'm sure. Sitting in the middle console was a box of THE best chocolates ever made. I've been telling Daniel about this chocolatier in the town where we were and he went in and picked out the very best ones! My favorites are the strawberry and champagne flavored ones. It's a little white chocolate ball lightly rolled in this pink strawberry flavored powder filled with a strawberry and champagne cream. So good, I had about 4 on the way home. We stopped at the Donor shop and got Donor Kebabs and they were amazing as well. A great way to end my day.

Sorry if this post was so happy it made you want to vomit! It was almost a little too happy for me to write it. Nothing went crazy or wrong though so I am in a little bit of shock! I will post pictures of my cake for you all to admire later ;). ALSO, if you've actually read this far... On the top right of my page you can cast your vote on what you think the baby will be! We find out on March 6th! Even if you aren't a "follower" you can vote, and I know that all of my 8 followers aren't viewing my page 60 times a day... I'm looking forward to see what everyone thinks! I think it's a boy!

174

Today we FINALLY got to see Baby Land! It's measuring 12 weeks today (a little ahead of what we thought) and has a beautiful strong heartbeat of 174. It's such a relief going in for the first time and finally getting to hear that sweet little sound! Baby was asleep for the first part of the scan but then decided to wake up and stretch it's teeny little arms and legs. From crown to rump it's about the length of your forefinger... I guess unless your finger isn't the size of my Dr's finger. Ah, anyways... I just had to share the excitement!!! It's much more real now!

So, my birthday is 2 days away and last night my sweet husband starts hounding me on what he should get me. I couldn't think of anything, mostly because I didn't really want or need anything. I had an awesome Christmas and really all I can think about is Eli's upcoming birthday! As I was browsing the web looking for something to catch my eye, I came across a couple of sites with really cute and somewhat cheap jewelry perfect for moms and grandmas... or really any woman who has someone she loves. You may just want to leave these sites in your browser around Mother's Day!

The first site I came to was dramaqueenbows.com. On the top left tab is "Mom bracelets." Cute, cute. I will definitely be ordering the Rene after we find out what we are having, and a name of course!

Next, poshmommyjewelry.com. A little more expensive but still affordable, this is my favorite! I love gold jewelry just as much as silver, but I am hesitant about buying gold jewelry online. Some of the pictures have a little too much "quarter machine" gold-ness to them. The "Tall Tags" with the birthstone were my favorite items here! Christmas before last, I had ordered my MIL the loop style necklace, but from a different site. She'll be needing a new one since she is getting two more grandloves this August! And no, I am not having twins (that I know of)! Daniel's brother and SIL are also expecting! They are due a little over a week ahead of us!

I had one more site but after going back and looking at it, it is a lot like the last one I mentioned and their engraving looks a little sloppy.

Ah, ok. Now that you've read my ridiculous little commercial, go check out that cute mommy jewelry. Oh, and just so you know, it is 4 a.m. England time right now and Eli and I have been up since 2:30. Not sure why... he just woke up and was happy and talking and NOT going back to sleep. Since it was only 9 in AL we skyped GG, Papa and Uncle Luke for a little while and now we are just enjoying some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Hopefully we'll get back into bed SOON! Goodnight/morning... :/

Snuggletime

When Eli was a baby...well, a "baby" baby, we snuggled him constantly. I mean, we would put him down... we just always snuggled him,especially at nap time and bed time. So now, we still do the same. He is good about snuggling during those times but other than that, snuggling is on his own terms. He's too busy playing and exploring for such childish things these days... except for every once in a while. Last night he fell asleep around 9 and got up this morning at 7:30! I think we are finally on British time! Anyway, being up this early has put my little chunky monkey into a snuggle mood and I'm lovin' it! His little hair is all over his head and his eyes are swollen. Nothing better in this world!

Wanna Ride, Ladies??

Days that Daniel has off are probably the best days we ever have. It's so nice to have that extra hand around, even though we usually end up laying around watching TV and playing with E-man. Still... I don't have to worry about putting Eli in his play pin when I have to use the restroom or waiting for him to follow me down the hall to check on laundry. Today Daniel got up and made breakfast for us and let us sleep late... like 10:30 late. We are still trying to get this England time straight. Below is pretty much what our day has consisted of... well, this and Wii Mario Cart... Eli helps his daddy drive giving Mommy a little bit of an advantage.

No more pictures, Mom!!!!!

Quarter 'til Midnight

It's a quarter until midnight and my sweet little family and I are all snuggled in the living room watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. We arrived in London at 11:30 am local time on the 13th (5:30 am AL time). Thankfully Eli slept the whole flight, from 9 PM Chicago time until right before we landed... So it was like he got a full nights sleep. He slept most of the car ride home and then went to sleep that night at 9 pm. This morning we slept until noon!!! AND we napped this afternoon. (I'm thinking I covered this in my blog earlier today but I am tired and can't remember and I am to lazy to open another tab to check it out. So, sorry if you feel like you're reading the same story twice.) His eyes are starting to look heavy so maybe we'll be hitting the sack soon.

I really hate the process of unpacking but hopefully I will have the motivation and energy to do so tomorrow. I also need to do lots of grocery shopping since it's been just a bachelor living here the past couple weeks. All that we have is Cap'n Crunch with the berries and milk. No thanks. Wait, I take that back. There is also a large bowl of week and a half old spaghetti that he made himself. I smell it every time I open the fridge and literally gag. Gotta clean that junk out.

Also, just realized I am 10 weeks along with New Baby. I still haven't had an appointment. I went to meet Dr Sullivan (I will be using him while we are home) in Alex City while we were home and have my first appointment with him but our TriCare (military insurance) is set for Europe or something crazy like that. I would had to of changed it and then again when we got back here so I just decided to wait. I was really excited about getting to see it for the first time and hear the heart beat... Oh well, next Wednesday we have a "pre-appointment" with a few other pregnant women and I guess we will schedule our first one there? They do everything extremely weird here. It's nearly impossible to ever get Eli an appointment with the pediatrics office. You can only call 24 hours in advance for those last minute appointments and they are always filled up. I do love traveling and seeing things we've never seen before but the conveniences of the states are truly missed and will be greatly appreciated when we return.

OK, this momma is tired. Too bad Eli isn't.

What... a trip!

Wow, we finally made it back to England. We had such an awesome time at home with our families but there really just isn't anything like coming home to your stuff and sleeping in your own bed. Christmas was such a whirlwind, with Eli waking up with another ear infection and spending most of Christmas Day in the ER. Then we went back to Daniel's parents to do Christmas with them and afterwards on to my family's in the snow. Eli was a little doped up on some Tylenol with codeine so I unwrapped and enjoyed all of his presents for him.

Four days later Eli still wasn't up to par so we went back to the Dr. and got a new antibiotic. New symptoms arose a week later and we got a new Dr., Eli got chest x-rays because of fluid in his chest and we found out he also had an RSV. We are still trying to get over that coughing and wheezing. Not the best stuff for a little man.

Daniel had left the Tuesday after Christmas and it was obvious that the absence of his daddy made Eli even more cranky. He just walked around picking up the phones and "calling Dah." It was funny and sad all at the same time. But Eli did have a great time playing with all of his aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents. They all helped to try and fill the void of his working father.

On New Years Eve Eli got to hang out with 3 of the most beautiful girls in the South and he ate up every bit of the attention they gave him. We were over at their house and at 8 it was obvious bedtime was lurking just around the corner. Mr Stephen didn't want Eli to miss out on the fireworks so he did them a few hours early just for E. Little did we know that they would shake him to his core and scare the bejesus out of him. It really was a great display, wish I had taken pics... of the fireworks and Eli's face. But he did enjoy watching them from a safe distance and without all the popping and booming, inside on the couch.

On the 9th we celebrated Eli's birthday a month early so that family and friends could celebrate with us. Well, good idea... not. Ice storm came through and only a few friends and family got to come, but we still had a great time. GG and Papa just have about 75 hot dogs left in their freezer. But his cake was adorable and everyone loved it. There wasn't much left and what was left was devoured that night by some of Uncle Luke's friends. Who, by the way, got iced in due to the storm. Four teenage boys in a house that was not prepared to have them for the storm = running out of food... fast.

All in all, even with the sickness, ice storm and drama with air lines (that I didn't indulge you all in, but I will say resulted in this momma needing her mouth washed with Ivory soap) we had a really awesome time at home visiting with everyone... And for those we didn't get to visit I plan on visiting first when we come home in April. It's hard traveling 2 hours with a baby who doesn't feel well, or really even with one who does!!! I have realized it's more important to keep a sick baby in than dragging him out for my own selfish reasons!

Oh! And I almost forgot!!! While at GG and Papa's, Eli has started standing on his own AND started taking steps! He won't do it unless it's on his own terms, so it took me a while to finally get a picture. My little, baby boy is just growing up way, way too fast.

Eli enjoying his little cake

The big cake was soo cute. I am still so happy with it!

He had to play cars with Papa every night

Luke, E and GG before church

E and 3 of his Gorgeous aunts

Thoroughly enjoying that pickle!

Please don't judge. He wasn't feeling well so I gave him a sucker.

He did really good with it and didn't get TOO sticky!

Standing on my own!!!

IDK why it is sideways!