2011 Resolution & 2010 Recap

The truth is I have never been a good blogger, but moving, having a kid, a baby, and computer issues deserving thier own blog post have made that an understatement. My hope is to better keep an up to date record of our lives to look back on as time flies and memories fade. So my new resolution is to post weekly, thats at least 4 posts a month! a big difference considering I barely had more than 4 posts last year!!
With as much growing as babies do in their first year, I know Baby Drew alone will make this possible. I am looking forward to 2011, watching Drew grow into is own little person and Luke grow as a big brother.
However, I will have to back track first and catch us all up.

Happy Birthday Drew Marshall

Drew Marshall was welcomed into the world 3 days early, on October 27, 2010 at 12:48PM after only 12 hours of labor, ten minutes of pushing, and weeks of anticipation. Because his pregnancy was so much the same as Luke's I thought for sure labor would be the same as well- that he would come a couple weeks early, need a few days of false labor for practice before the big day and then take his time through 26 hours of contractions before making his appearance. But things went relatively smoothly and quickly (besides the epidural procedure which is its own whole story! -lets just say I WILL NOT do that again!). Lo and behold before I knew it I was holding my sweet 7 lbs 14 oz of baby boy, but didn't know yet what to call him. So with the pressure to announce our boy's arrival we finally decided on Drew Marshall! I love it and I love him!

Happy Birthday Drew!

Home again

At 28 I have lived in more than 25 houses, at age 2 Luke has lived in 3. These numbers are a telling part of the life we live as Military dependants. Although happy to be along for the ride, usually these moves are made without much 'choice'. One aspect I do get to have some sense of 'control' over is unpacking and organizing exactly how I want, to include fully decorating and making it feel like "HOME". I am happy to say we are finally settled into our new home here in San Antonio, such a great feeling! To be lifted of all the anxiety that kept me from sweet sleep for the last 2 months, not to mention to sleep in my big comfy bed again, mmm sweet.

Thankfully it has actually been a very smooth move, and you know I was worried about unpacking a house at 36 weeks pregnant. Believe me, there was little rest until it was all done, but with the help of a great moving/unpacking crew, a husband off work, a box full of tools, and 5 gallons of fresh paint we have made our house feel like home. I love it, and Luke was just beyond thrilled to finally see his toys again, evident in the foot stomping hand clapping dance he did everytime a tote of toys was carried off the truck. We are excitedly getting to know the area and are already loving it. Next we look forward to introducing our new baby boy to his 1st home, meeting new friends, and welcoming all our old dear friends and family to visit.

HOME

Tommorrow we leave Florida and head to Texas. Luke is ready for the new 'big house' and has recently been asking to go to Texas, I think he misses all his toys, his bedroom, and his home.

The day we moved in Luke was 7 months and the day we moved out, less than two years later he was 27 months.

Oh yeah! I'm pregnant....

Today marks the first day of the last trimester in this pregnancy, which could very well be my last pregnancy. And so comes the realization that it has really flown by (so far) with a much different feeling and without any sort of record keeping aside from a couple belly pics. Obviously the first pregnancy was full of anticipation with all the excitement of the unknown.

I read ahead in every pregnancy book I had, was well aware of exactly what was developing when, how i felt and why, and kept a consistent log in my cute little pregnancy journal. Updates were made monthly if not weekly of belly pics, of measurements, and of items i had fully researched on the baby registry. I even had a decently narrowed down list of names (okay, 3 good ones that went to L&D with me).

But now?? Well, it wasn't until month 4 that I realized I should get a shot of the growing belly, I've condensed my pregnancy reading to just the free magazine I got at orientation, the name list is a whole other issue I am sure to blog about soon. And while there has been plenty of online 'window shopping' there will be no fun baby purchases until there is a house to put it in. And so the real reason why I feel a little preoccupied instead of really enjoying this pregnancy: the stress of moving!

While I am excited to bring home a new little bundle of baby boy joy, unfortunately the anxiety of pregnancy, and labor, and nursing, and keeping up with a 2 year-old has just been increased by the fact that just hours from now we will be packing up our little but very full house, loading it on a truck to Texas, and live out of our suitcases for the next 2 months before even making the 2 car, 13hr, (+ 34 week prego bladder + active 2 year old) trip to San Antonio. Sure, I will have a couple good weeks to get everything settled again IF we can find a house super quick, and IF settled meant not living out of boxes instead of the clean, OCD organized, and somewhat cozy home It usually means. So while there is much baby anticipation -its all going by a little too fast and the big unkown this time isn't how my life will change once I bring a newborn home, but rather where will I bring a newborn home? .... and it better not be in the TLF! *



Yet, on a positive note I am blessed to have had a healthy, otherwise easy pregnancy, a husband with a good job, and a pretty easy going little boy who is going to be a great big brother. Having the house packed up and cleaned, keys to renters, and cars loaded should at least mark some things off the big fat to-do list and allow for time to enjoy the rest of our stay in Florida (as long as most of it is done at the pool). Hopefully the lack of to-do lists, some new toys, and Paternal leave will make this big move and new brother at the same time thing a little easier on Luke. Although he is excited for our visit to Grandmas house, I don't think he realizes that we are packing all our stuff up and not coming back to our own. Again, as long as there is a pool we should be okay.

So, finally for Prego stats:

Date: July 31, 2010 -
Age: 27 weeks
Wieght: +12.5 lbs (me)
Name: Baby Brother
Baby's Mood: Bringing on Braxton Hicks

Mom's Mood: Now I feel pregnant, and hungry.

Loves: - You are getting bigger! The big baby in my belly movements bring me love everytime.

-Actually looking pregnant, no longer an "is she. or....?"
-Calling you 'brother', I am really looking forward to raising brothers, and learning all the ways you and your big brother are the same and all the ways you are different.
-Looking at newborn clothes again, and all the other little tiny things that bring back memories of sweet babyland.
- That all those bins and bins of stuff I saved will get used again.
-Planning your nursery, even if it is just in my head and mostly Luke's baby stuff.

Complaints: Still very low blood pressure+insomnia = super tired.
-Baby, i am glad your growing but you are starting to take over the space meant for my stomach, and I am SO hungry.
-Its just too damn hot in Florida.

Insomnia

Ok, so I am one of those people who actually like being pregnant -for several beautiful miraculous reasons, lucky I know. BUT, one of my few complaints is the evil lurkings of insomnia. I mean really, taking away a naturally fatigued pregnant women's ability to sleep for no reason is evil. I am not a great sleeper to begin with, but I at least deserve to catch up on a few good nights worth of sleep BEFORE it becomes just another thing that you have to manuever physically EVERY time you have to switch sides (already annoying if you are a tummy sleeper, right), or feel that unsatisfying kick of restless leg syndrome, and not to mention having to empty a bladder that you just fully emptied 2 x that night already! I mean come on! We all know that sleep will be a far and distant thing of the past once that little bundle of needs is here (at least for the first 3 months, please God not 8 this time! pretty please.) I have had plenty of experience in the lack of sleep department, I know how it works, I don't need these early lessons now! I have at least 12 weeks left, let me get some sleep!

Now I know my ABC's

{Click to Play}
Luke is learning to recognize letters, I had been randomly teaching him letters here and there where appropriate and had never really tried to get him to sing the song. We've never even heard him try until a couple days ago (see video). Andy and I sang it together at the breakfast table, next thing we know Luke literally sang it all the way through. Needless to say we were shocked, excited, and proud- we asked him all day to sing it over and over.... he knows it!

Where have I been?!

Well, You would think that with the lack of blogging there just hasn't been any Williams to watch, but no, I have just been slacking. And Geez, so much has happened in the last six months and yet no blogging, not one single post. It all started with the fatigue and morning/day/night sickness that put me behind (really, I had nothing for even the computer) and as time went by more things happened and I just didn't know where to start.
So in attempt to catch up to now JULY! Here are the highlights:

MARCH: We made a trip to Vegas for a visit with dear friends and a chance to get to see the fast growing kiddos. Lots of fun sans alcohol, because the 2nd day there I discover I'm PREGNANT !
APRIL: We celebrated LUKE turning TWO with a Thomas Train party with his friends, and a trip to St. Petersburg and Busch Gardens with family. We are blessed everyday with the childhood joys of a growing boy: trains, cars, every kind of truck, baseball, playground play, chase, hide n' seek, and the curiousity for more and more.
MAY: Andy gets an Assignment: PilotInstrucorTraining IP in San Antonio, to start October 6. Sadly, we attend Tyndall's last F-15 students graduation.

JUNE: We learn for sure that BABY # 2 is a BOY. Baby brother is Due October 30.

We Fly to Seattle, WA for my best friend Alona's wedding along with a wonderful visit with Towsley family.

Andy and I celebrate our 5 year wedding Anniversary. I turn 28!

Luke falls from a chair and gets his first set of stitches, which hopefully won't scar this handsome face. He also gets lots of new cars, kisses, and even cookies.
There it is, a six-month re-cap and a chance that I might better keep up with the cliffnotes of our lives, which seems to being flying at a faster pace these days. There is much in store for the Williams in the months to come, but lets just wait and see what tomorrow brings....

Only a Parent can Love a Toilet Tale

We purchased a Potty Chair because Luke had been showing some interest in using the big toilet, but with no real intention to start training just yet. However, Luke was so excited to get it out of the box and use it, and how could we deny that!!
Then he told me he had to 'poo-poo', and so I thought, "Sure, worth a try". It was successful!! That first time was a big moment, and even Luke was aware of that, upon finishing he Exclaimed, "I DID IT". The pride of such a big boy accomplishment is always memorable even when it involes poo. (but, I don't know which is more worrisome: that this was the highlight of my week, or that I was sure to get the whole thing on video?)
Within the next few days he had 3 successful tries on the potty.
I am sure the novelty will wear off soon for both of us and this milestone will be a long drawn out messy experience. But hey, we are off on the right foot!
Good Job Luke!

Time-Out?

Within the last week we started to use Time-outs with Luke. It has only been a handful of times, so far, but each time was for the same offense: throwing toys. Luke may be a little young still to understand the whole concept?

1. He continues to throw his toys,
2. He willing puts himself in time-out after doing so.

I am new at this, but I don't think that is how it is supposed to work?