end of sewing (for now)...

I had to give up sewing. My belly still fits under the machine, but my back hurts because of how I have to bend over the machine. Before I quit, here are the last few things I was able to finish.

i can finally floss!

Can you floss your teeth? Don't take it for granted!

I haven't been able to cram a piece of floss between my teeth for over 20 years, so today when I tried to floss my teeth and was able to do it easily, I was super excited. Scott and I have both been doing Invisalign for the past 8 months or so, and we have been very impressed. Scott used to have a gap between his front teeth he could have flossed with a piece of rope...it's totally closed now. And my teeth were all crowding forward and moving some teeth forward and some backwards. Both of us are really impressed with the results. If you've ever thought about it...DO IT! And if you live in Japan, I have an awesome orthodontist I can recommend to you. 

Scott is about 6 weeks from finishing and I am about 3 months from finishing. We'll post pictures when we have straight, pretty teeth. I just wanted to share the good news about flossing for now...

i love military ceremony!

Monday morning I went to a ceremony where Scott's class transitioned from basic phase to senior phase of their class. If you look back a few posts, you will see Scott in a super-fashionable black ascot with his uniform. Monday, he got a white one. Well, what does that mean exactly?

As far as the class, it means they are starting to apply their classroom learning. This means, for the next three weeks he will be in the field playing in the Georgia red clay - I am not excited to see his uniform when he comes home! It also means when he gets back from the field, he can come home in the evenings for dinner, spend the weekend at home and there is no more mass punishment. I know Scott is excited.

Back drill and ceremony though. Monday morning was beautiful, and watching the ceremony was great. Seeing the drill and formality on a field of green inspires a love of country and the Army I can't explain. Here are some pictures from the day...

Doesn't this just make you love America...

This is when their class flag got a streamer to indicate they are in senior phase.

(don't you want to poke my puffy face? keep reading for more on that.)

preggy update

This week a sad thing happened...I can't wear my wedding rings anymore. :( I was hoping I would be able to avoid the pregnancy puffiness, but alas, it finally caught up with me. I went to the doctor 2 weeks ago, and I was sure when I went yesterday I would weigh at least 5 pounds more with regular weight gain and all the water that is taking up residence in my face, hands and arms. But I hadn't gained anything. I was shocked, but he wasn't worried. Everything is normal, the little one is growing and I still feel great...just puffy. Whenever I look in the mirror I am tempted to poke at my cheeks and chin though.  

I also got to tour labor and delivery yesterday and it looks very nice. I am not sad at all that the military hospital was full and I will have to deliver at the posh civilian hospital. 

Oh yeah, I had my first, "are those contractions?" moment over the weekend too. They were irregular, and not very strong, but when I described them to the doctor, he confirmed my suspicion CJ was doing a test run at how to escape. I have a lot of Braxton-Hicks, but these were different. It doesn't mean he is ready to come...actually just the opposite, so no worries.

fun weekend

This weekend my dad came to visit.  It was fun to have someone in the house with me other than Connor. Also Scott usually has to go back to base to sleep every weekend, but he got to stay too. It was the first time he got to sleep in his own bed since he started class. He really appreciated it. :) We did a whole lot of nothing, but it was nice to do nothing together. 

We did go look at houses on Saturday, and that was eye opening. We figured out we could live in Alabama very affordably. We could get a brick house with 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, granite counters through the house, and new stainless appliances (I won't keep going with other things it had, but I could).  It was CRAZY! At first we were really excited, but then we realized that was WAY too much house. I mean really...what would we do with that much house? We may still live across the river in Alabama, but I don't think we will get the monster house.

Here's a few pictures from the weekend...

pregnancy makes my eyes bad...

Lately it has been difficult for me to see far away. I tried to deny it at first, but I have also noticed I am getting frown lines around my eyes because of all the squinting I am doing. Because I know life will be crazy once CJ gets here, I was trying to be proactive and I went to the eye doctor today. He told me my eyes might be changing because of pregnancy, but didn't sound totally convinced. Luckily for me, I asked the nurse at a class I am going to if she knew anything about it. She told me that during your third trimester because your fluids are so out of whack it can put extra pressure on your retinas and your surging hormones probably don't help either. I did some more research, and she was right. I am glad I asked because getting glasses was on my to-do list this weekend.

Now, I am not saying my eyes are fabulous, but at least maybe they aren't as bad as they seemed to be today.  And my eye doctor assured me that even without glasses, I am safe to drive CJ around town.  So no 4-eyes (yet)...

double trouble!

Connor has found a new best friend.  Scott's parents have a boxer named Chloe and the two of them are two peas in a pod. Chloe is much more active than Connor, but over the last few weeks, Connor started playing more, and Chloe started chilling out more (a little).  

While we/I visited my mom and Nanny in Tennessee Scott's parents graciously watched Connor. When she came home the first time, she was depressed because we took her away from her friend. She moped until I took her back. We are done traveling until after CJ comes, so Connor and I got home on Wednesday. So far she doesn't seem too depressed, but I may have to get my dog a dog to play with.  

While Connor was gone we also got a new sofa. She seems to have adjusted to it quite well...

33 weeks

I can hardly believe CJ is coming in 7 weeks. Suddenly it seems like I have SO much to do. You know me - I am super organized - so the fact that I don't have this thing organized, color coded and systematized is a little unnerving.  ;)  

Mostly CJ hangs out on my right side. And when I say the right side, I mean he barely crosses to the left side of my belly button. When he was smaller, this wasn't so strange, but now that he is getting bigger that side is getting a little crowded and finding a comfortable sitting position is getting harder and harder. This afternoon Scott was mashing (gently) on him trying to figure out what parts were what. He surmised he is about the size of his forearm and that his knees and feet were under my ribs and his hands were in the middle of my belly. When Scott would push on him he would kick and punch back. At least we know he won't be a sissy, and Scott loved getting to feel and see him moving.  

Enough rambling though...here is an updated picture.  I keep thinking I can't get any bigger, but I do....

And for those of you who have hated me though my easy pregnancy, I now have heart burn! You don't have to hate me anymore.  But honestly, it isn't that bad.  I only hope labor is as easy and being pregnant has been.  (I know that is a long shot, but a girl can hope right?)

home is where the army PCSes you to...

Well, after much anticipation, we have an answer!  Once Scott finishes his class in Arizona, we will be heading back to Ft. Benning in Georgia.  He will be part of the 3rd ID, ensuring a deployment in the future.  They have been very active up to this point; they were the division who originally secured Baghdad airport, were pivotal in ensuring a secure election and handover to the first democratically elected Iraqi government, and they were also the first to serve three deployment cycles in Iraq.  We were ready for a deployment though, and we both know Scott is a soldier and that means serving with honor no matter what is asked.  He hasn't done anything thus far to avoid a deployment; we have just been lucky.  We both know it is his turn, and we are OK with it.  It will be hard, but we know we can make it.

So our timeline is to be in Benning until the end of August with CJ coming in early June, off to Arizona until mid-December, and then back to Benning for three years.  I will go with Scott to Arizona so he can spend every possible moment with CJ.  We love visitors, so if you want to come, you are ALWAYS welcome.

proud of myself

While I was in Jackson my mom gave me sewing lessons, and I was able to make this cute summer romper and pants that I have no idea when he will be able to fit into.  They just look huge compared to the romper.  They plan is to make a onesie to go with the pants with a little frog on it.  But, I don't want to do it yet until I know how big he will be when he is wearing them.

And over the last week, I was able to do this all on my own.  I am very proud of myself!

update (finally, I know...)

It seems like we have been waiting for this time forever.  Scott submitted his Officer Candidate School packet in November of 2007, and back then we honestly thought he would be starting class around August of 2008.  Boy were we wrong and did God have other plans for us!  Almost a year after we originally though Scott would start school, he finally did.  Last Sunday he started class, and after a week, he is still positive and feels like this is the right thing.

After we left Tennessee, we set up our house here in Georgia at Ft. Benning.  Scott was super-thoughtful and worked hard to help me get everything set before he started class.  He knew I wouldn't be able to resist moving boxes and furniture around when he was gone.  :)  He was also able to meet the doctor that will deliver CJ.  We were both very thankful he had that opportunity.

Scott says class is OK.  The first week has been very physical.  He has taken a PT test, done an obstacle course, taken a water survival test, and has to run everywhere.  When they leave the chow hall they have to drink a glass of water, do a chin up and then run back to the barracks.  I think I would throw up!  He also gets to wear this really cute ascot.  :)

I am doing OK too.  CJ is growing like a weed, but I still feel great.  My mom gave me a sewing machine for a graduation present while I was in Jackson, so I have been keeping busy this week making things for CJ.  Mom showed me a lot while we were in Tennessee, but this is my first time flying solo.  I have learned a lot through trial and error, but it has been fun and it keeps me busy.  Here's an updated picture of my growing belly.  I can't believe I am already 30 weeks...only ten or so more to go until the little guy is here.  

my papa's car

While we were in Jackson, after all the snow melted, Scott got to do something he has been dreaming about for over 5 years.  My Uncle Ronny restored my great grandfather's '52 Chevy. Last time Scott was in Jackson the car was in pieces so he wasn't able to see it in action. During this last visit, he finally got that opportunity.  My Papa would have been appalled that they boys drove it over 45 miles an hour, but they did it anyway.  :)  Here are a few pictures Scott took.

snow!

When it snows, Scott loses the ability to pronounce the letter s at the beginning of words.  So, on Aturday it no-ed at my mom and Nanny's house.  We got lots and lots of no...

26 weeks

So I feel HUGE!  The difference in 24 weeks and 26 weeks is amazing.  Before my burgeoning belly was kinda cute and not at all in the way.  Now tying my shoes, sitting, standing, getting into and out of Scott's Jeep is all suddenly much harder.  But good things included Scott finally being able to feel the baby move and this Sunday, we could actually see him moving around.  We were sitting in church and suddenly my belly started jumping.  So cool...  Also, our friend Amy who is a doula, studying to be a midwife, taught Scott how to measure my belly and how to figure out if he was feeling CJs head or butt.  :)

my mahi tastes like chicken

While we were at Disney World, we were able to have dinner with Hugh and Lauren.  Due to a mix up in orders we got a good laugh, a free dessert and Scott got a free sombrero.  It has been so fun to reconnect with friends over the past few weeks. 

 

disney world

I don't think there is a family in the world that loves Disney as much as the Hetzel clan.  When we got to Florida we were lucky to tag along with Scott's brother, his wife, three of their kids, and two of the kids' friends to Disney World.  (Don't call the Florida one Disney Land or Scott will freak out of you and give you a lecture about what makes them different.)

While we were in Japan I forgot how much I loved the words "Aunt Allison."  The kids have grown so fast in the last three years, and it was great to spend almost a week with them.  Here are a few pictures from the week...I will post more later.  I left my camera in Lauren's car half way through the trip and haven't gotten pictures from Balenda, my sister-in-law yet.

my mother-in-law shaved my dog

Baby girl looks a little rough for wear.  Scott's mom is allergic to pet dander and she asked if we could shave Connor.  I didn't think it would make a huge difference, but she was convinced it would.  I think it has actually made her itchy and made her have more pet dander, but mom is happy so we can deal with it.  

When we left for Disney World we dropped her off at PetSmart so we didn't see her for almost a week.  When we got back we laughed so hard it is amazing this pregnant girl didn't pee in her pants!  My favorite part is the puffy head and tail.  Here's a before and after for comparison...

Connor as she should be...

Connor after visiting Nana's house...

24 weeks

Here's a shot from when I was 24 weeks.  I'll post another in a few days...

allison's tattoo

After the movers did our final pack-out, I was exhausted.  They arrived around 8:30 and were pulling away from the house with our last quick-shipment by 9:30.  After that I went into crazy Allison cleaning mode and finished scouring the house for our final inspection.  We got to the hotel around 5:00 and I had time to clean up before meeting a group of girls for dinner at 6:00. When I got back to the hotel, I was 100% pooped out!  Scott decided he wanted to draw on my leg and I was too tired to protest.  Here is the final product.  I fell asleep while he was doing it, and it freaked me out when I got in the shower the next morning!  : )  It lasted about 3 days before I was finally able to scrub it off.

leaving japan... part II

It is my turn today.  I get to leave Japan and go back to America to see my honey.  Yippee!