Pneumonia vs. April

...and that darn pneumonia won...well...actually the pneumonia is gone and the antibiotics killed (almost) the germs. I'm left with bronchitis but it should soon all be gone. I've battled valiantly and have the dark circles and pasty skin to prove it! After a week of my mom visiting and being able to REST, I'm finally feeling better and should be in tip top ready to blog shape soon!

UGH...I'm 30...UGH!!!!

I can't believe that my 20's are finally behind me! In fact, I can't believe that I am a stay at home mother to two young children and I live in Alabama! If I had heard this about someone in my younger years I would have pitied them!!!!! HA! I would have even felt sorry for them! HOWEVER...it states nothing of the reality. The reality is that my husband proudly serves his country and is gone A LOT! This means that someone needs to be home consistently for our two beautiful blessings. This leaves me.I couldn't be any more content with my life. In fact, I LOVE my life. I have a wonderful husband (most of the time), two amazing kids (all of the time), and great friends and family to support me along the way! I occasionally have my "woe is me" moments but there is always someone to remind me. I got a little "reminer" from my sweet friend Jodi this weekend "April, you are OLD...you will never wear junior size jeans again because you have had TWO babies and it shouldn't matter." HA, HA, HA...if only my hips would be like they were when I was 20!!!!!

Pete was gone for my birthday...I know...surprise, surprise...so I spent the day with my amazing friends here in lower Alabama! Amy, Jodi, and I met at Mickey D's for a lunch with all of the kiddos. Between the three of us we had 8 kids! It was a wonderful time and a nice distraction for the afternoon! In the evening, Jodi, made me a home made Thai dinner complete with a wonderful dessert and candles! It was so surprising and sweet! I hardly missed Pete at all (well...I missed him a little bit!).

Once Pete returned home, the girls and I made plans to have a "girls night out"! We went into the big city Dothan(ha, ha, ha...I just said "big city" about Dothan). We had pedicures, a great Thai dinner (can you tell I like Thai food?!), and ended the night at the book store. To my GREAT delight they are all book nerds like myself!!!!!!!

In all, I met my 30th year in a great way. Thank you to everyone for making it such a wonderful celebration!


For those of you wondering what Pete did for me for my birthday...here ya go...

not his best...

sigh...

yep...that's an index card...

three days late...

but I did get wonderful flowers for V-day!



See the little arrow after the message?! There was more on the back, but it only went downhill from there! At least there's only room for improvement for next year!!!!


P.S. Here's what 30 looks like!

Pres and Mommy date!

I was able to take Preston and have a day with just him. We went to Alpin Farm in Dothan and it was a blast. We took a hay ride, picked a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, cut down our own sunflower from the field, went through the corn maize, and played with all of the animals! It was a great day! I was so glad to have the time with him! Thank you to my special peanut for spending the time with me!

Here we are on our way to the farm!

We are still going!!!!

So...today Pete and I are celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary! I started off the day in a great way. The nasty, rainy weather here finally worked in my favor. Pete's PT this morning was cancelled so since he was awake, he took Ashlyn this morning and let me sleep in! Thank you so much my wonderful hubby!!!!!!!!! You are an amazing father and husband. The past 7 years have been a blast and I look forward to the years to come! I love lamp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are going to celebrate today with some lemon martini's and grilled steaks!

I know everyone is dying for some pictures, so here we go!







and the tired momma three weeks post delivery...not quite where I want to be but I am getting close!

Labor has begun...

Here we go! I am so glad that it is happening on its own and that I will not have to be induced. I'm still at home now just riding out the storm so to speak! I've been having contractions for a few days and today they really started to go. Right now, I'm about every 10 minutes and have been for the past hour or so. I'm waiting until they are about 6 or 7 minutes for a constant hour until I go to the hospital as per the instructions of my OB's nurse. She told me to take some extra strength Tylenol and try to rest at home until I come in...yeah right...the Tylenol did not help at all so I'm up walking around just killing time and having fun with the contraction counter!

Chrissy's Visit

Chrissy finally made it home last night after a one day delay. I owe her big time for putting up with small town airports!!!!! Anyways...we had a great time. It's amazing how quickly the time goes. It felt like she was only here for a quick visit when in fact it ended up being 11 days! We spent our days extremely busy and yet not really doing too much. I was able to play with Asher and watch Chrissy play with Preston. In short (and because my time with her is special and I'll keep it in my heart) we stayed up too late talking at night, had lots of yummy dinners, did a lawn project (owe her big for that one too!), and got acquainted with each others' kiddos!

Thank you so much for coming Chrissy and give that big 'ole hubby of yours a hug for me for missing you and Asher for 11 days! (Also Ry...Riverwood or bust my friend...this time was like a big teaser for what could be!)

Here are some pictures of the visit. We didn't take too many because we really just spend our time enjoying the moments instead of worrying about capturing them.


Perhaps another future rock star in the making?!

Preston deciding he wants to be the baby for a bit!

The "high chair posse"...these boys get to grow up together and now I have pictures to embarrass them with in their teenage years!

Pete was able to spend two days with them as well! Asher was in full missing daddy mode and was glad to have a scratchy face in the house! This picture is so near and dear to me because Asher's expression is so much like his daddy's! I have a picture of Pete and Ryan coming home from Afghanistan and you could substitute Asher for Ryan...it's amazing!


A BIG P.S. We did one more thing while Chrissy was here with Preston...the big reveal as to what it was is coming later in the week!

Cardio Update

So...I went to the cardiologist yesterday and got the same news I get every time. My heart is tachycardic. I really would like to tell them, "DUH"...I mean isn't that why I keep having to go to the cardiologist?! Can you tell I am really starting to get tired of having to go to the doctor? The long and short of it is that they want to increase my meds (same as last time) and this time I am going to be a good patient and do what they say. I have a month left until my big OB appointment and I am only 50mg away from the max dose. I am praying that this dose will put my heart rate at what the docs want so that I can have some sort of peace and be able to deliver naturally and when Ashlyn is ready to come.

Pete was able to come with me to this visit, so he was able to share the annoyingness of the whole thing with me. I met with the PA and she talks super fast and is very perky. She really needs pom-poms in her hands as she meets with you! I thought Pete was going to throw his phone at her. Instead he made gestures behind her back and was able to make the appointment go by much faster for me than it usually does! Thank you hubby!!!!!!

This afternoon is my OB appointment so I will have some new ultrasound pics tomorrow!

I'll end this post with a picture of Preston because his silly self always makes me feel better! He's become really interested in my slippers lately and walks around the house in them. This particular picture was taken when I was trying to get him dressed for the day. All I got was his jammie shorts off before he went and got the slippers and a couple of hats. I couldn't be mad because he was just too darn cute! It never fails to make me laugh to see him clomping along, tripping over his own feet!

The question about a baby shower...

After I just got what feels like my millionth question about whether or not I am having a baby shower, I am just going to answer it here so everyone can know and quit asking me. I feel terrible having to disappoint but I am NOT having a baby shower. I'm sorry because I know some of you were hoping, but I just have no desire to do it again. I did it with my pregnancy with Preston and had a very nice one. I loved my fancy tea and all of the elaborate decorations (really people you outdid yourselves!); however, I did not like having everyone staring at me as I opened presents-not my idea of a good time. This time around I am being really stubborn (and selfish) and just don't want to do it. I'm sorry. I don't really enjoy baby showers much as I'm just not a big baby person...GASP...I know...what is wrong with me?! HA! I love children and enjoy being a mother more than anything, but I still would not classify myself as a baby person.

So there you have it, the whole ugly truth. Besides all of that, I really have everything that I need and with the economy the way it is I just don't feel right about asking people to spend their money.

If after all of this, you still must send something then be practical. Diapers (we use pampers), wipes, and onesies are always used.

Pregnancy Update (not a good one)

Today I visited my cardiologist for the first time here in Alabama. I will admit that I have been really putting this off because I have felt great and honestly thought that I was getting better. Needless to say, I thought wrong. The news was not good and today has been a tough emotional day for Pete and I. I've been beating myself up for letting this slide and poor Pete is trying to be my rock when I know that he is worried as well. I had to go for some tests today and we should get the results soon. They are again going through the process of eliminating other causes for the trouble. They want to make sure that it is just the pregnancy and nothing else. I would like to really say a quick nice word about the SAMC in Dothan. The lab was quick and the people were wonderful with me considering I was a blubbering idiot the whole time I was there.

They have increased my heart medication in the hopes that it will lower my heart rate as much as they need it to be. (So if my post is loopy, I started the new dose and it always makes me feel funny for a few days! I can't drive again...yuck!) They are going to monitor me weekly to make sure that the medication is doing what it is supposed to do. Apparently my body has adapted to the high heart rate so I don't feel any symptoms from the racing heart. (Which is why I thought I was getting better). My body being used to the racing heart can be a little dangerous as I am not feeling the signs that your body typically gives you when something is wrong. The good news is that the doctor can do it for me and the bad news is that I am stuck going to the OB and cardiologist each week. (It's almost an hour drive each way.)

Monday I go back and they are hoping that a week on the higher medication will do the trick. If not, they will bump me up again and that is as high as they can go while I am pregnant. (Let's not even think about what happens after that) I also am going to have another echocardiogram and a diagnostic ultrasound for the baby to make sure that my heart is healthy and that the baby is not feeling the effects from what has been going on. Please join us in prayer that none of this has had any effect on my sweet baby girl.

We are headed to Florida this weekend for a quick trip to be around people that love us. It will be good for Pres with all of the doom and gloom in our house right now to see his beloved Grandpa!

I would like to thank my FF gals-Chrissy, Abs, and Jax who rallied around me with just a simple text message. I love you three dearly and would not be able to do this without you! Chrissy...thank you for talking to me so that I could come home and be mommy this afternoon!

Belly Pictures

My view now...I have to bend over slightly to see my toes!




The natural view...even though this is baby #2, I still can't believe my body does this! It's a little gross and beautiful at the same time!

Catching up on February

February flew by so fast! It is such a busy month around here with tons of family birthdays including yours truly! I had a wonderful 29th birthday and look forward to my next 29th birthday (LOL!). Here's some pictures from the month.

I decided that Pres' room should be the new baby's room and what we had set up as the nursery should be Pres' room. Poor Pete had to take down and put back together a crib, queen bed, and twin bed. There was stuff everywhere around the house, but he got it done and only griped a little! He rocks! We are in the process of painting and putting the finishing touches on and then I will post some pictures.




I was sick on my birthday so after my OB appointment that morning (which went great- the SAMC center in Dothan is amazing and Dr. Gordon is a riot!) I came home and rested. Pete made me brownies instead of a cake (I'm not a big cake fan) and he and Pres sang me "Happy Birthday". Excuse my appearance...my fever was at 102 at this point.




My mom and aunt came to visit me on the 17-19. It was a nice time and my aunt showed me some great deals to be found at the Commissary! Here's a picture of the three of us and it will have to count as my belly shot for February.



It was a great month and as I am in the total nesting phase, we are really starting to get things done around the house! I'll end this month with a silly picture of Pres and Pete. Pres is really starting to ham it up for the camera!

Two Words

I'm sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008 in Pictures

So Megan did this great blog of their year in pictures. I loved it and decided to completely steal her idea. Here we go with our year in pictures. We've had a lot of changes this year and are looking forward to at least one big change next year!

January

January brought Pres at 6 months and crawling all over the place! It also brought in two bottom teeth...OUCH! Pete turned another year older and put his 20's well behind him by turning 31.





February

February made me another year older at 28 and was a calm month full of family fun!







March

March began our first step toward heading to Alabama. We renovated the kitchen to make it more appealing. This took a little longer than expected as it went into April, but it was well worth the effort! Pres was beginning to get into everything and his strong willed personality was coming out full force over the battle of the TV doors. Eventually we took the doors off and admitted defeat!





April

This was my best month. Pres just blossomed and was so much fun. Gramma and Grampa Blanchard visited us this month as well. We also made a lot of head way in the kitchen renovations.








May

This was my first Mother's Day with Pres and we had a great time celebrating with my mom and sister while daddy was having a boys weekend in Vegas. This was also the month that Pres discovered the fun of the toilet and I learned to pick my battles (in other words, he can play away in the toilet because I have bigger "no's" to say to him!)






June

June was a big development month for Pres. He celebrated his first b-day, began to walk which opened up a whole new world of things to make messes with. I got to see my FF gals in St. Louis for Chrissy's first baby shower and Pres and daddy were alone together for the first time. His obsession with books was also in full force and I read "Hickory Dickory Dock" and The Itsy Bitsy Spider" more times than I like to think about!

We had our first family trip this month to Disney World and had a wonderful time celebrating Pres' 1st birthday at the Shades of Green Resort!














July

July was a busy month. Pete and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary and I went to Canada with Chrissy for her second baby shower. Chrissy came and Pres was able to meet his Aunt Chrissy for the first time. Jen and Greg also came to visit, meet Pres, and fill us in on their beautiful wedding that we missed due to lack of babysitter :( Pres continued to leave behind his babyhood and was well on his way to being a toddler. We also had the big water leak of 08 in the Villas and Pres found a new best friend...Grandpa Mike!













August

This was our big bumps and bruises month. Pres decided he wasn't content to just walk and would run everywhere. This led to so many nasty bumps and cuts that I didn't think I he would come out of this month unscared (he did, but only by the grace of God).

We took our second Disney trip this month and took the plunge to get year passes!







September

This was a scary month as well. Pres got sick for the very first time and it was a doozy. He had a fever of 104 and 105 for three straight days and even the Motrin could not keep it down. There were doctor visits and some scary nights but eventually his fever came down and we were brutally introduced to the childhood disease of Roseola.

The offical Alabama move countdown began this month as well and I stressed for the whole month about moving to a new place and then being left alone.







October

October we enjoyed the Food and Wine Festival at Disney. We had a great time at the Winter Park Fall Festival with Grandma and Grandpa Crotty, Dyer, and Beanie. We also had a trip up to Fort Rucker and found our house. As if that trip wasn't big enough, we finally decided to let the world know that we were expecting baby #2!






November

November brought our big move and Pete's departure. THe first few weeks here in Alabama were tough but things are slowly getting better (much in part to the awesome people I am meeting...Alabama itself still sucks!)

Pete also left for WOC school and we began our new time in a new place without him.






December

December has brought lots of wonderful new friends into our lives and Pete was able to come home and spend it with us! I am sad to see him go on Friday, but am looking forward to the new year and all that it will bring!