Uninspired Post

Kinda makes you wonder why I'm even bothering to write here, doesn't it?

Abigail informed me this morning that my blog is depressing her with the "I miss Luke" business woven into all of my tales. I maintain that I get to reiterate the missing for the entirety of his first week gone and then I'll at least try to cut it out.

Until then ...bwhaha.

For the record, I think he's having a harder time of it than I am. Maybe it's because he's not doing the same sort of busy work he did every time he went away before (when he was a platoon leader) ... sitting at a desk isn't quite the same. Or maybe it's because of the baby and his brain is just in a different place than it used to be (that's good, right?) ... either way, he's sad.

... that kind of makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Is that bad?? It's just nice being missed!
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In other news, how the crap am I supposed to know what kind of diapers to buy for my kid that comes in 10 weeks? I'm good on size 1 since people have given me a ton of those already (apparently you dont really use them for long).... but Lord almighty. There are a bajillion different kinds, and Im thinking where leaking body fluids are concerned, cheaper isn't necessarily better.

WHY isn't there a tutorial online for this?!
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Guess what tomorrow is? The day my Snuggie comes in the mail!

It's the Simple Things

Today was a day full of simple, wonderful things:

-- A clean house. I spent most of the morning cleaning up clutter, scrubbing my bathtub, vacuuming, that sort of the thing. Soothing.
-- Bubble bath. Soaking in hot water -- how does life get better than that?
-- Sitting on the couch with the blankie my mom made me. Cozy.
-- Sleeping in. Enough said.
-- Lovely, simple weddings.
-- Time spent chatting with friends about nothing at all.
-- Realizing that the cheap theater is playing movies I want to see every weekend Luke is gone.

... That being said, all of those things would be that much more lovely with Luke here. I miss him.

The Land of the Giants

... Or maybe it's just my big giant stomach. Whatever.

I am feeling particularly huge over the last few days. Someone pointed out that I am moving much slower than I was just a few weeks ago, and it's true. I'm getting along at nothing more than a fast drag. Not good.

My stomach, too, is getting waaaay bigger and very, very hard. Mr. Baby is throwing his weight around, too, pushing in places where he is not welcomed.

Let's do a little comparison here, just to bring things home. This is a picture from the end of August, a week or two after I found out I was pregnant.


And here we are today, looking about 20 lbs heavier ... at least ... and carrying most of it in a very obvious place. And let's remember I was not the skinniest person in the world when the above photo happened.


I am so not feeling cute right now. And yes, I was trying to suck it in during the above photo, but to no avail, obviously.

I actually went and bought new maternity clothes yesterday ... in particular a new tshirt, because I feel like the days where my normal shirts fit are rapidly coming to an end.

We're also to the point where I can only sit on certain parts of the couch. If I sit on the extra cooshy middle seat I have nothing solid to push myself up by. I have to do a four or five point turn in bed to roll over. And this evening I had to soap my ring to get it off at a time off day when it is usually a tiny bit big on me ... has the swelling started too!??!

I guess I AM 29 weeks pregnant (giving me only 10 or so to go... holy cow, let's not think about that, K? So not ready for a baby right now) ... but still. Did this day HAVE to come?!
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Dana had the best idea ever. Instead of buying each other baby gifts we are going to save on postage and buy ourselves something comparable. I am so excited for an excuse to go shopping. It's a little ridiculous.
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Finally got to talk to Luke today ... twice actually. He woke me up and called this evening. Even though his dumb cell phone has no reception in the middle of no where stupid Mojave, he has been able to call me ... so that's a blessing. He is also setting up an AKO account for me so that we can chat on the computer even while he is "in the box," and completely phoneless for a few days. He is not so good at the typing chat, but I think this will be good practice for his typing skills.

I sent him a valentines day card today ... hope he likes it.
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Tomorrow: wedding in the middle afternoon.

That's really my only big plan, other than working on the world's most boring research paper. Seriously people. I know Luke says the "synoptic problem" is important and should matter to every Christian but .... it doesnt. I simply don't care. The Bible is written and it talks about Jesus and I know He is real. That is so enough for me. I don't need to know what sources the first three gospel authors based their work upon, and I dont care who wrote which first. It's really the most ridiculous waste of time I've ever encountered. Surely these people could come up with something better to think about. Good grief.

(I'll probably go to the gym, too, and... duh? ... take a nap).

Frozen

Maybe it's because yesterday was so beautiful. Maybe it really it's just nippy outside. Or perhaps it's because I took a nap under some very warm covers and then had to get up ... No matter, I am freezing.

And that's really the problem with this area. One day is absolutely gorgeous and the next day it's back to stupid clouds. No matter how much you warn yourself that the wonderful weather will not last more than a day, it's still a downer when, sure enough, the clouds are back.
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Today I did a little retail therapy.

No, not IKEA ... that's next week with Abigail. Today's was the supplement store (for protein powder), the tanning bed (don't judge ... at least I admit it and it was SO WONDERFUL), the maternity clothes store (TOO EXPENSIVE!), Pier 1 (also expensive but now my bathroom looks cute) and post to get a new ID (which actually looks like me and is not falling apart -- all good things).
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Tonight, Army officer wives coffee. Maybe my head won't hurt while I'm there. That'd be good.

Oh Beautiful Day

Let's admit it: last night was not. good. I got a milkshake with Luke before dropping him off. It wouldve helped more had I not found on from the instructional information on the sign that an Oreo Cookie Shake from Jack in the Book, the regular sized one, has like 700 calories.

That's right, if I have to know that, you do too.

After I got home I cried a little bit in the car, then came inside and cried a lot bit in my bed. Then fiiiiinally went to sleep.

(Please note that this is waaaaaay different from the last time I dropped him off for a dramatic, longish training mission. Remember that? ... also this is totally better than that just on principle. Army boys should not be allowed to trot off for training three weeks before their wedding. It's just not right).

I slept OKish and woke up this morning at about 7 a.m., still tired. I hate that. I went about my morning doing all my just got out of bed things, stripped the bed (nothing better than clean sheets!!), and threw my throw pillows back from the floor where they live overnight and onto the bed.

And that's when it happened. A giant brown spider scurried off one of the pillows and onto my bed.

I screamed. Obviously, as I am deathly (and irrationally, Im aware) afraid of spiders.

And they ALWAYS come out when Luke is gone. Every. Single. Time.!

So I vacuumed it up with the stupid canister vacuum where you can see the dirt (which I hate), burst into tears and called my mom. Duh.
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The day improved dramatically from there, it should be noted. I went to PWOC on Post, which ended up being super neat and something Im really excited about being a part of. (I'm going to give this some thought and blog about it later). Then I left there with plans to go to the gym only to notice that -- hello!?! -- it was 60 degrees outside and sunny!

Totally the WRONG day to go to the gym and the RIGHT day to go on a very long walk.

And it was. Abigail went with me and we walked 5 miles through Dupont! That is some hardcore walking when you are hauling around 17 extra pounds a portion of which is actually an extra human.
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Now that I'm home I'm making eclairs, because (let's be honest) I'm an overachiever who has snack duty tonight at Bible study. But these babies are going to be delicious!! I'm so excited.
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I have a bunch of things to do tomorrow, not the least of which is doing some hardcore work on Luke's research paper. This is good.

Instructional Videos

Luke this morning: I wish my dreams were actually like instructional videos. Then I could wake up and have learned something. But no, they don't make sense and I never learn anything.

I agree. It would be something like The Matrix where they load him with new programs. And then you'd wake up in the morning and say "I know Kung Fu."
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I know you're all interested in my baby bedding sage. OK, I'm lying. I'm positive that you are NOT interested. But do I care? No! So I'm going to tell you anyway.

Now, as you'll recall I had previously chosen this:


Ever since then, however, I've had the sneaking feeling that it is really kind of ugly. So I set out to find something better.

After much searching -- oh, it was difficult -- I found this:


And oh, it gets better ... and is even the reason why it's perfect.

I've found it for $25 used on ebay. Granted, it is on the comforter, bumper, skirt and mobile that they are selling. But who cares? For $25?! Seriously.

The whole point of finding a non-monkey neutral bedding that could go with monkeys was so that if another child rolls around (and let's not get ahead of ourselves here, pretty please), I could use it again under a different theme. Why in the world would I spend $150 on something that I wasn't going to use again? Seriously.

But for $25 (OK, fine, up to $50), I'll happily throw that baby out with the bathwater when needed and buy something else. Heck yes!

(Here's hoping I win the auction).
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Luke leaves today for a month. I handled it great this morning until about 1 p.m. Then I came home with him from lunch, proceeded to get really tired from doing nothing (I honestly don't know how that happens) and subsequently loose it entirely.

And cry. A lot.

It's not like he hasn't gone away before. I should be pretty use to it by now. But I'm not.

Coming soon to an Amy near you: retail therapy dressed in IKEA blue and gold.

My Element

This morning was my first chance to volunteer with the FBC hospitality ministry.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the situation I know what you're thinking -- I've been living here for a year and only NOW gotten involved? Am I still the Amy you knew and loved?!?

Believe me, folks, it was not for lack of trying. And we are working with the church to make it easier, faster, and, frankly, not scary to get connected with this church. The congregation is good at a great list of things -- teaching, fellowshiping and keeping attendees once they get plugged in. It is very, very bad at the plugging. We are trying to help them found a military ministry with the idea that the things we establish there will be taken up by other ministries.

Meanwhile, the once a year sign up to help happened a few weeks ago (that's right -- once a year. This is what I'm talking about) and so I signed up. We are doing hospitality for the month of February, greeting and hanging out bulletins like I used to do at NCC.

It was so good to be doing that again ... to be the first person to greet people when they come through the door, give them a smile and show them that their presence matters.

I really felt like everything clicked again when a woman walked in the door and said "I'm new here...." I helped her find where her kids should go, I connected her with someone else who could help, I found her in the sanctuary to give her some printed information on our different ministries, and when I came up to her and said her name she said "you remembered my name!" as if this was a shock.

Why should that be a shock? She's been church shopping, apparently, after living in the area for quite some time ... was I really the only person to meet her at church and remember her name? Was I the only one at any church to find her after the service and ask if we'd be seeing her again?

It breaks my heart that people -- whether they be Christians are simply curious about this whole Jesus thing -- can walk into a church and not be cared about by the very people who are supposed to be the most caring in the world in the place they call "home." It breaks my heart that I let that happen by not being more proactive, more intentional about reaching out.