Pregnancy Week 12

Okay so actually I'm 12+3 days but I was busy and didn't have enough time to find someone to spray paint my "chalkboard" (I'll explain why that is in quotations..) so I'm posting my week 12 update today. 

 

I know it looks kind of lame... I was anxious to get it done so the writing isn't as fancy as I would have liked and there aren't really enough decorations on it but it got the job done (: 

When I got home I tweaked it a little bit...

 

This is a little more fancy. I guess. 

• How far along?: 12 weeks!
• Milestones: Baby Clark is developing reflexes and the placenta has fully developed.
• Baby is the size of a: l i m e
• Total weight gain/loss: none
• The Bump: I'm thinking its bloat. My stomach was never really flat but its certainly protruding a little bit. I'd like to say it's a bump. Sadly, I think it's bloat.
  
• Symptoms: exhaustion...is that a symptom? acne and bloat
• Food Cravings:My cravings are very sporadic. Just a few days ago I really wanted a corn dog and crab legs. Sometimes I really really want gushers.
• Anything Making Me Queasy or Sick: Kendall's driving..seriously every time I'm in his car and he's driving I feel sick.
• Sleep: I sleep through the night, but once I wake up for any reason...I'm half asleep for the rest of the night.
  
• What I miss: Angry orchards haaa
  
• Weddings Rings On or Off: On
• Any Names Picked Out Yet: Yep!
• Gender: Don't know
  
• Movement: Besides what I've seen on a monitor nothing.
  
• Maternity Clothes: I have a pair of jeans and a top
• Labor Signs: N/A
• Best Moment of the Week: going to BINGO with my sister for her 18th birthday (:
  
• What I’m excited about/looking forward to:  I have an ultrascreen test on Thursday. Just another excuse to see baby!

 Okay now to discuss my chalkboard. I really wanted to do a chalkboard tracker. However, buying a new chalkboard and at the size I wanted one was going to be expensive. My first idea was to go to the thrift store find some big painting and spray paint over it. But with the local lack of thrift stores that was actually more difficult than it was worth. 

SO! I headed into Walmart, picked up a trifold poster and chalkboard spray paint. I cut the two sides off the trifold and painted the middle. Total cost of my "chalkboard?" 7 bucks. It's that easy folks.

Until next time.

Let's play catch up...

Okay. So many things have happened since my last post... let's play a little game of catch up.

1. The blog got a face lift... ya like??

2. Kendall and I went to Disney World!..in December. Here's some pictures

 

We had a great time. I'm already anxious for the next trip (:

3. WE ARE PREGNANT! 

Baby Clark is due September 20th! I will be doing weekly pregnancy posts starting at my twelfth week. I already feel like it's a boy and that makes me nervous because I feel like I will have a hard time dressing boys. We are very excited. I've only had a bit of morning sickness. Today I had an ultrasound and I saw the baby moving on the screen. It was crazy, baby Clark looked like it was stretching. I was cracking up. If anyone knows of any good pregnancy blogs link them below (:

Here is our social media pregnancy announcement.^^ The only thing I can say that is really driving me crazy is I seem to be getting Restless Leg Syndrome. It makes it so difficult to fall asleep :(

Until next time,
xoxo 

Kendall's Military Homecoming.

So I'm finally going to sit down and write about Kendall's homecoming, because it hasn't already been 3 months..

Kendall finally came home in October of 2013! The week leading up to his homecoming we weren't even positive if he would be able to come home at the same time as the rest of his unit. Thankfully he did.
That morning I literally was more nervous than I was the day we got married. Yes it was serious. I felt like I was going to vomit any minute. I had literally spent the entire week trying to make sure the apartment was spotless for his return. The drive there alone felt like years and I won't say whether or not I cried when I got his first call saying he was back on American soil...
The whole nine months was difficult. I had to exist and know that I had half of my heart miles and miles away. Distance isn't easy-and I'm sorry but if you live within an hour or two of your boyfriend then your "distance" is minimal. Not saying it probably isn't a pain, just talk to me when your SO is halfway around the world and you barely talk to them.We went through a lot and grew up a lot. We learned a lot about each other and what makes both of us click. Our faults and our own insecurities were blinding. Somehow, we made it through and that's what truly matters.
I made a sign- a homecoming sign. If I would have drove myself I would have wrote on my car- because I was that excited. I ended up having an AMAZING photographer donate her time and services for our homecoming - Sharon Norman Photography (all pictures were taken by her.) And I'm really glad that I had a photographer there.

I'm getting offtrack...

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

When we finally got there the buses for the unit were still about 30-40 minutes away and it was raining- not very hard but it was raining. So we waited around, our nerves doubling and tripling. His mom, dad, and brother were there. My dad, stepmom, brother, sister, aunt, and cousin all ended up making the trip as well. So we waited. FINALLY buses were pulling in and I put myself on a bench so he would see my sign better.

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

 I was slightly teary watching the buses pull up. It literally didn't even feel like I was in my own body, and for a split second those nine months faded and it felt like he had just left and was already returning. I saw a sea of green and brown uniforms pouring from the buses, I was waiting for my own soldier to emerge. I waited what seemed like at least 20 minutes and finally my cousin screams out KENDALL! I saw him and ran, threw that sign like a frisbee and jumped into his arms. I couldn't even cry because I was so happy. I held his embrace for how long I needed to realize he was actually there then I let go and watched him hug and kiss everyone else. All the while trying to put into my mind that he really was home and wasn't leaving. I would go to bed with him that night and wake up the next day with him there. It started raining harder and we went into the school for the ceremony portion. The rest of the day flew by, we left hand in hand, had chipotle, then he came home.

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C)Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

(C) Sharon Norman Photography

 Amazing, the best day of my life.

Week One : Who I am

I've been in such a rut as to what to post on here. I have recently stumbled upon "52 Weeks of Blogging With a Purpose" over at From Mrs. to Mama. So without further ado, here is week one: Who I Am.

I am a wife.
Yup pretty self explanatory but hey, I am! I love being a wife. I love being married and I love my husband. I honestly can't imagine my life currently any different than it is. He goes out of his way to do anything and everything for me even if he is across the world. He is still such a big part of my life. He's got the prettiest eyelashes, the best teeth, and an even better laugh. He likes comic books and has a favorite war. Don't even get me started on his feet and the fact that he thinks camo matches everything. All of these quirks make him absolutely perfect and I cannot wait until he gets home.

I am a daughter and a sister, not to mention a niece and a granddaughter. 

I'm all of the above. I love my family. I love them for all they have taught me and their never ending support. They are with me through every hill and every valley. My family can be nosy and loud and embarrassing just like anyone else's family but its their ability to be so present at any moment they are needed that leaves such a special place in my heart.

I am a dreamer.

Okay cheesy I know, but seriously. I have so many dreams and aspirations. I want to be a teacher, I would like to join the Air National Guard, I would love to do photography steadily. I can't wait to have children and to be a mom. I love singing and dancing and performing. My life hinges on so many dreams, but isn't that the way it should be? I'm a truly goal driven person. I make goals all the time, sticking to them on the other hand isn't exactly one of my strong suits.

I am a blogger.

I love blogging mostly because I like writing. Sometimes I feel the need to get all of my thoughts out and the only way for me to do that is to blog. Because it's kind of like my own brand of word vomit. Any time I've had a really tough issue it's been easier for me to talk about it while on this blog than anything else. I really don't care if not one person read this. I guess that's the selfish bit of me about this blog. I pretty much blog for me, but that's how you know what I'm saying is genuine.

Long Time, No Post

I know, I know, I know...it has been forever since I posted anything. Let's get back up to speed. I finished my spring semester at OUL, have put a deposit in for an apartment, started a new job, oh and..GOT A PUPPY.

Her name is Liberty but Libby for short and she is a dachshund/yorkie mix. She's 8 wks and cute as a button.
I have contracted a real passion for photography and am completely psyched because I will be taking my sisters senior pictures. Head on over to Facebook.com/photographybycharleigh & give it a like if you haven't please.
We are on the back-end of deployment and in some aspects it has gotten easier. In some however, it's been very hard. Relying solely on technology when communicating can be something so difficult and it definitely tries your patience very quickly. I'm not airing dirty laundry. I'm not talking bad about my relationship. I'm giving you the nitty gritty of a military relationship. No sugar coating. It's tough. We have fought a lot. Do I love him any less? Absolutely not. But I can't sit and tell you everything is peachy keen, we are getting by though, and are held together by constantly dreaming of him coming home. We will often misunderstand each other, sometimes one of us is being extremely touchy, and sometimes it's hard to relate and hard to understand what each other are really going through. We always end up remembering what is most important though, our love for each other. That, cannot be broken.
So for the time being, I'm working, studying to make my photography better, and getting ready for the most incredible moment of my life yet...when my husband comes home from war.

Spring Fever VoxBox!

So, I haven't blogged in so long :( 

BUUUUT, this is important. I have recieved the Spring Fever VoxBox from Influenster. In my box is Secret Outlast Clear Gel Anitpersperant/Deodorant, NYC New York Color Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm, Broadway Nails imPRESS Press-on Manicure, Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS Rough Rubber, and a Tastykake Kandy Bar Kake in peanut butter flavor. Since it is 12:13 AM I will officially break into the products in the morning, but I was just so excited I had to share.

YIPPEEEEE!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

What I HATE about Deployment....

Okay, hate is a strong word but I really really really don't like deployment. No I was right, I hate it. There are literally so many things to hate about deployment. Apart from the obvious - not getting to see my other half, there are so many reasons to hate deployment. I asked some girls on Facebook and here were their responses.

Deployment is an extremely lonely time for a military wife. A lot of times friends will alienate you, you feel like you aren't important to anyone, and you ache for your SO to be home. 

Deployment is scary. When I don't hear from my husband when I'm supposed to I swear my heart will beat irregularly until I do. I play through a thousand scenarios a minute.

Deployment drags. I can say this because I am not even half way through deployment with my husband and I swear it has felt like a year. Seriously. I check my "Doing Time" app everyday to see how much red I have left. 

Deployment is frustrating. I think I have a shorter fuse because of this deployment. I get annoyed by anything and everything very quickly. I feel like I'm always on edge. Basically I'm a walking time bomb. 

What I think I hate more than anything at all..when someone will ask where my husband is or what he does and I reply that he is deployed.. I swear people will look at my like I just fought a war or something. I'm not trying to dumb down what any military wife does because let's face it, it is a job of its own. But what I am doing here in no way or shape even matches what my husband is doing overseas. There is no comparison and there is no need to give me a sympathy vote. Trust me, I'll get by without it. I'm not some poor soul who doesn't know what to do with my life because my husband is gone. Am I sad? Yes. Am I lonely? Yes. Do I wish he was home??? Absolutely. Will I lock myself in my room until he gets back? Absolutely not. I still have a life to live, dreams to chase, and our life to build here. Just keep all of that in mind. We are strong because if we aren't we will be broken.