Cutie Pa-tootie

Here are some more pics. Landon went to the doctors again today and his bilirubins are slowly going down. Yeay! He is losing his yellow tint, slowly. The doctor isn't worried anymore, sigh...

Pictures

We'll have a photo shoot soon.... Melyssa didn't cry today, that's great!!!! Her boobies are less ENGORGED! YAY. Baby Landon had his first doctors appointment today. He has a lot of bellyrubles??? It means jaundice i guess. Or YELLOW for you non baby folks. I should of listened to melyssa when she said he was yellow, i just thought he had a nice tan. I guess I should listen to her more about these things. Anyways, since the boobies are less engorged, it means that he is feeding better and his bellyrubles or whatever they are are starting to go down, yay baby. Anyways, we love him more and more every minute, and I never thought that I could love my wife more, but I seem to love her even more every minute. Eww, to mooshy for some of you, Jenny? Well here are a couple pics, but we'll get more soon.

Hormones, Lack of Sleep & Engorged Boobies...

Do not make for a good mix!!! I am miserable today& I thought I'd share that with EVERYONE:)
I can't stop crying... I am laughing at myself @ this very moment because tears are streaming down my face:)

I did not expect this... I thought I would be elated ... on cloud nine... but all I can do is feel sorry for myself & just how much frickin' pain I'm in. Then I look @ Landon & cry some more because I love him sooooo much:)

And then... my milk comes in... HOLY SHITE!!! Never new one could be in such a state of pain... plus little Landon is not nursing right so it just hurts like the dickens... lactation specialist will be coming over tomorrow & I can't wait... I really hope that this little problemo gets solved pronto!

Then, as many times as I tell myself (& Luke) that we need to sleep when baby is napping... somehow neither of us is listening to our own good advice - so come tomorrow I could very well be crashing even harder than I am right now...

Any Mommies (or Daddies) out there w/ some advice... I could really use all the advice I can get right about now:)

Hopefully I'll have some water left in my body for tomorrows crying attacks:) & way less milk in the boobs!!!
Still missing all my eastcoasties... we love you guys:)

My turn:)

Well... I was going to do a post on my B-day (can't really remember what I planned on saying ... now it just doesn't seem that important) but we had a little man who had another plan:)
As Luke has told you we had baby Landon on June 1st and it has been a whirlwind of a June thus far... I think my last year in my 20's will be one of the best & definitely one of the craziest:)

So I still had technically 2 years left in my 20's when little Landon came into this wild world... I can't believe his b-day is the day before mine... it's TOO crazy:) It is a day that I will NEVER forget though!

We are all happy, healthy, SUPER TIRED & SUPER excited to be home again... we'll let you all know how our 1st night all on our own goes:) It should be interesting. Knock on wood... he is a VERY good & easy going baby. Lets hope he stays that way:)

I know Luke already mentioned this but I wanted to let you all know that it means a lot to me too... so thank you for all your calls, wishes, texts etc. we know that this little dude will be EXTREMELY WELL LOVED, not only by us but all of you guys too:) We love you all... miss you all... and can't wait for you all to meet Landon... hopefully before year 1 is all over with:( It's definitely going to be tough being alllllll the way out here when you all are alllllll the way over there:)

Landon James Marland, 6-1-2008

On the morning of June 1st @ 1:15 am, i was risen out of bed by a smack to the stomach, "MY WATER BROKE!!!" Holy S*%T, i ran around the house like a mad man. "Grab this, grab that." Oh wait none of that was done yet, because the baby wasn't due for another week. But of course, dad was nesting on saturday, I knew something was gonna happen this weekend. IT DID. We get to the hospital and were checked in around 1:45 am. Melyssa was in and out of sleep the whole night, the nurse said it wasn't gonna happen until the morning, 7 ish. I took advantage of the time and was out cold on the extremely comfy sleep chair, gotta get me one of those. Well the contractions started around 7ish and slowly progressed through out the day. She was given a couple shots in the back with a needle 8 feet long, well not really, 4 inches or so, but it looked really long at the time. All the drugs wore off when the dock told her to start pushing, 3ish PM. No epidural, because the stupid anesthesiologist was on a vacation. Well the doc said that the little tyke was sideways and it would rotate once it got around the pelvic bone, NOT so much! She pushed for 3 hours, with extreme pain from this crooked kid. They almost took her for a C section because he wasn't moving, melyssa almost through the towel in, but after this one miracle push, the kid finally budged. Then it was on, about one more hour and the head was out and the first beautiful cry came, I lost it! Hysterical. I turned the man card when i saw this wonderful, slimy, hairy, bundle of joy. Our little baby boy, Landon James Marland was born June 1st, 2008 @ 6:17 PM. He was 7 lbs 13 oz., 21 1/4". And had a set of lungs on him. Full head of dark hair, bluish green eyes, and was just adorable. Thanks to everyone for all the calls and text messages giving support. We miss you all and Me, Melyssa and Landon will see you all sometime in the future.

This time last year...

I was in RI... visiting... but still there!!! It was warm & sunny & oh so nice... this year.... not so nice:)

I miss my WARM & HOT & HUMID RI weather... it just doesn't get any better than a nice hot day spent on the beach:)

If we had a beach here (one that you could actually sunbathe & swim @) that might make it a tiny bit easier... but WA is a stupid state... not a sunbather in sight... who can live that way??? Not this girl! If I have to be on this coast I guess I would be a CA girl:) Not one for rainy non beach oriented areas!!!

Well... hopefully this time next year we will be back in RI - or at the very least on the East Coast where there are beaches & sunbathers EVERYWHERE!!:)

Weekly Dr. update

Ok... so I did this yesterday & then we lost our internet connection... so round 2...
We went to the Dr. yesterday & I am finally dilated. Only 1 centimeter - but hey... I'll take it.
What he had to say....
Baby could be here by this time next week... Scary & SUPER EXCITING!!!!
Big baby... which I had a feeling it would be & it makes the weight gain a little easier to deal w/ but I'm not feeling so fabulous about DELIVERING a BIG BABY!!!!
He gave us his cell phone # which leads me to believe that he's thinking this kid is definitely ready to get the heck out... I do NOT blame him/her - it can no longer be too comfy in there... it's definitely not to comfy for momma:)
I lost 2 lbs... super excited about that for 2 reasons
1. I didn't gain any weight last visit... so that means that I haven't gained in about a month:)
2. I red somewhere... that when you're getting close to labor time you tend to lose weight:)
I think that's it for the update... It could be baby time... ANYTIME:)

Oooopppss...

I realize it has been 5 days since my last post... sorry. Didn't mean to alarm anyone - no baby yet... also nothing of importance to say:)

I have been getting increasingly cranky... I'm just soooo ready for this pregnancy thing to be over (I don't think I've mentioned that in the last 5 minutes... so there it is)

We (or I should say I... Luke is going golfing... you know priorities... prego wife - golfing w/ the coasties... jk I told him to go... if I'm not in labor than he doesn't REALLY need to be there) go to the Dr. on Friday & if I'm not dilated... you do not want to be in that Dr.'s room:)

So that's that... keep you posted as always:)

Still No Baby...

but things are progressing... not as quickly as I would like though:)

We went to the DR yesterday & I am 70% effaced. That's it... nothing more... no dilation:(

I took the day off yesterday for the DR apt. and we had some returning/buying to do. So we got that all done & had a nice whole day of just the two of us... we even managed to enjoy each others company:) Luke gave me a mini pedicure (just painting of the nails basically... & a little cuticle trim) & he did a OK job:) I gave myself a manicure & it came out freekin' fantabulous better than the freekin' Chinese lady who did it last week:) There just aren't any good manicure spots here:(

Well... that's the update... keep you all posted

Baby Showers

So... I totally forgot to do a little post about my WA Baby Shower. It was last Thursday & due to the cankles it was conveniently forgotten:)
Any ways... the shower was really nice. My former friends/colleges from Doodlebugs were there & ladies from Groveland Cottage where I work now. Plus a few friends of friends. All in all I think there were 15 people there (much more manageable than the 50 @ the RI shower:))
Of course Luke had taken the camera to work so no pictures... sorry:(
It was nice... really good food - it was potluck & everything was super yummy. Lots of presents for this baby:) and a few for mommy too:)
Well.. that's it for now... I'll keep the info. coming:) I'm afraid if I don't post semi often you will all think I've gone into labor:) So I'll try to post at least something every few days... if it goes a week w/ out anything... baby Marland is probably here:)

The weekend in Review

So... it seems like we are making the most of our weekends without baby.
Luke was off & even though I am in a FOUL mood as of late - we did try to make the most of our weekend together.
Saturday we had to go to lovely Babies R' Us so we stoped to pick up a co-sleeper on the way in Gig Harbor... really cute town reminded me of Maine a little bit. We had an awesome breakfast at this little dinerish place right on the water (we were the only 2 in there but the food was sooooo good & pretty cheap). Then off the BRU - where I am soooo glad we drove 2.5 hours to get to since THEY WERE OUT OF EVERYTHING WE NEEDED!!!!!!!!!! So I had to walk around the store on my swollen fricken feet to find NOTHING:) Good times.... REALLY good times! We also stoped real quick @ Target & I don't know how it is possible for me to NEVER leave there spending under $100 no matter how hard I try!!!! I mean I was holding back... A LOT!!! Oh have I mentioned that the temperature on our little shopping spree was a mere 90 degrees??? No... well it was... my ankles did not appreciate the lovely warm weather! So by the end of the day Luke was pretty sick of me & I am pretty sick of him lately (well he is the reason I am a beached whale w/ ankles the size of North America) but I still love him... he managed to make me laugh on numerous occasions during the dreaded shopping day... Yes I just put dread & shopping in the same sentence *I AM NOT FEELING OK* I must lay down w/ feet up immediately:)
Sunday... hmmm sunday... another lovely day of cleaning house! I feel like that is all we do on the weekends now... Now that we can actually see the dog hair on the floors (gross carpet - thank goodness it is gone) we actually have to vacuum:( & pretty much everything is done in baby's room... we're ready (well kind-o- sort- o) And no bugging me for nursery pictures... you're not going to see it until it's officially done which isn't going to be until this little thing appears... since we have gender appropriate colors going on the walls & we don't know which gender this little one is:) So sorry:) You might just have to come out to visit to see it ... haha:)
So that was our weekend in a nutshell... We have a Dr. apt. on Thursday so... more news then:)

Sausage Fingers & Cankles

I am SWOLLEN!!!! I love that our weather has warmed up but the mix of warmness & the last few weeks of pregnancy... YUCK!!! I can't bend my fingers & my feet feel like they went from super narrow to xxxxxxwide! & I no longer have a separation between the calf & the ankle... everything just blends together:(

Good news is... We went to the Dr. today & I am about 50% effaced. & the baby is SUPER low down... he said w/ a head that low I should go around about on time (he didn't want to be too specific... he was very evasive but we should get more information next week when we go back again) I was so excited that he thought I may not go past my due date though:) Hopefully it comes true!

Belly & Crib pics

Less Rib Pain...

I am starting to drop... thank the Lord!!! I started to notice it a couple of days ago & then when I could actually sleep for a couple of hours at a time last night due to less rib pain I was super excited!! don't know if this means I'll be going early or what but I'm just soooooo happy that I don't have feet in the ribs 24/7 :) Simple pleasures.
We've got a Dr. apt. on Friday so I'll keep you all posted w/ the effacement/dilation news:) Hopefully it's all good & this kid will be showing up soon... Not too soon though since we're not quite done w/ all the preparations.
I am sooo excited for this weekend. It is supposed to by in the 80's friday & saturday (which is unheard of hear except during heat waves in July) and I will have my handsome husband all weekend long!!! I've missed him this week since he's had to work even on his off days... I so want him to get a freekin' 9-5:) I'm done w/ rotation schedules!!
I know that I've been slacking on the pictures as of late but assuming I don't go into labor before the weekend ... we'll try to have a little photo shoot.

Military Spouce Appreciation Day

This is an email that Luke sent me today... It's nice to know I'm appreciated... now get me the bleep outta here:)

Happy military spouse appreciation day, you are the best spouse in the world and I thank you for your wonderful support. Love you

MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY
1. THIS FRIDAY MARKS MILITARY SPOUSE APPRECIATION DAY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING THE OUTSTANDING HUSBANDS AND WIVES OF OUR COAST GUARD FAMILY FOR ALL THEY DO TO MAKE OUR SERVICE POSSIBLE.
2. GROWING UP IN A MILITARY FAMILY, AND THROUGHOUT MY OWN CAREER, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT SPOUSES ARE THE HEART, SOUL AND BACKBONE OF THE COAST GUARD. SPOUSES SECURE THE HOMEFRONT, TAKE CARE OF FAMILY, AND PROVIDE THE SUPPORT FOR US SO THAT WE CAN BETTER SERVE THE NATION.
3. PRESIDENT BUSH RECENTLY RECOGNIZED MILITARY FAMILIES DURING A WHITE HOUSE OBSERVANCE OF MILITARY SPOUSES. AT THE CEREMONY, HE HONORED SIX MILITARY SPOUSES FOR THE PRESIDENTS VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD. ONE OF THOSE WAS RAMONA VAZQUEZ OF THE COAST GUARD IN BALTIMORE. MS. VAZQUEZ IS PRESIDENT OF THE BALTIMORE AREA COAST GUARD SPOUSES ASSOCIATION. SHE CREATED AND MAINTAINS A WEB SITE FOR COAST GUARD FAMILIES COMING TO BALTIMORE, AND SHE ALSO FOUNDED A SERVICE THAT PROVIDES FREE DIAPERS, FORMULA, CLOTHES AND TOYS TO MILITARY AND CIVILIAN FAMILIES. SHE HAS MADE REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR SERVICE THROUGH HER SELFLESS SPIRIT. MS.VAZQUEZ AND ALL OUR MILITARY SPOUSES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SUCCESS.
4. TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF THESE SPOUSES, I ENCOURAGE COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE TO HONOR AND PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR SPOUSES DURING MAY. COMMAND CEREMONIES ARE APPROPRIATE, AND EVENING ACTIVITIES MAY ACCOMMODATE THE SCHEDULES OF WORKING SPOUSES.
5. MY WIFE PAM AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK YOUR HUSBANDS AND WIVES.
6. ADM THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.

weekend update

So... we had a great weekend! Friday we went to home depot to get our ecofriendly non-toxic paint... that costs a freekin' butt-load! Then we went out for a nice dinner since those will be few and far between VERY soon. It was nice to sit, relax, chit-chat & have a delicious dinner.

We got a good amount of "stuff" done around the house. Luke tried to put me on bed rest on Saturday... that didn't last too long but I did get some reading done. Looks like I might just get through my stack of books before this baby comes...

We had a nice night last night too... we made felafels that were SO YUMMY - thanx dad for the recipe... yum-o! Then since it was soooo nice out... we decided to make a fire outside & sit in the rockers on the front porch. All in all... nice weekend w/ my favorite hubby!

20% Effaced

As in 20% of something has started toward this whole kiddo thing... I am 20% further toward birth then the last time I went to the Dr's. Not that it means I'm going into labor anytime soon or anything but it's kind of exciting to know that @ least something is going on & I will get this kid out of me soon:)

I have another appointment in 2 weeks so hope for a lot of movement in the giving birth direction ... I am soooooo over being pregnant:) My ribs are killing me on my right side and then my hip is killing me on my left then I've got the crampage of the calves going on. You should have seen me hobbling around the super market yesterday... I was a sight:)

I can't wait for Luke to get home tomorrow... maybe now the waiting on hand & foot can resume again... It stopped during my 2nd trimester when I was feeling so good. I was seriously hoping that the Dr. would order bed-rest today!!!! No such luck:) Keep your fingers crossed that I go early... not too early but as soon as it's safe early! I cannot go on like this for much longer!!

WTF

I had a different WTF post planned originally... with pictures & everything. It was about the absurd blizzard we got last weekend - that would be the THIRD weekend in APRIL!!!

But ... this is so much more entertaining.

Yesterday I arrived home from work - pregnant, in pain & exhausted. Pretty much the usual. So I decided to take a nap. Later to my utter astonishment I learned what my darling husband had been up to during my napage.

Here's a little background info. A week ago Luke purchased a tattoo gun... just for a little hobby. Not my idea of a fun hobby but whatever. So he's been practicing on fake skin thingies that came with it. WELL... yesterday he got the absolutely great idea to tattoo HIMSELF!!!!!!!!! Just on a whim... because what the hell we only have to look @ HIS skin on HIS body for the rest of our lives... & I'm including myself in the looking because I see him on a fairly regular basis:)

So as I get off the phone w/ my parents he chooses to inform me that the reason the spray bottle is on the counter (I thought he used it on the dog) was because of this.... pulls pants down to show me the star that he tattooed on his thigh! REALLY... YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY SERIOUS... WTF!!!!!!!!!! To his credit he did do a good job... looks really nice BUT did you REALLY want a star tattooed on your thigh??? 'cause I sure as hell did not want a star tattooed on your thigh!!!

He is SOOOOOO lucky that I love him:) We have conversed & there are to be no more surprise tattoos on his body @ any time!

By the way... if you're ever on the west coast & want a tattoo... we got ya covered:)

Pictures from RI

So I tried to do this a while ago but it wasn't working for me... round 2. We had a LOT of babies around while we were in RI... here's a few pics of the fun stuff we did... baby shower, Liam's b-day & Luke surfing... well maybe that's Jim:) I know I promised new pics... these are new to you though:) I still have to download WA pics... I'll work on it:)

It's been a while

since my last post. I really wanted to have pics. to post this time but... I am @ work bored out of my gourd so I decided to do a little update lacking pictures. I will try to do another post when I get home tonight with pics.

So our weekend was another eventful one. Our crib has come YAYYYYYYY! So Luke put it together. We washed about 30 loads of baby laundry (I don't know how such little things can amount to so much) you should have seen Luke trying to fold the little onsies OMG - HYSTERICAL his hands were bigger than all the cloth they use to make the darn things:) So I did most if not all of the baby folding. The nursery (it is so weird to not be calling it the guest bedroom anymore - even though there is still a rather large bed still involved in the room - that was fun trying to work around! But we are really glad that we left it in there for all those sleepless nights to come... and all the Grandparents who will be visiting non-stop :) can't wait!!)
We still have to paint the walls... we got the new non-toxic paint @ home depot to prime w/ ... only the bestest & the greenest for baby:) Apparently it does a really good job of covering/containing all bad stuff that's in your previous paint (just in case you were wondering... because we were) so that's a GOOD thing.

We organized our pantry... new baskets to contain stuff... SOOOO NICE! Luke is seriously LOVING this whole nesting thing I've got goin' on:) He can't wait to organize the garage next. hehehe.

ok... that's it for now... I'll be back later w/ a good WTF:)

We are back....

in action! We got back to WA on Tuesday & had a super busy week. Luke went back to work on Wednesday & I ran tons of errands. The most important one being picking up Angie puppy:) She is sooooooooooo good now. I don't know if they drudged her @ the kennel or what but she has been LOW KEY since her return & we likey!!!! Very limited jumping, whining, running in the house (this may be due to the new wood floors that she slides all over:)) Then I went back to work on Thursday & Friday ... it was really nice to see everyone & to know that I was missed while I was gone:)
Today we drove to Tacoma & went to Babies R' Us! GOOD TIMES! We got pretty much everything we need for baby & then some. So tomorrow brings cleaning & organizing... sooooo exciting. OHHHHH I forgot the BEST part... since our vacuum doesn't suck ANYTHING we stopped @ Target & got a new canister vacuum that we already tested & is AWESOME!!!! It's amazing the things that excite me in my old age:)
Pictures to come & as babies room gets put together we'll have plenty of pics of that!

Update from RI

So, as usual I can't sleep! I thought I'd take a minute to write a quick little update from the Ocean State:)

We have been very busy... making sure we get to see everyone, baby shower, easter dinners... and loving every minute of it! We are sooooo lucky to have such great friends & family who love us & the little thing inside the big belly:) Which is getting bigger & bigger by the day. When we get home I'll be putting some of the fantabulous belly pics that Jenny took - onto the blog.

We had great silly times w/ Jenny & Miss. Josie this weekend... I miss those girls when I'm away!! Luke had to share the fact that if I laugh hard enough I might just pee my pants... so of course the 1st thing they all tried to do was make me pee my pants... I held strong though")

Tomorrow we go through baby stuff.... write tons of thank yous which Jenny so smartly had me make when I was @ the Island. Then Luke & Dave are taking Liam & Nolan to Chuck E Cheese' .... I will make him bring the camera since I'm sure it will be he-larious") & Jen & I will be looking for froggy pics for inspiration in the nursery... we're going to have to get on that when we get back to WA... I can't even believe how much time we don't have left before this little buda pops out of the belly!

All in all... great trip home! Don't want to leave - EVER!!

pictures....

Here are some more pics. Oh, and you think melyssa got away without helping, nah, i made her carry the carpet out, while pregos....... haha, i crack myself up. We all know that didn't happen.

Hard Work, New dishwasher. YEAH!

Well, since melyssa's been gone, i have proceeded to finish my project(s) in our house. Oh, how quickly things get done when someone isn't looking over my shoulder. HA, love you hun. I have torn the carpets out, cleaned the sub floor, laid the underlayment, laid hardwood laminate, broke my back and knees and put a dishwasher in to replace our ancient one. Onto the bedrooms this weekend. I also put a picture of an elk possie that hangs around my work. Melyssa's hasn't seen an elk since we moved here, so here you go hun, 30 of them. Digitally captured for you. Well see you guys soon, miss all of you.

Luke (the blogger)

I MISS my Beautiful Pregnant WIFE!!

Well, it's only been 2 days and I miss my wife, can you send her home please! I can't even look forward to going home from work now, she wont be there. Well anyways, you have fun hun and I'll see you in a few LOOOOOONG weeks. (SAD FACE). Be safe, have fun, be careful driving, enjoy RI, be good to baby (Not too much RI food at once) spread the intake of good ol' RI yumminess. Miss you a bunch, and love you more than that. See you soon.

Guess What.....!

You know....!

I'm off...

Tomorrow I fly home!!!! I cannot wait. Jen is meeting me @ the airport -possibly with the kiddos & I can't wait to see them ... for that matter I can't wait to see all of you east coasters:)

So I know I have plans with many of you already & those of you who I haven't had a chance to make a plan with... I'm sure I will see you!

Then Luke comes in on the 18th of March..wooohooo!!

So no posts until April probably... but I'll catch up then:)

See most of you soon!!! YIPPPPPPPPEEEEEEE!

One Week...

from today I will be on a plane back to RI! I am so frickin' excited!!!

Not much new here... Doctor's apt. this afternoon. Hopefully all is well with baby Marland:) Lot's of kicks & moving about going on in the belly lately.

Well... I will see you all in a week!! Can't wait!!!!!

Hormones

So the crazy pregnancy hormones finally kicked in... honestly I have been nicer, happier & more peaceful w/ pregnancy than I am normally (which makes Luke VERY happy). But those pesky hormones finally showed up. Let's set the scene shall we....

So I got an invitation to my baby shower *by accident* on which my name was misspelled *by accident* So I kinda sorta freeked out & unfortunately I was on the phone w/ Luke so he got the brunt of it:)

As the story developed... come to find out not only did my mom proof read the invite but also my sister inlaw, mother inlaw & my good friend Jenny & nobody noticed the freekin' I:) I'm sorry but that cracks me up... so as w/ most things in my life... I have another humerous story:) I need to be writing these things down:)

So I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has worked on this shower... even though my name might not have been spelt correctly... I REALLY appreciate all the hard work and love that has gone into this special little celebration for baby Marland! I can't wait... good food, good friends & family:) good times! muwah xxxx

Writers Strike No More

The writers strike is finally over... oh joy!!! I am so excited for my shows to be back up & running!!!!

And for those of you who are aware of my upkeep w/ the news... you should be very proud of the fact that I am actually aware of the goings on in the world (however *un*important they may be)

Yes, We Can!

WOW!!! That about sums this one up. I'm sure many of you have seen this... check it out! Ive watched it about 10 times in the last hour:) Very inspiring!!
YES WE CAN!!

Sad Face

So I have a sad face on... why??? Because my brother is leaving RI 3 days before I arrive.... where is he going??? To the west coast of course:) I have managed to time my arrival in RI perfectly. Not only is my brother leaving for 3 days to San Diego... then 5 months in New Mexico for his training... he got a BIG BOY job... yeay Davin!!! But my parents are leaving the very day that I come in:) Boy am I good:) They'll only be gone a week but I'll be all alone in their big ol' house:( I know you feel sorry for me:)

The good thing is... I'll be in RI!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot wait!!!! Baby cannot wait!!!! & when Luke finally joins us on the East Coast he cannot wait either:)

So... we will try to post some belly pics. but you all will be seeing in up close & personal in all of 2 Weeks... WOOOHOOOO!

Locked Out

So I had a little excitement last night... Our friend Shelby came over for dinner & when she was ready to go I decided to take Angie out for a little potty break. Well Shelby was the last one out the door & unaware of the fact that we always keep the door knob locked she shut the door. OOPS. So I was in a state of shock for a bit seeing as Luke was not only gone for 1 whole week but he was 9 hours away:) So we checked a window... locked. We tried the ol' credit card in door jam trick -does NOT work in real life people! So I decide to go get our neighbors Buck & Cathy too see if they can help us out... well long story a little bit shorter - we found a window that wasn't locked, apparently Luke keeps it unlocked for exactly this type of situation (would have been nice to know in the beginning - since we were outside in the @ least 30 degree weather for a good 1/2 hour)! Fun times in WA... FUN TIMES!

So Luke calls me back AN HOUR after the whole debacle ... since he decided to forget his cellphone when he went out to dinner.... no Batman radar on that one (I guess I have finally found a flaw... he cannot predict when something is going to go wrong.)

I have never been happier to get inside that house & snuggle under the blankets... hopefully that's all the excitement for the next week:)

The "cupcake" Belly

Hmmmm.... as per all of you apparently I have no belly... so I took another look @ the pic we posted & I suppose you're right. BUT... that was a couple weeks ago & my belly is MUCH bigger now. So we will have to take more pics. when Luke gets home:)

Other belly news.... Luke felt his first kick:) On Sunday we were laying on the couch watching TV & Luke had his hand on my belly(as he does often these days) where baby usually makes the moves - only this time... Luke actually felt 2 kicks... He was VERY excited:) It was super cute... his eyes got really big & he had a huge smile on his face:)

In other news... we are getting a web cam. This should be interesting for the technologically challenged (that being me). But my dad is getting us a web cam... he says it's so he can see us when we chat on the phone but it is TOTALLY just to see this baby! other wise I think we might have had gotten it over a year ago... hugh dad????:) so anyone w/ a web cam we can chitter chatter & actually see each other:) exciting stuff!

Belly Pics and more...

Here are some pictures of the new and growing Melyssa, still a skinny minny but now a baby belly is present. Starting to feel the kicks, the lil boy is growing slowly but surely. I say boy because melyssa and I have a bet on what the make and model of the lil tyke will be. Argh Argh Argh, it's definately a boy. Well the other pics are of Hurricane Ridge with all the snow from when I went snowboarding a few weeks ago, some sweet powder riding. And the other pics are me doing what I do best, driving the Coast Guards boats. Hope you all enjoy. See you all soon in March.

Belly

So I really have been meaning to take pics of my belly... it's just by the time I get home all I want to do is get into sweatpants... the belly has taken over & jeans are just not so comfy. It actually seems to have grown over night... it's definitely looking like a pregnant baby belly:) Luke's home this weekend though so maybe, if I remember, I will have him take some pics & upload them onto the computer. Speaking of which... for those of you who wanted RI pics from June (ooopsss) I just got new CD's made so I should be able to make some CD's @ home for you guys... so I promise to get them to you by the next time we come home... in March:)

As for baby... I go to the DR. today but I got a call about my ultrasound... I guess as of right now my placenta is lying low... Luke looked it up & I guess this could change... it could pop up top where it's supposed to be... BUT... if it doesn't I think I'll probably be having a c-section. They will be doing another ultrasound (that makes #4... not that I'm complaining) towards the end of February ... so I'll keep you posted on that. Other than that... I'll be getting weighed today... SCARY:)

Shows

Thank GOODNESS my shows are back on. Who knows how long this will last (not long I'm assuming) but it's nice to have some new shows to watch on my good ol' DVR:)

I have promised pics of the belly to many a peeps so.... they are coming.... soon.... I PROMISE!

Oh my...

I am a SUPER bad blogger.... Happy New Year Every Body!!! I so did not realize it has been as long as it has been since I last posted:)

The Holiday's were not so holly jolly this year... I don't know if it's all the pregnancy hormones making me so emotional or just the fact that I am so so so so so sick of the West Coast that it's not even funny... Maybe a combination of the two .... but needless to say this Christmas just wasn't the best Christmas ever (& that says a lot because not just 2 years ago I was getting over my Honeymoon from Hell Stomach thingy... nuff said)

Any way... I don't do resolutions... not that I have anything against them... I just tend to resolute (if that's even a word) throughout the year whenever something needs resolving... so there's always the get healthy thing... which I could always improve upon .... but I am not about to start that in January when everyone & their mama decides it's time to get their fat behinds to the gym.... UMMMM YAAAA NO! I'll go in Feb. when everyone is over their resolutions & back to the couch:)

Aside from the New Year... we're just trying to get a little organized around here before our lives are utterly transformed into mass chaos!!! Those of you who know me all too well... know that I am a neat freak who is uber organized. However since this little life inside of me has completely taken over my body... I am already slipping... the house is a mess I no longer know where anything goes... I can't even put a dish in the dishwasher(they wait for my lovely superb fabulous husband to come home and take care of them) same goes for laundry, vacuuming and any other cleaning activity. It is hard to even get myself in the shower in the am ( my name from Jenny & Jos definitely true these days:)) What is going to become of me when this kid is actually out and about.... SCARY!!!!!

Merry Merry

I hope you all had a very Merry Holiday *Christmas* or whatever it is you might have celebrated! We did one night of Hanukkah this year (that was all Luke was home for) but @ least I got my oh so yummy latkes! Crispy fried potato pancakes.... they make me very happy:)

There hasn't been much baby talk... I apologize for that! I was SOOOOO sick for so long and then we didn't go to the DR. for ever so it didn't really even feel like I was preggers. So we went to the DR. yesterday. Heard the heart beat & everything is A OK! We go for our next ultrasound in 2 weeks... where we can find out the sex of the babe.... But I don't think I want to... sorry, you are all just going to have to wait 6 more months. My heart just skipped a beat... 6 more months thats 1/2 a year... and we will have a little Marland ~ HOLY SH*T!!!!! We're almost half way there. That is extremely scary!!!

So besides eating for 2, sleeping like crap, and peeing just about every 5 seconds... things are same ol' same here. We wish you all a happy, healthy & fulfilling 2008! We miss you all!!! xoxo

I've been tagged

But I'm not playing along.... sorry Jenny! But!!! I am posting a new little blurber:) yeay for me!

So lots... tons.... going on!

I am no longer working @ Doodlebugs... this just happened yesterday so I am slightly bitter but here's what's up.... They are going to be closing earlier in the winter so she doesn't have a lot of hours... blah blah blah... then I could come back in the summer... UMMMMMM excuse me but I am giving BIRTH this summer.... & yes I do believe the actual birth will be taking ALL SUMMER LONG! So no more Doodles. The plus side... NO MORE SDU!!! I do not believe I will EVER teach a 101 class again! As much as I enjoy taking them... I feel so bad for those teachers... teaching stupid people who have NO CLUE the same thing OVER & OVER & OVER & OVER again... yucko! So we will celebrate no more SDU!!!!

Another thing to celebrate... I'm not sick any more!!!! Yippy! It's been about 2 weeks now so I think it's safe to say that I have passed that lovely part of pregnancy... now it's just big belly time:)

I'm Thankful...

For my good friend Jenny who came all the way cross country to visit & was perfectly happy doing absolutely nothing! I really do hope you had fun Jenny... sorry this pregnant lady is not so much fun right now:(

Well... we had a good Turkey Day & we had a great visit with Jenny, a couple of good days in Seattle (I seriously wish that we lived there or at least a little bit closer) over all it was a good week but unfortunately not very eventful for little Miss Jenn.

Our 1st Baby

Ok... Since Luke posted our big news about the new member of our family (in the making) & since I am actually able to be up & slightly functioning, I thought I'd post some pics. of our 1st baby girl so here you go. She sure is cute... she's a pain in the rear but she's cute:)

We have some news....

Well... it all started about 10 weeks ago. We are packing a baby. We first took the pregnancy test, and yes it showed a "PLUS" sign, which apparently means you are pregnant. Well once that happened we didn't say much for a couple of weeks. Then... the morning sickness hit like a pound of bricks, to both of us. I haven't stopped moving since she got it. Nausea, vomiting, super hero sense of smell, which is amazing by the way. Now her morning sickness is worse than ever. Here is a little note to the guys... When your wife is pregnant, don't go out and buy king crab legs and eat them in front of her, well across the house. The smell is terrible apparently, I had to learn the hard way. Then she had some nasty cravings for everything in RI, she had to be difficult. So my parents overnighted Casserta Pizza from Providence. It was delicious by the way, thanks mom and dad, your the best in-laws to Melyssa. Then here is another note, When she tells to you to go to Wendy's to get french fries, Get the Biggest you can, or you will have to go back for the rest of them. I again learned the hard way. We went to the hospital yesterday due to Melyssa being dehydrated. She's ok now. We got an ultrasound, amazing! Cute kid, I think it is a boy, no girl has a head that big. We hope you are all doing well and we'll see you around the late february or early march time frame.

Not much to say

So... I haven't done a post in .... Forever... because I really have no news to update you all with!

Life on the west coast SUCKS it is cold, rainy & just plain crappy! I don't know if I can last 1 1/2 more years!!! Plus (and you all know that this is the kicker for me) there is NO good food here!!!! I would KILL for a freakin' pizza that does not come from Domino's!

Well... other than that there's nothing much going on here") Hope you enjoyed the update!

Columbus Day

I know... I know... I have been a REALLY bad blogger lately!!! Unfortunately there's just not much to tell out here on this coast right now:(

So I gave myself a short week this week:) I took yesterday & today off!!! Yesterday because Janie & Pete came to visit!!! Yipppy!! We had a great afternoon... It was nice to just have some east coasties to chat w/! I of course took absolutely NO pictures... I'm really slacking in that department as well! I even leave the camera out on one of the side tables in the living room, I mean how much easier access could you get???

So today I've got some errands to run & I'm getting my hair did... so maybe if I remember ... there will be photos taken of that:)

Pictures...

Some random pics. The Feet First sign of the store in Victoria, British Columbia. Our sign &
store is soooo much better:)

Then per Jenny's request... a little pic. of mein front of a muse in Seattle. Supper cute store
and stampies:)

And Angie making friends @ the doggie park... she's so cute hugh?

Here is the promised pic. from Seattle on our ann. weekend:) I tried to upload some more but my computer's being a little finicky!
any whoo... not too much going on around here. Luke's b-day is on monday but he'll be working , as will I @ both places:( but we have this weekend to relax and we'll celebrate his big 26 on sun.:) well that's about all the excitement I've got... sorry!

AHHHHH...

Utter bliss... that's what today is! I have the whole weekend off and I haven't had a weekend off & to myself for hmmmm.... a year! I love retail and all but give a girl a break!!!

So i've had time to organize my scrappy space! It feels so wonderful to know where everything is again:) Now I'm doing nothing but watching tv... utter mindless crap! gotta love it:)

It's a gooooood day!!!

Good Friday

This has been the week from he double hockey sticks:) (for those of you confused con-fussed ~ that would be LUKE~ that would be hell). But when I weighed myself this am (as in morning ~Luke again~) it made it a wonderful day... not only is it the end of the week & I have the whole weekend off & to myself (not that I won't miss Luke terribly).

Anywho... I have lost 10 POUNDS in 2 MONTHS:) Yippee skippy:) I weigh what I weighed 2 years ago (that would be on my wedding day) Only 5 more to go:) Oh happy day!!!

August 27th

Our 2 year anniversary! I can't believe it has been 2 years already... it has definitely been the best 2 years of my life {well except for moving to WA:)} but as far as married life... that's been pretty darn good!

So for our big 2 we went to Seattle on Sat. for a wonderful day of shopping, eating and being in an actual city!! woohoo!

Monday Luke was working so I drove out there w/ dinner for us... then I drove alllll the way back home:) what a good wifey I am:)

Here's some random pics. since I haven't bloged in hmmm.... FOREVER!

Never mind... Luke didn't upload them onto the computer yet... sorry:)

Where have we been?

Luke is in Seattle for the week doing "Seafair" which is like a blessing of the fleet... big parades & oceany stuff going on. As for me... I have a new job!!! it's a good one so far. TONS to do... I'm working in the office of a B&B/vacation rentals for a highly disorganized Realtor!!! i've been on the go go since day 1! Then I go straight to DB for the evening... poor Angie has been cooped up:( She's had a trip to the doggie park (first trip) recently so that was fun for her... we just have to let her out & about when we are home:)

Hmmm.... I think that covers the Marland life @ this point in time:)

Yesterday

Was... the worst day eva!!! Since the lavender festival is going on in Sequim (oh so much fun) everyone & their mama is in Sequim to see the stupid purple flower, eat the stupid purple flower, and buy ANYTHING with the stupid purple flower on it!
So in addition to all the stupid purple flower people we lose power.... make that the entire city of Sequim loses power because (and this is the best part) they (who "they" are I don't know but I think they may be stupider ~ i know that's not a word but it seems fitting here~ than the stupid purple flower) but they tried to send more power to the street fair & killed a transformer so the entire city lost power. so the good thing to happen out of all of this, i go to go home early. the bad, very oh so bad, thing to happen was that i got out @ 4:30 on a friday afternoon when there's normally traffic - tripled by the stupid purple flower festival and the fact that the traffic lights are out. so my normal horrible 30min. drive now turned into a really horrible 50min.! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Then i came home to a puppy who was locked up all day in her little room... she was very barky, very energized & extremely annoying! So there you have it... my day from HELL:) hope you all have a better weekend then me:)

For Jenny

Here's the 1st actual class that I've taught @ Doodlebugs... Jenny wanted to see the pics I took to hand out to the class so here they are... it's a photo cube by making memories for all you scrappy girls:) i'll maybe be making another blog for crafty things so i don't have to subject everyone to my "stuff":) but for now here's a little sneak peak hope you like it:)

Lavender

Sequim is having there lavender festival this week so we decided to go to a few of the lavender farms before the chaos! here are some of our favorite photos @ 3 dif. farms... luke' s eating lavender icecream... yum!

7.7.07

Hope everyone had a good 7.7.07... how cool is it that we were all around for that one! luke of course had to go to the casino i mean come on... i would have taken my unlucky little behind(well not so little anymore) to do a little gambling if i didn't have to work:) luke's lucky any way but he was definitely lucky yesterday... now we have a little extra cash to pay for the new tires my truck needs:) fun... fun:)

While i'm at it... Happy 4th! Sorry... i'm a little slacking in the blog dept.:)

i'm baaaacccckkkkk

So I'm back to WA... after a looooonnnnngg crappy flight(s).... so my wonderful darling husband set up my flight schedule & silly me didn't really look @ it until arriving @ the airport! so here's a little recap of my day yesterday

7:30am ec (east coast time ... 3 hours ahead of west coast time) wake up
9:15am & again @ 9:20am (we forgot something) leave wakefield RI
11:00 get to the airport with a painfully full bladder (got to love that:)) oh ya we got stuck in traffic on the way to Boston
11:05 run as fast as possible to the nearest potty w/ all luggage in tow
11:10 get in line... for a loooooonnnnngggg fricken time... decide while i'm waiting i'll check out my flight info i mean come on... my flight only leaves in 1hr1omins. i have pleanty of time:) so I look ... really look @ my flight info. and notice i'm flying into laguardia & leaving to seattle out of JFK... hmmmm... are they the same??? i think not...
11:15 call luke (7:15am in WA for those of you following along here) on the verge of tears w/ a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach...
11:20 tears flowing down my face while the guy behind me is looking @ me w/ a perplexed look on his face:) while luke tells me he's going to call on my flight stuff
11:35ish get up to the counter & give her my flight info. blah blah blah... she says you know you're changing airports in NY... i say yes (holding in tears god... i'm such a baby) and ask her what i do when i get there... she tells me i have to get my bags & a shuttle to JFk ... ok tears again... she starts typing away while i'm swiping @ my eyes... she looks at me and says i can't get you on the 12:10 flight to JFK because it's too full & there are 6 bags that are 70lbs... i look over at my own 70lb bag:) hehehe oopppss:) i say thanks for trying ....
11:50 (have to be @ my gate by 12) i get in the security line.... there's no line @ the end and the lady is waving me over so i go... the security lady behind me starts saying maam... & i turn around to look @ her and she keeps saying it so she must not be talking to me right? i get to the xray place take off shoes etc. & start to go through when she comes running after me & yells at me for not stopping ... great i'm sooo not going to make my flight... she checks my ticket & huffs off... WHATEVER!!!!!!
11:54 get through the security check & run to my gate to find that my flight has been delayed 1/2 hr... nice of someone to let me know:)
1pm get on the plane
2:35 get off the plane @ laguardia & try to find my bags... not so easy when there isn't any flight #'s posted on any screens:) i finally ask someone @ 3pm & find my bags... then i run to transportation center & find out that the next shuttle leaves @ 4 (my flight is @ 5:35 @ JFK) I get a taxi instead & make it there by 4:30
4:35 in line to check my bags... ask the guy in front of my what he's waiting for... checking in, bags etc. got the lovely NY attitude back:)
4:45 bags checked in & off to my flight... no more worries except my 6hr flight to Seattle (yuck)
8:35 (west coast time ... 11:30 east cost time) i land... very tired & grumpy:)
9:20 we park & have dinner
10:55 get the ferry
1:05 am... we get home... oh what a day!!!!!!!!!! but now i'm home sweet home... missing RI already but it's good to be home... angie is so stinkin' cute & she's calmed down a bit:) I'll be posting pics of her soon:)

Today's the day

We are leaving for RI TODAY!!! I really can't believe that it is finally time for us to go home... it seems like forever ago when we bought our tickets.... and it still seems like this day should be far far away! I am soooo excited about our little vaca. that I haven't slept in @ least 3 days... going on adrenalin & caffeine (lots and lots of caffeine) right now! Any way... tomorrow am we will land on the east coast... we'll see everyone soon:) can't wait!!!!

Up on my soapbox... again

Ok... so pretty much everyone who reads this has probably already gotten an email from me... but on the off chance that someone else in the world reads this blog... click on this link ... please.... we neeeeeed to lower gas prices!!! my clothes budget is suffering ... hehehe Thanks guys!! I'm sure it will help you all out too! pass it on... it goes through tomorrow 5/25/07 ... I think. http://pol.moveon.org/pac/stoppricegouging/

One more week

'till we leave for RI! And what a good week it will be... no .... seriously! Luke has a different schedule 'cause he's doing some kind of coastie thing:) so i get to see him every day this week except for thurs. ( at least i don't think i'll see him thurs.)! that's a lot of quality time & then we get the next 2 weeks together too... hmmmm.... hopefully we'll still be lovey dovey:) yeay!!!! one great week and then 4 extra great weeks in RI:) can't wait to see you all!!!!!

A little something about me...

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2 weeks!!

Just a little FYI... we leave 2 short weeks from today to RI!!!!!!!

Hikin' it

Here are some pics of Luke & I on our hike yesterday to soleduc falls... The battery on our camera died right as we reached the falls ~ typical Marland luck!!

3 weeks...

from today we will be leaving on jet plane... don't know when we'll be back again:) 3 weeks from tomorrow we will be landing in sunny Rhode Island!!!!!!! We CAN'T wait!!!! So we'll see you guys in 3 little ol' weeks... yippppppeeeeee:)

Jobs... jobs.... jobs

So for those of you who knew about my new job... I decided not to take it... for many reasons... But as I always say .... everything happens for a reason & I've already got a new possibility that's a little more me:) I'll keep you updated on this little hunt for the semi-perfect job:)
Luke, Angie & I are all doing fine... the count down to RI is officially on! 33 days (round about)!!!
I am SO doing the happy dance!
Hmmmm.... other excitement.... there isn't much! Luke and i started to do yard work (not generally found in my vocabulary) last weekend... more to do today!!!
Well... this being one of the most boring post thus far... I'm going to say peace out:)

Bye Bye Sanjya

Thank god!!!!!!!!!! This is the very first season of American Idol that i've watched all the way through & this guy drives me nutty!!! I don't even care if he can't sing... his hair is ridiculous!!! I'm watching the show right now but luke let the good news slip @ our bedtime conversation.... i forgive you honey:)

Going for color

So Josie gave me a little inspiration when she updated her blog look... have no idea how she did the fancy header & she really needs to share w/ me since we have the same blog "headquarters"!!!!

Jos... please... I'll be your best-friend:) hehehe... fill me in b*tch:)

So for now... we have a new color palette:) isn't perty!

I've been tagged

Jenny tagged me to let you all in on my 5 fave. blogs....

1. Ali Edwards
big time inspiration... that's about all I can say:)

2. Jenny - she is also pretty inspiring... I mean come on... she is nearly famous:)

3. Creative Chicks headquarters.... another tribute to Jenny (do we see a theme here) it's fun to see the new stuff they get in... it's such a big (wonderfully full of fun goodies that i miss mucho) store:)

4. And my no means lastish... Josie - she's a little slow on the posts :) but I really have no room to complain since I've been "that blogger" too:) love ya jos!

5. Rebecca Cooper ... i actually just found this... but she's got some amazing photos... just a little more inspiration ( i need as much as i can get)

Are you happy Jennifer:) love ya!

Missing you...

Hey... just got home from teaching a class & luke was watching our wedding video! It made me miss you all sooooooo much more than I already did:) Can't wait to see you all in a couple months ~ we love you guys:) xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Hoppy Easter!!!

Go Electric:)

My dad will be oh so proud of this little post! I just watched "Who killed the electric car" I know... I know... sounds super cheese - but it actually gave good insight as to what's going on in the world & what we all should really be concerned about... if you have brought or even think you might bring kids into this world... you might want to start thinking about this stuff... we are responsible for all the sh*t they will have to deal with 50-60 years from now & let me tell you it's going to be mighty shi*ty if we keep up the way we are now... yucko!!! Never EVER thought these words would be coming out of my mouth {fingers} but hey.... I can't not say it:)