Landon

Hugs from Auntie Jaime








smiley happy boy:)

















Naughty Daddy





Hmmmm... wonder where he got that from:)

I'm going deaf

Yup... I just went to the ear, nose & throat doctor because my ears have been ringing for @ least the last 5 months non-stop. He sent me to have my hearing checked because everything else "looked fine". So after having a hearing test done I was told that I have 40% hearing loss on the higher decibels...
I then went back to the ent doctor & he drew it out for me- my hearing loss would be considered bad for a person in their late 70's... he was VERY CONCERNED... he made me super nervous & I told him this (he didn't say anything to reassure me... leaving me to believe that I would be losing my hearing completely in the next 5 seconds:))
So now it's off to the lab for blood work & I have a little list of vitamins to take (who knew vitamins could help your hearing) But either way... he seems to think that the damage is done... it's probably irreversible & I will probably be wearing a hearing aid the next time I see all you lovely east coasters:( SCARY stuff. Wish me luck & hopefully I won't have to live w/ the ringing in my ears for the rest of my life... Sooooo annoying! But I guess it's better than not hearing anything... gotta keep it all in perspective!

And Landon will be back in action on the blog soon... I really do promise:)

The one & only thing I *heart* about WA....

The best thing about the state of Washington is their breastfeeding friendly:)

As we walked into the stadium last night for the game we were greated by a super nice man who informed me of the nursing room that they have for mommas! I got a super sized grin on my face & looked @ Luke & said... I love it here (and by here I meant @ Safeco Field ... not necessarily on the other side of the earth).

So we did indeed get to check out the nursing room & it wasn't much - just a little room w/ 4 comfy chairs a tv (tuned to the game of course) a microwave hand sanitizer (sweet) and sanitizing wipes (super sweet) I have to say that the hand sanitizer was the icing on the cake (it's the little things that i really appreciate:)).

There were 3 other mommas that joined me in feeding the babes... it was just nice to be encouraged to breastfeed & have something just for momma for once:)

All in all the game was really fun & I am sooo glad that we went. Luke was (as he always is) REALLY good w/ the babe. He had the baby bjorn on so he took him for walks if he got cranky... went to the nursing room w/ me to feed him & even changed him on his lap (not once but 2 times) in his seat... pretty impressive:)

Pictures to come...

Wow...

How time flies when you're having fun. It has been a whirl wind here w/ visitors & a new baby. I cannot believe that he will be 2 whole months this upcoming sunday! My baby is already growing up too quickly:)
So my parents left the 4th & then we had a little over a week to regroup & Luke's family came out on th 15th & just left this am (well they stayed in Seattle last night after we all went to the RED SOX GAME!!! WOOT WOOT!!) It was sooooo great to see everyone & so amazingly incredible @ just how loved our little LJ is.
Now we have no more visits planned until I believe Sept or Oct (a possible August but we're not quite sure yet) So yet again it's just Luke & I... I think we can handle it though:) He's such a good & easy going baby *knock on wood*
Any hoo... I know why you're all checking out the blog and it aint my wonderful English skills:)
so here they are.. thanks to Auntie Jaime our personal photographer (she got some more great ones in Seattle so hopefully we'll get those - hint hint Auntie Jaime:) and post them soon)



After Bath time... happy boy





Hanging out w/ Gamma









Looking @ Gampa




We can't forget about our 1st baby:) She was sooo good once the newness of Luke's fam. wore off... she's growing up:)

Life...

Landon & I had our first weekend alone this past weekend. It went... OK. Friday (the 4th) was good we went to my old boss Cathy's for a little 4th of July celebration & he got to wear his cute little 4th onesie:) Pictures to come... Luke has to download them - again in case you forgot because of the ghettoness of our little setup on the computer:) Any who we had a great time & were home just as the fireworks started to go off ... this is the 1st year in a LONG time that I have not seen fireworks on the 4th of July ... a little bummed but I was exhausted & I think the babe is still a little to little:)
Saturday was another good day we ran a TON of errands & got lots done:) Then came Sunday... the last day we had to get through before Daddy came home & that's when the poop hit the fan!
All was well in the am ... then some "stuff" happened & I was PISSED... it all went down hill from there. Maybe sensing my attitude, Landon was CRANKY all day long. He was whinny & crying & fussing YUCK!! Then when we finally got our act together to get out to the store & buy some MORE friggin' diapers... DUN DUN DUN (that's supposed to be the scary music they play when something is about to happen... hehehe) my battery in my car is DEAD!!! So.... our friend Aron came over to save the day... because our little damsel in distress didn't know what the heck to do... I didn't even know it was the battery (ok... i had an idea it was probably the battery) Then he even went to the store to pick up the diapers for fear that the car wouldn't start again once I got there (damn hybrids... good for nothin':)) THANK YOU ARON!!! & Shelby for loaning him out!! He even came back w/ milk becsause Shelby knew we were out:) You guys are the best!
So here's to a new week ... a fresh start & even more important here's to Luke's schedule changing... he's going to be home EVERY SINGLE NIGHT & WEEKENDS ... what am I going to do w/ myself... I can hardly wait to have a husband w/ a "normal" work schedule!!

More... more ... more

Angie licking Landon's toes... ewwww toe jam:)







Landon's first trip to the Lavender Farm







As you may have noticed from the pictures we have posted... I NEVER get to hold this child!!! Luke is such a hog when it comes to holding Landon. So if you're wondering (like I am) where the pics of mama & baby are... there aren't any because they would all include my boobs... since that's the only time I get to hold him:) When it's time to feed.

I guess I can't complain though... he could be totally uninterested in the kiddo... then we would have a real problem.

Pictures...

cute baby toes
Daddy feeding him his 1st bottle
Visiting Daddy @ work

sleepy baby boy:)

finally

first time he got his toes in the sand... hmmm... not so sure what to think about it!
French kissing your dad is OK... until your about 1 right??
Hangin' w/ G-ma & G-pa


Not so happy face:)

Photos...

Ok... ok... All you Auntie's & Uncle's out there... I know everyone wants more pictures BUT... because of the ghetto-ness of our new computer setup I am unable to plug the camera in to download the photos. Luke is going to work on taking the monitor off this weekend (it is of utmost priority) so we should be able to get some of the pictures up this weekend ... fingers crossed! We also have to get a usb multiplier thingy - I believe that is the technical term for it:) so that we can plug the camera in... but that's neither here nor there... PICTURES ARE ON THEIR WAY... I promise:) Sorry for the wait... I know it's not fare that we are all the way out here & then you all can't even see him on the computer either because of our piece of... BLEEP...

PS Yes it is 3am as I type this post... I am waiting for the swing to put Landon back to sleep - gotta love a 2:30am feeding

PPS I think I'm going to work on using less of these... - They just seem to work for commas, periods and any other punctuation mark that I should be actually using - I mean who can remember back to high school English - grammar what???

New Computer...

Thank GOODNESS!!! We got a new monitor today so we can now use the computer again... we still have a laptop so we've got a little bit of a ghetto set-up but what the heck - it works:) and I am in contact w/ the rest of the world again... it's amazing what a week w/ no computer will do to a girl! & a guy for that matter. At least Luke got to use his computer at work.
So this weekend was a little rough... besides the no computer... Landon has a blocked tear duct so he's been a little cranky & since Daddy was at work things were a little dicey. Luckily my parents are here so I had two extra hands... I think I would have gone crazy if I was alone!
We have new pics on the camera... now that the computer is in working order I will try to have Luke upload them... be on the lookout!

Broken DAMN Computer

Sorry everyone, we are not posting any blogs recently due to our stupid piece of S*#T computer. It will probably be a couple of weeks to get it repaired. I am posting this from work, which i'm not supposed to do so... until next time. Landon is well, getting big and Melyssa's parents are in town now. Everything is good on the homefront. Talk to you guys soon.

Time well spent

So this is how we spend our days... catching up on sleep missed the night before:) Actually... we really can't complain... he is a really good sleeper & night time feedings are down to a mere 2 usually around 12am & then again around 3... then we usually make it until 6 or 7 - depending on what the day holds we try to go back to sleep for another 3 hours. Fun stuff!! I don't know how it will work out when Luke goes back to work but for now it's a good little routine:)

I now have to type one handed many:) one of the many joys of motherhood:) Landon is awake right now... a rare & special time!! Daddy is out riding a dirt bike... not sure how I let that happen:) that can be my father's day present to him:)

Back to Landon... he's doing well. He got circumsized the other day which was traumatic... I think more so for Luke! He has also lost his umbilical cord... just waiting for the bellybutton to heal to see if he's a inie or an outie:) That's all the medical updates... his cheeks look like they are starting to fill out... I think we'll have a chunky monkey on our hands:) I wouldn't want it any other way:)

We have been slacking on the picture taking... will try to do some more today when Daddy gets back home:)

Got to go take care of Mr. Cranky Pants:)

More Pics...

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:)