Oktoberfest

Last Saturday we met some friends at the Oktoberfest here in Crestview. We went last year and were a bit disappointed by the fact that it wasn't a "true Oktoberfest" but more of a just a carnival. Since we knew there would be no brats or beer, Sam planned ahead and invited us and the Irvines over to their place after the carnival for some more traditional German fare. The carnival was even smaller than it was last year, there were only a few rides for the kids, but they didn't seem to mind. In fact, I think they enjoyed it more this year than last year since they are older and appreciate the rides more now. We were able to buy a wristband for unlimited rides and they just rode the same 3 or 4 rides over and over again and were none the wiser! I am sure we won't be able to get away with that in a few years, but this time it worked out perfectly!!! And, even though it left something to be desired for the adults, it was a fun day for the kids and that's what really counts!!!

Don't they looked thrilled?? They actually really liked this ride and rode it several times.

Rob was a sport and rode with the kids. He looks just about as thrilled as Abby and Nolan do in the above picture!

The "fun house". There were 2 fun house type rides and one of them had a mirror maze. It was quite humorous watching the kids run into walls trying to find their way around. Well, it was funny till they got scared and started crying!! They did find their way through on their own a few times though.

Abby and Daddy riding the bumper cars, I think this was their favorite!!

Andrew wanted to ride the rust bucket you see in the background, but he couldn't convince any of us other sensible adults to join him. I thought it was going to fall apart every time it started to move, Andrew just said that was part of the fun. I am glad I had the pregnancy excuse to fall back on!

Family pic at the carnival in front of the trailers!!

September's Random Ramblings

• The first night Abby slept in her big girl bed, she asked if she was a big girl. When I told her yes she was, she replied with well, can I drive now too?
• Abby has been learning/talking about the weather in school. One day she asked me if it was "froggy" outside. It took me a minute to realize she meant foggy!
• We were getting ready to have our pictures taken and Abby didn't want to have her hair brushed. So in an attempt to get her to cooperate, Andrew asked her if she wanted to brush his hair first. She looked at him like he was crazy, then smiled and said, "Daddy, you don't have any hair, but I will brush your fur for you!"
• Andrew told Abby he was going to "brush her hair out" after her tubby and she got a very concerned look on her face and asked him why he was was going to brush her hair out of her head! They take everything so literally :)
• Abby and I were outside playing one day and she was chatting away. Some of it was nonsensical so I was only half listening when something caught my ear. She said, I want to go do that with my other family. I asked her who her other family was and she said, you know, Nolan and miss Sam!!
  

Appliance obsession

Abby likes to help with whatever I do...laundry, cooking, cleaning. She really gets "into" it!

Pink, pink, and more pink!!!

Last Saturday, Sam graciously hosted an awesome baby shower for me. Sam lived up to her reputation as "hostess with the mostess" and went way above and beyond to make this a memorable event for me. It was a wonderful afternoon with yummy food, great friends, and lots of laughs. I can't even begin to thank everyone enough for their generosity and for showering me, our baby girl, and even Abby with gifts and more importantly, love! Many of the girls offered help when the baby comes and I am so thankful to have these women in my life. One of the hardest things about being in the military is being so far from family especially when you have a newborn! But, since I am surrounded by such awesome friends we will have all the help we need. Thank you Sam for putting this together for me, it was a blast and I truly appreciate it!

Opening gifts

All the gals!!

The yummy food

The beautiful cake

They made me share!!

Myself and Martha Stewart, I mean Sam!!

P.S. As you can see from the title of this post, pink seemed to be a major theme for this shower. I know that is the case for most showers when the baby is going to be a girl but this was a bit different because everyone that attended the shower has boys. Erika is the only other person that has a daughter but she isn't due till a few months after me! I heard several times that these girls were excited to buy baby girl stuff and they did a wonderful job!! Just thought that was a neat fact that I should share :)

Fire station tour

Last week we toured the police and fire stations here in Crestview with the Mom and Me group we go to. It was less of a "tour" and more of just looking at the police car and fire truck, but that is fine since that is what the kids like anyway.

Abby and Nolan in the back of the police car. They are trouble makers, but this will be the only time we see them in the back of this kind of car!!

In the firetruck

(This is for Susan)

At the end of the "tour" all the kids got fire hats, beach balls and sheriff stickers.

I guess you could call it a trial run

Well, I had my first visit to the hospital for baby related issues yesterday afternoon. Before I go any further everything is FINE with me and the baby is doing great. Bits of the following story may be too much information for some so feel free to skip this post, if not just know that I warned you! Its really not all that gross its just bodily functions related so I feel I owe a warning.

Anyhow, it all started yesterday afternoon when I went to the bathroom and realized my pee was not the right color. It was a weird orange color (like pee mixed with blood). I didn't have any other symptoms but I was so startled by the strange color that I decided to call the doctor just to put my mind at ease, I just didn't want to be worried all night. So, I put in the call thinking they would say everything is fine but after answering all the nurses questions I seemed to have her stumped. So, she told me to come in to be checked out and monitored just to be on the safe side. So, I dropped Abby off at work with Andrew (which she was really excited about, because she has always wanted to "go to work") and headed to labor and delivery at the base hospital. When I pulled up to the hospital I realized I had no idea where labor and delivery was. I wandered around the nearly empty first floor of the hospital till I finally ran into someone who worked there and asked where labor and delivery was. After heading up to the 3rd floor, I was taken into a triage room and asked for a urine sample and then hooked up to the machines to monitor the baby. Right away the nurse assured me that everything with the baby looked wonderful. After that I spoke to the doctor and went through all my symptoms to include the horrible back pain I have had the last couple of days. They took some blood and ran a few tests.

Long story short, everything was fine just as I had thought. The final verdict is that I may have passed a VERY SMALL (teeny, tiny) kidney stone. There was a also a small amount of protein in my urine but nothing to be concerned about and that may have caused the strange color. Basically, they don't really know what was wrong but they do know it was nothing serious and the baby and myself are perfectly fine. So, basically it was just a four hour stay at the hospital so that I could find out exactly where labor and delivery was and to see the little one's heartbeat and movements and confirm that the tightening I have been feeling are braxton hicks! I am very relieved nothing serious was wrong and I am very grateful to Sam and Brian for being such wonderful friends and taking care of Abby after Andrew was done at work so that he could be with me at the hospital. Thank you guys!!

Hopefully next time you read about me being in the hospital, I will be sent home with a beautiful baby girl in my arms!!!

Abby's "Big" Present

For Abby's birthday we decided to get her a big girl bed. Well, at first it wasn't really for her birthday, but we happened to get a good deal on a very cute bed right before her birthday and thought it would be fun to have this be her big birthday surprise. Since Susan was in town she was able to get in on the idea and purchased the bedding and rug which was a huge help :)

I know Abby may seem young for a big girl bed, but I knew she was ready because she slept in a regular bed at both my mom and my dad's house when we were out visiting in Colorado. And, she LOVES her new bed. She had absolutely no problems adjusting to the new bed and wants to show everyone who comes over her new big girl bed.

Along with the big girl bed, Abby has began to refuse sitting in the booster seat. She insists she is a big girl and only wants to sit on a regular chair, just like Mommy and Daddy. I knew turning 3 was a big milestone, but I didn't realize what a big girl she would become almost overnight!

The big girl bed before the birthday girl saw it.

I think she likes it!

The new rug was a big hit too!

The first night in the big girl bed