Driving in Georgia

Ok, so anyone who knows me knows that I have zero tolerance for stupidity. I mean ZERO tolerance for it. There's just no excuse for grown adults not being able to use the sense God gave them. Which leads to this rant of a post b/c OMG you guys! People in Columbus, Georgia can NOT drive! I do not understand the purpose of getting on a 6 lane highway and then doing 15 mph under the speed limit in the left hand lane! I mean really? Get in the right hand lane, and go the long way. I've got places to go and things to do and I do not have time to leisurely ride behind you. Also, if you feel the need to do 20 mph over the speed limit, get in the left lane! Do not ride my ass, that's doing a perfectly acceptable 5 mph over in the middle lane. Go around me. That's why there are 3 lanes. All I ask is that you do the speed limit. No more and no less. Oh and right hand turns? People here seem to think that they need to come to a complete stop to make a right hand turn when the light is green. What the crap? It's green people! And railroad tracks? If there isn't a train coming and the rails aren't down, you don't need to stop before driving over it. Really. I promise you'll make it. Or when someone is trying to merge on the highway and your in the way, and there's no one in the lane next to you? You think maybe, just maybe, you could move over so I don't have to drive into the wall at 70 mph? Oh and let's not forget turn signals! When you switch lanes, you are LEGALLY obligated to use a turn signal. And when your actually turning. What did you think they were there for? And when you come to a stop light, you shouldn't be so close to the back of my car that I can't see the hood of yours, and I end my day knowing the color of your eyes. Too close people. Ugh. Joe says I should open my own driving school, and I think he's only half joking. I even have my speech for the first day of school ready. It goes a little something like this "Alright, listen up. If I catch any of you little assholes doing any of the above mentioned things, I will make it my mission in life to ensure you never drive again." I feel like this would be effective with teenagers? If we can stop the ridiculousness early, maybe, just maybe, my stress level wouldn't be insane while driving. I know it's not me. Maybe my intolerance adds to my stress, but still. Use your brains and I won't be so intolerant :)

p.s. I have friends who are actually from Columbus, and I love them dearly, and they're pretty decent drivers. So it's not everyone. To my GA friends: I love you! This isn't directed at you per say :)

FRG "Coffee"

Last night we had an FRG ladies coffee. Their idea of "coffee" around here is getting together and eating not good for you snacks and appetizers and drinking wine. I LOVE "coffee" :) I of course, didn't have any booze, neither did LTC Brown's wife (she is also currently of the knocked up persuasion), but the snacks were delicious! It was nice to get together with this group of super fun ladies and just chit chat and laugh. I haven't laughed that hard in a really long time. I love being the FRG leader for Charlie Company. I've gotten to meet all kinds of neat people b/c of it, and it's fun! I'm definitely having a much better FRG experience here at Ft. Benning than I did at Ft. Bragg. It's a smaller group of women, so we don't seem to have the "drama" that can sometimes come with a large group of women. I just wish the ladies in my company would be more involved. I email, call, harass their husbands, but I don't seem to get anything back. I don't want to be that annoying person, but damn. I want some friends and I want to get to know them! Haha That sounds totally selfish, but I do want our company to be close. We go through a lot as wives of drill sergeants and wives of the cadre, and I know sometimes I need a little morale boost when Joe has had to work til 8pm for the 5th night in a row, so I can only assume that sometimes they may be feeling the same way? Any suggestions as to how to get everyone together? I've asked for feedback from the ladies, but haven't received any. Joe said I should just pick a day and schedule something low key and just see who shows up. Maybe I'll try that. I definitely don't want to be a sucky FRG leader :) 

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along: 30 weeks 1 day

 Size of baby: 15.5 inches long and almost 3.5 pounds.

 Weight gain: Umm... not too much. I'm close to my limit though.

 Movement: Lots! But I can definitely tell she's starting to get cramped in there. Lots of stretching for her.

 Sleep: Sometimes. I wake up 3 or 4 times a night, but I let myself take short naps if I need them.

 Symptoms: Hungry. Tired. And oh yeah, kidney stones.

 What I miss: Being comfortable. Sound strange, but I'm just so uncomfortable all the time now.

 Cravings: Sugar. Still. And cheddar wheat crackers.

 Aversions: Meat. Ranch. Sweet tea. The usual.

 Best moment this week: Being able to see her moving on the outside. Creepy and cool all at the same time.

What I am looking forward to: Meeting her! I've started to imagine what she'll look like and what her personality will be like.

 Milestones: Blinking. She can now tell the difference between day and night. And she's getting fat :)

30 weeks 1 day

We're alive!

So I know its been FOREVER since I last wrote something up, but I swear I have a good excuse! Week before last, I had more kidney stones. FML.  I had my first experience with kidney hell at 19 weeks, and then week before last it was back. This time was much worse than last time. First time lasted 2 days, this time? A week. A whole freaking week. Hell. But it passed, and we're all better now :) Hopefully we won't have to deal with it again. And then this last week, we had company. I love having company! Bryan graduated Ranger School on Friday, so Kristen came down Wednesday and they stayed with us through Saturday. It was so great to have them staying with us, and I know Keech enjoyed having Romy to play with. They're BFF's these days. We were also in a wreck on Friday night. Totally NOT my fault. A guy rear ended us downtown when we were leaving dinner. My car is such a beast that it has only minor bumper damage. It's getting fixed tomorrow, so hopefully it'll be all better by the end of the week. But that's all that's been going on with us lately. I could of course elaborate and go into detail, but I don't feel like it. So eh. I promise I'll be more on it from now on :)

p.s. the Hope Mills Quality of Life Committee is following my blog? What the what? Is this the whole committee or one creeper on the committee?? I feel like I need to figure this out...

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along: 27 weeks 4 days
Size of baby: She's an eggplant. 2 pounds & 14.5 inches long. She's HUGE!
Weight gain: Ha. I'm all belly, but I still don't like the number. I've been assured I'm fine, but eh.
Sex: Still a girl!
Movement: ALL. THE. TIME. She has a ridiculous amount of energy already.
Sleep: Eh this is still kind of hit or miss. I have to have a pillow under under my belly and between my legs to get comfortable. It doesn't help that I'm burning up most of the time.
Symptoms: Other than my ENORMOUS belly?! I'm a hungry hungry hippo.
What I miss: Being able to bend over or lean over. Really. I never realized how much I did this until I couldn't do it anymore.
Cravings: Sugar, sugar, sugar! I can't get enough sweets!
Aversions: Still can't do sweet tea, ranch, or meat of any kind except fish or hot dogs. The cheese thing has gotten better, but it's rare.
Best moment this week: Her giving Joe a high five this morning. The look on his face was perfect.
What I am looking forward to: Getting the nursery done! Finally found a crib and changing table I like, now we just need to get them ordered!
Milestones: Her lungs are already capable of breathing air as her vascular system can now handle oxygen/carbon exchange and her brain stem can now regulate rhythmic breathing as well as her basal body temperature. Basically, if she were born today, she has a very good chance of being just fine. Woo Charlotte!

Oh yeah, I'm still pregnant Part 2

27 Weeks

So I'm going to attempt to write this blog entry again. I was so angry last night when it got deleted twice, all by itself, I couldn't even think straight. Ridiculous, I know, but whatever. So here we go again!

Yesterday I woke up and the "I HAVE to get EVERYTHING done NOW" feeling of dread has kicked in. I feel like I should still have a few weeks before I start to feel like this, but apparently I was wrong. I felt like if I didn't at least start packing our hospital bags, then my head was going to explode. I know, I know, those aren't supposed to be packed until like 33 weeks, but I don't care. So I went to some stores and started to get all the necessities. I went to Walmart (HATE this place) for all our toiletries. They have the best deals on the travel size things, and since I'll only be in the hospital 3 days, they're the perfect size and amount. So I got everything Joe and I will need and got that all packed in these little toiletry bags that I got an awesome deal on. Love getting things on sale :) Then I went to Target (LOVE this place) for my "I just had a baby" wardrobe. I seriously made out like a bandit on this trip! I got 2 pairs of pj pants, 1 pair of pj shorts, 3 tank tops, 2 nursing tanks, socks and panties, a very nice AND flattering short robe, slippers, and shower shoes for practically nothing! I know a lot of other articles and blogs say not to bring your own clothes b/c everything will be gross, but I'm way too vain for that and I have no problem admitting it. There will be pictures taken, and people coming to visit, and I want to look like a human being. A few other things that I'm bringing that have been suggested by my favorite blogger Amalah, that aren't necessarily required, are:
1. Dry shampoo for right after labor and delivery since you won't be able to take a shower until 24 hours later. This I will for sure be using since I'll most likely have yucky greasy hair, and I don't want that in my pictures.
2. Organic Mother's Milk herbal tea from GNC. If you plan on breastfeeding like I do, this helps give your body a boost in milk production. I mean, your body is going to do it either way, this just gives you a little extra oomph. It's like a vitamin.
3. A sleep mask. I can't sleep if there is light anywhere, so this will help since hospitals tend to leave lights on no matter what.
4. Hairspray. Don't judge me. My hair sucks.
5. Ponds face wipes. I always feel better if my face is clean, and this will be much easier than trying to wash my face in a hospital sink.

I'm sure there will be more, and I'll update as I go. I googled and searched all my favorite mommy blogs for the Must Haves, the Might Wants, and the Leave At Home lists, and they seem to mostly agree. A few things from the Leave at Home list will probably make it into our bags, but that's ok. We're first timers, so I don't think anybody will be judging us too harshly :) And if they do, well they suck anyway. So whatever. There is still a long list of things we have to get, but I have some time. The doom feeling has subsided some since I got most of the necessities. I mean, if we had to leave for the the hospital now, we could.

I've also been reading A LOT of other mommy blogs. It's become my new obsession. I can't help it! I love reading their stories about their babies, things that do and don't work for them, their lives, and everything else they write about. I feel like I know them. It's not as psycho as it sounds, promise :) But I learn a lot from each of them for different reasons, and it's nice to know there are other people out there who feel the same way I do about some things, and of they don't, their reasons why they feel the way they do. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Amalah's blog. She is beyond hilarious, and so honest, and just so relatable. Her boys are also super stinking cute, and I love to read about them. Some of the other mommys I like to read have done this "Pregnancy Highlights" questionnaire and it's the same one Brook does, so I don't feel like such a copy catter by doing it :) So I think I'm going to start doing it this week and go from there. It should be fun! But that's it for us for now! Now for some pictures! Woo!!

Oh yeah, I'm still pregnant

 I've tried to write this post twice already and STUPID blogspot keeps deleting it right as I'm finished typing it. I am SO OVER IT! So I will try to write it again tomorrow, but right now I'm too pissed off to even attempt it again. Ugh. It will be complete with baby Charlotte updates, and pictures. But not tonight.

Goin on Safari

Our sweet ride through the safari

I'm going to back-track a little bit and talk about last weekend. As in, not Labor Day weekend. Joe's parents came down and stayed with us for a few days, and we showed them around Columbus. The tour was pretty short, obviously, but we did some fun things while they were here. Joe and his dad golfed all weekend. Surprise! They managed to go out to dinner with us a few times though ;) His mom and I went to this giant kids consignment sale at the Columbus Convention Center, and got some super cute outfits for Miss Charlotte and a bow that I can't even express how much I love! It's a red bow with the Thing 1 and Thing 2 circles all over it. It makes me smile. I might even wear it to my baby shower, since it is Dr. Seuss themed after all. Then we went to Pine Mountain, which is about 30 minutes outside of Columbus, and went on safari. For reals! There's this place that has all these animals, and you drive through and feed them. It's so much fun, and kinda crazy. My favorite were the zebras. They are so pretty in real life! I'm talking gorgeous. They're so sweet. I loved them! The giraffe was pretty cool too. I was NOT a fan of the ostriches or emus. Just eww. They would try to stick their ugly little heads through the windows, and just ugh. I did not like them. We took lots of pictures, of course. That pretty much was our weekend. Then we drove home and spent the week in NC. Loved it! A week isn't nearly long enough. We just basically hung out and spent time with family. We didn't have nearly enough time to see, or hang out with everybody, so if we didn't see you, don't feel like it was an intentional snub b/c I can assure you it wasn't. There just wasn't enough time. I'm looking forward to the next time we'll be home b/c 1. We'll be home. Duh. and 2. It'll be for my baby shower! Woo!! So look for that super fun and chaotic post sometime around October 9th :) But that's all for the updates for now. Enjoy our safari pictures!

These were some kind of deer. I read a sign, but don't remember what it said. They were sweet though.

That's Joe's arm. And a cow.

You can't tell from the picture, but there were about 15 pigs just loitering in front of these lions. Those lions were eyeballing those pigs. It's a good thing there was a fence.

My zebra friends :)

Joe and my zebra friend.

That camel was NOT happy to see us. Whatever. He was kinda ugly anyway.

These little guys followed us around the whole time. Too cute.

Weird yak/cow looking thing. Again, there was a sign, but who knows what it said.

I wish I could tell you Charlotte had a good time, but that lame baby slept the whole time. Her life is SOOO hard ya know ;)

An actual pig in mud. Ahahaha! I don't know why, but I found this to be hilarious.

My zebra friend again. LOVED them!

The great explorers!

Joe and his bear friend.

These monkeys were giving each other kisses.

Barely Breathing and Paisley Bedding

I've been a slacker with the blog the last week and a half, and I'm going to continue to be until this STUPID cold goes away. I can't breathe, and just feel crudy in general, so I just don't have the motivation to deal with anything until further notice. Pregnancy apparently hates me :) But soooo totally worth it. But we're still alive, in case you were worried. We went home to NC this past week, so that's another reason I didn't update anything. A week isn't nearly long enough. I miss my mom and sister entirely way too much than I'm willing to deal with, so the drive back to GA is always a cry fest until we hit the SC border. This particular meltdown was especially bad. The words "I hate stupid Georgia" and "I hate that stupid apartment" may have been uttered a few times.... I'm sure being sick and just a hormonal hot mess in general didn't help. Mom did manage to help me get it together and finally pick our nursery bedding. I've been struggling with this for months, and she finally made me look and look until I found something I loved, and Joe likes it too, so its the one we're going with. And I have a super cute, but secret squirrel idea for what to put on the wall, since we aren't painting. I want to get it done before I tell anybody about it so everyone can marvel at how awesome and creative I am haha But I'll get a bigger post, with lots of pictures, on here in a day or two. For now, I'm going to curl back up on the couch with my dog, and box of tissues and hope and pray that this damn cold GOES AWAY!

Baby Charlotte's nursery bedding.Too stinking cute <3