A promise to be better ...

O.k. This is my promise to be a better blogger friend! With the move, finishing my masters and then getting pregnant, I admit that I have not had as much time as I'd like to read other blogs or blog myself, but I promise to be better.

Now that I am in "mommy" mode I think I have come up with a system to accomplish this. Each time I post on one of my blogs (this one or The Teacup Collector's Cottage (Craft, Collection and Home Blog) I will put a colored star on my calendar (a different color for each blog.) My goal is also to visit the blogs on my sidebar weekly. Each week I visit each blog I'll put a different colored start on my calendar. (If I missed you, please let me know. As I get comments I will check to make sure you are on the list.)

I think this way I will be able to see at a glance how I'm doing. Isn't it a bit sad though that I have to revert to the system parents use to get their kids to do chores? I promise it's not a chore, my days seems to run together now that we prepare for ANOTHER move and the baby. I've already done two posts in two day on this blog, so the system must be working!

I hope everyone has a great week!

Until our next cup of tea ...

I have a fever ... baby fever ...

Well, you all knew it was coming, so don't act surprised! I tried to hold off as long as possible, but once we learned it was a boy, could you really blame me!?!

I haven't gone too crazy. We still have to move before setting up the baby's room plus the baby shower in Houston, after which we get to figure out how we will tote everything back to Florida (cross country trip with 7-mo pregnant wife, dog who's acting out and a truck full of stuff to be unload alongside all of out household goods ... I really feel bad for my hubby but he's been a good sport about it so I'll have to get him a good Christmas present!)

We have allowed ourselves one plastic tote of stuff to be collected by us while we are here. I'm sure we may get some gifts and such by then, especially from my dad's side of the Family who is not hosting the shower, but there's not point in going crazy now. The key to adding a baby is BUDGETING ... or at least that's what people tell me!

Anyway I'd been looking for a "Johnny Jumper" but couldn't find one at Babies R Us where we'd registered. I remember my younger siblings having so much fun in them, though they were also entertained by the many (12) siblings as well. So George suggested Toys R Us which actually had more baby toys than the Babies R Us, which was mostly supplies and accessories.

While we were there we noticed I couldn't help but walk through the clothes now that I knew what we were having. When we went to register after the results I was looking more at blankets, onsies, bath towels and such, since we aren't registering for clothes (just items such as carseats, bed, bedding, accessories for organization). We want our friends and family to have fun not feel like they are being told what to buy.

Anyway, we went to the clothes and their summer stuff was on sale, and a lot on clearance. I am a bit surprised by how much restraint I did have considering I am a sucker for a baby boy in the little polos and shorts or the button shirts. So cute! Not that some of the play outfits weren't adorable! So I restricted myself to one full price outfit (which turned out to be on sale anyway) and two clearance items. George was concerned since I'd just had a soda (caffine free!) and the clothes were next to the bathroom, but I maintained control.

So here are the outfits I got ...



My brother and uncle are firefighters/medics so I couldn't pass up the jumper with the firetruck on it and what little boy doesn't dream of being a pirate at some point. That one was also too cute to pass up. Both are 6-9 months since I'm sure we'll get most clothes in the smaller sizes.



This one was too cute to pass up too! So adorable for church or a unit activity. I did get this in the 3-6 months, but the next size was 12 months. George picked this shirt over the plaid button up one that was also an option.

In addition to these cute outfits for Father's Day I had gotten a Harley-Davidson blanket, shoes/slippers for the baby for George. He and his dad really bonded over motorcycles and as you may remember he'd rebuilt the HD 1964 Panhead that his dad had started on for a ride in his honor over Easter. We also have a HD 1935 Flathead that he dad had in parts that will be a project for the future.



(Click on the picture to read the bibs!) The weekend before we found out it was a boy George took a leap and bought the onsie when he was out for a ride while I rested. After we found out it was a boy we stopped by the HD store locally and picked up these bibs as well. I think the baby is set for his HD pride, though there was a cute onsie we saw when at the last duty station that said "My grandpa/dad rides a Harley." Since it was only in pink or blue and I wasn't even pregnant yet, we didn't get it and now can't find it. (Not that I've stopped looking!)

It's definately been fun preparing for the baby and I'm sure it'll be even more fun when he gets here (though I've promised George not to play dress-up with him!) I'm sure they'll be more to come ...

Until our next cup of tea ...

*Ahem* I have an announcement to make ...

On Friday George and I went to a non-military clinic for a gender determination test. Would you like to know what the results were????

IT'S A BOY!!!

Yeah! George was so happy! It was really amazing. They did the normal 2-D ultrasound and gave us about 8 different pictures (I'll post a few at the end.) They also did a 3-D version in sepia or "color" (also will post) and 2 others in black and white. We also got a video of the nearly 20 minute session. (Will try to attach later!)

The newest addition will be named George James Lindsey III, but called Jamie which is the same nickname of his much missed grandpa. He will be the 4th George Lindsey. George's grandfather had a different middle name. There are other George Lindseys in the lineage, but he's the 4th generation in a row (does that make sense?) We are sure that this bundle of joy (and energy from the appointment) is a gift from his much-loved and missed grandfather after a very hard year.

So without further ado ... I will not be the crazy parent who pulls out a flipbook of picures ... (click on each picture to enlarge)

Thats his bum and little legs on each side of the "ahem" proof ... he apparently likes to flash his booty.

Here he is again ... in a more modest manner ...

Here is the 3-D ultrasound

Until our next cup of tea ...

A busy week with surprises and accomplishments ...

Last week was definately a very busy week for us, but filled with great things. First my youngest brother Stephen completed basic training at Fort Jackson, SC. SInce it was only an hour away it meant that we would have a houseful for the weekend.

On Tuesday my step-sister Catherine and her husband Randall showed up. After Randall helped us unload some furniture at the Consignment Shop on post and donations for the Thift Store, we took a short tour of post as we headed to the Mexican Restaurnat with George for lunch. Then we just hung out at the house for the afternoon. They had driven through the night and were pretty tired. Being pregnant, I wasn't going to turn down an chance to rest either!

Before leaving for post Catherine surprised me with a tea set! It had a beautiful pink and purple pattern to it.



The next morning my dad arrived. He too had driven all night arriving just after 8 a.m. After getting ready for the day and helping dad unload we headed for a more exploration. We headed for the Signal Museaum on post (my dad is a BIG museum guy). Interestingly, though I'd been to the museum a few time while waiting for George to meet me for lunch at the cafe next door, I'd failed to notice one painting inparticular, one of a carrier pigeon named Cher Amie. Now for those who don't know, my maiden name is "Cheramie" meaning "my dear friend."

The pigeon, Cher Amie, was named a hero in World War I who helped save the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division in the battle of the Argonne, October 1918.

On October 3, 1918, Charles Whittlesey and more than 500 men were trapped in a small depression on the side of the hill behind enemy lines without food or ammunition. They were also beginning to receive friendly fire from allied troops who did not know their location. Surrounded by the Germans, many were killed and wounded in the first day and by the second day, only a little more than 200 men were still alive. Whittlesey dispatched messages by pigeon. The pigeon carrying the first message ("Many wounded. We cannot evacuate.") was shot down. A second bird was sent with the message, "Men are suffering. Can support be sent?" That pigeon also was shot down. Only one homing pigeon was left: 'Cher Ami'. He was dispatched with a note in a canister on his left leg,

We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven's sake, stop it!

As Cher Ami tried to fly back home, the Germans saw him rising out of the brush and opened fire and for several minutes, bullets zipped through the air all around him. The men of the Lost Battalion saw Cher Ami shot down, but he was soon airborne again. He managed to arrive back at his loft at division headquarters 25 miles to the rear in just 25 minutes, helping to save the lives of the 194 survivors. In this last mission, Cher Ami had delivered the message despite having been shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, covered in blood, and with a leg hanging only by a tendon.

Cher Ami had become the hero of the 77th Infantry Division, so army medics worked long and hard to save his life. They were unable to save his leg, so they carved a small wooden one for him. When he recovered enough to travel, the little one-legged hero was put on a boat to the United States, with General John J. Pershing personally seeing Cher Ami off as he departed France.

It was defintely a great story to share with my dad, especially with such a unique connection to our Family.

The next day, my dad, Catherine and Randall drove to Fort Jackson, SC, where we met my youngest brother, Stepehn, (10th of 12 siblings) for Family Day. He's spent his last summer of high school at Army Basic Training. We were so proud of him. We spent the day exploring post and running him around to do errands on his first day of freedom.



The next day (Friday) we were joined by George as we attended his graduation. It was a great experience to watch him and his fellow recruits as they started on this long journey of personal growth and pride in his country. I was bummed thought that I missed seeing him salute George for the first time, since George has put me in the air-conditioned Tahoe and then went to find them. It had been a long two days and I was starting to get tired.

On the way home we stopped by Fuddruckers where we had our fill of amazing hamburgers ... well most of us, I think Stephen has to get used to eating really food again!

Dad and Stephen stayed through Sunday and Dad and George had a great time working on fixing the motorcycle on Saturday. I was very happy to see them puttering about together, especially since the bike, a 1964 Harley Davidson, belonged to George's father. I wasn't sure how he'd react to my dad helping, but Dad was very understanding about it. They were both dirty and covered in oil when they finished, but happy to hear it roar to life.



Stephen even jumped in a little and George took him for a ride.



It was a busy week and I was happy for the chance to rest this week ... but it ended it with its own little surprise. More on that in the next post ...

Until our next cup of tea ...

Aboard the Titanic ...

O.k. so I know that I've been absent for a while and I promise to try to do better now that the nausea is slowing down. So the next few posts will be out of chronoligcal order, but I'll be sure to explain.

On the 4th of July George and I went to Atlanta to the Aquarium. OMG! (To sound like my niece ...) It was so amazing! It was definately crowded, but I love zoos and aquariums so for the most part it was great (a few people kept bumping me and elbowing me and George was getting a little over protective, but baby belly and I both survived!)

The part that I loved the most was that we got tickets to see the Titanic exhibit. The Titanic exhibition tells the story of the fated Titanic through authentic artifacts and hands-on interactive experiences. It was amazing to look at all of those items. There were more than 190 items on display that had been brought to the surface from the wreckage. It was a very awe-inspiring collection. From a crate-load of bowls that came to rest of the ocean floor without a single dish breaking to the clothing and personal affects of various passengers aboard. There were rooms that were recreated to show what the rooms and bunkers looked like. Throughout the exhibit there were the stories of so many of the people and how they happened to be on the ship that day (one person had given up a ticket on a previous ship to someone trying to get home on an emergency).

What brought the tragedy to life for me was that upon entering the exhibit each person was given a "boarding pass" with the name and information of an actual passenger on the ship. When you get to the end of the exhibit the final wall is covered from top to bottom with the passenger list from first-class to crew. Each category was divided by surviors and persished. It was humbling to see that the high the social class the higher the survivor rate. Each person is encourage to see what happened to "them" or the person listed on the boarding pass. In from of us was a family mixed with adults and children and it was humbling to watch them each go forward to see what their fate was. By luck of the draw, slightly more than half had perished. It was quiet for a moment as the family stood together pondering that reality.

I encourage you to check out RMS Titanic, Inc. to see when this great exhibit will be near you ...

Until our next cup of tea ...