WELL!!!

Hubby's home <3 He got in late last night. We barely slept at all, Karter refused to stop moving. He is excited Daddy's home <3 I finally got the Denny's I've been craving for 2 weeks.. at 6am! Then we drove around looking at houses and talking for HOURS! I love having him here. I knew I missed him, but I hadn't realized how much. Hoping to deliver Karter any day now!!
Hope everyone has a Happy Holidays, and a GREAT New Year.
I'll put up pictures of the 3 of us as soon as he's born <3

Today.

Well, yesterday was pretty miserable.. Found out they cancelled hubbys flight home for R&R, however, he will still be here soon. Then I went to the drs for my 38 week checkup. I am starting to dilate, FINALLY!!! <3 We are very very excited. Contractions are sporadic, but they will get better. And soon, hubby will be here and our little man can arrive. I'm super excited.

My siblings and I just made and decorated cookies for "Santa". It was a long process, but we had fun! <3

Weekend catch-up!

Well.. I was wrong on Wednesday.. It was false labor- contractions every 2 to 4 minutes that weren't doing anything.. They gave me some medication and sent me home.. Friday, I got all my Christmas shopping done. Saturday, everything was wrapped and threw my little sister a birthday party. Sunday, family "Christmas dinner" (we know it was early.. but we had out of town visitors..)! Cardiology appointment went well. Everything's looking good (Thank goodness!!) Hubby will be home in less than 24 hours <3 And just finished decorating a gingerbread train with my siblings. So much fun until the icing started melting!! lol!

Tomorrow: Pick hubby up from the airport <3 Babysitting for my mom! Baking and decorating Christmas cookies with the kids!! <3 AND! My 38 week checkup. THEN THIS KID NEEDS TO JOIN THE REAL WORLD!! <3 Mommy and Daddy wanna meet him! <3

Hope everyone's doing well! <3

exciting!

Well.. I'm pretty sure that my labor has started..

Been having contractions at a regular interval for 16 hours now..

And they seem to be getting closer together.

Kinda sad that my hubby's not here..

But he will be soon.

There's nothing we can do to make Karter wait..

Might as well be as positive as possible.

<3

BEST morning in a LONGGGG time!!

Just got a phone call from my hubby...

His leave dates have been pushed up a couple more days...

I can't stop smiling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AHHHH!!!!! <3

And little baby Karter knows I'm all excited..

He hasn't stopped moving in almost 20 minutes.

<3

Can't wait to have my 2 favorite boys together!! 

<3 

36 Weeks!

Had my 36 week checkup. Everything looks good!! <3

Days until my hubby comes home for R&R are in the single digits!!!

I'm soo excited.

He will get here, our little boy will be born, and all will be PERFECT! <3

Hopefully, today I will fix the sewing machine..

I'd love to get back to work on my quilt...!!

Maybe it'll keep me from going crazy over the next

several days....!!!!! <3

This week

This week has been the laziest week! I haven't really done anything. Had to take it easy with all this medical stuff goin on. On top of that, Karter has dropped, making it very uncomfortable to move too much. My hormones are gaining control of me, and I'm starting to lose it. I really wish my hubby was here with me to help... But he'll be here soon, and that's what matters. Once he gets here, Karter can come into this world, and then I will have my everything <3

Yesterday... UGH!

So, yesterday I had my check-up with my cardiologist. I figured it'd be like every other appointment with him... I'd go in, he'd laugh at how big I'm getting, and I'd leave- perfectly fine! Well... God had another plan. I've been put back on some heart medications.. I'm having a few problems that he's worried about.. especially with me being pregnant and all.. If the medications don't work, I don't know what will happen.. I'm hoping they will just let it go, considering the problems aren't "life threatening" for me or Karter, but I have a feeling they will do a c-section.. Which I won't be happy about! However, my check up to find out if the medication is working is only a couple days before my husband comes home on R&R, so it's likely that he'll be here if they do decide to do a c-section, THANK GOODNESS!!
Sorry.. needed to vent.

As for today! Although it's only 8:20 am, it's been a good one! My friend, who took my pregnancy pictures the other day, posted some of them today! I think they turned out pretty well for as many complications as we had! LOL! It was soo much fun though. Here are a couple of my favorites! <3

Gotta have the Gators jersey!! <3

Cute little bear my MIL bought my hubby!

Wearing one of my hubbys shirts.. My favorite! <3

An all around amazing day!!!

My cervix is starting to thin!!! I'm super excited! Hopefully, everything will go as planned and Karter will wait for daddy to come home!! I'm ecstatic tonight.. Had amazing pictures taken this morning, been e-mailing my hubby back and forth for a couple hours, and played tee ball with my little brother and sister. And now, I'm about to go shopping with my best friend, my sister!!! Life during a deployment can't get much better than this.

I love my hubby!! <3

Tuesday, November 30, 2010!!

Today will be a busy day. Didn't get much sleep last night, but that isn't going to effect my day! This morning, I'm getting pictures taken by a friend of mine (I will post a couple as soon as I get them from her). THEN! I have an "emergency" doctors appointment, which is a good thing, at least to me. They think that I may be having Karter sooner than they orginally thought, and want to check it out. THEN! I'm babysitting my little brother and sister, which means I'll get some quilting done, thank goodness. I'm almost done with the first one! I will post pictures as soon as I am finished <3
Hope everyone has a good and eventful day!!
<3

Family

I had the most amazing 3 days with my in-laws. Wednesday night was hilarious.. my brother in laws all picking on me. Thursday was amazing. Spent the morning in the kitchen, learning from my MIL and her sister. Then spent a while talking to my hubby on skype <3 Friday was tons of fun. Went shopping with my FIL and my aunt. Then my FIL made me stuff my face (not that he had to try very hard..) I ate about every 2 hours for the past 3 days.. and I feel amazing! However, I'm very excited that hubbys leave dates were changed, so he'll be home for r&r a little earlier than we planned <3

SO EXCITED!!!

Thanksgiving week questions.. From Lauren's blog!

I figured, while I wait for the Pumpking Spice Cake to bake, I would do some blogging! <3
Here's the questions!

Here are this week's questions!

1. Name 5 things you are grateful for!

I am grateful for: My husband. My son, who is currently driving me crazy! My family, although they generally drive me crazy too! My amazing in- laws, who I love so much. And my life. I love absolutely EVERYTHING about it.

2. What is you favorite dish at Thanksgiving dinner?

That's a difficult one.. I'm going to have to say 2. At my moms' house, her cranberry sauce, made from scratch. At my in-laws, my MILs' greenbean casserole. IT'S AMAZING!!

3. Do you have any family traditions for Thanksgiving?

Just spending my day in the kitchen cooking with the girls.

4. Are you staying home or traveling for Thanksgiving?

This year, I'm travelling to my in-laws! <3

5. What else do you do on Thanksgiving day besides eat?

Cook, watch my brother and sister in laws play football.. since I have to sit out this year :(

Today's baking!!!

My roommate and I made Christmas cookies to send to the boys, as well! Decorated them first thing this morning! Here are some pictures!

Our little Gingerbread Men.

There's a nerdy one, a gamer, a soldier (our camo looks horrible!! lol), and one with a dorky Christmas sweater!

Our Candy Canes

Stockings!!

And the Trees.

Recipes!!

Dough for the Apple Pie (makes enough to fill 4 8oz mason jars)
1 1/4 c all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c + 1 tbsp shortening
about 1/4 c ice water

-Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening.
-Add water 1 tbsp at a time, until moist
-Roll out dough.

Apple Pie
2 c apples (peeled, cored, and diced and soaking in lemon water until use)
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp butter (1/4 tbsp per jar)
cinnamon (to taste)
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp vanilla

-Comine sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in a mixing bowl.
-Add vanilla and apples. Mix thoroughly.
-Use about 1/2 c filling per jar. Place 1/4 tbsp butter on top of each.
-Place top crust. Be sure to cut slits for air ventellation if you're not doing a lattice top.
-Place jars on a baking sheet and bake at 375F for 45 minutes, or until top crust is golden brown.
-Place lids on jars immediately upon removing from oven, otherwise they won't seal properly.

*MY NOTES!!!*
I found that with the apple pie, if you use 2 Granny Smith apples, it comes out too tart, and if you use 2 Red Delicious apples, it's too sweet. I used one of each and found it worked well together.  The lids to the jars must be in hot water until use (I only let them sit for about 5 minutes, otherwise they burn you really quickly since they're metal).

Pumpkin Spice Bread
1/2 c raisins
1 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/4 salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
2 eggs
1 c sugar
1/2 c vegetable oil
8 oz can of pumpkin

-Grease jars lightly.
-Chop raisins, and set aside.
-In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger. Add raisins.
-In a seperate bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin. Combine with flour mixture.
-Fill jars halfway. Place jars on a cookie sheet.
-Bake at 325F for 40 minutes. Place lids immediately upon removing from oven.

*Don't forget to keep the lids in hot water for about 5 minutes before use!*

ENJOY!!!

Pictures of baking!!

I'm so excited with the way it all came out! I only just figured out how to post pictures! So here they are!! <3

Apple Pie in a Jar

Both the Pumpkin Spice Bread, and Apple Pie in a Jar!

Apple Pie Muffins.. I wanted some for me!!

<3

Tomorrow, I'm baking Christmas cookies to send him too! <3

Baking for the hubby!!

OMG! So my roommate and I have spent the past 2 and a half hours in our kitchen baking! We made apple pie in a jar, and pumpkin spice bread in a jar to send to my hubby, and her adopted soldier! This will be their Thanksgiving! I've also decided I'm taking a loaf of pumpkin spice bread to my in-laws for Thanksgiving, since my MIL kept saying she can't make it right..!! I'm soooo excited! As the jars popped when they sealed, I was jumping up and down thanking God that I did it right!! <3

Stole from Lauren's Blog!

1. What are your middle names?
My middle name is Beth
His middle name is David

2. How long have you been together?
We've been dating for 5 years, last week, married for almost one! <3
3. How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Just a couple weeks, a month or so I believe.
4. Who asked who out?
He asked me!

5. How old are each of you?
I am 20 (will be 21 April.15th)
He is 20 (will be 21 January 23rd)






29. Who drives when you’re together?
Him. He says my driving "scares" him..
30. What is your song?
We have a lot! My favorite of them all happens to be "Love like Crazy" by Lee Brice27. Who does the laundry?
Me.. 

28. Who’s better with the computer?
I don't know.. that's a good question.22.How do you spend the holidays?
Depends. This year, I will spend them with my family since he's deployed.. Next year, we will be spending them with our son <3
23. Who is more jealous?
It's equal..
24. How long did it take to get serious?
It was almost immediately..

25. Who eats more?
Probably me.. Pretty sure it's always been that way..
26. What do you do for a living?
I'm a stay at home wife, soon to be a stay at home mommy <3 and he's a medic in the Army!14. Who does the cooking?
Me. Usually, although there are nights he will make me dinner <3
15. Who is more social?
He is.
16. Who is the neat freak?
Definitely me!

17. Who is the most stubborn?
That's pretty equal, as well.
18. Who wakes up earlier?
Me. I'm always up first!
19. Where was your first date?
Bob's Burger joint in San Antonio... lol
20. Who has the bigger family?
They are pretty equal. He has more siblings, but it balances out..
21. Do you get flowers often?
No. Only twice since we've been together, but I don't like being spoiled, so it's ok <312. Who has the worst temper?
We both have pretty bad tempers actually... But I happen to believe mine is worse..
13. How many children do you want?
We are about to have our first, a boy. But we want 2 more!!6. Did you go to the same school?
Yes, we did.
7. Are you from the same home town?
No... He was born in California, I was born in Florida.
8. Who is the smartest?
Me.. DUH! Just kidding. We pretty much balance eachother out.
9. Who majored in what?
Neither one of us have gone to college yet, but he is a Combat Medic in the Army.
10. Who is the most sensitive?
It's pretty equal..

11. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
From Florida to Washington state.

My in-laws!!

My in-laws are the best! Not only did I have an amazing weekend spending time with them, they had gifts for their grandson. AND! My mother in law read my mind and made me all the foods I've been craving before I even got there! It was amazing. She spent her days in the kitchen teaching me to make Fillipeno food!! I absolutely LOVE it! And she managed to spoil me rotten... She sent me home with tons of extra Fillipeno food to satisfy my cravings for the next 2 weeks... Until I go back for thanksgiving! lol. Just got home, and I'm missing them already! <3

My In-Laws

Today, I'm leaving to spend the weekend with my in-laws. I'm so excited!! I'm hoping my sister in law will be born while I'm there. I'm really really hoping so! I'm so excited to meet her!! She will be the first one that I've known from the very beginning of her life, and I would absolutely LOVE that feeling! And as soon as my sister in law is born, I want Karter OUT! He will get his little eviction notice.. LOL!
AND! I'm going shopping this morning to buy fabrics to start a quilt for this little princess <3 I can't wait to get it started!!

AHHH!!!!!!

My puppy.. :(

Sadly, after months of trying to get her to listen, and training, she still can't behave. I can no longer continue to pretend these problems do not exist, and she has to go... I'm very upset with this fact, but with my son coming in the next couple months, I can't keep her.. My mother put her up on Craigslist this morning.. I don't know how to feel about this. I know I can't keep her because she is going to cause serious problems when Karter comes.. But I feel horrible.. Like I'm abandoning her.. I can't stop crying. I'm not sure what to do anymore.. And I hate how upset I am by doing what I feel is best for my son... UGH! It's going to be a rough afternoon.. </3

And so it begins..

As of today, I have absolutely EVERYTHING put together for my little man! Everything is washed and put away, and my hospital bag is packed.. I feel ridiculous considering I have 8 weeks left until the due date.. but still! I feel so much better now that it's all done and ready. So now, I'm just going to be extremely impatient for the next 8 weeks or so.. AHH!!! <3

Friday, November 5th, 2010

So.. Today is the day before my baby shower.. FINALLY! I'm so excited. I can't wait to get everything set up for my precious baby boy! I can't wait any longer.. I want to get it all washed, and set up, and ready! I want him here.. I want his daddy home.. I'm so happy that our family is coming together, and finally happening for us! I cannot wait!! This can't come soon enough! <3

What to say.. Well, I'm 20 years old, married to my high school sweetheart. We have never been happier. It took 4 years of frustrations and horrible situations for me to realize that I wouldn't find anyone that I wanted to be with more than him. About 6 months after this realization, we got married, on December 10, 2009.
In late December of 2009, we bought a puppy, Oreo. And on May 3, 2010, we found out that we are expecting our first child, a boy- Karter Ian. He is due to be here on January 4th, 2011. We are so excited!!
In July, my husband deployed. He's missing everything in the pregnancy, and it really bothers both of us, but this is the Army life, we deal.
When he comes home next summer, the 3 of us will be returning to Fort Lewis, Washington. I'm so excited to go back... I miss the rain, and the amazing friends I made there.