I'm Hooked On....

...the Twilight Saga. Never knew what all the rave was until now. I'm currently reading this book, New Moon, the second in the series of four.
I read the first one in about 2 days and as much as I hate paper back books I couldn't wait for amazon to ship me the whole set so I went downtown and paid in pounds for this one. This morning I ordered this and can't wait for it to get here. Now I just need to see the movie. Most people said that it was okay but the book is always better. Love my books, never use to. I hated reading as a kid. It's funny how things change when you get older.

**Disclaimer: If you know anything about the books please don't tell me, I hate people that spoil unless I ask them to. Thanks!**

Summer Love and Hate

I love the summer. I love the fact that the wind blowing is a blessing to cool everything off as we do not have AC here in England. I love the fact that I don't have to wear 4 shirts when I need to take the trash out so I don't freeze. And I love the fact that the sun is out for a longer period of time throughout the day. But.....(you knew it was coming somewhere)

I hate what the summer brings....my allergies. I have had allergies (or hay fever as it is called here in England) since I could remember. I have been on every allergy medication that exists and honestly I don't think any of them really work, at all. I have tired the pill form (Claratin, Allegra, Zyrtec) and the nasal form (Flonase and something else that I took as a kid) and I have tried them together and still nothing. I have the eye drops that say on the side of the bottle, "Place 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) up to 4 times a day." Right, 4 times a day, I have already gone through a bottle of the stuff. I have tried allergy shots, twice and they are just a pain to keep up with. The only thing that I have found that works is well nothing. The only thing I haven't tried yet is the honey thing. You get honey from the local area and take 1 tsp. a day and it should relieve your symptoms over time, I think?

So Andi, why not avoid things that you are allergic to? Well it is funny that you say that cause I'm allergic to everything. Grass, most trees, my own dogs, pollen, dust, certain dust mites, mold, and the list goes on. It wasn't so bad when I can just lock myself in the house with the AC blasting, but again, no AC here and unless I want to die of suffocation then well, the windows and doors stay open to get the air flowing throughout the house.

So as much as I LOVE the summer.....bring on the fall. I'm also hot all the time because I'm pregnant and want to walk around the house naked. Tim keeps saying to me at night, wow you are so hot, how can you stand it? Ahhh....the things women do??? If they only knew the half of it......

Weekend Visitors

We had visitors this past weekend. Our old neighbors Drew, Shelley, and Lily came to visit for the weekend. We had a great time and wished they could have stayed longer. It is always nice to catch up. While they were here we did a mini photo shoot of the dog for Shelley to hang on the wall in her living room. Currently there is nothing on the wall and it is driving her crazy.

This first picture is a test shot. Yes that is suppose to be Scooby Doo but the dogs have made a retarded Scooby. they have ripped off his ears and tail. They have pulled out his tongue and several times they have cut him at the neck and pulled out his stuffing. So we have sewed him back up but sometimes we didn't always get the stuff back in there so his neck looks broken as well. Poor Scooby.
This Maggie and Martha in the chair. Tim was teaching Drew about lighting and such. Don't the two girls look cute together.
Here is Martha and Dakoda in the yard. They both have that same cocker face that you can't help but love even when they do something bad.

Finally, my FAVORITE picture of all...all three puppies sitting and looking at the camera. You couldn't have asked for a better shot. Tim has to do some back ground editing but for the most part it is almost perfect. This one might be a hanger.

Playing Catch-up

Okay, so I'm a bit behind, but at the same time I didn't want all of my posts to be about my pregnancy, and well I have been really lazy and tired all at the same time. Here is the first picture of our baby. There is only one, secretly I was hoping for 2 so I could get just get this all over with, but anyways. As of now I'm in my 11th week. Tim and I were about right when we thought we conceived. That sounds like such a dirty word at times. Our due date moved from Dec. 28 to the 26th. This should be interesting I guess. Whatever, as long as baby is healthy. We go back for another scan on the 13th of June and see the Dr. (Mr.) on 16 June. The scan on 13 June is for abnormalities and I have to get blood drawn either this week or next week for the Down's testing.

As far as other things pregnancy related I feel very fat. Yes I know that everyone is different, but I'm hoping this will all kinda taper out here as far as weight gain is concerned. I'm hoping that I just gain it all in the beginning and then the baby will just take the rest of it, what do you think? I don't think I have gained any weight, I just feel like I have. Nothing fits, stuff is to tight, and I don't feel comfortable in my own skin. I have also decided to boycott underwear. You heard me, I'm boycotting. I hate them. Now here is where I think you are going to get some TMI so if you don't want it, skip down below to the next picture. I'm a thong wearer. I became one several years ago and I love them. I like the mostly because I'm a butt sweater and I hate when I sweat then sit down and feel like I'm sitting in a puddle. Well now my thongs don't fit me, well most don't. My friend Chris told me about pregnancy thongs but again I have been too lazy and tired to search for any. So I need to get off my ass and get some stuff before I drive everyone around me insane. Honestly, I would love just to walk around in my basketball shorts and an old T-shirt for the next 6 months or so but I'm not sure that is possible. I have to look presentable at some point don't I. Okay, enough pregnancy stuff.

Below is my first gift. It is a handmade from one of our British friend's moms. She is really nice. We brought her some bread back from Scotland when we went up there last month. She said that she made it in one night. Pretty good if you ask me. Oh yeah, it is a shawl, forgot to mention that. It's really pretty though.

Other happenings: We are going to have a very busy summer. I think I only have 1 free weekend until August. Here, I'll run through our summer, for the most part.

June 5-7: Old Neighbors (Drew, Shelley, Lily, and Martha) come for visit

June 13: Scan in Oxford = most of the day gone.

June 14: Pictures at a dog show, we're taking the pictures

June 20-21: Free weekend, spring/summer cleaning

June 27: Wales to Bookstore town, maybe

July 4: Someone will have a BBQ

July 11-25: Mom and Dad here

July 17-19: RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo)-largest military airshow in the world held at RAF Fairford.

July 25: Wedding, taking pictures again

August 1: Scan in Oxford, sex of the baby scan

So, there's my summer, for the most part. I might be helping a friend but I'm not going to say who or what we will be doing just in case it fall through but if it doesn't, life is going to get a lot nicer and I think some what easier. SUPER EXCITED, but not to excited, just in case.

We had a nice weekend as well. We had people over on Saturday for our Italian theme BBQ. There was really nothing to cook on the grill except hot dogs and some chicken. But I made lasagna, stuff shells, green beans with shittake mushrooms, regular salad, tiramusu, rice crispy treats, and peanut butter fingers. I was done but the day's end, which is why yesterday was so nice. The other major thing we did was walk the dogs for 2 hours. Puppy got to swim which was nice because it was hot here and he doesn't get his hair cut until Thursday of this week. Well hot for us, it was about 75 or so. We had to get the fan out last night and leave the windows open. It was really nice. I think we are going to get a summer this year. Super excited about that too.

Okay, that's enough of an update. Can't think of anything else. If something new arises then I'll post again. I think Transformers comes our 19 June but not sure. Will do a movie review on that when we go and see it.

Today is June 1st, I think summer has arrived....YEAH!!!!

The Summer of Movies

Last weekend we went and saw Angels and Demons. My opinion, it is worth going to the theater to see. I found this movie a little easier to follow than the last one. And for those of you who don't know, this is the first movie, not DaVinci Code. DaVinci Code is second in the series. I'm curious to know what they are going to do with his new book, The Lost Symbol. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Last night we went and saw X-Men Origins: Wolverine. My sugguestion, I would wait for this to come out on DVD. It was a good movie but it isn't a theater movie. I think I would have gotten the same shock value if I had watched it from home. But I will buy this one on Blu-ray when the opportunity arises.

Now for the other two movies that are definietly movie theater movies.

And the other movie....after this, unless something else comes out, this will be it, SUPER EXCITED about both of these movies.

I Could Literally....

...fall asleep at the drop of a hat and kill everyone that says "..when I was pregnant..". I'm not liking be pregnant, at least not at this moment. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE says

"...it's getting better, I loved being pregnant..."
or
"...it's NOT going to get any better and you are going to be tired for the next 5 years..." then laugh at me.

I hate you people that say that to me, a first time mom! Thanks!

I'm not looking for advice. I just want you to feel bad for me. Say, "oh Andi, I'm sorry, you should go and rest, take a nap, is there anything else that I can do to help you or make you feel better?"

I kinda feel like I'm planning a wedding. Go with me on this one. If you are already married and you have a friend that is getting married and is planning a big kinda wedding you feel the need to put in your two cents. (I have done this.) You hear a lot of "...when I got married we did...." or "...we didn't do that, we did this and it worked pretty well..." or "...no that's not going to work like that, you should do it like this..." or "...on your wedding day you are going to feel ___..."

When I realized I was doing this I stopped because I didn't want to be that person. I didn't really have anyone doing that to me because I was pretty much the first one to get married out of my friends. Looking back, I wish more of my friends had gotten married with me or before me so I could steal ideas from their wedding. But I enjoyed my wedding and whatever.

My point is, being pregnant is kinda the same thing, except this time I'm on the other end of it all. I'm one of the last ones to have a child so EVERYONE has advice for me.

"When I was pregnant.... and when I was pregnant....and when I was pregnant." or "...you should try this..." or "...you are going to fee like this..." and ..."when I was pregnant..." I'm sooooo over hearing phrases like those listed above. Let me have my own experience and stop telling me how is it is going to be because from what I hear, they are ALL different. If I want advice, believe me I'll ask then you can tell me "...when I was pregnant" and I probably won't get as annoyed with you because I asked for it.

This sucks, I'm tired, I'm REALLY cranky (if you couldn't tell), and I have to go to work and sit there and look like I'm doing something when really I have nothing to do.

Right now it is 8:05 a.m., I got up at 6:45 a.m., ate some breakfast, drank a small cup of coffee, and now I could go back to bed for a morning nap.

Okay, I have ranted on long enough, don't really want to piss anyone off, but at this point, I'm really too tired to care but sorry if I did and if you have done this to me please don't be mad at me, it is just that you and EVERYONE (mostly the women on base who don't read this blog) else has told me the same thing now for the last 3 weeks and I have just had it. I apologize in advance :-)

First Doctor's Appointment

Yesterday was my first doctor's appointment for the baby. He really didn't do much with me besides talk. We talked about the different types of blood tests that they would be running and about how far along I am (I think about about 8 weeks???). He gave me all of his phone numbers so if I even have the stupidest of questions I can call and ask. He said there is no stupid question. My biggest concern is with my weight and my asthma, mostly the asthma during labor but that is a ways away so I guess we'll cross that bridge when the time comes. He told me that I can pretty much eat what I want, in moderation of course and stay away from raw foods such as meats, eggs, and fish. I can eat them all, they all just have to be cooked, which of course I knew.

He also said not to expect the baby too soon and don't have a "we have to have the baby on this day" kinda thing and I can understand that. He was more or less talking about being early, if anything, I want to be late. We would like this kid to be born as far after Christmas as possible. Of course if he/she comes early we will be okay with that but again, if we have a preference I'll take a later date. I say that now but I'm sure when I'm waddling with swollen feet and back pain I'll say differently, but for now, that is what I'm saying.

The doctor told me that my uterus is to small to hear the heart rate, he said maybe next time. Right now it is only the size of an orange and when I go next time it should be the size of a grapefruit. So no heart rate this time. My blood pressure was low, as usual, it was 100/50 or there abouts which is my normal. I then went and peed in a cup and went home.

A couple of things that I found different from what I'm use to in the states. First my doctor is a Mr. In England apparently doctors can be both Mr. and Dr. Mine is a Mr. I still call him Dr. but on his card and when we made the appointment he was a Mr. Second, I get to keep my medical records and have to bring them back each time. I found this weird as most doctor's offices make you leave them. Last, when I go back next time I'm going to get my own cup to pee in and I'm to bring this back every time I go. So basically, I'll pee in the cup, he'll look at and run whatever tests if there is one, he'll dump it out in the sink, rinse it out and hand it back to me to bring back next time. Strange I thought but that is what they do here.

Other than that nothing else to really report. We are both excited. I still don't feel pregnant, some people that I talk to say you'll blink and he/she will be here. I'm sure that is how it will go for me. I'm trying to write everything down as it happens so when it is time and the energy to scrapbook all of this I know what I was feeling at the time. Right now it is mostly being very tired, nauseous in the afternoon, excited, tired, scared, and having a few "oh shit, we are really doing this" days. Yes in the end I know it will all be worth it.

Tim and I were trying to work out the time line for the next one. Yes I know the first one isn't here yet but ideally we would like both kids (we always talked about having 2) in school by the time he retires at 20 years. I think if we do what we talked about that will just about happen, but it will be a lot of work, but what isn't these days.

I'm still not sure what I'm going to do about work, everyone keeps asking me and I don't really have a definite answer for them. I don't want to put them (baby) in the CDC (day care on base) because they suck and everyone said to stay home the first year but I'm going to need something maybe once a week to do on my own with no kids, no husband, just for me that requires me to leave the house. I would like to work from home but I have to find something. I guess it is time to start digging around. I'm pretty decent on the computer, might even consider going back to school, for free this time though. There is a new program out for spouses where I can get $6K and find a portable career. I need to do some more research on it though. In the meantime, my contract with the base is up on 1 October so I'll decide then I guess.

Okay, I think I poured my heart out enough or at least you know what is going on. I'll let you know when the next appointment is and will post pictures of the ultrasound if I get any. From what I have seen it is looks like a big gray spot on a lighter gray screen. Should be interesting...stay tuned.