Sweet Home Alabama

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I'm beginning to think that Thanksgivings with my Father here in Alabama is becoming something of a tradition.

I hadn't intended to come to Alabama this year.

In fact, I told everyone that with 2 children there was no way I was traveling this holiday season.

I figured if people wanted to see us bad enough, they could come to us.

Then my Dad got sick. He had pretty major surgery and I had no other option than to come be with him.

Luckily, my Baby Sis left her craptastic job and she was able to come with me.

The 2 day drive was actually quite enjoyable. The kids were really good and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my Baby Sis. We talked, listened to music, talked some more. It was nice.

So now we are in Alabama. Another hot state.

I don't understand why it's in the upper 70s at the end of November. Maybe I did live in Upstate NY too long.

My Dad has been helping me figure out what new computer to buy. I need one really badly. I'm currently using his HP Envy and I really like it...except I'm HATING the mouse pad. Oh. Em. GEE! It's driving me crazy.

So I either get the Envy and purchase a mouse to accompany it, or I look into something else. My problem is that I tend to get overwhelmed and if I have too many options, I shut down. Blah.

Computer suggestions??

I'm feeling pretty mad at myself today. I know that won't solve anything, but I need to get it together.

Yesterday, I did absolutely horrendous with my food intake. Seriously. I had 4 hot dogs for dinner! With chips and dip! What is wrong with me??? Why do I do this??

Also, I haven't been working with Baby N and doing his stretches. Like, not really at all. I started doing some with him this morning and it's like we are back at square one. I'm so annoyed with myself.

Anyway. The only thing I can do is work to change it. Not much else right?? Sitting here, beating myself up about it is a waste of my time.

So I'm done I guess.

But before I go, here are a couple random pictures we've taken on this trip.

Little Butt has us take the most random pictures of her. Goof ball.

I snapped this picture because Little Butt is sitting EXACTLY like her Daddy sits.

And my Baby Sis got this picture of me and Baby N just chilling after he ate.

That is all. Have a great day and a happy Thanksgiving!

My New Name is Nancy

Hi all! I'm baaaaaa-aaaaaaack!!!

Did you miss me??? I missed you guys!

I want to thank all the amazing bloggers who helped me out during our move. I really needed it and greatly appreciate all your help!

And hello to all my new readers! ::waves enthusiastically:: HI!!!! Thanks for coming to hang out with me!

This move, it seems, has been nothing but trouble. Blah!

I don't want to be a Negative Nancy but I'm just totally annoyed with this whole process this time. It seems like if we didn't have bad luck right now, we wouldn't have any luck at all.

I'm sure most of you know about the car trouble we had a couple months ago. For those of you who didn't read about it and don't want to, here's the gist. About a month, 2 car care places and $2,400 later...my car was finally fixed and running great. When we FINALLY got it back fixed, it felt like the happiest day of my life and a little too good to be true.

So here is how the move went down:

Friday night: The Hubble drove 2 1/2 hours to St. Louis to pick up his parents while I stayed up until 11pm working on Little Butt's birthday cake (the birthday post is coming soon to a screen near you).

Saturday morning: We wake up and start packing. I finish up the cake and we, somehow, pull off Little Butt's birthday party. After the guests left, back to packing.

Earlier in the week, we called to confirm our U-Haul reservation and no one could find it. We finally track down a truck the size we needed and it was in town! We thought we were golden, until Saturday morning when we were supposed to pick it up and the owner of the shop called to say the guy who had the truck couldn't unload it. He promised he'd call us if he got the truck in by noon when he closed. Around 1pm, just as The Hubble was about to call a place in Springfield (an hour and a half away) the guy called and said he had the truck. Woohoo! Saved!

So The Hubble and his dad ran and picked up the truck before the party started.

Luckily, the party went off without a hitch and Little Butt had a great time!

Sunday: loading of the truck and more packing. The Hubble was very excited to see that everything fit in the truck. He was worried we wouldn't have enough room. But it all fit and was all good.

Monday was clean, clean, clean and finishing up the packing. The Hubble needed to mow the lawn as well. His dad ran to the gas station to get gas for the mower. He came back shortly afterward and informed us that The Hubble's car would not turn off. The key was stuck in the ignition and wouldn't do anything. They took it to the shop. Awesome right?? We were heading out Wednesday morning and had to put the car in the shop.

We also needed to get the carpets professionally cleaned (the cleaner was ONLY 4 hours late). But, we finally got the house done and we were able to relax for the evening.

Tuesday was the walk through with the landlord. It went well. And $400 later, we picked up The Hubble's car. We were now able to breathe a sigh of relief.

In the midst of all of this, The Hubble was desperately trying to track down his orders (that he STILL doesn't have).

We left Wednesday morning and everything worked out getting down here. We arrived Thursday afternoon, quickly got the keys to the house and ran out here to wait for the gas guy to turn on our gas before the long weekend. (It was Easter weekend).

The guys swiftly unloaded the truck then ran to turn it back in. We've been doing great unpacking. We are almost done, down to the libraries really.

We had to get both of our cars RE-inspected because Texas is nationalized and does not recognize Missouri state inspections. No problem.

We thought we were in the clear until yesterday when I walked outside and found out my tire was very flat. The Hubble took it in today and it is an irreparable flat. So now, we either replace 2 tires to fix the one or bite the bullet and replace them all since it's the OTHER 2 that really need replacing.

While The Hubble is on the phone getting tire quotes, I'm here complaining about the whole situation. I just feel tired about it all.

And let's not even get into the Tricare stuff. Having to switch regions and see a PCM (primary care manager) just to get a referral to see and OB so I can get in to get this baby checked on.

Someone please tell me why we decided to do this again!!! Oh yeah...because I wasn't interested in staying in the middle of nowhere Missouri while The Hubble deployed and I had a baby. Being close to family was more appealing.

Oh yeah...and we are STILL waiting for The Hubble's orders. For the last year, we've been tracking that he's going to school in DC before deploying. Last week, we found out he's not going to DC...he's going to Tampa. So all the work he had done on his orders has to be re-done to get the right orders.

BUT...I should count my blessings right?? After all of this I start to think of all he devastation that has happened lately. At least I have a family and a home to be annoyed with right??

Okay. I'm done. Let's leave this off with a little cuteness. Little Butt really enjoyed packing the U-Haul.

She even had the perfect boots on to help right??

On the Road Again...Almost

Here I sit...in a  hotel room...

The last few days have been a complete whirlwind of activity. As I sit here, I find myself not knowing what to do with so much down time.

The Hubble is back at the house doing a bit more work before calling it a day, but he dropped Little Butt and me off at the room so we could rest and get ready for tomorrow.

Wednesday was Little Butt's birthday. The Hubble met as for a bulgogi lunch (yes, that was Little Butt's choice of cuisine). She got the movie Tangled that day for her birthday, so of course, her and I had to order pizza that night and watch it. It was a great girl's night while The Hubble had a work event to attend.

Thursday, Little Butt and I ran around all morning and some of that afternoon getting her 4 year checkup, immunizations and grabbing some groceries. That evening, I started on her birthday cake (I'll be posting pictures of this crazy cake once we get settled in Texas).

Friday was full of packing and cake decorating. The Hubble and I achieved as much as we could within the limited amount of time he had between him getting off of work and having to drive 2 hours down to St. Louis to pick up his parents from the airport.

I worked on Little Butt's cake from about 5pm to 11pm. I was able to get most of it done but had to get up and finish things up the next day.

Saturday, we had Little Butt's birthday party. We had a dinosaur themed Kindermusik session for her. I didn't even know Kindermusic people did birthday parties. But hey...Little Butt and her friends had a blast!

The party didn't end until about 7pm, then it was work, work, work! I have no idea what time we finished up last night but I know I'm tired today!

We got up at 8am today and started working again. We literally did not stop moving until about 5:30pm when we finally called it quits to go get some dinner.

After dinner, The Hubble's parents went to their hotel, The Hubble dropped off Little Butt and me and he headed back to the house to get more work done.

Which brings us back full circle.

I can't believe we have already been here a year! It was a year ago that Little Butt played in these boxes:

How is it that we are moving again already??

Oh well...on to bigger and better things I guess.

For the next couple weeks, you will be being kept company by some really great bloggers while I'm off doing all this crazy moving stuff. Give them lots of love and make them feel welcome please!

Next time I type to you, I hope to be in Texas! Wish us luck!!

Packing While Fat Sucks

Today, I was going to write about how I haven't really been sleeping lately.

I used to have insomnia pretty bad...but since I got pregnant I've just been crazy tired...CONSTANTLY.

I think it's the pain in my legs that are preventing me from sleeping. And that whole "needing to pee every 5 minutes" thing.

This morning I woke up and my right leg hurt SO bad! I rolled over on my left side and went back to sleep.

That is...until I heard Little Butt downstairs crying her eyes out.

She didn't see me behind my pillow and thought I was gone. She was so upset...poor thing.

BUT!

I'm not writing about all that today.

Today, I want to write about packing.

Really...the lack of packing that I'm doing lately.

See...we are moving...next week...and our house is not packed.

We don't have orders so the Army is not financing or covering this move in any way since it's a personal move and not Army sanctioned.

No big deal, we usually do DITY (do it yourself) moves anyway.

But this time...I'm huge!

Don't believe me??? Look!

See?? I told you! You still don't believe that I'm really huge?? Here's a close up!

WOAH MAMA!!!

See??? That's what I'm saying!

And let's put things in perspective here. Those boobs...they're 40F! That's right...size humongous!

And I'm only 21 weeks! Lord help me!!

I'm frustrated because I can't move as quickly or as easily as I would like to. I have this solid mass preventing me from bending up and down to pack boxes and pick things up.

I can't move any of the boxes that I pack anyway.

And to top it all off...The Hubble is in class this week. So he's no help.

He tries to be. But he had something last night, and he's gone all night on Wednesday (Little Butt's birthday, of course).

I'm doing what I can, but it's slow going. And I'm tired. Remember that whole "not sleeping" thing?? Yeah.

The Hubble has been really great though. He's encouraging instead of annoyed when he comes home after a full day of work to find out I've only packed 2 boxes (both being full of my shoes).

At least they were large boxes right?? (Although they are 2 large boxes FULL of my shoes!)

We have to get the packing done by Friday because his parents fly in to drive the UHaul for us that night. Then we have Little Butt's birthday party on Saturday (and she's asked me to make some crazy cake that will take me at least 2 days to make). We pack the truck on Sunday, do all the cleaning Monday, have the final walk through on Tuesday and out on Wednesday.

And let's go ahead while we're at it and throw a couple doctor's appointments in there shall we?? I mean...just for fun.

Well...I guess it's either laugh or cry.

No matter what...it has to get done. Who wants to come help??

Move # 399,574,896,096,343 Coming Up

Photo by Nicholas_T

It's getting to be about that time again...don't you think??

I mean, we've been here for almost a year.

Why stay when there are so many other places I can visit??

I guess I can tell you what I'm actually talking about.

Well, we are moving next month. 

I can say next month because it is officially March now.

Oh yeah...happy March! (Where did February disappear to???)

We found out recently that The Hubble is officially part of this new program he's been wanting to be a part of. He's pretty excited.

But that means that he moves to DC for 4 months for language training. Then he deploys for a year. 

He's not supposed to get his PCS (permanent change of station) orders until the end of the first deployment.

That means, Little Butt and I can stay in the middle of nowhere, welcome Baby N without Daddy/The Hubble and be here, in the middle of nowhere, by ourselves, for a year.

Or...

We can move closer to family while The Hubble runs off to play.

Which option do you think we chose?? Which option would you choose?

I've chosen to move closer to family.

That means, we will be heading to the Austin area late next month. 

That's okay by me. I'm tired of being here.

All my friends are leaving and I won't really have anyone here anyway.

At least there, I will have family. We also have tons of friends in Texas. So it's all good.

The only downside is that The Hubble won't be with us. But he will be off doing what he wants to do. And that's cool too.

When he gets back, it looks like either DC or Tampa for us. 

We have no idea which way they will send us but I can't say that either of those options are bad. 

So now it's time to start again. 

We are already speaking with a Realtor to find the perfect place for us (this time). 

I'm ready. 

I'm ready to leave this place.

I'm ready to be close to family again.

I'm ready to have a mall within a half hour drive again.

I'm ready to be able to go to Target at a whim!

I'm ready for the next step.

I'm NOT ready for The Hubble to leave again.

But that's the nature of the game right??

So there you have it. 

We are getting ready to hit the road...again. 

Anyone live in Texas???

Thanksgiving 2010 Recap

Wowwee, wow, wow, wowwee, wow. 

I can't believe how long I've been gone!

Sorry I've been missing. 

Did you have a nice Thanksgiving???

We did. Although, ours included a TON of traveling. 

Well, probably not a ton. But we did clock a significant amount of miles.

On Saturday (no, not tomorrow or last Saturday...the one before Thanksgiving...yes, that's how long it's been since I've been on here) we drove to my dad's house in Alabama. That was a good 12 hour drive. 

We got into town and were starving so we had some yummy Mellow Mushroom pizza. If you have never tried Mellow Mushroom, you don't know what you are missing! They have the BEST wheat pizza crust I've ever tasted!

Anyway. On Sunday when we woke up, my stepmom, stepgrandma and I made a grocery list for Thanksgiving. Since we were headed to Kentucky mid-week we got the groceries early so Friday we could whip together our meal. After we got the list situated and all got ready we went grocery shopping. It wasn't too bad at that time. We got all our stuff for a delicious meal. That night, we went for a yummy sushi dinner. Is it wrong that the best sushi roll I've ever had was made in Dothan, AL?? 

Monday was a nice down day where we just sat around. I did go for a run that morning but that was the only day I did run. We had too much going on. We packed that night.

Tuesday morning we got up, got ready and jumped in our BAV (otherwise known as Big Ass Van) to head to Kentucky for my stepbro's graduation from Basic.

Here's the BAV my dad rented for our trip. We had 7 people traveling and needed room for our luggage as well. We all fit quite nicely actually.

The Hubble definitely looked right at home in the BAV. Although, I think he's pretty used to riding in these things by now.

Little Butt was pretty excited as well. 

So we drove 8 hours to Ft. Knox on Tuesday. We got in around dinner time but didn't end up settling in and getting dinner until around 8pm.

We all turned in pretty early because the next morning we had to be at the gymnasium for the graduation by 0730.

The graduation was awesome (I'd never been to one before) and my stepbro looked so proud to be wearing that uniform. He had all his own Army tales and 'horror stories.' It was so cute to see all these young men so excited about signing up and serving their country.

The Hubble wore his uniform to the graduation as a sign of respect and tradition. He was moved to witness such a momentous time for these young men as well. This dude loves what he does and it shows. 

And I love it when he wears that uniform. The red suspenders. That's what it's all about baby. Sexy!

We ended up signing out my stepbro and a friend of his for the day. We found food then went to the mall. The guys were just so happy to be anywhere other than post that they were excited to walk through a mall.

I did end up finding a coat there though!

Source

I love it and am very excited that after 11 years I finally found the perfect coat!

On Thursday we were able to get into a restaurant that was having a "by reservation only" Thanksgiving buffet. The food was amazing and the service was incredible. I'm so glad we were able to eat there. It was delicious.

While my stepbro visited with his father and my stepmom, The Hubble, Little Butt and I spent a lot of time in our hotel room. We wanted to give them time to visit as a family. 

So Little Butt played a lot.

And The Hubble and I read a lot. 

I was able to read a couple books during this trip so that was a big plus!

Friday morning we got up and got on the road by 0600. We drove the 8 hours back to my dad's house and made it there a little after lunch time. 

We quickly got to work making our own little Thanksgiving dinner for us...only a day late. 

I made a pumpkin cheesecake. 

My stepmom and stepgrandma tried to kill themselves to make stuffed jalapenos. (The Hubble threw these on the grill and they were SO much better than oven baked)

The Hubble even helped!

And then my dad carried around Little Butt in a bag. I don't know. I try not to explain these things. 

The meal turned out delicious. 

We ate our weight in food and watched Love Actually. I've never really gotten that movie. 

The next day was spent doing laundry, packing and reading. Just so we could get up on Sunday and make the 12 hour drive back home.

I have to say though. The ultimate icing on the cake for me this trip (besides seeing my dad, stepmom and stepgrandma and being able to attend my stepbro's graduation) was the amazing gift my stepmom gave me.

That's right!!! I am now the proud owner of a nook! 

My stepmom got this nook several months ago and had never used it. She didn't see herself using it anytime soon and she knew I would put it to good use. So...she gave it to me! I was so shocked and excited. I felt as though I couldn't accept it but secretly wanted to grab it and run for the hills in case she changed her mind! But she insisted and it now lives with me. I'm super excited about it.

Hopefully this post will help me get back into the swing of things. At least until it's time to take the 3 week road trip through Texas starting on the 18th of this month. 

Phew!

If you made it to the end of this you are amazing and I want to be your best friend. 

Now...to make it through my Google Reader. I'm sorry to say I may not read it. When I logged in the other day it was closer to 800 than 700 and it's probably gotten worse. Anything new with you??