30 weeks

My most recent belly pic was taken yesterday, poolside.  I know it's so mean to write about lounging by the pool when most of you are swimming in snow, but this is my weather for the next 2-3 years.  Darn. :)

My belly bump has definitely become bigger from my last pic which was at 25 weeks.  I would like to stay the size I am now, but oh how I know I'm not done growing yet!

Family Update

Let's start with the oldest member of our family, Carlos (hee hee).  There isn't much to report on his end, which is a good thing!  He is still working hard as the ortho clinic is keeping him quite busy.  If he isn't working, he is usually either bonding with his grill, Kona, or picking on his lovely wife :)  He is enjoying all the diving he is able to do here in Guam, although I'm not sure how one can enjoy coming face to face with an octopus or other crazy sea life.  I keep telling myself I will try it sometime, but it may take a lot of xanax, so obviously it will be post-pregnancy :)  Although, he does get to enjoy some non-crazy sea life as well.  During his dive yesterday there was a pod of dolphins playing by his dive boat.  Dolphins are very common around here and they seem to enjoy playing with the boats and the divers.

As for me, I have officially started at work.  I will be on orientation status for a couple of months, as all new OR nurses are (which is fine with me!).  So far the people I work with are extremely nice and very helpful...hopefully that doesn't change over the course of time :)  We have quite the change in our household now...if you can believe it, I have to get up before Carlos since my work day starts before his...and last week there was a couple days he was even home before me!  He loves knowing he still has another hour to sleep when I get up in the morning...I remember that feeling :)
Let's see...what else...I'm 30 weeks along now so I do feel like I'm in the home stretch to a certain extent.  Granted, I still have anywhere from 8-10 weeks to go, but I feel like I'm finally closer.  I do know my back will be quite happy when the big day approaches as that has so far been my only constant complaint (lower right...owwweee!)

Baby Boy K seems to be doing just fine.  He loves to move around, but I'm fortunate that when I go to sleep he is either sleeping as well or I'm just too plain exhausted to feel him moving and am able to sleep through it.  As for the future name of this child, we are still in negotiation status, but we will say that once Carlos and I have decided on a name, we do plan on keeping the name hush hush until the baby's birth.  We gave you all the gender, but we are keeping the name a secret.  Don't worry, there is a good chance that we won't even have a name until up to the moment this baby is being born :)

As for our 4 legged member of the family, Kona is living it up in Guam.  I took him for his first hair cut last week since he has been here.  I know Carlos has been busy with the house and work, but our poor dog looked like he was homeless with all that hair!  He looked like a local boonie dog and I just had to make him look handsome again.  I'm sure Kona's thought was "great, mom is back and here I go with the haircuts again."  I regret not taking a before and after pic so that you could the change, but it's kind of like a person when they have a major makeover.  Not only did it take years off his appearance, but he also looks like he lost weight since all that hair filled him out!  The groomer even put a little holiday scarf on him and I don't hesitate to tell him every day how handsome he looks.  He has a new pep in his step now :)  He also enjoys his morning and evening walks with his BFF Donne from across the street.  Donne shows up every morning at our door to walk with Carlos and Kona, and then usually with me in the evenings.  Donne recognizes both of our cars and will follow us down our driveway when he sees us pull in because he has learned that us coming home equals Kona being let outside.  It's really the cutest friendship between these two.

We are wishing everyone back home a safe and happy holiday season!

Rota Christmas lights walk

Kona and Donne...BFFs

Baby BOY Kennedy

I'm sure most of you have heard the word by now...we are having a BOY!  Carlos and I couldn't be happier.  We didn't care what was written down inside that envelope, but man, let me tell you, when you actually see/hear the word for the first time, it takes on a whole new meaning!  We are having a boy...our son.  Thank goodness I was raised with a brother so close in age because I feel much better prepared for a boy than say never having been around one growing up.  I can build forts, play with GI Joes, trucks, race cars and so on with the best of them!  Of course, GI Joe always had to have Barbie tag along during his battles when I was growing up, but this little tyke won't have to worry about a little sister messing up his battles with an 8 inch blonde...at least not yet :)

Now that we know, we can't wait to meet our little man.  However, we still have 11ish weeks to go so I'm happy to wait knowing that BBK is still needing to grow before he makes his appearance.

Carlos gave me a great surprise upon my return to Guam.  He decided while I was away to set up the nursery.  He picked out everything himself and did a fantastic job!  I walked into the room not knowing he had done this and I think my jaw hit the floor.  Talk about a wonderful surprise.  It looks like he really enjoyed himself too with all the detail he put into it.  We still have a couple more things to get for the room, but we have time...especially now that the bigger project is done!

Below is a pic of the baby announcement along with a couple of pics of our nursery

The Easiest Goodbye

Dear Jacksonville,

Our time is coming to an end...roughly 36 hours to go (not that I'm counting down or anything).  You have been good to me over the past 12 weeks so I don't want to sound ungrateful for my stay here.  However, I am beyond excited to get moving along to Guam, so please forgive me if I can't refrain from expressing my joy.  It's not you, it's me.  This was always just meant to be a temporary arrangement.  Saying goodbye on Saturday will be the easiest goodbye I have ever had to make...it may even beat my goodbye to Bethesda Naval Hospital since we all know I couldn't get out of that parking lot fast enough!

I thank you for the great weather during my stay.  I think I can count on my right hand how many times it rained during my stay here.  And up until today, I was quite grateful for the warm temperatures.  I'm assuming your change in temperature today and tomorrow is just your way of letting me know you are not happy I am leaving.  I will not miss the jets flying in and out of the air base, close to where I am staying on base...so close that I sometimes think the jets are going to land in my room, but you have been a convenient base nonetheless.  Jacksonville, you have provided me with entertainment, good food, and of course good shopping while I've been here.  And thanks to your location, I have even been able to head to other cities/towns nearby for more exploring.  I most appreciate your close proximity to King's Bay and therefore the opportunity to spend time with my dear friend Kelley who is stationed there.  Just when I think it will be ages before I see her again, I end up here, less than 45 minutes away.  I was also able to see family over Thanksgiving weekend again thanks to your convenient location.

While this isn't a permanent goodbye since one never knows where they will end up stationed in the military (and I certainly wouldn't mind coming back to this area after Guam), it is so long for now.  Baby and I must move on and be with Carlos and Kona who we miss, who miss us, and who are in need of both me and baby in Guam.  I appreciate you taking such good care of us during our time here and helping to make time go by quickly during my OR training.  You will always be a part of my baby's history and one day I will tell him/her that he/she spent 12 weeks growing in my belly while in the nice city of Jacksonville, FL.

My bags are packed, my flight leaves Saturday morning and I will spend the rest of my time here just relaxing and patiently (ok, maybe not so patiently) waiting for my outbound flight on Saturday.

Goodbye Jacksonville!

Baby K Update!

So here I am at 25 weeks (+5 days) and thought since I just had a recent ultrasound and a recent OB appointment, I should give you all an update.

During the US, I was able to see our little peanut all curled up with his/her little arms AND little legs crossed.  If I didn't know any better, one might think Baby K is being defiant and saying "I don't want you looking at me!"  The cutest part of the US was being able to see Baby K's mouth moving...uh oh...could he/she be taking after mommy already? :)

Baby is measuring right on par and baby weight is estimated at 1lb.12oz.
All baby parts are present and accounted for and baby is in a head down position (whew!  Now just stay that way!).

I did get a few more pics, but again, I'm without a scanner here in Jax so US pics will have to wait until I get to Guam.

As for the OB appt, all is well there too.  Doc said I was measuring on par with my due date, fetal heart rate was assessed and I could hear that little heart beat just beating away!  My vital signs are still looking great and I hope to keep it that way.  My total weight gain so far at 25 weeks is 12 lbs., which is again, on par.

That's all I have for now!  17 more days to go until I depart for Guam.  Shortly after that we will be making the big reveal!  Yes, the envelope is still sealed :)

Here is a current pic of me (and baby) at the zoo on the day I turned 25 weeks.

Belly Pic!

This is my first blog belly pic.  This is me at 23 weeks.  I'll be 24 weeks starting tomorrow.  Have I mentioned how incredible difficult it is to take a picture of your own pregnant belly???

Top 10 Reasons I Need to go to Guam...Now.

10.  So I can stop spending money on a weekly basis at the post office as I find more stuff to ship to Guam to lighten my luggage (which my luggage ships for free on military orders when I fly out of here).

9.  Have an overwhelming desire to get the baby's nursery together

8.  I'm losing my patience here in Jax as evidenced by my encounter with the Thrifty rental car guy today who could not seem to understand that no amount of badgering me was going to get me to "upgrade at 50% off from an economy car to a compact or mid-size."  I am one person who hardly drives anywhere here in Jax.  Shut up and give me the damn keys.

7.  I get irritated when people suggest I go to the beach here in J-ville since I'm "so close".  I've been spoiled by the beauty of the ocean surrounding Guam.  Therefore, any mention of another beach only makes me want to slap people because nothing compares.  Atlantic Ocean=dump.

6.  I've watched more hours of stupid television in the past 9 weeks than a human should consume in a lifetime.

5.  My car is now on a barge heading to Guam...and I was tempted to hide in the back and ride that baby all the way there.

4.  Daylight Savings Time is going to screw up my talk time with my hubby since Guam does not participate.  Not happy.

3.  When I see or hear Kona on Skype I want to cry, especially when he responds to my voice.  I miss my pup!

2.  While Skype is great, I'm beyond ready to have a conversation with my husband while sitting next to him, on my own comfy couch...and having him massage my feet :)  I miss you Carlos!

1.  The envelope