There's no place like home...

I was supposed to be home last night (Saturday) around 11, but my flight out of DC was delayed for hours, which meant that I missed my connecting flight to Springfield. Apparently it was too foggy/misty in DC for our plane to land, so it had to be rereouted and refueled before its return. When it finally arrived, we were told was being taken out of service (!!) but that they had another plane for us. GREAT! We finally landed in Dallas around 10:30 pm and I had two choices until my 8:40 am flight home: hang in the airport or pay $53 (the "distressed passenger" rate) for a motel room. After deciding on the airport, I changed my mind and went for the Super 8, which was quite an appalling dump, but at least had a bed. So after a few hours sleep in my contacts and clothes, we shuttled back to the airport and I'm finally home!!

I had been sad, thinking that I wouldn't get to do any more free history teacher summer trips for a while--but this return trip has definitely cured my traveling bug for a long time!

Time flies

I leave Thursday for a short conference in Arlington, VA--two days of training for the National Teacher Council sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute. I'm not looking forward to flying, but I am looking forward to missing school! No school Friday, so it will just be missing Thursday, but a four-day weekend (even with flying) is worth it!

My brother Zack is having a tough time at Marine OCS. He's back on full duty now, but last week was on crutches and had four days of light duty because he strained a muscle in his leg. Apparently it's a common running injury--but his platoon commander wanted to send him home, and if Zack gets injured again, he probably will. Pray for his safety! I think it would about destroy him to be sent home. He's been training for OCS for almost a year and there's nothing else he wants to do right now besides be a Marine officer. He did get 95/100 on a safe weapons handling test, so that's awesome.

Can't believe it's almost the end of October--and can't believe I'm almost in the third trimester. Just three months left! Deep breaths...no hyperventilating...must breathe!

Half days of school rock!

That's right--the kids left at 11 AM today. ROCK ON!

Half days are the best. Of course, we teachers are here the normal time, but we go out to lunch (so that's what it's like!) and we don't have to listen to the griping/whining/bitching/moaning/complaining that characterizes this school year.

And, this is a completely open weekend for me! YES!

Have a great one yourselves!

Baby registry...whoa

We registered at Target tonight, and now I'm completely overwhelmed.

Even after doing tons of research, reading Baby Bargains about 18 times, and thinking we were prepared prepared to register, I realize now that we probably registered for a load of crap we likely won't ever use. But who knows, until the baby actually gets here? And what's the point of registering ahead of time, then? Plus, after registering for a Graco infant car seat & stroller base, I realized that the stroller we got from Aunt Judy and Grandma (Evenflo) does in fact allow an Evenflow infant car seat to snap in--but all the reviews I've read of Evenflo seats are atrocious (broken parts, recalls, etc.). So now what? How rude to return such a major gift, and it would hurt their feelings (although I doubt they'd notice, really)--but we also don't have a receipt, so have no idea where to return it.

I know: it's the thought, they want us to be happy regardless, and in the big scheme of things, it's no big deal. But I'm ultra-emotional right now, having spent $500 on maternity clothes so far (should get me through January), which is money that we don't really have; moving stuff in Ivy's room and my office by myself; worrying about how I'm going to get everything done before the baby arrives, and how I'm going to pay for it (yes, I, not we; apparently I'm the only one concerned about any of this: painting, ceiling, roof that the insurance won't pay for, etc. etc.); and mostly feeling like I'm in this pregnancy and preparing for a baby completely alone. The house is wreck, the basement is a pig sty (shite everywhere; George hasn't cleaned beyond vacuuming in over two years) to the point that I get heart palpitations just walking downstairs, we don't eat decent food unles I cook, and mostly, if I want anything done, I have to do it myself.

From registering to feeling completely empty and alone--what an uplifting blog post this is!

Shower & Belly pic #2

My St. Louis family surprised us (well, me, anyway; George knew about it!) last Saturday with a shower! It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time. We also celebrated my Grandma Mac's 84th birthday!

One more belly pic! (in my fav maternity shirt)

My "little" brother Zack left for Marine Officer Candidate School this morning. I'm really proud of him! Just still in amazement that my little brother is going to be a Marine.

Here is Zack getting sworn into the Missouri Bar last week by Judge Dennis Budd:

He was back in Springfield from KC for a month, but I feel like we didn't get to see him nearly enough. He'll be home for Christmas, though, and we're hoping to go to Quantico in early December to see him graduate from OCS. Semper Fi!

It's Friday--THANK GOD!

Happy weekend!

Belly pic!

By request: Belly pic #1

1 October 2008

5 months and counting!

Not the best photo, but it works:

you can see the baby belly but not the baby butt!