November update

Ok ya'll!  Sorry about the month lapse :)  I don't have a lot of info to write because I'm in a rush to get everything clean and packed before bed.  But here's the latest update!

I had my 29 week doctor's appointment yesterday.  I now weigh 119 pounds!! Can you believe it?  I never thought I'd see that day come so soon...but it's very exciting.  I'm anxious to see how my body's going to be after I deliver...hahaha.  The doctor said Porter is doing well and everything is going completely normal.  He's growing at the correct weight and everything and kicking the pooh out of me all the time!  So all in all, she still wants me to gain more weight and I've officially gained in total 21 pounds! Only 2 and half more months to grow....wow!

Well, I'm leaving tomorrow morning at 8:15 to go home for the weekendish.  I'm having my only baby shower in Charleston on Sunday.  I'm soooo super excited about it.  My friend Andria is taking me to catch the train here in Quantico and is trying to reassure me that it's really not that bad.  I guess I'll find out tomorrow!  So I will be in Charleston from tomorrow night until Wednesday morning.  On Wednesday around 6:30 a.m., my mom and sis and I are all driving back to Virginia to spend Thanksgiving up here and to help me tote all of my presents back.  Stephen doesn't get a Thanksgiving holiday except for Thanksgiving day.  Which...I'm actually excited about because the quicker he is able to get those flight hours done the quicker we can move to Pensacola.  I do NOT want to have this baby here and drive 16 hours with a 2 week old to move.  I will do anything to get out of here as fast as possible.  And having Thanksgiving a little different this year is worth it!

So...that's about all of the news I have right now.  I will try to definitely post after I get back from the shower and Charleston.  Sorry it's been so long, but it does take time to keep everyone updated!  Keep in touch and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!!

love as always,

amanda

P.S.  

Here are a few pictures from Stephen's graduation from The Basic School on November 7 (which was also his 25th birthday!)

Weekend Happenings

So it's Tuesday around lunch and I am just now getting time to update ya'll about the adventures of the weekend.  Stephen finally came home around 6:00 on Friday night after a week of being gone in the field for the LAST TIME! yay!!  He went back to work this morning after thanking Columbus yesterday for the day off :)  As for me, well...there's always something!

On Thursday last week I went to Family Day for Charlie Company at TBS.  Our friend John Auer (he played the violin at our wedding) was graduating on Friday and didn't have any family in town to go with him.  So, I was his honorary family for the day :)  That day however was extremely hotter than normal and I was wearing a thin long-sleeved shirt and and jeans and walked around a field checking out all of the military weapons, vehicles, etc.  I started to feel slightly weak and nauseated but managed to sit down twice to pass those feelings.  Well...after being introduced to some friends of John's, I started to feel slightly weak again and warned him that I was walking over to a Hummer for a sec.  I stood beside the vehicle and looked down only to find black spots shielding my vision.  Luckily, John was beside me when I informed him that I think I am going to pass out.  The last thing I remember was reaching out to find him and then hearing him say "where are you, where are you, what's your name."  All of a sudden I was sitting on the ground really confused.  So everyone, yes I officially had my first fainting experience.  Of course the Corpsman (which is the medical staff on hand) spotted me as I was waking up and came to examine me.  Feeling amazingly embarrassed she proceeded to ask me where my bottled water was and my huge pregnant bag that ALL pregnant women carry was.  I apologized for my stupidity and walked straight to the chow hall to eat and drink.  So...I guess I am glad that I'm not pregnant during the summer and having to worry about overheating.  So that was my big adventure for the week...hopefully to never reoccur again!

Porter seems to be doing well.  After the fainting incident I wondered if I had cut off oxygen to him...but he is still kicking.  Usually when I'm sitting down and eating in the morning and lunch, he starts practicing his punches and kicking.  I've started talking to him during these moments to let him know that I know he's there and how ready I am to meet him!  Last night was really neat.  He was kicking and pushing me like crazy and Stephen just sat behind me on the couch with his hands on my tummy and felt everything!  It cracks me up when Stephen can feel him because his eyes get huge and his face widens with a smile...and then an "I felt him. Oh wait, was that punch? I felt him again!"  It truly is priceless.  I'm pretty sure Porter is going to LOVE coffee :)  Every time I drink a cup he flips, punches, kicks consistently.  It's really neat:)  Stephen and I are still trying to decide on a middle name.  The name Lee was a likable prospect, but still no decisions have been made yet.

My new marine wife excitement will commence tonight at 6:30 p.m.  All of the spouses of Delta Company have been invited to tea and dinner at the Commanding Officer at Quantico's house given by the Commanding Officer himself and his wife.  So, all of us wives are going to be mingling with the General and his wife at Quarters One for about two hours tonight and learning all about etiquette and what should be expected of an Officer's wife.  I'm very excited and can't wait to post more about my adventure later.  I swear that the wives get to take advantage of more unique experiences in the Marine Corps than our husbands do.  It has truly been wonderful being here with Stephen and experiencing everything I can.  

So far, we still haven't heard where we will be in less than a month.  We did find out that out of the 70 flight contracts in Stephen's company, only 15 people will be moving to Pensacola in a month while the rest will remain here for another 2 months.  I'm not getting too antsy as I'm pretty sure we will be one of the 55 people staying here for IFS.  As soon as we find out though I will inform everyone.  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and if the opportunity arose, had a marvelous day off yesterday as well.  And if any of you see my mother this week....her birthday is Thursday, October 16th!  So tell her Happy Birthday!!  Miss everyone!  Love always,

Amanda

Welcome!

So I have decided to make a blog for all of you family and friends who do not get the privilege of seeing my stomach enlarge everyday! :)  Today is October 6 and this Wednesday I will officially be 23 weeks.  The crazy part about that is that in my little "What to Expect" pregnancy book, that starts the first week of my SIXTH month!  Craziness....craziness.  I'm starting to get pretty excited about all of the planning and registering that is entailed in this part of the pregnancy.  I think Stephen is as well!

Stephen actually left this morning for his last week in the field.  He will be home Friday with war wounds I'm sure.  This week they are at MOUT which is basically an Iraq-simulated village where there are actual paid actors acting as villagers.  Basically Stephen will be using a paint gun-like weapon to capture and attack buildings in the city and take over other platoons that are trying to attack him.  The difference between this week-long adventure than all of the rest, is that they are not shooting blanks....they are shooting paintball-ish bullets which make it more real.  He was very stoked about it so it will be a fun last week in the field.

Right now, Porter has his own little bag in our room that is designated to Porter clothing.  It's very very exciting!  I have finally received Stephen's consent on the bedding that I want so all I need to do is register for that.  I'm close to finishing the registering at Target and BabysRUs.  That was actually not that bad....Stephen helps out A LOT!  Now I feel like the next step is actually picking out a middle name for Porter.  We're planning on a biblical middle name, but so far....nothing stood out.  I think Joseph would be perfect (just like his daddy's), but Stephen's not so sold.  Oh well....maybe some more convincing will make it official.  Who knows!  

Hope everything is going well with ya'll.  We only have one more month from tomorrow until Stephen graduates TBS here.  Hopefully we'll know by Friday whether or not we're staying here or moving straight to Pensacola after graduation.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute with military :)  Please feel free to check up or leave messages here for me such as....Amanda, you're not blogging enough or putting up more pictures.  I would LOVE to keep this up.  So I'm going to try to keep everyone up-to-date on our lives here.  Take care and plan and hearing from me soon!!