Deployment Numero Dos

Well...time flew by like I thought and here we are back on another deployment. I dropped my honey off yesterday morning and since then I've just been hangin' at the house with the pups relaxing.  This deployment feels different than the last (talk to me in a couple weeks and see if I am still singin' this tune). The goodbye was much easier. I didn't cry this time around! I think we both know that, "hey, this trip is shorter than the last and what makes it awesome is that when Matt gets home it's almost baby time"!

This time around I have more friends I can reach out to and go out for coffee or treats or shopping if I need to get out of the doggie domain.

This time around I am comfortable driving and navigating the streets of Okinawa.

This time around we are more settled into our home.

This time around Scuttle is (for the most part) housebroken! That's a big one. One of my biggest stresses in holding down the fort was working my butt off to house break Scuttle while combating threatening morning sickness and exhaustion. Now, she just jingles the bells on the baby gate letting me know she needs out. Such a big difference! Especially now that I am striding along into my 3rd trimester soon and I hear exhaustion kicks back in!

I'm optimistic time will fly with Matt being gone..there's still so much to do to prep for baby girl! Luckily, Matt took care of the big things like painting her room and putting her crib together. Now I can put in the bedding, unload clothes as they come in as well as little toys and baby books :) My friend, Lauri, is wonderful and is throwing me a baby shower in early March! So that's something to occupy my mind and look forward to as well!

So speaking of babies...here's the update on Savannah Grace :

-I'm now 26w 5d along ..so close yet so far! It's crazy to think that in about 10 weeks I'll be full term...Baby Girl can come ANY time after that date..the thought is leaving me anxious, excited, nervous, scared, excited (did I mention, excited?)

- she's kicking up a storm! A couple weeks ago I felt all her kicks near the surface of my belly..now-a-days I feel the kicking and thumping more internally..closer to my cervix and now bladder area. It's a strange feeling, that's for sure

- I feel bruised, as if someone punched me in the pubic bone (I hope that's normal!)

- as of last night I have gained about 17lbs. While I am told it's normal and healthy and I am on track, it also freaks me out! I have 13 more weeks to go until my due date..how much more am I going to gain?!  It's an adjustment. I can feel my belly has gotten bigger and heavier. It's leaving me anxious wondering if/when  I am going to spot my first stretch mark.

- I am feeling more anxious about labor and delivery. More so about the labor. I hope I am able to tell the difference between a Braxton Hicks contraction and a real one. I hope someone is here to drive me when the time comes. I hope that I have time to get to the hospital (40-45 mins away) and receive my epidural. The wonder drug.

- I have been craving oatmeal in the mornings now vs my regular Special K cereal. My appetite has increased recently..I find myself wanting to snack more often, so,  I am keeping my fridge stocked up on apples and kiwis and string cheese. I fight the strong urge to go into the pantry, grab my Ruffles and a jar of French Onion dip and satisfy my salty needs. Only once in a while will I do that and that's when I know I've been "good" for breakfast and plan on having a healthier dinner.

I just can't wait to meet my little one. After 40lbs and mommy marks and swollen ankles and feet I know it will all be worth it just to kiss her little cheeks, inspect her fingers and toes and smell that soft baby smell. Seeing Matt become a father and how he looks when he meets his little girl for the first time will also make everything else worth it.

 That, folks, is the skinny on baby updates and how I'm doing on night #2 of deployment #2.