Giving Thanks

I wasn't going to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. I am in another country and Miles has to work night shift, so that pretty much leaves Lea and I alone to hash things out. This morning at my 33 week appointment, the nurse was talking about everything that she's cooking and all of the people she is having over and as she left the room, I started thinking that a) I WANT to bake my butt off and make a huge, beautiful meal and b) I actually have my husband here with me, a healthy toddler at home, and a (hopefully) healthy baby on the way. That is WAY more than a lot of people have and I have so much to be thankful for. The young men I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for last year are in Iraq right now, which is where Miles would be had he not had the opportunity to be stationed here. An entire year with a significant other is enough for any military spouse to be thankful for and I get more than that, even. So I am cooking a huge dinner and bringing it to Miles' work because of all the people in the world, I have more than the average amount of blessings and what a brat would I be if I sat at home moping?

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. I am going to make mine a happy one.

Baby Registry

I have had a few family and friends ask where I am registered at. Here it is:

Babies"R"Us - Baby Registry

I started it as an inventory of what I don't have and have been buying bits and pieces off of it myself for a while. I don't expect a thing from anyone, but per request, I posted the link.

Cologne

Miles' uncles Doug and Earl were in Cologne this past weekend on business and invited us to stay with them. They got an extra hotel room and even paid our way via train. Our neighbors took Roscoe for walks in the 30 hours we were gone, which was a lifesaver. After we made them promise to still talk to us in the case that he did something bad, we were free to go!

I cannot say that the trip up there was stress free. Lea was literally the cliche kid running screaming up and down the train isles. She had a blast, but Germans are very regimented with their children and that's just not our style, so we got a lot of dirty looks. Arriving at our room, we discovered that Earl had made reservations at a restaurant down the way, but I decided it would be best if only Miles went because Lea in a 5 star suit and tie kind of place would be the worst idea ever. I didn't mind a bit! I was exhausted and room service was the most spectacular novelty in the world. There was a king size bed and Lea went down right away. Sleeping there reaffirmed the fact that I someday want a huge bed. All three of us fit and I had plenty of room.

We didn't have long to visit or do touristy things with the uncles, but it was still a good visit. I have known them since first living in DC in 05. Earl bought me my first legal alcoholic beverage when I turned 21 (a fancy something-tini), I always had faith when I was stationed alone in that city that if something happened, they were right down the road, we loved Earl's mother and went to her funeral in Missouri when she passed away last year. They have spoiled me rotten on several occasions, and best of all, they crack me up! They are a couple of my favorite people who we unfortunately don't see as often as we'd like (as is the case with all of our family right now). So that said, it was awesome to see them for even a few short hours.

Here are some photos from the trip and the Cologne Cathedaral.









Lea and Miles on the train


The view in the evening from our hotel room balcony

Ridiculous

I don't know how Miles finds these things, but he always comes up with the most ridiculous you tube videos. Here are a couple of my favorites. No one can be as unintentionally hilarious as a child.

The Weight

Miles is a huge Thrice fan. I like them, too, and there is one song off of their new album that I am particularly fond of. I think that there are a lot of things that we easily forget about marriage and that it's either shadowed by cynical thoughts or cheapened by romantic ones.


I tried to find a you tube video for it, but they were all live and poor quality. Oh well. Here are the lyrics:

THE WEIGHT

There’s many who’ll tell you they’ll give you their love,
But when they say “give” they mean “take.”
They’ll hang ‘round just like vultures till push comes to shove.
They’ll take flight when the earth starts to shake.

Someone may say that they’ll always be true,
Then slip out the door ‘fore the dawn.
But I won’t leave you hanging on.
Another may stay till they find someone new,
Then before you know they’ll be gone.
But I won’t leave you hanging on;
No, I won’t be that someone.

And come what may, I won’t abandon you or leave you behind
Because love is a loyalty sworn, not a burning for a moment.
And come what may, I will be standing right here by your side;
I won’t run away, though the storm’s getting worse and there’s no end in sight.

Some talk of destiny, others of fate,
But soon they’ll be saying goodbye.
But I won’t leave you high and dry.
Because a ring don’t mean nothing
If you can’t haul the weight,
And some of them won’t even try,
But I won’t leave you high and dry;
I won’t leave you wondering why.

And storms will surely come,
But true love is a choice you must make
And you’re the one that I have set my heart to choose.
As long as I live, I swear I’ll see this through.

Petty Gripes

This past move was pretty hard on us. 8 months afterwards, we are still feeling the effects. I hoarded away a lot of Lea's baby things, but the movers were supposed to take the batteries out of everything (it's a part of their job in a military move), but they missed a lot of stuff. Our personal goods were in transition between January and March and I guess it had a lot of temperature changes in that time, because most of the batteries burst and all of Lea's electronics (i.e. bouncy seats, and baby-type toys) were ruined. Then there was the basement leaking incident which molded everything else.

I HATE spending gobs of money on stuff that we should already have. It ticks me off to have to go online and buy a replacement for something that I had to throw away last month. They don't have consignment stores here, either. We're not struggling financially, but the exchange rate is getting worse and we are paid in USD, not Euro. I can be pretty frugal and all of this simply adds to my frustration.

A few key items survived the move, though. Thank goodness I still have my cosleeper, which was invaluable with Lea, not to mention very sentimental for me. I also still have the Pack n' Play, and the furniture issue is resolved by the fact that Lea's outgrown her crib. Granted, we had to buy her new furniture, but at least I really love what will be in both kids' rooms. Lastly, considering that this and a few other small(ish) things comprise my current drama, I am freaking ecstatic that my life is this uncomplicated. I have a lot to be thankful for. I just wish my way cool baby gear had made it through the move/basement incident.

Sick or Treat

Lea and I have the funk. She developed a fever a couple of hours after getting back from Trick or Treating, and has stuck with it stubbornly since. She doesn't have any other symptoms. Then last night I started feeling gross, too. No fever, thank goodness, but my lungs burn on every exhale and my sinuses are making my face feel like it weighs 100lbs. I am just praying that no fever comes. If it gets high, it's off to the hospital for Noah and I, and that is never fun.

On to better news, we got our new couch/chair set and I love them. We also had to make plans for Noah's room. European cribs are very expansive (like 500 Euro or about 750 USD depending on the exchange rate), low to the ground, small, and cheap looking. I'm not a fan. So since Lea's furniture is natural maple and about as gender neutral as it gets, we are going to get her a twin bed and a new dresser and are passing the baby furniture along to Noah. Then, of course, comes the challenge of finding a twin sized bed in a country that sells (naturally) European sizes. We were limited to one store, which thankfully had a beautiful set that was perfect (price tag aside. Ugh). It will be delivered around Christmas. I feel like I am finally getting preparations in line for when Noah comes, which is a huge relief considering I am now 30 weeks along.

On to the best news, I have a blueberry bagel waiting for me in the kitchen and I am eating it, sore throat be damned!