Hubby and I had a busy day yesterday and it was bliss. I know that may sound weird, but I can't remember the last time that he and I took care of business together. It was rather nice to have the company and help.

I had a 7 a.m. meeting at the Bub's school (I was asked to be on a committee), my guys came to school together and I said a quick hello before I was off to volunteer in Dad's class. --On a side note, Hubby has completely enjoyed being actively involved in the Bubs's school the last few weeks and even went to an open house type event the other night. He came home full of information and excitement....especially when he found out that the Bubs was learning about the 50 states. We scoured the local Wally World the next day to find one of those U.S. map placemats!-- Next, I got some gas before swingin' by the homestead to pick up my man on the way to my doc appointment for the baby.

The appointment went well, even if the Hubs was a little concerned at how absent-minded the doc was. The belly was measured (ugh) and was within the normal range, although a bit smaller than when I had the Bubs. We got to hear the heartbeat, too, and it was nice and strong! I signed off to have bloodwork done to screen for several kinds of birth defects and will get the results in a few days...or was it a week? We're scheduled for an anatomy scan next week and we're hopin' to find out if our Sweet Pea is a boy or girl. Everyone can hardly wait to find out that bit of news! Our parents only have boy grandchildren and my grandparents only have boy great-grandkids, so there are a few relatives just chompin' at the bit to buy something pink and girly. Of course, everyone just wants it to be healthy, either way.

After running around the base hospital for a while, we ran home to grab something to eat before braving *bum, bum, bum!* Wally World at lunch time. We made it out alive, though, with our pictures of the Bubs that we had taken at the portrait studio and a few essentials. Okay, so a few non-essentials made it into the buggy, too! I would blame it on Hubby, but some of it was my fault.

On the way home, I started to fade...fast. While the Hubs ran in to a barber's to get a quick haircut, I was sawin' some serious logs! I was so pitiful that when we got home I made a bee-line for my J's (as in p.j.'s) and fell into bed. There was prob'ly some snoring and drooling goin' on, but Hubby took pity on me and didn't comment. He ended up getting the Bubs from school, which I know he didn't mind in the least. Good man, that one.

Yes, Anna, there is carpet under all those toys...

I can sure tell that Hubby is on leave (marine-speak for vacation)! 'Cause lookey, lookey to the left, my peeps. That is the carpet in the Bubs's playroom...toy free...vacummed....Febreezed within an inch of its life....Fab-U-Lous!! Hubby was a little bemused by me snapping pics of the newly cleaned area, but I couldn't help myself. As tickled as I was with the Hubby's efforts, the Bubs was both ecstatic and a little in awe of his Daddy. He has flat out enjoyed playing in the space and has worked extra hard to keep things clean for his Daddy. We've both been quite impressed.

I know I've often mentioned how many Thomas the Tank Engine toys the Bubs has and now here's some proof. And this isn't even all of it! Five containers of tracks, a pile of buildings and accessories, a huge plastic drawerful of trains....and lions and tigers and bears, oh my! This is why he was told to pick out one Thomas item for Christmas this year. I think that family members will also be given alternative gift ideas. Obviously, the child doesn't need any more trains or tracks!

Now, Thomas videos on the other hand......well, at least they take up less space!

He's down but not out, Y'all!

Today makes a week that the Bubs has been sick and out of school. Well, technically four days since Tuesday was a holiday. He's still blowing his nose like a fiend, still got a double ear infection, and still hacking until he's yacking. I know....that last phrase was a horrible rhyme! Most of you know that the reality isn't that funny.

Thankfully, the fever that he's had seems to have dissipated and we have (even more) new meds to battle back the "snottery boogs". His teachers have been helpful in getting me his missed assignements that the Bubs was actually eager to do, by the way. He doesn't know it, but he was not only chosen to be Star Student of the Week, but he was also one of eight kids from his class to get an award in the kindergarten award ceremony yesterday. Y'all, he's been waiting for months to be the Star Student thing! It hurts my heart that he's been sick this week and missed out on so many fun things...some tangible success for his hard work. I think his teacher is going to reschedule things so he's star student another week and, hopefully, do something to make getting his award momentous for him. I know that his dad and I will be doing something to congratulate him, but I remember how big it was to be recognized in front of your peers.

For today, we'll focus on keeping him well, happy and *gulp* entertained. After five days, the options on the entertainment side of things have run a little on the thin side. I've let him play on some educational web sites, color and play with some balloons that his Ammah, Poppi and Aunt D sent to cheer him up. Unfortunately, he's also watched waaaay more t.v. than I'm comfortable with. What can I do when he's too weak to do anything else, though? Sometimes, I just curl up with him on the couch when nothing else makes him feel better. His dad has been sticking close, too. He feels like he needs to stand watch, I guess. I can understand the need. Simply having him here has been a help and comfort for both of us.

It's a new day and even if the Bubs isn't feelin' a hundred percent, we'll make the most of it and encourage him to move around when he feels like it. You know, prepare him for when he's feeling more like his regular self so he doesn't get tired out so easily. I don't want him to feel like sickness needs to be such a focus for him. What kind of parents would we be if we allowed him to be blinded by the circumstances of "right now" instead of looking ahead to the possibilities of "soon to come"? This sickness is only temporary, after all......and thank our Heavenly Father for that!!

"Momma! C'mere and look at this!"

I never knew that such a simple phrase could wreak such havoc on my "Mommy Psyche"....otherwise known in these here parts as "my last nerve".

Those words, when strung together by the Bubs, can mean I'm in store for a plethora of things. From a lizard in his playroom to a major spill of some kind. And when it was time to start the fun task of potty training...well, let's just say it took on a whole other meanin'!

There are variations of the "c'mere" phrase complete with different wording and tone of voice. I know I'm in trouble when he comes in the room and very quietly tells me, "I had a little accident, Mommy."

He just did this, in fact. While I was typing this post. Not kidding.

I know it's not gonna be particularly pleasant when he goes all quiet and solemn on me. *sigh* I followed him into the living room to see the window curtains in a pile on top of the loveseat. As I'm takin' in the fact that the solid wood curtain rod is still attached to the curtains and the rod holder on the wall has cracked in half, I hear this small voice behind me, "It didn't fall on me, though, Mommy. I'm okay."

All I could do was whimper in confirmation.

So now when Hubby comes home from work he's gonna hear me say the phrase, "Honey, c'mere and look at this!"

To them it was just a job...

"It's just a job," my husband tells me. He often refuses any acknowledgement of his service in the military. He has stacks of certificates, plaques and commendations that he's earned over the years tucked away in his closet. The only time we see his "stack" of ribbons and medals is when he has to break out the dress blues for a wedding, funeral or inspection. That stack has become considerable.

I've noticed that he's not the only one to eschew any praise or acknowledgements that are offered. Many see their service as "just a job". There's nothing wrong with that. It may be a mindset that helps them cope or see their demanding jobs through. Demanding, by the way, is such a gross understatement. They are asked to give everything and more...sometimes on a daily basis.

Where is my place in all this? I stand, I watch, I support, I love, I forgive and I understand. I stand for him when others may not be able to, I watch out for him when his eyes are focused on others, I support him when he can't hold himself up, I love him for who he is not for who he thinks he should be, I forgive him because the obligations placed on his shoulders aren't his fault, and I understand because that's what he needs, not judgements.

To my Marine~ My love, I may not see every sacrifice you make for our family and others', but I know that they're being made all the same. Thank you.

Look, Momma, I lost my toof!

The Bubs has lost his other front tooth...the last one to come out after the pre-school injury (pushed into a merry-go-round). We noticed that it was a little loose this morning. I figured that it would be ready to fall out sometime tomorrow.

Nope! The Bubs had other ideas.

For a couple of hours this evening I watched as he twisted, yanked, pulled, tongue-flicked and generally grossed me out as he tried to finagle that thing out of his mouth.

Finally, finally a pair of bloody fingers waved that tooth around in front of my face. I thought he'd be tickled with himself, but I think he was just relieved. I was too, honey! A quick phone call to his Ammah and Poppi to share the news, which was greeted with happy exclamations, and he was ready for bed. We'll do the tooth fairy thing tomorrow night. Hopefully, he'll leave it alone so his dad and I can pull the whole thing off...

Nothin' new to report...

We're finally seeing some sunshine around here after almost a week of clouds and rain. It's another "beautiful day in the neighborhood" and I'm itchin' to get out and enjoy it but I must stay the course and finish up some things around the house. It'll be worth it to have things finished before the Bubs and Hubby come home. I'm very protective of our time together in the evenings. It's important for us to have time together and not loose touch with one another in the weekly grind. I'm feeling more of a need for this since the Bubs has started school and the Hubs has been coming and going for work and I get the feelin' that they appreciate having that time in the evenings.

There's not a lot goin' on around here at the moment. The Hubs will be starting some much-needed leave sometime next week. He's already counting down the days and so am I. I'm sure he'll take a day or two and sleep in a bit, but after that we'll be going through the house with the purpose of decluttering and de-junkifying it. Whether we move or not, it's something that definitely needs doing. I'll also be able to see what baby stuff we have that's still usable and what needs to go. It's all put way up in the laundry room and the Hubs doesn't want me climbing up to take a gander...especially now that I'm pregnant.

So even there's not anything noteworthy goin' on at my crib, I know that by the time the holiday season rolls around, I'll be begging for a day like today!!