I'm already sending all my love to Virginia..I hope it gets there and is waiting for you on Sunday night. Me being upset is so stupid and I won't lie- I'm not a strong person. Or wait..is it normal for wives to wanna cry when their husbands leave?

I'm dropping my love off at the airport tomorrow night, and I'm really not looking forward to it. At all. Can we fast forward 42 days- to 10pm where I'll be picking him up to bring him back home?

I need a hug.

I'm more than halfway done with this pregnancy. I'll be 26 weeks along this Friday- where has time gone? I remember when we first REALLY found out- how Luke was excited, and I cried like a baby. I was so selfish- I had my great flat stomach, and now I look like a freaking whale..but I'm in love with baby and he's not even here yet. How does that work? You love someone who keeps you up at night, who makes you throw up every morning, who you've never really seen, but somehow they've already captured your heart.

Found out this morning that Luke will be leaving on Sunday- but the class is shorter than we thought! Looks like it'll be done 18 June instead of 22, which I'm pretty stoked about. Only a week difference, but I'm happy about it. So...what am I gonna do while he's gone? I mean- if I bake, that means that I'll have to eat it, because I don't have anyone else to take it to. I've looked into volunteering at the Fisher House on post, so hopefully something will come of that. I've gotta call the nice lady sometime this week and set up a time to meet with her. That'll get it so that I can cook a few meals for some people that are going through something much harder than what I'll be dealing with.

Checked out a new church this past Sunday- the two people that "greeted" us when we walked into the door were really nice, but I didn't really get the feeling that I belong there when it was all said and done. Hubby really liked it and thinks that I should give it another shot, but I just wasn't feeling it. There were 2 ladies however that stopped by later on Sunday night and they were complete dolls. We've been going on post to Chapel NeXt- which I really like, but it takes almost an hour to get there. There's a church of Christ in Tacoma- but it's MORE than an hour away, and they weren't friendly there AT ALL.

I need to find the love for people that I once had. Where I didn't think that everyone was going to walk all over me, where I wasn't afraid to trust everyone. I don't want to be the jaded person that you can look at and tell that something is up. I want to be open, loving, I just wanna be a good person.

Only two months!

For whoever didn't know: Luke is leaving next week for approx. 2 months. I can handle it- it's not a deployment, I'll be able to talk to him everyday, all is well, right?
Well....I was talking to a friend this morning, she was wondering if I was going to come home- so on and so forth. I had originally planned on coming home, but right in the middle of him being gone I'll be hitting the point where I won't be able to fly anymore until baby Ivan shows his pretty face. This friend goes on to say (this is verbatim) "At least you won't have to worry about him getting killed or something." Seriously chick? I'm well aware that you started dating one of my good friends when he was on R&R a month ago, and I'm also aware of the fact that you "love" him. Right, of course you do.

Now correct me if I'm in the wrong here, but I got pretty pissed at that point. I thought some pretty mean things about this gal, I thought about telling her off, but I did show a little bit of self control, and kept my mouth shut. Maybe it didn't really register in her thick head what exactly it was that she said, or maybe she really thought that what she said was going to help me? No, I don't know what I'm going to do for those 2 months. I won't really be able to go out anywhere, I have a total of one friend- whom I hardly ever see since we live so far from post, and I mean..there's just nothing to do here. I'm turning into a whale, and I just don't have the energy to be all nice and happy like I was a few months ago.

Okay, I'm done with my pity party.

I heard "Keeper of the Stars" earlier today- and remembered why I love that song so much.

In other news: some kind of bug or something out here has decided to eat me alive. I've got bites on my arms, legs, and a couple on the back of my freaking heel. Seriously? I barely slept last night because of heartburn..but then the backs of my feet start itching, so I was up for another hour or so scratching away. I know I shouldn't have, but I couldn't help it! You would think that I had learned by now not to scratch bug bites- and deep down I know that I shouldn't, but it just felt so good!

I also got the baby room mostly put together last night- and got the curtains hung up tonight. I'll post some shots of it as soon as I get all the crap off the floor in there. I think now, I'll go and enjoy the rest of the glass of my alcohol free wine, along with the rest of American Idol. Cheers!

It was no accident me finding you
Someone had a hand in it
Long before we ever knew
Now I just can't believe you're in my life
Heaven's smilin' down on me
As I look at you tonight

I tip my hat to the keeper of the stars
He sure knew what he was doin'
When he joined these two hearts
I hold everything
When I hold you in my arms
I've got all I'll ever need
Thanks to the keeper of the stars

Day to day passings.

I've had some people back home ask what it is that I do everyday. I don't have a job, I live on the other side of the country from any friends that have decided to stick around (which aren't many), and I'm a long ways off post. Well..here it is. It's not beautiful, it's not what I imagined at all, but it works.

A lot of times I'm up before the alarm goes off. Sometimes I manage to fall back asleep, other times I lay there in the dark wondering how in the hell I got to this point. I almost always get up with Luke, make him a sandwich and smoothie for work, and then sit on my butt for the better part of the day watching Cops, Maury, and other stupid shows when I should be cleaning or doing laundry. Some days Wrinkles gets to go for a walk, other days we play on the floor in the living room. My honey walks through the door, and I fall in love all over again. I cook dinner, and then we cuddle on the couch..sometimes.

Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself so far away from everything I once knew. I was going to finish school, I wasn't having kids until after I graduated..and I most definitely was NOT going to marry anyone in the military.

Guess what? It didn't work out how I had originally planned. I'm living in Washington..2600 miles away from everything. I'm a college dropout- twice..and I don't have a job. You know what's so great about those two things? If I didn't leave school and leave my job- there is no way that I would be with Luke. I am head over heels, butterflies in my stomach every time he walks through the door, all the cheesy things that you feel when you're younger. I still get to feel them everyday. I'm madly in love with someone in the ARMY...and we have a little boy due in August. Yes, my big plan didn't work out how I imagined it..but give me another chance and I'd do it all the same. I have everything that a girl could want.

This is the life.

Come on, pull me up the hill!

This morning around 11 or so, I got a call..

-Honey, I'm thinking about going for a long walk today. Like, 7 or 8 miles.

Little did I know, I'm in no shape to walk 7 or 8 miles. 6 months ago, I was able to walk up and down the hills around the lake and through the neighborhood, no problem. I could also go on these nice long walks with Luke and Wrinkles..but today I found out that no, I can no longer do it.

I don't know who was tired first- me or the dog. We didn't even walk that far! When we stopped for water, Wrinkles promptly laid down in the middle of the path, poor guy. On the way back, there were so many hills. For the most part, I would work my way halfway up them, and get my dear, dear husband to pull me up the rest of the way. I'm really not used to carrying around all this extra weight.

Besides our nice little trek through the woods, I got a lot done today. I cleaned up in the baby room somewhat, washed a lot of laundry, washed our sheets & blankets, and now, we're about to watch LIFE on the Discovery channel and enjoy some of those super flavored freeze pops..the ones that you have when you're really young. And just an FYI out there to everyone- if you come over to my house- you get the grape ones. I hate grape flavored popsicles. I'm actually eating a grape one right now though, because it's all we have left.

Our awesome neighbor just brought a gun over, too...I don't see myself learning how to shoot that thing. It's freaking huge. Hahaha..that's what she said.

Okay, I'm done and out- have a great night!

24 weeks and counting!

It's been a whole week since I've posted, but not much has really happened.

Yesterday, I was officially 24 weeks pregnant! A little over halfway there...but I feel like it's been forever since we found out. The first week or two after learning there was a little Brown on the way, I was fine. After those first few weeks though, I was constantly tired, which I know is a part of the whole experience, I guess. Now, at 24 weeks, I'm starting to get tired again. I thought I was supposed to be good until the 3rd trimester?

There is so much around the house that I need to get done. Even things that should be everyday simple tasks I can't bring myself to do, as I'm so physically and mentally exhausted. I still have a lot of things I need to get for baby, too. I need to wash all the clothes/blankets/everything that we already have for him, put together the stroller/carseat deal, put together the pack 'n play, so many things..so little time! I don't see how some people do it day in and day out. I know it'll get better, but at the moment I do believe that I would much rather spend this whole next week curled up in the bed. For awhile our house was constantly spotless, but I know that in another 16 weeks, even if I do manage to keep it clean for a day or two, it won't last!

We find out this Thursday if Luke will be going to BNCOC for all of May and June. I won't lie- I will miss him terribly..but I'm lucky that it isn't a deployment. If we were still at Campbell, he would be leaving 15 May to go back overseas...I'm so thankful that we're up here, for that one reason. I thought I would be going back home for a week or so while he was gone, but it looks like I won't be able to travel starting at the end of May.

This turned out to be a lot longer than I had originally planned- everyone have a great and blessed week- special thoughts go to the Bryant family, it looks like baby Cohen is finally coming home!

Whew, that was a long week.

For those of you who don't know, we spent the last week in Tennessee visiting my family. Here's a little quick rundown of the week:

Monday: 5 April- I finally decided I should pack our things up! We headed out to drop off Wrinkles and hit the USO before our flight..at 6 am. We had already planned on staying in the USO that night, and I liked it over getting up at 2am to go to the airport.

Fast forward through the week....

Friday: 9 April- Luke & the other 2 males in the family went to Cumberland Caverns while I hung out with my cousin, Abby. Mom had to work most of the day, but we ended up going to lunch at Zaxby's, and then going shopping! I couldn't go to the caves because it isn't "safe" for pregnant women to go, because there is such a big risk of falling. Boo. Later that night at the MT baseball game, Luke got to throw out the first pitch. Exciting or what?

Saturday: 10 April- Baby shower! We got a lot of cool things, and had a blast! Thanks to Jamie, Beth, and Aunt Phyllis for throwing it for us. That night, we tried to get everything packed up into an extra suitcase..it barely fit. Not only was it a lot of things from the shower, but also a giant garbage bag of baby clothes that we're borrowing from baby Mason. I really need to figure out how to keep it all separate so I can return them.

Sunday: 11 April: Had a good morning at church, then went to Cracker Barrel before we left for the airport. Our flight didn't leave until almost 4, but we both ended up taking a nice nap after getting there around 12 or so. The flight was uneventful, until we realized that we weren't gaining an hour going from Nashville to Minneapolis. We finally landed, made it up to the terminal, and had to wait for our bag to be brought up since it was too big for the overhead. Little did we know, our connecting flight took off while we were still on the plane! Seriously, Delta? We ended up on a later 945 flight, got home, picked up Stinky, and then got home around 2am. I'm still tired!

It was a great week, and we had a blast with everyone. Now I get to start putting away baby things, washing clothes, and cleaning the house..since I didn't wanna do it before we left. I hope everyone has a great week!

The rain has gone away, at least for now.

These past few days I've been pretty miserable. I've had a fever on and off, this funky cough, and just an allover feeling of grossness. This morning, I can breathe a little better, and am actually awake..and not wanting to go back to bed.

We've been trying to find someone to watch the puppy while we're gone- we're not going to board him on post, and our two other options..board him with fleas, or with another little puppy who he jumps all over and is too rough with. I know Wrinkles means well, but he's just too big to be playing with something 50 lbs lighter than he is.

Today or tomorrow we're also going to look at trading in the truck. I'm not too excited about it, as we started out with the Ford Focus, traded it in for the truck, bought a MINI Cooper, traded it in for my "family car", (did I quote that right with the comma?) the Chevy Cobalt, and am now looking at trading our bright yellow piece of sunshine in for another car. We're just turning into a happy little family with our 4 door cars and puppy!

Okay, time for me to get ready to go car shopping...again!