airfare. air force style.

We are back from leave, and slowly getting in to the groove again. After traveling to SC to drop Ben off with his grandparents (Rob's parents), we spent a night in Savannah visiting the Winslows, and then took a Space A (Available) flight out of Charleston AFB on a C-17. Here are some pics. While there were minor setbacks, you can't much complain, since you don't pay a dime for the airfare (except $3.85 for a box lunch).


The C-17 Globemaster. On the way out to Mildenhall AB, England. We are the only two passengers on the plane.



At least we know we won't lose our luggage! :)





This was taken on the way back to the States from Ramstein AB, Germany. How we got to Germany from England is a whole other story. A much busier flight! The whole of it is that when we wanted to leave England, there were no flights leaving, so we flew commercially (also another story) from London Stansted to Frankfurt Hahn, and then shuttled over to Ramstein, where there is so many more flights available. While we were waiting to see if we could get on a flight we happened to meet the nephew and his wife (who had flown from Turkey to "hop" home to MS) of our previous home owners! Very weird to say the least.




Here is your boxed lunch...not bad for $3.85 USD - especially after we spent our USD in British pounds! :)

new carpet

Here are pictures of our new carpet!

so....

So, yesterday I was humbled a bit. I know that I'm pregnant and I'm so happy about it. But, yesterday something got me. Seeing thin, unpregnant, attractive women doesn't bother me. After all, I am pregnant and there is a child growing inside of me. Seeing girls that are pregnant with close due dates to me doesn't bother me. I have no qualms about losing the weight, I trust myself in that area and know my body and what works for me.

But yesterday marked the first day in exactly a month that I have taken a run. Ever since I got pregnant this time around, that became my biggest focus, and I wasn't concerned with running as much. I didn't stop all together, but let's just say I took it down a notch. I cut my average running distance in half to about two or three miles and added a good minute to my pace. As if that wasn't bad enough, I was only getting the opportunity a couple times a week. I really wasn't sweating it - literally and figuratively.

So yesterday I ran all of one and third miles....just short of DYING. I'd like to say I'm exaggerating, but I'm not. I have never felt my thighs burning that much until yesterday. I am surprised that my legs don't hurt more than they do this morning. I have seriously never felt my legs burn in pain like that. And I think I added another 30 seconds to my pace. The only thing I can attibute it to is lack of discipline in this area, and the extra 14 lbs I'm carrying around. That is roughly 13% or my body weight. What was weird, though, was that all the perceived problems I thought I would encounter never happened. What I thought was going to hinder me was my belly feeling in the way and my cardiovascular strength. My heart felt great, it was just the pair of legs it was stuck with. I am quite pleased, that my heart strength wasn't the problem, because that is one of the best things about running: cardiovascular strength.

Have I mentioned that my thighs were on FIRE?!

What is most humbling for me or any person is knowing that you were at a certain level of performance and knowing that you aren't anymore or right now. Isn't that the definition of humility?! Being taken down a peg or two or three or... I had thoughts of, "will I ever run like I did again?!" And thinking that there is no way possible, just by the state I was in yesterday.

And to think that Paula Radcliffe took her pace down from a 5:30 to a 6:30 mile when she was pregnant. Incredible. Oh, to be elite.

stimulus check.

So as was the purpose of this stimulus check, we have decided to get new carpet for the entire house. They are working on it today and tomorrow.

Lowe's has this great deal of $99 to install carpet in the whole house. So we purchased carpet and they are installing it right now! I will upload pictures soon. Unfortunately, they started in the our bedroom where the carpet was its worst, and I didn't take a picture of its hideousness. :)

Today also marks our last week home before we take a trip to Europe. Friday evening we will be driving to Rob's parents' house in SC. Ben is planning on spending the entire time with his Gram and Grandpop, while Rob and I travel Space A (which is like stand-by for the military). So like normal stand-by it requires flexibility and patience. But it is cheap and they will take us to somewhere in Europe (we just don't know WHERE in Europe yet).

I have to say that this is probably one of the most adventurous things I have done. And I know that some friends were surprised when I all of a sudden mentioned we were leaving the country. I honestly didn't think that this trip was going to happen anytime soon, only to find out that the husband had still been planning on it.

We're excited, and I'm a little nervous to leave Ben. We have left him in good hands before, but never to leave the continent. Please keep us in your prayers for health and safety. Never before in my life, have those two specific things meant so much to me - I guess those things become so much more important when you obtain your own family.

We'll let you know how this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thing goes!

a defining moment.

A hamburger bun or a hot dog?

We wanted to announce that we are having a girl!

There isn't much else to say except that we're excited. Rob's a little fearful, but none-the-less, excited! It seems we have already had parenting talks about a teenage girl already in the doctor's office, along with future visits to the shooting range.

The shot we got of her anatomy seemed to be much more obvious than with Ben's. This is not to embarrass our son. But the main difference I can see here, is that Ben's was taken at 25 weeks versus this pregnancy's almost 17 weeks. There is a two month difference in finding out. And while the Ben was bigger when we found out, there was also less room to capture the shot.

This little girl of ours was in what was said to be the perfect position to be able to tell. Sitting, with her legs spread well enough for the world to see. Or at least her excited parents!

stay tuned.

Tomorrow, we are finding out if the baby is going to be a boy or a girl. So stay tuned...

It seems most think it's going to be a girl, with the exception of what Uncle Matthew thinks it's going to be. Unfortunately, we can't mention what he thinks is going to be and look like, for fear it might scare some fellow readers.

But to all that know Uncle Matthew, I am sure you can imagine the possibilities are endless about what's growing inside me.

My best friend, Auntie Em, her mom and dad, my mom, my sister-in-law, Stephanie all think it is going to be a girl. The nurse thinks it's a girl - due to heartrate.

While I don't want to build up too much anticipation, there are few that think it will be a boy. I can assure you that we will be so excited for either! My thoughts come much easier, obviously, when thinking of a boy, but a girl will be all sorts of different and exciting things!

So we shall see.

Very soon.

phoenix trip.

We have been back from our trip to Phoenix for a little shy of two weeks now. So, I thought I would post some pictures. The trip was pretty laid back - well except for Ben being a bit on the rebellious side. Other than that, it was a pretty casual trip. Took my dad to a lot of his rehab visits from this knee surgery. Managed to catch the great season finale of American Idol. Caught up with some friends made back in Clovis, NM. Got to see my good friend and maid of honor, Kelsey. We were able to meet with my aunt and uncle and their five kids.

And last, but certainly not least....Got retail therapy. Right, Rob? :) Starbucks was on every corner. In-and-Out burger. I made the husband mighty jealous. Toured Jo-Ann fabric, twice. Bought material for baby bedding, but we'll have to see if it can be used. Because while the colors are not girly, the pattern definitely is for a girl.

Which brings me to the next post.

But for now, here are some pictures! Enjoy.

at my aunt and uncle's house. It was nice to get families together!

Lolo reading to Ben.

Lola reading to Ben.Darn! He has to read all by himself. Is he sad?!
The making of Rex. The stuffed dinosaur kind. Not the Rob kind w/ 4 x's on the end of it.
The end product...complete with Ben's underwear on Rex.
Ben and his long time ago friend from Clovis - Riley. They are a half year apart.
Riley's mom, Kelly!

Doesn't it kind of look like they are posing for a homecoming picture or something?!

More friends. Christine and Chey.
Airport shuttle...must get more pictures in....time running out....

a few more....

"here, mom, you carry all my stuff and I'll carry Rex."