Sex: Girl

Baby size: About 4 pounds and 17 inches long. Hello butternut squash!

Name: We have a name…woohoo! We’re still hammering out the details of the middle name though.

Weight gain: Bwahahahaha. Let’s just say that I am closing in on Clay. And I am convinced that the OB’s scale is off by 8 pounds. Or perhaps I am just telling myself that while eating cupcakes, cheese, and frozen yogurt. I can still see my toes and I continue to be fairly flexible despite the growing belly so I suppose all is not lost. I no longer feel comfortable running and have resorted to walking fast, squats, and yoga as my main forms of exercise. I am signed up for the Army 10-Miler in October so I hope my post-portum body is ready to kick it in gear once the little miss arrives.

Food cravings: The other day, all I could think about was a Chicago-style hot dog. I still have yet to eat one this pregnancy so if anyone out there knows of a decent hot dog place (with Chicago dogs!) in the Washington DC area, please let me know. I can almost taste the celery salt and pickled sport peppers now…

Food aversions: Continues to be asian food. The mere thought is enough to turn my stomach.

Symptoms: My worst symptom is probably acid reflux but compared to some of the horror stories I’ve heard, mine isn’t too bad and easily managed with antacid tablets. I haven’t experienced any swelling yet – my rings and shoes still fit. I never swelled with Weston but I also wasn’t pregnant during the summer so only time will tell if I will be rockin’ the rings-on-a-necklace look this time around. The dreaded third trimester exhaustion has also arrived – oh how I wish I could take a nap in the afternoon. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?

What I am looking forward to: Having this baby! We’re leaving for my parents’ this weekend so I am also looking forward to being on the water and not doing much of anything else for the better part of a week.

What I miss: Being able to walk up four flights of stairs without breathing heavy and drinking alcohol.

Pregnancy Posts

• Two Down, One to Go (beginning of the third trimester)
• A Little Announcement (boy or girl?)
• Over 40%
• The Little Tangerine
• Summer 2013

With monster trucks in hand, Weston went to his last day of school this morning.

Well, his last day in the 2-3 year old classroom.

He has many, many, many years of school ahead of him.

A lot has changed since his first day of school.

But as long as he continues to exercise his unquenchable curiosity, I think he’ll be just fine.

‘Graduation’ is on Thursday morning. I can’t wait.

What can I say? I am a sucker for milestones!

Clay, being a fan of Steve Carell on The Daily Show, convinced me to watch the show. I remember watching the pilot on March 24, 2005 and not being terribly impressed and conveying said feelings to Clay over AOL Instant Messenger. I was/am a huge fan of Christopher Guest movies so the idea of a mockumentary-style television show appealed to me but I was unsure about this remake of a beloved British show. But for the sake of Clay, I stuck with it. And before I knew it, I fell in love in the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. By the time we were able to finally live together as a married couple, our Thursday nights revolved around Michael Scott, Jim Halpert, Pam Beesly, Dwight Schrute, and company. We were die-hard fans. In fact, my Motorola Razr (remember those?) ringtone was even The Office theme song.

Clay deployed during the middle of the second season and didn’t return until 16 months later – well after the third season finale. I remember watching the Season 2 finale, Casino Night, and crying when Jim and Pam finally kissed. I cried because I was happy for them. I also cried because it was less than one week after the helicopter crash that changed the course of the deployment. I was sick with worry that I would never see Clay again that I would have given anything to be able to kiss him -like Jim and Pam – that night. Corny, I know. But it is the truth.

Clay eventually came home and our Thursday nights picked up right where they left off. We moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and before we knew it, Clay deployed again – this time during Season 6. That time around, I had a new baby that was often nursing as I watched The Office.  While we were still fans at that point, we agreed that it wasn’t as good as it once was. But we continued to watch. And we continued to laugh.

We were at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma when Steve Carell left the series at the end of Season 7 after proposing to Holly (squee!). By that time, Parks & Recreation had the honors of being my favorite sitcom on television but we still checked in weekly with the employees of Dunder Mifflin that we loved over the years. We weren’t about to give up on them.

And finally, here we are at the end. As you may know, The Office series finale was last night. Almost 9 years after we first watched the pilot, we’re now living in the Washington DC area with a three-year-old son, we have a little girl on the way, and we still sat down every Thursday night to watch our favorite people in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was time to say goodbye (many argue that the series should have ended when Carell left), but that didn’t necessarily make it any easier.

It certainly helped that the series finale was one of the best episodes of the entire series, a feat that is quite amazing due to the sub par last few seasons. The tone of the show and for the entire series for that matter, can be summed up in the following exchange between Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute…

Dwight Schrute: “I can’t believe you came.“

Michael Scott: “That’s what she said.“

Funny, sweet, and a little bit awkward. And a perfect cameo by Steve Carell. I suppose that it seems silly to blog about the end of a series but The Office has been with me through my first post-college job (thus making me appreciate the nuances of show even more), multiple deployments, four states, two children, and almost 9 spectacular years of marriage. To some it was just a television show. To me, it was a little bit more. So I can’t help but wish a fond farewell to the employees of Dunder Mifflin. Thank you. You are a gentleman and a scholar.

Karen’s Favorite The Office Episodes

• Dinner Party – Season 4, Episode 9
• Casino Night – Season 2, Episode 22
• The Injury – Season 2, Episode 12
• Garage Sale – Season 7, Episode 19
• Conflict Resolution – Season 2, Episode 21
• A Benihana Christmas – Season 3, Episodes 10/11
• Finale – Season 9, Episodes 24/25

Well, sort of.

You see, while on one of my many pilgrimages to Target, I came across a stack of rag rugs on clearance for $7.39 a piece (originally $19.99). The color palette was exactly what I had in mind for a rug for the nursery – a mix of red, pink, green, lavender, and white. It was so serendipitous that I put all three rugs in my cart and made a beeline for the register to make sure that they weren’t mis-marked. Much to my delight, they weren’t!

Having three separate accent rugs isn’t exactly the most effective design solution to hardwood floors in a nursery but the situation was nothing that a little string and a needlepoint needle couldn’t fix. I just used what I had on hand in my craft/sewing stash because I wanted to finally finish the project (the rugs had been in the room for almost a month!) this morning.

I simply tied off a knot and began stitching two of the rugs together.

Seriously, it couldn’t have been easier.

Once I had two of the rugs stitched together, I realized that I liked the look of having a separate {smaller} rug near the crib and the larger rug in the center of the room. I had originally planned to stitch all three rugs together but I’m going to live with this arrangement for a little to determine if one large rug would better serve the room.

I still have a lot of small projects going on in the nursery but it is beginning to finally come together.

So just a warning – expect more nursery-related posts in the near future.

Eek…I can’t wait to showcase the finished nursery!

I am currently eating everything in sight. Not really. Okay, maybe a little bit. True confession – yesterday afternoon I ate a drumstick ice cream cone at home only to have my amazing husband fetch some pistachio frozen yogurt later in the evening. A tad ridiculous, right? As of right now, I am craving pistachios, wasabi peas, celery with peanut butter, and kettle chips (preferably jalapeño flavor). I am afraid that I have reached that point in pregnancy where I just don’t give a damn about the ill effects of eating such food and I am more focused on satiating the craving. If I keep this up, I am in a world of hurt when it comes time to lose the extra poundage.

I am currently listening the podcast version of Michael Smerconish’s satellite radio show. I’ve been listening to Michael Smerconish for quite some time and he just recently left terrestrial radio. Since paying for satellite radio sounds about as much fun as stabbing a fork in my eye, I am limited to getting my fix (a day late) via (probably illegally recorded) podcast.

I am currently watching too much television, or at least that is what it feels like. Sadly, my favorite sitcom on the air, Parks & Recreation, had it’s season finale two weeks ago so I’ll have to rely on Netflix to get my Ron Swanson fix during the summer. Clay and I just finished watching the season finale of The Americans, an FX show about KGB operatives in the US during the 1980s. If you haven’t already, check it out. Seriously. It is by far the best new show of the season and it ranks up there with the first season of Homeland as far as kick-ass storyline, acting, and suspense. And finally, we just started House of Cards last night. We’re only one episode in but so far we enjoying the sinister take on DC politics.

I am currently looking forward to having this baby (when she is good and ready, of course) and no longer carrying a bowling bowl around with me. I am also looking forward to the next couple of weeks. This weekend, Clay’s parents are visiting and we will be attending a nice adult-only meal out with a bunch of our neighbors while the grandparents watch the little guy. Also, we have a week-long vacation planned to my parents over Memorial Day so I foresee a lot of pool lounging, boating, and virgin drinks in my future.

I am currently reading nothing of substance <hangs head in shame>. I haven’t read an adult book in at least a month…isn’t that horrible? But to be fair, I have spent hours upon hours reading books to a certain little boy…that has to count for something, right?

I am currently window shopping for regular clothes that are in the size I was before I got pregnant. I despise maternity clothes and hope to see regular clothes someday soon. On a related note, I am planning on belly binding once I deliver. Those of you with experience, is there a particular product you recommend or does an ACE bandage get the job done without the hefty price tag?

My Mother’s Day celebration actually started earlier this week with the annual Mother’s Day Tea at the little guy’s preschool. Weston was so excited to show me the ‘Breakfast in Bed’ bag he decorated and the flower-pot (complete with a sunflower seedling!) adorned with his thumb prints. We dined on cucumber sandwiches, fresh strawberries, and tea (of course!).

This morning involved homemade waffles, coffee, and some cuddles before church. Thankfully, Clay was home for Mother’s Day this year. Last year he was TDY, which was bittersweet because I found out I was pregnant (with the baby we eventually lost) while he was away. Fast forward 365 days (give or take a few) and now I am almost 8 months pregnant with our little girl, living in a new state, and celebrating the day together as a family. Needless to say, it has been a busy year!

<3

The obligatory family photo-op.

And this post wouldn’t be complete without me recognizing my own mother.

Thank you, Mom. For everything.

I love you.

In my experience as a military spouse, the one constant thread seems to involve me putting on my big girl panties and dealing with whatever curveball is thrown my way. I really don’t mind. It keeps life interesting and as I have said until I am blue in the face – the positives outweigh the negatives for our little family – otherwise, we wouldn’t be choosing to live this life. That being said, there are days that involve me sobbing in the shower due to the lack of control or because I miss my husband and worry about him so damn much. But thankfully, those days are few and far between. And nothing a good bottle of wine can’t fix.

Being a Military Spouse…

This picture was taken earlier this year during Clay’s promotion ceremony. I think it perfectly captures what being a military spouse can feel like 93% of the time. More often than not, we’re on the sidelines watching our spouse (in this case, he was giving a short speech) with a smile on our face  and a child in our arms. It is important to note that the smile isn’t always sincere (ha!) but in this picture mine happens to be 100% real. I also happened to be 14 weeks pregnant in this picture (oh my gosh – I really am a walking military wife cliche, aren’t I?) so smiling wide was keeping my horrorific nausea at bay. Aren’t you happy for that little nugget of information?

I do not think that a being military spouse is the toughest job in the military (not by a long shot), but I do recognize the hardships that accompany the lifestyle. It feels a bit silly to write accolades about a group of which I am a card carrying member but let’s throw modesty to the wind for a second (don’t worry, I am not taking my top off…) and talk about how awesome military spouses can be. I’ve had the opportunity to meet some absolutely amazing women (and men!) who have handled their role with grace, honor, and a kick-ass attitude (I’ve also met some horrid spouses but we’re just going to ignore them for now, mmmkay?).  Being a military spouse certainly doesn’t define me, but I like to think that it enhances my perspective and provides me with a plethora of learning opportunities I otherwise wouldn’t be afforded.

Below are just a handful of words that I think help capture the essence of being a military spouse…

Goodbyes. 

They’re never easy.

Homecomings.

There is no other feeling in the world like seeing your military member march/walk into view upon returning from a deployment to a war zone. No other feeling.

Friendships.

They keep us sane (read more about the special bond).

Adventures.

The opportunity to live places you otherwise wouldn’t/couldn’t choose.

Tradition.

Being part of an organization rich with history.

Remembrance.

In closing, I have been a military spouse for almost 9 years and can’t imagine life any other way. It isn’t always easy. But it is worth it. Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day to my friends and fellow spouses. Have an extra glass of wine (or two) for me…cheers!

Because my friends are awesome, they suggested bringing the girls’ weekend to me because being 30-weeks pregnant isn’t exactly the best recipe for air travel. It is never easy to coordinate schedules but the five of us never seem to have too much trouble squeezing in some quality time together. Miraculously, our husbands were all home (and stateside!) to watch the little ones (7 years later, we now have 9 children and one in-utero between us) and we were able to get 40 hours of uninterrupted girl-time. My sweet husband took Weston up to my sister’s in Pennsylvania so we had the house to ourselves for the weekend.

After picking up everyone at the airport and freshening up at the house, we ventured into Old Town Alexandria on Friday evening. We ate dinner at Columbia Firehouse and enjoyed catching up over glasses of wine and root beer. Side note – Boylan Root Beer just might be the best root beer I have ever tasted. Try it. Now!

On Saturday morning, we grabbed some coffee and bagels before taking the metro into Washington DC to play tourists for the day. We must have walked at least 6 miles – the weather couldn’t have been more perfect!

The obligatory group picture in front of The White House.

And the Capitol (minus one).

Later in the afternoon, a walk over the Key Bridge took us to Georgetown. We decided that cupcakes were necessary and since I am never one to turn down a Georgetown Cupcake Lavender Earl Grey Tea cupcake, I happily obliged. After cupcakes and a long-walk to the Farragut metro station, we agreed that take-out and gabbing in our pajamas was on the menu for that night.

Sunday was May 5th. Before everyone left to catch their afternoon flights out of Reagan National, we ate breakfast at a diner and headed to Arlington National Cemetery. We were able to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visit the grave of a man who is forever woven into the story of our friendship. Sunday marked the 7th anniversary of the helicopter crash, arguably the identifying event that solidified our bond. Standing around the headstone engraved  Joseph James Fenty  Jr. with the girls was an experience that I’ll never forget.

World War II Memorial

We both grew up playing ball – the sport is very much part of who we are. And while neither one of us were good enough to play at the elite collegiate level, we didn’t let that stop us from participating in intramural leagues and other organized games since graduating high school.  And while football is clearly the most popular sport at our alma mater, Clemson University – the baseball team is no joke. We spent many spring afternoons and evenings watching baseball during our four years among the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our opportunities to attend baseball games were limited during our time at Fort Drum, NY but when we moved to Raleigh, NC, we took advantage of being so close to the famed Durham Bulls (us pictured at a game above in 2009…Weston was a stowaway). Our move to Ft. Sill, OK found us again far from the baseball scene but once we found out that we were PCSing to the Washington DC area, we became giddy at the prospect of living so close to a major league baseball team – The Washington Nationals.

During my childhood, my family went to a lot of minor league and major league baseball games. Whether it was Phoenix Firebirds (a now defunct AAA minor league team), Scottsdale Scorpions (to see Michael Jordan play), the Wilmington Blue Rocks, and of course the Philadelphia Phillies, my family was always excited to spend an afternoon or an evening at the ballpark (thank you Mom & Dad!). There is just something about spending time together in a ballpark as a family – it doesn’t get much more American apple pie than that, does it? It is a tradition that I am eager to carry on with my children. Thankfully, Clay is fully on board with the idea.

It wasn’t our intention to have Weston wait a long 3.5 years to attend his first major league baseball game – but now that we’re so close to Nationals Park, I foresee a lot more games in his future. And our little girl’s future! Yesterday morning, when we found out that it was Military Appreciation Day at the park, we threw out our original Saturday plans and decided that we couldn’t pass up discounted tickets and spending an absolute gorgeous day watching baseball. After breakfast at The Silver Diner and a quick stop at Modell’s Sporting Goods for some Nats gear, we hopped on the metro (along with 15,000 other people) and made our way to the stadium. Much to our surprise, we were offered free tickets when we went to purchase them at the box office…thank you Washington Nationals!

In case you were wondering, Weston loved the game.

Especially the Presidents Race. Are you familiar with the event? It occurs during every home game at Nationals Park during the fourth inning and features George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft racing each other for bragging rights.

Get used to this kid – you have baseball in your blood.

After the game, the little guy fell asleep on the metro ride home. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend an afternoon and look forward to the next game we’re able to attend. I’ll close with a popular quote from famed columnist George F. Will, “Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.“

And lastly, as I type this post, I am eating dark chocolate raisins {never mind the fact that it isn’t even 9:30am}. Sometimes I feel like the only person in the world that truly appreciates a good dehydrated grape covered in chocolate. When at Trader Joe’s yesterday, my pregnant self was unable to resist the temptation of the delicious morsels – I am justifying the purchase by assuring myself that the antioxidants in the dark chocolate are like superfood for the baby. Don’t you just love the power of a positive attitude?