7 Quick Takes Friday #3

Welcome Coffee girls! What beverage are you enjoying on this fine Friday? I hope the weather is as beautiful for you, as it is for me today. We're enjoying sunshine and warm weather, but I hear we have rain tomorrow. Well here goes with this weeks 7 Quick Takes.



---1---
I really miss Gunlover being here, but I feel better now that I can see him. For me, the hardest part is while he's in the air, and I can't talk to him and know he's okay. Now that I can see and talk to him every night when he gets off work, it's a lot easier to handle.



---2---
We need prayers for funding. We're literally 1 step away from finally being able to go to court for Jewel. But we need transcripts from another case the antagonist was involved in, and the darn things are $750. We need prayers that funding will be provided for the transcripts, and for Bunny & I to travel home to finally have my other baby with me.
<--Jewel

---3---
I also need prayers that I find a church. I'm having a really hard time, because I have very specific guidelines for the kind of church I want. I have/had an AWESOME church back home, so it set the bar really high.



---4---
I'm really stressing out, and trying not to...ever have those days? Of course you have..everyone has. I'm pray for the perfect peace right now. I'm closer than I've ever been, to having Jewel back, and I'm incredibly excited, and I'm frustrated too. The closer I get, the harder this is. I know I'll have her back soon. It's been 4 long years, but God has been paving the way.



---5---
I love having a baby around again...the baby smell, the sweet snuffly sounds they make. But kids are fun at any age..my neighbor has a 2 year old with most hilarious laugh...my 8 year old sister cracks me up with the unique clothing combinations to tries to get away with (usually for church). Take time today, to enjoy each of your kids for what makes them fun. Feel free to share one of your favorite things about your kids. :)



---6---
Alright ladies..I need some life in my house. Any ideas for pretty indoor plants, that don't require tons of upkeep?



---7---
This weekend, I'll be getting things more organized. I plan to set up my to-do's for the week, as well as sitting down and menu planning. What's your weekend game plan?

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Tell the Truth Thursday - Worst/Best Habits

Alright! I'm having fun with blog memes this week. I think I settled on 3 I really like though, one of which I found on Redhead Riter's blog.

This weeks question is "What are your worst and best habits??"


Let's see, my worst habit is over thinking things. For years I've had people tell me to go with my instincts, or not to second guess myself. It still hasn't sunk in. Plus I have a slightly anxious personality and when I'm stressed or worrying about things, then I really tend to second guess everything!

Best habit? Hmm, well as a side effect of my over thinking things, I'm great about making sure things are done properly. I double check our budget, make sure the doors are locked...lol. My worst and best habit are linked.

Okay Mom, help me out here!!! I hate figuring out my worst/best anything..lol.

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Random Dozen

1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?"

Not exactly. I unintentionally racked up a huge fine at a library when I was younger, because a friend volunteered to take the books back to the library and forgot they were in his back seat...for over a month!

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts?

I usually purchase as I go, but I hate that! I makes me feel highly disorganized, and horribly behind. Since my life is finally starting to settle out some, I'd like to remedy that this year.

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster?

Haha! You should ask my best friend back home, about the tornado we were in together! :)

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song?

I Write the Songs & Mandy

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn?

This is easy. My Mom made a Cleopatra costume for me, when I was about 13-14..she did the eye makeup and found the perfect earrings for it. My Dad even said he would have had a hard time recognizing me if he ran into me on the street.

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus?

The dictionary.

7. What's your favorite breakfast food?

Hmm..omelets with lots of veggies, and blueberry pancakes or belgian waffles with strawberry topping.

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial?

No, but I have been inspired to purchase things I saw on them. Just not from them.

9. Have you ever crawled through a window?

Yeah, when my ex-mother-in-law locked herself out of her house.

10. Do you believe in love at first sight?

I think you can have instant chemistry, but it takes time to blossom into love.

11. How man pairs of jeans do you own?

I don't know how many pairs I have from before the baby, or during the baby..but currently, I have 2 pairs.

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.")

Hmmm an American flag, waving from a mic stand.

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I Hate This Sometimes.

It's 4 am here. I should be sleeping with my husband & newborn, but I'm not. Instead, I just said goodbye to him. He has to return overseas for the last half of his tour. I wasn't even the one to take him to the airport...I wasn't sure if I was up for such a long drive so soon after having the baby, so his Mom came & got him. I swore I'd be strong...tried so hard not to cry, but I failed.

Somehow, I'm more upset now than I was when I said goodbye the first time...and the first time I was pregnant & hormonal. I think it's because now I have a small reminder of him with me. And she looks like him, and she sleeps like him. And he's so irritating sometimes. Between how he was raised, and his military bearing, he can keep calm in anything. Which is an admirable quality. But when I feel like my heart is breaking, somehow it just frustrates me. I know that's terrible of me, but I can't help it. I love him so much. I miss him so much..even though he just left 5 minutes ago.

Did you ever cry so much, so hard, that you had a headache from it? That's where I am right now. Already. After 5 minutes. How sad is that? I knew what I was getting myself into. Heck I was military myself. But like I tell Gunlover all the time..just cause I know, doesn't mean I have to like. And I don't like, not one little bit. I do not like this Sam I Am.

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Pregnancy & the Male Brain

I noticed Redhead Riter is posting today concerning men's perspectives on late-life pregnancy. I love the meme idea, but seeing as we just had our 2nd child, I'm not sure my husband could picture our children being grown.

However, it reminded me of a conversation I had with Gunlover the other day. Let me start by saying, men have the strangest perspectives on things. Bunny is his first child. He considers Jewel to be his daughter also, but this is his first experience with the whole process. And apparently, he didn't have much curiosity concerning his Moms pregnancies, so there have been a lot of things for him to learn.

He had no clue how epidurals work...even after me receiving one (I was having terrible back labor), he still didn't know what the process entailed. So when I got up from the couch and commented on how the stitches hurt getting up and down, he joked that perhaps life would be easier if I just peed in a bag. I stuck my tongue out, and told him I'd had enough of that at the hospital. That caught him completely off guard, because he hadn't even noticed. Then he wanted to know why I'd been cathed. I gave him a funny look, and pointed out that it would be hard to get up to go to the bathroom, with my legs numb. He had no idea that the epidural numbed you from the waist down. He thought that it numbed where the baby came out, and that was it. Just as I think we're having a good educational conversation, he looks up with a flash of inspiration and says "oh! That's why you had gas so bad."

Yes, that's right ladies and gentlemen...the whole labor process, and his defining memory is that I had uncontrollable gas. His explanation being, that he thought it was "cute" that I kept apologizing for it. I will never understand men...he experienced the miracle of birth for the first time, and gas is still a defining feature of his memories. Lesson learned - potty humor never gets old for boys, no matter how old the boys may be.

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7 Quick Takes Friday #2

Company girls welcome! Hope you are enjoying your Coffee Friday. :) We're at that weekly question....what beverage of choice, are you enjoying today? I'm enjoying a lovely chilled soda...mmm caffeine. My daughter is having no problems sleeping, so I'm apparently finding the right balance that keeps me awake, but her sleeping!

---1---

As you know, Bunny greeted the world Sunday night. My little Easter princess! Jewel found out about her today, and is dying to meet her. Please pray my little girl gets to come home soon!

---2---

If you have good in-laws, then thank God for them! The more I struggle with my ex-mother-in-law, the more grateful I am, that not only was I blessed with an incredible husband this time, but that he has a great family as well.

---3---

Spring, Easter, Bunny...all mark new beginnings. This is on the brain. Getting Jewel back will mark a new chapter in our family. Having Gunlover back from his tour (please come soon October) will mark a new chapter in our marriage. This is a new season!!!

---4---

Along with the changes to the family, I'm looking forward to my own personal changes. While Gunlover is completing his tour, I'll be taking the opportunity to get back in shape from Bunny. I'm also working on the reading challenge, and I'm planning on using the time to pick up a new hobby, skill or something!

---5---

High on the scale of randomness, but hey..it's my blog right? I hate stupid commercials, and I'm really grateful to whoever invented the DVR. I realize this every time I watch live TV, cause if I never saw another commercial for "male enhancement products", birth control, "feminine hygiene" or a certain seafood company who likes risque or obnoxious campaigns..it would be too soon!!!

---6---

I love having Gunlover home...I feel really sorry for people who don't get along with their spouse. My dearest leaves again for Korea on the 17th. I broke down crying the other night, realizing how much he'll miss. He'll be gone for 5.5 months of Bunny's life, my 25th birthday, his 24th birthday, our 1 year anniversary, my court battle to get Jewel back...so much that I really wish he was going to be here for. These days only stand to make our marriage stronger though. And thank God for the inventor of the webcam!

---7---

Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. I'm thankful for my awesome family, both blood & married in. I'm thankful that I had a successful delivery, and that I'm healing quickly. I'm thankful that she's a healthy baby, and her cord is also healing quickly. I'm thankful that Gunlover was home for her birth, and is getting to spend some time with her before he leaves again. I'm thankful that God provides, no matter what the situation is.

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Welcome Bunny To the World!

Yes ladies & gentlemen, SpitFire & Gunlover have finally done it! Bunny, who was due on the 31st, patiently waited to become an Easter princess, and arrived 2254 EST, and weighed a whopping 9 lbs 8.5 oz! She is 21 inches long. Daddy is very proud. I'm blogging, so I'm obviously doing well, or just that stunningly hardcore..hehe. Now, admire the adorableness!!

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Patience & the Art of Remembering

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of my grandmother's passing. She was a wonderful woman...generous, honest, and a hard worker in God's service. Today I left a message on my Mom's Facebook wall. I reminded her that today didn't mark a year that she'd been absent from our lives, but rather it marked a whole year that she's been living in God's presence. I had to remind myself that several times throughout the day.

Today was also my due date...we were trying very hard to have this child today...something good to help extinguish the pain. I can tell right, it's not going to happen...it would have to be the world's quickest labor at this point. And although I'm having contractions off & on...what are the odds of having a child in less than an hour? Not that good. So this child will be born in her own time.

In a way this whole day has been a reminder of God's perfect timing. We didn't think it was Grandmother's time. But He must have had a reason. We did nearly everything short of a medical induction (which I refuse to have), to have this child today...but neither she nor God thought today was right. And although I secretly suspect that God's sense of humor will come into play and we'll have an April Fool's baby, there is a reason she didn't arrive today. Although the real prank would be if she turns out to be a boy. But I digress. God has His timing, and man can do what they can to artificially stall it, but in the end, their efforts will be ineffectual. This coming weekend, take some time...time to slow down, and realize His perfect timing in your life.

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