Sacrifice, honor, patriotism. Easy to say, and to talk about. I've felt that chill go up my spine when certain patriotic songs are played, or when the red, white, and blue is marched by during a parade, or a great speech is given by a skilled orator. But tomorrow I will feel a little prick from the sting of "Freedom isn't Free". Its one of those moments when even though you believe in a greater good and a cause, everything within you wants it to be that other guy who has to leave, who has to serve in a far away land. Around 10:00am tomorrow(thurs), I will have to say goodbye to a little bundle of joy, who I only just met on Sunday, but would die for tomorrow if I had to. Little Clayton Andrew, so tiny but takes up so much room inside. I will see him again, just days before I leave for Afghanistan. I look forward to that time together, and am thankful to have been able to spend a few days with him and my wife, before I return to Ft. Bragg for training. He will be in my heart, mind and prayers, as well as his precious mommy. So here we go on this journey for God, Family and Country. "The greater the sacrifice, the greater the reward"
-I love you little buddy-

IT'S A BOY!!!

CLAYTON ANDREW PLANK
Born: Sunday- January 27, 2008 -12:32 pm
Weight: 8 lbs. 14 oz.
Length: 21.5 inches

Our bundle of joy

Mommy and Daddy

Andy at Fort Bragg, NC

This is a tiny update on my husband, who is on a FOB at Ft. Bragg for training until approximately February 24th, when the HHC AR 3/103rd unit will ship to Afgahnistan. I don't get any letters, e-mails etc. from Andy, but now that my due date is quickly approaching, I get a very brief phone call many evenings to check on my status.

He is in good spirits and enjoys certain parts of the training. He especially likes "range days" and combat scenarios with the sniper/scout crew. He lives in a crowded tent and gets timed, cold showers. There is not much down time, so he sleeps as much as possible if they do get any "free" time.

Andy will be coming home for about three days when our baby is born. He is getting quite anxious/excited about having a baby soon. I will post as many pictures as possible when the baby is born and we are back home. Thank you to all of you who keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate it so much!!!

I have a dream....

to have a baby by this time next week!

Many schools have students write their own "I have a dream" speech/paper for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The students can pick a topic, such as world peace, less polution, no child abuse, etc. Well, the statement above would be mine own topic for today! Let this baby arrive soon. I keep you posted to see how that works! :>)

Scrap~N~Doodle

Time is moving very slowly for me with only two weeks until my due date. I decided to work ahead and do pages in the baby's scrapbook, with only a photo left to put on after he is born. A friend of mine told me to start working on his book now, or it will get so far behind after his birth, so that is what I am doing. These are a few of the pages that I have done so far.

My New Crib!

I had gotten a used crib to use for the baby, and it supposibly had all the pieces to it. When my dad went to put it together, however, there were a LOT of peices missing. So, Saturday morning, my dad and I went to Babies-R-Us and picked out a beautiful Jenny Lind crib, and he set it up right away. I love it, and I know the baby will too!!!

The finished look. (it will eventually have a different quilt on the top, which will no doubt appear in a future post)

All in the family?

Sarah & her "real" bump

I recently attended the baby shower of my cousin-in-law, Sarah Rine. They played a game that all the ladies "become pregnant looking" from ballons, and then they were to pop their ballons "naturally". (no fingernails or tweezers etc.)

Alicia's Bump

Mom's Bump

This is all I can see!

Where are my feet???

Nursery Update

My mom helped me by cleaning the nursery walls, windows & blinds etc. She also made these beautiful curtains, which can be drawn back for light or closed for a darker room. I love how the nursery is turning out so far. I have not been feeling the greatest with all the Baby pressure though. My friends tell me it's normal to dislike being pregnant in the last month, even if you enjoyed the rest of the pregnancy, (which I did). Whew!
I can't fit my feet in any shoes, and I can't sleep, because I have to turn myself like a rotissere! I need a pully to get myself into the truck, but other than those minor issues, I really am doing fine!
Only a few weeks to go....

Andy and George

Before Andy went back to Fort Bragg, I videoed him reading a couple of stories to our Baby, so we would have them for later. He picked the stories he wanted to read. Here he is reading a Curious George book, with a mini Curious George "reading" with him on his shoulder.

False Alarm

Last Friday my mom and I were heading out the door to go to Babies-r-Us when we remembered that I was to have my blood pressure checked. She checked it with her digital BP cuff, and it was higher than it had been at the doctor's office. My brother suggested we run up to the fire station for a quick BP reading on their manual cuff for a more accurate reading. The paramedic checked it, and it was 170/108- even higher. I called my doctor, and she told me to get my stuff together and head to the labor floor at Geisinger. Mom took me, and we endured a long process of tests, and monitoring. They even put an IV block in case I was to stay. My contractions were only 3 minutes apart, but after a few hours, they said it was all a false alarm, and gave me a perscription for BP medication. No Babies-R-Us that day!

Are these the "end times"?

I thought my doctor's appointment would be routine today. WRONG! My blood pressure was sky-high, even when taken again after laying down. I got straps put across my belly to monitor Baby's heartbeat and movement. That part seemed ok, but my blood pressure stayed high after an hour and a half. I got a bunch of blood-work taken.

My doctor suggested sending me to Geisinger's Labor floor, to my protests about my family-hosted baby shower tonight and my house not being ready! lol She said that she understood about the baby shower, but the messy house is irrelevent! (imagine that!) I am to get my BP taken each day this weekend, and go back into the doctor Monday.

I will keep you posted!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It's now 2008!!! Time for those New Year's resolutions to begin, right? Mine is simply to make it through this year while coping with the pressures of having my husband deployed until next Christmas, living alone while having a new baby, and finishing college! I am not making any huge weight, financial or "strive-for" goals in 2008. Let me know what your resolutions are for 2008!

Xbox in 2007-2008

Andy and his friends bring in the new year with Xbox games. (Halo)