Puppies and Tiaras

   Remember this dog?

You're pitiful, Mary Todd.

   Our puppy has become quite dependent. When we lived in the South, she calmly walked into her kennel each night, laid down in the kitchen when we put up the baby gate to leave, and was generally OK with being on her own. She would cuddle, but she was fine with playing by herself with Piggy or Rope.

   Not so anymore. Now she sleeps in our bed, shakes when she knows we're about to leave, and constantly curls up on me. Yes, she sleeps in our bed. Not on it, IN it.

 She sleeps like a person, with her body in the covers and head on a pillow. She will stand on our pillows/heads until we lift the blankets for her to nestle in.

 Sometimes she gets turned around, and we wake up to a teeny tail in our faces.

This is her happy face in the morning.

   

   I think this all started around the time we traveled across the country. We felt so bad putting her up at night after hours in the car, so we got in the (horrible!) habit of letting her sleep with us. And then we found out we were pregnant. Mary Todd actually was the first to know, I am convinced -- she began lying on my stomach (protectively? Territorially?) around the time we were hoping to get pregnant. Sure enough, she was right! And then when Barry went away for training for a month, she became increasingly pitiful and needy toward me. In fact, she will still run to me first when Barry and I get home -- I think Barry is a little bit jealous, and I must admit, I do get a little smile out of knowing that she misses her momma so much! 

   But this is not the story I am here to tell today. Today I am telling a story about Mary Todd going to the groomer's. Now, we have found the BEST groomers, and even though they are 20 minutes away from us, we are so delighted with them that we don't mind the drive. Except, of course, Mary Todd. Riding in the car, something that was done easily when we drove from the South to the Pacific Northwest, has become a little nerve-wracking for my frail puppy. She likes going with us because that means she's not left alone, but she's usually pretty aware of the fact that we're probably going to drop her off somewhere, even though we always come back for her. The fact that our drive is 20 minutes means that she has enough time to freak out, then right before we get to our destination, she settles down, thinking we're just going for a nice drive. Our poor, delusional puppy.

   This particular morning, I wake up to Mary Todd breathing on my face because her head is resting ever-so-gently on my pillow. Her body is completely covered by our blankets, and she is cuddled up to me so closely we are spooning. I slide out of bed (careful not to disturb her), and start getting ready. Mary Todd is smart when it comes to recognizing my routine for leaving in the mornings, so she does what she always does: stays in bed, pretends to sleep, and when I come over to wake her up so we can get going, she plays dead. Her eyes open really wide so that she can monitor all of my movements without lifting her head (as though I will decide to not go to work and just let her stay in bed), but her entire body is rigid, determined to make me think she is sound asleep. When I finally pick her up, she goes limp, forcing me to carry her. That is, if she doesn't hop up first and make me chase her around the bed. I will admit, it is not a pretty sight to witness a 25-year-old pregnant lady running around the bed trying to catch a 15-lb puppy who is dodging every attempt and running on the outskirts of the bed! I always win, but it does take my breath away these days!

   This is all before we get downstairs. Once we are downstairs, I open up the door for her to use the bathroom. She refuses, standing on the step and staring at me, thinking that I will surely not leave if Mary Todd doesn't go to the restroom! Finally I let her come back in, and I turn around to get her food. By the time I have dumped her food in her bowl, she has shot back up the stairs and is now hiding in our bed. Again, we play Catch the Puppy on the Bed. 

   Usually, this is the time I set up the gate in the kitchen, but today, I simply open the garage door and leave it open. Mary Todd realizes she actually gets to accompany me, so she is thrilled, and bolts. I gather up her uneaten breakfast, grab a bag of Animal Crackers for myself for breakfast, and head out.

   I always open up MT's passenger door first, though she always hops into my seat as soon as I shut the door. I get to my side, push her over enough for me to shut the door, and let her climb into my lap. Now, I may not have many rules, but I do make her sit! Our journey to the groomer now begins.

   I know Mary Todd hasn't eaten, and usually her groom takes all day, so I begin to hand feed her the kibble I brought along. After I have given her all of her breakfast, I do a quick hand wash for myself, and begin to eat the Animal Crackers I brought along. I forgot they are one of MT's favorite treats, so I had to do a 2-for-me, 1-for-you deal -- she got very agitated when I forgot this ratio! 

   Finally, we arrive at the groomer's. Mary Todd is beside herself, clawing at my window and whining to get out. I get her leash on her, and she practically yanks my arm out of socket to get inside. Puppy also loves her groomers and dog friends!

   They immediately start loving on my ridiculous and rotten dog, and then the owner says to the groomer, "Why don't you talk to Mary Todd's mom?" "Oh, jeez," I think. "They realize that Mary Todd is just too bad to come to this place, and she's terrorizing the other dogs and being ugly to the humans." I got nervous. My hands started to sweat. My tummy did a flip, and I was pretty sure it wasn't the baby. What could they want to tell me about?!

   "Well, I will be attending a Grooming Seminar in May," she began. "It's a really big deal, the guy who is leading it is a professional dog groomer who is known nationwide." "Oh, that's great!" I exclaim, thinking this was just their way of telling me they are raising their prices because the groomer will be taught by Mr. Professional. "Yeah, I am pretty excited! Anyway, I am going to have to groom a dog in front of all these people, and he [Mr. Professional] will be judging and critiquing it." "Right, right," I say, still thinking she's just trying to tell me they are doubling their prices and now we can't afford for MT to get her hair cut every 5 weeks, but maybe every 7 weeks should do it. That should be OK. I tune back in to the groomer in time to hear her say, "...and well, I need a dog to show." I wait for her to continue. She waits for me to say something. "And... you want Mary Todd?!" I almost laughed. The groomer and the owner go on to tell me how wonderfully Mary Todd does on the grooming table, and that aside from her good looks (I stare hard at the little creature in the groomer's arms, trying to decide if she really is that cute. Most of the time I think so, but after this morning, she just looks like a brat to me. Squinting, I see the potential.), she is well behaved. "Are you serious? She is well behaved?!" Clearly Mary Todd has been holding out on us. 

   The groomer and owner insist that Mary Todd is the best candidate for the job, and they would really love to have her at the seminar. They talk about how we don't need to cut her hair until then since she needs to be shaggy, but we'll need to come in for weekly brushings, etc. All of this is foggy to me, because I just can't even get over the fact that Mary Todd is not, in fact, a brat. At least not publicly. And I begin to feel a few stirrings of pride, so I reach over and pet her cute floppy ears. "Well, sure!" I agree. "You can have her as long as you need to! I think it's a great opportunity, plus it just sounds fun!" They look relieved, Mary Todd looks confused, and I am just thrilled Mary Todd is a good girl for others and that we don't have to resort to cutting her hair on our own because our groomer is changing prices. 

   This is an entirely too-long post, but the summary of this story is: I spoil Mary Todd in ridiculous ways. Animal Crackers are a favorite for both of us. Mary Todd is a brat in our house, but not in public. Other people think she is fabulous. And I will start putting her in pageants soon...

~Abby

Halfway!

   I suppose it's about that time. I haven't written a post since I announced we were expecting our little one, and now we are already halfway to meeting the wee tot! I could make excuses by saying I am pregnant, tired, working hard at school, etc., but the truth is I have just been lazy! There have been umpteen hours spent at this computer, doing absolutely nothing but gleaning ideas for crafts, nurseries, baby names, and stalking people on Facebook. 

   Last month, the day of my 16-week appointment, I had brunch with my boss and a few other military wives. It was delightful! Beautiful china laid out, silver carafes of coffee and hot water for tea, chocolate cake, pastries -- the works. We all relaxed on the couches, ate our fill, and talked about everything under the sun. Before I knew it, I needed to head out to meet up with my husband for our ultrasound. As an offhand remark to a friend, I mentioned how we were finding out the sex of the baby. I had already begun telling people that we were finding out that day, and was eager to learn the big news! She stared at me quizzically, then gently said that I was probably just making an appointment today, not actually having the ultrasound. "What?" I practically shouted. "Why would I have an appointment to make an appointment? I have this book, you see, that the hospital gave me, and they said it was like my Bible, and in it, my 16-20 week appointment has an ultrasound!" "Well, OK, maybe that's right, then," she offered nicely. But the damage was done. I realized that there was a big fat chance I was NOT learning if my baby was a girl or a boy as soon as I thought. And I began to remember all the people questioning my learning this little secret so early, trying to inform me that it usually happens around 22 weeks ... all naysayers, I had told myself. All intent to crush my little parade. Now, as my sad reality set in, so did humility.

   I called my best friend on the way to the hospital. "What do you think? What should I do? Tell me what I should do!" I demanded, weeping and shouting and gnashing my teeth. Realizing she needed to be my voice of reason and also show me that my anger was justified, she matter-of-factly responded, "Well, that is just ridiculous. If it's in the book, they have to do it! They can't just put something in a manual and then not follow it. You should point it out, then make them do it." (I love her lawyer logic.) Right then, my husband beeped in. "I'll call you back later. I need to tell Barry," I explained. As I was telling him our "tragic" news, he calmly said, "You know, I've been meaning to tell you that there is a possibility we won't have the ultrasound today, and I just want you to know that going in so you aren't disappointed." Of course. My sane, calm, and unwavering husband. How I want to be like him. (Unfortunately, let's just say that in this instance, I was absolutely not him.)

   I finally showed up to the hospital, and Barry climbed in my car. I was a wreck, my makeup (done painstakingly, I might add) was running down my cheeks, chin, and neck, and my breath coming out in gasps. "Look here! Look in this book!" I insisted, thrusting the "Baby Manual" into my beloved's hands. "Read the part about the ultrasound. How could they not do it?" He flipped through the book, not planning on actually reading it, but just to satisfy my crazed request. I took it from him, and pointed to the spot I had been seeing in my mind's eye the entire drive, envisioning the page -- knowing that the paragraph of interest was on the right side and at the top of the page, bulleted with other happy little dots explaining what to expect on this visit. And then I saw it: "At this visit, we will schedule your ultrasound to find out the sex of your baby!" 

   What. The. Heck. How could I have mistaken something so huge?! How could I have not only convinced myself of this, but also others, to include my mom, mother-in-law, friends, and even my sweet Nana?! I felt sick, I felt like an idiot, and I was devastated. Barry didn't even say a word, but just hugged me and let me cry. (We should also address that I do not usually cry when things don't go my way, but I was pretty distressed. And hormonal. And hungry [again]. So to be clear, I do not always cry so annoyingly much, but today was a "Cry Day.")

   We walked into the hospital, and I was pretty deflated. We met with our midwife, who was super sweet, yet concerned for my weight. (Awesome. Now I feel like a bad mother because my child is probably going to come out with a nutrient deficiency because I eat pastries and cake instead of... well, I can't even think of any healthful food to say, THAT'S how far my mind is from being healthy.) 

   But then she said something wonderful. "Hop up here and let's hear the baby's heartbeat." Heartbeat? I think I will like hearing my baby's heartbeat! That was the sweetest 5 seconds of thumping noise Barry and I have heard thus far. Baby's heartbeat was 150; Barry said that's the heartbeat of a runner! (My husband is a super runner... I, however, am not. He's hoping Baby gets his running genes.) 

   Needless to say, that day was emotionally draining. The next two weeks of trying to make an ultrasound appointment were no less frustrating, as I was only offered a handful of slots -- most were while I work, and all were while Barry is scheduled to be in the field. Finally, Barry and I decided we were just going to get an ultrasound from an independent technician and pay out of pocket, and our "real" hospital ultrasound would just be after we find out.

   Fast forward two weeks ago. We have told no one about the ultrasound except my best friend and my family, lest Baby not show off. While at the tech's office, we realized Baby is sitting with legs crossed, bottom so low in my uterus that the technician can literally see no further. I tried everything -- I guzzled juice, ran stairs, stretched, hopped, danced, rolled to one side for the tech, then the other. Nothing. Baby is definitely a stubborn little thing! We left sad and disappointed, but determined to come back in a week. And even though we hadn't found out the sex, we had gotten to see our little one on a screen for a long time! Sweet long legs (Daddy is thrilled), and a hand up by the face -- we were smitten!

   This past Friday, we went back. Baby was this time bottom up (I think the little one realized we were even more persistent, and s/he wanted to get this over with!), and we were able to see everything quite clearly:

GIRL!!!

   We are so thrilled. We think a girl will be a perfect addition to our little life, and even Mary Todd doesn't seem to mind too much! Our little one has had a name since long before she was on her way -- Barry and I used to talk about her while he was deployed, thinking about how life would be with a child to take care of and love. Our sweet baby girl is Emily Claire, after my two sisters, Emily (my older sister) and Claire (my younger sister). We are so delighted to finally buy all things pink! (Well, maybe me just a tad bit more than Barry!) 

   I am now 20 weeks along, and halfway to meeting our EC. Hopefully I will not wait so long before posting again, but if so, the next time I post may be with a baby in my arms! 

~Abby

*Finally!*

   I'm going to go ahead and say that the buzzword for this post today is "finally." You may get sick of reading yet another "finally!" (especially when it is accompanied by exclamation points), but this post has long been up my sleeve, and I am finally able to write it!

   Our little family has some exciting news to share: We're having a baby!! We have been keeping it a secret for what feels like FOREVER, so I am thrilled to be able to publicly announce it! FINALLY!!!

   We found out in the middle of December that we were expecting. Considering we only started trying in the middle of November, we were pretty shocked (and ecstatic) when we found out! I immediately called my family, just so my mom and older sister could tell me what I was supposed to do! My husband told his mother and stepfather, and his grandmother the following week. We waited to tell extended family just a little while longer -- we told my mom's family on Christmas Eve, and my dad's family on New Year's Eve (so much squealing and whoops of happiness!). 

   I finally had my first doctor's appointment this past Monday (of course while my husband is in the field training), and was so nervous and petrified that I literally burst into tears when I saw the sweetest little baby on the ultrasound monitor! I've always wondered why mothers-to-be frame the ultrasound pictures -- don't they realize they will have MUCH better photos to frame if they just wait a few more months?! Yet in that one instant, I totally got it. I know why moms-to-be frame those dark, static-y, hard-to-see ultrasound pictures -- those are the first glimpses of the new baby, the reality sets in that I am going to be a mother, and it is love at first sight. You don't want to forget that feeling, and thus, you frame pictures that barely show any features other than a large head and small body. Because that is your baby.

   I have gotten a ton of support after finally announcing my pregnancy, and I will admit, I was touched (and probably shed a tear or two, but gimme a break, it's the hormones!!). It's hard to be away from all of my family and friends during such an exciting time, especially when I'm not entirely sure what I am doing! (Can I eat turkey? Should I zap it first? I really like Eggs Benedict, but I'm guessing those are no-nos? Am I supposed to be sleeping 20 hours a day??) Thankfully, everyone is always a text or phone call away (and hey, there's always the Internet!), but still, nothing replaces buying onesies with your sisters, or having your mom cook you dinner because if you even SMELL butter you will surely barf, or eating Mexican food with your best friend and laughing about weird baby names. But then all the encouragement poured in, from friends with whom I hadn't really kept in touch to people I went to Honduras with during my formative years. Mates from London wished me well, as well as my Pacific Northwest buddies. All of my Southern friends sent love and even a few "bless your hearts" when I mentioned being so tired. Parents of my students said kind words, and former teachers and mentors of mine said such loving things that I teared up (yet again). I am so blessed to have such wonderful people around, but even more than that, I am so blessed that this baby is already so loved!

   Now that I have had to stay my tears yet again while thinking back on all the love showered on our little family, on to something a little less tear jerking. Since I have been failing in my attempt to use this blog as a "furniture repurpose/craft" blog, I think I will just start using it to document the happenings of our lives. Considering I won't really be painting a whole lot now that I've got a little lime inside me (for those who didn't understand that, the baby is now the size of a lime -- and now I am craving guacamole. Awesome.), I probably won't be exciting in the furniture-repurposing department, and I am kind of just too tired to do crafts! Honestly, even if I wasn't pregnant, I doubt I could do either of those things; I am still teaching four days a week and am now the lead teacher for the 2/3s! (I truly can't remember if I told you that in my last post. I also can't remember what I ate for lunch yesterday, so it's really not that surprising.) I am also getting my Montessori certification, so when I am not teaching, eating whatever sounds good at the moment, or sleeping, I am studying. (OK, let's be serious: Most of my time is still devoted to Mary Todd. And then I play on Facebook. And then sometimes, when the TV isn't really entertaining, I'll study. IF my husband is training, otherwise we are probably having some really deep discussion about theology or what pizza to order.) 

   I think I am nearing the end of this post, finally. I am starting to get sleepy, which is kind of surprising since I slept a lot last night AND Mary Todd and I took a healthy 2.5 hour nap today, but I guess this is what happens when you grow another person inside of you! 

   I'm having a baby!! Hooray! (And finally!! =D)

~Abby

Lately

   Life has been super hectic lately! I have gone from working just two days a week to working all four days the school is open. I am now one of the lead teachers for Tuesdays and Thursdays, and I am currently teaching art on Mondays (though today I found out someone else will be coming to do crafts on Monday, so I can go back to managing and teaching the children while they are not doing crafts -- whew! Art Mondays have been my least favorite to lead!), and I am the lead teacher on Wednesdays, which is Bible/Art. Wednesdays are my favorite! Along with all the changes in my teaching schedule, we moved to a space that is better laid out for our children to learn. It is a beautiful new space, and we are all excited about it!

   Needless to say, I haven't had time for many projects! I did a quick and easy project with paint chips -- Two Girls Being Crafty did this canvas here (and the tutorial, in the event you want to make it!), and I fell in love! All credit goes to those sweet girls who showed me how to make this great and fun piece!

    I also finally painted a piece I have had for quite some time! I actually loved this in the original state, but I finally decided I wanted to spruce it up. What was supposed to be a RED piece turned into a really fun PINK piece! I love pink -- always have, and always will -- but now that I am married, I try to paint colors that appeal to both of us (what guy really wants pink furniture?!). Since this was an accident, I think it's OK. Brilliant, right?

 

 

Original state.

 Surprisingly pink.

 

 Pink and distressed. 

   I still haven't taken a picture of her in all of her glory (e.g., drawers back in, drawer pulls reattached), but this will give you a general idea of what she looks like! 

   I also have another desk to work on that I got from Craigslist for FREE! I contacted a woman 10 minutes from my house about the desk she posted for $5, and she was super sweet. When my husband and I showed up to get it, she said, "Oh, just take it. I don't need it anymore!" And then we started talking about how I love painting, and she gave me TONS of paint! Her husband is deploying and she is going to Florida to be with her parents, and she needed to get rid of it -- and you better believe I was a willing recipient! I now have way more paint than I could ever use, so I hope that the next time we PCS, I am able to do for some crafter what this woman did for me! You gotta Pay It Forward, folks!

   

~Abby

Pumpkins and Tots

   I have finally painted a piece of furniture, but it turned out not at ALL like I had planned! That is another post for another day, though -- I am not quite finished, and I haven't taken any photos of it yet. I am hoping to be done by the weekend and post all about it!

   My husband and I went to a pumpkin patch the other day so we could decorate for Halloween. It was quite chilly, but beautiful! Washington is such a pretty state, and even though I know that gray skies are the norm (everyone seems to want to remind me of this fact when I am cheery about sunny days!), we have been blessed with clear weather this week. The pumpkin patch was full of all types of gourds, fruit, and canned goods. Children were running rampant, pushing their faces in cardboard cutouts for photo ops, and climbing on hay bales, and the smallest of tykes were being set up in front of rows of corn and sunflowers for the *perfect* baby photo. My husband and I had come to an agreement before setting foot on the farm that if we were asked, we have a 9-month-old baby girl at home, but it is too cold to bring her out in this weather. (Our baby girl's name? Mary Todd.) What can I say? We wanted to blend in.

   Look at all those pumpkins!

   Today at school, I was playing with some of the children. One active little boy, "E," kept slamming the doors on the play kitchen, so I had to keep reminding him, "Gently, gently!" Finally I told him, "E, you have to be gentle with the doors so little fingers don't get smashed. What if my fingers had been right there when you shut that? They would have been really hurt!" He quickly said, "Well, then we would have to just kiss them and make it better!" and grabbed my hand, kissed my fingers, and was off playing some other game before I could even think of what to say. What a sweetie pie!

   That being said, today was pretty hectic. Several kiddos had meltdowns, and everyone seemed to want to covet their friend's toy, which brought on several squeals and tears. Even with all that, though, I am thoroughly enjoying working with these children. They are all very bright, and love to have one-on-one attention with any of the teachers. I held baby dolls, dressed and redressed numerous Barbies, raced toy cars, read books, and watched as children imitated grown ups (a boy stretching out on the couch with hands crossed behind his head, girls wearing plastic heels and toting purses, and several planning a "party"!). 

   The "party" that was planned by a particularly precocious five-year-old was a Silly Party. I don't know what exactly constitutes a Silly Party, but they were all very thrilled about it! When another teacher came in to pull some of them for their lessons, a boy look up at me and said, "Umm, she just RUINED our Silly Party!" Poor guy. When they came back later to resume this party, they were getting a little loud, so I asked them to use their indoor voices. Then the ringleader replied, "Yeah, because this is a Silly Party, not a Wild Party! If we were having a Wild Party, it would have to be in the woods." I have no idea what that means, but I love their imaginations!

   For all the children that I loved on today and to whom I gave my attention, one little one was missing out and was a grouch all day: Mary Todd. She has not left my side since I got home except for when I went to paint, and has insisted on being on my lap while I am sitting. I guess I have been a "stay-at-home mom" since she was born, so she's not used to me being gone a long time! Poor little girl -- we had to have a chat about how she is a big girl now and needs to not be so clingy. Considering the fact that she is curled up asleep beside me now, I don't think it sank in.

   

~Abby

  

3:1

   I know I already posted today, but I was telling my husband about my day, and remembered a great little nugget to share!

   Yesterday I learned that an octopus has three hearts. I learned this by watching CSI:, and the coroner was performing an autopsy on one (I don't think they actually do that, even when it is evidence, but it is a TV show). When asked the COD (cause of death, for all of you who don't watch copious amounts of television... or those of you who aren't in the medical field), the coroner said, "Hearts failure. Notice I said "hearts"; did you know an octopus has three hearts?" And that is how I learned the ratio 3:1 for hearts:octopus.

   This brings me to my story from today. I was talking to a couple of brothers, ages two and five, when the older brother looked at me and (out of nowhere) said, "Did you know that an octopus has three hearts? They do." I replied, "Well actually, yes, I did know that, but I only learned that yesterday. How do you know that?" To which he nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders, turned away, and said, "I just do."

   Kids these days. Brilliant, I tell you, brilliant.

~Abby

New Job!

   Anyone who knows me knows that I love children. When I was a senior in high school, the seniors decided to do our own "awards," just for our class, for what we believed would happen in 10 years. My then-frenemy who has since become a dear friend and like a sister to me, won "Most Likely to Come Back" to our high school to teach since she practically ran the school even then. (She actually DID become a teacher, but is now teaching Spanish at our rival high school!) I won an award, too: "Most Children." We are only a few years away from our reunion, and I have no kiddos to speak of yet, but that story was told just to enlighten you on how much I adore babies and children.

   When I was in college, I briefly thought about pursing a degree in Early Childhood Education. My family is made up of educators (my mother, my aunt, my sister, my brother-in-law, a cousin... you get the picture), so it wouldn't be a far-fetched career. However, always determined to be different, I chose instead a degree in PR, which led to an unrelated career in the publishing world, but that's neither here nor there. Now that I live in a new city in a new part of the country, I am finally getting to try my hand at dealing with children all day in a learning environment: I am a Preschool Teaching Assistant! 

   While I realize that this is not an "impressive" job by the standards of "Oh, my husband leads men into combat and can run a bazillion miles without stopping and jumps out of aircraft and rivals Chuck Norris in his awesomeness and is totally cool," I am fairly excited. I went to observe today, and ended up just going on and working! (Who am I to say "no" to a precious baby asking me to read her a story? Or to a darling boy tugging my hand to set up a train track?) 

   The owner of this private preschool and kindergarten is really amazing. She even acknowledges that this is not my long-term career goal, and she is bent on helping me out any way she can by giving me her own publishing contacts for freelance editing. She is wonderful and friendly, and reminds me of my brilliant French professor in college, Madame "K": effortlessly beautiful, intense, quick to grin, and eager to help people.

   I should have more to update soon, but life lately has been fairly uneventful. We have finally gotten the house together (somewhat!), and Mary Todd is completely and utterly prissy about the whole house being "hers." In fact, she is outside playing right now in our fenced-in yard, probably digging more holes and moving rocks from one side of the house to the other. Which reminds me --- I should probably go get her! More soon, I promise!

~Abby