Oh Sandy!

Since the nervous calls and texts from back home (pertaining to our Sandy-safety) are still quite persistent,

Here's an update:

We.
Are.
Fine. 

Relax, dudes.

The news likes to tape the most dramatic and icky scenes, and although it's pretty wet, windy and grey here, we're not getting the worst of the storm, a lot of it is going up and over us, and we're just fine.  In fact, Jody and I both have the day off because of the weather, so he's huddled on the couch playing video games, and I'm running around doing whatever it is that I do.

This morning, Jody and I slept in, (does 7:30 count as sleeping in?) had a delicious breakfast together, then loaded up with beanies and rain jackets and headed into the storm to explore.  We drove around for about an hour and found that most of the flooding was happening right outside our door, or fairly close by.  We've had a bit of flooding on our carpets so far, but nothing worth fretting over.

We even drove down to Buckroe Beach where we saw people out there surfing!  Surfing!  In the freaking cold!  They were catching some pretty sweet waves, though, and I admire them for their adventurous spirits.  Me?  I'd rather sit in the passenger side and take pictures from my window.  Speaking of which...

 

This poor car was stuck right outside of our house.  Jody had to pull out two trucks in this same area yesterday afternoon.

 Not a good day for a picnic.

 

 

Burr!

Updates

 

On Baby:

• We had our first appointment with a midwife last Thursday, where we were lucky enough to get another shot of our handso-beautiful little...person.  We weren't supposed to get an ultrasound that day, but since they couldn't quite find the heartbeat with a dopplar, we got our wish and I got me some jelly-on-the-belly.  Seeing Cluster wasn't the heart-stopping, tear-inducing experience that I've watched on tv so many times before.  Actually, the jelly was cold, and I had a giggle fit part way through, which made Cluster dissapear momentarily, and made my midwife scold me for laughing.  They didn't print any pictures for us, but my Handsome took a shot with his iphone.  

 Little Gummy-Bear-Baby.

 

• Cluster is growing just fine and dandy, apparently.  I'm 11.5 weeks now, which makes C the size of a large plum.  Still no belly, unless you're Jody or myself and knew the likes of my belly before Cluster started making up camp in there.  Mostly I feel like I've eaten a few too many pancakes, and, honestly, I have.
• Jody keeps telling me to quit calling our baby Cluster, as it's no longer a cluster of baby-cells, but rather, a sort of chicken-like, borderline alienish human baby.  But I can't help it.  I don't like referring to our kid as 'it', and I swore I'd never call it my little 'bean' or whatever annoying names people give their littles.  (if you've given birth to several precious 'beans', I'm not judging you, I love your bean, too!  But I myself am not carrying a bean.) I've grown to love Cluster (the name and the kid) and that will be his/her name until he or she makes it's grand entrance.  (Although, we're quite positive we'll be finding out the sex come December, so perhaps Cluster will receive it's name beforehand)

On Jody:

• He's a saint. 
• Around week eight, I came home one day to a silly husband with a bottle of peach sparkling cider, two gigantic giradelli dark chocolate bars and a sweet card on the coffee table.  The guy smooched me and we toasted as he welcomed me to my 'third month'!  Who-da thought?  It was a pleasant, sweet surprise and I love knowing that he's keeping better track of the days than I am.
• He's a know-it-all, in a good way.  Every new and weird little thing my body does, he has the answer to why it's happening, what's causing it, whether it's normal and how long it should last.  I'm usually just looking for someone to complain to, but I should know by now that will never work with Jody.
• Jody has very thoroughly cleaned out my car twice now in the last month.  What the heck?  He's awesome.
• We have come to a very promising conclusion that we will be moving home with the baby, come June of next year.  Jody has done his research.  He is checking out job opportunities in Montana, the housing market, and has even considered re enlistment.  I'm so proud of the way he has handled himself and the way he treats me along the way.  He is always respectful, informative and easy to talk to.  No matter where we end up, I know that it will be a struggle either way, but change and growth are good.  Right?

On Kayla:

• Hi!  I'm Kayla McNapsAlot, but you can call me Hungry, for short.
• I've now had dreams starring ground beef, marshmallows, waffles and mac n' cheese.  Beef and waffles are a bit odd for me, but normal-ish, considering my outrageous hunger level.  But marshmallows and macaroni?  I will never eat a marshmallow (unless it's safely melted into a mug of hot cocoa) because they are absolutely disgusting and I've never been much of a noodle gal, so it'll be interesting if I choose to indulge in the classic cheesey-goodness. 
• I'm thinking that yes, yes I will.
• Like I said, there really is no physical evidence of Cluster yet, but I feel quite uncomfortable, regardless.  Most of my jeans were a bit big to start with, so I have some room to grow, although I feel as if the only thing growing right now is my hiney.  I guess that's where I carry my babies, and might, maybe, sort of be blamed on my obsession with maple syrup and dark chocolate.
• I've finished three of six of my final papers.  Slowly. Getting. There.
• I've been unusually homesick.  I think part of it has been that I've felt so sick and crummy for the last month, and I wouldn't hate to snuggle under one of my mom's electric blankets with a bowl of her broccoli-cheese soup and take a trip to Target together, like Deployment Times.  Maybe part of it is that Janelle is now just a month and a half from meeting baby Dubya, and I'm longing to touch her tummy and feel his kicks.  I'm also sad that I won't be there for Baby's birth.  It breaks my heart, actually, although I know Janelle won't need me there.  But that's my sister, man!  I need to be there and I need to love and kiss on my sweet fifth nephew as soon as he's here.  But, alas, I shall wait for all of this until Chrismas, and I will remain grateful that we even get to come home for Christmas this year!

On other 'Stuff's':

• Jody and I have joined another Community Group with our church that starts tonight.  I am overly excited to meet another great group of people, as we met some incredible life-long friends in our last group.  I've also gotten back into volunteering (this year I'm with the four year olds) at our church every other Sunday.  I love the eagerness and innocence of this age.  They love to sing, dance and play, and they think I'm stinking awesome.  Which, is stinking awesome.
• Thanks to my good friend Danielle, there is some photographic evidence that we do get to have some fun out here :)  I'm so grateful that Nate and Danielle are good about having us over for games, fire pit nights and pumpkin-carving parties.  Plus, Danielle always has her camera.  For those of you who haven't seen Jody in 10+ months, here are a few photos of what we've been doing.  Thanks, Danielle!

 Out for dinner and drinks for Nate's birthday.  Jody ordered 'the boot';  a 64 ish oz of beer in a glass boot with several others and a pile of German-slop.  Not his finest hour.

 Jody and Nate, loving up on Hookah and the firepit...and of course, each other.  Aw.

Nate and Danille hosted a pumpkin carving party.  I ate lots of candy corn and failed at baking pumpkin seeds I'm not going to tell you which is mine and which is Jody's.  If you know us, you'll figure it out.



We went to a hockey game last weekend and had a blast! Again, Nate and Danielle scored us awesome seats and I got to see my first real hockey-brawl.  I want to go again.

 

I am going to work on remembering my camera and taking more photos.

Among other things.

 

Happy Tuesday!

 
 
 

 

 



I have had zero motivation to complete my final projects for my CNC program.  Can someone slap me across the face?  Send me a threatening letter?  Threaten to take away my baking privilages?  C'mon, people!

Okay, okay.  I have finished one of my papers. 

confession:  The 'paper' only had to be 1-2 pages.  Mohaha!

The good news?  Since I'm not doing my homework, I'm getting some quality Pinterest time in!  Alllllright!

A few of my fave recent pinterest 'accomplishments':

• Making this Ice Cream.  It really is that amazing -- even Jody approved!  We've been mixing it with cocoa, peanut butter, and eating it plain.  It tastes just like soft serve!
• Since I'm currently obsessed with waffles/pancakes/anything swimming in real maple syrup, I made this blueberry syrup to go with my duty-night-waffle-dinners.  Yum.
• This isn't off of pinterest, but in my feed-me-beef-now craze, I made The Pioneer Woman's meatloaf for dinner last week.  It. Is. That. Good.  I should have shared this favorite recipe long ago, really.  Just remember, you have to add the bacon.  I used to make half with bacon/half without so Jody and I could both be satisfied, but now that I can truly appreciate slimy, greasy pig meat resting atop a cow, I recommend that you just eat the damn bacon.
• I know, I don't recognize myself either.
• Moving on:  I found this and thought it had some really fun ideas.  Just worthy of sharing!
• I made this scrub.  It was not that great, and it got moldy in my shower.  I don't recommend.

Feeling sick and tired for the past month is only partially to blame for my lack of school motivation, as I've been feeling much more chipper this last week or two.  With the exception of a few random tummy upsets throughout the day, I've been mostly reduced to some headaches and a severe case of the sleepies.  I've been wanting coffee more and more now, which is a good sign to me that Kayla is emerging again from deep beneath the first-trimester-shadows.  I've also consumed several servings of vegetables this week (Go me!) and began lovingly accepting yogurt into my life again - another huge triumph in the appetite department. 
I still have little interest in all of those KIND bars I'm usually obsessed with (which sucks because I order in them in bulk online) and most veggies are still a green-faced no-no for me.  Basically, cheese and waffles (not together!) are good, french fries are better, and I could eat a pound of beef for an afternoon snack if we could afford it.

On Tuesday, Jody and I went to an open house at the DePaul Midwifery Center in Norfolk.  We met some fun couples expecting right around the time I'm due (April/May-ish; We're still waiting on a confirmed due date) and got the run-down on the (program?  Is that the word I'm looking for?).  I was very impressed with the building, the people, and the...um, program.  I'll be meeting with a midwife in two weeks so see if Jody and I are a good fit, to check that I'm a low-risk pregnancy, and to do all the fun stuff pertaining to the baby - hearing a heartbeat, measuring him/her (I'm reluctant to call him a 'her'...I don't think Schuyler children are capable of making females) and getting another good look at Cluster.  We're very excited!  Today, Cluster is the size of a green olive, working his way towards a prune, I think.  Please keep up your prayers for the little babe in there, we're so excited to learn more about him!

Or her.


My time is up.  To the books, I go!