Have you heard;

About the show Doomsday Preppers?  If you haven't you should watch it.  It comes on National Geographic.  It was truely an inspiration to me to start becoming prepared for whatever could happen in the future.  Whether it be WWIII, Social Chaos, The government collapsing, solar flares, the poles shifting, aliens, zombies, hurricanes, tornados, WHATEVER it is; I want to be prepared.  I want to make sure my family and friends make it through.

Besides that life change, I am thinking about getting serious about making other life changes.  Such as getting this last 15 lbs of baby weight off PLUS the extra 15 I was carrying around before hand.

I want to learn another language or 3, I want to be a crazy coupon lady and save my family stupid amounts of money, I want to be an amazing cook, I want to learn how to be terrifiyingly good at shooting guns (for protection reasons, obviously.)

I have had so many things that revolve around all of these things swarming my mind lately.  So many things I want to accomplish.  I guess it is good to have goals though because since Caleb is leaving in two weeks max I need things to keep me entertained, motiviated, and not depressed.  Becoming depressed is very likely for me, but I know that it's not going to get me anywhere and I want to be that really strong mom and wife.

I might be making a whole new blog too. 

I don't know yet.  I have just been debating this.

I hope you all are having a great day!

<3 Tory

AH!

I have sat down so many times to write out a blog post... Went to the website, logged in... and that is as far as I have gotten.  Now, I made SURE that to write a post.  Even though I have been logged in since last night ;p

So many things have happened... Or kind of.  I just feel like it because so much time has passed.

BABY UPDATE!  Kayden is doing wonderful!  Growing more and more everyday.  She is so much bigger than she was when she came home and sometimes I just look at her and go "Wow, when did you get so big!"  She isn't even that big though.  She is just going to keep getting bigger.  My big girl is over a month old now, 6 weeks last Saturday to be exact.  Her little legs are becoming so chunky.  And she is still a wonderful baby.  At night sometimes she will wake up every two hours instead of every 3-4... but that just all depends on how much she eats before she goes to bed.  I try to get her to eat as much as she can, but sometimes she just isn't feeling a good feeding.  She will fall asleep at the boob and NOT want to wake up.  No matter what I do!  I'm starting to consdering to just purely pump, I feel like I can better monitor how much she eats and ensure that she is eating a enough.  She takes to a bottle pretty well and switches between binky, boob, bottle very easily.

She wasn't quite a month old when this was taken, but you can still tell a big difference in her apperance since the first pictures!  Or at least I think so.  She is so adorable.  <3

Caleb's and mines anniversary was Saturday before last!  Our first anniversary.  We had fun, we relaxed all day, went out for a walk with baby, and then we went to Bonefish Grill.  If you have never eaten there YOU NEED TO.  That place is so delicious and things are so perfectly cooked.

Last weekend Caleb's momma came into town and now Caleb's dad is coming tomorrow :)  I am glad they are able to come see us!  Especially before Caleb has to leave.  Last Saturday me, Caleb, Caleb's mom, and my mom all went to Myrtle Beach for the day!  It was a lot of fun.  Even though it was pretty chilly and really windy so we couldn't take wee babe out of her stroller bubble, it was really nice to be on the beach.  I didn't want to leave.  :(

I created that on my new camera!  Caleb got me a new camera so he could take my old one to Afghanistan.  It has so many cool features.  I LOVE IT.

I have more to say, but I have things to do today so I am going to stop here with plans to get back on later. 

I hope you all have been having an amazing day!

<3 Tory

Welcome Baby Kayden Jade!!

January 14th 2012 is the day that my beautiful daughter was born.  A gift that came to Caleb and I 11 days early!  (Today was her due date!)  She was born at 5:57 in the morning at 7lb 9oz and 21.2 inches long!

New family <3

Labor started on the 12th around 4pm as just a crampy feeling and progressively got worse through the night.  When back labor also set in.  Around 7ish in the morning I believe we went to the hospital to see if this was it.  We found out that I was now 100% thinned out and I was only dialated 1-2.  So of course I got sent back home, with instructions to not come back until the contractions were closer together and worse or if my water breaks. When we got home, Caleb took care of me while I whined and moaned and was completely miserable. 

Pure misery.

 At some point my mom got there and stayed with us that day then later on we thought my water broke because I was leaking a little bit of fluids...  I believe it was around 6pm or so... so at this point I have been in some kind of pain for over 24 hours so we went back to the hopsital just to find out that it wasn't my water that broke.  After waiting TWO HOURS to be seen.  They released me by giving me an ambien so that maybe I could actually sleep.  Honestly... I don't remember if I was any more dialated at this point... 

When we got home, Caleb tried tucking me in on the couch and let me tell you... something about that ambien didn't set with me well.  I felt messed up and panicky. Which led to me literally diving off the couch on to the floor.  I didn't hurt myself or anything, but it was an odd sight to see I am sure.  Long story short I ended up in a bath, where I slept for about 45 minutes until my water broke and it was off to the hospital!  This time to finally get admitted.

Skipping forward, to the more important parts -

Hubs being supportive as usual :)

They finally moved me into the birthing room around 1am or so and I got an epidural not long after followed by potocin to speed up the process because Kayden's heart rate kept shooting down.  Only really doing this when I wasn't on my right side, so I was on my right side pretty much the whole time.  Even during about 75% of the pushing stage.   I was only pushing for about an hour because I started at 5am and she was born at 5:57am!  They said I did pretty awesome because she was born "sunny side up" and usually it takes longer to push those babies out... also her ambilical cord was wrapped around her whole body.  They suspected that as the cause for her heart rate to continuously decel.

When she was finally out and they laid her on my stomach, I had the most amazing feeling.  It was crazy that this little human just came out of me and was laying on my stomach.  I thought she was beautiful!  Even with her extreme lop-sided cone head :p

About an hour afterwards!

Being a parent has gotten easier.  Everything was new to me.  Before Kayden I had rarely held babies.  Never changed a diaper, changed baby clothes, really did anything.  Especially with a newborn.  When we came home from the hospital, I was a psychopath when it came to her.  I was so careful and so paranoid something would happen to her when I wasn't looking... or was sleeping.  But in these past two weeks, I've gotten less pyscho and actually sleep better.  Kayden was pre-programed with a wake up every 3-4 hours to get fed, diaper changed, and snuggled.  It's pretty amazing!

Oh, Monday;

Today is ridiculously uneventful... I guess that has what put me in front of the computer with some inkling to blog.  I obviously just haven't been dedicated to it lately, but it's okay.  I will be back eventually and then every once and a while until that time.


Since my New Years post, really not much has happened.  Last week I hit the "full term" mark.  :D  So labor could really happen at anytime.  Sooner than later, I hope! *fingers crossed*  This week I will be 38 weeks.  It's really starting to wear on me.  I am SO DONE BEING PREGNANT.  I just want our little baby to be here, and for me to have my body to myself.  Does that sound selfish?  Maybe it does, but maybe if you have been pregnant before you understand.


Here is a late picture of my lovely 37 weeks mark:

And due to laziness, and just lack of reason, I will just tell you how big she is instead of getting that little blerb off thebump . com.  She is the size of a watermelon now!  :)  And looking at the size of my belly, you can definitely tell.  I wish I knew the actually weight and such, but the doctors don't tell me such things.  I even asked the place that did my ultrasounds and they said they weren't able to measure those things.  I have a doctors appointment tomorrow, so maybe I will know more information.


Yesterday, husband and I started to really work on doing everything we could to coax Kayden out.  (And before you judge me, I'm not doing anything crazy just normal things because she isn't going to come out unless she is ready.  No matter what I do!)  I just hope she gets the hint.  :)  But if she takes after her momma personality wise, taking hints won't be her forte. 


Along with trying to work on getting this baby out, I've been trying really hard to keep the apartment cleaner.  I think I have been doing pretty good, it really hasn't gotten EXTREMELY out of hand in a couple of weeks.  I've been keeping up with daily tasks, mostly.  ;)  I just hope once Kayden gets here I will be able to keep it up, instead of slacking off.  BAH!


<3 Tory

Happy New Years!

Happy 2012!  I hope you all had fun bringing in the New Year <3

I brought mine in with my lovely husband and two of our friends by going to Texas Roadhouse and then going to our favorite bar where we actually said hello to 2012 and goodbye to 2011!

2011 was a great year!  From getting married to the man of my dreams, to finding out that we were pregnant with a little girl - I've got to say it was pretty amazing.  2012 should be as equally exciting, but also extremely hard.  It will be so exciting because we will welcome our baby girl into the world!  We will also celebrate our first year of marriage, and what a wonderful year it was.  I swear I am the luckiest girl in the world!!  However, it will be hard in the way that only 2 months after our baby is born, Caleb will have to deploy to Afganistan.  But, we will make it through this thankfully short deployment and he will be home again to his family before the holidays!  Thank goodness.

It's kind of crazy to think that we are finally in the month that I will be giving birth! ...Unless she decides to come late which I am hoping that she will NOT do that to me.  Either way, we are so excited.  Finally after all these months.  :) 

Unlike a lot of people this year who are randomly anti-resolutions because they are bettering themselves everyday instead of starting over at the beginning of the year, (Which I am trying to be my best everyday too, but I always thought the start of a new year was motivational and a glimpse of hope when things are rough.)  my resolutions are simple.
- Be the best wife and mother that I can be.
- Be clean, organized, and good at budgeting money.
- Cook real food more.
- Procrastinate less.
- Lose baby weight + some.
- Find a good school so I can *finally* finish my degree in Psychology!
- Go to bartending school.

Easy squeezy right?  :)

<3 Tory

Bounce, bounce, bounce!

We got a yoga ball today, or I guess you could call it a birthing ball.  Whatever the name is, we have it and I love it.  It's supposed to help work the baby into the pelvic region and supposedly help put you into labor.  As you know, I am only 36 weeks and as much as I want to go ahead and get this baby out she really needs to wait a little while longer... BUT I must say that I do enjoy bouncing on that ball.  It feels so good on my back and butt for some reason and I feel like I am not just sitting on the couch being a lard and gaining more weight just from not doing anything.


Have you guys heard or experienced anything labor inducing when it comes to bouncing on these large balls?


Other than bouncing, the hubs and I have been pretty productive.  (He didn't even start playing Skyrim until about 6:30 pm.  Madness, I know.)  We went to Walmart and got some food and things for my hospital bag.  Then we came home and hubs made delicious sandwiches.  I swear everything is so much more tastier when he makes it!


THEN he went and fixed his truck and got the oil changed and all that good stuff while I sat on my ass at home.  :)


Last night I started to crochet a baby blanket for Kayden.  It's a really pretty colour.  I hope I can get it done before she gets here!  I will have to get a ridiculous amount of yarn to do so though.  The ball of yarn I had is already running out and I only have 6 rows done on a aprox. 2.5 - 3 foot wide blanket.  -__-


Boo.  I will post a picture of it when I am done.


<3 Tory

36 weeks;

One more week and baby Kayden will be considered "full term"!  Whee!

At the doctor today, she said that my belly was measuring right on.  So, when I thought I couldn't get any bigger- I still got four weeks of growing to do if baby Kayden lasts that long!  Still no stretch marks though *knock on wood*, so I am thankful for that!  I am so ready for our little girl to be here it's ridiculous.


I am washing a lot of baby items today so they will be ready for her when she gets here.  Such as her bed sheets and her swing.  Then I am going to wash her towels, washcloths, clothes.  Which probably will be able to all fit in one load.  I am only washing the stuff she will be able to fit into right away.  (Supposing that to be Newborn and 0-3 month)


I attempting to get an idea of what I want in my hospital bag too.  I want to have it packed early, just in case.  I am very forgetful so if I were to pack it last minute I would forget a lot of things.  I know it.


Other than that we haven't done much today.  We went to Target and spent way to much money.  Even with the very generous gift card his brother sent us for Christmas.  But we got a lot of stuff we needed... plus two new pairs of slipper shoes that are so comfy and adorable <3  Now Caleb is back to his usual routine of playing Skyrim.  He has almost 100 hours logged in and he just got this game last week. Hahah :)


<3 Tory

Merry (late) Christmas!

For the past couple of days, we have been in my hometown staying with one of our friends, Gio.  (The friend that Caleb and I met through.)  It was fun.  Caleb, Gio, and our friend Michael have been playing Skyrim pretty much 90% of the time.  Which is okay, I don't mind.  It was just nice spending time with them doing whatever and not having to worry about doing anything else.

We went back to ITL (my hometown) on Friday.  Then Saturday we just hung around, went dove hunting... or I tagged along while Gio and Michael went dove hunting and Caleb helped spot them because he didn't have a pellet gun.  The first dove was shot down from Gio's second floor in his backyard.  The 2nd in a neighbors backyard.  Ridiculous.  Later that night I got my FIRST BRAXTON AND HICKS CONTRACTION.  We were all just sitting around the fire and BOOM, a vicious pain errupted.  I thought I was going to faint it hurt so bad.  (I faint really easy I think when it comes to pains down there because in high school a lot of the times when I would start my period my cramps would be so bad that I would throw up and then faint.  It sucked.)  It lasted for at least 5 minutes, it seemed like more but after it eased off that was the only one that happened. 

Then Sunday was CHRISTMAS :D Caleb and I went to my Grandparents for Christmas lunch, and then we went back to Gio's for Christmas dinner.  Both were extremely delicious and filling.  :)

Uncle Dearl, me, and Caleb after opening presents!

Mom had gotten me this shirt for Christmas.
"Baby Bump's 1st Xmas"

Me and mommy pre-festivities!

Gio's mom took a lot of pictures on Christmas, but she hasn't put them up on Facebook so I don't have any :( Caleb and I both got a lot of good stuff for Christmas this year, and we both were able to get a lot of good gifts to give to our friends and family!  It was great all around.  Kayden made out like a fat rat too!  Lots of nice clothes and toys to await her arrival!  (Which I am hoping the minute she hits full term she will start thinking seriously about making her way grand debut!  Well maybe a couple days after she hits full term.  If she comes any earlier than January 6th then Caleb will have to go to JORTC in another state and he will be gone for a month.  Missing Kayden's first month of life and leaving me to tend to our sweet baby by myself.  Which I would be glad to do... but somebody to switch off with would be nice :)

Yesterday we (Caleb, Gio, Michael, and Michael's friend April) went to the EpiCenter in Charlotte and walked around and watched the new Mission Impossible movie.  The movie theatre there is awesome!  You get to pick your seat when you buy the movie ticket.  Then, you can bring food into the movie theatre and alcohol if you wanted!  And when I say food, I am not talking about popcorn and candy.  I am talking like you go to a resturant and order food type food.  The seats inside the theatre were huge and comfy.  Two seats at a time had the middle arm rest that lifted and it pretty much turned into a little two seater couch.  It was awesome.  I felt like a rich person.

But we had to head back home today because tomorrow I have my 36 weeks appointment! :D  Hooray!  And Caleb can actually come with me to this one! YAY!  He says he plans to stay up all night playing Skyrim and then just go with me to the doctors in the morning.  Hahah, whatever works :D

<3 Tory

Feelin' Crafty;

Update: I just wanted to point out (because I can't figure out how to make a link on my layout) that I have a formspring!  http://www.formspring.me/xxAHHH If you want to ask any questions :D 

So as Caleb goes on a Skyrim binge, I was trying to figure out activities for me to do.  Perferably ones that didn't involve me leaving the couch.  Good thing our house is already clean, so I can do this and not feel guilty.  :D  As I go through the ideas in my head, I come up with a couple.

- Cleaning pointless pictures off my old Toshiba.  (I've had it for over four years now, imagine the amount of pictures.  Terrifying.)  I've got that about 80% done.
- Making notecards to memorize alcholic beverages for when hubs opens his bar.
- Making a Rouges Gallery. (This I will explain in a later post when I actually get started on it.  My mom has one for me, so I want to make one for Kayden... but amp it up a little!)
- Copying down a few recipes to put in the recipe box Caleb got me for Christmas.  (I got two  of the most vital ones copied down:  Hashbrown Cassarole and Orange Slice Cookies)

Now, after cleaning off some of my computer I have been fixated on alcoholic drinks and creating some sort of something for them.  So after poking around on the internet and thinking I have decided to create a massive drink recipe book.

Imagine those homemade scrapbook looking recipe books, now instead of it being filled with food it's now filled with alcoholic beverages.

Except in order for it to make the book, it has to be tried.  Then it can be documented with the recipe and fun pages.  I'd like to take a picture of the finished piece (the drink or shot or whatever) and then a picture of Caleb and I enjoying such beverage.  Then write comments or whatever.  And add stickers.  And glitter.  And fun things!  This way, when we do become bartenders/owner we will be even more knowledgeable... Even though we would have been anyway because we both do enjoy alcohol.  Hah.  But it will be in a fun little book. (maybe litte is an understatment... I plan on this thing being HUGE.)  That way maybe when Kayden and her brother/sisters are 21 they can look in the book and try drinks and add pictures and comments or whatever they want to.

What do you think?  Any ideas you can add to make this creation better?  I'm still thinking on it as I need to not be pregnant anymore to start on this book.  I also need to get crafty supplies and think about how I want to put it together and organize it and all that jazz.

Time to drag the husband off Skyrim (which is an amazing game by the way.  If you don't mind watching your significant other play video games for hours on end, I would deffinitly recommend it.  Or if you like playing games yourself!) and check the mail!  :D 

<3 Tory

35 Weeks;

Hello!  Sorry about the disappearance.  I got caught up in life and just kept forgetting to actually sit down and update, even though it has frequently crossed my mind.  I am back today, and I am 35 weeks pregnant.  Only 5 more weeks, give or take!  :D

I have been feeling pretty good.  Minus the aches and pains... -__-  They are coming more frequently and they are suckier than they have ever been.  These aches and pains include the stabbing pain/numbness/ inner raw feeling that I have under my right boob/near ribcage area.  That whole line in the area under my boobs is numb on the outside, actually.  Even though that is annoying (werid because it's numb, right?  I shouldn't feel it?!), it's the stabbing pain that kills me.  It's been more frequent today than ever.  It sucks.  I hate it.  Whine, whine, whine, complain!  Also there is that pain in my lower back that attacks me every once and a while.  Lately, it likes to bite me when I sit down to pee and I almost twitch off the toilet.  Werid?  Yeah.  My hips hurt.  I have sharp little pains in my lower region, little period cramps earlier... WHINE, WHINE, WHINE, COMPLAIN.

Aside from that, my husband gave me my Christmas present early!  Which was another 3d/4d ultrasound!  :D!  Seeing our daughter was amazing!  She is a chunky monkey.  AND LOOKS NOTHING LIKE ME -___-  Honestly, I was hopeing for a mini me.  But, Caleb's genes defeated mine in the epic battle that is baby making it seems.  However she looks though, she is the most beautiful baby in the world, already <3



The adorable fatty on the left is me, Caleb is in the middle and his mini me on the right, of course :)



This would be her long, skinny foot.  :D

During the ultrasound she flipped us off too.  It was great.  I know she didn't mean too, but it was funny nonetheless.  :)  And she kept sticking her tongue out.  The UT said that it was probably because the ambilical cord was close to her face so she was trying to figure out what it was via tonuge.  I loved this ultrasound and Caleb loved it too!  Which made me happy because he just wasn't satisfied with the last one we had.

Also since I last updated, I got to see Caleb jump for the first time out of a plane!  They did a foriegn jump.  Caleb jumped with Germany, and got his German wings!

It was nuts!  When they first jump out, they get whipped through the air like a rag doll!  It's scary to think about at first, knowing that is your husband that is getting tossed several hundred feet in the air just to fall.  Even with a parachute.  But he made it out alive!  He did get drug by his parachute when he got to the ground, but he managed to get himself free.  I am proud of him :)

Speaking of jobs, I am no longer a Red Robin employee either!  Yay!  I am now an official housewife for a little while.  Go me :)  Hopefully I don't go crazy from not having my own funds coming in every other week.   We will see!

That is all for now.

<3 Tory

33 weeks;

Only 7 more to go!  WOOOOO! Excuse the phone picture this week, I have some taken on my camera.  But they are on my laptop which has already angered me when I was trying to upload a picture onto Facebook... so WHATEVER.  :)

I'm excited.  Nothing else has really happened this past week with the pregnancy that is different.  All the symptoms I have had before, are still there.  My feet do feel like they are swelling a lot easier.  But, come next week I will have a lot of time to put those puppies up.  So close to being done with hostessing.  So close!


I am done with Fayetteville Tech today.  THANK YOU JESUS.  I am so glad to never go back there ever again.  :)  Now I have to really focus on getting finished with school come next summer.  Ugh.


Oh!  And here are the stats for this week:

That's right.  I am officially 8 months pregnant.  Whoop, whoop! :D


Time to get ready for work.  That I only have one more week of.  AHHH.


<3 Tory

Maternity Pictures!

Caleb and I got our maternity pictures done yesterday!  They turned out amazing.  Exactly what I had in mind and wanted for them.  I think they also double for pre baby family pictures, some of them.  Here are a couple of them, because I don't have them all.  But she is going to send me a CD and there will be a lot!

© Katherine McKeon

© Katherine McKeon
I am in LOVE with this picture.

© Katherine McKeon

© Katherine McKeon

Those are just a couple of them :)  But they are all that amazing.  Caleb actually didn't make any goofy faces and was cooperative through out the whole thing.  :D  Even if I was a vicious animal the morning and evening before.  (I swear my emotions are in FULL swing.  I snap at the drop of a hat.)

Next is Caleb's Christmas present to me, which is getting those 3D ultrasounds re-done so hopefully they turn out better and clearer!  I can't wait!

THEEEEN, it's maybe moving into a house over Christmas leave!  Hooray!  Maybe.  Depends on if he gets his orders to Afghanistan before leave.  Yes, he is supposed to leave in Feb, and still haven't gotten them.  Caleb doubts they will be even going.  Fine with me!  :D  I would love for Caleb to stay here!!!!!!

Time to clean before work!  I hope all is well in your worlds!

<3 Tory

Thought of the morning;

So, as I went about my morning catch up on Facebook time... I come across a status that made a comment about how this person didn't understand why people picked on gay people and that they were just like everybody else.  (This I agree with, and if you knew me, you would know I throughly support the LGBT population.)

Now...

The first comment on this guy's status was "So are black people but you don't like them." First of all... where the fuck...? And the girl who commented kept going on and on and on about how black people and "ghetto" people were equally discriminated against, and not all black people are ghetto.  Okay, this I understand.  BUT.  Why was race brought up in the first place?  The guy who posted the status (I know him from my high school days)  is not racist in the slightest, one of his best friends (or at least they were best friends, I think they have grown apart just by life's path) is black.  

Then after not liking the comment of ghetto people being associated with just blacks (which there ARE white ghetto people too, obviously, this we should all know.) she goes and lumps all southerners and rednecks with being white.  Isn't that the same as lumping black and ghetto people in the same category?  Granted.  You don't see a lot of your stereotypical "redneck" being black but...  they exist I am sure of it... just as your STEREOTYPICAL ghetto person is mostly thought of as black... but white ghetto people exist. 

Regardless of that, however-

I just don't understand why race has to be brought up at all, especially when the initial "status" had NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE. -___- 

I mean, am I wrong here?  Last I heard is that everybody is equal, and it's just nobody likes ignorant people no matter what colour they are or where they came from.

ANYWAY -

Caleb told me what I was getting for Christmas :D  AND I AM SO EXCITED.  However, I will keep it a surprise for you guys.  And if you haven't noticed... we are horrible... almost incapable... about keeping secrets from each other.  Even good secrets, such as Christmas presents.  Oops :)

And and and I only have 7-9 work days left.  WOOOOO.

AND AND AND only 54 more days until KAYDEN'S ARRIVAL!  <3  

ANNNNDDDDD I have the best husband in the world because he surprised me with Waffle House in bed this morning!

<3 Tory

32 weeks;

Only 8 more weeks to go!  Unless everybody else is right in saying I won't make it all the way to 40 weeks... but we will see!  :)  As long as she is fully developed, and healthy... I wouldn't be mad if she came out a liiiiiittle early.

Veiw the gloriousness of the bare belly!  How exciting.  It's getting harder and harder to keep on my feet all the time.  I worked a 3.5 hour shift last night, ONLY 3.5 hours, and I felt like I was going to fall apart.  Seriously.  My back into the 1st hour or so, hurt so bad.  My stomach started feeling a little nauseous.  I was out of breath and hot.  It was pretty sad.  -__-  My body isn't good at handling this extra 35ish pounds.  It's only though, like I said before... only 8 more weeks!

Still squash size!  Also! Tuesday, I had my 32 week appointment!  It went  pretty well.  I got put on iron because they are just now aknowledging that I am slightly anemic.  [shrugs]  I didn't think it was a big deal since I am not extremely anemic in the numbers.  I guess it translates in my mind as a another reason to think my hospital fails at life.  Oh well.  But, Kayden's heartbeat was 152 bpm so that is a good heartbeat :D

My maternity pictures are coming up this week too!  I am excited.  After posting a status up on facebook trying to find somebody; this girl I went to high school with, that I have actually done a photoshoot with before, offered to do them.  So, I said yesss!  She is really amazing, and since the last one, she has had an internship in New York and she just is extremely talented.  I am happy to have somebody that I have worked with before too, since I am ridiculously awkward.

I hope everybody has a good day! :)

<3 Tory

Thanksgiving :)

For Thanksgiving, Caleb and I made our way to my dad's house.  It was only an hour away, so unlike some people this Thanksgiving break, I didn't have to do a lot of traveling that day.  Which proved helpful when we made our way home because Caleb literally had to help me out of the car when we got home because I was so full I could not move hardly.  Along with it being incredibly uncomforatable to wear a seatbelt.

Our Thanksgiving day attire :)  In this attire, if you see the shirt that Caleb is wearing and see my make-up; we traded some Christmas presents early.  I got him a Party Rock shirt and he got me a large make-up kit.  YAY!  I was wanting some more make-up so I can work on my skills.  He's the bestest husband in the world!

Here is a better look at the shirt.  It fits him perfectly.  Now he has a proper shirt to practice is shuffling skills in.  (Which really aren't that bad, he is getting pretty good!) 

We got to my dad's around 1:30 in the afternoon and watched the first Firefly episode.  Have any of you seen the series?  It's pretty interesting.  Very difficult to catch on too, I was extremely confused the first half of the first episode.  But once I learned the characters, and their personalities it was easier.

The food my dad's girlfriend prepared was delicious.  They got turkey from the best place to get seasonal meat EVER.  Well, I just found out the turkey was good but I knew their ham was freaking AMAZING.  Honey baked ham, to be specific. But the turkey has the same glaze, or at least very similiar.  Delicious.  Freaking delicious.  I could eat it all the time.  Other than turkey there was, of course, other deliciousness.  Such as mashed potatoes (nom!), green beans from my grandmother (nom!), mac and cheese (nom!), stuffing (nom!), corn (nom!), gravy (nom!), rolls (nom!), and then after a break from eating and another episode of firefly we ate a pumpkin dessert.  It wasn't pie, but a better version.  I forgot what it was called.  I don't really like pumpkin things, but I really didn't mind that stuff at all.  I couldn't eat a lot of it though.  Oh!  And there was delicious, made from scratch, cookies!

But besides the food, it was amazing seeing my dad.  He is awesome :D  Of course, it was amazing seeing Allie too.  She is great!  I wish I would have thought to get some pictures of them and with them.  Dad has some on his camera, but has failed to put them on facebook where I can steal them.

I almost forgot on important detail -  My boots.  Caleb and I found some new slipper boots for me at K-Mart a week ago and Thanksgiving was their debute.  Veiw them!

I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving as well! :)

<3 Tory

Thanksgiving is this week!

I am freaking excited.  Caleb and I are going to my dad's for Thanksgiving and let me tell you,  I cannot wait to shove all the delicious food that my dad and his girlfriend are making down my throat. I. CAN'T. WAIT. Any food that I acquire in that household is delicious.


Foooooooooooood! Nom nom nom nom nom.


With Thanksgiving coming, it's time to think about what we are thankful for.  Mine are simple: Husband. Being able to become pregnant with our child, and have an easy (for the most part) pregnancy.  Family.  Friends.  And the great life that I have with Caleb.  I am so extremely thankful for all of these things.  <3  I would not change anything in my life right now.  Except maybe to see my friends and family a little more and for my husband and I to have more of the same work schedule so I can spend even more time with him.  (I swear I cannot get enough of that man <3  He is the most amazing person that I have ever met in my entire life.)


Caleb and I are having our own little miniature Thanksgiving for our friends that aren't taking leave for it.  I am pretty excited about that too.  I just wish I had a day off for this event, BUT because that probably isn't going to be possible it will have to be a lunch. Better than nothing, right?  I think so.


What are your plans for Thanksgiving?  If you are cooking, what are you most excited about making?!


<3 Tory

30 Weeks;

ONLY 10 MORE WEEKS LEFT!  :D  Getting closer and closer by the weeeeeeeeeek!  For this week, I decided to do a comparison picture.  I took the "30 weeks" picture last night.  So technically I was 29 weeks and 6 days... but... It's close enough.

I thought actually seeing the difference side by side was insane.  It's such a big difference to me.  I remember thinking I looked pregnant at 19 weeks.  Psh.  I look even more pregnant now!

I am still feeling normal.  No bad pregnancy symptoms or anything.  Minus back pain, of course.  I don't think I am more tired than I had been.  Not getting sick.  Sleeping pretty well.  I've had small spouts of feeling sightly nauseous.  But.  Nothing that was out of control.  :)

Here are the pictures of the newly organized nursery!  I should have taken a before picture, but just imagine it being backed full of boxes and bags.

From the door coming from our living room.

New glider and dresser!

Crib with the valences or whatever they are called.

Swing from Ashley!

Ah, now it is time to get ready for work.  Meh.  I hope you all are having a happy hump day :)

<3 Tory

Not much happening..

Since I last updated, literally nothing exciting has happened.  I wish I had something awesome to fill y'all in on!


This weekend I worked all weekend, as usual except Saturday I worked a double.  A double ending in two huge parties.  One was a party of 26 the other 21... at 10 pm... When we only had two servers, the bartender, and myself on the clock.  It was horrible.  Well, while I was there it wasn't as bad.  But when I got home and my body was able to relax... It was horrible.  I thought I was dying on the inside because my body just hurt so damn bad!  I don't know if I am being a baby or if this is normal, but I don't think I will be working another double again until I am no longer a human pod.


Oh, oh!  And Caleb and I organized the nursery!  And it looks very nice :D  Not long after I had wrote that blog about how it was overwhelming to organize things, Caleb was determined to get the nursery put together and nice looking.  And we did it!  :D  Some things that we aren't keeping in the nursery still need to be put away, but hey, the nursery itself is done!


Hm, but other than that.  Really nothing else has happened. 


I hope y'alls weekend was wonderful, and the start of your week was good too!


<3 Tory

Late once more, with no excuse :)

Yesterday was my 29 week mark.  I knew this, thought about writing a post and taking my weekly picture but you know what?  I really just didn't feel like it.  Maybe it was because I felt like I was getting sick or just pure laziness.  Today, I feel better and still didn't take the picture to document yesterday.  I'm just not feeling it. 

However!  I will give you whom like to keep up with my pregnancy shinangans the weekly thebump update!  Hooray!  It's probably not changed from last week much, but I don't remember exactly what was on last weeks so I will let you be the judge!

One more week and we will hit the big three zero! Crazy.  Every week I am in shock that I am already to that point, but especially when I hit the 10 week milestones.  Caleb and I are so excited!

Speaking of the husband, you know if you're newly... or within the first couple years.... married you don't expect to have to even think about funneral plans.  When Caleb came home for lunch, I guess they were putting together the things they want for if they get killed in Afganistan, and in the middle of just sitting there watching TV eating lunch he looks at me and asks: "Is there anything special you want to have at my funeral?"  I am in shock.  I honestly had no idea what he was talking about.  He ended up meaning like a song or something.  I still had no idea what to really say except that I hadn't put much thought into it.  I know in the back of my mind that it is a possibility, but I can't say that I sit there and make plans.  I don't want it to happen, I want to avoid it as much as possible.  I don't even want him to leave in the first place.  It's so hard to think about, I normally can't without getting upset so I just don't.  If it is brought up in conversation, I can talk about it for a little while but if it starts getting to real I have to change the subject or go get food or something. 

Some people when you talk about it for to long will say that I know what I got into when I married him.  And they are right, I did realize the possibility of all of this happening.  However, until you are in it, you don't experience the emotions.  That whole your heart ripping, and dieing from the inside isn't present when you originally think about it.  I was just like, I know that is a possibility, and I will handle it if it comes.  Handling it is hard.  Handling it when my emotions are in a constant rollercoster of uncontrollable maddness is even harder. 

I don't really have a point in bringing that whole conversation bit up, but.. it's just crazy to think that we haven't even been married a year, our child isn't born, and funeral plans are being made.  Just incase funeral plans, but funeral plans nonetheless. 

And it's not just my husband's funeral plans, it's also one of my best friend's funeral plans, and all of my new friends that are being deployed with Caleb.  Ugh.  I can't even think about it anymore.

I hope everybody makes sure they cherish every moment they have with their husband/wife/friends because you never know what could happen.

<3 Tory

It's Overwhelming to Organize!

I took my first attempt in getting all the baby clothes, gifts, and anything else that has to do with the nursery organized today.  In the two hours that I was inside of her nursery, I got some done, but I still feel like what I got done is not organized in the slightest.  I don't even know where to start when it comes to organizing everything, besides putting things that are alike in the same pile or box.


I say box because we have a little dresser thing that has those cloth boxes.  It has 9 square holes to put these boxes in.  The square hole in the middle, we left boxless to put a picture frame or some sort of decoration inside.


Does anybody have any sort of tips on how the hell I should organize all of this stuff?  Because I am clueless.  Should I separate the sets of onesie/bootie/mitten/hat matching things? Should I start putting bottles in the cabinets?  When should I wash everything, as I organize or a week before hand?  What about the stuff that is meant for travel?  What about the bath stuff?!  We really don't have room in our bathroom to put anything...  Maybe the guest bathroom?! I just don't know.  I feel like every other pregnant lady just easily puts things together and everything is so pretty.  I'm just not sure.


Any advice would be greatly helpful!  And our nursery is very small because we live in an apartment.  It's not the size of a second bedroom, just like a small room that is connected to the master bedroom.  Probably a bout half the size of your typical apartment bedroom with no closet.


<3 Tory