Go to Canvas on Demand and get a discount on your order!!!!

Now that I have my life back to normal in Virginia. Well somewhat normal. I have Alberto to help me with the boys. But Next weekend he goes back... I am not sure if I am happy or sad about it. I am ready to get back to my normal life but it wont last long before I head back home for my trip =).

Alexander has been scream/crying for Anthony every night lately =( I wish there was something I could do but I think its just something he is doing so he doesn't have to go bed. But I dont let him get away with it. I just let him cry it out. 

Gavin is now 2 1/2 months old.... 16 lbs and 24.5 inches long... HE IS A HUGE BOY!!!! But he seems to be healthy boy. 

Alexander and Gavin get along WONDERFULLY!!! I am pretty surprised but I love it. It makes my life a little easier. But both of them could really use having Daddy around some more. I know it isn't his fault but i still hate it. 

I haven't blogged in FOREVER!!!! so here's a sum up of everything....

I flew my brother and his girlfriend to Virginia, so they could help me drive back to Iowa. It was a long drive, my GPS routed me a way I had never gone before, so I called my mom and she told me to reset it to avoid interstates, well that was HELL it took me on the back roads through Pennsylvania. It was SCARY especially since it was dark and up and down mountains constantly!  But we finally got back on the interstate so that helped but it took us an extra 6 hours to get home. But finally we got home, unfortunately had to stop at a hotel.... i hate stopping. 

I have been home for 2 1/2 weeks, and I am READY to go back. I am so bored here. Alex is too, he is starting to be a pain in my ass because he wants to do something. And there isn't really much for him to do around here. We've been to the children's museum and the park. and to go to either one of those it takes us 20minutes to drive to them at least. It isn't like VA where everything is close. and we miss that!!! 

But other then that it has been so nice being at home. Alex gets to play with his cousins. But we are leaving in 10 days to go back to VA. this time Alberto is going back with me and I  will be meeting my parents 1/2 way in a couple weeks. 

well i need to get the kids something to eat

I didn't get a chance to blog last night, I was EXHAUSTED!!! 

Yesterday, Day #2 without him home.... Actually went rather well. Alex asked for him a lot and every time it brought me to tears. He is such a Daddy's boy so it really kills me that he had so little time between deployments with him. But its life and Alexander will get use to it. This will be the last one that has such a quick turn around... at least for awhile. 

We stayed home all day yesterday, but I didn't get anything accomplished. other then folding a load of laundry, doing dishes and cooking dinner. Other then that my time was spend feeding Gavin. He must be going through a growth spurt because he is constantly eating... though he isn't sleeping as much anymore. But he is almost a month old now, and becoming even more alert =).

Today we are going to the Cheasapeke Jubilee with Miss Heather. It should be nice to get out of the house and do lots of walking =)). That should help me with my weight loss. I have 45lbs to loose and lots of inches.... I haven't measured yet. But my stomach is wayyyyyy to flabby since I have had Gavin.

D Day

We said our "goodbye/see you laters" today. A heartbreaking day for sure! I'm not sure if it has really hit me yet today =(. I cried while we said goodbye and while we watched the ship leave. Its really one of the hardest things I have ever done. I can honestly say I was ready to get this deployment started so it would be over but I so wish they didn't have to go. 

I know its his job and I knew that when I married him but it doesn't make it ANY easier!!!!  Especially after delivering our second son 3 weeks ago! I have my normal emotions and then the postpartum emotions making it even worse!!!  I love my husband and I support him every second but I just want him to be home with me and the boys. Its so stressful saying goodbye so often, then when we get use to having them home again they are gone again in a snap of a finger. 

Well enough with the negatives... Today is one day closer till the day they come home. And one more day till I get to go back to Iowa and see my family.... and they get to meet Gavin for the first time!  


I am going to work out and diet during the deployment so I can be the "biggest loser" of our FRG! my weight as of right now I want to loose aprox. 40lbs but I REALLY want my stomach to go down, past where it was at before Gavin!  But I have to figure out how I am going to work out... I am going to have to do it while Alexander is awake or before I go to bed... but I would prefer to do it in the morning so it sets my mood for the day, then add a little extra before bed to help wear me out so I can sleep easier. plus the more I exercise the better!!!  But eating right is going to the be problem especially until i get use to not having Anthony home. I just HATE cooking while he is gone, it feels so pointless to me. I know I still have to cook for Alexander but he could care less if I cook a meal for him or not, and with me dieting I need to cook a well balanced meal that is really healthy and filling to help my diet. 

Well I have things to do since I've been procrastinating it since the ship left.  

the tears are rolling....

Deployment is LITERALLY just around the corner. No turning back. I am so not ready for him to be gone, but really how do you prepare to be a single parent for so many months? Its impossible. Its like preparing for death, impossible!  

I just hope I have the strength to handle it for the first week or two because I know my boys are gonna have a hard time adjusting =// Especially Alexander. HE is such a Daddy's boy. And he is to little to understand fully what is going on. He understands that Daddy is going bye-bye for awhile but he doesn't understand for how long or why. 

I know people do not understand why we deal with this, but neither do we until we are doing it. and it is impossible to understand unless you have been through it before. 

Well the stress has taken over already. Alexander woke up this morning, pooped out of his diaper and then wiped it all over his room. So besides needing to feed Gavin I had to get Alexander in the bathtub. And of course Anthony isn't home, so it was like my little test for deployment I guess. 

I do believe the hardest part of deployment is that Anthony is going to miss out on so much, not only with Gavin but Alexander as well. Gavin is doing all the fun baby things and Alexander is learning to use his imagination, so his playing is so much more fun to watch. 

WEIGHT LOSS!!!

Gavin Ignacio Martinez was born April 27th, 2011 at 5:00pm! He weighed NINE pounds and NINE ounces and was 21 inches long. And I wondered why I was in pain, lol.  We were released from the hospital on GREAT conditions on April 29th. And so far everything has been going GREAT at home. He is an amazing baby. He sleeps 3-4 hours at a time every night and really only fusses when he needs his diaper changed or is hungry. 

But now its time to prepare for deployment. So I am starting my weight-loss goal again. I  am weighing in at 185 now and by the time Anthony gets home I want to weigh 145-150lbs so thats 35lbs!! I lost 50+ during last deployment. Since I cant start working out yet I am going to try to eat right, which is slightly difficult with Anthony home, he always wants to loose weight but he NEVER wants to eat right. He refuses to eat healthy half the time. And when he thinks he is eating healthy he is drinking A TON of pop!! 

But today I purchased my weight watchers online program again. I am pretty excited to get started but I get 38 daily points which is a TON for me!! I normally get 28-32 and I cant always use those because I am so full. But I am breastfeeding so I need more food to produce milk for Mr. Gavin. And I have noticed that one, I feel like a piggy when we are eating, or when I realize how much I have eaten.

Well Gavin is waking up again..... 

Gavin Ignacio Martinez

Born

April 27th, 2011

5:00 pm

9lbs 9 oz

21inches 

Welp.. .no baby yet... UGH!!!  But I think its getting closer to time because I am super irritable and having more pain!! I was planning on having the doctor scrape my cervix/membranes on Monday but now i don't think I will because of this damn boat!!  But I am still thinking about it because I really need this baby out of me. I am in serious pain! I cant sleep at night anymore because laying down causes heartburn and moving hurts! 

I feel bad for my 2 year old and my puppy because they both get the blunt end of my mood swings because they are with me all the time =( but there isn't anything I can do about it unfortunately. But having a toddler who is learning things all the time that can get him into trouble probably doesn't help. Plus a puppy who is chewing on everything because he is teething plus just being an ornery puppy. Normally I would think its cute but now its driving me insane!!

I went to the hospital on Wednesday evening because I was having contractions that were coming every 3-4 min but they weren't painful to me at all. So I called the doctor and she told me to go get checked out just in case. So after nothing registered on 3 monitors they switched me rooms and finally got the contractions to read. But unfortunately they weren't dilating me =(. So they sent me home.  So Thursday and Friday  Heather and I walked down at Ocean Front. I have been having some pretty strong contractions but no set pattern =(.  I'm hoping I will go into labor tonight/tomorrow. But the way its going i'm so not holding my breath on it =(. The way everything has been going I don't look for this baby until my induction on the 27th/28th. 

I had my ultrasound yesterday to make sure everything was okay with the little guy. Well they did all his measurments and he is measuring at 39-40weeks putting my due date at April 18th instead of May 3rd. So if I don't go into labor before my induction date of April 27th the baby will be a week overdue when he is born =//. 

He is already predicted to weigh 8lbs so hopefully he doesn't wait to much longer before he comes because I dont think I can manage to push out a huge baby!!!  But I am so excited to see him!!! And have him home with us! I am slightly nervous to see how Alexander reacts to having to share his Mommy and Daddy. But it will be all worth it. 

I am really hoping that Gavin comes soon so I get a "test" run to see how I can handle an infant and a toddler before any long underway or "D" day! 

I have been debating on trying caster oil again. I tried it with Alexander and it did absolutely nothing!  So I dont really want to spend the money on it and it not work. So I am going to try pineapple and continue to eat spicy foods [which i love]. I am having contractions now so i keep trying to walk to get them to even out and get closer together but its not working yet =(. 

I realized yesterday night I have started the "nesting" process. Yesterday I cleaned the living room, starting by washing the cushion covers and puling the furniture out. Then vacuumed everything and started dusting everything before my doctors appointment. But I didn't get much done after my doctors appointment because Anthony was home and was telling me to relax and blah blah, lol. 

Unfortunately we cant go for our evening walk with daddy today, maybe not at all because its suppose to storm =//  I hate when it storms/rains. It does it at least 3 days a week here and its killer!!! I am sick of dealing with rain all the time! I would love to be able to go do something all week long but it isnt happening that way =[. 

Well today I am taking Alexander to go play with Asher. [A friend's son] He is one of the only little boys around Alex's age. They play very well together, which is surprising to me because when Alexander plays with the girls he is mean to them, but they are also mean to him so maybe thats why =//.

Well hopefully the next time I blog I will have Gavin Ignacio Martinez outta my belly.... haha if only I can get that lucky!!! 

Last night was the first FRG meeting... of the deployment, we still have a little while before it starts [a really little while]!! But it was fun, the new board has a lot of new ideas that will be fun to do. And as long as we can keep ourselves busy then deployment will fly by !!! well it should fly by anyways because I am going to be juggling a toddler and a new born.. YIPEE!! lol 

I am really excited for Gavin to get here!!  I have been carrying him for 37 weeks... and man am i exhausted, lol! My back pains are getting worse and almost unbearable at times!!! Yesterday I debated on going to the hospital because it hurt so bad. But I got it under control or at least tolerable... but they are acting up again today... hopefully they either come with contractions so i can go to the hospital or they aren't very painful. 

Then this morning... I woke up and looked out the window and my Bran NEW freaking explorer has a damn flat tire!!! OHHHH I am pissed!!!  But I have to wait for Anthony to get home from work...to take it somewhere to get fixed =// hopefully the Dealer because we paid for all that crap so they have to fix it for free instead of us paying for someone to do it. But we also have a birthday party at 2... and he may or may not be off work by noon =// ughhhh!! 

I really dont want to miss the birthday party because its for my wifey's daughter!! She is turning 5. And her mom is having her baby monday =))

contractions contractions contractions

I am having contractions all the time, but they aren't close enough together to go to the hospital! Hopefully they are at least dilating me more, so maybe on Monday she will keep me when I go in for my appointment... that would be GREAT! 

With Alexander I wasn't in this much pain until the week i delivered him, so maybe that's what this means =] Well I sure HOPE SO!!!! 

Tonight is our first FRG meeting for the ship so hopefully I don't go into labor during it or before it. I would really like to go and see what is going on and everything for this deployment! 

If carrying a baby isn't stressful enough the freaking government cant agree because the idiots of America decided it would be smart to vote in a split congress... So now when it comes to the budget they are fighting over it instead of getting something accomplished, a bunch of freaking 2 year old's is what they are acting like!!!!!  If they don't get this figured out by midnight tonight, the government "shuts down" but these idiots have decided not to continue to pay the military during the government shut down. So if they don't get something figured out then we will get 1/2 our check on the 15th because they will only pay for what happened before the shut down. But they are still expected to report to work like nothing is happening and just not get paid for it. Well eventually we will get paid for it, but the government is slow enough with back pay i cant imagine how long it will take to repay the entire military for at least 1/4 of a month... smh

I am now 36 weeks pregnant! YAY!!!! I had a doctors appointment this morning and I am already 3 centimeter's dilated =))!!! Now I just have to get these contractions coming stronger and closer together!! 

My uterus is measuring weird. Last Monday it measured at 34 1/2 weeks and today i measured at 37 weeks. =// But it got me an ultrasound!! I haven't had one done since I was 20 weeks pregnant. I'm so excited to see my baby again =)) 

I am so ready to have this baby.... I am really ready to go into labor and have a healthy baby =)!! Gavin Ignacio is ready to be born, Mommy is having contractions :-) they are about 20-25 min apart right now... but that could go away or continue for over a week =( we have to wait till they are 3-5 minutes apart to go to the hospital

braxton hicks =//

I have been having these "fake contractions" for about a month now =// starting right around 29 weeks and I am now 35 weeks. =// I am kinda worried they are a sign that Gavin is coming early because they are getting stronger and stronger. And semi-regular. I go back to the doctor Monday, and I am kinda hoping they will check me to see if I have started to dilate yet. 

I hope I have because I would like to deliver this kid as soon as he is healthy enough, because i seriously feel like a gigantic whale. I cant do much without having to stop to breath or stop because I'm having a contraction or severe back pain. 

But on a plus side we got everything sorted out with the life insurance company/bank  and they realized they fucked up and took the hold of the checks so we no longer have to worry about that. The money will be out of their bank and into our personal checking accounts very soon!!! and then instead of just owning the Explorer we will own the jeep as well and probably be trading that in for a car for Anthony.  It might cost us more in the near future but in the long run it should save us money on gas =)) and probably insurance too!!  Its so ridiculous that the 2006 jeep costs us more to insure every six months then the 2011 explorer?? 

"But I'm telling myself I'll be okay, even on my weakest days, I get a little bit Stronger"

The lyrics I pretty much have to tell myself every day. The stress of everything is really getting to me! Preparing for a Deployment, and a Newborn while also dealing with the stress of a RETARDED work Schedule!!!  This week (starting Sunday-Today [sunday]) Anthony has been home, not including sleeping time, about 48 hours, only because he had last Sunday off. And wont see him again for a little while at least!  

But then on top of that, I am having contractions, a lot of them! every day. Some of them are just braxton hicks but some of them make me stop and breath through them. I know its to early for Gavin to be born but I don't know how much longer I will last. And we have SO much to get done before he gets here!!!  I finally got the play-pin and swing but they are both still in the box because of Alexander!  We dont even have a dresser for him yet =// and that needs to be set up ASAP. I am thinking about just getting the plastic ones for now just because Anthony really doesn't have time to help me set up a dresser.

I need some sort of "out" as a stress reliever because I am really going insane with a child in the terrible two's, being pregnant, and preparing for a deployment most people would go INSANE!!! which just proves that Military wives are really cut from a different cloth! 

 

nearing "D-day

With this schedule I can seriously say I would rather them be on Deployment... They are preparing for the 6-9 months they are going to be gone (In a matter of weeks) and we pretty much NEVER see them!!!  1/2 the ship is stuck onboard until midnight or later tonight for some stupid drill thingy they have to go through.  But After a Duty day Saturday, out to sea Monday, and not home until around 6pm Tuesday, then goen again today and probably not home until late tomorrow again I would rather be going through deployment.

On deployment at least I know I cant see him except for our skype dates that are few and far between =//. explaiing to a toddler that daddy cant come home because he has to stay late on the boat... hell i might as well be talking to a flipping wall, it would probably listen better and not fight the answer!!! 

But I seriously don't understand WHYY the hell they need to be doing this shit this close to deployment. I think we have been through enough this year!!! and its only MARCH!!  But since this ship has been home (only since August) they have either had to work late, stand extra duty, or been out to sea more then then have had time with their families!!!  No wonder this ship has HIGH divorce rates!!  Its harder then HELL to deal with. If the stress of the kids isnt enough, you never know when you get to see your SO makes it better!!!  UGH i can not wait until his time on this POS is OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I still have 2 years... FML! 

Family Pictures =))

Mom & Dad

The family <3 

Grandma, Pappy & Grandkids

the "Original" Family 

TaLisha's Family

US

The future =))

My family left yesterday =((.... It was hard to see them go again but saying goodbye never gets easier, we just learn to get through it.  Its just like deployment... we never get use to it we just get through it!

We had a BLAST with the family here, the guys went and had fun and blew off some steam and the kids had fun playing together =)).. it makes me miss home even more because the kids could be playing together at home more often.  But I wouldn't change our lifestyle for anything... We are pretty much guaranteed a paycheck and he cant get fired. 

we had our "Christmas" while the family was here since we didn't actually do it in December while we were home

and they kids had a BLAST at the Jumpin' Monkey... they played hard and had a blast running around and playing on the inflatables!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My family will be here in DAYS!!!!!!!! I'm so excited!!! I can't wait! This will be my brother and parents 2nd time in Virginia. And of course Jenna's since she got to spend a whole month with me this past summer =))!! But It will be my sister's first!!!  
Crossing my fingers Anthony gets his leave papers ASAP!!! Since they arent getting "pom" leave (pre deployment) he is taking the week off while my family is here!! We are going to get family pictures taken with everyone... all 12 of us!! It will be the first time we have gotten whole family pictures taken since Anthony left for boot camp... Greenly was only a few months old and Kora wasnt even thought of yet... and neither was Gavin but he is still in my belly =))!! 


We are finally getting everything settled in the new house.... moving is such a pain! Especially being pregnant!! This little man LOVES being in my diaphram and making it hard to breath which makes it hard for me to get anything done =(. But there are no more boxes in the Living room and Kitchen!!!! just a few in Alexander's room (now that we got his dresser in and all put together that will change) And I still have to put together Gavin's stuff for his room but that wont take me to long... Just have to set up the crib and get his dresser!!!  

one month closer to deployment

Its March.... 

That means the baby is due in only 2 short months =)) But it also means deployment is right around the corner   =((.   There is a part of me that is ready to get this deployment going already, just because once they are gone they will be gone for a set amount of time and we wont have to deal with the bullshit schedules and under ways... But he leaves when Gavin is very little and wont be home until he is already crawling =(  [so to say] but once this deployment is over he may not have to do another one on this ship. So that is a plus!!!  

We have so much we want to get done before "D" day and so little time to do it because of the wonderful schedule they are under =((. Luckily we get one more weekend off before they start the 6 day work weeks. And HOPEFULLY we go through one of them and he will have leave for a week while my family is here =)) And that will be his "pre-deployment" leave since they are getting pom leave this time =( [which is total bullshit but whatever cant change it]  but once again that puts it at around a year or longer before he sees his family, but thats not our fault. 

Hopefully this deployment goes smoothly without any extentions so he will be home to see his first baby turn 3 and his second's first Christmas. Those are things you cant get back but also things he knew he might miss when he enlisted.  Luckily we love to take pictures so no matter what he misses he will be able to see it. 

This is a hard life and if you dont like what i have to say then dont read my blog... this is my vent!!! 

Its been a LONG month already... It feels like it should be the end of the month by now. But thank gosh its not!!!! I still have most of the house to pack up, before our move. Moving is such a PAIN in the butt!!!! Packing/unpacking its a lot of work, especially taking care of a 2 year old and being 28 weeks pregnant. Anthony isn't a helper at all, lol. He just randomly shoves things in boxes and doesn't care. But this time I am going through everything and packing ONLY what I want to keep and everything else is going in the garbage! (easy way to do spring cleaning though) 


Only a few more weeks before I can start setting up Gavin's room, well start ordering everything to set it up!!!! I am so excited, It feel weird saying that we are going to have to boys but it makes our family more complete =)). 


My parents and brother's will be here in a little over a month, so i have to get everything unpacked rather quickly at our new house, A LOT faster then I am packing, lol.  My goal is to have all the pictures and decorations taken down by the end of the week. I've already started that so It shouldn't take me to long. 


Hopefully Anthony has called the housing office and we can pick up the keys Friday instead of Tuesday and then we can start moving in sooner =)) It would be great if we can get everything out of here in one weekend and then I can unpack while he is at school and come clean this place up after he gets home. 
Well off to start cleaning/packing =)) 

Baby Gavin will be here in around 14 weeks =)) I am so excited to have another little one!  I am semi scared to see how Alexander takes not getting all the attention but I think he will deal with it just fine.  

I have had to do so much shopping in the last week its ridiculous. Alexander needed an entire word robe because he out grew his 2T's in length this time not because he is a chunk. He if finally getting taller!! And I have been slowly starting on Gavin shopping. Since we are moving I don't want to get a lot of stuff and then have to pack it all up and move it in a couple weeks. (Our move date is in 26 days)!!! 

I am so ready to get moved! A house with our own back yard!! And able to have animals without breaking us with pet fees! PLUS we will be monitored by security patrol 24hours a day. That's nice to know especially since we have a deployment coming up again...  Unfortunately its only a little bit longer then the time Gavin should be here. 

It has been a long month already!!! and its only 1/2 over =((!!!! 


It all started on December 30th. My father in-law passed away in his sleep sometime during the morning. We are still unsure how he died and it really makes it harder to understand.  But my husband is an only child so we had to do EVERYTHING... luckily he has a great family and his Unlce and Grandma took care of a lot and/or are helping us take care of things.  
But we got home on December 26th, just to turn around and go back to Iowa on December 31st. We spent 10 more days getting as much as we could taken care of. Which was nice being able to see family that much but it was very unfortunate circumstances..
Now back in Virginia, we have started the wonderful pre-deployment schedule. But I am sooo not looking forward to ANY OF IT!!!  


Alexander has not adjusted to having Daddy at work again =(( I dont like it much either but its harder for a 2 year old to adjust then it is for me.  My baby has grown so much!!! He is now in the 75% for his height and weight!!!  He weighed about 33lbs and was about 36 inches tall when we had his 2 year check!
Gavin is growing and moving like he is suppose to. I go for my diabetes test toamrrow and I HOPE I do not have diabetes!!! That would cause so many more problems!! 




We are moving in about a month, to base housing. I finally decided on base because we dont have any bills to worry about other then cable and our cell phones. everything else is paid for, by our BAH. which is what we are paying now anyways. THe biggest plus for me is NOOO STAIRS and we will have a drive way!  That makes it so much easier with 2 kids and groceries while the hubby is deployed again.