Thailand 1 (the resort)

Sorry it's dimly lit... I didn't think to turn the lights on... But here is a slice of our room!
Very comfy bed. They put fresh orchids in the bathroom everyday too.
A picture of The Spa. Cliff and I got massages together one night (he opted for the tension relief? and I got another pregnancy massage.) It was incredibly romantic. They escorted us back down this winding raised teak wood path to our own little hut and first washed our feet in warm water with flowers in it and then proceeded with the HEAVENLY massages. I went back for a pedicure later in the week.
Part of one of the three? lobbies. All of them were open air.
View of the grounds with the ocean and beach access in the background.
Another view with the sea in the background.
Beach access down the way.
More of the grounds.
Another shot of The Spa and the surrounding hills
Hills that surrounded one side of the hotel.
Another Spa shot.
The first day we got there it was a little cloudy. It was actually kind of nice... it was cooler.
Looking down at one of the many pools from our balcony.

28 week photo shoot

There she is!! She actually looks like a babies!! And you can see her little hand under her face :)

This one is a little shadowy but you can still make out half of her face.


So Cliff and I went down to Yokosuka for another ultrasound today to check the progress of my placenta. The bad news is that it hasn't really moved at all, but the good news is that we got some GREAT pictures of Lilia! The lady that was operating the computer was having so much fun with it. We got to see her yawning and swallowing and every I would feel her move I would see it on the screen too! I nearly passed out halfway through... which was a little rough, but I think that was due to the temperature of the room, the fact that I was on my back, and my very very full bladder. Overall, though it was a lot of fun to be able to see her so well and it looks like I will be back for more as my doctors continue to monitor things.

Other info we got from the session - she is measuring at about 2 lbs 13 oz. give or take 7 oz. and the measurements put her at about a week ahead of my due date which is what my last ultrasound said as well. I would not complain if she was a week or so early!

Pregnancy Update and Cliff is back!!

Cliff has been back since the 19th and I'm not gonna lie - it's pretty sweet having him around again. We went bowling the other night with our friends Mike, Chrissy, Josh, and Josh's little girl. We had a lot of fun! I had not bowled for years but I ended up winning!
Here's a creepy picture of Cliff trying to tickle me. Creepy Cliff!! Gotta love him. So do stripes make my belly look wider?
There's my handsome guy! He's been pretty busy at work since his return, but he still makes time to have lunch with me every day :)
And here I am in all my gigantic glory! I can't believe I still have until May 21st! I feel so big right now!

In other pregnancy news:
Baby Lilia is still kicking all of the time. I started doing those kick counts or whatever and she pretty much maxes out her kicks in just a couple of minutes. Even in her so-called "less active" states she is rolling and punching and throwing elbows. Cliff thinks it's pretty funny to feel her elbow or knee.

I have another ultrasound this week. Apparently my placenta was a little close to my cervix on the last ultrasound and my doctors want to monitor it. They said that it will probably move away before I get close to delivering, but they want to keep an eye on it just in case. Worst case scenario - it doesn't move and they may consider scheduling a c-section. This doesn't bother me in the least.

I've had another increase in my appetite and I have a feeling that any weight that I lost during the first 4 or 5 months is quickly being regained and then some. I still want fruit all of the time but I have acquired a bit of a sweet tooth lately as well.

I am still struggling with some round ligament pain, but anything beats barfing so I try not to complain. I have been getting muscle cramps in my legs too. Have any of you experienced this with your pregnancies? I've never had cramps in my leg like this before. They are extremely painful and just started a few weeks ago. Always at night.

I guess that's about it. Cliff and I leave for Thailand in about a week and I am SUPER excited to get away from this nasty rainy cold weather. Hope I fit into my swimsuits!!

TWO YEARS!!! ( More pictures than you ever wanted to see of us)

Right after we came out of the Temple :) Sealed for time and all eternity!
Me and my officer!
Our fairytale

He is still making me smile!!!
Sweating our faces off at another wedding.
In Portland for our first Christmas together
Anniversary cruise last year!
Livin' in Jax
The day he got his wings!! Officially a NAVAL AVIATOR!

Our anniversary is actually the 17th, but I was missing Cliff today and felt like blogging about our second anniversary early! I don't even know where to start! I really can't remember how I functioned in life before I met Cliff. It's really hard to remember what I did before him! So much has happened and changed in these short two years that we've been married. We've lived in Pensacola, Jacksonville, and are now living in Japan! We are expecting our first kiddo in just a few months! When I married Cliff I also married into the military which is something I absolutely NEVER dreamed would happen to me. I have to say, though... in a sort of twisted way I am really grateful for the military and what it has done to strengthen our relationship. Cliff and I truly depend on each other and we absolutely cherish the time that we have together. We have both learned to have a lot of faith, patience and trust. I am so proud of him and all that he has accomplished in his career already and in all the ways he inspires me as a righteous husband. He is the most selfless man I have ever met. I miss him so much when he is gone but had I to do it all over again - I WOULD IN A HEART BEAT!!!

He won't be home until Thursday, but stay tuned! To celebrate this anniversary we are going to...... THAILAND!!!

Finally done!!!

I finished the smaller curtains for my kitchen window about 6 MONTHS AGO! I decided today that it was about time I got the "dining room" curtains done. So yeah!! They're done!
Our kitchen/dining area is almost decorated to my satisfaction now. I still want to hang a big mirror or picture on the big empty wall, but it is definitely coming together. The rest of the house is another story for another day. I love the color scheme of this fabric, though. I think it really brings a little life to this sterile military housing. Not much I can do about the linoleum or flesh colored walls, but you do what you can.

Japanese attention to detail and sugar in general

Whether you are buying pearls from Mikimoto or chocolate from the local bakery/candy shoppe, everything in Japan is exquisitely wrapped and presented. We're talking intricate paper folding, little strings and ribbons everywhere, tissue, and itty bitty packages.
One of my English students always has a little gift for me around the holidays. This was for Valentine's day. According to her, just something small and simple.
Yum!! After taking pictures and appreciating the effort put into this little treat, I promptly ate it all in about 30 seconds...
Speaking of treats... I decorated cookies the other day at a friend's house. Her sugar cookie recipe is really wonderful. I might have to post it if I can duplicate her success.
Yeah, so I've had a bit of a sweet tooth lately.... This is a mandarin orange cake I made last week. The topping is crushed pineapple, frozen whipped topping and instant vanilla pudding. My blog is turning into a food blog... isn't it.... I thought I already had one of those, but oh well.

COW party a la Harry Potter

Chrissy, Atsuko, and Ayaka gettin' ready to party "Harry Potter" style in the V.I.P. rental house.
All of us in the midst of a very competitive game of Harry Potter "Scene It." It got a little intense....
Robyn's Harry Potter COW cake! Isn't it cute??
The lady of the hour.
COW presents anyone?
And of course.... a belly picture :) (I'm actually trying to hold my stomach in... not working so well)


So what is exactly is a COW party you ask? A COW party is given in honor of the new Commanding Officer's Wife (C.O.W.) sometime after a change of command. We had a change of command at Cliff's squadron right before Christmas. Anywhoodle, Robyn is our new "COW" and she is awesome! At these parties you typically get a cow themed gift for the C.O.'s wife or something else that she might like. They can be serious or ridiculous gifts. We saw a lot of both at this particular party. Robyn also loves Harry Potter, thus the theme and fun decorations.

I know I have mentioned this before, but I really love the wifes (and husband - we have a mouse (male spouse)) in our group. They are such a great group. With Cliff being gone for so long it has really helped to get out and do things and you never know what you're going to get when these ladies get together!