Just to put it in perspective, the baby is about 3" long right now. It's so fascinating to think about those teeny tiny little fingers and toes!
I also wanted to add that I think seeing the heart beat was my favorite part- this little blob in the middle of the body fluttering away...
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
2nd Introduction of the Week... (drum roll please...)
I give you, ladies and gentlemen, the announcement you've all been waiting for: New Baby Fisher!!!
Yes yes, in six months or so Jon and I will be welcoming into the outside world our first child!
I had been waiting to post until we heard the heart beat- and today, we got much better- an ultrasound!
Our doctor was a really cool person- very laid back and personable, and she listened to all my questions and answered them thoroughly (at this point in the journey, I have only good things to say about Army medicine... I hope that keeps up!). When we heard the heart beat (which was enough to make my week in itself!), we also heard little thumps. "Did you hear that?" she asked, surprised- "that was the baby jumping!" She then went across the hall and pulled into the room an ultrasound machine! It was older, but nonetheless, it worked. (see first pic) She was amazed at how much the baby was moving and how well developed s/he is. She actually thought I may have been further along than I thought! So, she called down to the ultrasound tech, who said she could see me right then.
Even though we found out we're no further along than we thought, it was very cool to be able to get to use the nice machine this early- they ususally don't do it until 5 months! The ultrasound tech even noted that s/he is moving and jumping more than babies usually do at this stage. We got a lot of good shots, and I posted the two she printed out. You can't really see it in these, but in some of the pictures we could see the individual fingers and toes, as well as the brain, nose, and lips- and that was all without her even having to tell us what they were! (notice the difference between the two machines in the first and second pictures...) Looks like we're going to have a kicker on our hands!!
Yes yes, in six months or so Jon and I will be welcoming into the outside world our first child!
I had been waiting to post until we heard the heart beat- and today, we got much better- an ultrasound!
Our doctor was a really cool person- very laid back and personable, and she listened to all my questions and answered them thoroughly (at this point in the journey, I have only good things to say about Army medicine... I hope that keeps up!). When we heard the heart beat (which was enough to make my week in itself!), we also heard little thumps. "Did you hear that?" she asked, surprised- "that was the baby jumping!" She then went across the hall and pulled into the room an ultrasound machine! It was older, but nonetheless, it worked. (see first pic) She was amazed at how much the baby was moving and how well developed s/he is. She actually thought I may have been further along than I thought! So, she called down to the ultrasound tech, who said she could see me right then.
Even though we found out we're no further along than we thought, it was very cool to be able to get to use the nice machine this early- they ususally don't do it until 5 months! The ultrasound tech even noted that s/he is moving and jumping more than babies usually do at this stage. We got a lot of good shots, and I posted the two she printed out. You can't really see it in these, but in some of the pictures we could see the individual fingers and toes, as well as the brain, nose, and lips- and that was all without her even having to tell us what they were! (notice the difference between the two machines in the first and second pictures...) Looks like we're going to have a kicker on our hands!!
Monday, June 25, 2007
After over 2 years of "paper pregnancy"...
I am once again an aunt!! Josh (Jon's brother) and Amy are in China right now, picking up their daughter. They went to the orphanage earlier today (2am OUR time) and met their little Emma Mei! I am so happy for all of them! (it also happens to be Katelyn's birthday- what a great present!)
It has been a LONG road... When Jon & I were engaged, they had me babysit Katelyn, their other daughter, so that they could go to "meetings" in Grand Rapids. I wasn't sure what that was all about, but, being new to the family, I wasn't about to ask questions! Then, the same day that Jon left for Iraq, they told us of their hearts' pulling to adopt a little girl from China. I don't know about you, but that puts it in perspective for me how long ago it was! It seems like an eternity! It's been two years since they began the paperwork process- two and a half since they started attending the meetings.
Then, there was the perpetual "hurry up and wait"- with each piece of paperwork, each signature, each step of the way, it seemed like the process was taking longer and longer than anticipated. And, well, it was. They finally got their referral (including a picture of Emma) in December- I think these past 6 months have been the longest!
So here, without further ado, I present to you the newest member of our family: Emma Mei Shan Fisher.
It has been a LONG road... When Jon & I were engaged, they had me babysit Katelyn, their other daughter, so that they could go to "meetings" in Grand Rapids. I wasn't sure what that was all about, but, being new to the family, I wasn't about to ask questions! Then, the same day that Jon left for Iraq, they told us of their hearts' pulling to adopt a little girl from China. I don't know about you, but that puts it in perspective for me how long ago it was! It seems like an eternity! It's been two years since they began the paperwork process- two and a half since they started attending the meetings.
Then, there was the perpetual "hurry up and wait"- with each piece of paperwork, each signature, each step of the way, it seemed like the process was taking longer and longer than anticipated. And, well, it was. They finally got their referral (including a picture of Emma) in December- I think these past 6 months have been the longest!
So here, without further ado, I present to you the newest member of our family: Emma Mei Shan Fisher.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Musings, both random and not:
Here I sit, procrastinating doing my homework. The overhead light is on, trying to lull me into reading an essay about hypersexual black women. Can you blame me for procrastinating?
I am flipping back and forth between a rerun of Next Food Network Star and School of Rock. Both I have seen before. And yet, I have to say, this is a perfect Sunday evening. Well, save for the imminent assigned reading and subsequent essay...
Ooh... my life just got more interesting- Next Food Network Star just started a new episode, and they're making food for soldiers out of MREs! That's pretty cool.
Reading a few blogs of women whose husbands are at CH-BOLC (and one who is there herself) has made me reflect on our lives a bit...
As I mentioned the other day, I had my first lunch with the Ft. Stewart Chaplains' Wives this week. (Apparently, they didn't know I was here until recently- they all welcomed me to the area, and when they learned I had been here since January, apologized profusely. Eh well, whatareyagonnado? No one is perfect! :-) I did have a good time though. It's really neat to connect with women who have are on the opposite end of this journey- approaching retirement, having served for two decades. There are a couple that I want to be just like when I grow up!
Sometimes I wonder if I'm just in the honeymoon phase of Army life, if one day it will be so rote that I won't really even enjoy it. I hope not. Though I'm sure that in a few years I'll laugh at this, I feel like I have a good enough grasp of it right now to know I'll enjoy it. It won't always be what it is right now- there will be installations I hate, places where I just can't seem to connect with other wives... times when Jon won't be there...
But, I have learned to not dwell on the "What Ifs"- they will rip you apart. Right now, I'm happy to be where we are... and... right now, that's all that matters.
I am flipping back and forth between a rerun of Next Food Network Star and School of Rock. Both I have seen before. And yet, I have to say, this is a perfect Sunday evening. Well, save for the imminent assigned reading and subsequent essay...
Ooh... my life just got more interesting- Next Food Network Star just started a new episode, and they're making food for soldiers out of MREs! That's pretty cool.
Reading a few blogs of women whose husbands are at CH-BOLC (and one who is there herself) has made me reflect on our lives a bit...
As I mentioned the other day, I had my first lunch with the Ft. Stewart Chaplains' Wives this week. (Apparently, they didn't know I was here until recently- they all welcomed me to the area, and when they learned I had been here since January, apologized profusely. Eh well, whatareyagonnado? No one is perfect! :-) I did have a good time though. It's really neat to connect with women who have are on the opposite end of this journey- approaching retirement, having served for two decades. There are a couple that I want to be just like when I grow up!
Sometimes I wonder if I'm just in the honeymoon phase of Army life, if one day it will be so rote that I won't really even enjoy it. I hope not. Though I'm sure that in a few years I'll laugh at this, I feel like I have a good enough grasp of it right now to know I'll enjoy it. It won't always be what it is right now- there will be installations I hate, places where I just can't seem to connect with other wives... times when Jon won't be there...
But, I have learned to not dwell on the "What Ifs"- they will rip you apart. Right now, I'm happy to be where we are... and... right now, that's all that matters.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Personal Policies Meme
Sorry it's been so long... I'm just starting to recover from my two weeks away! Add to that having to move chapels (and childcare) for PWOC meeting yesterday, a Chapel budget meeting (at the same time as PWOC), a Chaplain's wives lunch today, and getting ready for some friends to come over tonight, it's continued to be busy! (having a pain in my hip so bad I could barely walk yesterday did NOTHING to help matters... fortunately I woke up today and it was gone!)
Anyhoo... Rachel, whose husband is currently at CH-BOLC (when Jon went it was CHOBC- either way, it's the Chaplain Officer School), tagged me a while back with a meme on personal policies. I gave it some thought and couldn't really come up with any, when my husband lovingly informed me that I am rather quirky and have a lot of "policies" that don't necessarily make sense... I still don't know WHAT in the world HE'S talking about... so here are a few I came up with:
1) ALWAYS CHECK THE DATE! I never drink milk or consume any dairy products that are even a day past the expiration date. Blech!
2) Speaking of milk, it goes with tomato-based foods. I don't know if you would really call it a policy per se, but I don't do any of that pop-with-pizza thing. Spaghetti, burritos, lasagna, pizza, etc- I always drink milk.
3) Spend an hour each morning on the internet, with the tv on, as "wake-up time." Yes. Policy. And don't even THINK about calling me during that time. If you do, I won't answer (for which you should be appreciative... suffice it to say I'm not the most friendly before I am fully woken up, at 10am... I think my former 1st- and 2nd-hour students would tell you that. In fact, my 2nd- hour class often commented that I was much more talkative and alert toward the end of class than the beginning. The class was from 9:05-9:55.)
4) Get up with Jon to have coffee each morning. Yep, I'm out of bed before 8 every day out of pure love for my husband. And 95% of the time I don't even go back to bed!
5) Never blog anything I wouldn't want my grandmother to read. Not that either of my grandmothers even read my blog (though both of my husband's do...), but this is just a good reminder...
6) Never leave my house in sandals without my toenails painted. 'Nuf said.
7) Always, Always, ALWAYS make sure my keys are in my hand when I lock the car door. That horrific 6-month period when I was engaged and newly married I think I locked my keys in my car at least once a month. (The worst being the time that I had just gone to WalMart and had FOUR replacement keys made- you know, to keep in different locations so I would never be without. Immediately after leaving WalMart, I went to get gas... and wouldn't you know it, locked all five keys in the truck.)
That's all I can think of for now. I'm supposed to tag 5 people, but to make it easy, we'll go with my fellow familial bloggers: Jon, Josh, Amy, and Dad. And for the 5th, any of you who blog who feel so inclined- you're it too! :-)
Anyhoo... Rachel, whose husband is currently at CH-BOLC (when Jon went it was CHOBC- either way, it's the Chaplain Officer School), tagged me a while back with a meme on personal policies. I gave it some thought and couldn't really come up with any, when my husband lovingly informed me that I am rather quirky and have a lot of "policies" that don't necessarily make sense... I still don't know WHAT in the world HE'S talking about... so here are a few I came up with:
1) ALWAYS CHECK THE DATE! I never drink milk or consume any dairy products that are even a day past the expiration date. Blech!
2) Speaking of milk, it goes with tomato-based foods. I don't know if you would really call it a policy per se, but I don't do any of that pop-with-pizza thing. Spaghetti, burritos, lasagna, pizza, etc- I always drink milk.
3) Spend an hour each morning on the internet, with the tv on, as "wake-up time." Yes. Policy. And don't even THINK about calling me during that time. If you do, I won't answer (for which you should be appreciative... suffice it to say I'm not the most friendly before I am fully woken up, at 10am... I think my former 1st- and 2nd-hour students would tell you that. In fact, my 2nd- hour class often commented that I was much more talkative and alert toward the end of class than the beginning. The class was from 9:05-9:55.)
4) Get up with Jon to have coffee each morning. Yep, I'm out of bed before 8 every day out of pure love for my husband. And 95% of the time I don't even go back to bed!
5) Never blog anything I wouldn't want my grandmother to read. Not that either of my grandmothers even read my blog (though both of my husband's do...), but this is just a good reminder...
6) Never leave my house in sandals without my toenails painted. 'Nuf said.
7) Always, Always, ALWAYS make sure my keys are in my hand when I lock the car door. That horrific 6-month period when I was engaged and newly married I think I locked my keys in my car at least once a month. (The worst being the time that I had just gone to WalMart and had FOUR replacement keys made- you know, to keep in different locations so I would never be without. Immediately after leaving WalMart, I went to get gas... and wouldn't you know it, locked all five keys in the truck.)
That's all I can think of for now. I'm supposed to tag 5 people, but to make it easy, we'll go with my fellow familial bloggers: Jon, Josh, Amy, and Dad. And for the 5th, any of you who blog who feel so inclined- you're it too! :-)
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
My week
Wow! What a week and a half! Rachel over at nothinggold.net tagged me for a meme... but after seeing what it was I think I'm going to have to contemplate it a little! So... once I get wireless at more than Panera, I shall attend to that. For now, here are some highlights from our trip thus far:
~ Getting to spend some time at my parents (and having a great Mexican meal!)- I'm headed back there tomorrow
~ Hanging out at Jon's dad's... never a boring experience, as some of you well know! Zachary even planned a picnic in the backyard for us all (he set up the table and chairs and everything!), and after finally getting the grill assembled, we had a great picnic. I think my favorite part was when he started getting on our case because we needed to help him clean up because it was going to rain. He was quite urgent in letting us know that the rain was coming and we needed to hurry... of course, we didn't... until no more than two minutes later when we started getting wet...
~ Seeing some of the history of downtown Benton Harbor with Jon's brother Ben as our tour guide. It is actually quite sad the way the town has fallen.
~ Getting together with my siblings and their kids for dinner Thursday. I had been looking forward to the lasagna for days, and it didn't let me down!
~ Doing the same thing the next night with Jon's side. We ended the evening with a bonfire and had a great time!
~ Getting to connect with some friends from Pine Ridge Bible Camp (where I worked for several years) while Jon went golfing with his brothers
~ Pete and Gina's wedding!!! I remembered to bring my camera... unfortunately, I left it in the car and didn't get any pictures... doh! It was such an honor being able to help out with the ceremony, and I couldn't be happier for them as they begin their new life!!
~ Going to church at Kent City... ah... like a breath of fresh air...
~ Okok, so the worst part was sending Jon back down home... all good things must come to an end...
~ That night I went to Andrea's and hung out with her and the girls- Lila beat me at Chutes and Ladders, and Iris was busy busy busy packing for her first camp experience!
~ Monday I spent all day on a trip down Memory Lane with Sara and Beth. They put a ton of work into planning the day for me, and it was really cool. We went to a ton of our old haunts and reminisced as we visited each. Though my life has really moved on since most of those places, it was cool being able to spend that time with them, as they have transcended my high school life and are still a part of it.
~ Staying up way past my bedtime with Matt (my brother) and Carrie that night... And seeing the boys in their element on their new slide and with their trucks!
~ Getting together with most of my mom's side of the family last night and this morning. I was able to write a lot of family history from my grandparents, which was really neat. I look forward to being able to pass it on to my kids!
That's it for now... I still have a couple more stops before I take off on Saturday...
Until next time!
~ Getting to spend some time at my parents (and having a great Mexican meal!)- I'm headed back there tomorrow
~ Hanging out at Jon's dad's... never a boring experience, as some of you well know! Zachary even planned a picnic in the backyard for us all (he set up the table and chairs and everything!), and after finally getting the grill assembled, we had a great picnic. I think my favorite part was when he started getting on our case because we needed to help him clean up because it was going to rain. He was quite urgent in letting us know that the rain was coming and we needed to hurry... of course, we didn't... until no more than two minutes later when we started getting wet...
~ Seeing some of the history of downtown Benton Harbor with Jon's brother Ben as our tour guide. It is actually quite sad the way the town has fallen.
~ Getting together with my siblings and their kids for dinner Thursday. I had been looking forward to the lasagna for days, and it didn't let me down!
~ Doing the same thing the next night with Jon's side. We ended the evening with a bonfire and had a great time!
~ Getting to connect with some friends from Pine Ridge Bible Camp (where I worked for several years) while Jon went golfing with his brothers
~ Pete and Gina's wedding!!! I remembered to bring my camera... unfortunately, I left it in the car and didn't get any pictures... doh! It was such an honor being able to help out with the ceremony, and I couldn't be happier for them as they begin their new life!!
~ Going to church at Kent City... ah... like a breath of fresh air...
~ Okok, so the worst part was sending Jon back down home... all good things must come to an end...
~ That night I went to Andrea's and hung out with her and the girls- Lila beat me at Chutes and Ladders, and Iris was busy busy busy packing for her first camp experience!
~ Monday I spent all day on a trip down Memory Lane with Sara and Beth. They put a ton of work into planning the day for me, and it was really cool. We went to a ton of our old haunts and reminisced as we visited each. Though my life has really moved on since most of those places, it was cool being able to spend that time with them, as they have transcended my high school life and are still a part of it.
~ Staying up way past my bedtime with Matt (my brother) and Carrie that night... And seeing the boys in their element on their new slide and with their trucks!
~ Getting together with most of my mom's side of the family last night and this morning. I was able to write a lot of family history from my grandparents, which was really neat. I look forward to being able to pass it on to my kids!
That's it for now... I still have a couple more stops before I take off on Saturday...
Until next time!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Leaving on a Jet Plane...
(Because of my "gift" for remembering trivial statistics and dates,) I just figured out that Jon and I have been to the airport 14 times, dropping the other off or picking the other up. Fourteen times. (That doesn't even include saying goodbye in a field when he deployed- or hello in a parking lot when he redeployed.)
You know how many times we have actually BOTH gotten on the plane and gone to the same place? Zero. For all those trips to the airport, one of us has always traveled alone.
Talk about a long-distance relationship.
Yes, this coming Monday is quite a big event. We are going to the airport WITHOUT having to say goodbye! (though... he will be coming home a week before me, but since his brothers will be taking him to the airport, we won't count it...)
You know how many times we have actually BOTH gotten on the plane and gone to the same place? Zero. For all those trips to the airport, one of us has always traveled alone.
Talk about a long-distance relationship.
Yes, this coming Monday is quite a big event. We are going to the airport WITHOUT having to say goodbye! (though... he will be coming home a week before me, but since his brothers will be taking him to the airport, we won't count it...)
Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away...
We have had a lovely morning.
I was awakened by Jon tapping on my forehead with one finger. "Listen..." He said.
Ah yes. The glorious sound of rain rhythmically dropping on the roof. I have not heard that sound in months. We have been in a pretty serious drought here- indicated by the wildfires- so this is very welcomed rain.
We enjoyed our Saturday morning tradition of pancakes (made by Jon) and watched a romantic comedy. Or, as Jon would call it, death by a thousand small needles. Either way.
It is now 2:15 in the afternoon and still raining heavily. It even smells like rain.
To top it off, we leave for the great North on Monday... my mind is swirling with thoughts of seeing family and friends again- including the wedding of some good friends that has been years in the making!
What a great Saturday.
I was awakened by Jon tapping on my forehead with one finger. "Listen..." He said.
Ah yes. The glorious sound of rain rhythmically dropping on the roof. I have not heard that sound in months. We have been in a pretty serious drought here- indicated by the wildfires- so this is very welcomed rain.
We enjoyed our Saturday morning tradition of pancakes (made by Jon) and watched a romantic comedy. Or, as Jon would call it, death by a thousand small needles. Either way.
It is now 2:15 in the afternoon and still raining heavily. It even smells like rain.
To top it off, we leave for the great North on Monday... my mind is swirling with thoughts of seeing family and friends again- including the wedding of some good friends that has been years in the making!
What a great Saturday.
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