CFI - WOW this feels like an acomplishment!

This piece of paper may not mean much to you all but it represents the grace of God on this poor mortal. I am officially a Helicopter Flight Instructor. My brain has been overwhelmed with acronyms and lists and regulations for the past year and this was a test to see if any of it stuck. Thankfully it did and now I am allowed to pass on my knowledge. I haven't been doing it long enough to pass on wisdom. There are things I still must learn and relearn, but it now feels like I can relax for the first time in a long time. The relaxing will be short lived because now its really time to find a job and start paying back all this money I've spent. I have had a ton of support through all of this as well. Thank you to my great wife, our families and friends.

Half-way There!!

It's official, I'm 20 weeks along today! Definitely cause for celebration. Some weirdos keep requesting a belly pic...so here it is...let the fattiness begin! It's surprising how uncomfortable it already is. I can only imagine how great it'll be when I'm gigantic. Haha. I'm just happy to be feeling better, as of Friday I've gone a whole week without puking, yay! I made it half-way, I know I can survive the next 20 weeks. I hope they fly by! It is a little scary to think that we're half-way there though...we have a lot of preparation to do in the next few months, but I promised myself not to worry or think or plan until after George finishes school...which is very, very soon, by the way :) Here's to 20 more weeks of healthy fattiness, woot woot!

Ichabod's first video debut!

This is mostly for the grandparents - we got a DVD of the ultrasound. Our baby boy flexes his muscles, hides his face from the camera, is an exhibitionist, beats his heart 140 times a minute, weighs in at 11 oz, (it's hard to measure his length since he's mostly scrunched up) but approximately 9-11" long head to toe, yawns, sticks his little tongue out, has cute little hands and feet, etc. etc. We can't wait to meet this little guy!

Ichabod covering his face...it's a BOY!

Ichabod in 4D - it's a BOY!

Ichabod's heart beat ♥

Ichabod's foot and a yawn for the camera.

Ichabod baby's heart ♥

Ichabod's heart continued, and blood flow.

Ichabod's spine.

Ichabod's kidney blood flow.

Baby Ichabod

Happy Two Years :)

George and I are celebrating two amazing years together! It's strange to think that two years have gone by...time flies when you're having fun :) Since our actual anniversary fell on a Monday we celebrated the weekend before. On Friday after work we went to the Orlando Temple and then out to eat at Outback Steak House. We went there because we had a gift card to use, but we were pretty disappointed in the food. I didn't even finish my 6 oz. steak. I know what you're thinking...pregnant lady you don't even like food! Well since I'm not reliable, George didn't like his either. But it was pleasant to eat out with just the two of us, it seems like we haven't done that in a long time. We got a hotel that night just outside of Orlando so it'd be a short trip the next day to Blue Springs State Park. Florida has some amazing springs bubbling up from beneath. Manatees use them during the winter so it's off-limits to humans, but in the summer the manatees go elsewhere to play. The water was a refreshing 72F. The head spring bubbles up from 120' below and then flows down stream. It's so clear and beautiful...we spent a very relaxing day lazily tubing in the water, with a nice picnic break in the middle. We stopped for milk-shakes on the way home. It was delightful to get out and I felt good most of the day! I have to give props to George. I've been so busy with work and my church callings (and pregnancy) that I haven't had time for much else, so he planned everything for the weekend. He packed all our clothes, picnic foods, and booked the hotel. Pretty much all I had to do was get in the car. It was perfect and so relaxing!

The head spring - there is a hole beneath George that goes about 120' straight down, there were a few scuba divers that went to the bottom while we were there.

George lazily floating down Blue Springs.

I had to get a picture with us together. Our camera isn't water-proof, so here is one of us together...I'm just about 30' above George :)

I made this collage for our anniversary. Props to my brother, Mac, for building the frame. He actually made it for another painting we have, but until we get matting done it doesn't fit. I think it works nicely for our collage tho!

By far, the best and most exciting present this anniversary was finding out that Ichabod is a BOY!!! Now to just figure out some names and get ready for our cute bundle :) We are SO excited for this little baby to join our family. It was really fun seeing how excited George was with the news :) Beforehand we decided that if it was a girl I would teach an Albanian word to George each day for the rest of the pregnancy, but since it's a boy it looks like George will be teaching me Spanish! In just a few days I'll officially be 'half-way' YES!! We have a lot to look forward to in our lives with a baby boy on the way and a new career for George. We look forward to the adventure!

We ♥ Padres

My parents have been serving a mission for the past 18 months in West Virginia. They wrapped up their time there and came down to Florida for a little relaxation and visitation. They timed it pretty well, catching the last shuttle launch by Atlantis. It was wonderful to have their company in our home. I felt bad for being my pregnant self. I still like my rest and not my food. We had some great walk-talks and George got to take them up on a chopper ride. They visited the space center and we got in some great beach and pool time. George even taught my mom how to skim board! I tried it...not a good idea...maybe my center of gravity is changing?

The last launch for Atlantis - it actually lands this morning in an hour.

Dad & George at lift-off.

George showing off his skim-boarding skills.

Mom on the skim board, you go girl!!

The manatees showing off for us. There were about 10 of them eating on the edge of the river.

Mom & Dad taking an evening dip in our pool.

Lovely beach time! Thank you for making the trip down to see us. We LOVE you!!

On the pregnancy front...the past few days have been pretty good. The twelve weeks before that...not so good. I didn't know pregnancy could be so miserable. But recently I made it a whole week without puking, although it still happens occasionally. The nausea is there most of the time. We get to find out in less than two weeks whether a boy or girl will be joining our family. I put a poll up on the side bar if you want to vote. George still knows its a boy :) We've pre-named the baby Ichabod...much better than calling it "it" for now, don't you think? And I guess I'm showing, last week two strangers asked when I was due. Scrubs hide it pretty well tho :)

And on the school front...the last portion for CFI is taking more time/money than we thought, which stinketh. But after some bumps in the road George officially has an instructor and is flying as I type. We'll have a bonafide, certified, helicopter pilot instructor on our hands before we know it!