Our family experienced many firsts this weekend. Liam and I left the country for the first time. Sure we only went 2.5 hours north to Ottawa, Canada, but we had to pass through a border station where we had to declare things! Lucky for us we weren't carrying firearms or alcohol.

Gabe and I ate Vietnamese food for the first time and really enjoyed it. I expected it to be spicier and was pleasantly surprised that I was able to enjoy the flavor without a fire extinguisher close at hand.

I met my first internet friend. She is so sweet and nice. I really hope to see her again.

And, the reason for our trip, Gabe ran his first marathon! This has been a goal of his for a few years and now he has done it! I am so proud of him! I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story.






Daddy can't stress the importance of stretching enough!



Daddy is in the center of the picture in the green shirt waiting to start.


After the race started, Liam drove us to the halfway point. Okay, he actually just pretended to drive as we killed an hour or so in the car before walking to the halfway point.



Aftersuch an early start, it is only fair to expect a tired boy to get some rest wherever he can. In this case, it was on the street at the halfway mark of the race as we waited for Daddy to run by.


Liam did manage to wake up in time to hold the sign cheering Daddy on!


Halfway there!


Looking good at the finish line. 4 hours 32 minutes.


Liam and I are both very proud of Daddy. Other notable participants in the marathon were a guy who was trying to break the Guinness record for jumping rope continuously through a marathon (we got to see him finish) and 3 fire fighters that ran/walked in their gear for charity.

And Now it is Time for Math


Liam sleeps 9 hours each night. He passed out (just sleep) at 6pm last night trying to take a nap. He wouldn't wake up so we put him to bed. He got his usual night's sleep. You do the math.


He has 53 freckles at last counting. 2 months ago he didn't have any. How many freckles might he have in a month? You do the math.

We have been TTC since Liam was 6 months old. He will be 3 on June 15th with no sibling in sight. You do the math.

In the last week, I have gotten to congratulate 25 people on their pregnancies. 3 have conceived, had a baby, and are now pregnant again since I started TTC. So how many times could I have conceived a baby in the last 30 months? You do the math.

My SIL's OB told her she needed to get working on another baby because the clock is ticking. She is 4 years younger than I am so at what age should I have hung up my uterus? You do the math.

At some point during his deployment, my husband will get to come home for a 2 week R&R. What are the odds that his time home might actually fall around my fertile period? You do the math.

Extra Credit: Gabe gets a Friday and Monday off because of Memorial Day weekend. How many hours until my back-up gets home? You do the math! (good luck!)

A Fun Time was had by All

Last night, Gabe and I were honored to participate in a Dining Out (that is the *official* name of a Military Ball). There are few occassions in a woman's life where she gets to wear a formal dress, get her toes done, get her hair done, and go out with the most handsom man in the world for an evening of friendship, dinner, and dancing. Picture prom with a more grown-up (yet no less boisterous) crowd!

This military ball, at first glance, was no different than any other I have attended. Young soldiers looked a little uncomfortable all dressed up and anxiously tried act the part while trying not to pull on their bow ties or use the wrong fork. More experienced soldiers offered support and guidance when needed. Introductions and pleasantries were exchanged by all. The attire of the ladies ranged from elegant to inappropriate. Everyone secretly wondered who would be *the one* later in the evening. You know, the one whose clothes will become a hindrance during the course of the dancing. There was a happy buzz in the air. All in all, a military ball is like any other formal one might attend.

And then again, it is so very different. What other formal would open with a presentation of the Colors (for those non military folks, that means that a Color Guard marches in and places the American Flag in a place of honor)? There are three major things that truly set a military ball apart from just any formal.

First, there is a special table set to symbolize and remember the POW/MIA. I never fail to cry a this remembrance

Fallen Comrades Table

To remember those who answered the call, but for whatever reason, failed to return.
I would like to call your attention to the table in front of the room.

This table set for one is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his oppressors. Remember!

The tablecloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms. Remember!

The single rose displayed in a vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades-in-arms who kept the faith awaiting their return.
Remember!

The red ribbon tied so prominently on the vase is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn upon the lapel and breasts of thousands who bear witness to their unyielding determination to demand a proper accounting of our missing. Remember!

A slice of lemon is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter fate.
Remember!

There is salt upon the bread plate symbolic of the families’ tears as they wait.
Remember!

The glass is inverted, they cannot toast with us this night.
Remember!

The chair--the chair is empty--they are not here.
Remember!

Second, there is the mixing of the grog which is an amazingly nasty concoction of alcohol and inedibles that represent the unit's history. Last night's grog had rocks (symbolizing the mountain peaks on which the 10th Mountain Division has fought), molasses (produced in an area the unit has seen conflict), and all sorts of alcoholic beverages ranging from mai teis to German beer and Italian wine. Each ingredient is added by an established member of the unit with the last being added by the youngest soldier present to represent the hard work of the soldiers.

The third major difference between a military ball and a general formal is that once the dancing starts and the couples sway to the music, you know that each and every pair will be parted soon with no guarantees that they will ever be reunited. And yet these families choose to serve (and yes the whole family serves, in my opinion) because they feel called to protect our freedom which is not really free.

God bless each and every soldier and all who love him/her.






Don't we dress up nicely? gotta love a man in uniform.


This is my support group. We wives stick together to get through it all.


The infamous GROG.

Finding Myself

My good friend Sandy introduced me to Blogpatrol. There is no good reason for me to use blogpatrol beyond simple curiousity, but it is really fun to see how many people are reading my blog and, in some cases, how they found it.

At first, the only searches that hit my blog were for Legg Calves Perthes Disease. Today, however, the list is longer and more interesting.

For instance, I am the 7th hit if you search yahoo for "transverse curtain rods".

Other interesting search terms that have led people to this blog include "homemade pregnancy test" on both google and netscape; "mama say by ttc"; "toddler painful leg morning"; "my husband is moody and angry" (and I try not to write anything but good about my dh); "hyperfocused people"; and "blog etiquette linking".

Internet searches are an interesting animal altogether!

Happy Mother's Day

In my case it has truly been a great day so far. I got to sleep in a little bit extra, woke up to kisses and hugs from my little guy (who also managed to say Happy Mother's Day or something like it), and was greeted with beautiful cards and the most melodious of wind chimes. That was all before breakfast at a restaurant and a trip to Lowes to pick up some herbs, flowers, and flowerpots.

By lunchtime we had planted everything, hung the chimes, and played in the sandbox for a while. The weather is gorgeous and the day could not be more special.

To all the mothers and mothers to be out there, I hope you all have a day as special to you as mine has been to me.