Suspense

It has come to my attention that there are some people living in corn fields in the middle part of our great nation (ahem, Liz) has spent her evening refreshing her browser on the blog, so I figured I would get something up here before I head off to sleep...

Get ready for a huge let-down to that suspense there pal...

I have a deep post that I am working on to come up here soon....but am drawing a blank, so just random stream-of-consciousness to get it out there tonight.

• Took a run up to my parents' house in NoVa for the night.  I needed a haircut and Trevor didn't have a soccer game, so I wanted to get out of town while I had the chance.  
• I haven't lived at home with my parents in over ten years....and yet the nighttime sounds here are the most comforting sounds in the world.  You'd think that after being away for so long I would have gotten used to it.  
• When I got Olivia's sound machine, I was super happy to find a cricket/wind/trees noise that she sleeps with on at night.  It is the closest I have ever heard to what nighttime sounds like in Lake Ridge.
• Traditional white noise freaks me out.  I blame the movie....
• I haven't been to the movies since.....well, it has been a long time.  Wait, I take that back...Shane and I saw Safe Haven back in March.  Before that, the last movie I saw was Nights in Rodanthe.  
• Looks like my movie preferences have a Nicholas Sparks theme.  Did you know his books are mostly set in the Wilmington, NC area?  And that Safe Haven was filmed in Southport, where we spend time each summer when we go down to the condo at Kure Beach?  Yeah, yeah...random information.  
• There is a not-so-tiny four and a half year old snuggling up to me wanting me to go to sleep.  Yes I know it is almost 10pm....but we are at Grammy's house, and the rules are always different (and more fun) at Grammy's.  
• It took me over four hours to get here today....ugh.  Four hours in a car makes me a cranky person.  Cranky and tired.  
• Tired....yep.  Time for bed.  

Goodnight everyone.  Three posts down.....not too shabby for me sticking to it!  

And since I am drawing a blank....I am taking suggestions for post topics to get me through this whole one post a day until Homecoming thing....Anyone?  Any reasonable suggestions accepted!  Leave a comment and your suggestion!  

Olivia Renee: two months 9.26.2013

Olivia Renee at two months.....

We have finally found our stride.  You have a nice little schedule going on and I have gotten my act in gear to stick to it and keep you happy.  You love to snuggle and have tons of smiles to share.  Your personality shines through every moment of the day....even when you sleep, hence the photo above.

Two Month Well Baby Stats:  10lbs 6oz.  22inches long.

Challenges....

We are in the final days of deployment....which is fabulous.  It also means that every clock in my house has started to tick a little slower as my anticipation for Shane's return grows.  In an effort to make the time go by faster I am challenging myself to do a couple of things between now and his return.  This should speed up the ticking clocks for me (hopefully) and maybe provide some entertainment for you (again, another hope!)  So, here we go...between now and Shaner's return, I challenge myself to:

--Blog.  Every day between now and homecoming.  Even if it is just an adorable photo of the kiddos.  One post a day.
--Hot for Homecoming!  Yes, that is right...I am not satisfied with the 30lbs I am already down.  I can do better.  So, running (with my fab new stroller!) and the 30 Day Shred between now and then.  I should finish the 30DS shortly before Shane gets home, so yeah....hot for homecoming.  Here we go.
--Say "Thank You."...These last umpteen months have stretched me to near my breaking point, and without the help and support of countless people, I would not be here today, wiser and stronger than I was when I stood on the pier waving goodbye back in March.  Between now and when Shaner comes home.  I need to say Thank You to everyone....so, be on the look out for surprise texts, cards and calls from me....you all know who you are.  


...because if deployment isn't a challenge in and of itself, it takes a challenge (or three) to get you through to the end.

Thankful Thursday 9.12.2013

I know that everyone on instagram and Facebook are all about some Throwback Thursday action....Thank the Good Lord, there is not much digital photographic evidence from yester-year that I have in my possession--high school wasn't a cute phase for me...so I am never able to partake. (and dear friends from long ago, no need to share anything that you might have...let's have the photos from the past stay there haha)

That said, I just finished my first week back in the office and in the past three days, I have realized how much I have to be thankful for and that even in the most frustrating of moments, I am blessed beyond measure.  So, I am going to force myself to post at least once a week on Thursdays (or on Friday morning...or something) to recap my week and make sure that I note all of the positive that I have encountered that week.  Sometime in the future, I am sure that "Thankful Thursdays"  will involve Shane being home as part of the recap, but until then, I have to find the bright side in everything....

So, for this week I am thankful:

• that my first week back in the office, my coworkers didn't take it easy on me.  I didn't want to be treated any different because I was back in the office post-baby with said baby in tow.  Get me into a routine, and get me in fast!  I love what I do, and being able to do it immediately upon my return has been fabulous!
• While in the office this week, Olivia settled into a sweet little routine....she'd fall asleep after being up at home while we drove into Norfolk, slept until 11 in the office, would eat, hang out and "chat" with me at my desk until about 1 and then be ready to snuggle up and head back to sleep until we left for pick up at Trevor's school.  We are still working on naptime in our crib at home, but that will come eventually!
• Last night I was able to hang out with some ladies from Shaner's ship that have become good friends, and a nice sarcastic sounding board for the joys of deployment.  Ah, it has been a fun ride, hasn't it ladies?
• That Trevor has taken to going back to school well and is doing so much better now that he has a routine that doesn't revolve around Olivia.  
• For the "new lease on life" that I feel like I have now that I have had Olivia and have dropped--get this--30 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight.  I haven't been this weight since college, before Shaner and I got married.  I feel amazing (even with the lack of sleep and the chaos of two kiddos on my own) and I couldn't be more thankful for this second chance at a healthy lifestyle...and I plan to take full advantage of it.
• ...that tomorrow is Friday and I am going to my parents' house for the weekend.  

and just for fun....maybe I do have one throwback photo for you:  

Junior Prom 2002.  My apologies Liz, deep, deep apologies.  

First Day of School: 4 Year Old Edition

Trevor had his first day of school on Wednesday.  This is his third year at West Ghent (love this school!) and this year he is in the Bear (4 year old class).

When did my little boy grow up and become this tall non-toddler child?  I must have been sleeping (oh wait, we don't do that anymore at casa de chapman!)

Olivia Renee: One Month Old

and big brother hasn't asked to send her back yet.  success?

Trevor Meets Olivia

OK, so I know that this post is long overdue, but taking care of two kiddos on my own?  It is a lot of work y'all....so behind is where I am, and probably where I will stay for the forseeable future.

Later in the evening after Olivia was born, Matt and Chase brought Trevor up to the hospital to meet Olivia.  Trevor was immediately in awe of his little sister and even though we have had some issues with being too rough, we are working on it now.  Olivia is going to have to be a tough girl to make it through being Trevor's little sister....