A little girl & A lot of love

It's been a while since I last updated, actually it's only been a little over two weeks.  That seems so unreal to me because it feels like forever ago I sat at the computer typing up this post on my due date discussing our options about our little girl's birth.  A lot changed.  We pretty much knew we were going to do a c-section that day.  It was the safest option for our baby so there really was no other choice to my way of thinking but we took the weekend to think about it like the doctor said to.  Monday we went in and find out there was another problem via an ultrasound, it looked like our little lady would have shoulder dystocia which made things a bit more serious and just confirmed that we were making the right choice in going with a c-section.  It all happened very fast though.   Suddenly the doctor was saying 'all right well let's schedule you right now' and the nurse said Friday but my doctor intervened and said before that so we decided on Wednesday...it was Monday it all seemed to be happening so fast!  So then I went over to the hospital for some blood work and husband drove over to sit with my mom and aunt while they waited for me right before I went in for the blood work I was called to the front desk apparently there was a phone call for me I couldn't imagine what that was about it turns out it was the secretary from the doctor's office saying they were moving my c-section to Tuesday...uhm what?...that's tomorrow!  I had to ask the lady to repeat herself I really did.  I was in total shock after that.  My husband looked like he was going to cry he was so happy...I thought I was going to throw up.  It was so real so fast!  Fast forward to the next day, we got to the hospital around 11 and before I knew it we were in the Maternity ward and I was meeting 'my nurse' Lyndsey *who was amazing and the Nursery Nurse named Celeste was also fantastic I will post about those ladies and my doctor later!* , after some trouble getting my IV in *I ended up having to have it in my wrist* my family started to pour in I had about 15 people there not including my husband, myself, and the nurses.  My doctor came in, I met my anesthesiologist and it was time to go and get my spinal *which was the part I was the most nervous for* walking into the OR was so weird it was cold and sterile and I really thought I was going to pass out at that point.  They had some trouble with my spinal and I ended up having more medication than normal them trying to give me my spinal actually took longer than the Cesarian itself.  I'm very thankful I didn't have to be put all the way out though, then my doctor came in and the ball started rolling suddenly the drugs kicked in and I was Gone I felt very nauseous but the anesthesiologist took care of that quickly enough then they brought my husband in and suddenly I was thinking "I'm open on the other side of this curtain...weird" I didn't let myself talk to him or anything I just sat there and did some thinking.  The weirdest part was actually feeling it when they took the baby out all the pressure and weight was just lifted out of me.  The doctor said "here she is and look her eyes are already wide open!" *then I also heard "Man look at that placenta!" ...that's nice lol* they cleaned her up and laid her directly on my face which I honestly loved every second of.  My husband was right there by my face as well and I just got to feel her and hear her little cry she even put her little fingers in my mouth I honestly felt like I was absorbing her into my heart it was a magical moment *that I actually have a photo of thanks to the anesthesiologist that I'll share later* and I will never forget a second of it.  Abigail Nancy Dianna Lester was born on February 12th 2013 at 2:37pm and weighed 8lbs and 9oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.

True Love

My husband and I woke up this morning to the irritating alarm blaring, he turned it off and crawled back in bed and we both just stayed under the covers deciding to lay there for a few more minutes before getting up and getting him off to work.  He came up behind me and pulled me close and said "come here and let me hold my girls before I gotta go" and he wrapped his arms around me *and my ever growing 37 weeks pregnant belly* and rubbed my stomach and we just stayed like that for a bit.  Little moments like that I want to remember forever and so I figured I should do a little post about it, just for me really to make sure I never forget.  Sometimes I think the best memories are the ones you aren't able to capture with a camera.

I've been kicked out

...of my house.  Because apparently paint fumes aren't good for pregnant women.  Which I totally get and I want the absolute best for my little one but I'm having a darn hard time letting go.  You see we're in the process of painting our room.  And it sucks.  I want to be in there taping things off and painting like a crazy woman to get it all done!  But unfortunately I cannot.  And even more unfortunate, my husband can't paint worth a darn.  And I mean that in a loving way.  You see my father and mother have always told me that in every marriage there is one who is a good painter and the other is usually a spazzy slob.  And my darling dearest is the spazziest and slob doesn't even cover it.

So in the Lester household we are currently

 Under Construction

it really sucks being sent out of my house.  I want to help so badly.  It is frustrating and overwhelming.  But I'm trying really hard not to discourage him and point out the spots he's missed or where he's laying it on much to thick.  I'm trying to just have faith it'll come together in the end.  But today husband and I decided Picasso needed a little break.  

So I'm patiently waiting for this room to come together.  And trying not to shoot the man I love and hopefully I'm going to be able to start working on some other projects now to keep me busy and from constantly going out and checking up on him and the painting and all that.

See I just wanted to share the photographic evidence of my husband's severe lack of painting skills.  In other news I'm really thrilled with the color we picked to cover up the weird blue-gray color.

...look how  proud he looks..ugh.

My Baby Love

So my appointment yesterday went well, no problems.  I haven't gained any weight...at all.  And I have a good size baby bump going now...the doctor knowingly touched my stomach and said "oh sweetie that's all baby" this is the woman who delivered me, and my 4 brothers.  She knows how big we all were.  I was 9 1/2 pounds...and I was about 3 weeks early.  And then she asked about Stephen and how much he weighed when he was born...he was 10lbs.  The doctor just patted my arm again knowingly and said "well Marie if it comes out at 6lbs we're gonna have to ask who the real father is" *my doctor is hilarious and that is just something she would say I really love her* the heartbeat was perfect, our baby is now to big to fit on the one screen so we have to see different shots to get the whole picture.  She wasn't going to do a sonogram but Stephen was there for the first time and she thought he should see what he helped make *I'm pretty sure his chest puffed out with male pride at this point* and it was amazing to see my husband melt right before my eyes like I knew he would.  He squeezed my hand and a couple tears ran down his handsome face.  The love that was radiating off of him was amazing.  I couldn't take my eyes off him and he didn't take his eyes off the screen.  The doctor printed us out two new pictures and he stared at them the whole way home.  Commenting on how our baby takes the BEST pictures, and he is convinced the little one is going to have my native-american-high-cheek-bones...and not his chipmunk ones...he can just tell apparently.  So at our next appointment I'll be 19 1/2 weeks, we have two appointments that day the first with Dr.Howen who will be doing the sonogram where they check out the kidneys, brain, spine, heart chambers, etc. and of course they should be able to tell the sex.  The reason Dr.Howen is doing it and not Dr.Carrol is apparently he has a better machine, a certificate, and has taken all the special classes required.  He is the doctor that delivered my cousins actually, and he has a special place in my heart because in the beginning of our pregnancy we were worried the baby wasn't ok and maybe something was wrong...he did the sonogram and checked it out and spent a wonderfully, caring amount of time to make sure everything was right and I'll never forget him saying the words 'well we've got us a heart beat'.  So the next appointment will be a little nerve wracking as well, but it's all in God's hands which is exactly where I want it and where it need to be...so doesn't that work out well?  In other news I have NO pants. Aside from exercise pants and yoga pants I mean.  So God bless my grandparents they just wrote me a check and said get some maternity pants.  I held out as long as I could.  So I'm not just 'maternity' now I am 'Maternity plus' which makes sense because I'm plus size anyway.  But I found a great online store called Motherhood it's not only plus size it's all maternity but it's not crazy over priced and shipping on anything is only 6 bucks...I'll take it!  So that's life as of now on the baby front!  Later I'll do an update on husband's birthday and our room over-haul!  Have a blessed day!

A Catch up post

 Via

Well the last few days have been all kinds of fun, busy, and disturbingly Hot!  Apparently this weekend will be the hottest we've had in 6 years!  I can't even imagine, since becoming pregnant my tolerance for hot weather *which has never been very good I'm a fall/winter/spring girl all the way* has pretty much gone down to Zero. 

 Via

Well Wednesday was just about the best girls day Ever and I am completely and totally sure of that because I enjoyed myself So much I forgot to take Any pictures, seriously not one I don't even think I pulled out my phone.  It started out with mom and I getting ready and husband bringing us burger king breakfast *can you say guilty pleasure?* then we headed over to my aunt Dianna's house and we all piled in her van after hugging and laughing *when we're together we sound like the witches from Macbeth cackling and stuff except we sound like we've also been smoking for 40+ years when none of us has ever smoked lol* and oohing and ahhing over each others clothes and hair and what not.  We then went to a quick lunch to Strings for some awesome Italian food and as usual great service *I am there to much the waitress had no problem touching my stomach as soon as we told her I was pregnant and telling me to bring sonogram pictures next time* after completely Stuffing ourselves we got to our real destination the little beauty supply store that also sells Miche Bags it turns out Miche is going back to only parties and online sales so everything was 40% Off we were sooo excited we each ended up getting a purse and a cover at a crazy good bargain!  I have to say a HUGE thank you to my mommy who got me mine she is so sweet!

This is a really bad picture of my Miche with the cover on, I Love it!  A better one will come!

Then we went to a book store, thrift store, walmart and did a little shopping, Kmart, then Lowes to get me an Air Conditioner *because ya know I'm a grown up now* after that we decided to drive an extra hour just to see a movie!  We got there in plenty of time to get movie snacks like nachos, popcorn, and soda.  And saw the most amazing movie, it was so sweet and so good!  Perfect for any married couple, girls our with their friends, or anyone who is likes to see a real marriage portrayed and see what it takes to keep a real marriage going we saw the film...

Hope Springs

 

Via 

Another amazing Meryl Streep movie and Tommy Lee Jones was as fabulous as always!  Steve Carrell was hilarious and just perfect for the part he played.  You laughed, you maybe cried, you walked away touched with a perfect sense of what real Love is.  That it's not just fuzzy feelings and chemistry, it's hard work, forgiveness, respect, listening, and most of all commitment.  Not just commitment not to cheat or do someone wrong but commitment to work through any problem or obstacle that comes your way.

 

We ended the night with a couple quick stops at Marshalls and Ross, it was an amazing laughter filled day and night with my two best friends ♥

Via

Now today my dad and my husband are hooking up our brand new air conditioner and thoroughly destroying my house...but that's ok lol anything to help with 107 degree days.  Stephen and I have a big to do list today we're going down to the bay area tonight and staying in a hotel and then tomorrow morning going to Mountain View where he does his Reserve duty for 'Family Day' on our extremely limited budget.  Now I've never actually been able to go to any family day like events while he's been in the military because I was almost always a few continents away.  I'm very very nervous but so happy that I can be there for him.  I just want to make him proud and fit in as normally as possible.  Standing out can be bad lol.  But also I'm a little nervous because he wants to try and stay the whole time from 9-3 because he feels weird about leaving early *I'm pretty sure they wouldn't stone him or anything but hey I'd be a bit nervous to if I was still the new guy* but I have to look at this realistically I'm like 4 months pregnant I get hot Very easily and that's quite a while to be outside for me, and not only that but I tend to get sick...All.The.Time. I just don't want to embarrass him, I want to be a help not a hindrance.  So I would really appreciate some prayers!

The Army and the Choices we make

Today I am ridiculously confused and conflicted.  If you didn't know my husband just recently got out of the Army *active duty* and got back from where he's been stationed for the 3yrs he'd been in *Germany*.  We thought we were Done with the Military, with the Army, with deployments, with it all.  We were civilians!  And while it's taken some getting used to it's been great so far, different and we've both had some major adjustments but like I said it's been great so far.  He has some PTSD issues and those are always hard to deal with, we've had to get to know each other again and get used to living together *for the first time in our 3yrs of marriage*.  For me the biggest adjustments where not worrying about him leaving or going back, and the loss of community.  Everyone is all about you when you're an Army Wife.  I had a group on facebook called Hero's Honeys *if you're a military spouse or girlfriend or fiance reading this go request a membership it's wonderful* there were about 400 women in it.  All different branches and my lovely friend Daniella and I were able to keep it 100% drama free which is what we really wanted out of a group.  Well I'm not an Army wife anymore *I'm a veteran's wife* and it feels like some military spouses treat me differently now, my experiences have not changed.  I haven't changed but to them I'm not apart of their world anymore.  And it hurts.  In a way it's also quite funny if I try and offer advice about deployment they kind of shake it off.  It's very hurtful.  And that's been my real struggle with it the loss of a community that I had relied on so heavily while my husband and I were Army.  Well we had his muster duty appointment yesterday and we went in.  The Sgt. that helped us was very nice and he talked to my husband about some choices that he has and different options.

It's looking like my husband is going to join the Army Reserves.  And I don't know how I feel about it.  The positives, pluses, and pro's are amazing and numerous.  But the one and only big negative is that he signs up for 5years.  He has 2years where they can not mobilize him, and 3 chances to deploy again.  My husband had a very hard deployment.  I don't go into details much or talk about it a lot but when I see women talking and complaining about only being able to talk to their husbands on the internet or get a few calls a week or the fact that his mail gets their late or that the FOB he's on is miserable, I wish my husband had that.  He was a tanker, he had a combat MOS.  Where he was at food had to be air dropped to them they ate the same thing everyday for 6 months if I was lucky we'd talk every 3months.  To many of his friends died.  There were to many times he almost died.  So when some woman tries to say I may not really understand about deployments because I'm not an Army wife anymore I get quite offended *sorry different post*.  something else that always shocked me that we civilians totally take for granted...he was not able to wash his ACU's for almost 9months.  The same clothes Everyday  For 9 months. It's hard for me not think wow y'all are lucky when I hear friends talk about 3&6 month deployments I'm like wow! *the poor army has the longest deployments of any branch*

Now please know I'm not belittling anyone's deployment experience no 2deployments are alike everyone has a different MOS everyone is somewhere else.  And who am I to say that my hardships or sorrows are worse than another?  We each have our own.  I'm also not saying I know everything  about deployments.  I know precious little compared to some.  But I know how it affected my husband and myself.  And that's what I'm speaking from.  So I sincerely hope nobody is offended by this stressed out, worried, and tragically-right-before-my-period post of of mine.

It's just had for me to deal with the fact right now that his MOS would change from a combat MOS, his job would change he'd be doing something in an office, the deployment would be shorter, it wouldn't be like the first time.  Wrapping my head around that is difficult.  When  I think deployment I think no communication, I think anger, I think fights, I think us having the worst time of it ever and not being able to communicate, I think of his mail not even being able to get where he was.  I think of our friends dying.  I think of him going on missions all the time, of them doing whatever they could to stay awake.  I'm thinking of all the time he ALMOST didn't make it home.  And I can't say "I don't think I could do it again" because I will ALWAYS do what I have to do.  I'm his wife, and no matter what my status is now, I am an Army wife.  And  we always have been and always will be Army.  But it's scary and it hurts to think about it all.  But we're going to do it.  Mostly because I saw my husband's eyes light up when the man was telling us about it.  I know that he loves to take care of his family, he loves to have a job he can do well, that he can be proud of, he knows how to do the Army.  It's been his life for so long 24/7 that I don't even think he realizes how much it's become apart of him.  Well no matter what happens I'll stand by his decision.  I just had to get all this out.

  And end it with a little reminder that no matter where he is or what we are dealing with we love each other, love the Lord, and will be ok, we're blessed to have a God that will always provide and never give us more than we can handle ♥

Saving&Stamps

So I had a whole other awesome post set up for tonight but I couldn't get this out of my mind!  I've recently gotten into eBay if you remember I'm totally an amazon girl... usually but the item I was salivating over and dreaming of I lost, so sad.  I was super disapointed but the bidding got a little to high for me.  You see I've been really into Beatrix Potter lately, I love her and her drawings and the cartoons I just can't get enough!  And I've also got a blossoming love affair with stamps going!  Now apparently Beatrix Potter stamps are not that easy to find all the ones on eBay are up in the $20's and $30's and thats for only ONE ...where we are financially I couldn't dream of spending money on something like stamps.  But I am positively salivating over these ridiculously cute and expensive stamps!  So I can't spend lots and lots of money but I can Save change, can't I?  Yes.  Yes I can.  I am horrible with change I'm that person that shoves it into the bottom of my purse and it dissapears somehow but no more!  I took a mason jar and some chalkboard paint and went to work on making this...

if you're wondering why it also says teapot thats for another post but that is also a recent obesseion!

I even left part of the lid off the mason jar so it still looks like the whole thing is on there but it's even easier to get the change in there and it's right when you walk in the door

*I'm trying to make this as easy as possible can you tell?*

So I've been hording change for about a week and husband counted it all out tonight 

*he's my financial advisor LOL* 

I have a grand total saved of

$16.06



...Super proud of myself lol now what I Usually would do is go find something to buy NOW instead of continuing to SAVE like I should do, but luckily my husband is here and says no and puts the jar out of reach until my fit-of-needing-to-spend passes...Love him.

Well wish me luck in my quest to save, get stamps, and not make it a totally painful experience!

The List

So,  This is emberassing.  Emberassing and oh so necessary.  Since my husband has been home I've been so happy and just in about the best place mentally, spiritually, and physically that I've been in since we got married!  But creatively...uhmm kind of another story.  He has inspired me to start all of these amazing projects, I've gotten awesome blog ideas, even gotten into some lovely thrift store item-transformations!  It sounds great right?!  Right?!  Yes.  But the real problem is that I'm...not...finishing...Anything.  It's ridiculous I've finished One thing since he has been home.  Just One.  And it is driving me nuts I am not a girl that can leave things half done, or start a project knowing I don't have all the materials and just go 'oh I'll finish it later' ...that is just not how I opperate.  It is now officially starting to take it's toll on me.  I can't seem to get my head on straight and make the lists I need to *because I need a list to get Anything done* so I thought

'hey why not do a quick post about it instead of crying into your tea about what a failure you are?'

So here we are!  I am sucking down my relaxing tea mix of sleepytime green and honey-Chamomille-Vanilla in my pretty little white & blue cup and just trying to breathe and not concentrate on the havoc that is taking place around me.  And now I am going to start...The List.

The List

*This list is not including any blog ideas in my head or any day to day stuff UGH* 

I need to print out a really creative picture I found online and put it by my desk for inspiration

make an Arkansas state tribute to our family there and hang it up somewhere

Hang up the sign I have from our storage shed

Hang up the painting I got at walmart

Put all the extra stuff back in our storage shed

make old-fashioned scrapbook

make a new picture frame with my dad

make a sign about 'no shoes' for our soon-to-be-front porch

paint new tea bucket

re-paint 3 tiered sign

hang up new curtain

clean up and paint (with chalkboard paint?) old coffee pot

Paint new veggie box

hang up planter outside

clean out our drawers in our room move ALL his stuff outside in them, go through ALL my clothes and find out which ones I'm going to keep and get rid of and organize them A LOT better (no more giant piles of clothes hopefully)

sand paper little basket and paint it

Re-do desk (sand and paint) and then figure out creative ways to handle all the freaking clutter on it

get paint and fix all spots on the walls

get paint and fix the loft

...Wish me luck?  Any creative projects going on with you?  Anything you have to get to that you're having a hard time with?

Also I am going to check back at the begining and end of next week with you guys and see how I've done with this list!

Well Hello There Old Friend

It's a clear, chilly night here in Northern California.  Beautiful, crystal clear and ice cold.  My favorite candles are glowing atop the desk and bookshelf the flames dancing delicately against the light blue and grey of the walls while their sweet perfume fills the air, steam is still rising from my mug of green tea while I take a sip and feel the hot and aromatic liquid pour down my throat and warm me from the inside out, I feel more relaxed already.  There is nothing like a clean and warm room, filled with sweet scents on a cold night like this.  My movie is starting to play it's a favorite...a Beatrix Potter Classic the kind of quaint, quiet, calm cartoon that has me dreaming of water colors, misty afternoons, irish flutes, classic books and favorite  W.B. Yates poems, and of course countless cups of tea...this seemed like the perfect time to write y'all a quick little note apologizing for my absence lately but you see I have a perfectly wonderful excuse, you see my husband is home and he's home for good!

( if you follow me here, or here, or on instagram mrslester21 ...you probably already knew that )

 and well we've just been keeping ourselves busy learning about each other, just adjusting, loving, and soaking up every minute together.  And figuring out our very own Normal it's been an amazingly interesting and beautful few weeks since he's been home and I would not trade one kiss, one argument, one ounce of Us for anything in the world!  But I just wanted to let y'all know that I have Not forgotten about my blog or the fun I have sharing pictures, projects, and anecdotes of my own...or reading about Yours!  So keep an eye out for my much needed updates coming soon

...And Remember You're Beautiful

this is also a Note that I woke up to on our chalk board a few days after the husband was home isn't he sweet!

Love, Marie

My 21st Birthday! All 3 parts!



So my 21st birthday was on December 8th.  I did no drinking on this day, at all.  Instead I had the house to myself and did a little pampering and primping!  My husband was out in the field shooting expert with something or other and I was pretty sad about not getting to talk to him on my birthday again (let alone ya know actually BEING with him on my birthday).  But then I got a surprise phone call and low and behold he got back on time to talk to me for a few minutes!  It deffinitely made my birthday!  After that I got stuff to make cookies and a cake (with my dad, its a tradition I have NEVER had a store bought cake ever we always make it together), then my family and I went and picked out a Christmas tree!  I opened some gifts (my favorite present was the COMFIEST pair of slippers I've ever put my feet into!) so all in all a GREAT birthday!

The next night (friday evening) I went with my mom and my aunt Dianna and had a girls night at a local casino with lots of adult beverages for myself!  By the time we finished I had a spectacular buzz (my mother would call it rip roaring drunk) and 55 dollars more than I had walked in with!  So we did what any 3 married women out on a friday night would do...we went to Dennys...at 4 AM.  And let me just say WAY to many people in Dennys...I had an excuse I wanted to know why on earth they were all there???  And I inquired...loudly...and they loved it...no big deal im like a Dennys rockstarrr!



So I though, awesome birthdays over now time for christmas...or is it over?!?!?

Nobody in my life has EVER been able to surprise me (I mean like surprise parties or gifts) partly because I'm nosey and paranoid and partly because I'm a genius (mostly the latter) well guess who finally surprised me???

THATS RIGHT!  My husband!!!!...and I know I know but sorry girls back off he's all mineee ;) lol but he did it with help from two of my bestfriends, my mother and my bestie Lauren!  On monday I had a one of a kind, wonderful surprise party!





It was amazing, I had a little tiara, balloons, my aunt and my grandma were there!  My favorite resturaunt, wine, sparkling wine (thank you Lauren), ROSES, a cake, and a couple presents from Juicy Couture!  But the most amazing thing was that fact that they all got together and did it FOR ME, I didn't have to plan it, pay for it, organize it, plant the seeds in anyones head, I did NOTHING.  My husband knows I get down around my birthday because i plan all my friends and families birthdays and they are always amazing!  But when it comes to my own I have to do it every year and it never turns out even remotely how I want it.  Always made me kinda sad I had to do it for myself.  Well the love of my life wasn't having it this year and got my bestfriend (who lives in OK now and is currently back visiting, YAY!) in contact and said something he wanted to make sure happened and voila!  A surprise Marie the world has never seen :) Lauren cried twice, I got a buzz, got to hang out with almost all of my favorite people, and eat my favorite italian food...what is not to love???

I loved it all, and I am so in love with my husband it's ridiculous!