want to test your squinting skills?

First is the head. They had a better view on the screen, but the tech couldn't quite catch it on film. All facial features appear to be present and accounted for.













And here we see a very blurry leg and foot kicking my very full bladder. They tech said, "well, you REALLY don't need to drink that much next time." oops. I suppose this is my opportunity to publicly admit that D was right, that much OJ cannot be good for anyone. It did wake the baby up, that's for sure!














and here, if you were looking at the actual picture instead of a picture of a picture, you would see the umbilical cord and the "turtle" that caused D to buy a Green Bay Packers sleeper and matching hat on ebay a few days ago. =)














All in all, we were both surprised at how much we did recognize without needing the technician to point things out. I guess it helped that he was moving around so much, so you could see actual fingers flexing instead of a white blur near the head. If we want to fork over $250, we can have a 4d ultrasound with pictures on disc to take home with us. Alas, we are too cheap. Anyone who wants to take up a fund is welcome to do so ;-) The doc said that everything is normal and in the right places, and the size is consistant with our dates. What fun.

the pregnant brain

is definitely taking over. At least that's my latest excuse. I used to be able to blame the rigors of school and planning a wedding. Then all I had to fall back on was the color of my hair. When D left last year, I had a ready-made excuse to be scatterbrained again. Then he came back, and I was excuse-less once more. Until now.

example number one: this morning, I told D he could have the shower once I finished rinsing the water out of my hair.

example number two:
Last week, I made an appointment with the local WIC office to see if I was eligible for a "grocery supplement." They gave me a short list of what to bring, and told me where to go. I wrote everything down like a good little girl, including directions, and put the paper somewhere safe. So safe, in fact, that I have yet to find it. SO, on Tuesday while I was getting ready for this appointment, I decided to call a few of the WIC offices to confirm my appointment, figuring that once one of them said, "yes, you have an appointment here today," then I would know where to go. Well, they won't confirm appointments over the phone, so I had to trust my intuition. Bad idea.

The first office is located right outside the main gate. Very convenient. Unfortunately, that's not where my appointment was. Too bad, because I would have been 10 whole minutes early! The distribution center was my next destination. Luckily, it turned out to be the right place, and I was only 10 minutes late. Irritating to me, but nobody else seemed to mind.

The appointment went well; I forgot to bring proof of residence, but they let that slide. The second problem was with proof of pregnancy, since our insurance co. took the only doctor's note that I had. I tried to show ultrasound pictures as proof, but I guess that isn't good enough. Luckily, they let that slide as well, provided I brought a note and proof of residence before attempting any more pickups. No problem. Once the paperwork was complete, I was informed that I didn't qualify, since D makes too much (wow! there's a first for everything!). The lady conducting the interview told me to go on to the nutritionist anyway, just in case.

After studying both my list of what I'd eaten for the past 24 hours (including homemade whole wheat bread with real peanut butter, and real pineapple, yum) and my iron count, the nutritionist decided that I did qualify after all. Apparantly, I was missing one serving of fruit and had a low iron count (11.6 out of 12).

Since I was already at the distribution center, they let me make the first package pickup, which was an experience in itself. I never realized that WIC food came with choices! I am now the proud owner of:

*15 quarts of milk (the kind that comes in boxes, like soy milk does. Little bit of an aftertaste, but I think it'll be fine for homemade yogurt)
*24 oz. peach/grape juice (yum!)
*24 oz. orange juice (kinda weird tasting. Like tang, only not)
*24 oz. pineapple juice (haven't dared on this one yet)
*1 lb. black beans (good thing, I couldn't find them in our excuse for a commisary, and I've been craving* cuban black beans and rice for a couple of months now)
*16 oz. montery jack cheese (maybe my new favorite)
*16 oz. cheddar
*48 oz. liquid eggs (good thing I like to bake)
*1 big box of dry milk
*3 boxes of cereal (including a couple of brands I don't buy because they're usually too expensive!)

yay. Our government really does do things right sometimes.
________________
*well, I don't really have cravings so much as I think about foods that I haven't had in awhile, and I keep thinking about them every once in awhile until I have them. For example, I thought about french fries for about 3 months before finally asking D to pick some up on his way home from work. I am currently thinking about a small hot fudge ice cream sundae. I don't think I'll wait 3 months this time.
________________
ps: before anyone (ahem, mom. ahem, Dr. Sam) complains about my diet, I am a VERY healthy eater, overall. Goodness knows I've done enough food diaries for various classes to prove that =)

All the "in" babies know sign language

I'm hungry!












Sorta like Italian Sign Language

This link is actually for children

$69 a night. for the record.

Navy Lodge Sigonella
PSC 824, Box 2620, FPO AE 09627-2620
011-39095-713-0190 - Fax: 011-39095-713-0206
DSN Reservation Line: 624-4082

web site: http://www.navy-lodge.com/overseas/sicily/sigonella.html

Amenities include: Fully equipped kitchenette (dishes, pots, pans, etc.), microwave, dining table, TV/VCP, air conditioning, cribs / high chairs / rollaway, iron/ ironing boards, radio/ clock, hair dryers, ice, snack vending, on-site video rental, mini-mart, and laundry facilities, playground, and complimentary coffee (in lobby).

Within walking: Navy Exchange, commissary, 7-day store, movie theater and hospital.

Short drive to: NAS II.

Attractions: Mt. Etna, beaches, local markets, great cuisine.

Accommodations: 52 units with air conditioning and private baths. Family accommodations. Smoking or Nonsmoking is a request only not a guarantee.

4 months and finally looking a bit pregnant:

AND, we have kickoff! Well, actually it's more like flutter-off, but dan felt a little something last night that he thought was just my stomach, and I was quick to assure him that my stomach does not do that on its own. I felt a couple of bona fide kicks recently, fun fun.

if Gulfport, MS isn't the end of the earth...

then Sigonella, Cicily certainly is! Yup, it's official: we're going to Italy for the last rotation of D's military career (3 yrs). I'm just now starting to research since our internet is on the fritz; so far B knows much more about everything than I do--she would add "what else is new," but I digress. All I know is that this summer is going to be crazy...
Here's their main website, in case you get bored. I'm looking at it for the first time myself as we speak.

as for kid news... I may have felt the first "flutters" a couple of times over the past couple of days. Not sure, because about the time I started paying attention, my stomach would growl. Interesting that my scale says I haven't gained any weight yet. I think it's broken.
Next dr's appointment is next friday, complete with ultrasound...maybe mom'll have to stop calling the kid "little ed" and I'll stop confusing grandma when I alternate between "the kid," "him," and "her." It's a wonder there aren't rumors about triplets going around, haha. My MIL already thinks it's twins, something about I'm fatter than she was at this stage. I'd post a 4 month picture, but our internet is on the fritz, so you'll have to wait just a bit longer. I'm sure you're biting your nails.

what's "see you later" in italian??