34 weeks

The first picture is one of Chris' marines at his dirt bike race today. We went up to Hiroshima and watched him race. It was actually pretty fun, despite getting a little lost on the hour and a half trip up there!! Yesterday I spent pretty much the whole day in the nursery putting up clothes we got on Friday and the new things that arrive daily from my baby shower. Only a week and a half until I leave for Yokosuka!!! Getting really excited!! But I know it is going to be a long boring wait up there by myself ;-( But it will be worth the minute I see our baby!
Still uncomfortable and can't breath that well but oh well!! sorry for all the pics- I got excited that we can finally upload!!

finally able to upload pics!

me @the river
chris @ the river
baby shower pic 33 weeks
30 weeks

us at the river

Wonderful weekend

Chris and I had a wonderful weekend! Saturday we were invited to a cookout at a local Japanese man's house. He owned lots and lots of land (which is unusual for them) and had a beautiful house. There were a good number of Americans there as well as Japanese. I didn't expect to stay all day, but we were there from 12 until around 6 Saturday evening. Everyone's children had a blast riding the dirt bikes and picking up chestnuts. Chris and I walked around his yard and took lots of pictures and enjoyed the wonderful view of Iwakuni.
On Sunday Chris and a few guys from his unit were in a truck pull in downtown Iwakuni. They took second place, which was a definate experience! The guys were so tired after their pull, but said it was worth it. It was very exciting, b/c it was right in the middle of the festival downtown. There was lots of Japanese dancing, food and people dressed up. Chris' shop also had a tent set up down there, and some of his Marines wore their dress blues and other uniforms, so of course all the Japanese loved that!
Then Sunday afternoon I had my baby shower!!! I was kind of apprehensive about it since I didn't know half the women who were going, but it turned out to be a lot of fun! Chris' shop supports another unit here on base so all their wives were invited too, and actually came!Lola got some really cute and sweet gifts too. One woman made her bibs with her name embroidered on it, and of course lots of little baby girl clothes. I even got some good stuff-lotions, soaps etc! They had it catered by the club, and I got to bring lots of good food and cake home,as well as all the wonderful gifts!!
We are supposed to find out today the exact date I leave for Yokosuka-if I make until then. Lola has dropped a lot since last week and I have been miserable. I think I wake up atleast ten times a night and my back and ribs have been killing me. But its all completely normal so I gotta deal with it! The weather is gorgeous here especially at night. We have been sleeping with the windows open and I can wear a sweatshirt at night!!! yay!!
Hope everyone is wonderful love and miss you guys!

More uncomfortable as the days go by

Everyday that goes by I think I get more and more uncomfortable. This morning I got up and started cleaning as usually and all of a sudden my hip started hurting so bad. This happened earlier in my pregnancy when I was walking a lot, but I figured I was over it. I dont get it though, because I wasnt walking a lot today, but guess thats just part of being pregnant. On top of that, my ribs have been killing me for about a week. Right on the top center. All of this is normal, but I guess since my pregnancy has been so easy thus far I wasn't expecting it. I know it will all be worth it though in less than 2 months!!!
Other than that, still teaching my English classes, working on the nursery, and being extremely lazy! I feel like I can only be active for a few hours before I need a nap! We were going to try and take a small trip this weekend, but since I havent been feeling great, I dont think it would go too well.
The weather is gorgeous, about 70 or so daily and cool at night, so I've been spending time outside reading and enjoying the weather. Chris has been playing flag football with his shop and they are undefeated!! Needless to say he is throughly enjoying himself! Have an appointment next Wednesday so probably wont update until then unless something exciting happens! love and miss

Another tremor

This morning we had another tremor!!! Everyone has said it was worse than the first one we had, but to me it didnt seem like it was. That could be in part though that Chris was home this morning when it happened and I was already awake! Abby was outside and immediatly ran in the bedroom and jumped on the bed with me....she is so scared of everything! Hopefully the tremors are the worst thing we will experience while here!
We had hopefully our last cookout of the season this weekend. I love being around people but I'm so uncomfortable and tired all the time that its almost not enjoyable anymore. My ribs have been killing me the past week and I was sick on Sunday and Monday. I thought I was coming down with a bad cold so I didn't get out of bed and hopefully kicked it. Sleeping has become more uncomfortable too, every position I think is comfortable she doesnt! I can't even imagine what the last month is going to be like! Other than that things are still quiet around here. Chris found out he is NOT going to Iraq next year! And I will leave at the beginning of November for Yokosuka and the 23rd of Nov my mommy comes!!

Our first Typhoon

Well we made it through our first typhoon experience. It wasn't even near us...probably about 70miles away but we still got gusts up to around 45mph and some rain. The power went out, but only shortly-so to sum it up- small storm with high winds. But I'm very thankful for that, I do not wish to experience anything worse!
We had an appointment yesterday, and my doctor is putting the paper work in for my trip to Yokosuka to deliver. I am leaving the first week in November and wont be able to go to the Marine Corps Ball, but thats okay. I wore a khaki skirt to my appointment and my doctor was amazed b/c it wasn't maternity! Not sure how much longer I can wear my normal pants and skirts though! The only reason I can wear any of it though is b/c of how low it is on my waist.
Anyways my English classes are going well, I love the girls. Two weekends ago we went to Yokosuka to see Tucker, Shane and Kevin (3 guys from the Academy Chris played ball with) and that was fun. The guys were going crazy over my belly and kept talking to her, it was really cute! And we got to see the base and I had the opportunity to talk to one of the labor and delivery nurses. She told me a lot about the hospital and the staff. I definatly feel like I made the right decision choosing to deliver up there.
Other than that, things are pretty quiet and going well. Sorry for taking to long to update!

my first english class!!

So I just finished teaching my first English class and it went fairly well. I have two girls as of right now, but got a call for a third one today! The girls are both in their late twenties-but since they are Japanese they look like they are 19. (everyone in Japan looks much younger-most 50yr old women look in their late 30s!!) They are both very sweet girls, and speak English fairly well. Luckily they brought their Japanese/English dictionary so when they could not understand they looked it up. During our class time, which is an hour, they were not very talkative, but the minute the hour was up they wanted to talk up a storm. It was kind of funny!
I asked them why they wanted to learn more English and they told me b/c they wanted an American boyfriend! Hey atleast they were honest!!! The women here view the American men as rich and handsom!!They loved looking at the pictures of Chris and I, and wanted to see his friends!! I explained to them I would be gone for a few weeks to deliver baby Lola, and I would be happy to find a substitute, but they insisted on waiting for me to come back. They are both very excited about the baby-so maybe they will bring me some unique Japanese presents.
Other than that, we are doing well. I have been very busy doing things around the house-my creative side has been kicking in lately, due in part to my friend Beth. The weather has cooled off sooo much and I've been trying to go on a bike ride around base everday, as well as take Abby to play.
CONGRATULATIONS LINDSAY!!! Now I will definatly be coming home sometime next year since my friend is getting married!!

life is good

Life has been a little busy over the past few days. This Sunday I went to a local market with a friend and my two Japanese friends. It wasn't very big, but I found some neat stuff. There was a lot of old stuff there, so of course I loved it. I bought an old fishing weight and this long piece of wood that was used in a textile mill. And we found a woman there who has a shop here in Iwakuni that had some great fabrics, Japanese clothes, and buttons etc. After that we stopped at a few shops along the way home and a country store that reminded me of something in the states.
Chris climbed Mt. Fuji on Saturday and said it took him about 4 1/2 hours just to get to the top. ( and I of course am jealous he got to do it!) He jokingly told me that he didn't think I could do it. Hopefully I will be able to do it next year though. I think that is the most exciting thing he will do over the next few weeks while hes gone.
One of the marines who is gone where Chris is, has a daughter who I am watching for a week. She so cute and a very happy child so its been a delight so far. She has kept me busy, but a good busy. Hopefully I will be saying that at the end of the week!
As for baby Lola, she has been sooo active over the past few days. I feel like every few minutes she is doing flips and kicking in my belly. I was reading a book earlier today and had it propped on my belly and she kicked so hard that the book moved!! Its still weird to me seeing my stomach move through my clothes and seeing the wave go across my stomach, but delightful at the same time!Unfortunatly I am still not able to upload photos on here or even to my email, but I promise when I can I will! Hope everyone is doing wonderful!

25 weeks!

So I finally made it to a local Japanese house. I went yesterday with my friend Beth to do pottery and a woman's house and it was great. We got there at 10am and didnt leave until about 4 yesterday afternoon. I made a teacup with a lotus leaf saucer (lotus flowers/plants are very popular here). I loved using the pottery wheel! And then after we did that she made us lunch and we stayed and talked and had tea. Her house was very small b/c her and her husband built it themselves, but it was very nice. It is on the side of a mountain so it is very narrow and had steep stairs, and the yard was beautiful. Many Japanese here grow all their own vegetables etc, so she had blueberries, persimons, and a small garden on the side. All their yards are gorgeous lots of plants. Most families have larger houses b/c the house is passed from generation to generation, often times with several generations living under one roof! Imagine living with your mom and dad with your children too!! But here its their custom and the family also takes care of the baby for the first 30 days!
Apparently women teach their children to go off their instinctual feelings about people and if they do not like them, they will not associate with them. And thank goodness she and her friend liked me. They invited us to go to a local market on sunday and wanted me to come back and do pottery and go sing karoake with them-obviously haven't heard me sing! But lastnight Beth took someone there they did not like her and told her that day she would not speak English!!! I can not see these women being mean to anyone though b/c they were soooo nice and helpful.
I have my Mommmy's basic training class tomorrow all day from 8:30-4pm!!! But I get a whole sea bag full of clothes,diapers,etc! And I heard the woman who teaches it is wonderful. I am a little apprehensive about taking it b/c the woman told me they teach you to change diapers and I've had plenty of practice with that, but I just hope I learn some stuff. I'm sure I will, its just such a long class. But I will meet other expecting mothers too!
Other than that, Chris left lastnight so I'm a little sad and lonely-but atleast I have Abby!!! And I have lots to do so there is no reason for me to be bored. I will update tomorrow or Saturday and tell all about the long class!! Sorry still no pics, I think I am going to have to take them to the library to post them!Love and miss everyone!
If anyone is interested the website for the base here is www.iwakuni.usmc.mil/

In case you guys didnt know.........we are having a girl!!!!! We are soo excited~even though Chris wanted a boy I think he's getting excited about daddy's little girl!We found out Friday morning, which also marked my last visit in town-thank God! I will see the doctor on base from now on until 36 weeks when I will go up to Yokosuka and stay until I deliver. We are both excited about delivering up there and I think the fact that Tucker (one of Chris' bestfriends) being there adds a little too!
Other than that, everything is fairly calm around here. Chris leaves on Thursday for about a month but I've found things to keep me busy. I will be keeping one of our friends daughters while she is gone where he is going, but only for a week. I am going to try and take some Japanese art classes and tomorrow I'm finally going to a Japanese house and I'm making pottery! I'm excited!
I've started to paint the nursery~dont worry I have a mask I wear and its just craft paint so its really not toxic. I'm painting palms trees on both sides of the changing table and we are going to put big wooden letters spelling her name in between. And on the big wall above the crib we are going to do some sort of animal scene,such as Noah's ark etc.
The past two weekends we have gone to the beach, this past a local one that was pretty great and only about 15 minutes from us!! Its been sooo nice. We got a half tent for the beach so I've been able to stay cool and actually enjoy being outside!
We have some great pics and I've been trying for the past week to post them, but our internet is terrible. And trust me I'm getting as irritated as you all, so what I think I'm gonna do is just send out a mass email containing some pics. If you dont get any of our emails and want to email me your email address adh1721@yahoo.com I will update more often than I have been and sorry if there are no pics-I know its not as exciting without them;-(

The restaurant Chris and I ate at tonight...tonkatsu
Well I had a long fun day today! My friend Jenn and I went out in town and went to a few antique stores--saw some great stuff but didnt buy any! Then we went and ate at one of our favorite places-the chicken shack and of course made a trip to the 100 yen store aka the dollar store. The 100 yen store is wayyyyy better than the ones in the states, everything is really high quality and they have everything from crafts to clothes! Then tonight chris and I went and ate at a new place that was pretty good too.I think I over did it during the day though b/c when I came home I had a massive headache and was soo tired, I slept for 2 hrs this afternoon.
We are trying to set up a trip to the beach on the other side of the island tomorrow so hopefully we will have some great pics! Its a white sand beach so you guys know I'm excited!! Other than that Chris is really busy at work, and Ive been doing stuff around the house as usual. We are anxiously awaiting our appointment next week to hopefully find out the sex of the baby!! I think I spend more time laying back and watching the baby kick. It sounds so silly but I just love watching my belly move as the baby kicks and the almost wave like motion as it moves around. I still dont think I can comprehend that there is a baby in my belly though-its amazing to me still! We are making plans and preparing for the delivery in Yokosuka!! I cant wait for my mommy to come and see Japan and be there because I know Im going to need it. Will update later on this weekend!

sooo hot!!

It is sooooo hot here!!! and HUMID!!!! We were trying to go without getting the AC fixed in my truck, but yeah thats not working-getting it fixed tomorrow! Which is good it needs to be fixed for the baby anyways. We had an appointment today with the doctor here on base-Dr. Sullivan who we love!!! We both wish that she could just deliver the baby but there is no facility here. She answered all of our questions and reassured Chris that if I deliver in Yokosuka that he will be there. (which is probably what I am going to do) I have an appointment on August 11th in town with the other doctor to find out the sex of the baby, and so I can meet the other doctor and see if I like him. As of now though I am going to deliver on the base 6 hrs north, and be cared for here by Dr. Sullivan until 36weeks. They will pay for me to go up there, but if Chris wants to go with me and get me settled in we have to pay for that, but they will pay for him to accompany me 10 days prior to my delivery date. They have a place up there where all the expecting mothers stay and we each have our own room with kitchen, bed, couch,bathroom etc.
This weekend Chris is going to be in a Bass fishing tournament with some guys from work and I think that I am going to a white sand beach on the west coast with our friend Janelle. I am sooo excited!! I will def take lots of pics and post them for everyone! Chris is ridiculously busy with work and a little stressed and I am staying busy running errands,getting involved with some activities on base and cleaning the house/starting to paint the nursery! Abby is shedding like crazy so I vacuum everyday!
We both are finally starting to feel like this is our home since everything is finally set up! And we are getting to know people around the base and trying to get involved in the community.Love and miss!

chris & abby(lunchbreak) and where we dropped the bomb on hiroshima-the only building left standing!




me cheesing!!!me and abby!

okay finally some pics!!! i know it took long enough! i'm going to try and upload a bunch to webshots, but since our internet is so in an out it doesnt let me upload alot, but im gonna try! I have an appointment tuesday with the doctor here on base and we are going to discuss me delivering in yokosuka, chris' concerns about being there etc. And hopefully have a checkup that I'm pleased with!
We actually dont have anything to do this weekend and its sooooo great!!!! We are still getting the house straight/unpacked/cleaned so when we finish, which will hopefully be today then I will take pics and post them.
Its been raining for about 3 weeks now but the past 3 days its been sunny and so hot and humid! Its terrible how hot it is being pregnant, but I'm so glad its finally not raining. This morning Chris and I sat outside for about and hr with Abby and it was soo relaxing! I sat in the kid pool (while Chris laughed at me) but I didnt care because it felt so good.
I finished all my finals this week and hopefully did well! Classes dont start again until the end of August so I'll have time to just hangout with Chris before he leaves and just relax for the last time before the baby comes! Chris is still busy at work, but atleast he's here! other than that we are doing wonderful.......still waiting to hear the sex of the baby! miss you guys!

Okay I know that everyone is getting really impatient and probably starting to think this blog sucks! But I promise tomorrow I will give you all a good long update with pics.This last week has been crazy with moving all of our stuff in(yes we finally got it all) and I've had finals this week, but my last two are tonight! Hope everyone is well and please keep checking in!We love you all!

just to let you guys know i changed the settings so you do NOT have to be a user to leave a comment!!
We had a great weekend! Shane,Kevin,Andrea and two other guys come up from Sasebo on Saturday and we showed them around here and took them to 3 falls. It was a very long day for everyone, but worth it. Then on Sunday Chris took them up to Hiroshima and Miya Jima but I stayed behind bc it's so hot!! We bought a babypool for the backyard and I sat in it and studied all day. Dont worry though it was in the shade!! I think this will be another busy week especially for Chris and hopefully I will get this whole doctor thing straightened out!I know I keep promising pics but our internet goes in and out all the time and we still dont have all our stuff to upload pics yet!
I do want to thank everyone for all their love and support you guys are amazing and we feel so blessed to have all of u in our lives even if you are on the other side of the world!!

Still dont know....

We had our first appointment out in town today and it was different to say the least. We were supposed to find out if it is a girl or boy but the doctor didn't seem to interested in telling us. He did not even try to look he just said it was too small immediately followed by "your baby big" and kept repeating that. But hey look at us, we arent exactly the smallest peas in the pod. I was very uncomfortable with him when I left and want to see a different doctor for the next visit. I am planning to talk to one of the doctors here on base next week about my options and about the other doctor. The doctor we saw today wasn't bad, he just didnt fit me. Maybe if I had already had one child it would be different but this is my first, and of course I want to have some type of relationship with my doctor. If I dont like the other doctor my only other option is to travel 6 hrs away, a month before and stay at a Naval base until delivery.But there I will have American doctors and American care. I will figure it out soon though!
The clinic as a whole was very different from our American hospitals. Their technology is better than what you would typically see in the states, but... the clinic itself is older. We got a 3-D ultrasound done today and will every visit we go and they took videotape of it. The 3-D is amazing!! We saw the face which is still very skinny bc the baby is so young, but the nose is a perfect mix btwn mine and Chris'. The baby was very very very active! It was moving the whole time and playing with its face...sooo cute! With such great technology of viewing the baby is part of what I think made me so frustrated with him not even trying to see if it was a boy or girl. He asked me the same questions over and over and then referred me back on base which causes a whole other issue!! After calling our baby big, not paying attention to any of my answers, and being very impersonal, he basically called me fat! So to say the least I was a bit irritated when I left. Anyways I will post pics tomorrow and hopefully post the ultrasound pics.
Other than that, everything is pretty good here. Its terribly hot~I (and my other pregnant friend Sara) do not go outside during the day even to the pool. Yesterday we went around base and I lost 3 pounds in about 2 hrs and felt so bad that I didnt even go to class. We are trying to put together the nursery, but its hard when u dont know the sex! Classes are going well, hopefully will have an A or B in all 3 classes, and Chris is crazy busy traveling for work and planning stuff for his shop. He will be gone a lot pretty much until the baby is born but that the life of the military! Atleast he will be here for the birth!! Hope everyone is doing well and Love and Miss you All!!!

doc appointment on friday 7/14

I know everyone is waiting to hear if its a boy or girl but our appointment got rescheduled until Friday at 14:30. I will call everyone friday night and will def post on here whether its a boy or girl!! Hopefully we can find a way to put the ultrasound pic up here too! I will also post some more pics on friday! its going to be a long two days waiting!!!!!!! oh yeah......i've been feeling the baby kick like crazy!! and i've felt it on the outside too! but of course Chris is never around when its moving!

PICS

the waterfall pics are at 3 falls here in iwakuni

So we finally started putting together the nursery!!! I think we are both getting really excited now and its starting to set in that this is really happening!! The base had a fireworks show lastnight which I really wanted to go to, but Chris told some of his friends he would pick them up from the train station so we couldnt!But I could see most of them from the house. Abby was terrified of them, as she is of EVERYTHING! So it was more or less me watching them.
We got the changing table, crib, bookshelf, bassinet, and carseat put together lastnight and set up in the nursery. Then today we did some shopping at the exchange and bought a blanket that matches the bassinet and some really cute bath mittens for washing the baby! We try to buy clothes but its hard b/c everything is pink,blue or boy/girl related! The only thing we have bought are some white crib sheets and white little shirts.
I plan on doing some painting in the nursery but I figure I will have plenty of time for that while Chris is gone for over a month in August & September. Other than that we are still trying to put the house together, enjoying Japan and I'm busy studying. We try to do things outside with Abby but its been raining for pretty much a week straight! Only one more week until we find out if we are having a boy or girl!!!

19 weeks!!!

I think this was the best weekend we have had since we've been here ( having our stuff might have something to do with it!) Friday night we had a small cookout here, Saturday we went up to Hiroshima and today we went to the most beautiful place I've seen since we've been here. It is called 3 Falls and is about 20 minutes from our house. There is a series of 3 waterfalls with a trail leading you down beside them. Of course the water was freezing, but since it was so hot and humid it felt great putting my feet in the water. There were a few spots where you can jump off the rocks into the water, but of course no go for me! It was so relaxing to just sit there and here the water rushing down, we both agreed that we would be back visiting there soon!
We have our first doctor's appointment in town on July 11th!! At that appointment we will find out the sex of the baby so you know I am going crazy waiting for it! We have a translator that will be going with us to the first appointment and then if we request the others too. My doctor supposedly speaks English very well and I chose the younger one because I heard he is much nicer, so hopefully we will not need the translator. I have actually surprised myself with how much Japanese I am picking up. I am able to read a lot of the Hiragana (Japanese alphabet) when we go out in town and translate it into the English meaning which is the hardest part!
My classes are going well. We just had midterms last week! I cant believe I am almost done with one semester/session. I am still frustrated daily with my Japanese class because everyone in there already knew Japanese somewhat, but its reassuring knowing I am learning! Other than that all is well. Chris has off until Wednesday for July 4th and I dont have classes until then and then Saturday Kevin,Andrea and Shane come! Love and miss everyone!! please keep in touch! I know everyone is anxiously awaiting pics and we still have one more shipment coming which of course is the one with everything for the camera in it!! so sorry guys but i promise soon pics are coming!!!