Heard some interesting news today

As a reference, please read this post first:

http://dleaward.blogspot.com/2011/09/baby-name-drama.html

And know that this psychotic cousin of mine just had a baby with her much older boyfriend (who is still married...and so is my cousin...to other people).  So because of this cousin's jealousy over me for whatever reason, that has existed since we were small children...she has always felt the need to compete with me or challenge me.  It's completely unnecessary.

My mom and aunt still haven't spoken since my cousin lied.  Another cousin told my mom that if my aunt hadn't sided with my cousin, my cousin would have kept her children from her.  How true...and how sad that children are being used as pawns.  But honestly, after the couple swapping, STDs, and baby daddy while she's still preggo...I can't really be surprised about anything she does.

Found out this weekend that my uncle (who left my aunt a couple years ago after being together, not married, for 23 years) got married to the woman he left my aunt for.  Now, when he left my aunt, my mom did everything she could to help my aunt, even letting her and my youngest cousin move into my parents' house so she could save money and get on her feet.  They gave her furniture as well, and didn't accept any money for rent or utilities. (And that's the thanks my mom gets...)  I guess my brother found out about the wedding and told my mom.  He added that my aunt is pretty pathetic.

Well, I guess so.  That's the life she has made for herself, and now she only has her horrible daughter.  I'm sure my cousin will turn on her soon, she has before.  No loyalty to anyone.  Honestly, what sad lives they lead.  Screwed up in the head, screwed up lives, and now there's little kids mixed in with it who are going to end up screwed up too.  How pathetic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I read 2 books this week.  The first was

If you haven't heard of this book, please go to your local library or amazon.com and order yourself a copy.  It is completely sad, scary, beautiful, wonderful, and horrifying all at the same time.  Try to go into it with an open mind, and without reading any reviews of it beforehand.  I'm not going to try to explain it, because I like for everyone to make up their own minds about books!

The second was this young adult novel:

I picked it up because it looked scary and I thought it was going to be a horror novel.  It definitely wasn't, but the story was surprisingly good!  I don't want to give anything away, but pick it up.  It's worth your time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think he looks pretty

via Instagram http://instagr.am/p/Opgk6OHNQV/

The days are getting slimmer

Anytime something bugs me here, I remind myself that I only have a few short months left, and then I'll be with family for a year...and then my little family will be at a new base.  I'm up for changes, I'm up for adventure, I'm up for new friends.

Ben reenlisted yesterday for 4 more years.  Luckily, his 5 year mark slid in right before they took a big portion of his reenlistment bonus away.  I'm not sure how long the USAF will keep his job field bonus low, but I'm thankful we were able to sign up for the bigger one!  

We are all very proud of him.

Nothing really exciting is going on.  I'm looking to get some running shoes and start the couch 2 5K program.  I'm happy with my body, but I've always wanted to be able to run.  After many years of not being able to due to my heart (and made to feel inferior by many gym teachers...), I want to do this!  I remember one gym teacher in high school didn't believe me that I had a heart condition.  I wasn't even trying to get out of running, just letting her know that it took me a bit longer because MY HEART BEATS HALF OF WHAT IT SHOULD.  She didn't believe me and actually had me run extra laps.  I was furious.  I saw her after my first pacemaker surgery and showed her my scar.  Her eyes got wide and she slinked away without saying another word.  I was glad that I showed her.  Sometimes people do tell the truth...

Well, it's actually late, so I'm going to go put some blankets in the dryer and get to bed.

I'll leave you with some adorable pictures:

Fresh fruit (blueberries, mangos, cherries, peaches, etc...) for breakfast every morning.

Playtime!

In Daddy's strong arms!

Has it really been 8 months?!

Big girl is standing and using the furniture to move around!

Really?

Last night, someone who doesn't know me AT ALL had the audacity of telling me that I had no idea how good I have it (in regards to having full coverage insurance).  

Background: I posted a link to an eye doctor in town who has a machine that you can choose to use instead of having your eyes dilated and it's covered by military insurance now.  I felt like the people around here could use that information, and I really like my eye doctor and wanted to give him some business.

So this lady chimes in about how expensive he is and blah blah blah.  I respond that I didn't have to pay anything out of pocket, because as I stated before, military insurance covers it now.  She tells me that her husband is a civilian who works on base and they can't afford vision or dental after all their bills.  (Yeah, that sucks, but then the post wasn't for you, so STFU).  She then tells me that I have no idea how good I have it.

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?

I proceed to put her in her place:

Listen, before you assume to know me or anything about me, let me fill you in.  I have a very serious heart condition that requires me to be seen twice a year and have surgery every 7 years.  I went without insurance for 4 years because no one would cover me or they wanted $500+ a month.  When I got married, I had to have an emergency pacemaker replacement to the tune of $53,000.  Yes, I know how lucky I am.

She never responded.  

Seriously, the nerve of some people really baffles me.

New stuff EVERY SINGLE DAY

Babies are crazy.  I wish we continued to learn as much as quickly as babies do. 

This week, Delilah learned to:

*Push herself up to sit from being on her hands and knees crawling.

*Scoot backwards when sitting.

*Push herself up on her feet from a sitting position.  (So her butt is up in the air).

*Clapping.

*Dancing.

She has also recently begun eating small solid foods (like cut up blueberries, bananas, carrots, etc) and is getting really good at picking up the pieces of food with her pointer finger and thumb.  It's fun to watch!  She's working on chewing and is trying to mimic words that I say.  

It's just amazing.  Yesterday, I started singing to her, and she got super excited and started clapping.  It really warmed my heart.  Sometimes, Ben and I just find ourselves watching her in awe.  My heart literally feels like it could burst sometimes.  I can't explain the feeling, I won't even try.  I love her to the moon and back.

I'm going to go do something creative.

Eating carrots!

Time to get some stuff off my chest.

First of all, I'm going to start by being honest and saying that I do block certain people from seeing my statuses on facebook.
Here is the one and only reason:
The people that I block have stalked me on facebook and when they can't find fodder for gossip, they have made things up.  Instead of having them know my business, I'd just rather them not know.

I can't delete them because my husband works with their husbands and it would cause problems.  (Oh the politics of military wives...)

Now, in saying that, recently I know of people who have blocked others that I know because of a disagreement (in with the blocker was in the wrong).  I feel like that is so immature.  It doesn't REALLY matter, but it just makes me shake my head.

I actually have a list on my facebook of people to delete after we move.  There are over 20 people on that list.  It's actually kind of sad.  Some I used to consider good friends.  Gossip can really take its toll on people, especially in the hands of the weak minded.

/end rant.

I think I've convinced Ben to go back to our home state for Delilah's first birthday.  I simply explained to him that I didn't want to celebrate our first child's first birthday away from our family and friends.  Why celebrate it in the desolate desert where we live?

I haven't been on here in a LONG time.

When I get a chance to use the computer, it's usually:
at the end of the night when I can't think straight
or
in the middle of the day when I have about 15 minutes total.

Not really ideal blogging time.

Lately, Ben has been taking Delilah more and I've been getting a bit more time to myself.  He's been rocking her to sleep for her naps and I've been getting to have a bit more of a life!  I love being with my baby, but I was also losing myself a bit.  I wasn't getting to do anything that was just for me.
But now, I've gotten to go out to lunch with some friends, I've gone to a couple movies, and I've been able to craft while I'm home.
Yes, I still have her the majority of the time, but I'm also getting some ME time.  It's making me a much happier and less stressed person.

Speaking of crafts, I've had SO MANY orders of stuff lately.

These letters were for a little girl.  Her dad is a marine and my friend ordered these as a gift.  The marine is meeting his daughter for the first time soon!

For a customer's guest room.

Instead of a birth announcement, a wedding announcement!

For a customer's living room decor!

I've also been doing some crafts for our house AND for some friends:

These are hair bow holders.  I made them for some of my friends with daughters.

These three are hanging in my hallway

I made this one for my daughter today!  Go Chiefs!

I made this for my daughter's room-because she'll love Harry Potter too.

This was for my friend AshBoll-just because she's awesome.

I also set up my Etsy shop! (That's a link, so click it!)

Other stuff:

*Ben is going to Korea next year, so I'll be staying with my parents for a year with Delilah while he's gone.  I'm so thankful that I get to go back while he's away.  My mom and I have lots of plans, and she can't wait to get me and Delilah back!

*We will HOPEFULLY be stationed at a new base after he goes to Korea.  (I'd be shocked if we didn't)

*I've been hanging out with some really awesome people lately and just ignoring the ones who consistently lie about people.  I don't want to even be associated with any of that, so I just decided to not talk to them unless I absolutely had to.  It's made my life a lot easier!  (I'm sure I get talked about-because I still hear about it-but at least now I don't have to pretend like I like them!)

Some of the actual REAL people I've been lucky enough to befriend!

*I've been organizing the house...getting rid of JUNK that we don't need.  I've got 2 big boxes for the local mission in town that helps the needy.  When we move, we're donating our living room furniture as well.  We've been blessed, and we want to give back.

*If you haven't seen the new Batman, I don't know what you're doing with your life.

*I participated in a photo shoot for the local breastfeeding group.  Here are some pictures from it!

My mom got me that bracelet! 

And finally: