Learn to Swerve.

;/;?-=]

In one year....

As I countdown the days until my baby love flies his way back across the ocean into my loving embrace... (stole that from a romance novel) I reflected upon how much has changed since the day he left. Last year at this time...

1. I was 205 pounds. ( I am now slowly making my way into the high 160's) Shame its not My IQ we're discussing. (this was the day after mike left for iraq. Think I look any better now?)

2. Charity could hold her head up and smile. She now takes up the width of her playpen, runs around like a t rex with the most adorable small arms at her chest and the biggest poo eating grin.  And weighs about 25 pounds.

3. Aubree seems to be the only one losing anything since Mike left and that's just her teeth. She' gotten alot taller, smarter, and more hair to boot.

4. Mikey has grown 4 inches. To be almost 3'9 at 4 years old. Tall little fella, and he's of course gotten cuter. Just ask him.

Seems crazy to think how so much has happened in one year. I know I've grown alot, and for once not in clothes sizes. I really pray that mike gets to come home on schedule and I can get back to life.... GOsh we miss you babe.

Shakin things up...

I have an idea.

Let's scare the cheese pizza right off of Ruth at 5 in the morning by letting a little earthquake action loose on the City of Anchorage. Talk about wake up call. Roof shaking, lights clinkin'... My animal senses allowed me to wake up about 2 seconds before it hit and I got to see the natural wonder from start to finish. All my mommy instincts kicked into gear and I tried to grab Aubree, and rush her to the kitchen table, heaven knows I needed  to at least  keep her protected from falling debris. Turns out it only lasted about 3 seconds and no table coverage was needed.

  IT was pointless to go back to sleep for 45 minutes when I had to get ready for the Id card spoken of yesterday. Picture was ok. I give it a 5 on the" I'm still fat but if I suck my cheeks in enough I can pass for slimmer than I really am" photo scale.

The guy at the booth was like.. has any of this info changed since your last ID card? ( it read 125 pounds on the screen.) I had to laugh. Like you know he was thinking, this is an out and out lie if I've ever scoped one. I rounded it to 160. I always was a fan of rounding. I figure That's my goal weight. Not a total lie. (That and I had to keep some dignity about me).

  Seems today was a good day for fun. I got to go to my friend Anna's (annasplit for those of you peas out there) baby shower. She got some cute stuff. Took a few photos. The infamous hide the second and third chins pose, I have grown to love.

Mike informed me today they just extended the length of the 172nd by 4 months, meaning they get to stay 4 more months. Good news is; he's not the 172nd. Bad news is; he's got the same chance of the same thing happening. I would hate to have to tell the kids they have to wait 4 more months. My babies need their daddy. Keep the 101st in your prayers please. And if you see it on the news that they did extend, expect to see me there with a sign that reads... Iraq or bust. I HAVE to see my man=) (Small shout out to his royal hotness who benched an amazing 425 pounds today. I think thats some sort of record eh babe?)

Better get to sleep. Tomorrow I get my Drivers License renewed. More weight facing questions and photos with chin fat. This should be fun ;)

Oops.

SO. After all the drama of my baby girl losing her jibs (an akers family word for teeth) I took a few photos and helped her place her teeth under her pillow. With the promise of much goodness when she awoke Guess who forgot. Yeah. That'd be me.

As if I am not kicking myself enough. Her faith in the tooth fairy is totally lost. The tooth in the front is the one we are watching, and it might seem silly but I have never prayed so much for a tooth in all my days. She's doing awesome though. We will need some speech classes I can see it already, but if this is the worst thing that happens to her we are doing good. Love her. SO much.

Ok CHA. Report. I"ll make it short and sweet. Met SOOO many cool people. Found the Basic grey booth on friday and said hi to Amy H. (who is really as tiny, talented and cute as she appears online! ) and Leslie. Who I am SURE did not expect me to talk as much as I did. I think that was a common thought for most. I do have a tendancy to talk loud and often. Saw the girls of SBA.  Tons of cuties and talent there. Got over to Autumn leaves and spoke to some of my idols.   Met with the paper salon girls, Hoots, all of them. (This is me hiding from the camera at one such meeting. I think I managed to hide for most camera sightings, although my backside took a beating in this photo. Can we say slim fast? I took a total of 3 photos at CHA. 3!! people. Count em. One of me and my roomie Amy, and 2 layouts for RObyn W at Autumn Leaves. Love her and her adorable style.

I think overall I had the most fun meeting people and justs getting a chance to put names and faces with avatars and blogs. I know I was not the hottie you were all expecting... Sarcasm oozing from that one. But I hope I wasn't a total letdown. My fav products included Fontwerks, Autumn Leaves, American Crafts, and some cool papers from the usuals. BAsic Grey, was of course fun, and the new chipboards are TDF. Love the Bohemia line, and the digital for dummies thing they are doing. (overlays were huge and I loved that!)

Overall it was a blast and my face seemed to only get fatter the hotter it got.

I got hit on only once... unlike Amy who was given quite the offer come CHA closing time... She turned him down of course;)

I'd love to get to meet those of you I didn't next time around. And If you have photos of me... I insist you burn them.

I have beauty sleep to get to. I have to replace my military ID card tomorrow at 6:30... I refuse to look like the girl on my other ID. As my junior high school crush so eloquently put it when I told him I had to wake up early one day so I could look good for school... "You might as well not even go to sleep. "  I have alot of work to do.

On second thought.

It seems that there are plently of people that within the last 24 hours have surfaced who not only had similar experiences, but that lived through it. Imagine that. I am too hard on myself I know, and all it took was Aubree saying in her newly acquired lisp, its Otay mama. For me to realize. It is otay. I am not a failure. I had fun at CHA. She's perfectly ok, just a little bigger space in her smile.

Beating myself up accomplishes nothing.

I will give my full report of CHA after a nice long trip to the track. Its been a week and I can feel that Chicago pizza sitting around my middle. So nice to meet so many of you, and to hang with my girl Amy. Who by the way is not only talented but awesome when it comes to being a friend.

Thanks for the sweet comments on my girl. I fully intend on scrapbooking her little toothless smile.

Amazing how a day and a full night sleep can change so much =)

*well*

I just got back from the dentist. My baby has 2 spaces where her pretty little teeth used to be and a date for removal of the 3rd if it doesn't take root. I feel awful. They said had she seen the dentist right away they might have been saved. Being military we are unable to just sign over rights to someone while we are gone, and had I been here, maybe something could have been done.

I'm second guessing all of this. I know its just teeth, but is this something I am supposed to learn from? Do I need to stop trying to become the next big thing and just enjoy my babies? DO I sell this stuff and try to just be a better mother with nothing to keep me from the attentions of my children?

It seems lately so many things are shaking up in the industry, so many people moving up, or down. Things that before were of no bother to me, but while CHA was fun, I guess it wasn't worth not being there for my baby. She cried for me you know. And I wasn't there.

She wanted her mama and I was too busy trying to become someone. I'm sick to my stomach over this, and I just want this to be over. I want Mike home, I want my life back. I want to stop trying to achieve things that are never going to happen. I guess in some way if I'm unhappy, I won't feel so guilty about Aubree.

I bought her a pack of pokemon cards and her little face just lit up. I lost it. I'm losing it now. I need to step away from everything for a bit. Thank you all for being so kind. I truly appreciate honest caring people. I won't be far. Just taking some needed time off. I hope you all understand.

I need your prayers again.

I'm sorry to come back to such horrid news but it seems while I was gone my Aubree fell in the bathtub and hurt her mouth. Upon closer examination  she will lose her top teeth. She's only 3 and they don't think they can do anything to save them. If you guys would please pray for her. I feel so irresponsible. She is the sweetest cutest little girl and they would not be able to replace them so if she loses them she has to go with no top teeth until they grow in about 7 or 8. I'm not at all vain but i would do anything for my babies. ANd I'd hate for her to go without her teeth for so long due to something I could have maybe prevented. Please keep her in your prayers and I will keep you all posted.

Thank you for always being there for me girls and I will be taking a break from scrapping for a bit to spend more time with my kids. I hate that I was not there for her, and that my lack of being there may have led to this. Please Pray for her again and know I appreciate it.

Its not looking good...

3 hours into my trip and so far I've

1. Lost a toenail.

2. Been hit on by 3 men, all of whom are at least 73  +/- 25 years.

3. REalized these 2 dozen cookies will not make it to the cookie breakfast. I'm currently eating my 3rd.

4. Devoured Elsie, And Ali's new books 3 times over.

5. Resisted the urge to pay for a water massage though its looking like I'm ready to cave.

I'm currently waiting for the plane to LAND so that we can board, and Its already almost midnight. I think I might be late.

I need to go for a walk but I know as soon as I do they will start boarding.

I just realized, the period key, and the !! keys are almost completely worn off. I need to lay off the punctuation. Its good to be me.

IDle randomness. Thats all I have to give.

CHA CHA CHING!!!!

Well girls its time.

I've primped. I've plucked. I've nipped, I've tucked. OR at least I wanted to. Didn't exactly have the skrilla for that.

I'm as ready as I can be. And I can't wait!!

If I made plans to see you. Make sure we do it!

IF you see me, please say HELLO!

I'm not at all shy but I am a bit reserved when it comes to some situations

SOO. can't wait. I'll update when I can. have a great weekend!!!

AIrman Kirby reports again...

So I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that I used to be in the airforce, and it was No bueno to put it nicely. I wasn't cut from the military mold as some were, my husband being one of those), and quite frankly, I hate being told what to do!

However, being that this week is girls camp and someone from my ward found out  I used to be in the airforce... ( I don't think it was my size that gave me away). I have realized the things I learned in the military, and the things I am thankful for. Of course in true RUth fashion, I have to share the things that still haunt me.

I learned:

1. NO amount of cute hair and dimpled smiles will free you from the rath of a 5'7 steaming mad, half puerto rican drill seargant. ( I relate this to having good looks will only get you so far. ) And no, it wasn't me with the hair, or the dimples. unless you count THOSE cheeks.

2. The best method for weight loss includes setting a team of drill instructors in front of any and all things fattening. You make it past them, you deserve the calories. ( I never even attempted.) lost 25 pounds I did. (I'm considering re-enlisting for the health benefits)

3.  MArriage is something you do when you Love someone. NOt something to get you out of the barracks sooner or to up your paycheck. You'll end up with a broken heart, no place to live and bad credit.

4. The same girls who thought they were too cool for school in high school, are still going to exist no matter where you go. LEarn to deal with it. If you're lucky they'll have to drop down and give  you 20 when you become their superior. Gotta love the chain of command =)

5. Sometimes there is such a thing as too clean. I never thought I'd say that, but a razor without waterspots? You're kidding me?

6. 20 second showers are possible. You can go 6 weeks without shaving your legs, and makeup isn't always a necessity.

7. Things are not always fair. You will get blamed for stuff you didn't do, your bed will become unmade no matter how hard you try not to move while sleeping on it, and dust bunnies do come out of nowhere.

8. You'll learn to take the line "your mama wears combat boots" as a compliment. I know I do.

I know my blog posts are lacking as of late, but I am getting ready to leave. So don't leave me for good. I promise to post things of interest soon.

Its Monday. My room is almost clean, I am almost packed, and I need to go tanning. Cherry is walking everywhere, mike is almost home, and there is nothing but beautiful breezes and sunshine outside.  Its a good day=) And babe. If you're reading. I'm sorry. I love you.