Home at Last

Well the vacation is over and its back to life as normal. I'm back to cooking and cleaning for us instead of dining out or having a whole ship of people kindly doing that for us, and next week its back to work and off to find a better job.



As you all know it was off to beautiful, yet freezing Ohio for a week of fun, family and catching up. I just love all of my in-laws up there, always so kind and welcoming! And of course there is never a dull moment, always some where to be and some one to see. It was alot to pack into one week and on top of that we had to go through all of Brian's stuff to see what was coming here with his parents in a few weeks... and he says I have alot of stuff lol! Thank you so much to Roseanna for our wedding gifts and adorable abundance of baby stuff, I love everything and cant wait for the baby to come and enjoy it as well. Eventually we had to say goodbye to cozy Ohio and start our 19 hr/2 day trip home, I have never, nor Brian I think, been so annoyed by my frequent potty breaks due to my shrinking bladder, but we made it just in time to throw everything down, do laundry, and pack for our sunny sea excursion.



We had a "layover" in Magnolia to visit my side of the family, which I love and never feel like I spend enough time there. We stayed at Mom's and got to see some of the wonderful things she pulled out for the baby, and Mom being the wonderful mother she is took me maternity clothes shopping, I tried on half the store and cam home with some great finds that I am already wearing, and will totally wear after baby as well, Also she bought baby Camp's first book, and beautiful Peter Rabbit pop-up book... THANKS MOM!



Dad held a little family barbeque for us, with the never unexpected steak and potatoes. Josh came down from College Station to see his lovely sis, Chance brought his sweet girlfriend over, and Sheldon and Trish made it over for a little while, Sheldon was terribly sick and they couldn't stay for dinner though. And a big CONGRATULATIONS to Trish for winning Teacher of the Year at her school, she is a truely wonderful teacher and a teacher I aspire to be like once I teach. The next day we were able to visit with Jamie for a little while, which I loved and she gave me lots of good advice on pregnancy and baby stuff, and I must say for being so sick she still had that glow everyone speaks of. Unfortunately we were unable to get to see Ray and Jenny's fabulous new home :( Speaking of Ray and Jenny... THEIR WEDDING IS THIS WEEKEND!! I can't wait for it to finally be here, I know its going to be just beautiful, I'm only worried about crying, because I have been getting more and more emotional lately, so get the waterproof mascara ready! lol



On to the cruise.... It was heaven! Truely the PERFECT setup for a pregnant woman, oh how I wish I could spend my whole pregnancy there.

• All the food you could eat at any time and in a variety of different choices, even free roomservice
• Soft serve frozen yogurt or ice cream by the pool
• A pool
• A track to walk around should the constant trips to the bathroom and up and down stairs not be enough
• A dark room, perfect for mid afternoon naps
• A gentle rocking to softly coax a deep sleep
• You don't have to pick up a thing, your room is cleaned every time you turn around it would almost make you thing your room steward is hiding under your bed waiting for you to leave and clean lol
• A 5-course meal every night, starter, soup, dessert, the works
• A casino to keep the hubster busy

Need I say more?

One of the pools on the ship *The Camps on Elegant Night *At dinner one night

The ports were beautiful.... in Montego Bay we went golfing at White Witch Golf Course- absolutely the most breath taking views the whole trip.

Just arrived in Jamacia *Brian warming up*
*FORE!!!!

At Grand Cayman we went on a Sting Ray adventure, a local boat took us on a short ride into the lagoon to a place called Sting Ray Island, a 3-4ft deep area in the middle of the clearest, bluest water you've ever seen where the sting rays gather. We got in the water with them and a guide picked one up for us... if you know me you know I was terrified with those things swimming all around us, I kept jumping on Brian to save me lol, then I notice an 80-something year old woman holding on to the slimy creature and decided I had to grow some courage :P It was the coolest thing ever, I held it , pet it, it ws pregnant and I got to feel its babies move around, and for "7 years good luck" we kissed it. Totally cool. Then we went to deeper waters and went snorkeling, equally amazing.

I'm totally freaked out *7 yrs Good Luck

Beautiful Snorkeling *Heading back to the dock

The Cozumel water was blue than I had remembered, we were so tired at this point thought we just wandered around a while int he shopping area and wheeled and dealed our way to a pair of Oakleys for Brian and a beautiful sapphire ring for myself :)

Sunny Cozumel *Our ship at port* Funny tourist hats

And now we are finally home, resting up for the weekend and upcoming work week ahead. We went to the doctor today to do all of my initial blood work and paper work before my first actual prenatal exam on the 24th. They confirmed that I will be 11 weeks tomorrow, at first the nurse said only 8 weeks but I eagerly corrected her and she rechecked it, thank goodness I was right, 11 weeks means the nausea and acid reflux should subside in the coming weeks as I will soon be in my 2nd trimester :) I was also please to find I haven't gained much weight, despite the constant eating and growing tummy... yes it has started growing, Brian has been adoringly calling me "potbelly" and today I found my uterus above my pelvic bone...I think at least. I thought my belly would be more firm than it is and at time was just plain disappointed with my belly, thinking I was just getting fat... fortunately I have now found out that my belly won't really firm up for a month or 2 and I am perfectly normal. Now if I could just get used to the acid reflux.... I am trying even harder to change my diet now that I am back in control of my meals and have fortunately discovered that I can eat cereal again with the help of lactose free soy milk, and just love eggs and pancakes :)

Well thats my novel of and update, stay tuned next week for all the exciting news about the wedding and hearing the baby's heartbeat! Thanks for reading, much love to all!