S.O.S.

I need advice. I need guidance. I need suggestions.

I need help...PLEASE.

The baby is still not sleeping. And when I say "not sleeping" I don't mean like solidly through the night. No, no, no...when I say "not sleeping," I mean that he still wakes up every 90 minutes or so...sometimes more...and sometimes much more. I get up somewhere between 7 and 10 times every single night. EVERY....SINGLE....NIGHT.

This is not normal. I know that babies wake up during the night...I'm not some delusional parent looking for eight solid hours of blissful sleep. I'm not greedy or unrealistic (hey, shut up). At this point, I would settle for three. Three hours, in a row, of uninterrupted sleep...something I haven't had since I was about five months pregnant (to put that in perspective, it was May 2008). I mean, he's five months old...according to all the books and pretty much everyone I know, he should be sleeping a heck of a lot more.

I cannot overstate how tired I am. Without trying to be overly dramatic or full of angst, my whole self is crying out for sleep. My head constantly aches, my eyes burn, my body hurts. I cannot think, focus, or pay attention. I alternate between being short-tempered, anxiety ridden, and numb. I dread the evenings, and always feel about one sleepless night away from a complete breakdown.

So I need all of you to help me...especially you parents. Please...if you have any ideas for what I can do to get him to stop waking up every hour...I'm all ears. Nothing you say will upset or offend me. I am sincerely asking for your advice...teach me!

So bring it on, people. Let the learnin' begin...

Face of an Angel...

Mommy Feet, Baby Feet

Hanging out in our blue jeans...

Favorite Toy -- Mr. Doggy von Barkovich

I know that somewhere on this dog there's something I can put in my mouth....

There we go!! :)

Must See TV ;)

Click here to see the cutest video ever!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr0-17Ghjx4

Oh Happy Day...

Wow, this has been some day! First, we find out that I'm going to be getting promoted to Captain at the end of the month. Now, since I'm a technician and I'm paid for my Monday through Friday job according to the GS pay scale, it won't affect my regular pay (but I will get a bump in my weekend drill pay, since that is a military position). So really the big benefit of it is simply being allowed to wear a rank on my uniform that tells the world that I'm no longer a total idiot (aka a Lieutenant). Now, when people see me coming down the hall or hear my name on the other end of a phone call, they will know that I at least have some experience, that I have handled projects bigger than stocking the squadron snack bar, and that the chances of me completely messing up are reduced by at least ... oh I don't know...15%?? ;) Also, the fact that I will no longer have to salute my own husband is not to be overlooked!

Then, David calls me with the HUGE news that he received his orders to move here, and is scheduled to be packed out on Jan. 20th. So in less than three weeks, my family will be reunited...for good this time. This last separation was nine months long (we haven't lived together since last April), and we are so over it. Couples who get to live together have no idea how much they take for granted all the things that we miss everyday. But no more! No more being separated on birthdays and anniversaries (and regular old Thursdays, for that matter!), no more being forced to give up jobs to follow each other around, no more maintaining two households. From Jan. 25th or so on, when I say "goodnight" to my husband, I won't have to hang up the phone afterwards...when David asks me how the baby is doing, I can say "go see for yourself." Oh happy day...

The only thing that could make this day any better would be if the Gators totally dominate in tonight's National Championship game against the Oklahoma Sooners. So keep your fingers crossed and wish us luck. Wait a minute...what am I thinking?! We don't need luck...we've got TEBOW!! :)

More photos from Christmas...

First time eating solid food (if you can call baby food "solid"...)!!

In both these pictures, he's smiling at daddy :)

Now I lay me down to sleep...

Happy Boy!

Just a Little Teaser...

Okay, okay...stop bugging me to get Christmas photos up...I'm working on it! Try to keep in mind that I not only have a four-month-old, but I work full time and am a graduate student...I mean really, you people are lucky to get anything from me at all!! Sheesh, you're welcome... ;)

Anyway, here's a little teaser for you...an adorable little snapshot I like to call the "what is on my head?!" photo. Enjoy, and be sure to check back soon!

It Happens...

So...everyone warned me that it would happen, and it finally did. Samuel (drumroll please)....POOPED IN THE TUB! Ugh! I couldn't believe it...I probably scared my poor parents to death, screaming for them to "come help us!" while they knew he was taking a bath. The baby, on the other hand, thought the whole thing was totally hilarious. Which, if I'm being honest, it really is. :)

Rugs...seriously?!

So today, my sister and her sons Lucas and Daniel went out to my new house with me to help me set up my mailbox. It's a little weird that I'll have to start checking mail at a house that I don't actually live in, but hey...such is the military life, right? So anyway, we get the mailbox set up and then we set out for the outlet malls to hit up the Rug Decor store, since nearly my entire new house is tiled (so at least a few area rugs are in order).

So explain this to me...why are rugs -- especially ugly rugs -- so freakin' expensive?! I mean, if these were rugs that were beautiful rugs handwoven by artisans or Turkish children, I would understand...but there were seriously rugs in this store that made me question other people's reason and sanity (as in "who is buying these rugs? Pavarotti? The Artist Formerly Known as Prince?"). There's just no way I am going to spend two weeks of salary on something that is mass produced, most likely made of polyester and will undoubtedly be covered in yellow Lab dog hair and sippie cup spills in a couple of year. Dream on, Rug Decor!!!

PS -- Don't email me about the evils of child labor...I was kidding, people!