Getting our BFP

Well, today was a BIG day in the Fackler house!  After many conversations, debates and one final decision in a booth in “The Diner” in Daleville, Alabama, we found out we are expecting our very first baby!  We couldn’t be more excited!!

Lots of funny stories exist around finding out about Baby Fackler!  First, last night, I decided that I wanted to stop and get one more test, just in case!  Adam, of course, proceeded to tell me, “I don’t know why you are getting one, you aren’t pregnant!”  Well, little did he know, the next morning, I would get a BIG FAT POSITIVE (BFP) and pace the house breathless before proceeding on with my day!

After seeing the BFP, I had to go to physical therapy and my physical therapist, Jordan Bettes, was the very first person I told!!  Then, I had to call Erin Hubert to find out what to do…of course, she was so excited and told me to get straight to Lyster to confirm the BFP!  After what seemed like forever in Lyster getting poked, proded and giving them all the information I had, they confirmed that Baby Fackler was in deed on the way!

I immediately headed over to Erin’s so that we could come up with a clever way to tell Adam, would you expect anything less from the two of us??  This is what we came up with:

I waited on pins and needles for Adam to get home from work to tell him.  I decided my best bet was to just leave the picture out and wait for him to see it.  Of course, I couldn’t wait for him to find it, so I had to point it out to him!  Adam’s response, “Are you serious?”  And, then, SHOCK set in for both of us and the journey began…

The Corley Wedding

Memorial Day weekend quickly turning into a whirlwind weekend!  We were all geared up and ready for the nuptials of Rick and Jamie, but before the party comes the planning....

First, our initial pet sitting plans fell through, thus, sending me into a panic!  I cannot leave the pooches in subprime care!  So, I spent all of Friday, trying to recover so that we could head to Ocala, FL!  After several phone calls, it is a holiday weekend remember, and finding no boarders with availability, I resorted to in home care!  This, just for reference, freaks me out because I am so protective.  But, I found this absolutely fabulous girl, Jennifer, who ownsWoofs and Whiskers who gladly opened her home to our pooches!  We couldn't have been more pleased!

Now, we could officially relax and get on the road!

We got into Ocala just in time to make it to the rehearsal dinner and meet both of the Corley and Corso families!  As should be expected when my husband and Rick are together, it quickly turned into a "celebration"!  After a long night at Rick's house, driving the boys back to my hotel, chaperoning them at the pool, and chauffeuring them to McDonald's at 3am...they called it a night!  I feel so blessed that we got to spend Rick's last bachelor night with him!!!

You might not know, but Rick and my mom had an instant connection because of Ocala!  All of Mom's college friend's live in Ocala and I was able to meet up with the Parker's for a quick lunch!  It's funny how you have some people in your life that will always be there and just pick up where you left off!  The Parker family is fabulous and I hope during our time in the South we are able to meet up with them more often!

Finally, it was time for the wedding!  Chubb and Megan arrived and we were ready to head out the door!  They are the silliest couple ever, but I can't be around them and not have a good time!  What a good pair to spend the weekend with....

We aren't near as silly, but for those who know me, I love to pose!

The wedding was beautiful, the company was perfect, and we count ourselves lucky to have the friends we do!  In fact, just last night, we talked about how hard leaving them is going to be...but we aren't thinking about that yet!!!

Fort Rucker Community Spouse's Club

This one is for you Jacob Cramer....

So, as many of you know, my little sister, Julia, just moved to Jacksonville, NC!  It seems so strange that she is old enough to be out on her own and living in an adult life!  Well, because of that, I frequently get to hear antics from her silly boyfriend...and, he called me out...I am slacking on my blog.  He told me not to make promises about my blog if I couldn't uphold them!  RUDE!  

To tell you that the last few weeks of my life have been crazy busy would be an understatement.  And, what is worse, how did I ever do it all when I worked?  

So, for the sake of updating everyone, let's rewind a few weeks!

The day, Thursday May 26th:

For those of you who don't know, the 3rd Thursday of every month is the Fort Rucker Community Spouse's Club's (FRCSC) monthly luncheon!  This time each month has become a time that I crave and has, literally, saved my life!  I attended my first luncheon only days after arriving in Alabama having no idea what I would find.  And, much to my relief, I found a group of ladies that would quickly turn into friends and fill many moments of my days!

I also made a commitment when I got here that I would be proactive in my social life, my role as an ARMY wife, and making new, quality friends!  So, one of my first steps in this venture was volunteering to be the 2nd Vice President for FRCSC.  I am so excited about this position!  A reader's digest version of my job:  planning the luncheons!  PERFECT!  

On May 26th, I got inducted as the 2nd VP for the 2011-2012 year!  Get excited for the things to come with the club this year!  We have so many great fundraisers and various outreach activities planned that will surely continue to help our club grow, help spouse's find a place where they belong, and provide the Fort Rucker community with many needed resources!

Babies and Bloomington

Agh....I become very aware of how far behind I have gotten in the last two weeks!  But, alas, I do have good excuses!   

I got to go home last week!  YAY!  I know, I know, many of you are asking, "Again?"  But, Miss Julia graduated from college, so I HAD to make the trip.  And, of course, along the way, I got to make a few pit stops!

First, I got to have breakfast with Cha (MaryAnne) and her gorgeous daughter, Emma!  And, I got Miss Emma's 9 month pictures and she is PERFECT in every way!! Wouldn't you agree?  

And, of course it wouldn't be a trip home without a new pair of shoes!  Cha and I had to make a trip to DSW!  Thank goodness for my friends and their love for shoes!!  Here is the pair I ended up with.  If you need a pair of your own you can find them here:  Canvas Pump (in lots of different colors)!

Alright, now back to the true nature of my trip, Julia's GRADUATION!  The weekend felt like a whirlwind, but I got to see a lot of my family which was so nice to help cure some of the homesickness I have living in southern Alabama.  Julia has yet to share all of the pictures from graduation, but here is the one I managed to snag!  Bloomington was fabulous, as always, and the rain managed to taper off by the end of afternoon graduation.  And, yes, she managed to "bedazzle" the entire top of her cap:)

  I will add the others as soon as I get them!  

And, of course, Sunday was Mother's Day and I got to spend the day with my very own, FABULOUS mom, Susan!  She makes my whole world better:) 

This is all I have to leave you with on this dreary Sunday!  Preview for my next post:  I hunted all over for OPI's newest collection and finally snagged it!

Just when I feel...

like there isn't a thing in the world I can do right, something always shines though the gloom.  Yesterday was just one of those days.  I was driving 13 hours home, I didn't get enough done before I left, and I was TIRED!  But then it came, my shining moment when I realized I was going to make it, in an email.  And, for some, this email would have meant nothing.  For the "retired" teacher in me, it meant that even though I can't reach a whole classroom full of students, I have the ability to reach one.

For those of you that didn't know, I have been tutoring a little girl in Alabama.  We'll call her Petunia (for her privacy and because I love the name but, I KNOW Adam will never agree to naming a child this).  Petunia has been so bummed about math and her "A" level work dropping to a "B".  Her attitude was beginning to be seen in her work and that is why her mom called me.  Petunia and I have been "hanging out" for the past few weeks and every week I make it my goal to pull one of those "teacher-only" tricks or tools out of the bag!  She has absolutely loved it!  Week after week we see a little improvement here and there, but yesterday in the midst of my FUNK, I got an email from Petunia's mom.  Here is what that email said:

"Hello Ms. Erin! Ms. Petunia would like to report that she received an "A" on the Math (written) test today, as well as, an "A" for oral.  We are ecstatic! Thank you so very much for all you are doing to engage her and helping her to succeed."

First, I love this because only in the South does EVERY child you meet call you Miss (insert name here).  And, to Ms. Petunia and her mom, I bet they think I made their day.   Little do they know, they made mine!  I remembered what it felt like to see the light bulb go off in a child's head or what it felt like to have a parent appreciate your HARD work.  And, mostly, it reminded me that I am good at a lot of things, they just might not be the things I need to be good at now.  But, for Ms. Petunia, my skills are effectively in place!

I leave you with this, remember that you could be someone's shining moment today without evening knowing it...to Ms. Petunia, you are fabulous!

So excited to learn something new...

So, I had to boast a little today because I, with the help of Mrs. Kate Nierengarten, managed to figure out how to add a spectacular header and background.  It took some exploring, and quite a bit of playing, to find a design that I loved, but I found it!  I don't know that I love the font selection for the header, but I will keep playing with it...is it too hard to read???

I figured this was a good place to start as I learn to have a fabulous blog.  But, it doesn't hold a candle to Kate's blog...so, if you are bored...check out her's, plus she has this "to die for adorable" little girl, Grace!
http://babynierengartendiaries.blogspot.com/  One day, I hope mine it as spectacular as her's!  Love you Momma Katie!

My commitment to the blog...

I realized this weekend, during a 13 hour drive, that I truly have been slacking on the blog.  And, this made me very aware of the fact that a neglected blog is so boring!!  So, let me give updates and then, I will embark upon my new commitment to the blog...

The weekend home with Mom and Julia was fabulous!  Not to mention, I got to have margarita time with Susie, Becky, and Valerie.  

And, not that friends and family are not important, but, I WENT SHOPPING!  These were my favorite find of the weekend, a fabulous pair of wedges!

Easter Sunday was fabulous...each year Mom always amazes up with the traditional Easter "purse" filled with goodies that one should find in a basket!  Thankfully, she realized some time ago we love our purses far more than a silly basket!  This Easter was also one of those bittersweet moments of which I am becoming accustomed.  Adam was not there and it made me think about all of the holidays, birthdays and special days he will potentially miss over the next few years.  This combined with the realization that the mass numbers of friends that come home from IU with the Smith girls will most likely stop after this year!  But my goal has been to live in the moment, so for this weekend, I did just that!

And, it wouldn't be Easter without a picture of MY family, especially with having a new addition...sans Adam Mason, of course...

Alright, I promised my blog commitments:

1.  I will promise to post at least 3 times a week, even if it is completely silly information!

2.  I will experiment with new blogging techniques so that my blog stays exciting (did you notice, this was my first blog with pictures?)

Now, that my commitments mean that much to you, but sometimes when it is in writing...I stick to it!

Dabbler...

(n):  one who dabbles in many things.  I have decided this is the current state of my life.  I don't work, but I am not sure if I want to and Adam DEFINITELY doesn't want me to.  So, in all of my time, I have definitely begun to dabble.  Which leaves me wondering, are these all the things I have wanted to do, but never had time?  Are these things I want to be good at or are they just filling time?  And, most importantly, how long will they all last.  For now, I am okay with the dabbling.  They are just little things and maybe, just maybe, the things that stick will become hobbies.  I am convinced, however, if I drive Adam crazy enough with all of the dabbling, he might just drive me back to work...for now, I must dabble on...

Oh, and I guess it isn't fair to not fill you in on the dabbling...in the last month, I have:

*started a garden
*enrolled in another college course
*extreme couponed
*started blogging
*started cooking & baking...like regularly and seriously...I used my KitchenAid for the first time...
*started following the "FlyLady"

I think that is all, I'll let you know if I think of more...

It's a Jeep Thing...

So this weekend, Adam found "the car".  For those of you that didn't know, my husband has been saying since...forever, that as soon as we moved and were both living in the same place he was getting a "new" truck.  Well, if you know me, you know that trucks just aren't my thing...I am more of a convertible girl!!  Thus, we made the great compromise, we went with a JEEP!

Though to fully understand my weekend and the entire experience, you would have had to have been here, but let me try and help.  I sat in the car dealership for, what seemed like, forever as Adam wheeled and dealed.  And, it was lunch time, so you can only imagine the mood I was in...but, finally, he walked away happy!  Then, of course, would he be any sort of guy if he didn't immediately drive and show all of his friends!

Last night, the story of "Adam's Jeep" gets even better.  We were on the way home from our day trip to Destin...that's right, our day trip to Florida...and it started storming like crazy.  And, with a crazy southern storm came hail.  You can fill in the ending and Adam is a little cranky....

A little bit of life...

It has officially been a month since my whirlwind began...I quit my job, which to me seemed like the craziest thing in the world to me.  I packed up everything, and by that, I mean everything we could fit into a 24' PENSKE truck and made the 14 hour move to South Alabama.  For the last 3 weeks, I have lived the chaos of day to day surrounded by totes needing to be unpacked and the ramblings of my husband, whom I had been without for almost 6 months!  And, this week, wonderful Valerie came to make sure I wasn't too lonely...

It's all about perspective, everyone keeps calling it an adventure...I'll take that...

Know that there will be more to come because there is so much that goes on here everyday...