My Hawaiian garden

Joe had the chance to spend about a week and a half in Hawaii in October while his submarine was in port there. I thought it would be great if he could take some pictures of the flowers and bring them back so we could frame them and hang them up in our kitchen, which has very bare, white walls!

I am so excited and proud to show you some of the ones he took- they turned out great! This is my kind of Hawaiian garden- something beautiful that I don't need to water. Does anyone have any ideas of how I can add to the Hawaiian garden effect in the kitchen?

Pregnancy update- 18.5 weeks

This week I had my monthly checkup, and I am thankful that everything continues to go well with the pregnancy so far. The baby's heart rate was in the 160's, my blood pressure was normal, and I have gained about 2 pounds since the beginning of the pregnancy. My belly has begun to round out in the past few weeks and is now slightly noticeable. Overall, I feel pretty good with the exception of some leg cramps, a little shortness of breath when I go up and down stairs, and a feeling of sickness if I have an empty stomach.

We scheduled the ultrasound for December 15. Baby Henderson is waiting for the opportunity to reveal "boy or girl" and Joe is looking forward to seeing baby live for the first time!

Thanksgiving for 2!

This week Joe and I had a very quiet Thanksgiving together... just the two of us plus our little .1 in utero. I was blessed that Joe came home on Tuesday and we got three full days together! It was wonderful to see Joe after he had been out to sea for just over two months.

We cooked Thanksgiving dinner together, and it all came together pretty quickly (about 2 hours). On our menu was a 4.5 pound ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli rice casserole, crescent rolls, and candied yams- Joe's favorite.

Our day was very quiet and relaxing, and though we missed being with a larger group of family and friends, we were thankful to be together.

After 15 weeks, a baby avocado!

This week I finished my fifteenth week of pregnancy! This week, baby is about 4 and a half inches long and weighs about 3 ounces... approximately the size of an avocado. Since I crossed into my second trimester a few weeks ago I have been feeling a lot better. I am thankful for less nausea and more energy.

However, I have noticed that pretty soon I will be outgrowing my clothes. Though I don't think I have a really noticeable baby bump, several people have commented on it. I always thought I'd enjoy wearing jeans with an elastic band anyway! I'll do my best to get a picture up in the next few weeks.

My next doctor's appointment is Nov. 24, and we will probably schedule the ultrasound for the week of Dec. 15. I'm hoping we'll get a good idea during the ultrasound if we have a boy or girl. Especially since Joe and I have had an easier time agreeing on girl names than boy names.

I would appreciate your prayers for Joe being able to be home for the birth of the baby. At this point there is no way to know what his schedule will be in late April/early May. It will probably be at the discretion of his command, so I am praying now that it will work out.

Check out this link for more info if you're curious!

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-16-weeks_1105.bc

Navy Life: He Signed Me Up, Too

September 2004 was an important month for me, though I was completely unaware of what was going on at the time. A young and handsome twenty year old was signing five years of his life over to the Navy. Though he didn't know it, he signed me up too.

Before I say anything else, I don't want anyone to think that I see my role, being at home, as being the same or more difficult than Joe's. I've seen bumper stickers around base that say "Navy Wife- Toughest Job in the Navy" and while I respect that thought, I personally don't agree with it. Joe leaves practically everything behind- save what he can pack in a large duffel bag, and leaves to go out on the sub- for as long as they tell him he's going to be gone. He's stuck in a closed environment with the same people all the time-some people who he is very close to, some people who probably drive him crazy. No personal space, very few comforts, long work hours, intense pressure, and leaving "real life" behind to honor his commitment. Country before family is a reality to him. Not because he wants it to be, because it has to be.

Anyway, the past three plus years I've learned that my life is the Navy life too. Sometimes I feel like I'm better cut out for it than other wives and girlfriends. I've always had an independent streak that likes to do my own thing and have time to myself.

Other times I feel the sting, the loneliness, the frustration at having no control over Joe's schedule (including whether he'll be home for the birth of our baby), and all of a sudden realizing that it's been a really long time since someone gave me a hug.

God has taught me a lot through this season of Navy life... I've learned what a sacrifice it really is for those who serve in the military. I appreciate Joe more and get a true sense of joy when I am reunited with him after a long separation. God has helped me to not stress over when I don't have control of my circumstances, I never really do anyway!

Even though he signed me up for the Navy too, I wouldn't give him up for anything.