Katrina Elam

So, here is my latest music post! The bad news is that I don't have any music to put in the post--sucks, I know. For any of your country music fans out there, you have to do a youtube search on Katrina Elam. She's just so awesome but for some reason they won't let you "embed" her music. She hasn't put out a new CD in a few years but if you are a MySpace user you can listen to her new stuff at her page. She's so great, I hope she puts out a new CD soon!

If you do feel like checking it out, let me know what you think!!!

More Flowers!

Now, I'm sure we all truly believe we each have the greatest husbands ever and it's totally true because they all have their individual ways of showing their soft and sweet sides. Well, Curt keeps on surprising me (and now my family!) with these sweet acts of kindness, and I'm just here to show him off! Curt has been away a lot this past year and it doesn't look like it will be slowing down any time soon. Thankfully, I'd follow that kid anywhere and I know we'll make it through the next few months no matter where the Air Force sends us!

Basically, he was really thankful that I was able to have some very important visitors this summer while he was in the States (Deena, my sister, and my Mom). What was his latest kind gesture, you ask? Oh he just went ahead and sent my Mom some flowers to thank her for coming all the way out here to keep me company (and well fed) for two whole weeks.

I love it!

Back To Work...

Yes, that's right, I'm back to work. I know last week I had mentioned my disappointment in not being able to apply for a teaching position this year because of all the exciting things going on in our lives, but things have changed! Last night I received a call from my principal asking me if I would like to be a substitute in one of the third grade classrooms at our school. We are still waiting for a new teacher to get here so they were desperate for someone to temporarily fill in and I, of course, jumped at the opportunity! I talked it over with Curt and we decided that because he is still in the states and I just love to teach (and be busy) that this was just a blessing in disguise. Some might think I'm crazy, but this is actually more relaxing to me than sitting at home...I swear! I feel so productive and happy when I'm at work so the timing is actually perfect. This stint should take me almost to the end of September and my Boss was adamant in letting me know that the second I didn't want to work anymore I should let him know and he would find my replacement. I'm super happy with the way things worked out, especially since I will be working with older students, which is so different from what I am used to in Kindergarten!!! Although I loved my Kindergarten classes, it will be so great to experience something new, if only for a few weeks.

So, back to lesson planning!

My Mom Comes To England!

I just had the best two weeks, ever, because my Mom came to visit me! She made the long 8 hour flight over the Atlantic so she could check me out in all my pregnant glory and try and see as much of the local area as possible in 14 days. We were super laid back about this trip. We were big on sleeping in (a lot!), shopping (a lot!), and cooking (a lot!). I have mentioned this before, but I am not so impressive in the kitchen. Well, that sure has changed in the past 2 weeks. Of course I will need more practice and there are times when my meals will not turn out the way they are supposed to, but I have acquired some basic culinary skills that are good enough to at least get me started. I haven't eaten this well since high school!!! FYI: eating three well balanced meals makes the baby really happy. She was kicking up a storm the entire time. I'm sure it was her way of paying compliments to the chef! I have been living on leftovers for the past few days and it's been fabulous.

Aside from all the cooking going on in my house, here are a few highlights from the past two weeks:
1. Spent the Day in Bury walking through the gardens (she has a pretty impressive green thumb so she just loved this!), shopping for Baby and browsing the local market. I had the best cherries of my life that day! Why is the commissary still selling crappy produce, I wonder?
2. We drove out to see Windsor Castle and the local town that surrounded it. It was great! The traffic to and from there was not so great.
3. Spent the day in Norwich walking the town and shopping in their huge Mall. Lots of baby clothes were purchased that day!!!
4. Day One in Cambridge: the Grafton was very good to us and I managed to find tons of (what I think are...) great deals on Winter clothes and supplies for the baby. So cute!
5. Day Two in Cambridge: Punting!!! I always take my guests punting to see the amazing colleges lined up in Cambridge. It's such a relaxing way to take in the sights. We were also given the most beautiful day to do it. It was perfect!
6. Hours and hours of watching the Olympics. Great!
7. This is more exciting for Curt than me, but my Mom refinished a rod iron table for him that he found in our old garage. It was quite the project, but thankfully my Mom loves stuff like that. Curt also got a new Dremell and Drill. Hopefully he uses them!!!
8. My Mom finally got to see Lakenheath Elementary School!!! I took her there to see my old classroom and she was even able to meet a lot of the friends and co-workers that I have made and told her about. It was great because she teaches as well, so she was really able to appreciate seeing where I've been the past 3.5 years.
9. Doctors Appointment and Baby Basics! My Mom was thrilled to take part in some of my appointments and classes while she was here. It was a "refresher" for her, although I'm sure she didn't need it, as she prepares to become a default baby sitter for two grandchildren.
10. Pottery, pottery, pottery!!! There is BOXES upon BOXES of pottery in my house that Curt is going to help me ship to my Mom once he gets home. She made sure to get her souvenirs while she was here, and there are a LOT of them. :)

Like I said, our past two weeks has been busy in the way that we wanted it to be. My Mom teaches school so even though she has summers "off", she still manages to take on daily "to-do" lists and projects that keep her up and moving for those 2.5 months of down time. While she was here she read about 100 books, slept in, and overall had just a great time. It was great that she was unable to over task herself in the way she does when she's home, and that is what made it a real vacation. For once, I don't think she went home thinking, "I need a vacation from my vacation". We were easy going and it was wonderful!

Here are some pictures that she took while she was here. There is also tons of video that was shot for my family, but that all went home with her. Enjoy!
(UPDATE: My Mom's camera is too fancy for my pain in the rear computer...) I will have her resize them and resend the pictures today, so check back later!!!)

Just Wondering...

Now, I am aware that my love for apparel may appear as though it is overshadowing the more important things that I should be reading up on or concerned about as we get closer to the arrival of our Baby Girl, but trust me...I'm obsessing about them as well. It's just that writing about them isn't as fun!!! :) With that said, I have a--you guessed it---clothes question. Now, yesterday I was talking with a friend and I was so excited that I thought I found a great deal on some sweaters for the baby. I am trying to stock up on the little things, staples really, for Winter to make sure that she will be warm both here in England as well as in the States. Well, my "great deal" turned out to be not so great after all. I do realize that she's going to be growing like crazy the first year of her life so to invest a lot of money on one thing would be foolish.

My question to the you is: Where is everyone buying their baby clothes these days?

Shriver's Salt Water Taffy

Growing up, I lucky enough to be taken down the shore each Summer to spend a blissful week in Sea Isle City for a family vacation. We did it all: full days on the beach, mini golf, boardwalk shopping, seafood dinners, amusement rides, the works! As I got older and into High School I started making those weekend trips, week long trips, and even day trips into New Jersey and Maryland to get my beach fix with family as well as friends. I really couldn't get enough of it. Living in England has made those trips these past couple years few and far between and I have to admit, each summer as I watch and listen to my friends and family take their trips to the beach, I realize that I still long for the sights, sounds, and smells of the Atlantic! I just love it when you are making the quick two hour drive to the beach and the feeling that comes over you when you get that first smell of salty, sea water in the warm and humid air. It instantly takes me back to my childhood.


I guess where I'm going with this is the other day we received a big box full of goodies from Momma Dougherty. (She totally spoils us and the baby rotten, it's great!) Of all the great things inside, I was the most excited about the one box of Shriver's Salt Water Taffy that she picked up for us while she was at the beach. I wonder if she even realizes how happy that made me? I have never left the beach without a box of Salt Water Taffy, never, and even though I didn't make it to the Jersey Shore this summer I still managed to get a box!

It's amazing how something so small can make you feel so at home. It's the little things in life I guess, that make us really happy.

www.shrivers.com

I Love A Rainy Day

It's true, I absolutely love rainy and chilly days. To be honest, I think that when I see it's going to be raining most of the day I get the feeling that I have a right to stay inside, in pajamas, and just be relaxed (or lazy...). I think to myself, well, it's raining, so those errands and chores can be pushed back another day because who likes to run around town in the cold and rain?!?! I set myself up for hours and hours of reading magazines, watching DVD's, eating some comfort food, and roaming around my house in Uggs and Curt's fleece sweat pants.

Sounds pretty nice, huh?

The Best Of Both Worlds

Okay, so I have to admit that with the school year about to start in just a few short days, I keep finding myself a little (well, maybe more than "a little") sad that I won't be teaching this year. It's just that I love it so much that it's hard for me to sit back and watch it all begin without being a part of it. Of course I will be volunteering, but it's not quite the same. I wasn't able to apply for a teaching position this year for many reasons, one of them being that Curt and I have no idea when we will be leaving England, but it will most likely be before the school year is over is June. I was offered by my principal the opportunity to be sponsored if Curt were to be given an assignment and need to move, which I thought was so nice of him! However, I thought to myself, Curt and I already spend so much time apart that I would never want to add to those days of separation. I couldn't imagine living over here without him! The second and most important reason: I'm about to have a BABY!!! So, in reality, I actually do have a job, and an important one at that. I would hate to look back in a few years and realize that I missed out on some of the most important years of our baby's life. It was then that I realized I do have the best of...it all! I had to remind myself that there will always be work and having the opportunity to take some time off to start a family is a blessing.

I wouldn't change this life for anything. Curt and I are so blessed in so many ways.

Seriously...

...how cute is this?

Someone might need to stage some sort of an intervention on me with regards to shopping for baby clothes. Don't worry, it will most likely be Curt. :)

A High Tea: My British Baby Shower

My Growing Baby:


So, I'm finally getting around to putting up the pictures from my shower. My Mom graciously brought the pictures back to England that were taken on my sister's camera while she was here visiting. My great friends Missy, Abi, and Audrey took on the responsibility of my Shower and they just did a fabulous job. The planned a "High Tea", which is so British and I love it. Obviously, it was perfect given that we actually live in England right now. I had a great group of friends there to help me prepare for the next biggest thing our lives. It's crazy that in just a few weeks there will be three of us, I am just so looking forward to her arrival.
At the shower, there was loads of yummy treats: cakes, scones, and sandwiches. Yum! Audrey also went above and beyond and made a delicious Baby Cake, it looked so professional! We also played a fun game where you had to decide how big my belly was using ribbon. Let's just say I'm living in a fantasy land and my own measurement was probably too small even before I was pregnant. Keep Dreaming!
I received LOADS of gifts, even from all those people who couldn't make it that day and I am so thankful. I will admit that I have been pretty sad that I couldn't make it home this summer to do a baby shower with my family and friends in the States. Thankfully, with the help of all my loved ones back home, Abi, Audrey, and Missy were able to pull together a perfect afternoon. I couldn't have asked for a better party.

Two of my Three Hosts; Abi and Audrey:


A few Ladies of the 492nd; Jen, Kate, and Abi:


Great Friends:


Enjoying Some Goodies; Marge, Kim (who is preggo no longer!), and Julie:


Good Conversation; Jo and Dori:


Scones (I only had 3!):


Audrey's Hidden Talent:


Cake Table:


Sandwiches:


PS: Blogger and I are NOT getting along right now. For some reason only half of the images I wanted to post are coming up. Hopefully I can get the rest of them up soon! Stay tuned...

32.3 Weeks

Here we are, just moving right along! I guess I shouldn't have been wearing such a dark shirt for this picture, but you get the idea. I'm growing and there is no denying that! Curt is off in Vegas so this picture was taken by my MOM! Yes, my Mom is visiting me here in England for about two weeks. I will have tons to post on that shortly. She was even able to come with me to my 32 week appointment last week. It was a routine appointment so nothing too exciting to report! Her latest craze is taking either her elbow or her knee and socking me in the right side of my stomach. Even though she takes my breath away when she does it, I always smile afterwards because I'm just reassured that she's active and well and to me that's the greatest feeling.


So, back to my Mom!!! The biggest thing we have going on here is that I am learning to cook. I figured now was as good a time as any. My sisters and I were totally spoiled growing up in that my Mom loves to cook and bake so much, that we never had to do it on our own. We're talking Pot Roast, Lasagne, Chicken (of every variety), Turkey, Pastas, Fresh Produce....EVERYTHING was cooked by her and to perfection. (Spoiled? Yes!). Although I'm not complaining in the least bit, we always had a great meal in front of us. But, the time has come for me to start preparing some well balanced family meals, especially with the baby on the way. I'm thinking that Campbell's soup and Macaroni and Cheese isn't going to impress my little girl all that much. FYI: My house has never smelled this great, never!
The secondest biggest thing: SHOPPING! Man, can we shop! Baby Girl Dougherty has a growing wardrobe (NO-still no name!) and she is going to be stylin'...I promise you that!
Other than that, we've been sleeping in and watching the Olympics. Super laid back, and I love it...

"True Companion"

I'm totally missing Curt (already!) even though he just left yesterday. This is our wedding song, "True Companion" by March Cohn. I love, love, love this song. As many of you know Curt and I dated throughout high school and college and even though we are seasoned veterans when it comes to being physically separated, we both agree that it doesn't really get "easier" as time passes on. I especially love this song because way back when I was about 17 years old and Curt was 18 (babies, I know!) we were at a coffee shop listening to our friend Steve Laret sing this and we both decided that this would be a great wedding song. A few short years later, it was.

Obsess Much?

So, Yes, I am obsessed with Carrie Underwood. She's so great and I just love anything she sings. I always find myself listening to her cover of "Alone", originally sung by Heart, so I thought I would share it. I especially like this version because it's just Carrie, a guitar, violin, and drums. Love it!

Pretty good, huh?