Baby shower pictures!

My office threw us a baby shower and it was super fun!! I'll post pictures of FL's soon!

Thursday Thirteen

There's an escalating conflict between Russia and Georgia and I'm copying tomatoe salad recipe's from The Washington Post. Yes, this is pretty much where I'm at in the pregnancy…The office is buzzing - Cold War, ships deploying, military involvement, media phone calls, but quick! -someone fix the copy machine cause I need my tomatoe's!!! I can safely safe, I'm a pretty important asset to the Navy. :) And I've got "take care of me, take care of baby, MUST EAT FOOD" on the brain!

This morning has been filled with compliments and funny conversations about my pregnancy, the latest of which I realized Holy Crap I'm 8 MONTHS ON SATURDAY!!!!! The time has been flying by! So far, pregnancy has been really fun and fairly easy so I thought I'd make my Thursday Thirteen one I can write in my journal to remember.

13 Really Fun and Great Things About My Pregnancy So Far!

1. Feeling or seeing her kick. She’s only gotten me good twice, which actually brought me to tears, but every other time it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had. I really can’t believe I’ve got a little girl in there!

2. Decorating the nursery. This is going down in one of the most fun things EVER! The room is gorgeous! It’s exactly what I pictured and filled with beautiful pictures and antiques and books. I can’t wait to see her dressed up in cute little dresses with white tights and bloomers running around playing with her toys!!

3. Talking to strangers about her. I can’t take two steps around the building without someone asking all about the pregnancy and how I’m feeling. It’s really fun talking about her all day and it’s always nice to be paid compliments every now and then.

4. Picking out names. We’ve agreed on Maddison Grace. Maddison means daughter of a mighty warrior and Anna (after my mother) means Grace. I love that name! We’ve even picked out the next few! J I’m pushing for Nancy after my grandma. I love the name Nancy. And if we have a boy, he’ll probably be Benjamin Riley. Zach’s family name is Riley – his grandpa, dad and brother. It’s a naming after combo platter.

5. Celebrating her soon-to-happen birth with our families. We have had such wonderful, wonderful support from our families. From phone calls, to emails, to things passed down in the family, to super thoughtful gifts, we are so blessed!!

6. Telling my kindergarten Catholic religious education class about being pregnant. It was the cutest thing ever I swear. They all were completely amazed and ran over to touch my belly!

7. Being pregnant with a friend. It’s really great that a good friend of mine is only a month more pregnant than I am. We can share our crazy feelings and aches and emotions with each other without feeling silly.

8. Daydreaming about what she’ll look like. So far, it looks like she’s got the Old Man’s nose and cheeks and my Dr. Seuss ‘who’-like chin. I picture her to have blue eyes, cute dark hair and long eyelashes like the Old Man. So pretty!!

9. Spending time with my sister, my mom and my grandma in Florida. My favorite women in the world! I wish I could share every second of my pregnancy with them!

10. Buying a mini-van. Yes, we’re in our mid-20s and we’ve crossed the line, but the van is so great! I was near tears in trading in my favorite car ever, and I still get that way sometimes, but the van is really nice and roomy and drives like a champ. I still laugh at my reflection in window’s though!

11. The fact that I have dodged the nausea. That was my biggest fear ever. I did get horrible migraines for a long time, but I’ll take those over hugging the bowl anytime.

12. That I’m 8 months and still up and moving. I’m incredibly fortunate to still have the energy and ability to do a bunch of stuff still. Including my 12 hour work days after my commute is done. Although lately, that’s slowly fading…

13. Hearing my husband’s jokes. He’s been really funny lately and that’s really refreshing – especially when I have not so good days. We’ve got only a few weeks left and I can’t wait to become parents!!!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

I fell in love again!

Just when I thought I can't love someone I've never met so much, I see this little punam! Head on, she has all of the Old Man's facial features and my tiny chin! haha She's going to be gorgeous!

She's shmooshed up a little close to my walls ...






This is the thinker ... She has the longest fingers ever! (Oh, and I once fooled my sister in the game Balderdash by saying a movie plot was about a kid who took over the world with his seven inch fingernail. This is exactly what I pictured. Tiny body. Big finger.)



This is Maddie whistling like a coach ...



This is the Old Man all the way. Complete with his nose and cheek bones!

A few things from nurse, I mean pirate Anna ...

First off, when boss requests a volunteer to research and write a press release about our hospital ship's latest humanitarian mission, and you are wearing a white cotton-blend maternity blouse, do not accept. Unless you are aware of the "nurse Hancock" jokes that will ensue ...

It's official. I'm as big as a house. I can't get over my reflection in the window when I walk by or in the mirror every morning! I know it's for a wonderful, wonderful reason, but man, am I wrong for disliking the clothes that resemble puffy shirts from Seinfeld or Brittney Spears at her worst? Luckily, my sister made it through this emotionally trying time and managed to find - and pass on ThankYouVeryMuch!- a bunch of really cute things. But in general, all that's left within reasonable prices are paisley-printed blends and polyester house coats making us all look like the same, pregnant woman.

So anywho, here I am in my puffy shirt resisting the urge to roll my R's when I talk or squint my left eye, and I realize, I'm well over six months pregnant! Yay!!! We decided to get a 3D/4D sonogram and on Friday, we’ve made progress on the baby registry and are making plans to visit FL for a shower and how to paint the nursery!!!!!!!!!!!!

So far, so good!

I wanted to tell everyone that we’ve pretty much decided on a name for her ...

Maddison Grace. What do you think? (leave a comment!) Others that I'm still pushing for even though the Old Man pretty much has his mind made up are Lilly, Ava, Julia, Rachel or my favorite - Nancy Grace. After my grandmother. The most amazing, almost 93-year old woman who is the Wii bowling champ in her nursing home! And if it turns out that the little girl was hiding her privates, Benjamin Riley.

So back to Maddi, we love that name! The only hang up I have is that every third child is named Madison so I had to make it different and add a D in there. And get this, after we decided we like that name, we looked into what it meant – daughter of a mighty warrior! Not to mention that it’s a former president’s name and we met in Washington, D.C. Hopefully, when we go into labor in a few months, we can make it to Bethesda which is the President’s hospital which would be cute too!

I hope everyone is doing well! We love and miss you!

On another note ...

If you haven't yet read my weekly update on my sidebar, the little one is the size of a spaghetti squash! A SPAGHETTI SQUASH!!!! Can you believe it??? She can hear and blink and has hair and is almost a pound!

These five months are flying by so fast that I'm trying not to panic! It was only about two weeks ago that I started to feel super pregnant. I'm big, I'm uncomfortable, I'm getting massive headaches, my feet hurt, my head's big, I can't sit, I can't stand, I can't lay down! Ughh! But isn't it amazing how every little kick just makes it all worthwhile?

As for the house - the Old Man and I are now settled into our new place and it's fantastic! The house is beautiful. We have tons of space and a cute little backyard. Humphrey and Sophie are even excited to have some more room!

As for the old place - we close on it today then hop over to a prenatal check-up. Everything has fallen into place so wonderfully that I get all vaclempt thinking about how things really do follow God's plan.

I'll get better at writing, I swear. It's been a bit hectic around the Hancock household, but things are coming along quite nicely!

All you have to do is pray! :)

We miss everyone and hope to see you soon!

Now THIS is exciting!

OK, so I'm not doing so good at keeping up on the blog, but it's because I've been working really, really hard at work and I'm really loving it!

So I'm busting right now!!!!!! I checked out my latest story about how Military Sealift Command accepted a fifth ship to the Navy's newest, most advanced ship class, (again, not the most exciting article, but hey, I'm still new!) and it got picked up on Military.com!!! WEEEEE!!

My most exciting goal before went on maternity leave was to get at least one story published on Military.com and they took one already!! (If you aren't familiar, in the military world, Military.com is probably the biggest news source.) And now it's almost midnight, everyone's asleep and I have no one to tell!!! Again, one of the many reasons why I love blogging so much!

To see it online, click here!

The drumroll please!

We're having a baby girl!!!!!

Dr. said she looks perfect!

We'll have to start a name poll next!

You can see her little hand!

She's got daddy's cheek balls!

This is the cutest picture!!!

My nephew

My sister took this at the Tampa Bay Rays stadium when they were doing the Lupus walk. He's getting so big!!

Walkin' for Lupus!

Oh how I love the HO'S - in case you forgot - the Hancock, Hill, O'Sullivan's! This weekend they were out supporting my mother and the millions of other Americans with Lupus at the Lupus Walk at Tropicana Field.

My mom's spirit and determination in battling this disease everyday is so incredibly inspiring. She's the most amazing woman I know.

I wish we could have been there, mom, I love you!

PS. The Old Man and I will be waiting for our XL tee-shirts!

We have kicks!!

I feel little tiny baby kicks!! He's so active; I love it!! I can feel them the strongest in the morning and before I go to bed, and it's wonderful!!

8 more days until we find out if the baby is a boy or a girl!!!!!!

Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!

A PROCLAMATION

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Military spouses embody the courage, nobility of duty, and love of country that inspire every American. On Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute to the husbands and wives who support their spouses in America's Armed Forces during times of war and peace.

The legacy of military spouses began when colonial Americans were fighting for independence. Martha Washington boosted the morale of her husband's troops by visiting battlefields and tending to the wounded. Since then, members of our Armed Forces have served our Nation accompanied by the steadfast love and support of their spouses and families.

While our men and women in uniform are protecting our country's founding ideals of liberty, democracy, and justice, their spouses live with uncommon challenges, endure sleepless nights, and spend long periods raising children alone. Many military spouses are also committed volunteers, serving other military families and local communities. Our Nation benefits from the sacrifices of our military families, and we are inspired by their courage, strength, and leadership.

On Military Spouse Day and throughout the year, we honor the commitment spouses have made to freedom's cause. To learn about ways to support our troops and their spouses and families, I encourage all Americans to visit America Supports You.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 9, 2008, as Military Spouse Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities and by expressing their gratitude to the husbands and wives of those serving in the United States Armed Forces.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH