He did it!!!!!

Just wanted to let you all know that my baby did it!!! Dallas has officially been accepted into the Ocean Engineering Program!! He is officially going to be starting the process of becoming a Us Navy Diver!!! Go Dallas!! I can't begin to tell you all how proud I am of him!! He never ceases to amaze me!!

Where we will go from here we still don't know, but now that we know he is accepted to the dive program things will move a lot quicker. Just wanted to share the great news!!

New baby pics...

Here are the latest baby pictures! The appt went really well. The Italian experience is the way to go!!!! The Dr. was so incredibly nice and caring. They wanted soooo badly to tell us what we are having. He asked over and over if we were sure we didn't want to know!! It was cute. At one point he looked at Dallas and said, "Papa sara contento!!" Translated "Daddy will be very happy!" So, we aren't sure what that means. In this culture it is great for a dad to have a girl, but in other cultures it is good to have a boy. So, we are still in the dark!! =)The scans I am putting on here are the two clearest. The bottom one looks as if the baby is looking at us from the right eye. You can see the arm, ribs and belly!!! The top one looks as if the baby is sleeping with thumb in its mouth. The Dr. kept saying the baby has my profile and looks like me! Which I find interesting because I think the second scan looks like Dusty and Brent when they were babys!!!

The Dr. said everything is PERFECT!! He couldn't get over how active Baby Gipson is. A couple times he said "Stop moving!!" to the screen because he was having a very hard time getting pictures!! He said, "If I can't get this picture it is because of the baby!!!" haha!! He measured the baby right on course for where I am in the pregnancy. He said the due date is April 26th which is only a day off what the original one was!! The baby weighs 355grams, 0.75 lbs and is 11" long! Yah, we know! We don't know why the baby is so long!! But, he did say that the baby may slow in growth! Who knows, the baby could hit the jackpot on genes and be tall!!! All in all, baby is very healthy. 10 fingers, 10 toes!! That is all that matters!!

Half way/20 weeks...

We made the half way point!! We are now at 20 weeks of pregnancy. I have to admit I never thought I would get to this point. The baby is doing all kinds of moving and jab/kick combos! They have started to get strong enough that it even startles me at times! I can only imagine when they are at their strongest. Dad has felt a little motion, but not a real strong right hook or side kick. I pick at him and say the baby doesn't like him, because as soon as Dallas puts his hand on my belly the baby stops!! Then I comfort him by reminding him it is still really early and soon enough we will get to see all the acrobatics taking place instead of just feeling them! I am sure, however, that the baby is just soothed by the presence of Dad. Dallas has always had that effect on people.

So, in honor of this half way point I am putting new belly pictures up. The one in the orange shirt is from Thanksgiving Day and the one with me in the sweater was taken yesterday. Yes, I have gotten bigger!! In the last two weeks I have made up for ALL the weight I hadn't gained yet!! Can you tell??!!

Our next appt is on Tuesday. We will be going into town to have our 4D ultrasound with one of the Italian OBs. I am excited about getting to experience an OB appt from an Italian point of view! I tell ya this culture knows how to do the baby thing!! We are also both VERY excited to get another glimpse of our little surprise and because this ultrasound tends to go longer! I tell you, my heart stops everytime they turn off the ultrasound machines at the end of an appt. It just never seems like enough time!!

In other news, we leave Tuesday night for Barcelona. Dallas will be taking the GRE. So, please think about him on Thursday. The boy hasn't even studied for it, but I am not concerned. He is a pretty smart cookie. We will get back on Friday night and then leave again the following Tuesday for our annual ski trip!!! This years ski trip should be loads of fun. The group that is going are all really good friends!! And, no, we still haven't heard about the dive program. I keep praying any day now.

17 weeks-Thanksgiving Day

20 weeks/Half way

This is the military...

So, as many of you know I would love to be writing to tell you if Dallas got into the US Navy Dive program or where we will be moving to in 3 months. Sorry, I can't. Oh, how life in the military works!!

Dallas was suppose to hear news, good or bad, on the Dive program by the end of November. That time frame has come and gone. He spoke with his detailer (person who assigns him his next duty station) and was told he needed to get applied to colleges this week. Sounds promising for the dive program without actually telling Dallas if he was in, but there was only one hang up. Dallas needs his GRE, so we thought, before he could apply. By the way the University of Florida is where he is hoping ot attend Grad school. Anyways, so, the only place that has a test scheduled between now and the end of January is Barcelona, Spain. The test is the 13th of Dec. Dallas and I got plane tickets to head out there next week and paid for the test and all was falling into place. Then Dallas found out that his FE, the big engineering test he took after his undergrad, would be sufficient for a non-thesis degree! Oh well! He is going to take the test anyways.

All seemed to be going smoothly and then Dallas was told by his detailer they may not know officially about the dive program for another couple of weeks or mid December. At which point the detailer will be on vacation until the 20th and the whole detail shop out for Christmas, which means we probably won't be discussing change of station until January. Meaning, in military terms, that Dallas wouldn't get official orders until the end of January at the earliest. What that says to people familiar with the way moves work with the military is that we can't pack out our house until we get those orders. Keep in mind with the base closing Dallas has to be gone on the 28th of Feb.

So, I wish I had some really great news and infomation about where we will be come March, but I can't. I do, however, truely believe it will all work out and we will end up going where we are meant to. However, with a little one on the way it does add a little worry to the situation. We would kinda like to atleast know where this baby is going to be born. Where most couples are worrying about safe proofing their homes, setting up nurserys, buying strollers, car seats, etc.. we would be happy just to have a house before our little surprise arrives!!

So, please keep us in your prayers through all this. Especially, my husband. Dallas is not only dealing with all of this, but also work. And, let me tell you, closing a base down sounds a lot easier than it is. There is constent headache and redtape. Dallas works such long hours and is doing so much that sometimes it truely amazes me that he comes home in a good mood. He really is a great man!!

We love you all and hope that at this moment this finds your lives wonderful and full of blessings!! Even with all this we sure are blessed!

Go HOGS!!!

I know this is a silly post, but I just wanted to say how happy I am for the Arkansas Razorbacks!!! We hardly ever get to watch them on tv over here, but last Friday we were able to watch them beat LSU in three overtimes!! What a GREAT game!!

Our thanksgiving was fun!! It was a really relaxing weekend. Well, except for the fact that I made Dallas crawl into our storage above the bathroom and put our winter clothes and all the clothes I know I won't need between now and atleast May away, it was relaxing!!

I was able to spend some time with my mom, Kaci and Katelynn on webcam over the weekend. That was such a treat! I didn't realize how much I needed that, but I think with the pregnancy, being away from my mom and sister is really tough. I also got to see Ben and Abby. They are having such a blast at my parents, but I wasn't expecting any different. My parents have always treated them like family, which puts such an ease in my mind when we are apart!! Katelynn is also looking great!! She is growing like a weed. Her hair is getting so long and she is really starting to get into those facial expressions and her words.

All in all it was a great Thanksgiving weekend!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I just wanted to take this time to say how greatful I am for each and everyone of you!! I have to say that I am not short on blessings and could list them all, but I am mostly thankful for the relationships in my life. I am so glad that God loves us so much to give us companionship in family and friends.

I always knew that I would be blessed with a good marriage, but I had no idea that Dallas would come along. And, now that we are expecting our first child, I see more everyday why it is God choose him for me! What an amazing thought! He sees me as special enough to choose for me a man that I can depend on, be proud of and love in the good and bad!!

I am also greatful, as a woman, to experience pregnancy. Wow, how incredible! As I am writing this our little surprise is flipping all around and I am the only one who can feel it! God and I are the only ones on a daily basis aware of this miracle inside of me and that is overwhelming. What a gift!

Thank you for allowing Dallas and I to share our lives with each of you through this blog and thanks for caring enough to check it periodically. Even though we are far away this holiday season, please know we love you all and are so incredibly greatful for what you add to our lives!!!

Baby bump debut...

I have promised some people that I would put a picture of me on the blog as soon as I had a little belly. Well, the belly is making its debut. It really isn't much and you can only see it if I am wearing certain clothes, but it is definitly there!! Hey BABY!!! Anyways, I hope you enjoy the little bump. I will try to put pics on every 4 weeks or so as it grows. Mommy also thinks she feels our little surprise and can't wait for Daddy to be able to feel the kicks and jabs too!!!

First Baby Shower...

So, last weekend I was surprised by all my girlfriends here in La Madd with Spa weekend and baby shower! It was a REAL surprise. Mainly because it is so early in my pregnancy. However, a lot of us will be doing a lot of last minute travel before the base closes and some are due to leave in Dec. So, they all thought it would be better now than later! It was really great! The hotel was in an area with hot springs and had a heated pool with saunas, steam rooms, heated rocks to lounge on and of course the spa. I got a manicure, pedicure and facial. The massage thereapist at the hotel would not touch a pregnant woman. So, I just got one in La Madd!!! I got some wonderful gifts from everyone! My favorite had to be the cake made with diapers. It was made with newborn diapers. When I opened it up I couldn't believe how tiny the diaper was. All that went through my head was, "God, are you sure you want ME to take care of something that tiny?" hahah!!! And, one of the girls made me a cake that actually looked like a baby with a pacifier in its mouth! That was cool!! It was actually hard deciding where to make the first cut!!! The party was great and a wonderful surprise. It made me feel special and realize that this baby is real and is REALLY coming!!!

notice the diaper fits in my palm!

the baby cake!

Smile for the birdie....

Here is the newest picture of our baby! The baby is 14 weeks and on Friday we will begin the 15th. All is great with the baby! We heard the heartbeat and saw it really good this time!! We even saw the baby MOVE!!! That was super cool. The doctor was showing us the spinal cord when all of a sudden the baby did a flex motion front and back and then a little flip. The picture we have here is the result of all that motion. If you notice the words are upside down? That is because the baby was doing a head stand!! Yep, that is MY baby!! The doc, who is a great friend, said "There is your little gymnast!!!" I put the picture with the head up because it is much easier to see what it is that way!! The picture is taken from the side of the body and you can see the baby's profile and the arm and hands! The hands are kinda in a praying motion!! During the visit the baby moved the arms a lot as well! I tell you what, Dallas and I totally loved this appt. Compared to the last time, where the baby was practically a gummy bear with no movement, to a baby moving all over made it quite entertaining! Let's just say if we didn't believe in miracles before today (and we did) that we absolutely do now!!! Doc says I am doing well too, so all is great in Gipsonville!!! Even Daddy seem really proud and happy!!

If you double click the picture it will enlarge the image!

Baby at 14 weeks and 4days.

Not sure about mommyhood...

Hahahaha!!!!!! My friend Sandra sent me this picture! We were in Cinque Terre, a town on the northwestern coast of Italy, enjoying the beach until it was time to head home. Not soon after we had gathered all our things and began heading to the car we realized I had everything, the bags, stroller and Mia( her daughter) and Sandra was carrying nothing. Needless to say we laughed so hard!! I looked like her little nanny slave!! It was hillarious. Except, now, I have a picture of what life as a mom is going to look like for Ms. Cindy!! We all know I am a little chaotic and try to do everything all at once. Maybe this was meant to be and a good practice for things to come!! HAHAHAHA!! Poor Dallas!!

Me and my Mia (those are her legs dangling!)

La Maddalena's Last Navy Ball.....

Dallas and I at Navy Ball 2007. No that flower is not in Dallas' hair!!!

As many of you know, the base that we are currently stationed at is in the process of closing. These are strange times here and filled with a lot of bitter-sweet moments! Last Friday was the last Navy Ball ever to be held in La Maddalena. Instead of the usual formal affair we had a very casual luau. The remaining 150 service members and their families came out for one last celebration as a La Maddalena family! The ship has left and now the remaining service members are busy wrapping up some red tape before we lock the gates and turn in the keys to the NSA compound. Sad times, but we are trying to enjoy all of this little island, that has been our home for the past two year, as much as possible.

Baby's first gift...

Baby Gipson has received his/her first gift!! My mom and dad couldn't resist the Arkansas Razorback socks and pacifier!! It was great that they waited to give it to us in person too!! That was really special! I couldn't feel it, but I am sure the baby let out a Hog Call when I opened the gift. Go HOGS!!!! Wooo PIG!!!

Oh, and no comments on how tired I look!! I know!! ;-)

Family Fun in Italy...

The group at the Rome Airport

So, I have obviously been MIA with my blog lately and I am sorry for that. For the last two weeks I have been touring Italy with my Mom, Dad and Aunt Brenda and Uncle Jack! We had such a good time. Well, I guess I should say I had such a good time!! It was so much fun to watch them take it all in for the first time!!! At the end of their trip we went to Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany! Wow, what a fun time that was! It is really something everyone should do once. The beer tents are loads of fun, but on top of that they sit in the middle of one the world's largest carnivals. Oh how I wish I could have ridden the rides! I did find solice in the roasted almonds,however!! They all got to taste the Oktoberfest brew while I chugged water!! Let me tell ya, I was glad they had a lot of bathrooms available!! Our little masterpiece loves to take refuge right ontop of my bladder!! I guess technically, little masterpiece, has already begun traveling the world!!

The group ontop of the Duomo in Florence

Chug, chug, chug! That was some great water!!

Cindy and Brenda in the Haufbrau House Beer Tent

Brenda, Jack, Pop and Mae enjoying Oktoberfest Carvnival

La Madd Friends/Family...

So, I don't get very many opportunities to show off our friends all at once, but was able to get a picture with most of them in it!! We were all at a BBQ at our friends' house in Palau and I had everyone strike a pose. We have been overwhelmed by the blessing of friends we have made while living here in La Maddalena! We will not soon forget many of them and some of them we will keep as life long friends!! One couple in particular, not pictured here, has become so much like family, I think we sometimes forget they aren't blood related!!

This is and has been our support for 2 years. Some have been here for all of it, some have just arrived and some of our friends have already left for new adventures. However, through good and bad Dallas and I have been greatful to this place for at the very least being stationed around such great people!!

Introducing Baby Gipson...

Well, not much of a showing, but we have our first picture of the baby!!! It looks like a cocoon, but we know it is a baby. The picture doesn't do it justice, because when we saw it you could actually see the three sections of the baby-the head, body and feet!! The baby measured within 4days of what they have as far as weeks pregnant(8weeks 6days) and they say mom is very healthy!! Tomorrow I will begin my third month and am feeling great! I get pretty tired, but no nausea!! (knock on wood) I thought I had put on some weight, but nope, no weight gain to date!! The doc seems to think with my activity level I will gain only baby weight. We'll see! Lets just pray that the weight goes ONLY in the belly!!hehee!!! (doubtful)

We did see a faint heartbeat, but this early it was hard for us to tell without the doc pointing it out. The doctor, because he is a close friend and wanted to keep me comfortable, just did the abdominal ultrasound which made it even harder for an untrained eye this early on to see, but we finally did. He was able to count the beats and the baby's heart is beating very strong!!! Praise GOD!! Three more weeks until we are in a "safe zone"!! We moved my next scheduled appt to 5 weeks out, so the week of the 20th of October we will have another appt. We are so lucky, because we are good friends with our doctor, he is going to give us another ultrasound and picture. Normally he doesn't give another until the 20th week, but he said for us he would!! So look forward to more ultrasounds and hopefully one that looks more like a baby!!!

More exciting news-they are pretty sure I will be able to stay here with Dallas until the end!!! When we heard that we thought, there isn't much else you can tell us to ease our minds! All around it was a great appointment!
Needless to say Dallas and I are very excited!!!

Here goes....

Hey all!! Well, my friend Sarah gave me an awesome idea of starting a blog to stay better connected with people as we move around the globe and as our lives change. I thought it was a great idea! I can only imagine this will be interesting for each of you as I try to figure this whole blogging thing out. With all that said...

As many of you know Dallas nad I have been living in La Maddalena, Italy for the past two years. It is a beautiful place! We literally feel as though we are floating on a rock in the middle of the mediterranian! It really is great! We love it, however, we will be glad when we are stateside again with our friends and family!

We are due back in the states in February of 2008. When we arrive I will be about 7 months pregnant with out first baby! OH MY!! I am only 7 weeks along at this point and am praying for a healthy baby and pregnancy. I don't have my first appt to see/ hear the baby until Oct. 9th. So, until then, you will have to deal with the picture the digital read out that rocked our world..."pregnant" and no turning back!!

My hopes are that this blog will give everyone back home the ability to share in this time with us since it is a joyful time in our lives!! It is going to be an interesting 7 months as Dallas helps the base here close and we both prepare to move for the 4th time in his 5years with the Navy! So, hang on and enjoy the blogs as we continue to fill you in on the lives of the floating Gipsons!!