Oh, you’ll start to love it, I promise, Kathy. Just think about it: Swap meets…bowling leagues…bingo…double coupon week… Casino Night at the slaughterhouse. IT’S YOUR DESTINY. -Roseanne

It’s Tuesday and you know what that means! Time to grab a cup of coffee (make it Irish for me so I can live vicariously through you) for Talk to Us Tuesday:

Earlier this month I signed up for the Seriously Impulsive Swap with Impulsive Addict and Seriously Shawn.

I’ve never participated in a swap, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was blown away with the loot I got from my swap partner Boobies! Check it out:

I was immediately excited by all the candy! I also had to slap Match’s hands a few times from trying to break open the candy while I inventoried the rest of my stuff.

Sorry I look like a hot mess. I had just taken a break from painting Roo’s mural. I was NOT photo ready.

Boobies spoiled me rotten! I got two What to Expect books, which I desperately needed. I also got the most adorable scrapbooking stickers, and stamps. You probably can’t tell from the picture but one stamp is a tiny baby foot. How cute is that? She also got Roo a lullaby cd that’s all Pearl Jam songs redone. You can’t say my kid won’t be hip. I also got a makeup and jewelry bag which has spurred me to check out jewelry deal so I can fill it up. I also got a bunch of CANDY. Yummm. Just in time too since I’ve had a crazy sweet tooth lately.

So my first ever swap was a success. Thank you thank you Boobies for the awesome loot, and thanks to IA and Shawn for hosting a fun party!

Dr. Leonard Green: What’s new with you?
Rachel: Um… I got TiVo!
Dr. Leonard Green: What’s TiVo?
Phoebe: It’s slang for pregnant. -Friends

Today I’m checking in with two hot mamas: Impulsive Addict and Seriously Shawn

Match and I had this grand plan to not tell people about Roo until the doctor confirmed our pregnancy. Well that scheme lasted all of four days until we were both just about to burst. So we agreed that we would only tell our parents and siblings, and then wait for the doctor for everyone else.

I wanted to do something creative, and it was Match who came up with the idea. We took two old tshirts and some puff paint and got to creating.

Mine said Baby on Board with a little arrow pointing to my belly and Match insisted his should say Who’s Your Daddy? We were both wearing the shirts when we called our parents and had them use the Skype web conferencing services with us.

In typical Mom fashion, my mom couldn’t get her side of the video to work, so we could hear her but not see her. I guess the wording on our shirts appeared backwards on her screen, and I could hear her saying, “What’s your shirt say? It’s backwards. What’s that…baby?” Then she screamed at the top of her lungs when she realized what it said. I wish we could have seen her reaction, and I made sure to tease her for it. By the time she got her video working the moment was over, but I still got to see her and my Pops grinning. They’re both so excited to be grandparents for the third time (my brother has two toddlers).

Then it came time to tell the in-laws. This I was so excited for because they will be first time grandparents. They did get the video working right away, but they also had the problem with the image being backwards. My mother in-law was so cute because I think she was afraid it was a joke, or that she’d misread it because she said tentatively, “Are you…are you pregnant?” And then when I nodded and said yes, she clapped her hands and I could see tears in her eyes.

Here’s my mom still trying to figure out the Skype on the “darn computer” she calls it.

and here’s my overjoyed in-laws. I love that I was able to catch that reaction. I know the sunglasses make them look ridiculous, but I like to hide faces when I can. But you had to see that grin!

After we were done talking to our parents, we decided we’d better tell our siblings. This was mostly because my mother-in-law was so anxious for us to tell her daughter that I was afraid she would do it. She had a hard enough time when we said she couldn’t tell her sisters until our doctor’s visit. It’s been killing her these past few weeks, and I know exactly how she feels.

So for the siblings, they didn’t want to skype and neither my brother nor Match’s sis understood why we were pestering them. So I said I was emailing them a picture of the house and to call me as soon as they got it. This is the picture they got instead, and it had our phones blowing up quick!

We had such a blast telling our immediate family. I love that we were able to capture moments of it on camera. Ideally we would have been there in person, but this was the next best thing. The next morning both our moms had emailed us bubbly emails about how excited they were. They each have unique nicknames they want to be called, which I think is so cute. I loved telling the family in our own special way. Next up…how we told our friends!

She’s this amazing girl one minute and then this raging jealous freak the next.-Matt, The Vampire Diaries

Today I’m checking in with my two favorite blog girl friends Impulsive Addict and Seriously Shawn. I really need an ear today guys. I’m struggling with a big issue in the world of Law Enforcement spouses: drama, trust and jealousy issues.

The other night I had Walking Buddy and another new deputy wife friend over for the evening. We were having a really great time visiting and hanging out with their babies. Everything was great, until one of the wives mentioned her fears about a coworker of our husbands. Her and Walking Buddy got all upset about their men even so much as talking to this coworker, and were really fired up about it. As they were talking, I felt like they were dragging me into their world of mistrust. They even tried to get me upset because she asked one of the husband’s for Match’s phone number.

Now I trust Match 100%. But you remember when I had to deal with the slutty girl who kept hanging all over Match during academy? So I’m familiar with that feeling of uncertainty. As the wives said, they trust their men completely, it’s the women they don’t trust. I am familiar with horrible women who prey on married men. But at the end of the day we have to trust our men don’t we?

I know Match loves me no matter what. Even if my weight balloons up and I’m shopping for plus size dresses at sydneyscloset, and I know he’ll only have eyes for me. In fact he’s been more than understanding of the guy friends I’ve had in the past. So I try to extend the same courtesy. He always tells me everything, and I never have to wonder if he’s holding back.

I’m just sad that I let these girls get to me, and made me have feelings of doubt that night. The next day I talked about it all with Match, and we were both pretty bummed out. I really like these girls, and I was hoping to become good girlfriends. But it’s hard to be around girls who are so insecure and cause so much drama. They don’t even want their husbands talking to girls at work, even though it’s part of their JOB. I think it’s important to have comradeship among his colleagues, and if that means female coworkers, so be it. He will have times where he has to depend on these people for his life, and I want to be sure they’re looking out for him.

I also think by getting mad at their husbands, these wives are inadvertently pushing their husbands to lie. They’re basically making them afraid to even mention female coworkers for fear of backlash. I don’t want Match to ever feel that he has to hold anything back from me. I don’t mind him having female friends as long as I remain his best friend. He also knows there are boundaries. Going to lunch one on one with the same female coworker all the time isn’t appropriate, but talking during their shift or hanging out in groups is just fine.

My way of dealing with this new girl is to invite her to our house for Match’s birthday next week. I feel that knowing someone keeps me from wondering about them, and usually puts all fears to rest. Hopefully these deputy wives won’t mind that she’s there.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you have friends who are insecure about their husbands and other females? How do you stop yourself from falling into the drama trap right along with them?

Cam: Why so much tape Jay?
Jay: Why are you wearing a sweater when it’s 95 degrees out?
Cam: It’s my Christmas sweater!
Jay: Based on those stains, you are the Christmas sweater.-Modern Family

It’s the first Talk to Us Tuesday of the New Year! Come play along with our fabulous hostesses: IA and Seriously Shawn

I never got around to blogging about Christmas or the last few weeks of December, so let me catch you up:

• Christmas with the in-laws was great. Good company, tasty food, and time with family.

 

• SIL Travel Girl was home for Christmas for the first time since 2008, so MIL was over the moon happy to have her whole family here.
• The day after our family Christmas, we took FIL’s boat for a spin around the lake. Can you believe he made it himself?

• I rowed a boat for the first time ever. It was a great back workout and so much fun. I can’t wait to go again! I also couldn’t help repeating “row, row, row” like on that commercial with the little hamsters. Hehehe.

• SIL stayed her last night in town with us, so she could see our new place and we took her a hiking. 

 

• After our hike we earned  a night out for sushi. It was our first time trying sushi in our new town, and it was ah-mazing.

• On Thursday, we had a few of Match’s coworkers, including Walking Buddy, over to help us break in the new firepit. I’m so excited to be making new friends in our town.

• I think that catches us up to New Year’s. I still can’t believe it’s already 2012. Anyone else feel like 2011 just flew by?

So kids, I settled in for Christmas alone. I appreciated that Ted wanted to cheer me up, but honestly, it wasn’t necessary. -Robin, How I Met Your Mother

I’m linking up with my two favorite elves: IA and Seriously Shawn

Here’s what I’ve been up to: 

Merry Christmas everyone! Today I’m actually home alone tonight (sad) because Match is at work. But don’t feel too bad for me; we will be celebrating with the in-laws tomorrow. On Thursday, colds and all, Match, Monkey, and I went to Candy Cane Lane here in our new city. It’s definitely going to become a Christmas tradition for us. We bundled up, grabbed some apple cider and walked through the magic that is Candy Cane and Lollipop Lanes.





Click on the picture and it should get bigger so you can see all the pretty lights up close.  I told Match I wanted to deck out our house like this next year, and he said, “Good luck hanging those lights!”



I need these little penguins in my yard. Aren’t they the cutest?

We had fun walking through the lanes, and I can’t wait to bring our kids here someday. Next year Match should have Christmas off! I’m very excited about that. I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful holiday!