So... the other night when I was standing in my bedroom, surveying the freshly vacuumed floors and all the spiffy, clean surfaces, I was suddenly reminded of the "nesting" feeling when I was a month or two away from giving birth to Caleb.

Which made me laugh.

Because apparently having your husband come home from a deployment is similar to preparing for the birth of your child?

Here's my list of similarities:

 1. You are overcome with the urge to get your house "perfect" because you know that after they arrive, you won't have the desire to clean for at least the first couple of weeks.

2. You stock up on groceries... to prepare for the relatives coming to visit and just in case you don't leave the house for a few days.

3. My desire to finish the remodel to our house has increased 10 fold.  When Caleb was coming, it's because I wanted it DONE.  With Chris coming home, it was a convenient deadline to get me motivated because I wanted to "surprise" him with the changes.  (Unfortunately I didn't get too far...)

4.  You are excited and anxious all at the same time because you're not entirely sure what to expect.   You know you love your husband/baby, but you feel like you might have to spend a little time getting (re)acquainted.

5.  I've had people bring over premade meals.  When Caleb was born, I didn't cook for a month .  Looks like I'll have at least 2-3 nights of food from friends with Chris coming home :)

Here are ways in which they are different:

1. I'm not wearing maternity clothing.

2.  I'm far more concerned with personal grooming than I was when Caleb was born.

3.  I've LOST 30 lbs (instead of gaining it with baby) so I feel more like a hot mama than a hot air balloon.

4.  I won't have to get up in the middle of the night 40 times to go to the bathroom (well not unless I've had several adult beverages).

So Chris, hunny, hurry up and get home because I've got our little "nest" all prepared.

Seriously.

I kinda feel like I might vomit.

I'm somewhere between 7 to 12 days away from seeing my husband and have this crazy  mix of emotions going on that makes me feel like I might lose my lunch at any moment.  It also causes me to wake up in the middle of the night for no reason... that is if I can get to sleep in the first place. 

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve because I'm so excited.  But maybe I'm also a kid that ate too much candy before going to bed because my stomach is in knots and I'm too excited/hyped up on sugar to sleep.

I'm at work, trying to concentrate... but every 5 seconds my brain goes something like this:

Work, work, work... Chris is coming home... SHIT!  Chris is coming home!... There is still so much to do!  I still have to (fill in list of menial cleaning the house "busy work" here)... And I need to get my haircut and paint my nails and (fill in long list of personal grooming things that I think I need to do here)... And OMG CHRIS IS COMING HOME!!!!... OMG!  What if (fill in list of baseless, stupid, girl fears here)... OMG I think I'm gonna puke.

*take a sip of water and a moment to convince myself not to puke*

And this continues in a constant loop...

So Chris, the moral of this story is that if I look like I haven't slept or eaten in days when I meet you at the airport... chances are that I haven't.  So hurry up and get home already!!!

It's OCTOBER!

OCTOBER!!!!!

I am so friggin amped!

October is one of my favorite months.  Halloween is in October, and in the world of Cynthia, Halloween is kind of like a funner version of Christmas.  I don't know why I love it so much, but I suspect it has something to do with my childhood love of playing dress up.

And October is the month that really feels like fall for me.  The leaves start to drop, the scent of fall is everywhere and I start cooking chili and apple desserts and pumpkin stuff. 

So in any normal year, October is pretty high up in my list of favorite months.

But THIS year, it also is the month that I get to see Chris for TWO WHOLE WEEKS!!!!!

I can't remember the last time I took a 2 week vacation (OK I can... it was 2004 during Chris' last R&R).

I am SO READY to see him again.  We're entering into month 6 of the deployment and I need a break.  I need my husband here.  He is my best friend and nothing can make me smile or relax like having him around. 

In preparation, I've been shopping, running, losing weight, scheduling salon appointments, cleaning, organizing, calling contractors, and more.  I'm like a 4 year old in the month of December, counting down the days to Santa's arrival.  I'm trying to be on my BEST behavior so I get the ONE present on my list... my husband.

So here is my prayer.  Dear God, please make October go fast.  And please keep Chris safe on his way here.  A