I Must Be A Princess, Because I Have A Moat

Here are a few pictures of the house decorated. It's still a bit of a work in progress but I'm lovin' it :-)

The snow is really starting to melt, so right now our front yard looks like a lake (or moat haha) but I am hoping it will dry up in the next week or two. I can't wait for those 80 degree days!

The Kitchen

Dining Room

Living room

Again, the living room

And of course.. the moat

North Pole... The New Fairbanks

Yes. It is true. I live in the North Pole. Does Santa live here you ask? I am not sure, for I have not ventured in to the actual town of North Pole yet. When I find out I will let you know.

We (Joshua, Teagan and I) arrived here last Saturday (the 9th of April) and moved in to our new awesome house. I love, love our house. Which is good because Joshua will be gone quite often, so I am fortunate to have a great place to live in. We are still decorating but I will show you some pics of before, and later I will post pics of the after :)

The Kitchen... Love Love LOVE it!

The Outside (yes, it looks exactly like this snow and all)

The house has three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and a sweet kitchen (as you can see in the above pic). Most of all it has way more space than our last house. a whole 500 square feet more! Heck yes, you know what that means right? Yup! Shopping. We did most of that before we got here, knowing that Fairbanks/North Pole is lacking in store selection. Our two biggest new purchases a new leather couch and new mattress.

Teagan Update


Any who... Teagan is growing soo fast. She will be 5 months old on the 16th and she is already wearing 9 months clothes! Where is she getting these growing genes from? HA.. She is also starting to scoot. I can't believe it!

My Drooler 

Fairbanks; Take One

My first time to Fairbanks was this weekend. I will be living here soon, when we finally get housing. It's pretty nice actually. They have pretty much everything you need (if you do all your clothes shopping in the lower 48 or online). The only thing is the cold, other than that I wouldn't mind living here at all.

It is beautiful here

Joshua has been "working" while we have been here, meaning he has gone in to work each day and they have let him come home because we were here. Pretty nice.

Mom came with us and has been helping out with Teagan. We all went out to dinner the first night we got here at a really great restaurant called Lavelles Bistro. The food was amazing. I even tried a glass of red wine, and didn't hate it like usual. I have been surprised at the quality and quantity of good restaurants in Fairbanks.


Lavelles

Yesterday Mom and I went to The Alaska Club and I finally had a great workout! Getting back on track after pregnancy is hard, but I am excited to get back in to shape :-) I hope it is not raining in Washington this week so I can do some running.

I also asked about a job at The Alaska Club as a trainer, so there could be some potential there. Pretty excited to move up here in the next few months.

Teagan Update

She has not flipped over again yet. Though there is no lack of trying on my part. Tummy time is a daily occurrence and we keep rooting her on, but no luck yet. She is also smiling more and more everyday, such a happy little girl.

She Could Go All The Way!!!

Today Teagan rolled over for the first time. It was adorable. Her little legs were going so fast and she just kinda tipped over. She startled herself pretty well, and was surprised about suddenly being able to see the ceiling rather than the floor. So Cute.

Anyways, more news; Teagan, Mom and I are going to visit Joshua up in Fairbanks this weekend. Then we (Teagan, Mom and I) are going down to Washington to see our peeps (Family). Pretty excited. Not about the -30 degree weather, but seeing Joshua and then family. It will be Teagan's first time meeting my Mom's family, quite neat.

We Like To Think We're Foodies

On New Years Eve 2010 Joshua and I went to the coolest little gastro pub, Meddlesome Moth, in Dallas. We must have looked at a hundred set menus before we decided on this one. It was one of the best meals we have experienced. On top of that they had probably about 40 beers on tap, which made the hubby happy.

Joshua's Beer Heaven

They even had one I liked, pear cider, okay well so it's not really a beer, but still....

Me With My Yummy Pear Cider

We had a four course meal, Joshua and I ordered different choices so we could try everything.

Appetizers

Tuna

Veal and Quail Eggs

Salad

Butter Lettuce and Radish

Entrees

Steak and Gnocchi With Pomegranate

Lamb with Pistachios 

We also had a dessert course, but forgot to take a picture. Have to say this was amazing food, my favorite was the tuna appetizer; the steak was also fabulous. The service was also wonderful. A great funky place to bring in the new year.

Olympics, Here We Come!

Teagan held her first toy the other day, and I am convinced she is destined for greatness :-) At two months old, she's also holding her head up like a pro!

Well The Weather Outside Is.... Weather

Everyday on the news there have been reports of snow dumping all up and down the East Coast.... and I am jealous. I am shocked with myself, usually I can't wait for the snow to go away. This year I want MORE. I want it to look like a winter wonderland outside my window, but right now it just looks frozen and kind of gray. Come on Alaska snow for me :)

I'll Be Home For Christmas

So my holiday post is very delayed, BUT thats because I am now just getting back in the swing of things back home.

This Holiday Season has been a busy one! So many experiences and Teagan met so many new people.

We started this holiday season by saying goodbye to Joshua, well for a few weeks at a time at least. He is now living up in Fairbanks (yup it happend). He landed a new job that is pretty cool actually, teaching cold weather survival and such. From what I understand his daily activities include skiing and teaching classes.

Black Rapids Training Area, Joshua's New Office

A week after Joshua's move we headed down to El Paso to spend Christmas with the Van Nosdales (my dads side of the family). Teagan went on her first plane ride, and did so well. Everyone commented on what a great traveler she was.

Tea In Her Travel Stroller 

ME!

Joshua Zonked Out On The Flight

Tea Zonked Out As Well (Flying Made Her Sleepy)

The El Paso leg of the trip was great! We were able to see most all of my dads side of the family. They all LOVED Teagan, she was a hit wherever we went.

Just Some Of The Girls

The next leg of our trip was Dallas, where Teagan got to meet her other Grandma! Joshua and I were able to have quite a bit of alone time there because Denisa wanted Tea all to herself. Overall our vacation was great, and traveling with Teagan went better than I could have ever hoped for.

Now we are back home (Teagan and I are at Dad's in Anchorage, and Joshua is up in Fairbanks) and I am watching my little girl grow more and more everyday.

Where We Go, Destruction Will Follow

It turns out that Joshua and I are prone to leaving destruction in our wake in the form of leaks.

Yesterday I received a phone call saying someone needed to get down to our storage unit ASAP to see where a leak was coming from. Joshua went down, and apparently a glycol line had burst in our unit and was leaking in to the neighboring units and the floors below. Not cool right? Yeah, our mattress and bed frame were both ruined. All in all it could have been way worse. We were pretty lucky and we are getting four months of free rent.

However, this is not the first time destruction has struck. We were staying in a fancy hotel in Portland and the water pipes on the top floor burst. Guess where? Right outside our hotel room, which flooded our room. Basically it was just a minor inconvenience for us, they replaced the very few things that were ruined and moved us to a dry room.

I think if a third distaster decides to strike us like this, I am going to start worrying.

Hospital Fiasco... and Other Tidbits

The Hospital Fiasco 

So this morning Teagan had her first doctors appointment. Easy peasy right? Yeah not so much... Just did not want to cooperate and first thing peed on her cute little outfit when I was changing her the first time. Then when she was weighed she pooed! and when the doctor checked her out she pooed AGAIN! THEN peed all over the examination table... AAHH!! By this time I was running out of diapers, that was four in less than an hour! I had to call Joshua who was great and brought me more diapers and wipes. Thank goodness I thought to put an extra onsie in her diaper bag or I'd have had a naked baby. Naked babies and Alaska do not mix... burrr...

Next we had to go to the lab and get her little heel pricked again :-( poor little one did not like that. Then had to wait to get her vitamins from the pharmacy, but by this time Tea had calmed down and was sleeping like an angel. After a mad dash to our freezing car, we headed home and ended up taking a nap together on the couch... it was, after all, a busy afternoon... ;-)

Nap Time With Mommy

Other Tidbits

Today our house officially sold... We are now houseless... Not quite homeless, just houseless.

Another piece of breaking news is that we are moving to Fairbanks for sure. We still don't have exact dates, and Joshua will be moving before Teagan and I. But we are going. This also means that Joshua will not deploy!! Yes!

Is That Supposed to Happen?

Who knew giving birth was so friggin' painful!?! Ha! Thank goodness for epidurals, and this is coming from someone who is terrified of needles. At that point I didn't care if they had to stick me a hundred times I just wanted the pain gone. That pitocin really kicked my butt! 

Before the epidural

After the epidural :-)

Yup... I highly recommend the epidural... After 13 hours in the hospital Teagan was born! 

It has now been eleven whole days since Teagan Claire was born, and every bit has been pretty wonderful.

Teagan Claire 8 lbs 5 oz 20.4 inches long
11/16/2010

We have had some pretty funny moments already. One of the first came right away when Joshua was changing her first poopie diaper... he was wiping her bottom when suddenly she pooed again... then again... right on the hospital bed. Ha, he didn't know what to do! Fortunately all was taken care of by a very nice nurse. 

Anyways, the next big obstacle for us is getting Tea to understand night and day. So far she pretty much has those reversed. She is a pretty good little sleeper... once she gets to sleep. Sometimes getting her there is a bit of a challenge.  

Sleeping in her bouncy chair

Well, thats about all I have to report for now. Tea is doing great, growing already I think. Joshua is trying to catch up on sleep, and I am trying to get down some sort of routine. Here are a few more photos for you all to enjoy :-) 

Smile!

Cuddle bug

Our little family <3

So sweet

Yummy In My Tummy

What goes perfectly with fresh fallen snow? Beef Stew.... yum... I usually don't like stew, but I made a great one last night. The best part? it didn't take a million hours to cook. And so I thought I would share this yummy recipe with ya'll.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1/3 cup Italian salad dressing
• 2 cups water
• 2 teaspoons beef bouillon granules
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed beef broth, undiluted
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 6 small potatoes, quartered
• 6 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons cold water

Directions

In a Dutch oven, brown meat in salad dressing over medium heat. Add the next 10 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours or until meat is tender. Add the potatoes, carrots, green pepper and onion. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Combine flour and cold water until smooth; stir into stew. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Discard bay leaf before serving.

Time

Time seems to be working in fast forward. The more I have to do the less time I have to do it.

I have only two weeks left until my due date and I am starting to get super nervous. We are also in the middle of selling our house; we got the price agreed upon, the inspection done, and repairs in the works, next is the appraisal... and moving out! 

Moving out to where? Dad's house...Dun DUN Duhhhh... Just kidding, it's not bad, it's just while we either transition to a new home here or to Fairbanks. We still don't know whether or not we are staying in Anchorage or moving to Fairbanks, but that is the way of the Army. And while all this is happening I am 38 weeks preggers and trying not to be uber b***** wife, hopefully I am not doing too bad.

 

Too Many Balls to Juggle?

Once again I need those cleaning fairies!! We have our first possible showing of the house today! WOW that was fast! So here I am up at 5am ready to clean! Who would have thought?? (if you told that to my dad he would never believe you).

This week has so far been pretty great. I have been helping out set up Christmas decorations at a little gift shop I used to work at, sooo much fun :) AND I get all kinds of fun goodies to take home....

My mom is flying in today for my baby shower on Sunday!! Only 30 days left until November 12th :)

Mom and I 

Other Richardson news, the hubby has a potential job in Fairbanks. FAIRBANKS, wait did I say FAIRBANKS?!? I already live in Anchorage, and it's freakin' cold HERE, but FAIRBANKS!! Okay, okay I know they have heat and all, but geeze it's cold there. 

Fairbanks is beautiful, but sure makes me want to shiver!

It happens to be a job that would fit him perfectly, and he may just get a little enjoyment out of the rest of his time in the Army. In all actuality, I hope he gets it. If I have to freeze my butt off for two years, so be it. And best of all he won't deploy!! 

A pretty random post, but I guess that has been the theme to my week so far... random....

Dear Cleaning Fairies

Dear Cleaning Fairies,

Do you think you could make a stop by my house today? My floors really need to be cleaned.

Thanks
Chelsea :)

Yes, it is cleaning time. Very important right now, because we are putting our house on the market this weekend! A little freaked, a little excited, and thinking that maybe....just maybe.... I am insane?

Well, we will just have to see now wont we?

Top 5

Okay so a Top 5 is literally your all time Top 5 favorite... whatever....

I started doing Top 5's in high school. I had this super awesome English teacher, Mr. Reese, and every friday we would do a Top 5. We would write them all down in this binder we had, I think I still have mine... somewhere. Then we would talk about them. It really got people to get to know each other in a kind of unconventional way....

Top 5
Accomplishments You Are Most Proud Of
1. Graduating College
2. Supporting My Husband Through Two Deployments
3. Buying a House
4. Running (and training for) A Half-Marathon
5.

I can't think of a last one. So for now, I will just leave it blank until I can fill it in.

Thats the Top 5 for today :)

Have a beautiful day!

Where to Start?

I am new to this whole blogging thing, and who knows if I will even be successful at it. I am not much of a writer and have always envied those who it came so natural to, so, here it goes..

I guess the very first thing to do would be to tell you a bit about me and my family right?

Well, I am Chelsea, most people call me Chels. I am married to my best friend, Joshua. We have been married three going on four years now. We met thru mutual friends and Joshua fell in love with me that first day. On the other hand it took me a bit longer to warm up to him, mostly because I was so shy, I couldn't get my words out. I guess he thought that was pretty cute.

We got engaged three days before Joshua's first overseas tour to Iraq, much to my parents distress.
Oh,  FYI my parents love my hubby now, they just freaked a little when their 18 year old, only daughter, recent high school grad, announced she was engaged. Anyways back to us... We married 8 months later during Joshua's R&R. Joshua came home in Nov of '07 and we had a wonderful first year living together.

Then the life of a military spouse was once again a reality when he deployed in Feb '09 for another year, this time to Afghanistan. He made it home safely in Feb of '10, thank goodness.

For me, the biggest changes have happened in the last seven months. First of all, we got pregnant!! I have my first baby bump and I am about 34 weeks along now.

Second I graduated college, with honors, thank-you-very-much.

Graduation day is definitely on my Top 5 best days ever (right up there with getting married).

And to get right up to date we are currently looking at selling our house and moving in to a bigger one. So, major changes are happening for the Richardson's...