Tag Archives: surprise

Ruined Surprise

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Milton said he had a surprise for me on March 31 and April 7.  I was actually very excited about the surprise and had no idea what he was planning.  He usually finds amazing restaurants for us to experience so I thought it was either that or he arranged for me to have a massage.

Of course all plans of a surprise were ruined once I entered my new island, also known as the bed.  I asked him what the surprise was going to be and he said that my friends were planning a surprise shower for me.  Ahh, this made me sad.  My college roommate DeShawn was even going to be flying in from Maryland.  I guess Baby Turner was trying to attend his own party, but I don’t think he understands that he wasn’t invited!

Well, about an hour after I had my fit about my closet sized room, the door to my room opened and in came my friend Renee with a bunch of baby blue balloons.  Shortly after came Tioka with a cake that had a monkey on it. Then Nikki soon followed with her two cute sons.  The brought the party to me and I was so happy they did. Not only was it good to see them, eat cake and open gifts – but I was surrounded by three women, each of which has two kids of their own.  They are each great mothers in their own unique way and I hope to use a piece of each of them in my own mothering skills.

I am most surprised that Milton was able to keep that secret without me having any clue whatsoever. I am married to a great man and have great friends and for that I am thankful!

 

 

Monkey Business

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If you know anything about me, you know that I am a MONKEY FANATIC!  When I say monkey fanatic, I mean monkey fanatic galore.  I’ve loved monkeys ever since my youth.  I taped photos of chimps from National Geographic all on my walls.  I used to want to travel with Jane Goodall.  For many years while I was single I even made a monkey Christmas tree where every single ornament on the tree was a stuffed monkey! I just love them!

To my surprise, I had a box delivered to my house from my childhood friend Lisa.  It was exciting because 1) I wasn’t expecting to receive it and 2) what was in the box completely made my day.  Inside the box was a plethora of monkey items for Baby Turner.  When I saw it, I became overjoyed.  If you know me, you know that I am usually a very laid back person that doesn’t get excited about much.  All of that changed when I opened Lisa’s box.  I went monkey crazy!  Luckily, Milton has given me full permission to have a monkey themed baby room – HOORAY!  I’m not a materialistic person and could care less about name brand items, but I am big is creativity and meaningful things.  Opening Lisa’s box was such a joy because I saw that she sent a gift from her heart and that she’s excited that I’ll be a mother!

21 weeks down, 19 to go!

Creatively Telling Our Family the News! (12 weeks/6 days)

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The day is finally here!  We’ve waited two months to tell the world our joyful news!  Our closest family and friends came over for what they thought was a Graduation/Holiday Open House party at our house.  Milton was able to wear his Dress Blue uniform and everyone thought he looked dapper.  It was great to see everyone sitting around and talking together.  New friends quickly became old friends.

The party was from 2-4pm but we told everyone that we had a special graduation presentation at 3:00pm.  As 3:00pm rolled around, Milton’s close friend Rob was still driving from out-of-town.  We tried to wait for him, but as 3:20 arrived, I became antsy and we decided to go on and spread the news. We (well I) wanted to do something creative so I wrapped a box (that we referred to as his graduation present) and he pulled out a black t-shirt.  Everyone could only see the front of it, but didn’t know there was writing on the back.  Milton looked excited and said “Oh, you got me a shirt to match yours.  Show them your shirt!”

You could hear people start to get curious as I revealed my “Baby Turner” t-shirt and everyone was so excited.  Then Milton turned his shirt around and revealed his “Baby Turner’s Daddy” shirt!  LOVE IT!

Although we recorded it happening, I realized after watching the video that I never looked at everyone’s expression.  The entire time I was watching Milton and smiling.  Hooray to finally let the news out and celebrating with everyone.  Although I was completely exhausted once everyone left (and the headache returned), I will never forget how awesome of a day today was and how blessed we are to have such amazing and diverse friends and family!

Expanding Shirt (12 weeks)

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I love to be creative.  I love making creative shirts.  I made them for my friends several years ago. One friend waited seven months to tell her out-of-town relatives she was pregnant.  I made her a shirt that said “Knocked Up”.  When I told Milton I was pregnant, he had a baby Turner shirt.  So now it was time to make a Baby Turner shirt to reveal to our family/friends.

But wait!  This time was different. Something didn’t seem to fit the same.  The battle of the bulge started stretching the letters in my mid-section.  Yikes! Please don’t tell me I’m already graduating from a size small!

December 2011

Soaring Above New Heights

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 Soaring Above New Heights

Last weekend was a very emotional weekend for me. I traveled to Fort Benning, GA to watch my husband, Milton, graduate from Airborne School.  He’d already finished his JAG training and now needed to successfully complete five jumps to also have the title of Airborne Paratrooper.

The five jumps were supposed to happen Monday-Wednesday.  On Monday they met at 4:30am, each were carefully inspected and then they waited to see if the weather  would cooperate.  They couldn’t eat, sleep, use the bathroom or really even touch any body part.  If they, for example, touched their belt it could come loose and they would no longer be considered fully inspected.  SEVEN hours later, they realized the wind was not going to let up and Monday’s jumps were canceled.

Similar things happened on Tuesday.  So now I’m starting to think it will be another week before my babe is able to finally come home to me. Uggg!  Luckily, they were able to get in four jumps between Wednesday and Thursday and they saved their fifth and final jump for Friday (Graduation Day).  This was exciting because I would get to see Milton jump live!

Friday morning rolls around and there are 400 men/women that will be jumping.  Although Milton doesn’t know when he’ll jump, he asks me to record all of the jumpers.  This seemed like an impossible task but I tried to be a good wife and comply.  I recorded the first three jumps for Milton’s plane and saw the guys as they started running in.  Of course I was looking for a “dark” spot running in.  A couple ran past, one had different posture than Milton, another had a bigger booty and another was too short.  In the distance I saw someone that looked like Milton.  I looked at his helmet number, yelled out his name, and he waved back!  My baby was safe, successful and had accomplished an amazing feat!

I had a surprise for Milton by inviting his dad to attend.  Milton’s face lit up when they caught sight of each other.  It was even more meaningful when they asked for second generation paratroopers to come forward and Milton’s dad was able to pin his wings from back in the day on Milton.

After graduation we quickly left to head back home.  Nine hours later Milton walked around the house reminiscing on all the things in our house he missed.  It was his first time since July 3 that he was was home and not leaving in a couple of days.  He’s already started work at Legal Services in Fort Knox.  And I am overjoyed because my husband gets to be a husband and I get to be his wife. Milton became one of my heros last weekend and I was proud to be Mrs. Turner…. now if I can only get rid of this loud snoring habit he’s seemed to pick up! Lol!

Click the photo below to watch the video of Milton’s jump, landing and graduation!

December 2011

Thanks Giving

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Thanks Giving

It always feels nice to do something for someone else, but it seems to be a special lasting memory when you do it for someone you’ve never met!  I had that experience this past Sunday when ladies from our fitness/Zumba studio went and decorated the outside of someone’s house for Christmas.  The wife and husband had gone on a motorcycle ride right before the 4th of July.  She hated motorcycles but they decided to go on a couples ride with their friends.  On the way back from lunch, their motorcycle was involved in an accident.  He died instantly at the scene, she was thrown 90 feet and it was unknown if she would survive.

After month of hospitalizations and surgeries she was released.  It took many sessions of physical therapy for her to learn how to walk again. One of the most difficult things about the entire incident is that they have two sons (now ages 8 and 10).  The Anderson family’s life has been turned upside – just like that.  This holiday season will not be as joyful as usual.  The family wasn’t sure if they were going to decorate inside the house and knew they weren’t going to decorate the outside (because that’s what dad did and it was too much physically for the mom to do solo).

So, while the family was away, we snuck over to their house and started decorating the outside of the house.  We used some of their decorations, but also added some new items.  It was cold.  It was rainy. It was nasty.  I would have much rather been in bed, HOWEVER, I knew that my little inconvenience was nothing compared to all the struggles they’d been through.  My entire body warmed as I saw the family pull up and the smile on the mother’s face.  After hearing her story and how hard these past five months have been, I knew we helped bring them a little joy this holiday season.

The horrible ironic part of the entire situation is that while I was helping a complete stranger, around the same time, a high school cheerleading friend of mine drove up on the scene over her husband’s overturned car and now her family is struggling as he fights for his life.  Unfortunately for Helen’s situation, the main thing they need now is prayer is hopes that Chris will wake up and be able to celebrate their first Christmas with their four month old son.  So if you’re prayerful, please say a special prayer for the Vaughan family and all those struggling with family loses this year.

December 2011