You're a little late coming home. You said it would be Sunday when the Tiger cruise completes, but Sunday has come and gone... I know we can't expect complete precision on this sort of thing with your job, but I worry all the same. I want you home, or at least in port where I can call you on the phone, see your face on Skype. We all miss you so much.

Marlena's been very active recently - painfully so. Her kicks and rolls and shoves are more pronounced and oftentimes rather sharp, especially in the evenings. She's learning a rhythm, it seems, but I don't know what she's going to do as the space in my belly becomes way too cramped for her to move as usual. I go to see the doctor again in a couple of weeks, just for a checkup. If it gets worse I'll seek a little more help.

I've been baking today. Making potato candy is typically kinda arduous because of the rolling and mashing, but Mom had the bright idea to bring it together using the dough hook on Memaw's old mixer. It worked like a charm! It made me want my own KitchenAid stand mixer even more than ever! I made fried hand pies for the first time today, too - a gentleman at Papa Bear's workplace asked for apple and chocolate, so that's what I made. I still have plenty of each to make more, I just have to pick up some more pie crust. And if you want me to save some apple pies for you, I will. I promise.

You'll probably roll your eyes when you come home for Christmas - Mom and I have been picking up lots of things to pretty up Marley's crib (which I did go pick up the other day) and cradle. It'll be fit for a little princess like ours. Our room will be crowded because of all the baby things, but it'll be all the more reason for me to cuddle up close to you. I really can't wait to have you home, even if it's just for a few days. I love you so much, muffin.

I was so excited to get your email, muffin - it made my whole day ten times better. Hearing from you in any shape or form puts my heart at ease: I know that you're safe and well, and making it from day to day. I know it's going to be even better to have you home for Christmas, and that as overdone as you feel the holiday is, I'm going to do my best to make it special and relaxing for us - for you.

Tonight was my last night of birthing classes - I only had four to attend, 2 hours each, which surprised me. But they answered many questions and concerns, both things I had and hadn't thought of. I wish you could have been at the 3rd one. It was a coaching class, which ran both of us through things we'd have to handle during labor (breathing exercises and what not). I wanted to be able to practice those with you. I'll have Mama there in case you can't immediately be at my side for the birth, but the thought of that is just too much - I almost cried. I know Mom and I will try to go over everything we learned in all four classes, and I hope it will be enough. If nothing else, there's plenty of videos and articles we can both go over online together. You'll be just as ready as I am.

In fact, I'm much more ready for the delivery than I thought I could be. During the same 3rd class, we toured the Women's Center of DHC Regional, where I'll be delivering. We got to see the delivery room, and the recovery rooms, which we'll talk more about in time. And we got to see the nursery... Paul, I didn't realize just how tiny a newborn really is until that moment; I didn't think they were real. Watching a new little boy squirm in his blankets was surreal to me - it was a real little human being, despite its tiny size and shape. I feel much more confident about being able to push out something that size, and a little more excited too. I still have pangs of fear from time to time, because I can't see as far ahead on this as I would like to see. But even if you're far away, as long as I have your love with me, I think we can make it.

There's a lot happening on the non-baby front I'd like to share with you too: the updates to Homestuck are proceeding on schedule and with emotional intensity. And while in Tuscaloosa, I was lucky enough to stop in GameStop and snag the Diancie promo for Pokemon X & Y. We can trade it to your Y game if we ever find it, and then to our Alpha and Omega games if we decide to pick them up. And there's one more video game you're sure to get excited about that's looming on the horizon, but I'll let you discover it when you reach surface again. Everyone is gearing up for the WoW:WoD release too - I still haven't gotten on as much as either of us would have liked, mostly because of being dead tired at night and uncomfortable at that computer, but I do keep up with the guild on Mumble when I get a burst of energy in the evenings. I can't wait to be playing it with you, though - I know you'll have to be pretty patient with me (don't we always argue about how to do something at some part of the game?), but I feel a lot more confident with you by my side, both in game and in life.

And before I forget, the day hasn't ended yet. Thank you and your shipmates, from the family here in Bama, for serving our country. I got you a free donut and coffee from Krispy Kreme, but I eated it :P (Don't you dare make any donut jokes.) I love you bunches, and miss you even more, and I can't wait to be wrapped in your arms and covered in your kisses again.

It's been a few days since I spoke to you again. I'm glad your boat was able to have its repairs done so efficiently, but I'll always want you home with me - with us. It makes me happy to know you'll be home for Christmas, but it also makes me eager for December to hurry up. I'll have you here with me for a few days, and it will actually 'feel' like Christmas. Mom and I actually attempted to listen to Christmas music the other day, and we weren't even into the chorus before we both said "Shut it off!" It's just not time for it yet, and we couldn't stand it! I don't think I'll ever understand why stores are so insistent on rushing the Christmas shopping before Halloween's even over. It's quite ridiculous.

Marlena has become more active than ever, probably the result of my staying busy on my feet. I think she likes it better when I'm resting and she can settle and be comfy. I've been having more backaches, though, and more heartburn and less sleep. I hope cuddling with you isn't going to be very difficult when you come home for the holidays. I want so much to be wrapped up in your arms, even and especially with this little one between us. I want to see your face when you feel her moving around again, and to feel her for myself when she hears your lullaby right there next to her.

This coming week begins my last set of classes - I'll try to write them down sufficiently so that you stay in the loop. I still wish more than anything that you were here to take the classes with me, but I'll try to make sure you know what I know, so that you don't have to worry and panic so much when Marlena finally arrives. I suppose that's just one of the many reasons I want you back on the surface where at least I can hear your voice and occasionally see your face. We have so much to sort out in just a few months - I know we can do it, I just wish we could hurry up and get it all done.

I think of you every day, and wonder in those moments just what you're up to. I wonder if you're thinking of me, or if you're busy enough to not worry about me - both ideas make me happy, because it means you're not wasting away doing nothing. Don't forget that you mean the world to me, and I'm so proud of all that you're doing, and all that you've done. I love you, muffin.

Today will be one of the few rest days I receive for a bit. For two days my folks have kept me hopping from antique shop to thrift shop to yard sale, looking for baby things. I found a lot on the cheap too. Also last night I finally got together with Jennifer and did the baby shopping at Wal*Mart, using the two giftcards I received for my baby shower and her store discount to get two of my big ticket items. I feel rather accomplished.

Tomorrow starts my birthing classes in Tuscaloosa - it'll be an hour's drive there, perhaps a little better, and we'll search out the local Babies 'R' Us to look and shop there as well. I only have 4 birthing classes to attend: Nov 3&4, and Nov 10&11. I'm somewhere between excited and dreading - I'm kind of expecting some trite, impersonal methods and information I already know. I'm sad too; I wish you were here to share it with me.

And a small miracle has happened - my mom's taught me to play Sudoku! Looking at the board in my game app, I still can't understand how you can solve with those numbers all around the grid. It's a simple game of logic - eliminating what you know to be true to solve each box. I know it's not a team game or a competitive one, but I can't wait to play it with you all the same. It's mentally exhausting still, so I can only play a handful of games before I stop, but I'm glad I know how to play now.