We Go Together

A little late!

2012-01-18T14:15:00.000-08:00

My new years post is far too late. But that is just how our life seems to be with two little ones. Never on time and always crazy.

2012 Finds me in need of a good pedicure, a hair cut and a full nights sleep. All of which will probably not happen anytime soon. Im learning to be content with a house that is not always clean and a pile of laundry that always gets bigger. My new years resolutions include spending more quality time with my boys and making time to give my husband a daily back rub. Nothing too life changing, but definitely important to me.

2011 was a beautiful year but very hectic. After graduation nursing school and welcoming our second son a month later we didn't have much time to relax. I fear relaxation may not be in our vocabulary for quite a few years (im thinking maybe 15 or so :) Our lives do not lack in excitement though. I am love being a stay at home mommy for the time being. I am not sure where i will be as far as work is concerned. For now I am enjoying where the Lord has placed me, and that is at home with my two adorable babies. Brandon is continuing his residency and working hard like always. We are so proud of his positive attitude and for all he does for our family.

My boys are growing too fast. Parker never ceases to amaze me with his technology abilities and his outgoing daddy-like personality. This kid is just like Brandon (we also like to think he gets it from his Papa Slockbower) He loves to "talk" to everyone he sees. We will be in a restaurant and he will walk by each table and say hi to the people sitting at them.His vocabulary is expanding daily and I love to hear his cute voice wake me up in the morning. He loves loves loves his little brother and makes sure i know when Jake is crying. He brings him toys and loves to give him kisses. They really do melt my heart.

Our little Jake "GiGi" as Parker calls him, is 7 months old! wow. Slow down kid. he loves to army crawl anywhere and everywhere. He likes to hunt out shoes and chew on them, yuck! He has a huge vocabulary of mamama dadada yayaya haha. If hes not squealing in delight you will find him blowing raspberries, or chewing on the closest object to him. We think he is teething but still no sign of any teeth. Which, I of course, am very fine with. nursing and teeth didn't always mix for Parker and I :) He has grown so far to look just like his daddy with some beautiful blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. I love watching him grow every day and seeing all of the little changes in him.

We are SO looking forward to our trip to California in February. In fact we are counting down the days(only 25 left) We cant wait to see Brandons family, a few friends, and get the cousins together to play! Parker and his cousin Thomas are 4 months a part, so we have high hopes for a close friendship between them! I couldn't be more excited to hang out with my sister in Law, Mother in law, and my best friend. I miss them so much every day. I feel so blessed to have the kind of in laws that people dream of. They are such a great family!

We are looking forward to this year and the possibilities it holds. This will most likely be our last full year in NC so we are going to try to enjoy every minute of it and every amazing friendship we have developed here. We are optimistic that by this time next year Brandon will have a job lined up. So excited to see where this year leads!

Happy New Year to everyone!! (even if it is a little late)

5 months post baby!

2011-11-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

I decided i need to go to the gym more. Not just to lose weight but to feel better. I have 0 energy lately and i know that is one of the reasons why. I am 5 months post Jake and while i dont feel awful, i definitely have some pudge id light to tighten up here and there. When i Got pregnant with Jake, I had just gotten to a point where i was finally comfortable with my body again. So i know it will take time, but i figure if I blog about it I will have more accountability. So when I got pregnant I was 122ish. Right before i had Jake i weighed in around 150 depending on the day. Im now at 127.4 and my goal is to get somewhere around 120. So I am officially on my way to my goal!

Deep Breath

2011-11-05T17:30:00.000-07:00

Two kids. Two babies. Two in diapers. Before i continue, let me start by saying how incredibly blessed i feel to have two amazingly adorable and unique in their own way babies. I think about how much I love them all the time, I think about their differences and their similarities and how much fun it is to see them grow. But it has been hard. Jake has been a tough baby. He cried for a good part of his first four months of life. He cried during the day, he cried at night. He cried in the car, and when i held him. He just cried. I don't write this to scare anyone who is having two, for many people i know, two was a piece of cake. Im pretty laid back so i tried to just take one day at a time, but looking back Im amazed that i didn't break down in tears because their was many times i wanted to. Parker had a good set of fits there for awhile but Im amazed that in the last few days how much things have calmed down. Jake has barely cried and Parker has been so happy. Im beginning to enjoy my time with them more. Instead of crying, I can actually see Jakes personality come through. He has been so laid back lately which makes me think he was either in pain from reflux, or overtired all the time. Either way I think Im starting to get the hang of things and i am thoroughly loving being a mom to my two sweet boys.

I have got to talk about Parker for a little bit, because this kid is so one of a kind. He is constantly making me laugh and he always knows how to make a bad day, better.This kid has the most ridiculously adorable smile, its so hard to get upset with him. He loves to play on my iphone I'm pretty sure he thinks he owns it because when i try to take it away he says "goooo" and shoos me away. ha! i put my foot down on that one. He loves his daddy more than anything and always looks out the window to see if he is home. He has just recently started talking a ton! he is going to be quite the chatter box. He loves his Jakey and always gives him kisses, that is, when he's not trying to wrestle him down.He loved trick or treating and he picked it up so quickly! Im not sure what to expect with two boys, but i know it will be fun!

Everyone always asks us if we are going to try for a girl. Well yes and no. We want a third- NOT ANYTIME SOON! but eventually yes. And while I would love a girl, Its obviously not our choice. So if we end up with three boys, well then bring on the match box cars and action figures! I cant see myself with more than three kids, so the next will most likely be the last, girl or not :)

I find myself struggling with whether I should start looking for nursing jobs in the near future. I am so torn, i feel like i fight with myself every day about it. I worked so hard to finish nursing school, and i love it. But i Love my boys and I love that i have time to cook and clean for my husband. I am hoping to compromise and look for something part time, but thats hard to find for a new grad. Im hoping it all works itself out.

We are going to make a visit to California in February, which i am SO excited about! We cant wait to see family and just spend some time away for a little bit. Hopefully this blog tied up the loose end since I havent had time to write for awhile. Now that i actually have some time to myself at night maybe ill find more time to blog!

Mom

2011-09-20T18:14:00.000-07:00

Selfless. The one word that perfectly described her. When I was five years old and got the stomach flu, she laid me in her bed and gave me a bell. She told me to ring for her whenever i needed her. She waited on me hand and foot for those few days. When i became a cheerleader she would stay up until midnight putting curlers in my hair, even though i forgot i needed to curl my hair until the last minute. She didn't complain.There were numerous times when I would forget my homework. Minutes after remembering, i would see her white van pull up. There she was again, saving the day. I went to camp every summer, when i came home my room would be spotless and organized. We had a paper route when we were younger, she woke up at 3:30 am every morning to fold the papers for our route. She didn't ask us for anything in return. She went without, most of her life, just so My brother and I could have what we needed. I remember praying every night that the Lord would keep my mom safe. I needed her. She was my everything. I was lucky enough to have her in my life until shortly after i graduated high school.

I dont talk about her often, but I think about her everyday. I find it difficult to console those who seem to feel sorry for me. I felt sorry for myself long enough. Now i just like to remember the wonderful person that made up my mother. She met Brandon before she passed away. That is something I am grateful for everyday. She loved him. She knew I loved him, too . She told me that she could see it in my eyes. My mom didn't make statements like that often, so i knew she was being sincere. I only wish she was able to be at my wedding. We talked about planning it my whole life, it wasn't as fun without her. But I did it. I know a lot of things in my life weren't as fun and wont be as fun as they would be if she was here. Time has gone by and I find comfort in knowing that she would be proud of the person i am becoming. She would love Parker and Jake. She would have been a great grandmother. She always found little ways to make me smile, I cant wait to do the same for my babies. She was incredibly thoughtful. Im excited to tell them stories about her, and show them her pictures. They have to know about the woman who helped shape me into the person that is their mother. I still find a part of me feels missing without her, but somehow i think that will continue until we meet again. She had a strength that i have yet to see in anyone else. I hope one day i find that strength.

It will be 5 years since my mom passed away and of course that day is etched in my mind. I always felt too young. I was only 19 when she died. It didn't seem fair. But its not about fair.I have a few friends who have recently lost their moms. I hurt for them as i know the pain they feel. Days go buy, then years, and the pain lingers although it has lost its sting. Memories of that time return and I can only try to console, but i know that only time takes that sting away. Im reminded that this world is not our home, and look forward to the day when pain is no more and I get to see her again. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever".- Revelation 21:4 I think about that day often. I think about my mom often. Miss you mom.

2 Years Old

2011-09-02T06:07:00.000-07:00

Brandon and I always wanted kids. We got married when I was 20 and he was 23, so we figured we would wait awhile to bring kids into the mix. God had other plans. We were only married a year and a half when we found out I was pregnant with Parker. I still remember that day so clearly. It was new years day. I woke up feeling, well different, is the only way i can describe it. I had always thought I was pregnant the first year of our marriage even though I never was so when I told Brandon I wanted to take a test, he kind of laughed at me. But being the agreeable guy he is he went along with it. We were staying at his sisters house for christmas so we told them we were going to jamba juice, and instead went and bought a test. I didn't want to take the test at his sisters house so we went to Jamba juice and i took it there! I remember seeing the faintest line and i thought it might have been positive but i wasn't sure. I walked out and told Brandon we had to go back and buy an "expensive" test and try again. So we bought the digital test that tells you yes or no. That one i took in the target bathroom (i was too anxious to wait) and of course it was positive. I cried. I know that sounds horrible, but its the truth. Of course deep down I was so excited, but I had just found out I had gotten in to nursing school, and i started in 10 days. It was a three year program so i knew i was going to have to go through a lot of nursing school with a baby. I am so grateful that Gods plans are better than my own because I am so in love with my little Parker, that I would trade a million dreams just to have him in my life.

Parker is two tomorrow and i cant believe how grown up he has become. He has such a sweet heart and a smile that just lights up a room. I always tell Brandon I think he has his personality because he is so good at making us laugh. Lately he looks at me with his big blue eyes, says "up" and i know that means he wants to cuddle. He loves to play outside and some days he spends all day just wandering around outside. When we ride in the car, he reaches for me so i will hold his hand and sometimes i will ride with my arm stretched back, holding his, for the entire car ride. He is such a good big brother to Jake, he pats his back when he's crying, lays down with him on his blanket, and gives him kisses when ever he sees him. I am so proud of Parker, and so glad that God decided to give him to us when he did. I cant wait to watch him grow up. I cant wait to see him become the man God wants him to be. Happy Birthday big guy!

Happy 2 months

2011-08-15T14:32:00.003-07:00

Jake is 2 months old. Time is flying! We are so glad to have this sweet baby boy in our lives!

4 Years!

2011-07-24T17:17:00.001-07:00

We celebrated 4 years of married life on July 21! It has been a great 4 years and we were able to celebrate by going to dinner just us, and tomorrow we are going zip lining, so excited! When we were at dinner we talked about major events that have happened in the last 4 years and this is what we came up with.

1st year
- Brandon was in his 2nd year of medical school and we were married the summer before he started, we lived in a one bedroom apartment with our dog Dakota. Life was pretty sweet.
- I remember our first year and how sensitive i was, im sure this caused all of our first year of marriage brawls :) but im much more tough now and way less sensitive haha.

2nd year
- Brandon started his third year of medical school and took his first set of medical boards. That was a very stressful time!
-Charley entered our lives ;) Of course that foreshadowed......
- We found out after being married for a year and a half that we would be expecting our first baby boy. What a surprise that was!!
-WE moved to another apartment- and then in to a house before Parker was born, needless to say we hate moving now.
- I started nursing school at Cal State San Bernardino.
-Parker was born- one of the best days of our lives!

3rd Year
-Brandon started his final year of medical school, i continued with nursing school.
-Brandon went on about 10 interviews for residency, most of them were out of state. We were able to visit boston together and Minnesota.
-Found out Brandon matched at East Carolina University in North Carolina!
-Bought a House
-Brandon graduated medical school.
-We moved across the country!!! (left a bunch of really amazing friends and family :( )
-We took a vacation in Washington DC
-Brandon started his intern year of residency as a Emergency Medicine Physician
-I started nursing school at a new school!

4th year
-Parker turned 1!
- We found out we were expecting our second baby boy!
-Spent our first christmas ever without family.
-I graduated nursing school
- Found a really great church. and met a bunch of really cool people
-Brandon finished his first year of residency and started his second!
- Jake was born- another best day of our lives :)

We have grown so much as a couple in the last 4 years. Of course no marriage is perfect, and we are no exception, but we have definitely learned to communicate better and we are both better people for it. Im in love with my husband and proud of who is he and who he has helped me to become. I really cant wait to see what the years ahead will bring!

My Love Bug is 1 month Old!

2011-07-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

Daddys look a like!

Growing too fast!

My new years resolution (and my labor story)

2011-07-14T17:05:00.000-07:00

Ok so its not a new year, but I am so lame and do not keep up with my blog so that is my new years resolution. To blog once a week. Too many people in our lives are too far away to not keep them updated on our lives :) SO here goes nothing.

Our sweet baby boy Jake was born June 15 weighing in at a whopping 8.6 pounds!!! ya i wasnt aware my body could hold that. I thought he would be big(ish), but he weighed in a hold pound and a half bigger than Parker. But it would make sense because they are complete opposites so far, in looks and personality. And we are A-OK with that! I m so excited to see how each of them grows and develops. My labor was soo much easier than the first. I went in at 6 am for an elective induction(my midwife gave me the option the day before) and because i was a few days from my due date i was very excited to meet my little guy. I felt like i was starting to have contractions that morning but when i went in they started pitocin and shortly after my water was broken. Everyting after that seemed to go fast, its mostly a blur to me. I got an epidural (which never really fully worked) and i also got a spinal(also didnt work) I remeber being checked and i was 4 cm dilated a little while after that i sent Brandon to get some food (he worked the night shift that night he was exhausted) by the time he got back i was already dilated to 10 cm. Ya, it was so fast! So then i was ready to push, it took a whole 5 minutes! ya thats it, second labors rock!! Then i got to hold my sweet baby boy, and it was just as amazing as holding Parker. I didnt know i could be in love times 3 but i am just that lucky!

After was not so much fun- because of my fabulous epidural i was the lucky one who ended up with a spinal headache. boo! I got a blood patch in the hospital which also-you guessed it- didn't work so i was stuck flat on my back for 4 days. not fun. But i got a lot of cuddle time with Jake and Parker got a lot of daddy time.

Brandon is an amazing father, of course i already knew that- but now i know it times 2. He is also an amazing husband which i find to be more true everyday. During the last month he has helped me without complaining, taken care of Parker without asking, been loving, sweet, understanding and just there. I still, to this day, do not know how i got so lucky. Speaking of lucky, we celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary on the 21st. wow- 4 years! More on that in another post :)

Parker LOVES his little brother and has been very loving with him. He gives hugs and kisses and likes to throw away his diaper after we change him. I am not sure if he understand the permanence of his little brother, but im sure they will grow to be good friends.

It has been a tough month. Jake has been more fussy than i had hoped, and up until 2 days ago i thought there would be no end. We think he may have reflux but we arent positive- no one really can be. but i have started swaddling him and he has been MUCH better. Im hoping it stays this way. God has been so good to me giving me breaks when i need them somehow miraculously providing me with moments of peace, AND amazing friends to help us when needed. I think we had food brought to us for a week after Jake was born we were so thankful!

Man there is just so much i could write about since i havent in so long. I graduated nursing school in May and will take my boards August 10- im praying for study time! Brandon takes his step 3 boards August 10 also so wish us both luck!

We had family come and visit us last week and it was SO much fun. I always get so excited when we get to spend time with his family, they are such great people. We went to raleigh, to the beach and we ate lots and lots of good food! Im sure that did not help in my post pregnancy weight loss venture! Oh well! We were sad when they left, but hopefully we will get to see them again soon!

Growin like a weed!

2011-01-07T13:43:00.001-08:00

16.5 weeks down. 4 pounds gained. and i feel HUGE. i know m not really that big, but my belly has just gotten so .....squishy(haha) thats the only way i can think to describe it. I felt baby move exactly at 15 weeks and I have been feeling him/her more lately.Bbay is 4.6 inches, 3.5 ounces and the size of an avocado! The next time i post on here, i will know the gender. I pretty much think its 99% chance of being a boy. I always have, and I find out Monday for sure! Im excited so that I can start buying some stuff for new baby :)

Just started back at nursing school, I am so excited to finally be done with this semester, and finally be an RN! woohoooo. I kind of hope it goes by fast, but i really like the people i have met, so i know i should enjoy them now! I really feel like it has taken me so much to get to this point and im pretty proud of myself. When i got pregnant with Parker i very strongly considered dropping out to be at home with him. Now that it comes down to it, Im so glad i didn't. I hate giving up, i like to see things through. By God's amazing grace, hes allowed to me make it through, and successfully transfer schools(which i thought would be impossible) I know i will probably wait 6 months to work, but i really want to start as soon as i can after baby #2 :)

Christmas was pretty fun, kind of sad being away from most of our family for the first time, but we enjoyed being with each other, with Parker, and my Dad was able to be here, so we are thankful. AND it snowed!!!! it was amazingly beautiful and im grateful to be somewhere that snows!

Parker has been a ball of energy lately, and im LOVING IT! he is so much fun. He just seems like such a little boy instead of a baby. He's so interactive and i feel like he learns something or says something new everyday. He is so friendly and just LOVES people!! He still isn't walking, but I'm not worried, With the way he's been, I dont think it will be long :) Brandon is doing well, hes almost off his trauma rotation, so he will be able to spend more time with us now, which is amazing. i am so greatful for having him as my husband. He is such a hard worker, and he never complains. He would come home from being at the hospital for 30 hours and still help me out if needed. I just have to brag on him sometimes because i feel like he really deserves it. Anyways heres a progression of my ever growing belly. Soon we will all know what it is!!!!

BEFORE!

Here We Go Again!!

2010-11-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

SO, I realize I am not doing very well when it comes to updating my blog, and I really need to do better. So Im going to try even harder.

As most everyone knows now, YES I am pregnant. Wooohoooo! To answer everyones questions, yes we were trying. It just happened a little sooner then expected. But our babies like to plan themselves as we have quickly learned. And we are SO excited! We couldnt be more happy that the age difference between our kids will be so small. Parker will be a little over 21 months old when the new baby comes in June. June 20th is the due date as of now. I am almost 10 weeks along. As far as what we want.... I have no idea, lucky for me i have no say :) I think having either a boy or a girl will be awesome. I go back and forth between which I would prefer. We have not decided if we are going to find out the babies gender before he/she is born. I guess we will see :) Anyways i have already had an ultrasound and I guess I'm super lucky because Brandon has access to an ultrasound machine in the ED and i have probably made him scan me like 4 times since we found out! I have had A LOT more morning sickness then i did with Parker. I am constantly nauseous, 24/7 so I am definitely looking forward to that being over with. Anyways, i took a picture at 9 weeks. So this is what Im starting at. It is going to be crazy watching my belly grow big again. I just can't believe It, i feel like I just got my body back. hehe but of course a baby is way more important!!!

Now for a Parker update. He is 14 months old and 23 pounds. Crazy boy is huge, and very hard to lug around. He is not walking alone yet. All in all I think he's content to crawl really fast and that is A OK! He does walk a lot with his little push toy walker. He says some word, doggie, stack,ball, of course momma, dadda, he kinda says that, and a few others I cant think of right now. He loves climbing up the stairs, that is probably his favorite thing to do now. and he LOVES his daddy!!!! I have never seen a baby get so excited, as he does when his daddy comes home from work. Even if i just say daddy, he looks at the door and gets really excited. He loves to feed and pet the dogs. He is really good at going and getting an object if you ask him to. Lets see, hes just a VERY happy baby. He sleeps usually 12 hours straight at night, eats pretty much every food you give him, and he just doesnt fuss a whole lot. He cuddles with me, way more than he used to. And will come lay in bed in the morning with us for about 30 minutes. His favorite show is backyardigans and he's really into music and dancing. We are just so in love with our little boy, and can't wait to have another little Slockbower in our home. Heres a picture of Parker and his friend Sands from Haloween.

Brandon and I are good, he is about to start his harder rotation, Trauma. So I wont get to see him a whole lot around Christmas time. He does get 5 days off but the rest of the month he will be MIA. I am about to start my LAST semester of nursing school!!!!!!!!!!! I cant believe it. I cant wait. I feel like I have been in school forever. But its all worth it. We are loving North Carolina, Its so beautiful. Fall really is fall here. I love it! So all in all, The Slockbower's are great. We just miss all our friends and family on the west coast!!!!

A Month For Fun, A Month for Firsts.

2010-07-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

Parker is growing everyday before our very eyes. Im amazed by how much older looking and acting he gets every day. When I was pregnant I always imagined myself with a baby, but I could never really picture myself with a toddler, or let alone a little boy. But alas, he is growing and in a very short time will be all of those things I could never imagine having. I feel so blessed everyday to have my little guy with me, especially after hearing how so many little ones have passed away lately. It makes me appreciate every moment I have with him, I look at him differently after hearing how others have lost their babies. Of course, i hope that I never have to deal with anything so tragic, but it really has made me love Parker more, if thats even possible. On a lighter note, here are some pictures of fun and firsts for this month!

3 years and counting!

2010-07-21T20:15:00.001-07:00

Today we celebrated our 3 year anniversary. It was fun, we got to go to dinner and a movie thanks to our friends Mike and Jessica who watched Parker. It was nice to have some time to spend alone, and it was equally as nice being able to eat my dinner without a fork in one hand and a baby spoon in the other. Anyways,Being the big nerds we are, we wanted to document this day in time, and hopefully throughout the years so we have a nice funny scrapbook we can look back on when we are older. We just like to have fun, even if that means a cheesy photo session with a handwritten sign (that by the way) was really hard to write backwards.

Begin Again.

2010-07-16T13:07:00.000-07:00

I first started this blog when I was still pregnant with Parker. Well that was a long time ago, because as most of you know, he is 10 months old now. I started this blog with the intent to stay in touch with family and friends that lived far a way. Little did I know that list of far away friends would grow much longer since we found out we were going to be moving 2700 miles away from the ones we love, so Brandon could do his residency in Greenville, NC. So thats where we are. We have been here a little over a month. We bought a house, Brandon has started our residency and things have been going pretty fast ever since. We have had the chance to go to Washington DC to explore the sites and Ocracoke, NC to have some time to relax.

But now its time to get back to business. I start nursing school in less than a month, and even though I am so excited to have found a school to transfer to, I am so nervous about entering into an already tight knit class. I loved my friends in nursing school in Cali and they will be so hard to replace but I am keeping an open mind!

Brandon has been in the ER for 2 weeks and so far he loves it. Im pretty sure everyone knew he would end up there. It seems to fit him pretty well. Next week he starts a harder rotation, so I probably wont see him much :(

Parker seems to be growing by the minute, but instead of growing wider (like he seemed to do for the first nine months of his life :), he is now getting taller. He is crawling finally! He started doing that a little while after he turned 9 months. He seems pretty content crawling though, so I dont think he will be walking anytime in the very near future. But who knows! He likes to cuddle with me and he seems to be getting more attached to me everyday. BUT he lovvveesss other babies, he gets so excited when he sees other kids, so I don't think the transition to daycare will be too painful for him.

It definitely is scary and kind of crazy being so far away from family and friends but we are excited to see what God has planned for us here. I am going to try my hardest to keep this blog updated much better than I did before. That way I can keep you guys updated on our crazy lives! Love you all.

PS- I named our blog "we go together" Because it seemed appropriate given the fact that we have no idea where we are going next, or where we will end up. And even though it is scary to be so unaware of what our future holds we will always have eachother. No matter what happens- we go together.

There's a baby in there!

2009-05-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

It has been way too long since i have posted. I pretty much forgot about my blog until a few days ago, i thought enough has happened in my life in the last few months to post some changes that have been going on. Well first off, Im pregnant! Which, most everyone knows considering I am about 25 weeks along as of now. So it isnt new news, but it's good news and i wanted to be able to keep all my far away friends and family updated!

I feel like its taking awhile for my tummy to grow big, but its getting there and i figure that i should cherish the time i have now while i can still put on my own socks and somewhat bend over to pick things up! In case you didn't know, we are having a boy. He is due september 4, 2009. We have decided to name him Parker Ross Slockbower. Ross is Brandons middle name and Parker is a name that we have liked that also has some sentimental meaning, ill explain that later! Anyways, I feel like my pregnancy has been somewhat uneventful, but very exciting at the same time. I didnt really have any morning sickness, but i definately have had heartburn and lots of leg cramps!

I wish i could explain how amazing it feels to have a baby growing inside me. Life has taken on a whole new meaning and God has seemed more real then before. I will admit, when i found out I was pregnant, I was shocked, scared, and a little worried. I know that sounds terrible, I absolutely love kids. But it wasn't something we were planning for. I found out on new years day, 15 days before i started nursing school. Talk about bad timing. But of course, how wrong was I! Im learning that my timing is not Gods and that his is more perfect than i could ever imagine. I felt parker kick for the first time on March 31. It was the first time that i felt that there was actually a baby inside me, and things started becoming more real to me. Having a child is not something I want to ever take for granted, i feel so incredibly blessed to be given the opportunity to be a mom. I realize that without my mom helping me along, it will be alot harder. It makes me so sad that she missed meeting her grandson by three years. I only hope that I can be as good of a mom to Parker, as she was to me. I know that I am so lucky to having an amazing husband who I know will be an AMAZING dad. I couldnt have asked for a better dad for my baby. He is soo excited that his first baby will be a little boy, and i have already started collecting outfits that i like to call "little Brandon" outfits because they look so much like something Brandon has. We have already started accumulating lots of baby stuff so i will post pictures later when i find the time.

Brandon in almost done with his third year of medical school, and i cant believe it, but he graduates in less than a year. It has been quite a journey but I am soo proud of him for making it so far. I am just finishing up my second quarter of nursing school and it is kicking my butt! It is a really hard major, but im loving it, i know it is where I should be! I cant wait to see what the next few months hold, it should be interesting!

Renewed

2008-12-12T23:41:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard a song that renewed your faith just by listening to the words? I heard a song tonight and I have never been so moved as I was by this song. I had never heard of this group before, it didn't matter to me who they were, all that mattered were the words that came from their song. It made me think, how much do I actually know about my creator, and the questions they asked in their song that really hit me

If you touched my face would I know you?

Looked into my eyes could I behold you?

Its so easy for me to live my life knowing the things that I have been taught in church or read in my bible. but tonight it really really hit me. I don't think I know my creator even near as deeply as I could. I guess I have always figured that I couldn't really know him all that deeply until I got to heaven and was allowed. It made me realize that there is so much more in my bible than what I spend the time to see. And how much he must speak to me that I often times ignore. God reveals things, but am I listening?He knows everything about me, but I don't think I have spent near enough effort getting to know him. I am so greatful for the power of music and the ways God uses it to speak to me. I encourage you, regardless of your taste in music, listen to this song, if you havent heard it. it is called "What do I know of Holy" by Addison Road. I have only been able to find in on itunes, so if you cant find it atleast read the lyrics :

I made you promises a thousand times

I tried to hear from heaven

But I talked the whole time

I think I made you too small

I never feared you at all No

If you touched my face would I know you?

Looked into my eyes could I behold you?

What do I know of you

Who spoke me into motion?

Where have I even stood

But the shore along your ocean?

Are You fire? Are you fury?

Are you sacred are you beautiful?

What do I know? What do I know of holy?

I guess I thought that I had you figured you out

I knew all the stories I learned to talk about

How you were mighty to save

Those were only empty words on a page

Then i caught a glimpse of who you might be

The slightest hint of you brought me to my knees

Our Life Lately.

2008-12-03T09:56:00.000-08:00

We had a very nice thanksgiving. We went to our friends house on actual thanksgiving day. And then my dad and brother came down on friday to celebrate us. It was a very fun weekend
So My dad bought us an early Christmas present.....guitar hero. I was very excited because I have wanted it for a long time. Needless to say my brother and Brandon hogged the thing all weekend. But I am proud to say I can now play guitar hero on Medium :)
You cant see it very well here but Brandon got a black eye. He was playing basketball and I guess he got hit pretty hard. Its really bad now, its all black and blue around most of his eye. He likes to tell people that I got mad at him and hit him :) Just kidding.

My puppy is growing up so fast :( Im so sad that soon i wont be able to hold him in my arms. Well, not unless I plan on falling over. I know he is growing up for these reasons.....

-He can now jump on the bed all by himself

-He can actually chew things up now, instead of just knawing on them

- He knocked over our Christmas tree. Thats right. We came home and there was our 7 foot Christmas tree along with 20 broken ornaments sitting on the floor.

- He doesnt listen to us anymore, he is very independent.

-And im pretty sure that Dakota is becoming scared of him :(

- Hes like 5 feet tall haha.

Medical School

2008-11-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

Brandon is on his surgery rotation, and well, its not the most enjoyable thing in our life right now. Somedays he leaves at 4 in the morning and doesnt get home until 8 at night. But its nice to know that he can still have fun somedays while he's at the hospital. It's amazing how crazy this whole medical school thing has been. It was very interesting having our first year of marriage start in the midst of medical school chaos, but It has been an amazing year just the same! I think it has made us both stronger, individually and together.He works so hard and I am very proud of who he is becoming, both as a doctor, and more importantly as a person. He has handled stress and pressure unlike anyone I have ever met,I definitely wish I could be more like him. Anyways, I wanted to post this silly picture that was taken of him because it makes me smile.

Love

2008-11-03T17:09:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a analytical essay of William Shakespeare's sonnet Let me not to the marriage of true minds. I really think that especially in todays society, people are so willing to disregard the promises they made when they got married. This poem has really made me appreciate the safety and blessings that a marriage should bring.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admits impediments: love is not love

Which alters when alteration finds ,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O, no, it is an ever fixed mark,

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wand'ring bark,

Whose worth is unknown, although his heighth be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within bending sickle's compass come;

Love alters not with brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Puppies!

2008-11-03T12:07:00.000-08:00

So we have two doggies now. And it has been a very interesting experience having a puppy. He definitely wants to be the center of everything. Id like to think that he will stay small forever :)

They loved their costumes! Well not really, but they looked so cute :)
I'd say that they are getting along pretty well. Dakota finally let Charley in his house...thats a big thing if you knew Dakota!
Charley's first bath...it was an interesting experience. He definately looked adorable all wet though!

2008-11-03T11:44:00.000-08:00

Well we finally decided to get a blog. It seems like a fun thing to do, so I guess well see how it goes!