Friends

Last weekend we made a trip out to Utah for Shalice's wedding. It was such a special day, and seeing my friend so happy and in love made me happy. She was a gorgeous bride and everything was perfect. That's just how she rolls. I can't even tell you how great it was to hang out with so many people that I love all day long. Just when I was starting to feel I was lacking in the friend department, being so far away, I went back to our old home and got my fill! I just keep thinking how grateful I am for my friends. Besides the wedding day bliss, I got to finally meet baby Jane, who is almost one, give Grandma Sara a kiss, visit my buddies in the M/SICU, give my preceptor who just lost her husband a hug, and catch up with dear friends in our amazing PG ward. I'm not gonna lie, it was kinda painful to visit our old ward and condo. We really loved it there and have so many fond memories. I think if you asked us that day if we'd give it all up and move back, we'd have said yes. But I realize that life moves on, and that you can love whatever situation you find yourself in.

Did I mention that we stayed with the Chase's and each loved having a best friend to hang out with all weekend. Especially Maddie. Megan and Josh even gave up their bed for us so Maddie could sleep in their closet and sleep in til ten like Savannah. We love them. The girls were so cute together. They are both way into babies and thought it was so funny to walk through the Gateway holding hands. Even toddlers are happier when they're close to their friends!

5.20.05

Today we celebrate our 5th Anniversary. I really can't believe it's been that long! Are we really that old? It's been a lovely adventure so far, and I look forward to spending the next 5, 10, 30, 60...years with this man. I'm so lucky to be married to my best friend. He's such an amazing daddy and just a genuinely good guy. The traditional five year gift is "wood." I gave him a jar full of golf tees with all the reasons I love him curled around them, along with a couple of private golf lessons. He gave me a month of tennis lessons! I'm so excited! Watch out family, we're gonna be ready to beat you this summer :)!

Home Sweet Home

I've had a few people request pictures of our new home, so for those of you who care, come on in.

Here's the living room. If you look close you can see the place I spend lots of time cleaning up each day, along with the cute little mess-maker herself.

The Kitchen. I'm seriously becoming gourmet in here. No really, last night I made homemade pizzas- four of them.

See my pizza stone? I wasn't lying. I also made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Yum. I have too much time on my hands! Might explain why my pants fit tighter these days :(.

Downstairs Bathroom. Needs a picture or something.

Master bedroom. Needs more furniture to fill it up.
Master Bath. We have contests who can keep their sink cleaner. He usually wins, so I'm tempted to not clean it next time I make my rounds.
Laundry. Love them with a passion.

Guest Room/ Office. Not used enough. Please come visit. Please!

Maddie's Bathroom.

Place where Maddie spends most of her time. Seriously this girl has to get her 13 hours in. She also still likes two naps a day. I'm not complaining.

Front yard.

We kind of love it here.

I Love

Being a Mother.

And I love my own mother for teaching me all I need to know. I love how she adores my baby. I love my mother-in-law for being the most pleasant person in the world. And I love that my husband can't ever remember a time when he was mad at her. I love my sister-in-laws and friends for the amazing mothers they are. I love and feel for those women that anxiously wait to become mothers. There isn't anything more beautiful than motherhood.

Book Reviews

I have a really bad habit of starting long books, stopping half way through for a quick read, and sometimes finishing the epics. Right now I'm really bad cuz I'm in the middle of two long ones and just finished two quickies. It's a miracle I can keep all the details straight. (I spend alot of time re-reading!)

So, on that note, I'll give you my opinions on these two:

I really liked this one from the beginning. It's about a cooking class, but of course the students learn more about life than how to follow a recipe. I loved how the author used sensory imagery to bring food to life. I still think it lacked some 'essential ingredients'- maybe character development or a more complex plot/ relationships, but if you're looking for a "delicate, meltingly lovely hymn to food and friendship," this will do. I may or may not have put the book down to indulge in some chocolate and pick up some potted fresh basil.

I didn't put this one down once I picked it up. Not because it was such a thrilling page turner, but because I really wanted to make it to book club the next night. Unfortunately, JD had to work late, and a nap-less Maddie would not have been very pleasant, so I stayed home. Oh well, next month is this book, which I love, so hopefully I can make it. Anyways, I'd say this was along the lines of the Twilight series, but not near as good. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the action-packed, death-defying stories of survival, no matter how unrealistic or juvenile they might be.

Sweet Baby

This is my newest nephew Will. He is stinkin cute. We all agree that he's the spitting image of his dad, but there are moments when I see Johnny in him. I can't remember my baby ever being so tiny.

He's so precious. I know he'll change so much from now til the next time I see him. I'm baffled by how much they change in the first year.

This little one is no longer a baby. She's officially a little girl, growing by leaps and bounds every day, and I love her every inch!

Can't Forget These

We're gettin on an airplane in a couple hours to head back to YL. {We just can't stay away!} I just remembered to pack my headphones. Last time we flew the lady next to us let Maddie play with hers. Kept her entertained for a good 30 minutes. Excited to:

-meet our new baby Will

-swim in papa's pool

-go to two of my best friend's bridal showers

-get pampered all day

-see Maddie give her grammys kisses!!

To Work...

...Or not to work.

That is the question that has been on my mind lately. If you can't tell, Maddie and I have been doing alot of playing. With absolutely nothing on my schedule, I have more than enough time to hang out at the park with my little toddler. She's the coolest kid, and I could probably be content hanging out with just her all the time. But lately, for some reason, I've started going through made up patient scenarios in my head. Like yesterday, while running on the treadmill I was thinking, ok, so a man comes into the ER with chest pain. What is the first thing I do? 12-Lead, check. O2, Assess, check. IV, check. Labs, check. Aspirin, nitro, morphine, check. Next I started my checklist for what I'd do in a full arrest. Sadly, after only a few weeks off I was having trouble remembering critical details...how much epi; amiodorone or atropine next? Etc. Weird, I know. But I wondered, am I supposed to go back to work? Is there a situation in the future where someone will need me to be their nurse? It would be so easy for me to focus only on being a mom and forget all the valuable knowledge I've gained over the last 4+ years.

I think what I really want is to work just enough so it feels like fun instead of work, and not enough to where my baby will even know I'm gone. Guess I'll start looking for that perfect job.

We Made It

So after almost two weeks of being here, I finally have the internet and the house mostly put together so I can blog! We really love our new home. We feel like we've got tons of space, and love the community. While JD's away working most of the time, Maddie and I get to play at the park across the street, get lost running around town, and attempt to cook again! On the weekends we've been exploring our surroundings. Last weekend we went on a long bike ride through wine country. It was beautiful and fun to get back on my bike.

This weekend we watched a parade downtown, picked up yummy sandwiches at the market, and drove out to the beach. (Next time we'll remember our sweatshirts! It's not like home). We love that our family drove out to hang out with us! It's so nice to be close enough to see eachother often.

Stay tuned for more about our new life. And come visit us because we miss you! You know who you are!

Easter

One day I'm gonna have one of those classy, amazing blogs- you know, the ones that have one or two really great edited pictures along with something remarkably simple written to go along with it? But until then, you get my hodge podge of pictures cuz I can't just choose one!

Check out how we made these beautiful eggs here.

My very own Little Bunny Foo Foo

Finding her basket

Eating her favorite food in her Easter outfit
Hunting for eggs

Carrying all the baskets

We had a lovely Easter watching conference and spending time eating waffles with the Whites and prime rib with with the Lindseys. What are we going to do without all these delicious meals? It's no wonder my baby's at the top of the charts!