husband, m.d.

It amazes me how four years ago we were just starting this journey. We have since both graduated with our bachelor degrees, doubled the size of our family by having two kids, moved across the country from most of our family, fell in love with football and buckeyes, and learn to appreciate the beauty of the midwest. 

We were so excited to move on to the next phase. I truly believe that we were ready for a change. But I can't help but look back on those four years, and with a greater perspective learn to see beauty in the challenges we experienced and the ease of life we had even through the craziness. Life was unbelievably hard at times; to the point where I felt like I could not continue. But they were good years. Years of learning, growth, progression, love, trials, blessings, and more love. 

We now have a new phase to pass through: the phase of being a resident physician and all the joys {and challenges} that accompany that. Isn't that what life really is? Just one more lesson to learn; one more hurdle to overcome; one more step toward our goals; one more blessing to count; one more journal entry to record? 

My emotions have been close to the surface this past month as we said goodbye to dear friends and hello to new ones. My heart is very sensitive to countless memories that we made in Columbus, and the people we grew to love there. And most of all, I am beyond proud for R and this major accomplishment of graduating medical school. All of our family who came out to support us for graduation made multiple, sweet, genuine comments of how it is a team effort and it is both of us who deserve recognition. I definitely understand that and agree with it. But I'm not the one who studied countless days, took exam after exam, practiced for hours on procedures, and was under the direct stress and pressure of directors and attendings who demanded excellence. We both played roles in these past four years that were important, but I am positive that my line of work is vastly different and much more enjoyable than going through what he has gone through. I would choose my job over his any day. :)

Congrats babe - we did it! Here's to three {+} years of residency: a time of learning, progression, improving, challenges, blessings, and most of all love. 

happy father's day

We love you Daddy! 

eleven months

Lady-L is eleven months old!!

Life has been a whirlwind lately, but yet Lady-LE has changed SO much I really need to document it. No new stats to report, but my baby girl is 11 months old and almost a toddler (kind of).

Ways she has changed:

-loves to be on her belly now

-rolls over a lot

-uses her hands and arms while on her belly to move around; although it is always either side to side or backwards. no forward moving yet

-hair finally growing in the back

-filled out quite a bit in the past month or two

-hates to have her diaper changed

-says "Hi" and waves her arms frantically at everyone

-says "ma-ma" and "da-da" although she thinks it's funny to say "da-da" when I am specifically trying to get her to repeat "ma-ma" - just like my little neice. too cute for words!

-I signed the word "more" for her once, and she picked it up the first try! She signs it all the time now, and I've slowly been trying to introduce more signs but I kind of forget to make it a priority

-learned how to scream to get our attention, and uses that tactic frequently when big brother takes away a toy

-absolutely loves music and dancing every time she hears it

-she's had her first introduction to Baby Signing Time {which I love, I know. Other parents get annoyed, but it makes me happy} and absolutely adores it. She goes crazy dancing and moving to the music.

Ways she has stayed the same:

-still very sweet and content if she is fed, rested, and entertained {the combinations actually happened at really good times during the crazy graduation week. Thank you Lady-L!}

-completely adores big brother

-loves fruit and some-what tolerates vegetables

-goes completely crazy whenever we go outside. whole body convulses with too much excitement to keep contained

-loves to imitate sounds and do what you are doing

-loves chaos. seriously? yes. she is completely entertained when there are a lot of people around and she loves to have a crowd.

-still takes at least two naps a day - sometimes three. The third is getting more and more rare, but every once in a while we throw it into the mix again. She's almost a year old and she's still on two naps. I'm loving this!

Other tidbits:

-she did amazingly well in transitioning to our new house. She cried the first day or so whenever it was naptime or bedtime, but that only lasted a little while and by day two she was totally fine. Man alive this girl is awesome.

-she has such a crazy personality. Sometimes she's content to simply sit and play for over an hour. Other times she screams until I hold her in standing position and she will scream any time I try to sit down. She does this especially in the pool. She LOVES to stand up in the pool, and it's actually helping her learn to move her legs while standing. Maybe she actually will skip the crawling stage?

things that matter most

There are a MILLION things to post about. Ryan graduating medical school, lots of wonderful family visiting us, vacation to Hawaii without kids, visiting Colorado, L & LE growing and changing every day, saying goodbye to Columbus and lots of dear sweet friends, moving to North Carolina, buying our first house, getting settled in our new city, meeting other residents in Ryan's program, and the list goes on and on.

But I saw this today and it completely resonates with me and I have to share it. Yes life is crazy right now, but there are specific things in life that make it truly meaningful and beautiful:  the gospel and our family. Life is wonderful.