These past years...

I was thinking just this last week how pivotal of a month July is for me. It never fails to disappoint. Not only is my birthday this month (yes- tomorrow, the 25th) but it is always a summer month with lots of traveling of one sort or another.

10 years ago this month I was turning 12, sooo excited to be going into 7th grade, which was middle school. Not 2 months later we found out we were moving to Germany, which changed my life, and who I am, forever.

5 years ago this month we were moving back from Switzerland. I was apprehensive about the move there in the first place, but I ended up really loving it there. I made many great friends, and fully embraced the life there. I could have easily stayed my senior year and loved it. I was sad to leave, especially right before my senior year.

4 years ago this month I was packing up my things for college. It had always been my dream to go to BYU, and I was so excited to finally go! The summer was a difficult one for me though as I left behind my first real relationship. I definitely grew a lot emotionally that summer through all my sadness. I had a hard year in NJ but made some good friends.

3 years ago this month I was having the best summer of my life. <3Jared and I had just started dating and I moved into off-campus housing. Me and my roomies laid out by the pool every day and I got so so so tan. It was a blast!

My brother Matt also got home from his mission that summer...

2 years ago this month I was a newlywed :) Jared and I were in our first little place and we were having so much fun hanging out 24/7. I took some tough classes that spring semester but I was so happy being married I hardly noticed.

This time last year I was 4 1/2 months pregnant and sooo happy! We didn't know we were having a boy yet, but I was positive he was. We went on a Europe trip with my parents (who still live over there) and it was tons of fun. I fed my salty cravings with real Italian pizzas, and loved showing my husband our old stomping grounds. We had a fantastic time. 2 weeks later we graduated together!

Big Bear!

We had a blast in Big Bear this last week!! We went tubing, wakeboarding, and water-skiing for 5 fun days. I got some fun moments on camera. Jared claims he didn't push Kelly off the tube...

I was so excited to see my college roommate Darci as well! She was awesome on the wakeboard.

We also saw the official arrival of Nicholas' first tooth. This picture was taken about a week ago, so its even more pronounced today.

I'll post more later... we're exhausted. Nicholas' teething (or sopmething else as equally awful) has had him waking up at 1am, and 4am EVERY NIGHT. I'm dying here.

We are having the best summer!!
We just said goodbye to my mom and brother, Jacob, for the second time. They came to visit us here and we had such a fun time doing hardly anything! We did get to swim and eat out quite a bit, but mostly enjoyed sitting out in the yard talking and enjoying the beautiful summer weather. Nicholas took quite a liking to Jacob, laughing and smiling at him each time he walked by. He particularly enjoyed his Star Wars impersonations of Chewbacca and Yoda.
We all went to Nicholas' Dr. appointment and were in for a shock- Nicholas' weight, height, and head circumference are all average-- 50%! I can't believe our once massive child is now totally normal!! I know this happens quite often but still, he's always been so much bigger. Now he's more in line with his genetics I guess :)
We are so excited for this weekend when we'll go on another trip! We're going boating with our family Brittany and Kelly!! Then we are so excited they get to stay here for 3 weeks and hang out with us!!!

Our Wedding Day

Its been 2 years, 2 months, and 2 weeks (ok-1 week, 5 days) since Jared and I were married in the Oakland temple. We have had the best two years! We finished school together, traveled Europe, moved to California and had a baby. I can't believe all that has happened in such short time. We have become even better friends, and our newest hobby is taking care of our baby together.

Jared is the best dad. I know everyone says that, but seriously, he wins the contest. Even if he is tired, stressed, or simply has something he'd rather be doing, he'll drop everything to be with our baby. Right when he walks in the door he beelines for Nicholas and won't have him out of his sight. He is great with night duty too (which doesn't happen too often, but still :) ). He has been getting up at 5 am every morning to study for the GMAT, and even then he'll get up to rock Nicholas back to sleep at 3 am, or give him a pacifier if I ask him. I am so lucky to have such a helpful husband, and that alone makes me want to have a big family because I know he'll always be there to help me and alleviate stress.

Its been a great 2 years-- let's have 30X more!

Home again

Nicholas and I have now returned home! We had an awesome time in Arizona, and easily could have stayed there another week. Well, we did miss Jared a little bit.... :)



We were able to stay an entire week there, visiting my mom, sister, and brother, who were visiting my Grandma. We swam in my cousin's pool, went shopping several times, and ate out. How I didn't gain 10 lbs is a beyond me. Nicholas is at such a fun age, it really was a joy to be able to travel with him and share him with my relatives. He is really happy, and not scared of strangers. He immediately to a liking to my little brother, Jacob, who is 7. (He seems to love little kids- I think most babies do). Jake was a little embarrassed by how much Nicholas loved him, and often avoided eye contact.

Since we've been back we've been cleaning at home, swimming some more, and just enjoying one another's company! He is my best buddy and we're having lots of fun together.

Also exciting news for us, Nicholas is beginning to get his two front teeth! Granted they can barely been seen and haven't really broken through yet, but I totally noticed them (too much time on my hands...?) and I bet they'll be through any day now!