Do I still have a blog?

Whoa, I really have not blogged in a while! To be honest I wasn't planning on blogging ever again, but here I am. School is still going really well. I have loved my clinicals this semester. I loved the women's center, especially labor and delivery and the NICU, although I hated mother/baby! The ER was fun and I surprisingly liked the Health Department. Weird. I think I might like the OR too but I guess we will see when I get there. I am starting to feel more confident in my abilities and I love nursing...most days. I won't lie, there are days I think what the heck am I doing here?!?

I will be done in December and can't wait to be able to stay home and be a mom! I really love being a mom and house wife and cooking and keeping the house clean. I love the feeling of knowing everything is organized and I love planning meals and making fancy desserts. Ever since school has taken over my life, I will never take a clean house for granted again. I know it all will probably get old fast, but I can't wait. And I can't wait to see all the new things Gavin does. I know this sounds dorky but I can't wait to have free time to read books about handling the terrible twos and figure out the best methods for disciplining and potty training and all that good stuff. I just want to be the best mom I can be.

I really would like to go right on for my RN, but Riley is joining the Army in January and will be gone for a few months for basic and training so my schooling will need to be put on hold for a while. I don't really mind though. I need a break. I think I will just work as an LPN for a while and get my basic nursing skills really sharp. Riley is really excited about the military. He will be joining the Reserves and then transfering to the ROTC and going through a nursing program. At first the thought of all this really scared me, but Riley shouldn't be in too much danger because he will be in a hopsital somewhere and we will get the chance to see some more of the world! It feels like the right thing to do and although I never, ever, ever pictured myself as a military wife I am ready for this adventure.

Gavin is so big and cute! He says all sorts of cute things like shoes, fish (shish), rock, tickle (tick-aw), cat, dog, moo, meow, love you, hi, cracker, and ball just to name a few. He runs and walks backwards, and spins. And this kid is dancing machine!! He loves to dance to anything, even the beat of the washing machine! He loves to give kisses and loves to snuggle when he first wakes up. He is such a boy and loves trucks and rocks and dirt. If we had a rock pit in our backyard he would be in heaven. Well, that's all for now.

Crazy Summer

Well I loved New York. It was crazy and different and had a cool feel to it. But one week after I arrived we got news that our office was being moved to North Carolina! Luckily we had family coming to visit so I was allowed to stay an extra week and see all the sights. It was awesome!

We got here to North Carolina a few days ago and I love it so much better than New York! It's calmer and our apartment is huge and we have a swimming pool. Not to mention the fact that I'm not afraid to walk out my front door alone.

More details are to come when I have the time and access to a computer again!

Gavin Is One Year Old!

I finally got some pictures to put on here! This month and has been busy and great. Riley came home from New York for Gavin's first birthday, and also for mine which was the day after his. I was so glad to see him and so was Gavin. I finished my finals and now just have clinicals at the hospital to get through until my summer break. Then Gav and I will head out to New York to be with Riley for a month!


This ridiculously handsome young man is now one year old. I can't believe how much he has changed and how fast this year has gone by! He is not interested in walking although I know he could if he would let us let go of his hands. He just sits down whenever we try but that's okay with me...I won't have to chase him around! He surprises us every once in a while and says word like "cow" or "tank to" [thank you]. He makes little engine noises when he plays with trucks, which I can't get enough of. We switched from rocking him to sleep to letting him get himself to sleep in his crib and he is finally getting the hang of it.

The most ground breaking news of all... NO MORE BINKY! For anyone who really knows him, he was a total binky baby day and night. I was cruel and took it away because he was starting to throw it (and the fact I still had to get up like three times a night to put it back in for him might have had something to do with it.) It's been tough for him and he still plays with his mouth at bedtime as if feeling for his binky but he is coping really well.
We went to a petting zoo the other day and it was awesome. I'm not so sure if he enjoyed it but I sure did! Here we are with a baby bunny! That is my angel mother who is staying with me during the week to watch Gavin so I can go to school.

He has mastered going up the stairs at my parent's house. Now if we could try and show him how to go down the right way without him screaming! Any tips?

Sorry this one is sideways...I'm not smart enough to figure out how to turn it. He will love this little 4-wheeler Ry's dad and stepmom gave him when we all go out to the desert and ride.

He loved this car he got for his birthday from Riley's mom. It plays some pretty catchy music and he dances all the time to it! He pushes himself around on it too!

His first ice cream cone. A monumentous occasion in anyone's life.

This was Gavin's first haircut!! He didn't like it very much but he sure needed it. This was two days after his first birthday.

Gavin did not like it when Riley was out of his sight so they spent a lot of time playing together.

This was on my birthday. It was the best birthday I've ever had. I was so happy to have my honey home and we just hung out all day together. We went to see Star Trek and I liked it a lot!
Riley is amazing and can make everything better and more fun. He is back out in New York now and is doing really well installing! He is really fast at it which is what they want. He is having fun hanging out with his sister and her hubby and my brother who is also out installing.

This was on Gavin's birthday after he finished demolishing his cupcake. At first he stuck his thumb in it and just stared at it but after I put some of the frosting in his mouth he went for it! We had a nice family barbeque and Gavin (and I) got spoiled with presents.

He will probably kill me when he is older for putting him in such a cutesy outfit but I couldn't help myself.

This was back in April. My dad was fixing a few things around the house for me and Gavin kept stealing all the tools. He is all boy!

All I have left to say is that I love summer!!! I was so sick of the cold. I love the big thunderstorms that come rolling through Logan! I love taking Gavin for walks around the neighborhood. I love the blue skies. I love falling asleep to the sound of crickets. And I especially love waking up to the sound of construction. That's right ladies and gentlemen, there is massive construction taking place in my backyard...literally. They are building new housing directly on the otherside of our back wall, which is only about ten feet from the back of our house. At least Gavin likes to watch all the machines during the day. Well, I think that is every boring detail I have to give. Hope life is treating everyone great!

Happy May!

We've made it through to May! Well just as a quick update, Riley made it to New York and is finding out how crazy it is. He says it takes hours to drive anywhere and that the traffic is insane. His apartment is along the shore of the Hudson River and he gets to see all the barges go by (I know, real exciting). He is doing really well installing and likes it much better than selling. What a stud.

Gavin and I are getting by thanks to my mom's help. She has been so amazing and does so much to make things easier for us. School is going by so fast! There are lots of projects coming up before final exams and then a few weeks of clinicals until I'm free to fly out and see my honey. Riley might be flying home for Gavin's birthday (and mine) in a few weeks if things work out, so everybody keep your fingers crossed for me!!!

*Sorry for the lack of pictures! Some should be coming soon!

Watch out New York...Here comes Riley!

So Riley leaves for New York on Sunday. I feel like my whole world is about to get flipped upside down. I'm kinda jealous too! I want to go explore the Big Apple and spend time with all of our family and friends going out there. What an adventure! I hope he has a fun time out there and most of all that he is safe. I get so scared thinking of what a scary neighborhoods he will be going in to! Things will be so different without Riley here. I will miss his silly songs that don't make sense, his mischievous smile, the way he plays with Gavin, and even how he leaves his shoes everywhere. The good news I just got today is that I might be able to spend an extra week out there if my advisor can work things out! Yippee!
We have had a lot of fun these past couple of weeks and seem to value spending time with each other more. Last week was my spring break and my sweet mom tended Gavin and bought us a night at the Hine's Mansion where we spent our wedding night. It was so much fun to get away and have a date night, so thanks mom! Then we spent some time with Ry's parents and went to the desert, dyed Easter eggs, and went out to dinner. We spent some time with my family too and played ball for a few hours. Last night the Fowkes' came over and hung out with us and I know it meant a lot to Riley! Also Riley's little brother Hayden came up to spend the night and I know Ry has loved spending time with him. Yep, life has been really good to us!

Update

So I haven't written anything because I absolutely nothing interesting to post. School is getting a little easier because there is not as much busy work, but I think my brain is shrinking. I can't retain information for more than a day or two and I have lost any common sense that I may have had. On an exciting note, I got to do some cool things at my clinical on Friday! I took blood sugars, and passed out tons of meds, and I got to feed someone through a feeding tube! It was awesome!
Gavin is so big and cute! He is slowly learning to tolerate eating things with texture. He keeps pulling himself up on the furniture and is getting good at walking around when we hold his hands. It won't be long before another biped is roaming the halls of our home!
Riley went to work down south for the weekend and I got a little taste of what it will be like when he is gone for the summer. I got a little depressed thinking about how much I will miss him and how different things will be. We plan to live on our cell phones, talk on webcams, and read books together. We will see how it all goes!

Whistling A Different Tune

So I really regretted my last post and have vowed that I will no longer use this blog as a way to vent! Sorry to all the poor people who read it. I must tell you though that my wonderful husband came through and saved me from my depression! Even though he had to work last night and was just as tired as I was he encouraged me to go take a nap so I could study better. He sacrificed his chance to sleep and took care of a grumpy, sick baby so I could recharge my batteries! What a total stud! Not only did he do that but then he put Gavin to bed before he went to work and then never woke me up so I slept through the night. "What about Gavin being so sick and waking up 30 times in the middle of the night?" you ask...well I win the awful parent award. I don't think there was a miracle and that Gav never woke up, I think I was so tired and out of it that I just never heard him. Poor kid. But I feel much better and more optimistic about life now that I'm a little more rested!

I just have to let the world that Riley is the most amazing husband, father, and person in general! He has been so great about taking care of Gavin and helpng around the house since I started school. And he is such a great friend and is always there for me to talk to. My top 5 favorite things about Riley are:

5-He is such a great son and brother and is always doing things for his family and always calls to chat and check up on them.

4-He is such a fun dad and would do anything for Gavin.
3-He loves the Lord and is always trying to better himself.

2-I love it when something strikes him something as really funny and he laughs until he is sick.

1-I love the way he loves me and shows me everyday. He really is the cream of the crop!

Somebody Stop This Crazy Ride!!

Oh my hecka! Life is crazy! School is nuts and I don't think my teachers understand that I need to do something other than stress out about a last minute quiz, read a gazillion chapters of some boring book, or study for a test I am just going to fail anyway. On top of that Gavin is sick with the croup and I think it has given him some super power of not needing to sleep. Both Riley and I are suffering from severe sleep deprivation and that doesn't make for calm, loving conversations. I can't get him to stop crying. Gavin, that is, not Riley. I need a break! There isn't one in sight though, so for now I am going to keep scarfing down junk food so I don't fall asleep when I'm trying to study, practice singing instead of getting mad at 3 a.m. when I am up with a screaming baby, and keep telling myself its all going to be worth it...right? Sorry for being a whiny loser! I know people have a lot tougher things happening to them. Time to get out the chocolate.

School So Far...

I started the LPN program at Bridgerland on Monday and the first week has had its ups and downs. I knew they would pile it on us and I would probably feel overwhelmed...and I was right. There are a lot of requirements, assignments, and tests but I know I can do it! The only thing that is really stressing me out is trying to balance school and family. Since I have had Gavin I have only been taking a few easy classes here and there so I haven't had too much pressure. Now I feel like I don't have much time to spend with him or Riley but once I get the hang of it things won't be too bad.
On a more fun note: Gavin has another tooth! This makes three! And his top two are almost through! He is so big! And I swear he will be crawling in the next few days. He gets up on his knees and starts lifting them up and down until he gets tired and then he flops back down. It's only a matter of time until he figures it all out!
Oh...and I was wondering if anyone has any cute Valentine's ideas...preferrably cheap or free. Let me know if you do! Happy Valentines to everyone!

One Lucky Girl!

Life has been treating me really good lately. I have this sweet, perfect little boy who just keeps growing and figuring things out. He learned how to clap and he is always jabbering. He is about to crawl any day now and I can't wait to see it! (I know all the mothers with babies who are older are laughing a smug little laugh thinking "Oh, boy! She'll be eating those words when Gavin starts getting into everything and is always chasing her around and crying at her feet.") He has been more fussy lately and always wants to be held but I am told this stage will pass so I'm trying to find the joy in it. He really is such a good baby and he brings me so much happiness. Looking back I have no idea why I was so terrified to start having kids. It really is what life is about: family.

I also have an amazing husband who is always helping around the house or watching Gavin for me. Plus he works nights, which is really hard on him. He is such a genuinely good person. He is always helping neighbors move, or shoveling their walks, or just being a good friend that is willing to bend over backwards to help someone. He loves his family so much and is so good to them. He always is there for me to talk to and always leaves me little love notes. I am a really lucky girl. Both of us are getting sad because he will be leaving for a little over two months to go install security systems, but I will have to wait to go out with him because of school. It's going to be so hard! Luckily my sweet parents are going to come stay with me and watch Gavin. They are saints! And Riley will have his sister and some friends to keep him company. Riley was telling me that Pres. Hinckley had to leave his wife for about three months so he could go work, so that gives me hope and comfort. If they could do it, so can we!

I have also noticed that things just seem to work out for us. We have always been able to pay the bills and have always had a nice place to live. Our families have always been so supportive and helpful. Even just the littlest things seem to work out. For example, I was doing the laundry the other day and I found a little pastic thing in the bottom of the washer. I was about to throw it away when Riley walked by and told me it was supposed to go into the collar of his church shirt to keep it straight. Now this is really stupid and little,but if he hadn't walked by right then I would have just tossed it in the garbage. I don't think it would have been life changing or anything but I just notice dozens of little things like this every day and I don't think any of it is by chance. The Lord is truly blessing us in big ways and in small ways too. We will definately be counting on Him when Riley has to leave!

I have been trying to appreciate all the free time I have because very soon I'm afraid I won't have any. I start the LPN program at Bridgerland in less than two weeks and it's an all day, every day thing. I'm afraid I'm going to have a small come apart for that first while when I'm trying to adjust, but I keep telling myself that the Lord isn't going to forget about us and things will work out just like they always do. I just keep picturing myself going to school unshowered with bloodshot eyes because I had to wait to do all my homework until Gavin went to bed and I only got two hours of sleep. That's probably a little dramatic, but I'm just a little nervous! Well, this has been a long rambling post and I'm sure whoever decided to read this is probably getting bored so that's it for now!

This was taken a couple of months ago, but he is still always flailing around like this on his tummy, trying to move around. He gets up on his knees a lot but then usually just ends up scooting backwards.

Fantastic 2008!!

Riley and I had a wonderful New Year's Eve watching Lost season 4 (whoa, its so nuts!) and toasting with some martinellis. It was so wonderful to spend some alone time together! Well I have been trying to get our back room organized and was looking at some of our pictures from this past year. We have had so many fun times and wonderful things happen this year and I wanted to put some pictures on here to share, so here it goes:

This was on Valentine's Day when Riley spoiled me with roses, chocolates, dinner, and a comedy show. What a stud!

This was at Riley's birthday when his family came over for dinner and games. Here he is with his mammy.

Here we were celebrating our two year anniversary. Our parents were with us because we had moved into a new apartment that day, but we didn't mind they were there because they bought us that outragious dessert!

We celebrated Easter by going out to the sand dunes with Riley's dad and stepmom. We ate lunchables, flew kites, and had some laughs...what else is there?!

We were shopping and Riley talked me into using one of the scooters since I had the excuse of being pregnant. I was so embarrased...especially when Riley hopped on and kept making it beep by backing up. Needless to say I didn't stay on it for long.


This was one of the most amazing moments of my life. I got to hold my baby for the first time and he was absolutley perfect.

This was on my birthday, the day after Gavin was born. What a fantastic birthday present!

This was one of Gavin's first smiles. He could melt anyone's heart with those huge dimples!

The 4th of July parade was a blast and surprsingly none of the loud noises scared Gavin!

Gavin's baby blessing was quite the ordeal but it turned out great and brought the family together!

This was the first time he ever picked up and played with a toy! It was so exciting!

He survived his first camping trip in the freezing desert! We kept him bundled up tight!

We celebrated Halloween with a trip to Gardner Village to join all the other witches in town. Somebody turned Gavin into a horse though.

We finished up the Utah season with a huge win and were ecstatic to be there!

Well, I still don't have any pictures of Christmas yet but it really was a great year with so many fun adventures and big blessings. What a great year!