Hello Grad School...

Last night was my first class of graduate school. I went through all different kinds of emotions yesterday and definitely on my way to class. First of all, I am very excited to start this new journey in my life. I am so passionate about counseling and therapy. I feel like that is my calling and I can't wait to be able to have a career in that one day. I feel very blessed that I have had the opportunity to make career choices that I love instead of having to go to a job everyday for the paycheck. While this is an exciting time in life, it's also really sad because I have to be away from Christian two evenings a week. I don't get home until 7:30 from class and he's usually asleep by then. :(  When I got home last night I was so sad that he was asleep. I made it all the way until 10:00 and then decided that I really needed to put him in bed with me. :) He likes his own bed so he didn't make it long but atleast I got to cuddle with him for a while. I don't even like being away from my husband that long two days a week!! My first class was really interesting though and I think I'm really going to enjoy it. When I got home I told Corey every little detail of my first day like I was a little kid. I even read him my notes - which were very neatly written and high lighted (some things will never change). ;)  I'm so blessed to have an amazing support system in my husband. He stays home with Christian on Thursdays which is one day that I have class, so he will have him from 7:30 am-7:30 pm. He loves it and I will never hear him complain. I know some dads gripe about 3-4 hours.. I am very appreciative of him!! 

Anyway, it's going to be a challenging semester but I'm ready for it! One day down... many more to go! :)

Baby Steps...

First off.... Christian is taking his first steps!!!! I am so excited! He took his first step 3 days ago and then yesterday when I was home for lunch he took 2 steps! I love that I have been able to be home to see it. Thank you Jesus! I guess he will start walking pretty soon... and then life will never be the same! ha! He is changing so much... he waves and says bye bye now, he has his own version of thank you, "et eww." It is the cutest thing ever!! What is not so cute is... He has started throwing fits. Ugh! I am having a hard time with this because I do not want him to be a brat but it's also very hard to scold an 11 month old baby. :( Breaks my heart. Any momma advice would be greatly appreciated! ;)  

Christian got dedicated on New Year's Day. It was so special!! The grandparents, and his favorite aunt & uncle all came to share this special day with us. We gave Christian his first bible that has his name engraved on it. It's so sweet! 

Let's see... Not much else has been going on. I start grad school on Monday and I'm super excited/nervous about that! Corey and I are fasting this week. I am fasting sweets, caffeine, and facebook. This is the longest I've went without any of them and it feels amazing!! Especially the no caffeine part - the horrible headache part is over and now I feel great! I have to say also, I don't miss facebook. I thought I would have a really hard time giving it up but I really don't at all. It's nice to not check what everyone else is doing and saying because honestly why in the world does it matter?! haha! I have spent so much more time reading my Bible and spending time with my family and that is all that matters in the world! 

I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to the New Year!!

 We brought the new year in with our sweet angel!

 Christian's dedication 1/1/12

 

 

 

 

Christian's 1st Christmas...

This might be quite a long post.... So, this was Christian's 1st Christmas and the best one ever!! First of all, Christmas Eve was a blast... We got up early and went to do some last minute shopping and had lunch at Marketplace (my fave). We even battled Wal-Mart to get some last minute baking items. When we got home Christian took a very long nap so Core and I did some baking together. It was so much fun.. We made chocolate covered pretzels out of the peppermint hershey kisses. They were really good and pretty (I'll post a pic)! I have been saying for a long time that I would love to have a cross with lights around it for the yard. He made me a cross about a week ago and put it out there and when we were finished baking he went out and put lights on it for me.. such a sweet hubby! He turned out great (will post a pic of that too!!). When Christian woke up, we baked/decorated a birthday cake for Jesus. That's just a little tradition I want to do with him every year. Then we rested for a little bit and mom and I made some snacks. We opened all the presents, except for the "Santa" presents... It was SO much fun!! I've always loved Christmas but it is so much more fun now that we have Christian! He got so much stuff between us & his Nanna and Poppy Turt. His favorite presents of the night were the car that Uncle Devin bought him and the Bouncy Turtle from his Nanna. That night we went to the midnight candle lit service/Lord's Supper at church. It was such a great service... our preacher spoke and then several people read scriptures and sang. After that each family took turns going to the alter and taking communion and then we each lit a candle and sat back down until everyone went. It was so peaceful and I felt so close to God. In fact, I've never felt as close to God in my entire life as I do right now.. which is the GREATEST feeling/gift in the world. The next morning we woke up and Santa came! ;) Christian was so excited to crawl in there and find his presents! Santa brought him a baby grand piano, a 4-wheeler, ball, and blankie!! He LOVES that piano!!! We rested before it was time to go to church.. Church was just amazing. Corey rededicated his life after a very emotional service. I won't go into all the details but God is really moving in KBC!!! Next week, he will get baptized again since he considers that the time of him being truly saved. To make it even more special.. Christian is getting dedicated next Sunday, also! I really wanted him to be dedicated on January 1st.. I thought that would be the perfect start to the new year!! :) After church we went to my dad's and celebrated Christmas with them... Once again Christian got a lot of presents and his favorite from Grandpa and Grandma is his rocking horse. Later that evening we celebrated with Dee, Jon, Chris, & Jessica. I bet you wouldn't believe this, but..... Christian got even MORE presents!! haha By this point I was starting to get high anxiety over where all these toys were going to go. Maybe it's time to consider building a bigger house or adding on a play room?! haha! He got a train from his Mimi that he just loves!! We aren't even finished yet... His dad just got in town tonight so we will have another Christmas tomorrow! I'm not even going to start sorting through all the toys and finding them homes until that is over! Anyway, we had a wonderful Christmas and even though Christian got a lot of toys, clothes, and everything else under the moon... The one true meaning of Christmas is Jesus' birthday and He is the GREATEST gift of all. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!