Blessing Day

While we had Tom's parents and mine here for his graduation, we decided to have Brynn blessed, that way both of her grandparents would be here to celebrate both Tom and her. I was so grateful to have my parents here, I was really hoping that my mom would buy the tickets ( I think I dropped enough hints)becuase I really wanted both of them here. It was such a great day! I was so happy to know that Tom was worthy to bless our little girl. When I handed her to him I started to cry. Don't know why, I wasn't worried that he would drop her, I guess I was overwhelmed and so happy to see him, his dad, and my dad up there. Worthy men that hold the priesthood. Gosh, I cried thru the whole thing, even after. Sometimes I wonder if I'm still hormonal and my body's still trying to adjust to not being prego anymore. But I'd like to think that I'm just happy with being a mom.






.She was so pretty in that dress! It was so great of my mom to bring it out too. In fact this was the dress that I was blessed in, and how much more special it was for me to have our daughter blessed in the same dresss. Thanks mom for saving it all these years! And it still looks brand new.

The Big Day

HOORAY! Tom graduated from dental school, and we found out that he passed his boards (even better!). Graduation took place at Hienz Hall. Tom's parents and mine came out for the graduation and the baby blessing. It was so wonderful of both of them to come out, plus I didn't mind having my mom out here again even though it had only been a week and a half. I just feel bad that as soon as she got home she had to turn back around to come out here. It was so great to feel like we are done, finally. Although it also felt kinda wierd knowing that this is it. It's now time to go out into the world and start paying our student debt off, ugh. It's like leaving a part of yourself behind, but at the same time starting a new beginning. Sad when you think of it.
My camera wasn't quite working the way I wanted it to, so I wasn't able to get as many pic's of Tom walking down the isle, or receiving his "fake" diploma.

Yea, Tom did it. Congrats babe, you made it. I'm so proud of you and all your accomplishments!

You know out of the four years we've been here, it hasn't been all that bad. Coming here wasn't as fun, being married for only 2 weeks, trying to make a home out of a dive. The house was not move in condition--far from! Tons of elbow greese! But out of all that, fun memories were made and I look back on those experiences hoping to have grown from them, walking away learning something new about myself or Tom, improving my many faults that I want to change. I'm sure I'll cry as we see Pittsburgh in our rearview mirror, but I can say at the same time I'm happy to be moving on. I never really cared to make this our permanent address, or the many hills to hike up, especially our mountain that we live on. I'm surprised that our
100+ house hasn't started to slide down the hill for how old it is. I will also not miss the stupid intersections that you have to stop at, or that don't make sense of why you stop, or the dumb 'no turn on red' signs. I admit I havent paid much attention to those signs, but I did get pulled over for turning on a no turn on red sign...no ticket--Thank you Idaho plates! Ah, many things I will not care to miss, but there are those that I will---friends especially, admiration for all the hard work into our humble abode, memories, smells and much more. (Linda and Natalie with Brynn and me)

First "Mom's day"

I didn't have time to post this yesterday becuase Brynn was screaming for food, so thought I would add some time now that she's asleep (in my lap as I type this up) Tom kept asking me what I wanted for mothers day and I kept saying I don't need anything, I'm ok there's nothing that I really want (except to move closer to family, preferebly closer than 6hrs away but that wish isn't happenin'). So in the mail I got a $10 off coupon when you spend $10 or more at JC Penny. Well since a realtor was coming by to show the house on Saturday (mind you we had 1hr to get the house clean/spotless) we decided that we would just go and use the coupon. So we left and I found a cute top that I got, but we had to stop and feed Brynn, so Tom said "I'm going to look around in the mall for about a half hour then I'll be back out and we'll go to Costco to get a couple of things" Ok, so 5:30 rolls around and he's still not back. Not a big deal since she was still eating anyway but I'm wondering where he is and why it's taking so long. Me thinking he probably didn't find anything which didn't matter to me becuase I really didn't want anything anyway but we needed to get going becuase we still needed groceries. Another half hour goes by and he's back out to the car, costco's closed so we decided to go to Sams to pick up a few frozen foods to just have. I'm still out in the car with the baby waiting, then we're off to walmart to get groceries. We finished there about 7:30 (I hate grocery shopping, especially at walmart becuase the lines are so flipping long) and came home. Trying to get the baby to bed is always a LONG night. We finally got her down at 12:00a.m. because she is such a night owl and doesn't want to sleep. But I have to say when she finally did fall asleep, she didn't wake up until 6:30 AWESOME! Ugh, this parenting thing is kinda hard, especially when you've got to wake up on their time, feed them on their schedule, make them happy etc, etc. While I'm getting ready for church I walked out into our front room and in Brynn's crib there was a beautiful mothers necklace (the one with the mother holding the baby). It was so cute to see her there asleep with the necklace by her and then to turn around and see Tom's grinning face anticipating my reaction. LOVED IT! Plus beautiful white roses with pink tips on the table, I just love my man! He's just so sweet, always going out of his way to make our life better, make me happy.
And to say both Tom and I are so excited for the new news. Brynn is so excited to have a new cousin in December. CONGRATS WHIT AND BRAD, we love you guys!

Ok. I know its been forever it seems that I've last updated my blog and have been asked numerous times to put more pics up. So I'm getting to it now becuase I have extra hands to help with her, and I just needed to get it done.
This is our first outing since she was born. The trip to the pediatricians office-whoopie, but a huge deal becuase she's just three days old and the momma is tired! Thank goodness I had my mom here to drive me around considering the doctors orders (and thank goodness our car is an automatic). She had lost 7oz. not too worried but enough we were to bring her back the next week. It also was difficult becuase I wasn't producing enough to satisfy her (come to find out after buying a pump and being discouraged and feeling like a "bad mom" becuase there was hardly anything!) so she would just fall asleep after getting frustrated. We'll now we knew the problem and was on our way to fixing it. Things have improved a little bit since then. Why is it that women are so emotional after having babies? I know hormones, but I almost felt like a basketcase with the word of "its time for her to eat...again" and I would tear up.

This was just too cute not to take of Tom and her. He was exhausted after stressing over a new baby and boards and came home, fell asleep on the couch with his daughter relaxing. It's my turn now to do the relaxing!

Just 2 weeks old in this pic. She was so cute! Thanks Whit for the adorable bows! I absolutley love them! And thanks to grandma schvaneveldt for the outfit.

Her first actual bath and she somewhat loved it. It was too fun watching her in the water. a little squirmy at first but once she got used to it she kind of enjoyed it.