big sister love

Although the new baby isn't here yet (see below for the latest update), Presley completed her first Big Sister task this afternoon. Pres is very attached to her lovie which is a pink bunny head with an attached blanket. I thought it would be fun if she could pick out a special lovie for the new baby. Jon, P and I headed to a baby store this afternoon and found a 1/2 sale on the lovies which only left us two styles to choose from. I thought the brown, spotted dog would surely be her choice but she was sold on a blue bear (maybe she knows something we don't). She brought the new lovie home and carefully put it in the hospital bag. I can't wait to experience the moment when Presley can give her little brother/sister the special lovie.

Baby update:
I saw the doctor last Monday and there were no signs that baby Wyatt was ready to join the world. I have my next appointment this Thursday morning and we are hoping things will have progressed some what. I am planning on asking the doctor to induce us on Friday night. We'll keep everyone posted.

2 and a half women

June means it's time for the annual girls photo session. It's fun to watch how much Presley has changed, not only physically but personality wise since we started taking these pictures. She does great at listening to what the photographer tells her to do and usually we can get a realistic smile out of her. Here's to our last session of just us 3.

MLCECIOS #2

Major Life-Changing Event Crammed Into One Summer #2

GRADUATION

We celebrated Jon's graduation this past weekend. It's still surreal that we have been here 5 years and are now the ones on the way out the door. Jon's parents and my mom drove out for the festivities and we had a great time celebrating this amazing accomplishment. Now it's on to a 1-year sports medicine fellowship and another chapter in our lives. We are so proud of you Dr. Wyatt!

Ben & Joyce's last graduation????

4 weeks until due date.

Faustin Stevens, Jon, Dr. George Brindley (Department Chair)& Josh North

His graduation gift from the department.

The graduating class and their better halves.
Poor Jon!

Class of 2011

The prettier half.

MLCECIOS #1

Major Life-Changing Event Crammed Into One Summer #1

RENT A HOUSE IN ALBUQUERQUE

Jon took a solo trip out to Albuquerque a few weeks ago and secured us a rent house. The house is on a quiet court close to a small park and about 8 miles from the hospital. It's a two story place so the baby weight is going to practically fall off. There's no grass in the backyard for Winston, but we think we can remove some rock and lay some sod so he doesn't have to do his business on the concrete. I haven't physically laid eyes on the place but Jon is usually more picky about house things than I am so I have faith in his decision. The official move date hasn't been set yet as we are waiting on one very important item that will be moving with us. The drive is only 5 1/2 hours away from Lubbock so we are planning to do it ourselves with lots of help from the family.

B9 & a spoonful of sugar

My stroller group tries to plan a monthly Mom's Night Out. This time we decided to visit a local Bingo Hall. It was a wild adventure to say the least. I guess I just pictured bingo to be like what you used to play at Travelers games but oh no, this was hard core, serious, speed bingo. We wanted to get the most bang for our buck so we purchased the 18 card sheet. MADNESS!! The announcer gives you about 20 seconds for each call which would totally be enough time if you weren't looking at 18 cards! Each game had a different method of achieving bingo such as blackout, t's & l's, frame the free. It took about 45 minutes to blow through 6 games and unfortunately none of us walked away with a win. It's pretty addictive stuff and I wouldn't mind another crack at it in the future.

Our 18 card sheets!

Getting ready to play.

Moms gone wild!

At the after party.

For Mother's Day, Jon got me tickets to see Sugarland. It's been over 2 years since my last concert so I was pumped. Aurora and I got all dolled up in our cowgirl gear and rock the night away.

Country strong.
I borrowed the boots from a friend and was so worried that my feet were going to swell and I wouldn't be able to get them off.

the days of our lives

To say that we have a lot going on would be an understatement. I continue to pray that our house here in Lubbock will sell so we don't have the burden of two house payments on our hands. We knew life would be hurry up and wait come this time but as each day passes, I get more and more anxious about the events of the next 2 months. All that anxiety has translated into me developing shingles. I woke up Saturday morning with a small rash on the lower part of my back. Jon's first guess was shingles but he quickly recanted his statement when he saw how upset I got. I confirmed the diagnosis with a friend who is a P.A. and began an antiviral medication. It really wasn't a big deal the first few days but now on day 4 it burns and itches. I am hoping that it will run it's course quickly and I can get back to normal. This too shall pass...

In the meantime, we are quickly approaching major event #1...graduation! Come June 17, Jon will officially be a graduate of the Texas Tech Department of Orthopedic Surgery (or something like that). I am so proud of him. He took his last call last night and won't have another one until he goes into practice next August. He has worked so hard to get here and I hope he can pat himself on the back for all he has accomplished.

talkin' 'bout your best friend

As our time in Lubbock draws to a close, I wanted to take the opportunity to recognize someone who will make leaving that much harder. For the most part, my closest friends are those from high school and college. We are all separated by miles and miles now so I thought it was probably time to get a good friend closer to home. Finding a friend like that isn't exactly scientific and most of the time just happens. For me, this special friend to came along after the birth of Presley. Enter Aurora. We meet one morning at StrollerFit and my first impression was that she was loud, energetic, and when she asked to hold Presley after only knowing me for one day, a little ballsy. All these quirky things would quickly lead us to develop an amazing friendship. We soon became inseparable and everyone who interacted with us thought we had been friends for years. Her son, Jett is a few months older than Presley so it's been nice to have someone guide me on this journey of motherhood. I can't imagine surviving the last two years without her and am a little bummed we didn't know each other B.C. (before children). God definitely knew what he was doing when he sent me Aurora. She has been a constant support for me and we are two peas in a pod. Our husbands both work long hours so I joked that she and I should move in together and let the boys live together. Chocolate bunt cake and reality TV every night! It breaks my heart that Jett and Pres probably won't remember being friends. As I prepare to have another friend separated by miles, I am grateful for the time Aurora and I have had learning and growing, changing our hair color, crafting inside jokes and becoming the best of friends.