Happy FIVE Years!

Garrett and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary on Friday night with a lovely dinner at Eddie V's. We never get to go anywhere by ourselves so that alone was a special treat. We ate way too much and had a great time!

I truly could not do what I do without him. He helps way more than most husbands/dads do. He cooks, he watches the boys while I work at night and on the weekends, he does the dishes, he puts up with me. The list goes on.

Here we are...five years, 2.5 kids and going strong! Here's to many more!

God Blessed the Broken Road

I thought I would participate in Kelly's Show us Your Life Friday: How You Met Your Husband and not write about my kids for once.

I wrote a little about this back in September, but I will elaborate.

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and our "love story" can attest to that. I went on a few dates with Garrett's best friend,Kyle, my senior year of high school and Garrett dated my best friend's little sister. I actually met Garrett once at Laci's house, but he was going to the prom with her little sister and I had a boyfriend.

Fast-forward a few months later to the fall after graduation and my longtime on-again, off-again boyfriend was moving away to college and after years of getting my heart absolutely broken, I decided it was time for us to part ways. To this day, I know that God gave me the strength to do this and find the one who would love me the way I deserved.

Garrett and I crossed paths again the beginning of our first semester of college, only he was going to Texas Tech and I was going to Angelo State. I told myself I wasn't ready for another serious relationship, but we talked on the computer (this was 2001 people!) and had many late night phone conversations. You can hear more about our first few dates in my September post.

Long distance relationships are no fun, but in some ways those were some of the most special moments we shared. We would talk for hours about who knows what and he would come to San Angelo almost every weekend and I would cry every time he left. I guess absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

I knew very quickly that he was different from the rest. He didn't have an arrogant attitude, was very respectful and he always (and still does) made me feel like I was the only girl in the room. I wasn't constantly looking over my shoulder to see if he was picking out the next best thing.

I decided to move to Lubbock to go to Tech in 2002. I broke up with him twice over the course of the next two years because I was young and dumb and scared. My brothers had both gone through a divorce and the thought of marriage terrified me. However, the road always led back to him and he graciously welcomed me with open arms when he should have kicked me to the curb.

We were engaged in December of 2005 and got married December 9, 2006 in front of 300 of our family and friends. Kyle was Garrett's best man. It was the perfect day and the beginning of a beautiful life together.

Some of the things that drive me crazy are some of the things I love most about him. I tend to gripe a little (okay, a lot) and my mom and my brothers remind me of this constantly, but I'm working on it. He has one speed...TURTLE, but he is slow to anger and quick to love and I am thankful for that.

And now, I get to spend my days with him and two precious boys as we try to figure out this thing called life.

How Far We've Come...

Eight years ago this weekend Garrett and I went on our first "date" if you can call it that. We didn't really even know it was a date at the time and certainly didn't know that eight years later we would be where we are now. How do I know that? Well, it was the weekend after opening day for dove season and we went to Wall's homecoming on Friday and then Miles Cotton Fest on Saturday with mutual friends. That seems like forever ago!

The first year we dated I was going to Angelo State on a full academic scholarship and he was going to Tech. We burned a lot of minutes on our cell phones and a lot of miles. After a year, I decided I wanted to try something different so I moved to Lubbock...without the non-transferable scholarship of course. :)

A lot has happened in eight years. I graduated from Tech in August 2005. He asked me to marry him December 2, 2005. We got married December 9, 2006...five years and a few months after that first "date". He graduated with his bachelor's degree in August 2007. We had our first sweet baby boy April 17, 2008. He graduated with his master's degree in December 2008. We moved here and started new jobs in December 2008 and we bought our first home in February 2009. And last, but not least we are expecting our second precious baby in March 2010. Whew! I don't think we've slowed down, but we have so much to be thankful for.

Garrett is an exceptional father, a wonderful husband and my very best friend. Life circumstances have toughened me up over the years and I tend to take it out on him, but I really don't have much to complain about. He's had to put up with a lot from me.

We are approaching our third wedding anniversary and hopefully we will get to do something fun this year...or as fun as it can be when you're six months pregnant!

Looking forward to many more!

I'm Back...

The last couple of weeks have been crazy. Thanksgiving was wonderful. Lots of good food with family I love dearly.

Hayden and my cousin Blayne putting Christmas decorations on Granny's tree

Hayden's First Thanksgiving!

Hayden had his tubes put in last Monday and he did great! The wait before the procedure was much longer than the seven minutes it actually took to put them in. He was not a happy baby for about 30 minutes afterward and that was really hard for me, but he slept for a long time when we got home and when he woke up he was fine!

We drove back to San Angelo Monday night and then I drove to Austin on Tuesday to start my job on Wednesday. Hayden stayed with my mom so that I could get settled and I wanted to check out the daycare first. I met Garrett in San Angelo this past weekend to see him and pick Hayden up. Then I brought him and ALL of his stuff back to Christi's (the friend I'm staying with). I looked at several houses on Sunday night, but we still haven't found one we absolutely love.

Hayden started his new daycare and has done great so far. He never skipped a beat. The girls are super nice and they keep raving about how good he is. He takes good naps, smiles, laughs, plays, eats really well and doesn't cry hardly at all. I was happy to hear this because I was kind of worried about the transition.

Christi has graciously allowed us to stay with her and we are having so much fun even though we miss Garrett. He is in Lubbock finishing school. Actually, he's finished now and just waiting to graduate with his master's in architecture on Friday. YAY! He is so glad to finally be done. And...speaking of Garrett, today is our two year anniversary. I can't believe it...two years and a baby later, here we are. When Hayden was born, I fell in love with Garrett all over again. He is such a good daddy and he helps me tremendously. I realized how much I appreciate all that he does even more now that he is not here. He said he wouldn't change poopy diapers, but he has changed many and he has done so much more. He is truly my very best friend. Sometimes you can probably sense that in our bickering, but we love each other dearly nevertheless and I can't imagine life without him.

Here's a pic of the two dozen roses I got today! BEAUTIFUL!!

And now, to reminisce...

One of our engagement photos

This is probably my favorite wedding photo...our first dance. I love you Garrett Wade Jost!

There is so much more to talk about...new town, new job, etc..., but I am tired so I will have to catch up later.