Now and then...

I was laying in bed the other night thinking about the fact that this is the end of a decade. I started thinking about where I was the night that we rang in the new millenium and how drastically my life has changed in every aspect since then. I thought it would be fun to look back at where I was then and where I am now... it's amazing how much has changed.

I rang in 2000 at my parents beach house with my mom and dad and my high school boyfriend, Josh. I was 18 years old and a senior at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. I was working at Cascade Vet Clinic as a receptionist and was fully planning on going to Vet school at WSU. I had been dating josh for 3 years and I honestly thought that someday he and I would get married. I spent my free time at the barn taking care of my horse, Domino, and hiking and rock climbing with Josh.

Now, looking at tomorrow and the start of 2010, I realize how much has changed. We'll be ringing in 2010 in our own home (but my parents will be here, so one thing is the same!!) in Moxee. I'm 28 (gulp) years old and for once in my life, not a student. Instead, I am a middle school English teacher in Zillah. I've been with Derek for 8 years, married to him for 5 and am now a mom (something I never thought would happen in a million years, let alone ten...). My spare time now is still spent riding when I can but also cooking, blogging, and playing with Addison. The last ten years have also included a wedding, two college degrees, a trip to Italy, a honeymoon in Mexico, and a whole host of new friends.

It's a complete 180 from where I was ten years ago... I can't believe I thought I had my life figured out at 18. If I had followed through with the plans I had made back then I would be missing out on this amazing life that I have been blessed with. So, 2010 bring it on... let's see what the next ten years have in store for us!

Christmas 2009...

Well, somehow I blinked and my daughter is almost 4 months old and we just celebrated her first Christmas... I can't believe how fast the time has gone already! We were lucky to have my parents in town for the holidays this year. It's been a busy few days and we've taken a LOT of pictures... here are some of the highlights...

Love isn't a strong enough word...

Adoration? Infatuation? Obsession? Maybe if we smooshed them all together into one it would measure a fraction of what I feel for this little girl. I got home from work today and didn't feel right until she was in my arms and I could cover her fuzzy little head with kisses. I've never been a baby person, I don't get all gooey when people show up with their kids, and I didn't want to teach anything below middle school because little kids were too much for me to handle. So imagine my surprise at the 180 that has become my life. I had my students watching Elf this week (yes, being a teacher rocks sometimes) and when they showed Buddy in the orphanage as a baby, all alone in his crib - it RIPPED at my heart. I never want my daughter to feel alone or abandoned, not even for a second. Seeing a homeless woman and child in another movie made me so thankful that I am able to provide a safe home and comforts for her because I wouldn't be able to look at myself in the mirror if she didn't have those things. It's also made me realize that I would step in front of a train to save her without a second thought. I used to be so scared of dying, to the point of suffering from massive panic attacks. I'm not saying that that fear is gone now, but if me giving my life meant prolonging hers, it wouldn't even be a choice for me, it would be automatic. I love her so much that I feel like my heart could actually explode, like it wasn't built to hold this much. I get it now, I understand why people have five, six, eight kids... There was no way for me to understand the love that a mother has for her child until she was in my arms and I know that she won't be able to understand or appreciate it until she holds her own child someday. I'm so thankful that I get to spend every minute with her for the next two weeks... I will be cherishing every second.

Weird...

This is the first time I've been home alone in over three months... Addison and Derek aren't here yet and I don't know what to do with myself... ::taps fingers on chin::

Thanksgiving Pics

Notice we are shamelessly wearing our crimson and grey... despite the humiliating loss in the Apple Cup... :)