1... 2...

I keep putting off catching up on my blogging, so here's an attempt to start! With Little Bug now dependably sleeping an eight hour stretch at night, and a nice DSLR camera, there are no more excuses. We shall begin with the first 2 monthly photo shoots.

1 Month

Dad had to do the 5 s's to keep this shoot running smoothly. I am a big believer in Dr. Karp now. Charlotte had around 2 weeks where she was REALLY fussy. As in screaming at the top of her lungs for no good reason. Happiest Baby on the Block made us feel like champs.

2 Months

So cute. Charlotte chubbed up fast and continues to pack on the pounds despite the fact that there is no end to her spit up. She started smiling more often, talking, and sleeping 7-8 hrs. a night at this time.

Being this little girl's momma is joy.

When you're pregnant it seems all you hear about is poopy diapers, sleepless nights, and being a milk slave. The truth is all those things are just life. They are just life like traffic and cleaning up the kitchen are life. You do them and they become background noise.

When it is YOUR little baby you'll feel your heart on the verge of explosion many times over in a single day. You'll feel  reverence and responsibility as you bring a new soul into the world and give her a home and a family full of people excited to see her and know her and help her and love her. You'll find that your baby makes everything about life better.

I find I'm frustrated by sleep deprivation and extra laundry about 5% of the time. The rest of it is fun and the best thing I've done with my life so far.

 

Have you been to California?

So, we've been living it up in California for exactly 5 weeks and 1 day. I told many a person in Utah that moving would finally give me motivation to keep up a blog. Well, that and having a baby and buying a nice camera. So far the baby and nice camera haven't made an appearance, but I feel the urge to share what's been going on in these here parts anyway.

First of all, leaving Utah didn't hit me for reals until I had to say "good bye" to our apartment, oddly enough. So many memories. So sad to leave family, work, our ward, the beginning chapter of life together. While it may sound weird, there is nothing like knowing how much you will be missed, and everyone let us know. Two major lessons learned in the leaving: 1) Be sure to appreciate where ever you are as much as possible while you are there. Don't wait till you leave. 2) Don't underestimate the ability you have to affect people's lives. (I don't mean that in a "oh my gosh, I am SOOO awesome" way. More in the "what I say to, and do for, others matters more than I realize" way.)

If I were to make a list of all the things that have gone right for us in moving to California, you would get bored after a while, because it's that long. So while it is obvious this is the right place to be in life right now, I miss me some Utah. I hope to be saying the same thing about California in four years. Until that time, I'll just enjoy having my BFF living 5 minutes away, lots and lots of shopping, and some never ending smog.

On to the good stuff:

 

"Dr." Earl and I at his White Coat Ceremony

Matt officially started school on August 13th. He is going to Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. It is a D.O. school (Doctor of Osteopathy). Most medical schools are M.D. (Medical Doctor) schools. The major difference between the two is Matt has some extra classes that deal with musculoskeletal manipulations. You would never know the difference between an M.D. or a D.O. unless you looked at the letters at the end of their name. So far, Matt wants to be an E.R. doctor.

We live in a condo in Claremont, which is just north of Pomona, about 30 miles east of L.A. Claremont is known for the Claremont Colleges, and is very quaint and cozy little town. Think tree-lined streets and vintage-y houses. We love it. 

 

The front door of our condo. Notice the orange tree to left. Matt is very proud of it.  

We have not had any major adventures here yet. Matt studies and studies and studies, and he is doing well, so I have no complaints. I am waiting around for baby Charlotte to come. I would prefer to be teaching a classroom full of fifth graders while waiting, but you can't everything you want. Boo-hoo, I get to sleep in every day, read books, hang with Saige, and worry about things like cleaning the house and making dinner. It's a rough life, I tell ya. 

Till next time...

Post Title Inspiration Found Here

 

Hooray for one year!!

So one year ago I married this charming lad:

He's the bestest!!!

After a year of marriage some of my thoughts on the matter are:

1. There's nothing like knowing you married someone who is so well suited to you and your personality.

2. It's handy that you often make up for what each other lacks.

3. It's awesome to be stuck with Matt forever! (And I know he's thankful to be stuck with me too.)

4. I am thankful for the opportunity to grow as an individual: nothing provides motivation for that quite like marriage does.

One year down, eternity to go!

Hello (blogging) World!

Well, we (or at least, I, Emily, for now) are attempting to jump on the blogging band wagon! To inaugurate this blessed occasion here's some random info about us:

Random Info #1: We were married on July 25th, 2009. It was hot as Hades that day, (by Washing-tonian standards) especially with having a reception in my parents house sans air conditioning. However, the food was good, the cake was scrumptious, the flowers and I looked awesome, and the best decision of my life thus far was made, so I'd give it an overall rating of about... say... 1 MILLION out of 10. Fair enough.

Random Info #2:I graduated from BYU in April '09. I now teach fifth grade. I love my job. I've learned I haven't gotten as far as hoped in mastering the values of patience, and studently-kindness, but at least I've become proficient in apologizing to 10 year olds. If that ain't humility, I don't know what is.

Random Info #3: Matt goes to UVU and is studying Forensic Science. This means I get many wonderful stories about how serial killers and rapists are out to get me, as well as mini-lectures on how to develop finger prints from a variety of surfaces.

Random Info #4: We live in basement apartment just north of UVU. We feel pretty lucky we haven't had to experience newly-married utter poverty quite yet. We're saving those precious moments for medical school in about 2.5 years.