2014 ~ A Year of Firsts

2014 has been full of "firsts"
The first time Chad and I saw our first born son.
The first time Chad blessed one of our children
The first smile, laugh, roll and steps of Liam.
The first semester that Chad saw us less than he saw his teachers
The first time traveling with Liam, both air and long car trip
The first valentines day that we stayed in and slept because we (all three of us) were sick
The first purchase of a "family sized" car.
The first time in the Gilbert Temple
The first time taking Liam to the beach

and so much more...

This year we celebrated every day with Liam. We found more joy in our home, in our marriage and in our selves through our sweet little boy this year than we ever thought possible. We have also experienced more anxiety, worry and prayers on his behalf. He gives us so much purpose and drive to be deserving and effective parents.

This year has given us memories I never want to forget, like...

When Chad would say Liams name in a very low voice and his lower lip would jolt out and he'd whimper the cutest whimper you've ever seen/heard.

or

When Chad and I left Liam for our first real date after he was born. We were dropping him off at Sam and Prestons, our loving and trusted brother and sister. And I cried before, during and after we dropped him off. After I regained my composure, Chad and I continued to talk about our little guy through out the whole date.

or

When we took Liam to Bear World and he stood on our laps staring out the windows and smiling at the bears.

or

When Chad and I fearfully sat awaiting the 4th of July fireworks show, hoping Liam wouldn't scream the entire time. He sat quietly with wide eyes, staring at the beautiful lights in the sky, unphased by the loud booming of dynamite and fireworks.

or

When Chad entered his work in the research and creative works fair. He worked so  hard all semester and showed me his bridge on the computer every other hour or so. I didn't know what i was looking at but i knew what he wanted to hear..."honey, this looks incredible!"

or

When we took Liam to Knotts Berry Farm and he did such a good job being pushed around in a stroller all day. Chad and I went a a hundred rides, Liam went on all the rides they would let him on and we enjoyed the beach and the California tacos all week long.

or

Making Liams Halloween costume together and getting so excited about it! Liam won two costume contest as the mouse in the mouse trap and loved all the attention he got. We loved being able to cart him around too!

   We had a lot of struggles this year too. It was the first year with me in the office and with Liam full time. Learning to balance home and work life has been a serious struggle for Chad and I. We've had to learn to become more of a team than just each others cheerleaders. I've had to help him focus on studying when I know he wanted to help me with the office and the baby. He has had to help me stop in the office when it was time to come home and be mom. We've learned a lot about having individual stresses in a unified marriage.
  We haven't got it down yet but we're getting there. We're depending on each other more and taking or burdens to the Lord.
   Liam is still alive, I can remember the first three weeks of his life, all i could think was, "I've got to make sure he stays alive!" He was so fragile and helpless and trusting. He trusted me and Chad, a couple of knuckleheads without a clue about how to take care of a little human. But we're doing it, we're keeping him alive and not just alive, but extremely happy and healthy.
    We are looking forward to 2015, we look forward to not being students, for a while. We look forward to getting a "grown-up" job, even grown up bills, we're ready. We're looking forward to Liams first birthday and in six long months, him going into nursery.  We're looking forward to watching our family grow, to watching our bodies shrink (with lots of hard work and discipline of course). To our first REAL vacation, to my first 1/2 marathon. We have so much ahead of us.
    Chad, I'm so proud of us. This year has really stretched us and molded us into new people. We've seen struggles I had never imagined us going through but we did just that, we went straight through them, facing our doubts and differences head on, together. Next year has so much in store for us and I'm so glad I've got my two favorite boys to explore it with.