Here are the highlights -
I left off after I got married. We went on a honeymoon to Branson and had the best time together!
Dexter and I continued on with life as a newlywed couple and enjoyed our freedom by going out to late dinners, seeing movies in the theater suite on week nights, and sleeping in on the weekends just so we could cuddle together. Dexter worked at the school, farmed, had a yard care business, and booked DJ gigs on the weekends. I would occasionally help him with yard care in the fall when he would do leaf clean up for clients. In the summer I would ride in the tractor while he cut and baled hay. And I always went with him when he had a DJ gig. I had been teaching First Grade and worked to stay caught up with laundry and housework. I enjoyed cooking us dinner at night, but also loved that we would go out to dinner together throughout the week when the mood hit. We would watch movies and tv together in the evenings that Dexter didn't have to work late, and occasionally play Skip Bo. These were great years together.
In 2017 we had been married almost four years. And even though we could have gone on forever together just the two of us and still not had enough time together, we decided we were ready to try and have a baby. It was a difficult decision at first because we were so used to it being just us and and no set schedule. We did what we wanted, when we wanted to do it. Deciding to commit to a small version of ourselves that would dictate our schedule was a huge step. Well it must have been meant to be, because we didn't turn around twice after deciding to take this adventure, and I was pregnant.
The summer of 2017 is when pregnancy really started for me. I was thankful I had summers off because that is when I had my version of morning sickness. It lasted for about two or three weeks. I was very nauseous and only wanted to sit in my recliner and watch movies. I never threw-up. Then the morning sickness was done. I suddenly was extremely thirsty all the time and carried water with me everywhere. I had heart burn every day and it was brutal! I had never had heart burn before being pregnant, and I thank the good Lord for that because this was just torture. Every. Day. I still can't believe Charleigh doesn't have more hair than she does with the amount of fire that was brewing in my chest every day. I had a great pregnancy! I enjoyed it the entire time. I caressed the top of my belly like you see all pregnant woman do and I realized it was just something I naturally started doing without even meaning to. When I walked I placed my hand in my lower back and did the pregnant waddle. Reaching my feet to put on pants and shoes was a daily fight. And sleeping didn't come easy- which was a new thing for me. I could always fall asleep fast and sleep through the night with ease. I could NOT get comfortable in bed to sleep while I was pregnant.
January 19, 2018- my water broke at home around 10 pm after I put together the changing table (nesting) and we were at the hospital all night and up into the next day without any real contractions hitting. I had to take Pitocin to kick things into gear. And WOW did it! I had chosen to not have an Epidural, and the Pitocin really made things rough. Our little Charleigh Marie made her appearance January 20 a little after 9 pm-almost 24 hours after my water broke. We immediately fell in love with her!
Our first year with Charleigh brought many changes. Our day to day lives and routine changed dramatically adding a baby to the mix. In addition to a new baby in our lives, Dexter and I both had changes in our careers this past year. Dexter started a new job working with WOVSED special education district and travels to four different schools throughout the week. He oversees the work study program at these schools and absolutely LOVES it! It's such a great job and suits him so well to work with kids about jobs and work ethic seeing as he is the hardest working person I know - with multiple jobs he is responsible for every day. I'm so happy and proud of him! My school district moved me out first grade and into junior high science. I specialized in science in college and student taught science at a middle school so it wasn't my first exposure to the idea- it has just been a LONG time ago. After 12 years teaching first grade it was a shock at first- I won't lie. After just having a new baby I got a little stressed about the thought of a new job added to being a new mother. Jumped in and discovered that I LOVE it! Such a blessing, and exactly what I needed to happen in my career. Every day at work I keep wanting to do more and after every chapter I teach in each of my classes I think of ways to build on it and expand for next year. Exciting!
Now I sit here a year later looking back on the past year wishing I had been blogging the entire time. So many things happened that were amazing and worth remembering. After giving this some reflection, I decided I needed to start blogging again. On Charleigh's first birthday I wrote her a letter reflecting on our year together, sealed it, and put it in the box of her special things I am saving for her. Every year on her birthday I am going to write her a letter and give her all of them when she is grown. If I continue to blog, they will also make it into the box for her to some day read.
Time has flown by! It seems like just yesterday I was holding my newborn baby girl. But when I look at her I feel like my heart has always known her. Even before I knew I was ready for her- my heart was. I look forward to my many adventures in parenthood with Dexter at my side. Charleigh is an amazing kid! I can't wait to share more about her and our life together with you.
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