Oh baby...

So. In my unintentional 5 month absence, much has changed in my life. These changes are undoubtedly the catalyst for my absence.

My last post was a short synopsis of my dear Tim’s birthday. I didn’t go into detail. Just some photos showing us having good clean fun. Folks, I was willingly drunk for much of that trip and acquired one of my favorite memories of me and Tim. While in a haze of inebriation, we were walking the beach sometime around midnight. Appreciating the beauty the night brings to the ocean and contemplating the meaning of our lives together. You know, typical drunk chatter. Tim can’t keep secrets when he’s drunk. It’s just not in his nature. We ended the night with Tim confessing his plans to propose to me during our surf trip along the west coast in September.  Little did we know our trip would not be happening for a LONG TIME.

It’s now September. And we are engaged! But it happened on the 4^th of July while we were surfing our home beach.  And we aren’t surfing our newly engaged booties off along the west coast. Instead we are preparing our lives for Norah, our little daughter that we will have the blessing of meeting on January 10^th, 2013.  And I couldn’t be more excited.  That’s right! I’m 6 months pregnant. It took me a while to come to terms with this seemingly catastrophic life changing event.  I’ve accepted and come to love the changes it is bringing to our lives and to our relationship.  I can’t tell you how excited I am to see Tim hold Norah. He is already to most incredible father I’ve ever had the privilege of watching interact with his daughter and she isn’t even born yet. He loves to read to her, chat with her and sing to her. He makes sure I’m taking all of my supplements and the guy makes me an all fruit smoothie EVERYDAY. Seriously, I’m blessed to have such an amazing partner in life and going through such an unfamiliar situation together has made me fall in love with him all over again.

2012 brought us a pregnancy and engagement. 2013 will bring us a baby and a marriage. Baby first of course, we definitely aren’t trying to prove anything except that our marriage is out of love and not obligation.  I hope I can stay motivated enough to continue to share our experience :)

Tim's Birthday at Neah Bay...

I don’t have words that can really explain our surf trip to Neah Bay for Tim’s birthday. BUT...I do have some pretty great photos.  So instead of trying to find the correct adjective to describe the beautiful weekend we experienced, I’ll let you come up with your own.

I was pretty stoked to catch a shot of some sanddollars specifically for my blog. Also, cue the corny couple shot ;)

We had such a great group of people to surf with. I sometimes feel a great audience and support group is helpful when going out into new waters.

A friend of ours who's still pretty new with surfing was treated nicely by these waters! 

We couldn't have asked for a better camping spot! Right behind our tent, we were able to walk right out to the beach and surf.

Touch football game that started at pre-sunset and went into the night.

And when we weren't surfing or playing football, we were enjoying a bonfire right on the beach.  

We lucked out with near perfect weather (though the photo above might suggest otherwise).  With the weather and waves being the best we've ever experienced with WA surfing, we decided we'll be doing a Neah Bay rerun for Memorial Day. Next time I can promise more in water shots and some video.

Mellow Monday

I've grown fond of Mondays. They signify a new beginning to me.  A second chance, if you will. I love the feeling of making goals of all the things I’ll get done during the week and I love sitting and pretentiously drinking my coffee while doing it.

To go all alliterate on you: My Mondays are Mellow.  I don't find myself rushing anywhere. I just try to go with the flow on this particular day of the week.

 Here are a few things that made my day so incredibly wonderful today!

I started my day off in a new outfit I LOVE. New clothes are rare for me so I am incredibly guilty of wearing them too much. I just found these jeans and have been searching the world of Seattle for them! Also, my shirt makes me feel like a pirate.

I woke up with a hot guy. I’m sure you’ll appreciate me withholding a photo to go with this statement.

Panda Express gave me a wonderful fortune! Who doesn’t want to help the children!?

Fun fact: I HATE when people ask if someone has a case of the Mondays! Like you’re not allowed to be in a bad mood for no reason on this given day? Come on people. You’re giving Monday a bad name. Cut the crap.

What's your favorite thing about Mondays?

Soapbox: Bikini Bodies

A collective aversion of our bodies has swept the plant. Summer is coming. Shit- I have to get skinny.

My 16 year old cousin was lamenting to me tonight about how she ‘does not have a bikini body.’  That breaks my heart. She is such a cute little thing with an adorable figure that she should be proud of!  And we’ve heard it all before:

Be proud of your body!

Curves are beautiful!

Thin is not in!

Now I am in no way condemning thin girls or glorifying an unhealthy life style of under-eating or over-eating but COME ON! When did the rules change to only tight little fit bodies being the only thing acceptable in a bikini?  Why is it that the rest of humanity ensconces the proof that they had seconds at every holiday dinner- AND dessert, under a cloak? Don’t get me wrong- I’d love to be one of the tight little fit things but the body God gave me isn’t going to fit the exact measurements I had in mind for it.  I still have problems coming to terms with that. I suspect it’s a weakness we all have.  I might beat myself down from time to time but something I WON’T do is hide my body due to my fear of not equating to the beautiful figure of another! This summer I will work to appreciate my body. If not for me, then to set an example for those younger than me that might (if I’m lucky J ) look up to me.  I encourage you to do the same, whether you don a bikini, sexy one piece or that sporty tankini.

So here’s a flaunting of my imperfect (because let's face it, perfection is boring) bikini body along with a few more that I consider beautiful.

And one of my favorite ads: Dove Campaign For Real Beauty.

Quarter-Life Crisis Turned Plan Part:1

I can’t explain it.  Put simply, life has me incredibly stoked for the next couple years to come.  I feel like things are really falling into the places they were meant to be in.

For the past 4 years, nursing has been my nearly unattainable goal that I have been consistently striving to meet.  For the past 4 weeks, I’ve secretly changed my mind.  Yes, secretly. I guess I felt like a failure and like I was giving up.  Such is not the case my friends! In reality I was just letting go of something that wasn’t me.  Working with terminal patients and their families at my current job has really opened my eyes to what my persona contains.  The ability to incessantly bond with families and their terminal loved ones and be ok with it when sickness wins and overtakes their happiness,  is not there.

Enter: Surgical Technician.  Anyone who knows me well can tell you I love learning about the human body and dissection lab has always been my favorite.  I read about this program as an aspiring nurse and told Tim all about it.  Knowing me well, I think he sensed my change of heart before I did.  “So do that,” he said.  As if I was debating on a place to get lunch. Simple as that! And it was. I’m now on a path that will put me in school for my career THIS fall instead of a year and a half from now. And that excites me. Que smiley face:

J

Sometimes, the plan changes. And that’s ok.

                                                                                     *Photo taken by my mom of Tim and I at the Strait of Juan de Fuca

So this blog is labeled Part: 1 for a reason.  I’m committing myself to writing more on plans for the next few years.  My next one is going to require feedback from YOU! Which is why I’m writing it. Tim and I have formed a business plan out of our passion for service to others and surfing and I’m really excited to see how it’s received.