Friday, January 24, 2014

Look who's 2!

Days before Bridgette's birthday, I often told people that Bridgette was turning two, but had been ready to be two for months.  This girlie has so much energy and is always making me laugh with what she says and does.  She is VERY independent and determined to do things on her own, and in her own way.  She's not a fan of snuggles, but when she does, I've learned to hold on and savor every moment.

I learned with Bridgette's 1st birthday party that when it comes to celebrating an infant/toddler's birthday, simple and smaller is much better.  I felt with her 1st birthday she was so overwhelmed with the happenings that she didn't truly enjoy it.  I can say that her 2nd birthday was a HUGE success because she was able to enjoy every second.  All we did was cake, icecream, and presents.  And she was able to spend time playing with and dancing for all her family that came to celebrate.








Thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with us.  And especially to Bridgette's Michigan family who always adequately spoils her.  She was so grateful and excited to see everyone and to open all her presents!

Goodbye 2013!

Okay, so this post is going to be all pictures.  Just an overview of some things I forgot to blog about in 2013.
many Daddy/Daughter dates to the dinosaur museum


hiking, hiking hiking

my first time to Lagoon (thanks Madison!)

LOTS of playing in the sprinklers

parades, festivals, and lots of icecream  :)


Woodward Family Reunion
-Bridgette's first time on a speed boat, and she even got to drive!   ;)
-I got to water ski!!! It had been far too long, and my body felt it for days later!

Bridgette developed an addiction to tomatoes.
It was a good thing we planted a lot of them in our garden!








Thursday, January 23, 2014

A Christmas Miracle

We had some exciting news to share in November...


My pregnancy had been normal, just like my first.  Morning sickness (all day sickness), super tired, etc. So when on a normal day, just a week before Christmas, I ended up in the ER, we thought that this baby would be another we'd have to wait and meet in heaven.
It was late in the afternoon and Nathaniel had just woken up to get ready for work.  I felt the urge to run to the bathroom and experience the unexpected.  Nathaniel scrambled to find someone to tend to Bridgette, while calling an ambulance for unconscious, bloody me.  Help arrived for me and Bridgette, and we all headed to the hospital.  After two and a half hours of being hooked to an IV, being cleaned up, and dealing with the aches in our hearts, I was sent to get an ultrasound to make sure no further procedures needed to be done.  I laid there waiting, with Nathaniel by my side, waiting to hear the results, when the ultrasound tech said, "There's a baby in there!"  After 5 minutes of crying and measuring, we found we had a healthy, strong baby still growing inside.  My ER doctor came in to see the results, almost fell to the floor from disbelief, and ordered me bedrest until my next dr. appointment (5 days).  Those five days were long and challenging, but we had a lot of help from family, Nathaniel was still on school break, and I was able to stay in bed.  My doctor is still unsure to what did cause this, but this we know: baby and I are safe and healthy, I am on doctors orders to only do what I really have to everyday (having a 2 year old challenges that), no exercising, I feel very lazy, Nathaniel is working triple time with work, school, and helping with more than his share of home responsibilities, and finally, we had a wonderful Christmas.  We are so grateful for this little baby and await the day to meet this little fighter!

A Disneyland Halloween

Heads Up: There will be A LOT of pictures in this post!

Not only were we going to experience Disneyland at Halloween, but this was also going to be Bridgette's first time there.  With the enthusiastic help of Than and I, Bridgette could not wait to get there.  Unfortunately Bridgette woke up the morning of our road trip with a fever and sick belly.  But we made it to California and she didn't let being sick stop her from having any fun.  We were fortunate to travel with and play in the parks with the majority of Nathaniel's immediate family.

Meeting the Characters

















rides, rides, rides







Parade Time!






everything else