A Wedding, 4 Years, and 9 Months

June has been a busy busy month for us and this week was the capstone of it all, starting with the sweetest event I could have dreamed up - my cousin Anna's wedding.

Anna and I are only 6 months apart in age and we've been "best cousins" since we were babies. We used to pretend to glue our hands together so we wouldn't have to say good-bye at the end of family gatherings. (Clearly, if we're glued together, we'd have to have a sleepover, right?) We finally made that dream a reality when we roomed together during my last year at BYU. Anna is pretty much the kindest, sweetest, nicest, smartest, most driven person on the planet and I think she found her perfect match in Dan. I'm so so so happy for them!

My very favorite of their photos, taken by my uber-talented aunt Robin Johnson, who also did our engagements/bridals/temple photos and who is pretty much amazing if you need a photographer. Just sayin'.

The next day was our 4 year anniversary (Can I say how much I love that Anna's anniversary and mind are almost the same?) and it was a low-key celebration for us. Factoring in a baby changes just how much celebrating can go on, but we did alright. We got some yummy treats and we watched our wedding video to reminisce and then watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and lest you think that's way lame, I'll repeat: We watched an entire movie - we actually got to just watch it! - without trying to keep Georgie entertained or jumping up to save her from herself, making dinner, working, or otherwise multitasking. It was relaxing and something special because of how infrequently it happens. And then the following Saturday we went out shopping and got dinner while we had some free grandparent babysitting. It was definitely our least exciting anniversary yet, but it was just right for where we are in our lives right now.

And then the next day was Georgie's nine month checkup. Official stats:

Weight: 16.2 lbs (18th percentile)
Length: 27.3 inches (33rd percentile)
Head circumference: 17.4 inches (62nd percentile)

She's finally starting to chunk up a little! Probably all that solid food she's been (not) eating. Baby G still does not care for baby food on any kind of regular basis so we've been trying to find other stuffs for her to eat - bananas, cheese, watermelon, peaches, crackers, bread, etc. She loves to chew on vegetables and will actually eat most of a cucumber spear if I leave her to it, especially if I dip it in humus now and again. Mostly she is still nursing, which I don't mind - it's actually the most stress-free form of feeding right now, which is something I never thought I'd say!

Georgie is FINALLY sleeping better, but the sleep training is starting to wear off and she's tending towards waking up 2-3 times a night again. (She's also got a top tooth coming in, I'm pretty sure.) We aren't quite recovered from the last sleep training so as soon as we are, we'll be back at it. Naps are going great, except that she has abruptly dropped her morning nap. I can't tell if she really doesn't need it because she's getting more sleep at night or if it's because we had a crazy week and she missed her morning nap several days in a row. Please bless it's the latter!

This was Georgie's first time on a swing. As you can see, she was rather unimpressed.

Georgie is crazy busy and active all the time. The milestones are coming faster and faster now, I swear. She's waving, giving kisses, asking to be picked up, knows where the food is and asks to be fed (if I sit down with her on my lap, she swan dives to the side to be nursed), and says Mama and Dada and sometimes seems to know what she's saying. She has mastered the three-fourths crawl: two hands, one knee, and pushing off with the right foot. She is a speedy little crab walker! She is also a total pro at pulling herself up and sitting herself back down. She can even pull up on a flat surface like a wall - there's no stopping her! She still walks runs with help (like her little push toy my mom found at a yard sale - see photo below) and sometimes does laps around the living room by holding onto the furniture. And (saved the best for last) she took her first steps this month, too! She let us balance her and then took a couple of steps (and practiced just standing on her own, too) for about a week and then she figured out that crawling is faster and now refuses to walk. Which I'm fine with - gives me more time to get those safety gates installed.

Every month Georgie becomes more of a little person, making us laugh more and frustrating us less. I am enjoying myself enough to savor the small loves she gives, not worry about the slobber when she gives me kisses, and treasure her arms reaching for mine. I know we'll only be on this upswing for about nine more months and then we'll have a screaming, stubborn toddler to deal with, so I am really loving it now!

Anniversary (a little late)

Happy anniversary Tim (a few days late)! I can't believe it's been two years. I was so strongly reminded of that gloriously happy day when we were in the temple today. This has been the perfect vacation - perfect for us, for what we needed right now. Like our wedding day, it's not that there weren't/aren't things that could be better (mainly the weather and coordinating with people so we get things to happen on time), but none of those things really matter: we're together, and we're happy, and that makes it perfect.

We've been lucky so far. Two years of good times, in spite of school and work or lack of work. We're learning together, and I love how far our little home has come. Thanks for being so patient with me as I figure out how to be married, and how to be myself and married. You're pretty wonderful at it already. In fact, you are the best. You are kind and loving and funny and hard-working and so dedicated to everything you do.

I can't wait for the next year, to see what surprises life has for us, what joys and even what trials. I can't wait to find out who we're going to be in a year. I love you, mi Timoteo. You are the love of my life, forever.

P.S. This really has been the best trip ever. Just so you know.

Life Update (because it seems like a good time for one)

Another crazy weekend here in Summer-ville. Yesterday I hosted a baby shower for one of my best friends from high school, Shelly; went to a baby shower for one of my college roommates, Brittney; and went to/hosted an engagement party for my recently engaged and 5-weeks-away-from-getting-married friend from high school, Kellianne. For some reason, I have not had any photo-taking instincts lately, so I didn't take any pictures at all yesterday. So sad. But I had a great time seeing so many friends and their cute kids and getting a chance to catch up with everyone.

Tim was a champ through it all. He helped me make desserts, he cleaned the living room, he helped make chicken salad sandwiches, and then he inconspicuously disappeared while the baby showering was going on. Bless him. I am so lucky to have someone who is so willing to help and be patient with all the crazy things his wife schedules.

Friday was my last day of work at the real estate office (woohoo!) and so now the job of finding a job will commence in earnest, now that I will finally have time to devote to the search. Tim has some really good leads for jobs on campus, and I've got some part-time work to tide us over, so we're hopeful that things will be fine until we find some jobs (hopefully soon). Some days the pressure to find a job and find a way to provide for ourselves is enormous. It's the size of two elephants, that's how big the pressure is. But Tim keeps reminding me that we're going to be fine, to trust, to have faith, etc. Again, Tim is amazing for putting up with me and my moods.

I've never really had to look for a job before, except last year when I came back from Pittsburgh. But even then, I got the first job I interviewed for, so this experience with looking and looking and applying and not getting the jobs I want has been something of a new experience for me. I've discovered what I'm sure many people have discovered before me: that part of what makes job hunting hard is that you are putting the very best of yourself out there--on paper, in letters, in interviews--and yet, no one wants to hire you. It's so hard to keep your confidence up and continue to promote yourself as The Best For The Job. It's also difficult just to play the game. You try to tailor yourself to specific jobs, and then you just feel like you're lying. You try to be honest about your weaknesses and feel like you've disqualified yourself. It almost feels like gambling--just making your best guesses and judgments and hoping that you win eventually.

Ah, well. It's a good challenge, this job thing. It's frustrating and rewarding and time-consuming, just as most worthwhile things in life are. Like planning parties or getting married or having kids. Or, in other aspects of my life right now, like learning to sew or organizing your house or setting up a budget. Frustrating and part of life. Good things, all.

How do you measure a year of your life?

(Warning: Major sappiness ensues. Read at your own risk.)

Dear Tim,

Happy Anniversary! I can't believe it's been a year--it went so fast and so slow at the same time. The last year has been...well, you know how it's been. Wonderful and stressful and hard and so much fun at the same time. Thank you for listening and learning and working with me to make it through all these months, and for being patient with me and my emotions. I'm glad the year is over, but I wouldn't have missed it or traded it for anything.

This time last year, we were running around trying to get ready for the Big Day tomorrow. I don't remember much about the 25th, except the stress and tears that were always just beneath the surface. But from the minute I woke up on the 26th, I was only happy, and that feeling never left. I remember a lot of things from that day, but you and your smile are most clear in my mind: meeting you at the temple, sitting together and waiting in the Celestial room (and waiting, and waiting), singing together at the luncheon, laughing in the rain as the storm finally broke over our reception. Even while I was hugging other people and taking pictures and smiling my face off, I was always most conscious of you and your happiness. Thank you for such a joyful day.

I love you so much! My life is so much better with you in it. Thank you for loving me so completely! I love you too, and I can't wait to start the next year of our life together. We're not perfect people, but we are perfect together.

Love,
Your Kah-tay

Summer rain

Last Sunday as we left from our Maryon Family Home Evening, we watched the storm clouds roll in as the sun went down, dark and low but colored with a peach glow from the sunset. They were huge clouds, thick and puffy, and the sky was gorgeous even with the threat of impending rain. It was exactly the way the storm clouds looked on June 26th of last year when they rolled over our reception and rained us out. All this week, as the clouds have come and rained and cooled us even though we're almost halfway through June, I've been reminded of that evening and I can't help but smile at the June rain.

If we'd had our reception an hour earlier, we probably would have avoided the rain. We had everything set up and tents ready to throw over things if needed. The stereos lining the side of the house were covered with plastic, and we gave out assignments to all our brothers and sisters to grab the pictures, flowers, games, etc. in case it started to rain. We were ready, and Tim and I were deliriously happy anyway, so rain or no rain, we were ready to celebrate.

We'd been partying for almost an hour when the storm hit. For twenty minutes, we had watched it come closer, hoping that it would miss us, fearing it wouldn't. Tim and I were just getting ready to cut the cake and were moving down the line of guests when the wind picked up. Jen and Dominique (the creator of the cake) rushed it indoors, and as soon as the first raindrops fell, Tim yelled out, "Battle stations!" His brother Christian heard him and spread the word. Thirty seconds later, the tables were cleared of decorations, the electronic equipment was inside, the gifts had been rescued, and Tim and I stood outside in the rain laughing.

Sometimes when I think back on our reception, I get sad that we didn't get to have our first dance outside under the twinkling lights and have a "dance minute" with our friends and siblings. I'm sad that we don't have any pictures from the second half of the reception, which kept going inside. I'm sad that things got crazy and the beautiful backyard couldn't be enjoyed more. Somedays I walk a fine line between loving those moments and feeling like our reception was ruined by the rain.

But this week and today, I have been so happy remembering the way the photographer didn't have time to take any pictures of everything going inside because it happened too fast; the way Tim and I found a way to have our first dance anyway, wet and crowded in the living room; how I still got to greet friends and family; how my family (both old and new) pulled together to make everything work; how the sunset as Tim and I drove over the hill into Salt Lake was the most breathtakingly gorgeous colors I have ever seen. Rain or no rain, it was a great day.

Some pictures to enjoy:


The beautiful backyard and pergola (?) with the impending storm


The stormhead as it rolled in....Amazing, right?


Jen and Dominique rescuing the cake


Cutting the cake inside


Our beautiful, supportive, slightly soaked family