Elliott Update

As I posted, Laura had Elliott early Friday morning, so we weren't able to head up there right away on Friday. Josh and I headed up on Saturday and we were lucky enough that they actually got to head home early so we got to go to the house and visit with everyone. Baby Ellie is certainly a blessing! As I mentioned, she was about 9 days overdue, and Kayden was born about a month early and it's so crazy to see the difference in their motor skills and how far they are. El was really alert while we were there and would open her eyes and actually seem to look right at you. She didn't cry as much either, and she was pretty strong as far as neck muscles go in a newborn. She also seemed a little easier to pass since she was a bit bigger. All-in-all I suppose we'll keep her; she's pretty great. <3 Here are some updated pictures of her since I just had the one within her first hour of birth haha.

And as always Kayden was a hoot! She's getting pretty fun - her favorite thing is to draw circles and basically run around like a mad woman. I'm excited this summer to hopefully take her to a little wading pool and spend some more time together now that she's a little older and they're about an hour or so closer! She's in tumbling this summer so we're hoping to go to that a few times; and of course snuggling Elliott. Babies are so much less scarier now that everyone I know is having them (I still am NOT ready for a baby anytime soon, but I am more comfortable around them and holding them). She loved impressing Uncle Josh:

KK still wasn't quite sure of El yet. She wasn't totally smitten, but she was ready to share her blanket with Ellie while she was sleeping in the swing - it was super sweet. <3 And Laura got some cute pictures of both of them, too!

This week is my LAST week of school. It feels like I've said this for the past few years (and if you would have asked me in January I would have told you it was the slowest month EVERRRR. But actually it seems like it always flys by when I look back on it. We ended our track season on a good note and the girls did really well throughout the entire season. I think we finished 41-5 for the entire season so that was AWESOME! We go to school on Monday just to do 8th grade promotion and to finish up the lose ends. I am so excited for summer; I already have a list of things I want to get done like staining our fence, re-painting the living room (ugh), taking lots of walks with the dogs, and starting to train for a 5K run I signed up for in July! I've NEVER ran more than a mile or so consequetively...so I'm hoping this is a good push for me this summer and a good challenege! I will be able to cross it off the bucket list one of these days. So I'm pretty excited about summer...just need to make it through the last few days! :) xoxo.

SHE'S HERE!!

Laura had her baby last night! Elliott Quinn Meckley was born at 3:45 am at 8lbs 11oz and 21 inches long. Laura had thought she was going to be induced on Tuesday, showed up, and they said the hospital was all so they sent her back home to wait. Her due date was May 3rd so we've been waiting impatiently for over a week now! She went into labor at 1am, got to hospital at 2:15am and barely got settled before she was born - and she did it with no meds! I can't wait to see little E and squish her chipmunk cheeks! <3

He's here!

Bryce and Jill had a little baby boy last Thursday the 3rd! He was born at 1:15 pm and was 7lbs 2oz and 19 inches long. He is simply perfect and adorable! They ended up naming him Owen Lee Halter. I posted his picture below. Mom, Dad and Owen are all doing great. I can't wait to spend more time with him!

Laura still hasn't had baby girl Meckley #2. If she doesn't have her by Wednesday she'll be induced so hopefully she has her before then. I can't wait to meet her!

Excitement!

Well...we're nearing the end of the school year. It just keeps getting better and better. I got to change all of my calendars over to May and watch the countdown come down. We're also finishing up the track year; it has gone by really fast. It will be bittersweet when it's done after Friday - I really enjoy being with the girls, but I also am looking forward to having my time back with my co-workers and getting things done after school instead of just rushing off to track. So only 4 days left - yay!

Nothing new has happened in our neck of the woods lately. Laura still hasn't had Baby Meckley yet, and Jill hasn't had Baby H yet. Both of them are quickly approaching their due dates this week, and both babies still seem to be content! Danielle and Jake got engaged over the weekend, and so did Sarah and Jordan so that was very exciting for everyone! I won't lie that I'm very happy for them, and sad that we're not at that point in our relationship yet to plan one as well. I have to keep reminding myself that God has decided that now is not the time for us, and that he has something better in store. It is hard to wait and be patient, so I guess I'll follow their wedding planning and journey for the next year! They're both planning June weddings to that will be very interesting and fun! I can't wait - it's been so fun watching our friends grow into married couples and now entering parenthood. I am definitely in no mood to rush things; they will come when I least expect them. ;)

So that's been the exciting news lately - waiting for school to finish, tracks almost done, two of our friends got engaged, and (im)patiently waiting for the babies to arrive! Hopefully the weather holds up this weekend and we're able to get some things done outside and around the house - last weekend was chilly and rainy. I need to get some flowers planted as well. So much is happening...can't wait for Summer!

April Showers

My birthday was great - thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! :) I ended up getting all sorts of neat goodies from friends and family and I felt very loved. <3 Josh ended up getting me a patio set (yay!) which is something that BOTH of us can enjoy. It has a nice glass table and the chairs rock and swivel so that's really nice too. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so we can enjoy them! We also went out to eat at La Cabana so I got to have some Mexican food as well. All-in-all it was a really great day/night. My students were really funny and sang happy birthday, wrote on my marker board, and were really sweet all day. That's why birthdays are so great - they just make you feel so special and let you know how many people really care about you.

We're getting ready to wrap up the school year - I cannot BELIEVE we have only about 4 weeks of school left after this week. It's gone by so fast - and not having any snow days helps too. We'll be finishing up the track season in about 2 weeks too - can't believe that's gone as fast as it has! I am hoping the weather gets warmer/less rain/less wind, but what can you expect. Can't wait for SUMMER!!

Getting Old?

It's almost my birthday! I love my birthday so much - it's my second favorite holiday. Most people hate having a birthday (i.e. Josh) and some people hate getting old. However, I absolutely, positively love my birthday. I don't even mind getting old - many people have been denied the gift of growing old and I want to embrace it. There are so many things I look forward to as my life keeps going, that it's exciting to have another birthday.

Josh and I went out to eat during the CRAZY Midwest storms Saturday night. We met our friends Jordan and Sarah and went out to eat at Olive Garden. LOVE that place. And it was nice because we haven't been out to eat on a Saturday night for a long time so it was nice all around. We barely missed a large storm bringing high winds, downpours, thunder and lightening, but the lights did flicker on and off at the restaurant and we watched the rain blow outside. We got to enjoy the night though, and Josh even liked my drink:

Today was somewhat nice out, so Josh left early this morning and went and got me a present. I have no idea what it is...but I'm pretty excited <3

I got a t-shirt from my Mom from Raygun that I LOVE (thanks Mom!) and mostly everyone else helped pay for our amazing trip to Florida so I won't be getting much else and that's completely fine - the trip was more than enough!

There are only 5 weeks left of school - holy moly! Track has been going well...the first few weeks it was so nice out, and now the weather has taken quite a dip and most of our meets have been somewhat chilly and windy. We have two meets this week - Monday & Friday, so that will take up most of my week. I'm not sure I'll be coaching next year since I'll be knee deep in grad school, but we'll see. It's a lot of fun and I love being with the girls. Hopefully the next few weeks go by fast - I am MORE than ready for summer break!

I got in!!

I found out on Friday that I was accepted to Drake for the Masters of Science in School Counseling program! I'm so happy and excited for this journey! :) I will start in the Fall once I get classes and financial aid figured out. I'm excited - yay!!! Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers; the big guy upstairs was listening. :)