It's Been Awhile

I haven't been on recently because I've been busy with school. Oh, how I loved this semester! We started our OB clinicals, and I think I have found my calling. I use to believe it was the NICU, but (for now at least) I want to be in L&D. I'm GOOD at it and I love the patients, mommies and babies! In fact, I've been volunteering as a doula at UCSD and helping mama's, both those that use pain meds and those that don't, get through labor and I'm currently working on my certification! (It has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done!)
This semester is coming to a close. In fact, I am taking my finals on Monday and then taking the red eye to Orlando for 12 days. My parent's bought our tickets (yes, ticketS! Ryder is 2 TODAY so he has to have his own, full priced ticket now) because Mena can't stand to be away from him for so long. Pat left a little over 2 weeks ago for a __ month long deployment. (Now, ya'll know I can't tell you how long. Loose lips sink ships and keep the sailors away for longer) It will be nice to have some help with Ryder and to be able to sleep in and not have the same pressure and responsibility on my shoulders as when I'm in San Diego. I will say I'm a pretty strong person though. If it is thrown at me, I can pretty much handle it now. (Being pregnant with Ryder brought me closer to God than ever, as I've mentioned before, and it is all because of him that I can be a single mom for an extended period of time and let my husband go off to foreign places where people don't like us).
So, anyway....We're headed to Orlando in less than a week! Can't wait to take pictures, because we WILL be heading to Disney! We've taken Ryder before but he was just too little to really enjoy it. Now he can ride Dumbo and I'm pretty excited!
We had Ryder's 2nd birthday party last Saturday. The theme was Jake & the Never Land Pirates. It was so much fun to see the kids playing with bubbles, in the sandbox and with the outside toy sets. Toddlers are so funny together and I loved seeing the different ages and developmental stages together. (It was a lot of what my bachelor's degree focused on-I'm a nerd, I know) The pictures below are from the party.

One of my favorite mama's that allowed me to help her through her delivery!

Today, my baby is 2 years old. I'm in a really sentimental mood and looking back over his pictures. I can almost remember everything, though I'm sure I am missing a few pieces. I am so thankful the God chose me to be this little boy's mommy. He saved me. He changed my world and brought me to San Diego :) It is bittersweet to watch him grow up. He is talking ALL THE TIME now. And he is saying complete (short) sentences. We love playing with blocks, trains and cars. I usually have the tv on the Disney Channel in the background (I need noise now that Pat is gone) and Ryder knows the words to the songs to the intros of them. LOVE watching him pick up his ELMO guitar and sing and dance to music. It's hard to believe that at this time, 2 years ago, I was being admitted to the hospital, 100 lbs gained (thank you swelling-NOT) and freaking out because I was leaving the hospital with a baby.

My sister and BIL bought a house recently!!! So exciting We have some more exciting news and happenings in the coming year, so stay tuned!!!

Life has changed so much in the past 2 years 36 weeks and 6 days ;) And I am so thankful that it has. God has my family right where we're suppose to be