Sunday, November 30, 2008

Thanksgiving



Napping with Mimi

When I really think about how much I have to be thankful for it is endless...I tried to take the time this holiday to really sit and be thankful for all that I have in this moment to truly find gratitude for this life. We had a wonderful thanksgiving...my parents came Dani was so excited to see them and had fun playing with them all week. It was a little heartbreaking when it was time for them to leave yesterday, she stood at the door and cried saying, " Don't go Mimi and Bop no, no!" Lucky for us we'll be heading to California in a couple weeks to celebrate Christmas!

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Fish Fanatic







We went for a little family trip to the Newport Aquarium to celebrate the last day of freedom for Mike and Melissa before school started. Danika loved all the fish, i've never seen her so excited she ran from tank to tank screeching. It was a great end to the summer.
Life has been busy with my youngest sister Melissa moving in to go to college and Mike going back to school in preparation for the future. Dani is talking non-stop these days...her favorite phrase is "I don't want it!" as she shakes her head and finger no.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Summer Time








I know many of you have complained that I haven't posted in awhile but that is because we've been busy soaking up the sun! We've been going to the pool, having bbqs, visiting the mini water parks that are all over town for kids, going to the zoo, and hanging out in the back yard. Portland has been truly beautiful this summer. We also got a chance to come to California and spend time with family and friends who we're missing already!

The last pic is Dani's latest hair style...she actually lets me put a ponytail in but there is no telling how long she'll leave it before pulling it out.

Enjoy the pics...

Monday, April 14, 2008

Working isn't so bad....


Somedays I feel bad for myself...poor me I have to go to work for a couple hours a day and then I capture pictures like this of Dani at work with me and realize I'm blessed! I couldn't ask for a better job that keeps her with me.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Coming to California


I know its been awhile since I've blogged, every time I get on the computer I've been feeling an enormous amount of pressure to blog and so I've just been avoiding it. Here I am trying to get over it...there isn't any reason I haven't been blogging I guess I haven't felt like I had any thing to talk about. I've kinda been in a funk because of a couple of changes in circumstance.

Ok I know out with it, in December Mike & I were approached by our good friends here to possibly carry their baby for them...they've been trying to have a baby since before we met them and due medical circumstances she is currently unable to carry her own baby. Her sister was going to but that didn't work out...so they asked us - me it didn't come completely out of the blue I had commented that I would be open to it when they realized they would need a gestational carry. They would make truly amazing parents...you know when you meet people that can't have children and you know that there must be a mistake.

Anyways many of you are probably saying they should just adopt which is what I said before I had Danika. But the truth is there is a completely different experience that comes with having your own child created by you and your husband...that has many of your characteristics and mannerisms. I think adoption is wonderful but I do respect people's decision to try every avenue before going that route. So Mike & I prayed about this and felt that God was calling me to carrying their baby. I began getting different tests done to see if my body would be a good fit and it was so we got a green light to go forward.

I didn't tell many people because I didn't want their reactions to sway our decision...I felt that this was exactly what I was suppose to do. So I began the process of getting my body ready to receive this embryo by hormone injections, this was definitely not my favorite part...but it wasn't too bad. Mentally I was preparing to carrying this baby for someone else, I had to have a psychological evaluation and we met with attorneys that spelled everything thing out in black and white.

So the day before the transfer where they implant the embryo in my body the fertility office called to report that none of the embryos made it through the unfreezing process. Our friends were devastated...and I was shocked, I thought this is what God had called me to do. I felt confused as to why I would go through this...I know God has a plan bigger than I can comprehend but that doesn't make it any easier to walk through in the moment.

It has been a couple weeks since then and it didn't take long to get used to the idea of not being pregnant with someone else's baby. So Dani and I are coming to California to visit my family and have some rest and relaxation in the sun. My mom already has our scheduled packed with family engagements we won't make it up to San Luis this trip but hopefully in June.

Does anyone have any tips for flying with a wild 15 month old...I know its only a 2-hr plane ride but she hasn't sat still for longer than 5 minutes for awhile.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Snow Day




Something I love about Portland are random snow days...they're magical because snow is forcasted for weeks and never comes then one morning you wake up and it has arrived. Work and school are canceled, everyone comes out of their homes to play in the snow. It is truly beautiful! Dani experienced her first snow day today, she was all smiles...

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Christmas in California




These pictures are from christmas morning we walked down to the beach, Dani in pjs just enjoying the sunshine and sand. It truly made me miss living in California, don't get me wrong we love portland...the coffee shops...the rain and cold weather getting bundled up...the zoo...walking in the forest by our house. All that aside I still love California and the feeling of home it has for me...I miss being close to family and friends. Something changed in me this last trip and the idea that one day we might move back rose to the surface, up until recently I thought Portland would be our home for a long time. I'm not saying we're moving back tommorrow I do feel we have a purpose in portland right now but i no longer think it is forever instead I view it as a season.

Anyways, we had a wonderful trip...it was quick packed with family and friend time. Thanks so much Rodgers family, Hollister family, and Mel & Dave for letting us stay in your homes...seeing you made me want to move that much more!
The next post will be Danika's 1st Birthday ....