Drake mega post

So I know Chris and my family is wanting some new pics of Drake so here they are.

Drake trying on Chris's shoes. He sure does love his daddy, he wants to be just like him.


We got a watermelon this week and Drake thought it was a ball. He kept trying to pick it up but...

then he decided to just play with it. Haha.


Drake and I went to the beach this week with our neighbors while Chris was studying. Drake loved it! The water was cold, but Drake could care less. I had to keep a watchful eye on him at all times because he would just take off and run into the water. He thought it was so much fun to splash around and throw rocks in the water. We will definitely be going back to the lake a lot this summer but probably after we invest in a life jacket.

playing in the sand with our neighbors





Reading his books - he loves his books, just like his mommy!



I had to include Drake eating his apple because I think it is so funny. He thinks he is such a big boy.

One year down...

I am sorry I haven't posted any new pics of Drake lately. Chris has had the computer with the pictures on it. I will soon - I promise.

Anyways, I just wanted to give a little shout out to Chris. After tomorrow he will be done with his first year of medical school. I can't believe we have one year down, it has gone by pretty fast. It really hasn't been too bad either. A lot of people told us horror stories about how you never see your husband, how I would be a single parent, how it is a long journey, etc. I am not saying it was easy but Chris managed to still be home some of the time. He came home for dinner every night and depending on his schedule, he would either hang out for the night or go back to school and study. On the weekends he would try to take Saturdays off to hang out with Drake and I unless he had a test coming up. He would always check in on us and on the few instances when I had to take Drake to the doctor, Chris would take time off school to come with. He did really well at managing his time and making Drake and I feel important and needed. He also did really well in all of his classes! He made some great contacts this year, has shadowed some doctors, is teaching CPR, doing a research project this summer, and volunteering at the Saturday Free clinic. He definitely is a busy man, but he does really well at balancing it all. It is definitely scary moving to a new place and not knowing anyone but I have had so much fun! We have grown so much as a family and have come to realize how much we depend and need each other. I can't wait to keep this great adventure going with my wonderful husband and son! I am so grateful for my family! Thank you Chris for being such a great husband while being an outstanding medical student! With one year down, I am looking forward to the many more years to go before this great adventure is over.

What's That?

Hey! Sorry no pictures right now. I have been a slacker on picture taking and Chris has had the computer most of the time because he is studying for finals. I can't believe he is almost done with his first year! It has gone by surprisingly fast in spite of how much we miss our families.

Drake is crazy busy and so much fun! He is in the "what's that?" stage where he is constantly asking that about everything. He points to something and asks what that is and sometimes he just continually points to the same thing over and over again. He is so funny. He is talking so much and interacting with us so well. He has also started counting! I can't believe it. He actually only does the evens and goes to six. So we will start with one, he will say two, us - three, Drake - four, and so on till six. He will count 1,2 on his own but that is it. He also sings the abc's. Well, he says abc and then some mumble jumble with maybe another abc in there. I will record it soon so you all can hear it.

Well, keep Chris in your thoughts as he is studying and taking his finals! Just one more week and then he can take a break from all the studying and craziness.

Happy Mothers Day!!!

I like to think that I have always been appreciative of my mom. She is a strong woman who raised my sister and I in a loving and fun home. She showed us what a healthy family life and marriage is all about and that we not only should have that but deserve it. She has always been there for us, even in our teenage years when, lets face it, we didn't have the best of relationships. I look back and feel like I have always tried to show my mom how much I appreciate her and how much I love her. We have always been a pretty affectionate family (aside from my sister), so I never had a problem going up to her and giving her a hug and telling her I love her. I definitely told her how much I loved her and how she is "the best mom ever!" on every birthday, mothers day, Christmas, etc. I have always known how lucky I am to have such a wonderful mom and family. However, now that I am a mom myself I can honestly say that I really did not understand how great of a mom she is. Being a mom is the hardest and most fulfilling thing I have ever experienced and I am only 16 months in. Feeling the love I have for Drake is overwhelming and bewildering. I am so lucky that I not only have my mom to draw on but Chris's mom as well. We are so lucky to have two great role models to look to. They both raised strong, loving and amazing families. I can only hope that I can and will do the same! Thank you mom and Lani for everything you have done for me and my family. I truly do appreciate everything you guys do and have done. We love you both so much and hope that you always know and can feel our love. So to my mom, mother-in-law, sister, sister's-in-law, and all the other wonderful mom's out there, Happy Mother's Day!

Books!!!

So I love reading! When I read I feel like it is reality or like a movie is playing in my head. I have so much fun pretending to be these different characters in their complicated, unrealistic lives. Lately I have been reading 3-4 books a month. I can't wait to start each new book and get so excited when I am finishing one. When we moved out here to Wisconsin I knew I needed to do something so that I could meet people so I decided to start a book club. It has been so much fun! I have enjoyed reading all of the books that we have read so far, even though there are a few that I would never have picked up for myself to read. Last month we read "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. I absolutely loved it!I devoured it and Catching Fire (the second one in the series of three) in 5 days. It is a super easy quick read so I highly recommend it. To be honest when I heard about it I didn't really know what to think. The person that recommended it to me told me that it is about kids killing each other. Doesn't sound like the best book, right? Well, it is. You will just have to trust me. There is a third one in the series but it doesn't come out until August (I think), I can't wait!

This month we are reading is "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. I am not quite sure what this one is about yet but I will let you know when I am finished. I am going to start posting the book of the month so stay tuned if you are interested!