It's About To Get Personal Up In Here!

So... remember that last post? The one where I said I was going to try and update my blog more often. Well... that obviously didn't happen. Ooops! Perhaps someday I will be more ambitious with this thing.

A lot has happened since the last time I posted. In fact, the last time I posted I was pretty depressed. August happened to be our two year mark since Eric and I had started trying to expand our family. That's right, we were having unprotected sex people! With every day that passed I was starting to feel more and more like a failure. It seemed like the harder I tried to get over the fact that I sucked at making a baby the more bitter I became. I seriously hated facebook and all the people who kept posting things about how awesome and pregnant they were. And what sent me into an uber rage mode was when people would complain about how uncomfortable they were due to their pregnancy. I just wanted to tell them, "Do you have any idea how many other woman would kill to be that uncomfortable?" That may sound super witchy but that was how I felt. Eventually I got over it and was semi-happy for those that could do something that I couldn't.

I kept praying that Eric and I would be blessed with a baby. After months and months of doing that with no results I finally switched to praying for understanding. Understanding why I couldn't get pregnant. Understanding why crack heads and the woman Eric and I saw at a concert who was at least 8 months pregnant chugging a beer got babies but we didn't. Understanding for why I was so bitter and angry. When that understanding didn't come I eventually gave up. I hate to admit it but I cracked. What was the point of talking to someone who I felt wasn't even there? So then I became even more bitter. I was bitter towards other women that were pregnant, I was bitter towards God, and at times I was bitter towards Eric because he just did not seem to get why I was a wreck every month for 2 years.

So what did Eric and I do to try and combat my bitterness? We bought a Harley Davidson in August of course! Duh. I was bound and determined to forget about having a baby and start focusing on doing fun things with my hubs. Eric and I also started filling out applications for adoption. We knew it was going to be a long process so we started working on it right away. We even found a lawyer that had done adoption cases before. And since we were just focusing on us and adoption I went off of the awful fertility medicine I was on and quit tracking my cycle. 

Pretty soon after we bought our Harley, Eric left for the Police Academy in Douglas and I started school again. The weeks started passing by and summer was starting to fade away. Eric was only home on the weekends which was okay because I was pretty swamped with getting my classroom up and going. 

On September 15, 2013 I went to Laramie for a presentation at the University of Wyoming. On the 16th my teaching partner and I headed back to Gillette. The car ride home was awful because I felt like I was going to puke the entire time. I continued to feel sick for about 2 more weeks. I was convinced I just caught a bug from one of my germ carrying students so I didn't think much of it. My mom did though. She noticed I had been under the weather and told me to take a pregnancy test. I did the opposite. I bought tampons instead because I was starting to cramp and I just felt like my period was right around the corner.

After a few days of prompting from my mom I finally did it. I took a pregnancy test. Keep in mind, this was not the first test I had taken. That's probably why I put it off for so long. But I put on my big girl panties and took one anyways. I didn't even let myself get my hopes up because I knew that if I did the only thing that would end up happening was that I would be heart broken for another month. Imagine my surprise when I saw two dark pink lines indicating a positive pregnancy test!! I couldn't even move. I don't think I even breathed for a good 10 minutes. Finally Eric called up and asked what was taking so long. I pretended to be upset like all the other times. He of course acted all pissy like usual. He doesn't have much patience for my blubbering. I then took the test downstairs and showed him. He just kept asking over and over again if I was sure that the test was showing a positive. 

So to sum up this post, God chose to bless me much more than I deserve. I am now almost 22 weeks pregnant. :)

Get With The Program Tiffany

Holy crap. I am really behind on this thing... I kind of gave up on it for a while. I'm not sure if anyone even reads this but that is okay because it will be for my own record anyway. 

A lot of things have happened within the last year. Eric and I are now in our second year of living in Gillette, WY. I like it here but Eric is not a big fan. Something about being so far from his family... I don't get it ;) Just kidding. I do feel bad for him because of how close he is to his family. That is why we try and make it up to Evanston, WY to see them whenever we can.

I finished up my first year of teaching. I have never been so stressed in my life but I have never felt more rewarded either. My kids and I worked our butts off all year. I have to brag a little bit, we scored the best in the entire school on all of our stupid tests we have to take!!! Whoop whoop! I am now in my second year of teaching and it is soooooooooooo much easier than last year!

Eric got a job as a police officer. This has been a dream of his! He loves his job but it is super stressful and hard for him at times. He really struggles with having to see people who have lost a loved one. He hates it when someone is hurting especially when they are hurting with the loss of a loved one. Other than that, he has some pretty funny stories when he comes home. People amaze me!

We also have bought a Harley since the last time I wrote. VROOM VROOM BABY! We love going for rides on it. So much fun. Seriously.

Along with a new Harley, we have also gotten ourselves into "Crazy Dog People" category. I will accept your congratulations later. We have decided to get two new hound puppies. We are going to try and train them up so that we can take them mountain lion, bobcat, and raccoon hunting. The best part of this is... they will be outdoor dogs that live out in the country on my parents land! Roxy and Kayda probably would not appreciate it if we brought two more dogs into our crazy home.

I know that this is not a very exciting post but I have to ease my way back into it! I am going to try and keep a better record of the things happening in our lives because we have some pretty exciting adventures we are trying to embark on. I am going to try and write at least once a week. Maybe if I post it on here, I will feel more inclined to do it... Wish me luck!

~*~Summer so Far~*~

This summer has FLOWN by so far. It makes me really sad. Especially since I start work in less than a month!!!! What the crap. Growing up sucks! I suppose it is a good thing that Eric and I have been having a pretty exciting summer so far!!!!!

To kick off our fun in the sun time we went to some graduations. Brandon's and Collin's to be exact! They have grown up so fast :' ( Collin will be taking over this awesome trailer once Eric and I move. He will start classes at LCCC at the end of August. As for Brandon he is going to be staying in Gillette and taking some classes there while working. He is earning money for his mission. He can't put in his paper's until May. I am proud of him for working towards a mission but I am also secretly sad too. Two years is a long time without being able to see my Brando. Depending on whether or not Eric can get a job in Gillette, Brandon may be moving in with me! Yahoooo!

Eric and I waiting for Brandon to cross the graduation stage!

He DID it!!!

My cute lil' family <3

Collin with his big brothers!

After the two graduations Eric and I decided that we did not want any little Kayda puppies running around so we got her spayed. She was one sore unit for a little while. Shiba Inus do this screaming thing and anytime something like a blade of grass touched her tummy she would scream. It was quite interesting. It sounded like we were trying to kill  someone at our house there for a little while!

Poor Kayda did not move from this spot for at least 24 hours!

After that, Eric and I spent some time with the world's classiest people... AKA we went to demolition derby's in Gillette and Laramie. I tell ya what, that is an interesting crowd!

At the derby in Gillette

At the derby in Laramie

We have also done a little camping this summer! We went up with our Frome friends. It was a blast. Funniest part of the whole trip was when Ashley kept saying she felt like she forgot something. After about an hour she burst out saying "I forgot the hot dogs!" It turned out that forgetting our dinner was no biggie, we just had some quesadillas! That was a first! But it was D-LISH!

Ashley and My Baby up Camping!

Eric and I's truck tent!

Ashley and Casey's VAMPER!

Sitting by the fire!

The Frome's also enjoying the camp fire.

Sami's cute lil sack of potatoes jammies!

On the way out I dared Eric to go slap this HUGE bull that was out in the field. Eric ran when it started charging him. Good idea Eric. GOOD. IDEA. He really was HUGE!

After our camping excursion we got to hang out with Tyler, Katie, and Briggs! It was so fun to see them especially because we won't be here when they come back from Nebraska :( I got to kiss and kiss on this little man! He is so stinking cute. I wanted to put him in my pocket and take him home with me but Tyler and Katie did not agree!

Cute Baby Briggs!

Next, Eric and I celebrated the 4th of July with the Fromes!!! We went to a ward breakfast first. Then we came home and I took a little siesta seeming as how stuffing my face makes me REALLY tired. After my nap we had some lunch at Casey and Ashley's and then we were off to Freedom has a Birthday in Washington Park. While there we became pretty convinced that the fire burning near Laramie made some people crawl out of their holes and come to the park. There were some very interesting people there... Like teenagers running around in fuzzy animal costumes and old people that were high off their rockers swaying to the music interesting! None the less, we had fun!

Sami Loves Eric!

Sami in her 4th of July outfit. SOOOO cute!

Eric and I enjoying our bbq!

Last but not least, Eric and I went SKYDIVING. Seriously. It was the coolest thing in the whole entire world! I have never felt anything quite like falling 12,000 feet! Eric had gone once six years before and the Wednesday before we went Eric's mom invited us to go with them on that Saturday so we went! The scariest part was getting to the edge of the plane and actually jumping. Once I got over the fact that I had just jumped out of an airplane, it was pretty relaxing. You just let your arms and face flop in the wind! I giggled the ENTIRE time. I'm sure my 6'8" partner thought I was bat crap crazy! But seriously, if you have ever thought about skydiving, DO IT!!!!

Before we jumped!

In our sweet jumpers!

Floating!

Happy to be alive!

The family group that jumped!

Overall, we have had a great summer so far! We just have to finish packing now... No fun!

What was I thinking?!

Well, I got a job. I am the newest third grade teacher at Prairie Wind Elementary School in Gillette. At first I was really excited but now I am FREAKING out. I don't even know where to start with this job... Good thing I have ALL summer to stress out and freak out about it.

On the plus side, we get to go house hunting. I CAN'T wait to take a bath :) I am kind of excited to move just because it means getting out of the current palace we live in now. But I am also really sad too. I love Laramie. I love it so much I could live here for the rest of my life and be completely happy. But as life would have it, we have to go where the jobs are. Eric is not thrilled to be moving to Gillette but I think he will like it once we get settled in and he realizes all of the awesome opportunities Gillette has to offer. Yes Gillette haters, G-Town is a great place to live once you get your mind over the fact that it's Gillette. I haven't ever been to another town in Wyoming where people support each other as much as the people in Gillette do. I guess since everyone else hates Gillette the people there have to support each other. If you hate that, well then Gillette is not the place for you!

Another plus, Eric and I had some really good friends move to Billings, Mt. (Hilary and Jordan) And the closest temple to Gillette is in Billings sooooooo when we go to the temple we will get to see them! Yahooo!!!!

We are really excited for this next step in our lives but we are really nervous too!!!!

Done. Done. Done DONE done!

Yahoooooooooooooooooooo! It is official. I am done with school. I admitt, I couldn't wait for this day to come. Now that it is here though I am kind of sad. I will never be a college student ever again. Now I will have to join the real world. The job search is now on. I have put in some applications to the Gillette School District. Hopefully I will hear something soon....

Maybe I will just go for my Masters and avoid the real world for a little longer ;)

On another note, I got a new PUPPY! Eric got me a Shiba Inu for my birthday and graduation present. I LoVe her. I am kind of stressed out because I always told Eric that I am a one dog kind of girl... So having two dogs has kind of thrown a wrench in that. Anyways, her name is Kayda and she is very sweet. She looks like a little fox. So far we haven't had any real problems with her. Roxy was a little upset with Eric and I at first but we have been sure to show her we still love her and she is slowly getting better with Kayda.

I am so happy I have these two dogs. I never really grew up with dogs until Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped. After she was kidnapped my parents went out and got a dog. They got a dog because they wanted something that wouldn't be intimadated into staying quiet by someone else. I feel the same way now. With Eric being gone so much for work it is so comforting to have a dog. Roxy hears every little sound and has no problem growling or barking to let me know someone or something is at my house.

Roxy is only 23 pounds and Kayda will be about the same size when she gets older. To me this is the PERFECT size. They aren't too big to be scary (I was attacked by a BIG dog when I was little and ever since I have been wary about it) but they aren't so little that they are prissy little wimps. Plus they don't take up a lot of room and they are easy to keep clean. (I am pretty obsessed with having clean dogs especially if they are going to be in my house!) Plus, they will be good to have around once we have a baby! Not only will they protect it, but they will teach our kids how to have some responsibility.

Meet Kayda!

Well that's enough about dogs... I am really tired and just spent about 2 hours trying to figure out my stupid picture at the top of my blog. I never figured it out! Whatever. I'm over it.