do wrong to none.

Trying to remember that this Optometry school experience is just one part of our life, not our life in its entirety. You’d be surprised how easy it is to forget that. We’re down 2 years and only 2 more to go! I think it’s hard for people to understand that even as important school is, our daughter will always take priority.

11 weeks old. Her tender smile steals my heart and I want to hold her close forever.

2 days, 2 months.. time slow down.

I’m really wanting this haircut, but I hate having bangs. I sometimes miss having really short hair.

sweet baby details

Peyton is getting so big so fast. Right now, she’s in the midst of her 3 month growth spurt and it’s tough. Exhausting days when she’s fighting sleep and just wants to be glued to her momma. But even feeling weary, it’s amazing to help her learn and perceive all these new things. She loves sitting up, she’s rolling over from front to back (and vice versa), she’s discovered her hands and feet, and suddenly everything around her seems to be moving. My sweet baby’s not a newborn anymore.

A girl and her dog.

She’s finally big enough to wear her socks. These were her first present.. my sister bought these for her when we found out we were having a girl.

And it’s hard being on the other side. (Not comparing that to being infertile). I just hope that those dealing with infertility know that there are friends and family out there everyday wondering if they’re being your friend in the best and truest sense.

You ride the waves.. angry, sad, frustrated, fearful, hopeful, happy and you just try to be her friend (her sister) in the best way you know how. If you’re there but offer no opinion, will she think you don’t care? Is being there to listen or a shoulder to cry on enough? You don’t want to act like they’re not going through this but you also don’t want to act like their life is only this. You google every term and treatment so you can be more involved. Once or twice, you’ve ran conversations back through your mind and cried because you accidentally said something that could have been hurtful.

And that moment you find out you’re pregnant, you feel a slight sadness because you’ve hoped for that friend (sister) to experience this moment for so long. You worry for weeks how to tell them in a way that lets her be happy but breakdown after, if needed. And then when you get off the phone you breakdown because you know she had to put her sadness aside to be happy for you. You rejoice in every heartbeat, ultrasound, and kick that confirms a healthy baby because you don’t take a moment of it for granted. You make sure that even when you feel like complaining you don’t, because they’d gladly endure these discomforts if it meant eventually having a baby. You can’t imagine anyone else being there in the delivery room but you worry for weeks on whether it’s rude and inconsiderate or how to even bring it up.

But then you both get to experience pure joy once that child comes into the world. (And sometimes you get really lucky and get to celebrate your sister adopting and bringing her children home, all in the same month.)

I can’t imagine it gets better than this.

Help Oklahoma College of Optometry win a photo contest.

10 weeks old today. I love just laying in bed with her while she takes a nap. Sometimes I attempt to do laundry but this is much better!

tired dad. happy baby.

I’m so over this school phase of our lives! I can’t wait for these next 2 years to be over with! I wish there was a way for them to go by quickly but Peyton growing up to go by slowly. You’d think the fact that you’re 26 years old, in professional school, married, and have a family that they’d stop treating you like you’re a child. My husband gets lectured on a daily basis because he sometimes misses class.. Hello people! We have a child! Half these professors are just a few years older than us but can treat you like you’re babies until you graduate and then you’re all of a sudden “colleagues”. So over it!!

just hanging out waiting on dad