Time to Catch Up!

I have had the intention almost weekly to update our blog but somehow I never manage to get to it. I wasn’t sure how to even start this post…so we will just start where we left off: Sophia’s birthday.

Then:

I started my sophomore year of college back in August. In September I began working again at the preschool/daycare for the 2012-13 school year. From August until early December, Joey had been working in Eau Claire Monday-Thursday. This was a tough adjustment for all of us.

More recently:

Joey was laid off in early December and has since been enjoying the role of Mr. Mom. Sophia has become such a daddy’s girl within the last few months! I’m still in school, and just recently passed my TEAS exam. So now we wait…I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I will start Nursing School in fall 2013! Work at the preschool/daycare is still awesome. Sophia goes occasionally now that dad is usually home. She still loves to see her daycare friends.

What to expect:

Weekly updates! We are starting a new adventure here at the abode, so stay tuned!

Now for the fun stuff…PICTURES!

We visited the pumpkin patch in October

Sophia picked out her first pumpkin!

Our Pumpkin Princess had so much fun trick-or-treating!

J and I celebrated Halloween, too!

We celebrated "Ya-Ya's" birthday!

We got our first professional family pictures taken.

Sophia had her own tree to decorate for Christmas.

J turned the big 2-1. This was his first legal drink.

S and I decorated Christmas cookies together.

Merry Christmas!

Santa brought lots of presents.

Sophia had tubes put in her ears on Jan. 9th, 2013.

J and I enjoyed a relaxing S-free weekend in the Dells!

A Little Lady Bug Party

After much procrastination, I've finally sat down and gone through the 349 pictures from Sophia's big day. So, without further ado...

She was all smiles on her big day, even without a nap!

We had tons of great food! The chocolate covered lady bugs were a big hit.

{Thanks to Gamma Kelly for all her help!}

 A good time was had by all, at least I sure hope!

The Dutcher Family.

 Sophia with Great Gram (GiGi) and Great Gramps Tom.

Sophia with Gamma Kelly and Grandpa Mike.

Sophia with Great-Great Grandma and Grandpa Wagner.

We all blew bubbles at Sophia after singing "Happy Birthday," she loved it!

I was really pleased with how Sophia's smash cake turned out, and the cupcakes were adorable as well.

Sophia was kind enough to share some cake with daddy.

By the end, she had a blast smashing the cake.

It is so hard to believe that a year has come and gone. Joey and I cannot begin to describe how proud we are of the little girl Sophia has become, and we are stoked about the many years ahead!  We truly are blessed.

It will be so fun to open this on Sophia's 18th birthday! We can't wait to read all the messages our family and friends have left for her.

It Was Only a Year Ago..

On July 28th 2011, I was induced at 7:30 a.m.  I was so excited/nervous/scared, that I barely got any sleep the night before, however daddy got so much sleep he overslept and was late to get mommy that morning. {No Joey, I won't ever forget.} ;).  Of course Miss Sophia, being the will-powered girl she is, decided SHE would choose her birthday, and choose she did. 
I remember looking at the clock at 6:50 a.m on July 29^th 2011, I was in so much pain I begged the doctor to just get her out. As I laid there waiting to meet my new baby girl, thoughts of things that could go wrong flooded my mind.  {She was perfect inside of me, my body knew how to keep her safe, and healthy, was I going to be able to do that? Could I raise her to believe the same morals my mom taught me?  Would she even like me that much?!} I quickly changed my mind and begged the doctor to keep her inside.  Ask Joey, he will tell you word by word how that delivery went, begging and all.

Sophia Grace. 7:50 a.m July 29th 2011. 7 lbs. 1 oz. 20"

  It was totally worth the pain, the time, EVERYTHING.

Seriously, just look at that face, how could you not fall in love with her instantly? I don't know.

Meet Our Family

This is us. Joey, Mariah, and Sophia. November 2011.

Today is July 23, 2012, so I'm a little behind on getting a blog up and running! But I figured better late than never.

Joey and I met in high school.  We would pass each other in the halls, and had a few classes together.  Dating had never crossed our minds, until April 2010.

This was the first photo we took during our dating relationship. April 2010.

We went to prom together. May 2010

We went camping at Smokey Hollow in August 2010

We celebrated Halloween. October 2010

We're Pregnant! July 2011

Meet Sophia! July 29, 2011. 7:50 a.m., 7lbs, 1 oz., 20".