2015 Recap

January-
~We went on vacation with Mariah's family. A Caribbean cruise that left from New Orleans.
~Spring semester started up the day we got back.
~Mariah took all online classes with her new General Education major, while working 30 hours per week.
~Isaac was chugging along with his Civil Engineering degree.
~Mariah moved to the front desk position at work.

February-
~We celebrated our first legit Valentine's Day as a married couple (last year 2014 Mariah had her last wisdom tooth out).
~Towards the end of February we both decided we were ready to start trying to have a baby.
~We attended the Idaho Falls temple for the last time for awhile, because it closed for renovation.

March-
~One of our best friends Breanna came home from her mission to Louisville Kentucky this month, and we attended her homecoming.
~We were both convinced that Mariah was pregnant this month, but were sadly disappointed when it just turned out to be an ovarian cyst. This lead to a semi-hard few weeks.
~We signed up for Life Insurance this month.
~We looked at our new house in Mid March, and paid the security deposit and signed the lease towards the end of the month.
~We attended Mariah's work party at Outer Limits, where we played laser tag and mini golf. It was a lot of fun!
~We went out to eat at Big Judd's the night before our camping trip with most of Isaac's family.
~We went on our first camping trip at Twin Bridges together this month during spring break.
~We attended Maycee Kerr's baby blessing the end of this month.

April-
~We got keys for our new home on April 1st.
~We went to Isaac's mission reunion the first weekend this month, and had a great time catching up with people he hadn't seen in awhile.
~We watched General Conference and absolutely loved the talks.
~We also moved the essentials into our new home the same weekend.
~Isaac's dad and brother in law, Hans, came down and helped us finish moving on the 11th.
~We also went to red lobster that night with Mariah's family.
~We found out that Mariah was pregnant on April 15. Even though we were "not preventing" we were still totally surprised. I felt great for the most part, except for nights when I usually felt minimally sick and so very exhausted.
~Mariah started working full time again on April 20.
~Mariah had her first doctor's appointment on April 23, which consisted of some blood work, and seeing how far along the baby was. The nurse tried the heart doppler, if we could hear the heartbeat then it was 10 weeks, if not only 6 weeks.We couldn't, so only 6 weeks at that time. 
~We went to our last couple of Sundays in our old ward, and also our last cub scouting events.

May-
~May started with a boom of Mariah being a lot more sick, although less tired.
~We finished up our semester the first few days, and took finals.
~Isaac had a little bit of a break after finals, which was nice for him to get a little bit caught up on his sleep.
~We went home for Mother's Day weekend to spend time with our families.
~We told both of our families that we were expecting a sweet baby in December on Mother's Day,  which also happened to be our 2 year Anniversary. Everyone was so excited, and we got some wonderful reactions.
~We went down to Utah for Memorial Day weekend and stayed with our friends the Bradley's. We went to the Payson Utah temple open house, and spent all of Monday going to baby stores and checking out prices and different products (Idaho has the worst selection of baby stuff).
~Mariah got stranded on the freeway for a little bit after the car overheated, while she waited for a tow truck.
~Mariah taught her first Relief Society lesson on May 31st. She was very nervous.

June-
~We had another doctor appointment on the 2nd. We got to hear the babies heartbeat for the first time, and the doctor estimated about 12 weeks. Mariah had to have her blood taken again, to test her thyroid levels. The nurse called the next day and said her levels were still low so they sent over a prescription of medication.
~After starting to take the Thyroid medication, Mariah started to have a lot more energy than she'd had in a long time.
~We announced the pregnancy the first week in June, at 12.5 weeks.
~Titus came home from deployment, and so the first weekend in June we went to Idaho Falls to see him.
~We went to the Manti pageant on June 20 with Mariah's parents.
~Isaac's summer class ended on June 25, and he was so glad to be done!

July-
~We started out July with Isaac starting work at Mariah's parents shop. He commuted everyday to work while living in Pocatello.
~July 4th was spent with family. Barbecue, Chukars game, and fireworks.
~We had a doctor appointment on July 8th.
~We felt the baby move for the first time on July 10th(M) and July 11th(I).
~We received our new callings this month. Isaac as the Sunday School 1st Counselor, and both of us teaching Sunday School (12-13 year olds).
~Isaac's 5 year class reunion was on July 24th, it was fun to see some faces we haven't seen in awhile.
~Mariah chopped all of her hair off again in July.
~We both spoke in our new ward on July 26th. It was nice to be done with that!
~We got to see our baby at the ultrasound on July 28th. We were both glad we didn't find out the gender yet!

August-
~Mariah's sister Lindsey went through the Logan temple for her endowments on August 1. It was a wonderful experience.
~We had another doctor appointment on the 4th. It's always reassuring to hear that everything is going well!
~August 7th-10th we spent in McCall Idaho with Isaac's parents and most siblings.
~Isaac was finally done working 2 jobs on the 14th.
~The 19th while we were in Idaho Falls, we went to dinner with Mariah's sister Lindsey and her boyfriend Jared. This was the first time we'd met him.
~School started back up on the 24th, Isaac taking 16 credits and Mariah with 15.
~Mariah also gave her two week notice at work on the 24th.
~The 31st brought another doctors appointment. We got to hear baby's heartbeat again, which of course the nurse had to keep trying because of our wiggle worm! Only 15 weeks to go!

September-
~Mariah started out the month with a sinus infection, which is seeming to be a regular thing at least once every fall.
~Mariah's last day of work was the 4th. Definitely mixed emotions.
~Isaac ran in the Pocatello Marathon on the 5th, and finished just under his goal time with a final time of 3:29:23.
~We also went to the last Chukar's game of the season with the Wood family. It was less than 50 degrees, so we were wrapped up in blankets!
~For Labor Day on the 7th, we went to the fair with the Stewart family. We were both exhausted after walking around for 5 hours. Mariah being 26 weeks pregnant, and Isaac having ran a marathon two days prior.
~Mariah took the glucose test on September 23, at 28 weeks. It was definitely not a big deal, like everyone seems to think.
~Isaac ran another marathon on the 26th, the Huntsville Marathon. It was definitely the hardest one he has run so far, with way too hot of temperatures.

October-
~We went to Idaho Falls for conference weekend, to spend time with family. We were able to make a lot of freezer meals with Isaac's siblings on Saturday the 3rd.
~Mariah went to Witchpalooza at Gardener's Village with her mom, sister, and a few extended family members on the 10th.
~We both had dentist appointments on the 14th, and found out that Isaac had two cracked fillings. He hadn't noticed them a ton before, but they got increasingly more painful until they got fixed!
~Isaac had a job interview on October 21, for a promotion at FedEx to an assistant manager type position. He ended up getting the job, and we felt very blessed and happy about it.
~Towards the end of the month, we took a sequence of preparing for baby/birth classes and a hospital tour. We both felt a lot more ready after attending all of those, especially the hospital tour.
~The baby shower was October 24, and we were lucky enough to have so many supportive family and friends bring gifts over to help us prepare for the baby.
~The last weekend in October, we went to Utah to finish up some baby shopping. We stayed with our friends the Bradleys. We were able to get the baby's carseat and many other important things.

November-
~We were lucky enough to do a temple session at the Rexburg temple on the 7th of November. We had to wait over an hour, but it was worth it. It was the last planned temple trip until after baby.
~We registered for classes at midnight on the 8th. Mariah registered for her very last college semester, which seemed so surreal.
~Mariah's first contractions were felt on November 10th. Braxton hicks contractions had been going on for a couple weeks prior.
~The weekend of the 13th-14th, Mariah went to Utah with her mom and sister for a girls weekend, and to do some Christmas shopping. It was a nice, last trip before baby came!
~Towards the middle of the month, we started to finalize all the things for baby around the house and really started to make sure that everything was completed for baby.
~I started feeling a lot of contractions while we were out shopping on Nov 20. We were thinking baby would be coming very soon!
~At our 37 week checkup for baby on November 24th, we found out the contractions I had been having for days were making things progress. I was dilated at a 1-2.
~After our appointment, we went out to a movie, The Martian, and although I had contractions the entire time, we loved our last movie date night for awhile.
~Isaac's 23rd birthday was on the 25th, and he spent a majority of the day taking care of me because I was feeling lousy. We did go out to eat for his birthday at a restaurant called The Bridge. It was the most expensive meal we've had as a date night for just the two of us. We loved our last date night before baby came.
~For Thanksgiving, since it was so close to my due date, and since I'd been having contractions, we had decided to stay in Pocatello for Thanksgiving. Mariah's parents came down and made food/ate with us.
~At our 38 week appointment, I was dilated to a strong 2, and 50% effaced.
~The first week of December, we were both so busy trying to get a bunch of school stuff done before the end of the semester. It was a very stressful, busy week with so many due dates.
~My labor contractions started on the night of December 4th, although I figured it was nothing, since it had been nothing every time before.
~We finally went into the hospital on the afternoon of the 5th, and our sweet Eliza girl was born that night.
~We came home from the hospital on the 7th. Mariah's mom stayed with us for the week, and that was an awesome blessing. That week was dead week at school, and Isaac was busy busy with work.
~Finals week was the following week, and it was very busy and stressful with a week old baby. We survived, and both ended up getting the grades that we needed.
~We went to Idaho Falls for Christmas, and it was wonderful that we were able to go for more than just one day.
~We received a lot of wonderful Christmas presents, but we mostly loved how relaxing our Christmas was and how much we got to see family.
~We ended our year visiting with the Titus family. They are basically a second family to us, and it was wonderful to see them.

2015 was an extremely busy, wonderful year. We had our lives change entirely when we became parents, and we wouldn't have it any other way. This time last year, we never would have guessed where we are today. We are so very excited to see what 2016 has to offer and what is ahead of us!

Baby Baby

We are so excited about the baby we are expecting in December.

The estimated due date up to this point is December 15, but we will see how close that is after the ultrasound in a few weeks. Last week, on June 2, we got to hear the babies heartbeat for the first time. It was a strong 165. We are both so excited, and nervous for the upcoming months. December will be a busy, crazy, exciting time with finals, peak(busy season) for Isaac's job, Christmas and baby will be coming! We aren't finding out the gender until birth, which we are very excited about waiting. It will be an adventure, but one of the best ones yet!

Quotables

Life always seems to go according to a plan. But it isn't necessarily my plan. It is evident that it is my Heavenly Father's Plan. Each time something changes, I am a little hesitant. However, in the end, I am always grateful that I didn't get what I thought I wanted. And in time, His plan becomes my plan. Each time my major has changed, it has been in result of a huge life change that I didn't know was coming. A change that has made me progress into what I need to become. I can't wait to see what this change of major is going to change in me. I'm excited to see what is to come.

 

It's also a reflective time of year, with the year wrapping up, and I have found myself looking back over this past year. And looking towards the future. There have been so many great things that have happened in the last year. I have absolutely loved the time I've had with my sweet husband. I've learned a lot about him, and a lot about myself. Each and every day I am so glad that we ended up together. He is the one person who can make me the most infuriated and then two seconds later make me laugh with an uncontrollable laugh. Sometimes I feel like my heart will explode because I love and care so much about him. As cheesy as that sounds. We aren't perfect, and neither is our marriage. But what makes it my absolute favorite is that we work at it, each and every day. Marriage is the most rewarding, difficult thing there ever was. But I'm grateful that I can be married to Isaac.

I look forward to all of the upcoming adventures of the next year. It's crazy to see all that has happened in the last year. I am excited to see where we will be a year from now, and all of the exciting adventures that we will get to experience. Life is good. And, it will be a whole lot better once finals are over next week! :)

Lagging behind

I didn't think it had been so long since my last blog post. Just all summer.

Not too much has happened with us since April. Just working a ton, loving our new place of residence, and enjoying each other's company.

Life is so fast paced it's unreal. The older I get, the faster everything goes. 

A few things that we are looking forward to in upcoming months are: seeing Wicked (the musical) in SLC on August 1st, visiting Isaac's brother and his family in October, and we may have something tropical in our future.

On another note, I chopped my hair all off about a month or so ago. Which was so exciting. I have loved it. It is starting to grow out, and I'm definitely not liking that one bit.

Dreams

I was a little girl, alone in my little world, who dreamed of a little home for me.
I played pretend between the trees, and fed my house guests bark and leaves and laughed in my pretty bed of green. I had a dream, that I could fly from the highest swing, I had a dream.
Long walks in the dark, through woods grown behind the park, I asked God who I'm supposed to be. The stars smiled down at me.

Growing up is great fun. There are so many wonderful things, as well as so many hard things that come along with it. I can't even believe that I am 20 years old. It is crazy how fast time has gone. I love having Isaac along on the ride with me. He makes decisions quite a bit easier, he makes the stress a whole lot less, he makes life better.
Today as I was driving in the car, this song by Kenny Chesney came on and a part of it got me.

Don't blink. Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife.
I am marrying my high school sweetheart in 5 weeks tomorrow. I can't even believe it. I met Isaac when I was 15 years old. We started dating when I was 16. We had a two year "separation", and now that I am 20, we are getting married. That is crazy, and so wonderful. I love that he is home from his mission, and that everything is working out like I dreamed it would. Two years of waiting and dating was more than worth spending eternity with him :) Crazy to think that all of this time has passed, and that my feelings for him have only grown.
Here's to eternity, in 5 weeks that is ;)

50

I'm getting married in 50 days. WOW. I am so excited.

This man is going to be with me for forever! :)

Decisions

Recently there have been a few things that have changed. Decisions are hard. As is life. Something that I've thought I wanted since I was about 15 years old, suddenly I just don't want anymore. The con's far out weigh the pro's. I'm trying to make up my mind and figure out something else for my life. It's almost like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. And pretty much like there is no stress anymore. Well, not any overwhelming stress that I can't handle that is. We'll see what the future brings with all of the decisions that are coming my way.
Easily enough though, I know that I will be able to handle this and make the right decisions for my future. Changing my major never sounded so good. I'm not positive what I'm going to be changing it to yet, but I have a few options that I am looking into. Pharmacy just doesn't really fit into what I want anymore. It will take a long time to get through, will be extremely expensive, and if I decide not to work when I am out of school, there will be no point in racking up that much debt. So I'm going to get a degree in something that will help me in raising my future children, and help out my future family. I am not positive yet, but I am meeting with an adviser tomorrow to figure it out.
We'll see what the future brings! Through lots of prayer and research, I'll be able to figure it all out. Change is sometimes scary, but it is going to worth it. Wish me luck.

Flashback

This song is one of N'Sync's best songs. It still is actually great. One of my friends posted an old school (90's) music video of N'Sync to facebook. So, I went through and rediscovered some of my favorites. I don't feel as if you can go wrong with some of the old stuff. Still great.

I wonder what kind of music will be out when my future children are growing up. They will probably think of the music I listened to as a kid as awful, just like I do about the music my parents listened to.

Sized. And perfect.

I love this. I'm getting married to my best friend.
May 10.
That is all :)

Proposal

FAKE proposal. Haha.. It wasn't very funny at the time, but it has gotten funnier.

Awkward bum shot :) This is me holding the box with the earrings and necklace he gave me for my birthday

Although, it still isn't the funniest thing :) I sure do love this boy though. He is the sweetest. Hopefully sometime this week or next week, I'll have great news! ;)

Decisions

Wow. Who knew that growing up and being responsible required so many hard decisions and complicated things. Even the greatest things have some of the hardest decisions that come along with them. Something I always thought would just be easy. That once you decide one thing, everything else would just be decided. Turns out, that isn't true. More decisions come along with each decision that is placed before you.
I also never knew it would be a tiny bit easier when there is someone else there to help make the decisions. To lighten the load a little bit. To give different angles of options, and better ways to think about things. People were truly designed to be in twos. Men and women together, to help each other out.

On another (semi-related) note, I really am excited for the future and all that it holds.

Another completely related note, I love Isaac Demar Wood. He makes everything make sense. I am a little bit more calm, and a little less stressed when I have him around. That's what love does, it makes you a better person. At least, that's what it does to me.

50

Yep, yet another post counting down. It's kinda a huge deal to me. Don't want to hear it, don't read it :)

Anyways. I love Isaac DeMar Wood. Pretty much ecstatic that he comes home in 50 DAYS!!! A lady at work asked about my dating life, and then she remembered that Isaac comes home soon. She instead asked how long until he comes home. It took me a minute to think about it, but I sorta freaked out when I figured it out. "50 days! 50 days? 50 DAYS?!?!"

While driving today, this song came on, and I cried. It is the truest thing there ever was.

Also, I got a letter from him on Saturday. For the first time in three months. And boy was it good to hear from him. He sure does love me. All those doubts, that build up after waiting so long between letters, disappeared the second I saw that letter sitting in my mailbox. Each day that I went without a letter was made up in that two page (front and back) letter. I've spent the majority of the past two years not getting letters. Which has been the hardest, best thing. I've been able to become strong, and not rely on that communication. But to rely on the communication between my Heavenly Father and I more. Going anywhere from 2 to 3 to 6 months at a time between letters, made each letter that much more special. And somehow, it made me fall even more for that sweet missionary. Knowing that he has put the Lord first, always.

Week of Madness

I survived the craziest week of the semester yet! Best feeling ever, for sure. I'm completely shocked how fast it went, though. It seemed like it was Monday, and then all of a sudden it is Friday. All of my tests and quizzes and important things are over. And I did fairly well on everything. All that studying definitely paid off. I am still waiting to hear back about my chemistry test that I took this morning. Other than that though, I feel like I can label this week successful. I got a lot accomplished, slept somewhat enough, and even made a few meals! I'm progressing.

Today the class lists opened for next semester, and I am very excited to start planning what it is going to look like. Although, it is going to be madness with everything that I have to take. But there is something great about planning next semester. Isaac comes home, and is going to school here. Best thing. I can't believe it is already almost here! They say two years is a long time, but really it isn't. So much has happened, but it went by a lot quicker than I thought it would. I had this mindset that it would legitimately never end, and that I would never see him again. False :) There are still a few more months, so my mind can still change about it feeling like forever! I feel like a completely different person, and I know that he also is. It is going to be great getting to know each other again, hopefully :)

There was also the first snowfall on the ground this morning. I love snow. It makes me feel like a child, and brings back so many memories of great times. I don't think I have ever been so excited for something such as this before though. I was excited to scrape the snow off of my car windows. I was excited to feel the cold chill of the air. I was SUPER excited to listen to Christmas music on my way to each class. There is something about this time of year, that is just magical. The spirit of it, is amazing. Everyone complains about all of the awful things that happen this time of year, and about how inconvenient the snow is. But if you truly want to find something positive about each season, then you will. If you want to find the positive in anything, you will. It's all about perspective! :)

80

80 seems like such a large number, but I promise it is small. When starting with 730, 80 is nothing. Nothing but a blink of the eye. This is the amount of days that Elder Wood has left as a missionary. Bittersweet moment for both of us, I'm sure.

In the next 2 and a half months:
80 days
less than 2 transfers
a few baptisms
many lessons
very few letters
a lot of growth and learning
2 Anatomy tests
3 Chemistry exams
1 Halloween
1 Daylight Savings
1 presidential election
1 Thanksgiving
2 Birthdays (Isaac's and my sister)
1 Anatomy final
1 Chemistry final
1 Christmas
1 New Years
1 dentist appointment
a lot of excitement and anxiousness
January 10, 2013

20 months

So my Isaac boy has been gone for 20 months as of today. Last night, I had a bittersweet moment while laying in bed trying to fall asleep. It was a little after 11, and I realized that exactly 20 months ago at almost the same time, I said goodbye to him. It was the 4th, on a Tuesday night, 87 weeks ago.

"Without you I'd survive, but I'd have to have the notion that I could live this life just going through the motions."

You'd think after not seeing him for this long that I'd stop missing him or something. But that is so not the case. Each and every day I just miss him more, and long even more for him. On the bright side, in about 4 months I never have to do this whole waiting thing ever again. I can't wait to see him.

Pocatello

I move tomorrow. Bittersweet moment for sure. This may or may not be the last day of actually living at home. Besides visiting for holidays and such. Who knows what next summer will bring.
For some reason, I feel like this is the beginning and ending of many things. Of course, every change feels like that.
Looking back to one year ago, when I moved out for the first time, I realize how much I have grown up since then. Everything that has changed. Looking back even further to two years ago, when I went with Isaac's parents to take him to college, I realize that I am almost completely a different person. I was so young, and I still really am. Which makes me think of the future. What will I think next year when I am looking back to this time in my life? Will I be who I want to be, where I want to be, and with whom I want to be? Only one way to find out! :)

change changity change

I hate change. More than almost anything. I think it is the uncertainty that comes along with it. Every single time I have to go through some kind of sudden change, I dread it for weeks. I hate not knowing what is going to happen. I hate not being able to plan. I hate feeling vulnerable to the unknown.
When my sweet Isaac left on his mission 19 months ago, I dreaded it. I didn't know what I was going to do without him. He was the only thing I knew for over a year. But, I made it through. Only a few more months! :)
When I went to college last year, I didn't really know anyone, and I was so nervous. Nervous I was going to have awful roommates, and that I would hate college. But, I made it through. I made friends, and grew as a person.
You would think that going back to college this year would be same old same. But, it's not. New apartment. New roommates. New ward. New everything. I wanted to do this though. I could've roomed with some friends, but chose not to. I wanted to meet new people and get out of my shell a little bit more. At times like this, I wonder why in the world I do this to myself. Knowing full well that I almost have a nervous breakdown every time I have to deal with change. Maybe I want to stretch myself even more, who knows.

But the biggest change of all is also coming soon. My sweet Isaac comes home in 5 months, exactly (as of today!). And as excited as I am, I am equally terrified. I've gotten so used to him just being gone. Almost as if he is simply a figment of my imagination. He is the only thing that I want, or have wanted really ever. I have no clue how things are going to work out, okay a slight clue, or if they even will. Everyone tells me that we will get married. But, what if we don't? What if he comes home and it just doesn't work out? I will have to start all over. I won't know what to want, or if I'll ever want anyone else. I'm so nervous for the change of adjusting to each other again. Getting used to the new people that we've both become. We were so perfect together before, that I am scared that we won't ever be that way again. I was incredibly blessed to have that once, what if I never get it again. I've been told by so many that it will just be better than it was. But, honestly, I don't even think that is possible. I don't think it can get better than that. That was the best. Seriously. The best I could ever imagine. I guess we'll see what happens. Until then, I'm just going to sit in a corner and cry out of nervousness. Okay, not really. I'm a tad bit dramatic.

One year, six months

 One year and six months ago last night, I said "see you soon" to my best friend. I cannot believe that it has been that long. I love him more today than I did yesterday, and everyday before. And I will love him more tomorrow than I did today. This song is definitely right, I have been falling into so many memories and things I used to do with my sweet boy. And what is even better, the future holds so many more memories and fun things to look forward to.

Dentist

I love going to the dentist. It makes my teeth feel great. I went today, and it was an exceptionally great time. Possibly because I was able to make my next appointment, which is in 6 months. And just so happens to be the day before

this boy comes home. This look of excitement you see on his face, that is what I feel like right now. In case you were wondering.

Elder Wood

I am so proud of my missionary. He is absolutely incredible, and is serving the Lord with all his heart, might, mind, and strength. He is doing his absolute best, and doing all that he can to serve the people of Canada. I love him more and more each and every single day, and I know that he loves me also. He continues to be the best, and puts his whole heart into what he is doing. And that is especially true with missionary work. Isaac doesn't do anything half way. Always 150%. And that is one of the many things I love about him. He is such a hard worker. He loves Heavenly Father more than anything else, and his testimony shines right through him. In the way he behaves and carries himself, and the way he treats others. Isaac is one of the most Christ-like people I know. He is always thinking of others and their needs, and always puts other people first. He would do anything for everyone that he loves. He may be small in stature, but he is not a small man. His personality, testimony, and faith are enough to fill an entire room. He has so many talents, and so many amazing things about him. I am so extremely grateful that I have had the opportunity to have him in my life, and so glad that I continue to be blessed with his presence. I am also grateful that he is serving the Lord, and that has always been one of his main goals in life. To follow the commandments. I love him with all of my heart, and look forward to the day when I get to see him again.

6.5 months people. Only 6.5 more months! :)

I'm investing in my forever.