2009 in review..

January

2009 started out in Branson, MO. We had spent Christmas with Caleb's family and finished it off with New Years in Branson. We had fun but I was sick with a nasty nasty cold. We'd also just found out I was pregnant again (after our October miscarriage) a few weeks prior so I was on edge - as I would be for the majority of the winter and spring.

When we returned to Chicago we got some wonderful, amazing news...at our 8 week appointment we had a strong heartbeat! With our previous pregnancy we had a weak heartbeat at 6 weeks and nothing at 8...so this was awesome to hear!

I started my third semester at Dominican (for Library Science) and one night after class I had a message from my parents. Please Call.

Turned out that my grandfather had passed away. I wasn't extremely close to him, but it certainly wasn't news I wanted to hear...that's how January closed out..

February

The first week of February I found myself traveling to Oklahoma City for a week to be with my mom while she planned my grandfather's funeral and took care of everything that needed to be done.

Later in February we had a pregnancy scare. We had just had our 12 week ultrasound and everything was prefect when around 13 weeks I woke up with some bleeding. Thankfully it was nothing, but it through me for a loop. This pregnancy stuff is nerve-racking! Just when I had started to get comfortable...needless to say that experience kept me on edge for a while.

March

March brought hopes of spring weather, but nothing showed...not even rain, only snow :(

In late March, at 17 weeks pregnant I felt the baby move! It was an awesome feeling and was quite reassuring.

The final week we went to Colorado to be with my parents for Spring Break. It was great to see everyone and we even got to see my best friend Maggie and her son Vaughn for lunch one day!

April

April brought the anticipation of the "big" ultrasound. Boy or Girl??

BOY!!

April also brought some nervousness when it came to losing my job. Our school was doing cutbacks and we wouldn't find out officially who was leaving until late April.

Caleb and I were also attempting to find another apartment to move into that would have room for the baby. 

It was stressful because we had a deadline of when to tell our landlord we would be leaving, but we also didn't know for sure what was happening since if I did lose my job we'd have to move back to Oklahoma...we can't afford rent here in Chicago without my job. Either way, we knew it was God's plan...but I like to plan for things, so I really wanted to know!

May

May brought the news that I would be keeping my job next year as well as the anticipation of a new apartment.

June

June was BUSY. The first of the month was spent moving into our new place. After that, at work we were preparing for the end of the school year.

The second week of June, my cousin came out to visit us for a week.

After Megan left, all of our family came into to town for my baby shower. It was wonderful to see everyone. Having everyone here really made me realize how much I miss them. I can't wait to move back!

July

July brought the anticipation of baby. I couldn't believe I was only a month away! I was taking summer classes and we also weren't able to go to the lake in Oklahoma for our yearly trip because I was so pregnant but Caleb and I spent the month enjoying our last bit of time alone.

We went to the beach down the street and spent the 4th of July trying to see the fireworks at Navy Pier (they were hard to see this far north!)

Other than that I spent the month preparing the nursery and making sure we had everything.

August

The 15th of August was my best friend Sarah's wedding. I was supposed to be a bridesmaid but since I was 9 months pregnant and it was outside in the August heat, I instead just wore the wedding colors and was an "honorary" bridesmaid.

Ten days later came my due date...and with it,

Nathaniel Louis Stevenson!

I was induced because they were afraid he was too small. Turns out he wasn't, he was just right!

7lbs, 15oz - 20.5 inches long - 9:47pm

Most of our immediate family was able to come out and be with us for a few days so it was wonderful that everyone got to see him brand new!

September & October

These two months were spent mainly at home enjoying our little man!

Caleb celebrated his 28th birthday on Sept. 29th although I know he'd like to forget he's as close to 30 as he is!

My dad came to visit in mid-September since he wasn't able to come out for Nathan's birth and October brought my in-laws for another visit :)

November

I went back to work in November. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, but I still really wish I could stay home with him.

Caleb is now only working weekends and is a stay-at-home daddy...I am a bit jealous but also really glad we don't have to do daycare. It makes leaving the house in the morning easier.

Thanksgiving brought my family out from Colorado

December

We took two weeks (just got home yesterday, actually) at Christmas this year and spent the first week with Caleb's family in Oklahoma and the next with my family in Denver.

We have a TON of pictures of Nathan's first Christmas, but I haven't uploaded them yet, so keep watch for them!

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All in all this year turned out to be a very good one. It started a little rough, but in the end really became a year to remember. I can't believe Nathan is here and is real...everyday I sometimes just stare at him in disbelief.

We are so blessed!