alaskaaa

Picture overload. Hashtag, sorry I'm not sorry. For Stephen's one week of summer vacation we headed up to Alaska to spend 6, 7, 9 days with the Wall family. (Yes, we changed our flights that many times because we were having too much fun to go home!) It was snowing when we landed and in the 70's by the time we left. Oh, Fairbanks... We spent much of our time outside by a bonfire, slack lining, four wheeling, walking, playing, bbqing... We got to hear Jeff preach at church, eat at LuLu's and get yummy Thai food (twice!), and Stephen successfully went bear hunting. The highlight of our trip, though, was meeting baby Skylar who was just 2 weeks old when we arrived! And getting to see James at 6 months (he was Skylar's age the last time we saw him!) It was so fun to have all the Wall cousins together - they are all so stinkin' cute! (Do you think I could use more explanation points?) The cousins were also dedicated in church together, another highlight! We won't get to see this crew again until November, so we soaked up every minute of their company. We love our Alaskan family and are so grateful for the time we spent together. Miss you and your beautiful babies!

and that's a wrap.

Stephen made it through finals (with a few more A's under his belt) and then proudly walked across the stage in his new white coat. I cheered him on from the mom section of the audience (Uriah did great and was actually awake to watch his daddy cross the stage!) It was a little bitter sweet to be sitting amongst the same gals as I was in the fall of 2011, at Stephen's first white coat ceremony. After Step 1 of the boards, the classmates will be separated and spread out amongst the five WWAMI states, and while we'll be seeing some in a few months, we won't be seeing others for a few years, until it's time to cross that stage again, diploma in hand.
It was fun to see him, though, along with his Alaska classmates and all the new friends he's made here in Seattle reach this point in their medical school career. It is a feat to have made it this far and I am so proud of Stephen and all his friends and classmates who've made it with him. Cheers to you! I know the next two years of rotations will be difficult and time consuming and draining, both mentally and physically... But I also know how much Stephen is looking forward to being in the hospital, interacting with patients and learning hands on.
>> He was looking pretty spiffy in his new white coat (if I do say so myself) - embroidered with his name, and all! ;) He may not be a doctor yet, but he certainly looks the part. And I am certainly very proud and excited!

We made it to a friend's end of the year BBQ before catching our flight to Alaska after the ceremony. It was the perfect opportunity to get in one last goodbye (over yummy food and drinks, of course). We have made such good friends over the past two years - we are truly, truly blessed! Thank you all for loving our little family and being apart of our story. To those we will not be seeing soon, you will be missed and thought of often! We love you guys!

Mother's Day

I'm a mom... I get to be a mom... Uriah's mom. I am so lucky, so very blessed, and am so grateful for the opportunity to mother this sweet baby boy of mine. I've always wanted to be a mom (a desire that grew immensely the day I knew I would be a mom to Stephen's babies). I think my mother, my amazing mother, and my indescribable relationship with her is what lead me to know I wanted, and needed, to fill the momma role. There had been a hole in my heart for years, one that no friend nor family member nor Stephen nor even God could fill. But now, just as I hoped and dreamed and waited, that hole is full, taken up by pudgy thighs and baby smiles and beautiful blue eyes and dirty diapers and late nights and cuddle time... That hole is full, and overflowing. Thank you for letting me be your mother, Uriah; thank you for making me a mother, Stephen. This is my dream job and the highlight to my every day. I am so happy and blessed and thankful and so very in love with my men and my life as a mom. Happy Mother's Day to me... What an honor.

Also, a Happy Mother's Day to my incredible mother - my best friend and biggest fan. I love you and appreciate you so very much! You are truly thee most beautiful person in my life, inside and out. To my mother-in-law, who welcomed me into her family with open and loving arms - thank you for raising such an incredible son to be my husband. To my sister and sister-in-laws who are raising my smart and adorable niece and nephews - I am so happy I have you guys to share in this motherhood journey with! To my aunts, grandparents, cousins, and friends - you are all beautiful and wonderful mothers and your families are lucky to have you!