The Happenings of Bailey and Cassie

Life's rough when you're a dog, can't you tell?

As I'm sure many of you have noticed, the dogs have slowly been creeping their way further and further into the house. It doesn't help when someone in the house let's Bailey do this:

If you know Cassie, you know that if someone is getting attention, she wants some too. So one day while Eric was letting Bailey sit on his lap, this happened.

She just wanted some kisses! She didn't stay up there long, and was soon laying right next to the recliner sleeping like a baby, I mean puppy. 

Speaking of puppies, look at how big Cassie is!! I can't believe she's six months old. She weighs the same as Bailey and stands and sits taller than her. It won't be long before she will be substantially bigger than Bailey. 

And one last picture for you- the cone of shame! Cassie got spayed yesterday and she wouldn't stop licking her stitches, which resulted in this. Which also resulted in Cassie completely ignoring me, including sitting turned away from me with her head held down, as well as running into walls, door frames, and getting stuck in the mud. I finally gave in and took it off of her. She hasn't done too bad with not licking the stitches, and since I'm home from school I can keep an eye on her and get her to stop if she starts licking. I'm looking forward to when those stitches come out!

Hope you enjoyed this puppy update!

THE Camera

This camera. I've only been wanting one for about 3 years, but the price of committing to a camera, lens(es), editing software, tripod (trust me, this list could go on forever) has been holding me back. Until one day Eric told me he wanted a four wheeler. This is perfect, I thought. I'll let him get the four wheeler if he lets me buy my camera. This plan will never work, but it's worth a shot. The next thing out of Eric's mouth was that I could get my camera! To say I was excited was an understatement. 

I stalked my emails for the shipping confirmation, then impatiently waited for my gear to arrive. In the meantime, I googled everything I could think of on how to operate a DSLR camera on manual mode. I printed out cheat sheets, shortcuts, and helpful tips  When the UPS man finally knocked on our door, I'm sure he heard me let out a little squeal as I went to open it. 

Isn't she a beauty?

I immediately strapped a lens on and went outside to start taking pictures. I frantically searched through my binder of papers all neatly organized by topic to figure out what settings I needed to get the perfect picture. After much trial and error (including some all white and all black pictures) I finally began getting some great shots- at least in my mind!

I ran back in to try out the photo editing software on my favorite pictures. Just using basic controls on the software, I was able to edit my pictures to ones I am proud of. I can't wait to see what my pictures can look like once I really learn how to use the software!

Here's a few of my favorites from my photo shoot with Bailey and Cassie: 

Our big girl!

The ball of energy. 















Rare moment of relaxation.















And one last one of a scenic shot. I just figured out how to get rid of power lines, so I might try to redo this one to take out the power lines. But I loved how the sky turned out!





















With any new thing comes practice. So if you'd allow me to practice on your kids, your family, your pet bird, I would be grateful :) Just hit me up!

Meet Cassie!

Yesterday, Eric and I added four more paws to our family-Cassie! She is a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd mix, and is currently a 4.1 pound fluff ball. She and Bailey were born only two days (and one year) apart- how cool!

Here we are with our newest fur baby!

Cassie was so excited to meet Bailey. She ran up to Bailey, ready to play. Bailey, on the other hand, was a little apprehensive about this black fur ball that kept wanting to smell her. Bailey actually ran away from Cassie as Cassie approached her! Bailey was very curious about her, following her and smelling her when Cassie wasn't looking. The minute Cassie turned around, though, Bailey was gone. Bailey has warmed up to Cassie and is beginning to try to play with her. Cassie is still a little too small to chase and keep up with Bailey, but it won't be long before they are running around the yard together having fun. 

Me with my two fur babies!

Cassie had an exhausting day. She got her first shots, taken away from her family, and brought into a new home all in one day. She fought to stay awake, but finally gave in, right next to her monkey. 

Eric and I are both excited that given Cassie's mix of breeds, she should be a very smart dog. We've already got her fetching a ball!

After a long afternoon of playing, you're bound to get hungry. And tired. And when those two mix, you get a puppy who thinks eating is so hard she has to sit down. 

  
Stay tuned for more exciting adventures with Cassie- and Bailey!

Happy Birthday Bailey!

This weekend we celebrated Bailey's first birthday! I can't believe that we've had her in our family for almost an entire year. Even though Eric always tells me that he's glad he talked me into getting Bailey, it was actually me who talked him into getting her. I'll just say that we're both glad that we decided to bring her home.

We've gone swimming in the pool, moved to a new house, walked through the woods, chased bunny rabbits, played in the snow, dug holes in the yard, bit at ashes from the fire, learned the boundaries of the in-ground fence, and enjoyed lots and lots and lots of cuddles.

Nothing beats being greeted by a running puppy dog (who then gets as low as possible in the grass until you come over and then immediately turns onto her side so you can rub her belly) as soon as you get home. And despite being at least four times her original size, she still believes that she is a lap dog- and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Thank goodness Beagles don't get very big! 

I had the best intentions to get Bailey in a picture with her hat on and the birthday bone in front of her. Then I realized that this dog hardly ever sits still. So I settled on a picture of the hat and bone by themselves, and...

having Eric try to hold the hat on Bailey while she sat and pouted. And after she sat and pouted, she ran off the porch and attempted to take the hat off of her head. Not her favorite thing we've ever given her. 

I do have to say that she loved her bone! I found the birthday bone at Perfect Paws and Claws from here in Newton. The first thing she did was lick allllll of the icing off the cookie-she is her mother's daughter!

Our happy little family!

And the last picture of our big puppy! I never knew how much a dog could become part of your family until Bailey came along. I can't imagine our life without her. We love you Bailey, happy birthday!

Friend Filled Weekend

This past weekend was one of those that reminded me how blessed I am to have the people I do in my life. Our friend Michael was coming to visit from Springfield, so of course Eric had a huge weekend planned out!

Friday night we did a little fishing. Michael, Justin, Eric and I (and Bailey of course) headed out to the pond to catch some bluegill. I slayed them, not to brag or anything. Guess that's what happens when you can go fishing any time you want! After dinner we invited some more friends over for a bonfire, which was made in our driveway. One of these days we might have a real fire pit!

Even though it "rained" all day- really it only misted- we weren't going to let that stop our plans to go shooting on Saturday. Eric set up a pop-up for all of us to shoot under. We might have had just a few targets to shoot at :)

The mist did stop for about a half hour, so we decided to play a friendly game of knockout! Shooting clays really made me miss the shooting complex at Sparta. Eric and I will definitely have to venture down there this summer. 

We didn't just shoot shotguns and rifles, we also shot some pistols! Corey let me shoot his, and once I realized that you have to slowly pull the trigger, I got a bulls-eye!

I also got to shoot Brian's pistol. It was so big- it reminded me of being in the old west!

Then it was time for the TVs. The picture below perfectly portrays how rednecks move TVs long distances. They set the TVs up at different distances in the field. 

After the TVs were placed in the field, we had to shoot holes in them so we could place tannerite inside-that's right, we blew these things up! We shot at closer TVs with the pistols and used shotguns and rifles to hit the ones farther away. 

Then it was time for probably my favorite part of the afternoon- shooting them and watching them explode! I've never witnessed tannerite being used, and let me tell you, it is so cool. Some of the TVs were a little close, and you could definitely feel the shockwave from the explosion. It was also crazy to see the pieces fly everywhere after they blew up. But don't worry, we scoured the field to pick up all the pieces we could find. 

That night, we headed out to the Gabby Goat to eat and hit the town. I am so happy this guy came to visit!

The darts players for the night. Michael and I were on a team, while Emilee and Calvin (and sometimes Eric) were on the other team. It's a good thing Michael was good, because I can't aim a dart to save my life! 

On Sunday, Eric and I went over to Doug and Ashley's for dinner. We got to see their new house and hang out with Emery- which might have been my favorite part (shh don't tell Ashley and Doug)! I'm so happy that they are close to home and we have the chance to get together on a whim. When we left, I even got a kiss from Em <3

I don't know how I got so lucky to have friends like these. We all come from different places, but our paths crossed and our lives are all the better for it. Here's to many more weekends filled with friends and love!

The Simple Life

Do you ever have one of those days (or weekends) where you are reminded of why you live where and how you do? For me, this past weekend was one of those times. Yes, I love visiting friends in big cities like St. Louis, Peoria, Nashville, etc. But there's no way I could live there! The traffic, the people, the noises, the lights- it's all way to much for me. 

I prefer the simpler life. The kind where you can grab your fishing pole on a Friday morning and head to your pond between the rain showers and catch some fish. The kind where you can sit on your porch in the evening and watch nothing go by except the sunset (and your dog). The kind where you realize just how lucky you really are. 

Like I said before, this weekend was one of those times. Thursday night we went out to Floyd's in Oblong for some tacos with Garrett and Emilee. When we got home that night, we noticed that our walkway was covered in night crawlers! Eric had me go in and get a tupperware container, and we managed to snag over 20 night crawlers.  

Friday morning, it didn't look like it would ever stop raining. We were in the middle of cleaning the house when Eric told me to grab the worms- we were going fishing! So we headed out to the pond and fished for a little less than an hour before it started raining again. 

Bailey enjoyed the fishing too. When she wasn't busy wading into the water to get small branches that were near the shore, she was trying to bite the fish we caught as we pulled them off the hook. 

We got 8 bluegill and 3 bass- a productive morning if I say so myself!

So thankful dad raised me right and taught me how to filet a fish! Having two people filet fish makes things go so much faster. 

On Saturday, it was time for my Uncle Dean's wedding! This is his second marriage, and I'm so glad that he has found someone who makes him so incredibly happy. Dad was even asked to be the best man!

And of course I had to get a picture with James. We've been with each other through thick and thin, and I couldn't imagine having anyone else as a brother but him. Somehow I managed to not get a good picture with Eric, must have been having too much fun!

Sunday was Easter. It was the perfect day filled with family and food. It was also the perfect reminder that although my heart still aches to have Ian back in our life, thanks to Jesus dying on the cross and rising from the dead, I will get to see Ian again one day. He died and rose again so that we may have the promise of eternal life- a promise that I am very much looking forward to. 

As the sun set on Sunday, I felt God's love pour out of the sky. I was reminded that there is a greater plan, and that one day everything will make sense. Until then, I'm going to keep enjoying the simple life. It's gotten me this far, after all. 

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?

I don't know about all of you, but I am SO over winter. Spring can get here any minute. I'm ready for sunshine, shorts, and weather that I can enjoy spending time in for long periods of time.

But since I can't snap my fingers and make it spring, I guess I will try to enjoy the weather we do have, which currently includes lots of snow! During our last snow, which wasn't all that long ago, Eric and I didn't get a chance to go out and enjoy the snow at all. So when this snow rolled in, Eric agreed to build a snowman with me! (After, of course, we got some work done.)

If you haven't been to our house or seen our driveway, you may not appreciate how wonderful a tractor with a blade is for us. I'm not kidding when I say without that thing, we would never be able to get out of our driveway.  

Lucky for us, Dan and Theresa keep a lot of their things (including this tractor and blade) in our barns. Eric bladed our driveway while I helped dig out around our cars and brush the snow off of them. Once we were done, we decided we should help our neighbors out (Dan and Theresa in case you didn't know that!) and blade their driveway and shovel a walkway to their front door. It's the least we could do after all they have done for us!

While we were busy working, Bailey was busy playing. Bailey has become a "mud room dog" in the last few weeks since it has been so cold outside, so she very much welcomed a morning and afternoon running through the snow in our yard.

  

Look at that smile and tail just a wagging. She sure was happy!

I think her favorite thing to do was jump over the piles of snow that Eric made with the tractor. When she wasn't jumping over the mounds of snow, she was burying her nose in it smelling everything in sight, sinking down past her belly with every step she took. When we finally went in for the day, she was tuckered out!

Eric held true to his promise of building a snowman with me!  It's actually super tall-as tall as Eric-so the balls are quite large. They also ended up being more square-like than circular. It's not the most symmetrical snowman, but beggars can't be choosers.

The next few pictures are just a few little family pictures with the snowman :)

 

I just love these two <3

Saying Goodbye

Yesterday, people all around the world were saying goodbye to 2014. They were reminiscing on what a wonderful year it had been; celebrating the blessings and accomplishments that the year had brought them.

Yesterday, Eric and I, along with our parents and siblings, said goodbye to Ian. We said goodbye to what could have been. Goodbye to a nephew, a grandchild, a son. I said goodbye to a huge part of my heart that I will never get back. 

At 1 P.M. on December 31, 2014, we laid our sweet Ian Joseph to rest. Surrounded by those that love us most, and in the thoughts and prayers of so many more, we said our final goodbyes. That day was one of the hardest days of my life. No parent should ever have to bury their child, especially a child that never had the chance to see how wonderful life could be.

Though I will never get to see Ian smile, laugh, walk, and grow up, I do cherish the fact that I got to carry him for 16 wonderful weeks. I got to hear his little heart beating away. I got to see his little arms and legs moving on the ultrasound screen. I got to hold his perfect little body and tell him how much I loved him. And I cherish the fact that one day, I will get to see him again. 

As easy as it is to dwell on the lows in life, I know I can't ignore all of the highs that Eric and I experienced this year. We celebrated one wonderful year of marriage. And after this year, I can honestly say that we can make it through anything together. I am beyond blessed to be married to my best friend. 

We were able to move back to our hometown after both finding jobs that we love. Our parents graciously allowed us to move back in with them until we were able to close on our house. 

We picked up our first "baby", Bailey. I never knew how much a dog could brighten your life. She puts a smile on my face every day.

We found out that I was pregnant. Though the outcome of this pregnancy was not what we expected, creating a new life with the love of my life was a beautiful, miraculous thing.

We were finally able to close on our house! I can't tell you how great it feels to own our own home and have something to call "ours".

We experienced a deep love from family and friends that I never thought was possible. I can't thank you all enough for the love, support, and prayers that you have given us this past year, especially in the past month. Eric and I will never be able to repay you for all that you've done.

So as we say goodbye to 2014, I welcome 2015 with an open heart. Here's to a new year full of friends, family, love, and most of all, happiness. 

Finding Joy during the Holidays

This holiday season has been hard. Very hard. Eric and I should be thinking about how we want to decorate the nursery, not about what we want Ian's tombstone to look like. We should be shopping for nursery furniture, not for funeral plots. We should be talking with friends and family about the pregnancy and how excited we are to become parents, not receiving condolences and sharing tears. 

But that is the most brutally honest definition of life. Life isn't fair. And at times, it really stinks. Is there anything we can do about it? No. Eric and I hit our lowest low this holiday season. However, losing Ian during Christmas time has been a small blessing in disguise.

As I stare at the nativity scene in our living room, I am reminded about the one person Christmas is all about-Jesus. He was born, lived a perfect life, and died so that when we die we may go to Heaven and be with Him for all eternity. He is the reason I can smile knowing that Ian is in a better place. He is the reason that as each day passes, I can pull myself up and start living my life again. He is the reason that after everything that has happened, I can smile, laugh and enjoy the company of my friends and family. He is the reason that when I go to bed at night, I can dream of holding my son again, hearing his voice, seeing his beautiful pair of wings. 

Because of Jesus, I have been able to find joy during this extremely difficult time. I was able to enjoy spending Christmas with Eric (and Bailey). I was able to laugh with my best friends while they were home. I was able to attend family Christmas celebrations and get engulfed in the joy and happiness around me, momentarily forgetting about the pain and sadness that has been present in my life. 

I hope that all of you have found a reason to find joy during this holiday season and have a blessed and happy new year.

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas celebration...

Before midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

  

Bailey loved here big bag of treats!

Opening up one of her presents. 

One of her new toys. She made out pretty good this Christmas!

Proof that dogs are just like children- once she opened all her presents she came back to play with the box and wrapping paper!