We'll love you forever...

Another exciting day awaited us, just three short days after our first appointment. Today, was the day we had prepared to share our fabulous news with the most special people in our lives. Not only was it Announcement Day, but it was the last day of Michael's six week Lieutenant's class. A special reason to gather the family together to celebrate such a wonderful man and all of his accomplishments (Daddy's preparing for his future, the future that will give Baby everything he/she needs). As moms, dads, sisters and grandparents walked through our front door each individual greeted Michael with kind words of love. Little did they know what news and invigorating words they would hear from us later in the evening. Words that would fill their ears with much joy and anticipation. Although our meal for the big day was a simple meal, hamburgers and bratwurst, it was a great excuse for Michael to purchase a new grill.  A few days before, we spent a full day shopping for...

We always knew this day would be nothing less than beautiful and amazing (our own fairy tale) - and after a two hour appointment, our first of the pregnancy, we were able to witness a true miracle growing inside of me (the start of the most magnificent fairy tale ever to be told). A miracle created by the most elated and delighted parents... how lucky and blessed are we. At a mere eight weeks old, our little miracle had a strong and healthy heart beat ranging from about 134 to 150 beats per minute, fast but completely normal. When I first heard a heart beating on the monitor, I had to ask if it was mine—I felt like my heart was beating as fast and in sync with our little one. What a rush to experience this true joy for the first time. Emotions filled the two of us like a rainbow fills the sky after rain as we realized what our future holds; together, we will grow as a family of three—Baby, Mommy and Daddy! Suddenly, the cold, sterile room was filled with the warmth of our hearts. Not...

It truly is both funny and amazing how dogs can sense a pregnancy. I undoubtedly think that Gabby already knows that I am pregnant; although, I think she thinks Baby will be HER baby. A relaxing Wednesday at home during my spring break, just the dogs and me while Michael was taking a psych test for his Lieutenant's class. When Michael returned home, he told me about his test which took far less time then both him and I were expecting. This crazy test was something like 800 questions and a short interview. I think this long of a test would make anyone a psychotic mess. Michael said that the interview only lasted about five minutes because many of the questions were centered around drinking... crazy! After debriefing with me, Michael wanted to go change out of his fancy clothes into something a little more casual. Meanwhile, he is calling Gabby to go with him upstairs... but, I call back to Gabby as I am sprawled out on the floor next to the sofa covered with a blanket, "Sta...

Michael and I have been waiting for this day to come. It was Sunday, April 1st, 2012 at 7:30 in the morning when my Clear Blue pregnancy test read "Pregnant," and no, it was not an April Fool's day joke. It was the real thing! Michael returned home early in the morning, about 6:55 from being at station three for the past 48 hours. As usual, when Michael returns home after being at work, he comes up stairs, gets the dogs and lets them into the back yard. Bella is usually her out of control self, extremely excited in the morning, not to see Michael, but to see Gabby who sleeps in the closet. Michael lets Gabby out of her bedroom, and Bella could not contain herself, it's like she has never seen or met Gabby, ever! And believe it or not, it's the same thing every morning with that dog, maybe she has separation anxiety. After letting the dogs outside on this cold and snowy morning (the snow that came out of nowhere—where the day before in Colorado it was 80 and the ...