My babies :)

December 2009--two days after we found Berklie :)

June 2010--I think Berklie grew a little! :)

An Evening With Nick Saban

Jordan's anniversary gift from me this year was two tickets to a charity benefit for the Jeremiah Castille Foundation where Nick Saban was the main speaker. He was so excited when I told him we were going.  I thought that seeing Saban would be the ultimate highlight for both of us, but when we got there we realized that Siran Stacy and his daughter was sitting at our table! For those of you who do not remember, back in 2007 Siran's wife and four of his children were killed by a driver commiting suiside after being diagnosed with AIDS. His only surviving daughter, Shelly is his youngest and was also there with him at the benefit. I have heard him tell his story several times and it goes without saying that the respect that I have for this man is immeasurable. He has turned his tragedy into his testimony and used the horrible events in his life as a way to witness to others. Having dinner and conversation with a person that we respect so much ended up being the most memorable event from that night. He was even kind enough to get a picture with us. We also got to meet Simeon Castill who was also celebrating his 2nd wedding anniversary, and Matt Cadell (who caught the winning touchdown pass at the Arkansas game two years ago!)

There were MANY other local and even some national celebrities there that night including Roger Schultz who came in 2nd place on The Biggest Loser (one of my favorite shows) two years ago!! But the main reason we were all there was for the Castille Foundation. This is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to help children and families in low income communities. They provide education, after school activities and so many other things through ministry. It is a wonderful organization to support. For more information, visit:

castillefoundation.org

Me, Siran Stacy with his daughter Shelly

Jordan, Siran Stacy and Shelly

Me with Simeon Castille

Jordan and Simeon Castille

Me with Matt Cadelle

Jordan with Matt Cadelle

Nick Saban!!!

Jeremiah Castille

Anniversary Dinner....

Jordan and I went to McCormick and Schmicks for anniversary #2 and it was wonderful! Neither of us had ever been there before so we were definately looking forward to it! After that, we shared a chocolate peanut butter cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory. Ahh! SO good as always! It is hard to believe that it's already been two years since we got married--time flies! I cant wait to see what the next 50 have to offer :)

Two amazing years!

Today is our 2nd wedding anniversary. It is also Jordan 27th birthday today!!! Needless to say that June 14th is such a special day for us. We were originally supposed to get married on May 24th, 2008; however Jordan's brother was in Iraq at the time serving our country (thank God for men like him) and wouldnt be home until the June11th. Jordan's birthday just happen to fall on a Saturday that year so we said "why not?". So Josh flew in from Iraq on a Thursday night just in time to catch up on sleep for the rehearsal dinner the next day, and then be in our wedding on that Saturday. He left for the airport soon after :( But we were so thankful to have him with us on that day and beside us when we said our vows.

 I have always loved that fact that we got married on that day, and Jordan always tells me that marrying me was the best birthday present he has ever gotten :) I am so blessed to have such an amazing man, friend, provider and partner in life for a husband. These past two years have been SO much fun and a truly wonderful experience. God has blessed me beyond words!

Nashville, TN

This past weekend Jordan and I took a trip to Nashville to go see my brother in law and sister in law run the Country Music Marathon. We headed up Friday morning and just took our time getting there--which was SO nice. We got into Nashville about 2 o'clock and just walked around Downtown. We did the whole Nashville experience since it was just the two of us at the time (we hadn't met up with the rest of the family just yet). We had a beer at Rippy's across from Tootsies, went in all the shops, explored Fort Nashborough, saw LP stadium (where the Titans play)... Just had a blast. That night, we ate with everyone at The Aquarium which was very neat and the kids loved it! We got up bright and early the next morning so Jordan could take Jeremy and Melissa to the starting line. We mapped out the course and then met up with them with signs to cheer them on at mile nine. Then we continued sight-seeing for a little while at Belmont University until it was time to head to the finish line. The weather was terrible to say the least, but Jeremy and Melissa did a great job and we are so proud of them both! We ate so much good food while we were there and I believe that I had ice cream every single day! It was SO nice to have a little getaway--even if it was just for a weekend. We are definately looking forward to going back soon :) Next stop......the beach!

Finally meeting Avery !!!

Easter at Granny's

This past Sunday, we celebrated Easter and our nephew Braeden's birthday with Jordan's family. After church, we all went over there and ate lunch and watched Braeden open up presents. We are so glad to have him home--even if it is for a short time. My brother in law is in the Air Force and they have been stationed in Germany since Braeden was a baby. So we are grateful for every time we get to see him. Luckily, they are moving back to the states for good! Yay! They will be in San Angelo, TX for 6 months and then they will have to see where Josh gets his orders where they will be after that. It was so good to have Dana and Braeden home (Josh comes home this coming up weekend) and are so glad they will be closer :) Hope everyone has a great week!

5/6 nieces and nephews

Silly faces

My Katie Bug

Birthday Boy

Dana, Melissa and me (we FINALLY have a pic with Dana)!

Sweet Braeden

Braeden, me and Katie

Braeden and Katie

New Avery Picures

Unfortunately, no one except Josh and Erin have gotten to see Avery because he is still being monitored in the NICU at St. Vincent's. All of these pictures were taken by the two of them. Avery looks different to me every single day, but still like Erin :) He is doing so good and should be able to come home in about six days!! Yay!! I finally get to see him along with everyone else who is dying to!

Avery is here!!!!

Yesterday was an exciting day to say the least! It started out as any normal day would, and then I got a text from my best friend, Erin at about 1 o'clock saying that they were having to do C-section. This caught me extremely off guard because her due date is over 6 weeks away! She has dealt with some blood pressure issues these past few weeks so they have had to monitor that very closely. It was just by the grace of God that she was even at the hospital in the first place. She just happened to have a check up and when they saw her blood pressure, they ran some tests and wanted to keep her at the hospital for a little while. When nothing changed, they told her to call her husband Josh (he was at work becuase it was just a routine visit) and they were going to have to get Avery out. I couldnt imagine what would have been going through my mind if this were my child considering I was a nervous wreck yesterday over someone else's child. But Erin was amazing, and stayed strong through the entire day. Kelly and I left work, and as soon as the elevator doors opened on the 3rd floor of St. Vincents, we saw them pushing her from the OR to her room! I hate that I didnt get to see them move Avery to the NICU, but I am so thankful that I got to see Erin. Their day went from being like any other to becoming extremely terrifying, and then the happiest day of their lives. An absolute roller coaster that I know they will never forget. While I was sitting in the room with her, I couldn't help but think of everything that Erin have been through together. She was my first friend at college--and ended up being my best friend. She was the first person I called after Jordan asked me to marry him 4 years ago. She was the first person to call me when my grandmother passed away to make sure I was ok, and the first person in the door at the funural home. She stood right next to me when I said my vows to Jordan and the next month I stood right next to her when she said hers to Josh. Being there with her 30 minutes after she gave birth to her first child is a feeling that I will never be able to put into words. Although we didnt expect Avery to be here yesterday, God has known for quite some time that yesterday would be the day he would enter this world. Happy birthday Avery Thomas Piper! You are more of a blessing that you will ever know!

Thursday Thirteen

I stole this from Lindsey (the3rowlands) because I thought it was too cute not to continue! 13 random facts about what is going on in your life--or just fun facts.

1) We are going on our vacation with Jordan's family for the 4th of July and it CANNOT get here soon enough! I am so ready for the beach and for some quality time with the in laws. I am very blessed to have married into a wonderful family, and consider myself lucky that I actually look forward to spending time with them when many people dread seeing their in-laws.

2) I met Jordan 5 years ago next month. Some days it seems like it has been longer than that, but most days I cant believe how the time has flown by! I dont deserve the wonderful husband that he is to me, but I am truly thankful that I am the one he chose to build a life with.

3) Next Wednesday is our girls' night at Habaneros with some of the gals that I used to work with along with my mom (who technically I also used to work with I guess). I am so excited about it as always! It seems to come at a time when I need some girl time the most.

4) I have recently reconnected with an old friend. When I say that, it doesnt seem to do our relationship justice. She was my best friend in high school and a huge part of my life; and we just fell out of touch over the years for no particular reason at all. I am very thankful that she contacted me and definately look forward to alot more catching up with her :)

5) Our newest addition--Berklie is getting spayed Tuesday and we are desperately hoping that she will calm down a little after this happens. She is really no more hyper than Roxi was at her age, but she is about three times bigger than she was so it's a little different when she jumps on you.

6) This is probably the most random of all, but I cannont tell you how excited we are about the new Harry Potter movie coming out in July of this year. See, we used to be that couple who made fun of other grown-ups for liking the moveis but then we decided to see what all the fuss is about because we got tired of hearing people talk about it--and now we absolutely LOVE all of them! Jordan has added the Harry Potter series to his top 10 list of all time favorite movies-- and that is really saying something for it to be right up there with Shawshank Redemption and The Program. He doesnt just put any movie in that category :)

7) I have two very close friends who are expecting babies right now. One in May and the other in November. I am so excited about both of them being here, but oddly enough it doesnt make me want one. I honeslty thought that being around all of the baby things would make me change my mind, but it hasnt. I guess we will know when we are ready to be parents--we just really love it being the two of us right now and still want to do so much together before that happens....

8) My Dad will be 50 this year! 50! For those of you who know my mom, this also means that she will also be 50 two months later :) But technically that will be 2011. I have been trying to think of things to do for his birthday. My dad is not one for parties really, and to tell you the truth, he probably doesnt even realize that he will be 50 this year. But nevertheless, it is a huge milestone and if you ask him he never thought he would have lived to see the age he is at. More to come on that one.

9) Speaking of birthdays, mine is next month. I will be 23. Alot of people say that they feel older or younger than they actually are, but for me 23 feels about right. I pretty much fall in the middle of my friends who are 23. I have some who are still in school, married or getting married, studious, etc. Then I have some 23 year old friends who dont get in before 2 am every night. Ok maybe I dont exactly fall in the "middle"--I am probably much closer to the first example.

10) I blogged a few weeks ago about my headaches and a medication that I am on called Topamax. Sill on it--works great! Headaches are essentially gone. However, this medicine gets a bad wrap because of the fact that it makes you lose your train of thought or not be able to think of a word. I dont know if that's what you would call what I have experienced. I have found that I will say something completely off base (usually like a famous name or something) and then after being corrected, when most people would realize that they were wrong, the correct name still doesnt sound right to me. For example, the sports announcer on Fox 6--his name is Rick Karle. I called him Mike Karle the other day and Jordan said "no, it's Rick". It still did not sound right to me. We watch this guy every single night and I KNOW his name, but we had to wait until 9 so he could show me that I was wrong. I would have sworn that it was Mike for some reason! Just stuff like that. It's actually quite humorous afterwards--and sometimes during the argument.

11) Every month I have been buying a swim suit for the beach. Last year I waited until the last minute and then rushed to Target to try and find some cute ones, and ended up spending a ton of money all at once. I am on Victoria's Secret email list and get coupons from them alot so I started two months ago ordering them from there--just because I know that I like their brand and that most of the time they fit right. The last one I got was $20 with shipping and tax included (for both pieces)! Just thought I would pass that along :)

12) The person that I look up to more than anyone on this Earth is my Meemaw. She is an overall amazing woman and just a saint in general. She will be 88 this year and still goes dancing weekly! Meemaw has always taken the opportunity to let you know how much you mean to her in the moment--living as if each day could be the last. I admire that quality in her more than I could ever express in words. I consider myself blessed to be her grandaughter.

13) Finally....and perhaps most importantly, it actually took a long time to think of 13 things that are going on right now in my life. And the truth is that I like that. For so long my life was rushed and scattered and consisted of nothing but school and work. I consider myself extremely blessed that I now  have some sort of calm. But who knows what God's plan is. My world could be turned upside down tomorrow. The only difference is that I know that I could handle it now, and that I couldnt say that a year ago.

Hope everyone has a great week!

More Baby Shower Pictures......

Here are a few more pictures from Saturday that I took.....