Baby Fever!!!

Don't get your panties all in a bunch, now... The title isn't quite what you think it is.  :)

As part of the wedding planning madness, I got to take some time to look through old pictures of both Derek and I.  We are planning on making a picture video to play at our wedding reception.  I think it will be really fun to share some old memories with all the people that we love.  And maybe to laugh at some bad haircuts in the process!

Derek's mom dug out some old baby pictures of Derek for me to look through.  I had seen a few pictures of him when he was a toddler, but only a couple.  And I had never seen pictures of him as a baby.  No worries, though. She has PLENTY of him to choose from.  And boy, will it be hard to choose!  He was absolutely one of the cutest little kids I have ever seen.  With super tan skin, bleach blonde hair, and an ornery little grin, that kid could just melt your heart.  Here's a little preview of some of my favorites.  Prepare yourself for some MAJOR CUTENESS!  ;)

"Look what I can do, Mom!"

Giant eyes and chubby cheeks.

Starting to look like a heart-breaker.

Maybe he's taking lessons from his older brothers, Toby and Josh.   :)

Awww....

"Is he sporting a Bart Simpson shirt?", you ask.

Yes, in fact, he sure is. 

 He was a little baseball stud.

And he still makes that face to this very day. 

Sharp dressed little man.

Who wouldn't love that sweet little face?!

(He hates this picture because he's wearing a turtle neck!

I thought it was pretty cute. Ha!)

This is the age he starts turning into a little chunk.

I'll save the really chubby pictures for later.   :)

 I prefer his smile. But he makes "serious" look good, too.

Getting cuter every day. I still think he's pretty adorable.

It's pretty hard to follow that cuteness, but I think I can handle it!  ;)  I was pretty adorable when I was little, too.  And the best part about my baby pictures is that almost all of my them follow two themes... eating and sleeping!  That could be the reason I was so chunky as a toddler.  Thankfully I thinned out. (Only to be followed by crooked teeth and bad haircuts.)  Oh well.  Thank goodness for a good personality, right?!  Everyone has their awkward stage.  Anyway, here are some pictures of me when I was little.  Enjoy! 

Look at all that dark hair!

Chunky Monkey.

Me and my older brother, Michael.

We were quite the pair!

 Of all the things I remember from my childhood...

THOSE PJs! I loved them!

 From sunflower dresses and hats to sweet sunglasses, 

this girl rocked it all!

 

Being Cinderella for Halloween must have wore me out!

 

Some good friends

Andrea, Anna, and Lisa

Sleeping with my two oversized bunnies.

Why the heck did I have those?!

 

Smile!

I had to throw in a mullet picture.

You're all welcome for the good laugh I just gave you.  :)

 

All dolled up for the Sweetheart Dance.

 One of my passions, volleyball.

One of my favorite pictures.

Wedding plans are coming right along!  On Monday I went with my mom and sister to a scrapbook store to get some supplies for invitations. (We're making them ourselves!)  I'm excited to see how they turn out.  That same day we also met with our DJ.  He has a great personality and I think he'll do a great job.  I think we also decided on a caterer.  We just need to call her to make the arrangements.

The BEST news is about finding a minister to marry us.  I am so thrilled/excited/thankful that my old basketball coach and Derek's highschool "JILG" teacher, Coach Bobby McNeely, will perform our wedding ceremony.  I couldn't ask for anyone better.  Thanks again, Coach!  We couldn't be happier.  :)

In other news, baby Peyton is home and healthy!  I got the pleasure of going to his first doctor appointment with him and his mommy.  He has grown an inch and a quarter and gained one full pound.  Not only is he healthy, but OH, SO CUTE!  And his mom is doing great as well.  I'm very thankful that she is healthy!  Here are some pictures from the night/day I got to spend with him.

P.S.  My schedule is getting RIDICULOUSLY CRAZY.  I'll try to keep up with the blog updates.  If not, I apologize.  Hope you all have a fabulous end to your February!

A little preview of THE dress. And baby Peyton makes his arrival!!!

Where in the world did January go?! I can't believe it is already February 2012. I'm not complaining. I am so ready for May to get here it isn't even funny!!! Nursing school could quite possibly be the death of me. After my graduation, though, time can slow down for a while... 97 days! But who's counting?!

One of my nursing buddies planned a "Yeah, we passed! Or Boo, we failed!" party at her house after our Fall semester final. Thankfully, we all passed! Yay! Here are a few pictures from the get-together.

Some of my classmates:

Krista, Belinda, Amy, Samantha, Julie, and me 

 Derek stopped by for some of the party food.

I was obviously excited about it!

Cooking food before everyone else showed up.

Not far after graduation is the wedding!!! Only 210 days from today! SO much planning goes into a wedding and I feel like I am a little behind. Hopefully we can get everything pulled together in time. And if not... OH, WELL! I am just blessed that I get to marry my best friend. We could have a ceremony in our pajamas at the courthouse tomorrow and I wouldn't care. Okay... Maybe that is pushing it a little.  ;)  I am FAR from being a diva or a bridezilla. I think I have been pretty laid back about everything so far. But about a week after we purchased my dress I about had a meltdown. Honestly, I started having nightmares about the stinkin' thing. I would wake up just about in tears thinking that I had made a huge mistake. I couldn't stop thinking about it! I continued to look at other dresses on the internet, only making the situation worse. Thankfully, I have pictures of me in the dress on the day that we bought it. I printed them off and they have really been my saving grace. When I would start to question my decision I would just pull out those pictures. It is so freakin' beautiful! There is no longer a doubt in my mind that it is THE dress. It is MY dress. We bought it for a reason and I just had to remind myself of that. I can't wait to try it on again!!!  :)  :)  :)

Here is a preview of some of the detail on the dress.

Why did I ever question it? That thing is GORGEOUS!

The front of our venue, The Castle Finn Winery.

I'm excited to go back and get some better pictures.

It was so cold that day that I just snapped a few.

The fireplace in the reception room. LOVE IT!

Any ideas on how to cover that grape wreath?!?!

(They said we couldn't take it down, but I want to see them try and stop us!)

Here's some more exciting news! My best friend, Keri, had her sweet little baby boy! I even got to be in the room to help during the delivery! I'm really glad she let me be a part of it. And I'm even more thankful they asked me to be his Godmother. She did SO good and I am SO proud of her. She is going to be a wonderful mommy. Congratulations to her and her fiance Michael!

Unfortunately, the little stinker swallowed a lot of amniotic fluid during the delivery. It was really thick and made it hard for him to breath. After a few tense minutes of silence, he finally gave a faint little cry. They worked and worked and worked on him after he was born. He was doing really good breathing on his own, but the doctors and nurses were afraid of the consequences of the next few hours. Because they don't have neonatal doctors at the smaller hospital they decided to transfer him to the NICU at St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville. Michael and Keri were so brave. For two days they had to wait to even hold him!

My clinicals happen to be at that hospital in Evansville, so after my rotation was over I stayed to visit Keri and to see little Peyton. He is doing so good! They moved him to intermediate care at the front of the NICU (the closer to the front, the closer you are to going home). All of his labs are coming back clear and he is getting stronger. As soon as he starts to feed better they will get to take him home! I can't wait for that day... And I really can't wait to hold him! Here are a few pictures...

Peyton Michael Peavler born

January 31, 2012 @ 10:37 p.m.

6 lbs 13 oz, 19 1/4 inches long

Poor little guy kept getting the hiccups!

He didn't ever cry, but the faces he kept making said it all!

I don't blame you, Peyton. I feel the same way about hiccups!

Wedded Bliss

It has been FOREVER since I blogged. Sorry! You can't be mad though because I warned you I would be bad at this from the very beginning.  ;)

Since the last time I blogged I started back to school. It, again, has consumed my life. I am dreading this semester. I should actually be studying right now, but I'd rather blog. We are starting with cardiac and I have no desire whatsoever in the subject. I pray that I can stay focused during the next four months so I can cruise through to graduation. I have absolutely zero motivation and the majority of the time would rather be planning my wedding...

Speaking of! Last weekend I went to a bridal expo in Effingham with my mom, sister, and best friend. We had so much fun! I got tons of brochures and business cards and learned so much about what needs to be done for a wedding. Afterwards we made an impulse trip to The Giving Tree, a bridal gown shop in E-ham. While we were there I tried on probably six or seven gowns. Two of which I really liked. One of them had a fitted, beaded top and the bottom had a lace pattern (similar to what I imagined I would wear). I wasn't crazy about the top or the sash and everyone said that you shouldn't try and convince yourself to love it. The other dress was completely satin (nothing like I had imagined wearing) with flower appliques all over the bust and also around the bottom of the dress/train. I couldn't make a decision on either one and felt like I should try on more dresses. We left empty handed.

Not only did I not have a dress... I didn't have anything needed for a wedding. No venue, no DJ, no photographer, no caterer, no minister, and the list goes on and on. Really, I didn't have anything but ideas. Today we went to look at a venue. I booked it. We went and tried on dresses. I bought one. We laughed, we cried. We talked about decorations and ministers. I have a photographer in mind that I am ready to book. I looked up vows and wedding traditions. I am so excited to finally be planning this shindig! It is one thing to be engaged, but it is totally another to be planning the wedding. And although I JUST got started, it feels so good. I cannot wait to marry Derek Jo.

Mark your calendars!
September 1, 2012 at the Castle Finn Winery, Marshall, IL. Let's get ready to party!  :) :) :)

Oh, you're probably dying to know about the dress. Once again, I fell in love with two. One dress made me feel like an absolute princess. The other made me feel sexy/comfortable/fun. I cried in the big ball gown but could tell it wasn't my mom OR sister's favorite. So after walking around in it for a while I decided to try the other back on. I came out and didn't feel much... I couldn't figure out why I wasn't crying? I loved it before. What was going on?! My consultant took me back to the 3-way mirror so I could see it from every angle. After staring at myself for a couple minutes it hit me. The neckline wasn't right. I look so much prettier with a sweetheart neckline. So I dipped the top down a little... THAT WAS IT! Why would I want a princess dress? The fit-and-flare was SO me. I felt so comfortable in it. I walked back out to the main room and told my mom and sister the good news. In David's Bridal tradition they have you touch your veil, ring a bell, and make a wish about your future with the Mr. when you find "the" dress. Let me just say I needed a kleenex at that point! Here is a little preview. Designer, Oleg Cassini. It is strapless, empire waist, fit-and-flare (mermaid), chapel train, lace all over, with beading and flower detail on the bust and hips. It fit like a glove in the store and doesn't even need alterations. I am however having them change the bust. The neckline is straight across and I would like a sweetheart neckline. Can't wait to put it on again. Pictures don't do it justice. You'll have to come and see me walk down the aisle!

Best WORST day ever. ;)

What better way to bring in the New Year than dinner and a movie with friends? (They are actually my co-workers, but I'd consider them good friends as well!) My boss, Staci, and two of my co-workers, Jodi and Lexi, invited me to go with them to Effingham, go out to eat, and watch "New Year's Eve" at the theater. How fun, RIGHT..?!?!

This afternoon we all met at CVS to head that direction together. We were dressed in our best and ready to go. And other than Jodi's car door almost getting knocked off by an old lady trying to maneuver through the crazy parking lot, it seemed like we were off to a great start! The trip there was so fun, talking and laughing the entire way. When we got there we had plenty of time before the movie started so we decided to shop around before eating.

When we finally get to dinner the place is pretty busy. Not packed, but busy. Not a problem... Still plenty of time before the movie starts, so we patiently find a booth and wait. About twenty minutes later we hear our names and are directed to a high-top in the bar. And so it begins.......

We climb into our chairs only to find that the legs haven't been completely screwed on. Okay, no problem. We will just have to sit really still. The waitress comes out and takes our drink orders and all is well. Jodi wants a Diet Pepsi, Lexi a Mt. Dew, Staci a mixed drink, and me a strawberry daiquiri............ Twenty minutes later we still don't have drinks and our waitress is missing. A different waitress stops by to check if our original waitress had taken our drink order and decides that she'll go ahead and take care of it. So we repeat our drink orders and waitress #2 goes on her way. In the meantime, waitress #1 comes back with our drinks... "Here's your Diet Pepsi and Mt. Dew. Okay, well they aren't carbonated... The machine is broke. So there isn't any carbonation in them." Without anymore explanation she disappears again. The machine is broke? Everybody else around us has fizzy drinks and the waitresses walking by are carrying carbonated drinks.... Even if the machine is broken couldn't you offer something else? Okay, whatever. Not a big deal. Fifteen minutes later Staci and I realize that we still don't have our drinks. We look over at the bar and there they sit. And sit. And sit. Probably for another ten minutes they sat there. Finally waitress #2 brings them over, giving each one to the wrong person.

"Are you guys ready to order?" We sure were! While she is away putting in our orders, waitress #1 comes back to explain that there was a mix-up in the table assignments and that she would no longer be our server. No worries. We kind of assumed that when the other girl brought our drinks and took our order. But, we were glad that she came back to tell us. A little while later our salads came out. Well, three of them did. All four of us ordered salads. So while they went back to fix another one Lexi waited patiently. Before long we were all set. Well, that is until Staci realized that we never got a basket of bread/rolls.

They bring the rolls out, two baskets actually, and then our food shows up. Everybody's but mine. Waitress #2 says, "Sorry. It will be right out." Not a big deal. I don't mind to wait a few minutes. Everybody is eating, I'm patiently waiting for my food to arrive, and the manager shows up. "We're really sorry. The order didn't get put it. It was completely our fault. It will be out shortly." Now I'm trying not to get frustrated. I don't mind to wait for food, but when the order just "didn't get put in" and nobody is offering to fix the issue I start to get agitated. For probably twenty-five or thirty minutes I sat and watched everybody else eat. Just as they are all finishing up their meals, mine comes out. Everybody was done eating. I had JUST got my plate. I'm a slow eater. It was getting close to movie time... UGH! Thankfully the food was really good and the manager gave me my meal for free. We couldn't help but laugh! Especially when all the tickets showed up and they were wrong, too!

Off to the movies we go! We get to the mall where the theater is located and decide to window shop. Staci suggests that we get the movie tickets first just to make sure they don't sell out. Jodi insists that there is no way the movie we wanted to see would sell out and we could just come back and buy them right before the movie starts. We agree. After a little bit of retail therapy we go back to get our tickets. Staci and I decide to stand in the ticket line while Jodi and Lexi get in the line to buy popcorn and drinks. "Four tickets for 'New Year's Eve' please." "I'm sorry... We're sold out." REALLY?! So we hop out of line to decide what movie we'll see now. "Four tickets for 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' please." We get our tickets and go to sit down just to find out that this movie lasts three hours. Staci's babysitter can't keep her kids until eleven o'clock, so that won't work! What to do?!

Just when we were about to give up and go home we decide to stay and watch Sherlock Holmes 2. I'm really glad we stayed to watch it because it was such a good movie. And although our night was crazy, it was quite possibly the best worst night ever. My stomach hurts from laughing so hard. Can't wait to do it again, girls!   :)

Christmas '11 and a New Year's Resolution

I can't believe how fast time flies! Christmas, and everything that goes along with it, has ALREADY come and gone. Derek and I had a wonderful time celebrating with our friends and family. We are so blessed to have so many people in our lives that truly care about us. We love you all!

Charlie Fox, my precious little nephew,

watching all the Christmas action.

Four of my favorite people in the entire world!

William, Lucy, Maddie, and Derek

(D looks more excited than the kids!)

We all got Toms for our gift from mom. So cute!

New Year's will be here in just a few short days. My only resolution for 2012 is to enjoy every single second of it. I have so much going on this upcoming year and so much to be thankful for. I don't want to take a single minute for granted! I'm going to enjoy my last semester of nursing school (YIPEE!), enjoy graduation in May, enjoy the RN boards/NCLEX exam this summer (yeah, right...), enjoy the rest of Derek and I's engagement, and enjoy wedding planning with my mom, sisters, and friends. Most of all I'm going to enjoy marrying my best friend this year. Even though I want to wring his cute little neck sometimes, I wouldn't change a single thing about him. He makes me laugh more than anybody else in this world. He can change my mood with just a hug. I couldn't ask for a better guy to spend the rest of my life with and I am SO excited to marry him. Love you, Derek Jo.  :)

I found this on Pinterest -- "Twenty-one Suggestions for Success." I think they apply to a successful New Year and I would like to suggest them to you. I hope to follow these rules more often this year:

1.) Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness (or misery).

2.) Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time and talent.

3.) Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

4.) Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

5.) Be forgiving of yourself and others.

6.) Be generous.

7.) Have a grateful heart.

8.) Persistence, persistence, persistence.

9.) Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.

10.) Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.

11.) Commit yourself to constant improvement.

12.) Commit yourself to quality.

13.) Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power, or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.

14.) Be loyal.

15.) Be honest.

16.) Be a self-starter.

17.) Be decisive, even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.

18.) Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.

19.) Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.

20.) Take good care of those you love.

21.) Don't do anything that wouldn't make your mom proud.

-- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Let the fun begin.

I absolutely never dreamed that I would have a blog of my own, but here we are. Let the fun begin!  :)

A few weeks ago my life was pretty boring... Work, school, bib cards, study, shower, work, homework, dishes, study, pray, eat, sleep. Repeat. I occasionally even found time for laundry and facebook. ;)  And just when I thought things couldn't get any more hectic, my final for the semester had crept right up. I HAD to find time to study for it. Just HAD to. I have never struggled in school. I was always able to take tests without ever opening a single book. Nursing school, however, is a completely different story. This semester was especially hard for me and I definitely had to work for it. Sometimes I felt like I had studied until my brain turned to mush (sometimes I feel like I've gotten dumber since I started the nursing program)! Long story short, the hard work paid off and I passed! Thank the Good Lord it was finally time for Christmas break!

Thursday, December 15th didn't really seem any different to me. Just an average day. Derek's grandma had been in the hospital for the past couple days so he went see her and spend some time with his mom. I offered to go with him but he assured me that I didn't need to go. While he was gone I did laundry, got on facebook, wrapped the majority of the Christmas presents, anything to pass the time. The plan was to leave and get groceries as soon as he got home. So, I waited... and waited... and waited for him to get back. I was trying to be patient because I knew that his grandma needed him there more than I did. Just when I thought I couldn't wait anymore I heard the door open. Finally!

Without saying a word, he immediately grabbed me and gave me the longest hug. I thought, "Oh, no... Something bad has happened and I was rushing him home." I began to rub his back and try to console him, neither of us saying anything. After a few minutes he pulled back. To my surprise he had the cheesiest grin on his face that you could ever imagine. I think I could see every tooth in his head. Before I could figure out what was really going on he was down on one knee with a tiny white box. He said it was an early Christmas gift because "life is too short" and he "wants to spend the rest of his with me." Needless to say I couldn't believe it. After asking "What is going on?!" and "Are you serious?!" multiple times I said, "YES! Of course!"

I'll try and keep everyone updated on wedding plans. You can follow me on www.pinterest.com for my latest wedding ideas.  In the mean time, here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.   :)

Keep your focus on that BEAUTIFUL ring,

and ignore those dry, white hands...  ;)

I'm so impressed with Derek's taste in jewelry.

He did a wonderful job!

Merry Christmas!