I love to look at other's blogs but felt that if I had one, mine would not be as cute or as interesting as their's.....but it is not a competition right? So, here we go!
Initially, I would love to reminisce in how our little nest came to be.....
It all started in August 2002.....Robby & I met while attending Texas Tech University. He was leading a small group I was placed in at First Baptist Lubbock. We went on a mission trip to Los, Angeles over spring break & started dating soon after. Picture #1 is from our first date : ) Two days after our first date we both said "I think this is it! I could marry you!"
Robby bought an engagment ring after we had been dating for a few months then took off to the land down under. He spent a year in Brisbane, Australia serving in a church while I started nursing school. I visited him the following May where he surprised me with a proposal & a beautiful ring! I of course said yes & we spent the month enjoying incredible Australia with our sweet Aussie family.
We got married on December 18, 2004 in Kingwood, Texas. It was a special day, surrounded by those who loved us as we committed to be husband & wife. We honeymooned in Pagosa Springs, Colorado then headed back to begin making our nest in Lubbock. We both graduated from Texas Tech that summer & moved to Richardson where we bought our first house & started working.
Fast forward a few years.....the opportunity arose for us to move to Orlando to be a part of a church plant in Celebration, Florida. We loaded up everything we owned into a 26ft Penske truck and hit the road in May 2008.
We have seen the Lord provide more abundantly than we could hope for through each passing year but 2009 was extra special : )
In the Lord's perfect provision, Charlotte Grace came into our lives on July 13,2009. She was a good sized girl at 8lbs 4oz & 21 in long. We have enjoyed the transition into parenthood and are having an incredible time watching her grow. Here is the first 8 months at a glance...
She is so entertaining, so funny & so precious. She has figured out how to crawl & is getting faster, she hasn't met a food she didn't like, she laughs alot & is starting to say mama & dada much to our delight : ) I am enjoying being an almost full time stay at home mom working just 1 day a week as a Labor & Delivery Nurse while Robby is working from home as an IT Consultant for a company out of Dallas. The 3 of us spend quite a bit of time together throughout the week which we love. The other members of the family are pictured below....
Bennett & Bella, also known as Benny Boy & Bella Blue, Benners & Tinklebell, Budders & Sisters....they have WAY too many nicknames to list or explain for that matter. We got Bennett & Bella just a few months after getting married. We were only going to get one but I begged for the second which was Bella... who has given us a run for our money with all of her vet bills : ) They are fabulous dogs though & much more entertaining than all of Charlotte's toys combined!Life is enjoyable right now in the Valentine Nest & I hope to keep you all updated via this lovely blog! For those of you who live far far away from the land of the mouse, The Valentine Hotel is taking reservations now through the end of 2010!
Lauren
