Our Family History
Do you know how this little thing called love happened to us? Well, it wasn't like the movies. No bells nor whistles. No love at first sight. No hallelujah chorus in the background. It was a simple beginning. Just two people meeting during Sunday School. It was my first day in a new ward, and Andrew was just a cute boy who seemed nice enough to invite to a get-to-know-you waffle party (which he didn't attend anyway). My roommate got his number (which I stole from her later), and slowly the friendship started.
A Real Salt Lake soccer game here ... a chill hang out and talk on the couch there ... an invite to my 27th birthday dinner, where I flirted with some dirt-ball guy I quickly realized afterwards was not my type ... and eventually something sparked during the Christmas holiday. I was home in California, and Andrew texted me that he noticed my absence in church. For some reason, after that we couldn't stop sending silly, flirty texts to each other. Before I even knew what I was doing, I had asked him to be my date for a group activity my roommate was hosting. (Who am I kidding? My mom can tell you I was super nervous and totally freaked out when I sent him that invite).
And the rest is history!
January 3, 2015 - First date, where we planned our fake lives together and played a fun version of the newlywed game
January 18, 2015 - First kiss. He leaned in close and bet me I wouldn't be able to last a whole minute without succumbing to kissing him. He didn't realize how belligerent I can be :) but the kiss did eventually happen.
February 1, 2015 - I met the Macey gang. So overwhelming, but so great! What an amazing family.
February 14, 2015 - Andrew sent me flowers during school (because [I'm] such a babe). I was totally embarrassed by my doting valentine.
March 8, 2015 - I almost broke up with him. I was freaking out because everyone was always pestering me with questions of "Are you in love?" and I wasn't sure that I did love Andrew at that point. But instead of breaking up with him, I talked to him about my insecurities, and he reassured me that our relationship was progressing just fine. So, we didn't break up....yay for communication!
April 1-6, 2015 - Andrew spent the whole weekend with the Mayans crew. This was after I originally invited him to California for spring break...and then I uninvited him...and then, about a week later, I re-invited him again. And, boy, am I sure glad I did! It was a fun-filled weekend that included a double-date with the my parents to Knott's Berry Farm, a trip to the beach, hours of General Conference, and a beautiful Easter Sunday.
April 6, 2015 - the L word. I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!!!!
May 3, 2015 - We started talking about marriage. Yikes! Is this really happening?!
May 23, 2015 - Andrew asked my dad for permission. What an amazing and special experience this turned out to be. I am so lucky to have an incredible and loving father to look out for me.
July 12, 2015 - He proposed!!! What a surprise. :) There were candles and pictures of us and of course a pretty ring. But most importantly, there was an amazing man on one knee and one incredibly lucky woman who said YES!
November 28, 2015 - Married for time and all eternity in the Newport Beach LDS temple.
I am so lucky to share such a tender, real-life love story with the man of my dreams.
Our Growing Family
Our Growing Family
Almost a year into our marriage, Andrew and I decided we were ready to be parents. However, it would turn out not to be as easy to make the dream come true as we had imagined.
Through it all, Heavenly Father has been so loving in the blessings he has bestowed upon us. While I hated going through months of waiting and wondering, I feel like I was able to gain a tiny understanding and empathy for women who deal with infertility. I pray even more fervently now for those friends and family who yearn for a child without success.
For Andrew and I, we were able to finally get pregnant a little over a year after our initial decision to become parents. We have since had 3 kids and all 3 pregnancies and deliveries have been unique and have brought their own lessons. We are so grateful for all we have learned and continue to learn as parents of 3 wonderful children.
Grace
September 15, 2017- I took a pregnancy test ...and it said I was pregnant! Shock!
September 16- I took another pregnancy test...just to be sure. Yup, I'm still pregnant.
September 20- I told Andrew that he was going to be a papa bear! The next day, we moved into a new home in Herriman, Utah
First Ultrasound- our baby looks like a little blob, but you can see its heartbeat!
December 7, 2017- Gender Reveal as part of my 30th birthday. BABY IS A GIRL!
April 5, 2018- We have finished baby girl's nursery. Can't believe she will be arriving in about 6 short weeks!
May 17, 2018- Grace was born at 9:47 am. She weighs 7 lbs, 11 oz, is 20.5 inches long, and is so beautiful!
Madelyn
It had taken us so long to get pregnant with Grace, we were kinda expecting at least a little resistance when it came to getting pregnant again. So we gave ourselves a generous amount of time ahead of schedule since we wanted our first two kids to be around 2 years apart. We said that we would stop preventing getting pregnant when Grace was 6 months old (around Christmas time). Soon after, I started feeling nauseous, but I was SURE that I was NOT PREGNANT! Weeks went by and my husband and mom insisted that I at least take a pregnancy test so that I could 100% rule out the possibility of being pregnant and then I could go to the doctor to see what was wrong if I was still sick.
Well, one dollar store pregnancy test later, I looked down at the stick in shock....I was pregnant.
March 12, 2019- Andrew and I went into our first ultrasound and doctors appointment. We expected to be about 10 weeks along in the pregnancy, but it turns out we were closer to 15 weeks! Shocker!!! The ultrasound technician was even able to give us a tentative gender reveal...we are having another girl!
August 27, 2019- Madelyn was born at 1:07am. She weights 6 lbs, 11 oz and is 19 inches long. She came almost 3 weeks early (and caused her Grammy and Abuelo leave their Hawaii vacation early).
Harper
January 22, 2021- I took a pregnancy test and was surprised to see it was positive. I told Grace and Maddy that Mommy had a baby in her tummy, and I had them announce the news to Daddy. We are all soooo excited! Baby is due October 1.
April 8, 2022- My mom insisted we go get an early ultrasound to find out baby’s gender. Andrew and I were honestly both surprised to find out we are pregnant with a BABY GIRL!
September 21, 2022- Harper was born at 5:57 am in the Kaiser Baldwin Park hospital. She weighs 8 lbs, is 20 inches long. This was my first unmedicated birth, and it was INCREDIBLE.