Who Would Have Thought?

I never would have thought four and half years ago that I would be a wife and a mother of three young girls! My how time flies! I was your typical career focused 30 something with only two things on my mind - work and getting my first Master's Degree. No time for relationships, no plans for kids at that time and least of all the house, the cars and a family dog!

I met my husband Brad in August of 2004 on an on-line dating website. We had dinner and said good night and hung out for a bit, and then I was off and in a hurry to get home - I immediately called and informed my best friend, Jeni that he was "too nice" - something she hopped on right away, of course! I couldn't believe - this coming from the person who thought I was crazy for going out with people I met on-line in the first place, now she was asking me "What do you mean he's too nice? That is exactly what you need!" He was a sweetheart and he emailed me the next day to tell me what a good time he had - which was mistake #2 in mind - because if I wanted to get a hold of him, I would have....A week passed and I kept thinking about him (with Jeni's insistance that I give it a try), he was really sweet, but I kept telling myself I didn't want a serious relatonship. I just wanted someone to have fun with and go places with....He had a 2 1/2 year old daughter, Savannah, that was just adorable - but was I ready for that?? Four months and lots of back and forth later, I informed him that I was ready to be his wife. He was absolutely shocked and was acting kind of funny....We had talked about it, but I had always dismissed it, because I was focusing on 1. work and 2. school (or so I thought). When I asked him what was up, he said "It was just a lot more fun teasing you about getting married and now you really want to?"

Needless to say - we did it. We ran off to Gatlinburg, TN and exchanged vows in a small ceremony with 30 of our closest friends and family watching. It was great! And so began our great adventure....

Tick...Tock...went the biological clock was ticking and I decided I wanted a baby...with some prodding (Brad wanted to wait at least a year) we decided to have a baby. Sarah Marie was born 12 months later, 10 days shy of our first wedding anniversary. Our beautiful blonde hair, blue eyed baby girl. She was fun, adorable, and such a good baby! Boy did she change my life! I don't quite think anyone knows what they are in for until they actually have a child of their own. I thought I was ready, I thought I knew what it was all about, because I had taken care of my 5 neices and nephews from the time they were little babies - WRONG! When I looked at her, I was absolutely amazed - I couldn't believe that Brad and I had made something so beautiful, she was our litte miracle - all because two people fell in love. Of course now she's 2 1/2 and pretty much has mommy, daddy and sissy (Savannah) wrapped around her little finger. I recreated myself - scary as that is - she is Miss Independent (I hated it when my mom used to say that about me), stubborn, strong willed - just like her dear old mom. What the Bible says about reaping what you sow - is the absolute truth - the teenage years are coming, hopefully S-L-O-W-L=Y! :O)

I decided I was ready for another baby when Sarah was around one years old, we weren't having much luck, so we decided to hold off. Well again...typical scenario, when you aren't trying - it happens....Morgan Ashley was born on February 25, 2008. Everything about this preganancy was a lot rougher, lots of nausea, and labor was not fun, along with the C-section recovery - I just didn't bounce back like I did with Sarah. I think I had a bit of the baby blues too, because I called my husband crying on more than one occasion, asking him to come home. We now have Savannah pretty much full-time, so she is a tremendous help. It was tough, we got through it but I do know one thing...I don't want anymore.

Morgan is a cutie - she looks just like her dad - with my attitude (hopefully that will change). She's really starting to get to be a lot more fun. She's been crawling for about a month and half, she's starting to try to pull herself up, it just seems like she is growing up so fast, I don't remember this happening with Sarah....She's my last so I just want to make it last as long as possible!

Savannah, my step daughter, is a sweetheart and 6 years old. She looks a lot like her dad. She's giggly, and outgoing, a far cry from the weepy little 2 1/2 year old that I first met. She is so smart too. I always told her that she could call me whatever she wanted, Misty or Step Mommy....but she goes with Misty, which is fine with me. She was estatic when Sarah came along and stepped into the role of "Big Sister" with little problems. Sarah follows her everywhere and wants to be just like her. I know she's not my daughter, but I still think of her as one. When I am sitting watching TV or working on the computer and she comes in and curls up on my lap and gives me a hug - it makes me feel good - like I am doing something right. It is amazing to me the resemblance between Savannah and Morgan in their baby pictures. Same father but two different mothers, but yet so much a like. They have the same big brown eyes, which is something Savannah kept telling me through my whole preganancy, she wanted this one to look like her and she does.

Brad and I both look at Sarah and Morgan and can't believe how two children can look so different. It's new to us, so it amazes us. They have their own little personalities and quirks, and I love discovering them and will enjoy doing so for a lifetime to come!

I worry about starting classes again, will they suffer from all the time I take in and out of class? This will again be an adjustment - I am just saying my prayers that we all get through it!