2012 is rolling

 January 2, 2012 was the day that we put down the smokes. As if that is not stressful enough for one person we were doing it together.. It definitely wasn't easy! We were always grumpy, didn't want to go anywhere that had the temptation to smoke, short tempered, and got sick of each other very easy. Ugh it wasn't the greatest time LOL. But we have never felt better and it only has been a few months.

Nevaeh has started Gymnastics and is liking it so far. She doesnt have much arm strength so some of the activities are hard for her.

                                    

Johnny and I decided that we were going to rent out my townhouse and stay with my mom for a few so we could save money in order to buy a bigger house for our family. During this time we found out that we would not be able to conceive a child of our own. We were going to need to start at a fertility clinic to achieve pregnancy. We were devastated, crushed, mad, sad, all the emotions that you could imagine. Our hopes of expanding our family seemed so far away. The cost of doing any sort of fertility treatment was anywhere between $5,000.00 and $30,000.00 just depending on what treatment you need. So as much as we wanted to get pregnant as soon as possible that was going to be on the back burner for the time being so we could save all that we could in order to buy a bigger house. We also had a surprise planned for Nevaeh for her birthday.

Nevaeh's 7!

The first year...

Now that we had been married for a few months, things got a little complicated. I wouldn't say that married life was all fine and dandy. No one really told us that the first year would be the hardest. We definitely had some rough times and didn't see eye to eye on very many things. But we made it!! We put all those stupid petty arguments and disagreements behind us and were determined to make the best marriage. We decided that since we didn't really take a honeymoon that we needed to get away, and plus Johnny had never been on an airplane or seen the ocean.

Nevaeh's birthday was just around the corner. She was turning 6. We decided that the perfect gift to her and our family was to get a dog. I always wanted a Teacup Yorkie. My mom and I did the research and found a lady that was selling some. My mom Johnny and I drove out to Elizabeth to look at the puppies. I was in love, they were so small, and cuddly. I fell in love with this one that was probably the smallest of the litter, it was a male and had brown and black markings. Johnny and my mom fell in love with a different one. He was cute too, but I liked the little one. Johnny's main focus was on the brown one that had a big butt almost like a bear. (hints where we got the name) After an hour or so we left with both puppies (my Mom and Johnny convinced me that we needed both)

Bear (left) Tiny (right)

After planning our honeymoon get away we were so excited to head out of town. So April 15, 2011 we hopped on a plane and headed to California for a long weekend. We enjoyed each others company and had a wonderful time checking out the ocean, shopping, the nice weather, and sunshine.

Johnny's first time on an airplane

Us on the pier

First time at the beach and seeing the ocean

Later in the year Nevaeh started first grade, and Johnny and I decided to take a cruise with a group of our friends. We wanted to take a "one last vacation before kids" kind of thing. I love cruising and have been on several but this will be Johnny's first time along with a few of our friends that were coming with. The cruise was so much fun!! We left out of Tampa Florida on September 25, 2011, on Carnival Cruise lines. We visited Cozumel, Roatan Honduras, Grand Cayman, and Belize.

We returned from vacation and celebrated our one year wedding anniversary with a nice dinner I cooked for the two of us, as well as the top on our wedding cake. For being one year old it wasn't horrible, but we only had a bite!

November 11, 2011 Nevaeh lost her first tooth. She was terrified when she saw the blood, but when she woke up the next morning and found money under her pillow she was excited.

 As the year was coming to an end Johnny and I decided that we needed to do something  better for ourselves. So we decided that on New Years Eve we were going to give up smoking cigarettes. One of the easiest things to say but the hardest things to do. So lookout world..............

Our Wedding Day 10-10-10

The morning of October 10th was very rainy and gloomy but nothing more than exciting for Johnny and I. I stayed at my moms with Nevaeh, while Johnny stayed at our house the night before. Us girls woke up and showered, got Nevaeh somewhat ready and headed to the hair salon. Katie, Tara, my Mom, Nevaeh and I all enjoyed mimosas and girl talk while at the salon.

We left the salon and headed down to the Church. What the adventure that was with Katie, Tara, Nevaeh and I. We stopped at McDonalds for Nevaeh to get something to eat and while in the drive thru, the bottle of champagne we had left over went everywhere. Us girls were laughing so hard and having so much fun. Mainly trying to keep everyone calm :) If anyone knows Katie, they should know that she LOVES (wink wink) Champagne. And now her entire car smells like it. We got to the Church and they had us girls set up in the daycare area of the church to get ready.

Time was going by so fast and I was starting to get nervous that everything wasn't going to get done before the wedding was supposed to start. (We set up all of our own decorations, and created our own CD for the music)

And then it was time!!! Time for my Dad to walk me down the isle in front of all of our friends and family and give me to the man that would be waiting for me. 

Our wedding was wonderful, we vowed to each other and I to Nevaeh that we will love each other forever. We joined sand together as a symbol of the promise we made to each other. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! 

Next it was the reception. Food, drinks, and party time!! There were so many people that we wanted to go around and say "Thanks for coming" to but there was just not enough time in the night. We did the money dance, listened to speeches from Tara and John, did some line dancing, and all of the normal wedding reception activities. We even had a tribute to Johnny's father, which was very emotional but beautiful. 

We had so much fun, there was even some cake fights. We made it into the early morning hours, and finally ended our night at the strip club across the street from our hotel.

The best part of the night/day was being able to say that we were HUSBAND and WIFE!!!!

When we decided on forever

March 7, 2010 was a spring evening that I decided to take Johnny to the Melting Pot for the first time. It was just like any other date night for the two of us. The atmosphere in there can be very romantic. We were seated next to the fireplace with only one other table in the same area. We ordered and ate our food, and just decided on which chocolate we wanted. Johnny got up to go to the restroom, I stayed at the table. Once he returned I could tell that he was sweating really bad and seemed like he was nervous. I wasn't sure what was going on, but he just didn't seem normal. The next thing I remember is him getting up out of his seat again and coming to my side of the table, that's when I had a feeling as to what was going on. I could tell he was extremely nervous and he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Of course I said YES!!!!!!!!!!

Engagement Ring

Nevaehs birthday was coming up and this was the first birthday I was able to plan for her. I was super excited to do this and actually celebrate her birthday party with our friends and families. We had her party at Chuck-E-Cheese.

Nevaeh turns 5

Now that Nevaeh's birthday was over we spent the next six months actively planning our wedding. I knew that I wanted to get married on a sequential date so we decided our wedding date was going to be 10-10-10.

Summer came and went and now it was the start of the school year. This was the year that Nevaeh would start school. August 24, 2010 was her first day. Since Johnny moved into my townhouse the school that she would go to would be Iowa Elementary, the same school he went to for his elementary years. Johnny had recently got a new job and therefore he couldn't really get time off work yet so I got to take Nevaeh to her first day of Kindergarten. That was so exciting, and nerve-racking at the same time. We had spent every day together for the last few months and now she was going to be gone at school all day long. She was very scared and nervous but did not cry when I dropped her off. It turned out she had a wonderful day and made many new friends! She was beyond excited to go back the next day.

1st day of Kindergarten 

September came and we were one month away from saying I do. We both had our bachelor and bachelorette parties. Katie and Tara planned mine, we had drinks at my Mom's house and then went downtown with all the girls. It was a fun time for sure but I definitely drank WAY too much. Chris planned Johnny's and of course they went to Hooters for dinner and then ended up at the strip club later in the night. Like typical men they did not take many pictures that night.... wonder why?? LOL

Our Story

Just a brief introduction to our family. Johnny and I met at the AMF Bowling alley, during high school, in 2002-2003, I would go midnight bowling and always check out Johnny behind the snack bar because I thought that he was cute. Silly I know but what else did you expect from a high school girl. Hehe. During 2004 I got a job at the front counter and Johnny would occasionally come visit some of the other employees at night. I never actually talked to him because I was too shy (me shy, I know that may be hard to believe) and also because I had a boyfriend at this time. Over the year we became friends and started hanging out with each other. There was never really anything more than just a friendship between us. Our bowling alley group did what normal teenage kids would do, until Johnny and his girlfriend found out they were pregnant in the summer of 2004. I didn't talk to Johnny much until Nevaeh was born in April of 2005. I went to the hospital with some other friends to see the new baby. Johnny and I remained friends and spoke occasionally. I went to some BBQ's and birthday parties for Nevaeh over the next few years.

Johnny and Nevaeh 4-13-05

At the end of 2008 Johnny and I started to get very close with talking, and texting all the time. We hung out a little here and there but not much because he was busy taking care of his daughter as a single father and I was still in a relationship.

In early 2009 my relationship ended and Johnny and I started hanging out more and more. We talked for hours and when he didn't have Nevaeh we would always hang out. We couldn't hang out too much when he had Nevaeh because he didn't want to let her get attached to a female that he didn't know if there would be a future with. A few months went by and after all the long talks we decided that we would make a relationship together. Our official date we decided to be a couple was April 11, 2009.

Our first picture as a couple

 He and Nevaeh moved in a few months later and we both began to realize that we were perfect for each other. I thought of Nevaeh as my child and we did things as a family. I was beginning to realize that this was the guy I thought to be my husband and with that came a beautiful 5 year old that I would be a step mother to.

This was the start of my life.......

Summer of 2009