I have wanted to be a mom since I can remember, and was one of those girls who was ready to have a baby as soon as we were married. I guess that the Lord didn't think that I was ready that soon. We tried to get pregnant with no success for a year (not too long compared to other people) which seemed like forever to me. Finally at the beginning of May 2006 I found out that I was pregnant, but ended up having a miscarriage just a couple weeks later. It was a really trying time for me, but luckily I didn't have to wait long before I found out that I was pregnant again. I found out at the end of July 2006 that I was pregnant with Parker.
I had a fairly easy pregnancy, and then gave birth on April 18, 2007. Parker David Brown was born after 34 hours of labor(resulting in a cone headed baby, and one tired mommy!) He has been such a blessing, and has really made us a family. I LOVE everything about being a mother--for the most part:) I love when Parker cuddles up to me, and when he laughs. I also love being able to comfort him, and stop his crying by just holding him in my arms. Being a mother is also very challenging, but in the end, the rewards out weigh the challenges. I Love You Parker!
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
...Then Comes the Baby in the Baby Carriage!!
...Then Comes Marriage...
We have been married for 2 1/2 years and counting! And they have been 2 1/2 REALLY great years. Everyone always told us that the first year of marriage was the hardest, and in some ways it was, but overall our first year was wonderful. Of course we had to both get used to living with another person, and overcoming differences. But we have both been willing to compromise on things, and figured out pretty quickly that some things you just can't change, so you just have to accept that.
Travis and I were both going to school and working during our first year of marriage, which was kind of difficult because we didn't get to see each other very often (I'm realizing that sometimes that is just how life is!!) Travis was in his second year of helicopter training, and making trips from West Jordan to Provo 3-5 times a week, and then working the night shift at UPS. He finally finished his training in October 2006 and got a job as a CFI(here in Jacksonville) in December.
I was finishing up my first year of school at the LDS Business College when we were married. I was also working at a dry cleaners, and then at a middle school in the cafeteria(I've had my fair share of jobs!) I graduated in June 2006 with an Associates degree in interior design. After I graduated I was just ready to be a mom!
First Comes Love...
Travis and I met country dancing at Trolley Square in Salt Lake City through mutual friends. I was going to the LDS Business College, and my roommate at the time went country dancing every Tues. and Thurs. She talked me into going with her one night, and introduced me to a group of guys that she met(Travis' bunch of friends!)
Travis and I became friends quickly, and then a few weeks later started dating! We had lots of fun together while we were dating: going country dancing, hiking, to the movies, on a road trip to Washington, and just spending quality time together. In the midst of all of our fun, we fell in Love. I knew that Travis was the man I'd marry about a month into our relationship(I didn't tell him this until later of course:) Sure enough, eight months later Travis proposed!
The things I loved the most about Travis at the time were his sense of humor, his fun-loving attitude about life, his respect for women, and the way he could make me feel like a princess by just looking at me, and of course his good looks!! In the 3 1/2 years that I've known him, my love for him has grown a ton, and those things that made me fall in love with him in the beginning are the root of my love for him today. I Love You Travis!
In the Beginning.....
I got out our wedding photos / videos tonight, and decided to do a tribute to Travis & Mariah (like my friend Noel did a few months ago). I guess that I will start at the beginning--Our Wedding!! We were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 12, 2005, almost exactly 1 year after we started dating! It was such an amazing day.
We got married at 7:00 a.m. because we actually moved our wedding day up from May to March, and the only times available in the temple were 7 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. We had to be at the temple at 5:45 a.m. so I woke up at 3 a.m.(ugh) It was a very early morning, but on cloud nine anyways!!
Travis & I wanted to have a FUN wedding reception, and one that our guests would actually enjoy, so we decided to have a Luau themed reception. (We also didn't have much of a budget, so this was perfect) We decorated the gym of a local church building with bright colors, grass skirts, palm trees--fake of course since we were in Utah!, sea shells, etc. We also had a dj who played Hawaiian music, leis for all the guests, and hula dancers who performed. It turned out to be a really fun atmosphere, and all of our guests had a blast right along with us! 
