One Year

Yesterday Keith and I celebrated our one year anniversary. So much has happened in such a short amount of time for our little family, here's a quick re-cap:

1 postive pregnancy test

75 lbs. gained (between the two of us)

1 baby girl

1 Bachelor's degree- I graduated in Health Science with an emphasis in Public Health and a minor in Marriage and Family Studies

2 different apartments we've lived in now

6 weeks we were apart while I completed my internship and Keith played the role of breadwinner

14 applications filled out and sent to dental schools

7 interviews across the country

1 acceptance into dental school at Louisville

5 semesters of school completed between the two of us

Add it all up and you get one crazy year filled with plenty of hormones, tears, and love. We never could have gotten through it so well without the support of our friends and families. I can't express how grateful I am that my parents moved to Idaho Falls. What an amazing blessing they are in our lives. We wish Keith's family was closer but they do so much for us every time we see them and we really appreciate their support.

I'm so grateful for Keith and all that he does for me and Mackenzie (the girl has him wrapped around her finger). He's an amazing father and husband and I'm so lucky to have married him. Through everything this year, our marriage has been strengthened and we both decided that if marriage is like this the rest of our lives, we'll never regret it because it truly is wonderful.

Our smilin little girl

Kenzie still loving the fetal position

We're going to Dental School!!!

This started out as a one month post for Mackenzie but exciting news that we received at 12 AM this morning took precedence. We are definitely going to dental school next fall! The first round of acceptances started today. Keith stayed up until midnight in case any of the schools were on the ball with e-mail and it turns out they were. Keith came in to wake me up at midnight incredibly giddy to tell me he had been accepted to Louisville in Kentucky. We both love Kentucky and would love to go there for school. We're just waiting now to hear from a couple of other schools and then we have 45 days to make a decision. I'm so proud of Keith and his hard work and am so excited to embark on a new journey.


I can't believe it's been 4 weeks since our little girl was born! These have been the longest and shortest weeks of my life and I think Keith would say the same. I sincerely apologize to those of you I haven't called back, life has been crazy and I will try to stay in contact better. We are so thankful for Mackenzie and the wonderful blessing she is in our lives. She's still such a sweet baby who really only cries when she's hungry. She is gaining weight well and seems to grow longer every day. Everyone comments on her long fingers and toes; we have high hopes for her height!

One of our few pictures together (that I'm somewhat ready in anyways) and Mackenzie's gas caught on camera:

Today I took her into the doctor because she's been really congested for over a week now and she threw up a couple of times this morning. I guess there's a virus going around right now that he's seen a lot in little kids which makes them experience cold symptoms along with throwing up. Poor thing, we're hoping she is able to get over it soon. She has gained quite a bit though, tipping the scales at 8 lbs. 4 1/2 oz which isn't bad considering she's gained almost 2 lbs. since birth.

Keith and I had a fun week off of school for Thanksgiving break. We decided spur of the moment to surprise Keith's family in Utah for a few days. We were there for Keith's sister Katie's birthday which was a lot of fun.

Kirk and Joy came with their kids so we could have the whole family together. Joy, Katie and I saw Twilight that night and we loved it. I think the casting was really well done and I can't wait to see it again.

While in Utah we were able to get a picture of 4 generations: Keith, his mom, and his grandma Lovell:
Tuesday, we came back from Utah and stayed in Idaho Falls with my family until Saturday. My whole family including my grandparents came for Thanksgiving which was really fun.

Mackenzie with Great Grandma Anderson

With Grandma and Grandpa Brower

With Kate and Taft

"All these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good" D&C 122:7

Seeing as how it's Sunday and I'm here at home with Mackenzie instead of at church, I thought I would just express my love for Heavenly Father and the blessings he has granted unto me. This week has been the best and the worst. I have never felt so much pain and I also have never felt so much happiness. Before Mackenzie, I didn't realized how special life is and how great the love a parent has for a child. I was so selfish and prideful. Pregnancy was difficult and so was the labor, breastfeeding, waking up in the middle of the night...but a couple nights ago it hit me; I need these trials to make me appreciate my sweet little girl and my incredible husband and to understand the sacrifice of a parent. Keith and I didn't get much time alone as a married couple and for most of it, I was pregnant. I was not a very happy pregnant woman and yet Keith put up with me and loved me through and through. During the labor, he was the most amazing supportive coach I could have ever asked for. My love for him has increased tremendously and I'm so grateful he will be my partner for this life and for all eternity. I don't know why the Lord felt I was worthy enough to bless me with such a beautiful family but I'm so grateful for them. Mackenzie has brought the Spirit into my life in a way I have never felt before. I know that God lives and I know Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that there is a Father in Heaven who loves us all tremendously and wants each and every one of us to return to him. I know that he listens to our prayers. I know the Savior suffered for all of our pain, sickness, and sin. I am eternally grateful to him and hope that I might live up to the expectations he has for me.
I heard again a talk given this last LDS General Conference and highly recommend it to those who are struggling. It's by Elder Quentin L. Cook and is titled "Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time." You can click the link and it will take you to it.

IT'S A GIRL! Birth, According to the husband!

Well we did it! Well Natalie did it, I just told her to push and complimented on the size of her birth canal. It was an exciting moment you can't really put in words, seeing your child come out, especially since she is covered in amniotic fluid. Natalie had a pretty rough labor. We checked in Sunday night around nine and at this time they put a catheter in her to help her dilate. She was in excruciating pain until about five in the morning when they finally took it out. She dilated from a 1 to a 4 and the nurse informed her the great news that she could receive a epidural. Natalie said the pain was terrible when she had the blown up catheter but once that was removed she said the contractions were easy. She was feeling a lot of back labor and finally got the epidural around eight. And once she got that she was out, sleeping a lot of the day. I was able to sneak out for a few hours and go to some of my classes. I got a call from Nat around 2. She said she had finally jumped from a 4 to a 6 and to hurry over. I ran to the car, took off and got there when she was at a 7. She did not change until about five, which she dilated to an eight. The nurse said Nat could start pushing around 8:15 P.M. Around nine she checked around the cervix and realized that it had not effaced all the way and told Nat she had to stop pushing until about 9:30 when the doctor would get there and see if she was good to go. Ya, you try telling a pregnant women to hold it for 30 minutes after she had already been pushing for 45 minutes. Oh and by the way her epidural started leaking we think, about 45 minutes before she started pushing. So Nat had to do the last couple of hours without the anesthethesia. But Nat conquered what no man could do and can I say how thankful I was at the other end. Mackenzie had a cone head coming out, probably because she was in the birth canal for so long. She is an angel though and has hardly cried. Well I better end this and get some pictures posted for all you eager women! Love you all and thanks for all the support.

Happy Halloween!