Three Simple Words

As most of you know, my job with the FDIC has kept my little family's lives quite transient over the past several months, moving us from one side of the nation to the other, and back again.
While it has and continues to be an exciting ride, and the opportunity in nothing less than a tremendous blessing, we can't help but eagerly anticipate the day when the opportunity presents itself to settle down and establish a life of more permanence and consistency.
I heard a colleague of mine today coin the familiar phrase "the only thing consistent in our lives right now, and in this line of work, is the consistency of change". For whatever reason, this statement has reverberated in my mind since, as I've considered the accuracy of that phrase. Perhaps it's the "Regan" in me that has had me challenge the validity of this simple and commonly used statement, but today I believe it's something more.
You see, our latest move (yesterday) to Las Vegas has once again separated me from my sweet Teri temporarily, and from lil' Carter for the first time, and my heart longs to be with them. However, I am comforted and supported by the fact that change isn't the only thing consistent in my life; rather, I am blessed with the consistent support and love of the most amazing and special wife in the world, who continues to keep me grounded, and who continues to unwaveringly stand by me through it all, despite the inconvenience and uncertainty.
To my sweet Teri...Thank you. You may never know how much I appreciate and love you, but I promise to spend a lifetime trying to show you.
On that thought, a talk given by President Packer comes to mind, wherein he explained how for centuries people have utilized all methods of communication and rhyme, in an effort to express similar feelings of admiration, gratitude, respect, and love. He explained how numerous Poets have produced 20-page sonnets, authors have written 500-page books, musicians have composed 7-verse songs, and artists have painted 10-feet high peices, all attempting to convey the feelings of their heart to the one they love; while he further explains that, despite these efforts, the very most powerful expression is found in three simple words...
To my sweet Teri, who is consistent in your support and love for me, I want to sincerely express my appreciation, and say to you "I LOVE YOU".

Friends, Fam, and St. George!

Well my friends are getting after me for not posting anything in a while so here it is! Life is moving along so fast right now. I can't believe that it has already been four weeks since little Carter came!! He is still doing really great and growing like a weed! We are falling in love with his sweet personality, and can't get enough of him. "obsessed" is a good word to describe how we feel about him if you can't already tell! We have had a fun couple of weeks spending alot of time with our families. We took a trip down to St. George last weekend. We got to introduce our baby to our family and friends down there that had not seen him yet. It was so much fun to see everybody again, we miss them so much! We did alot of fun activities and were on the go pretty much the whole trip as usuall! We had a blast going 4 wheeling, laser taging, shopping, getting massages while the guys went golfing, swimming, and going to the parade of homes. Don't worry, I picked out my dream home, it's only about six million dollars... (don't tell Regan!). I was a little worried about how Carter would handle being out so much and in so many different environments while we were there because we have stayed inside mostly up until that trip. He did great though. I really can't wait until spring so we can spend more time outside! Having a baby makes it really easy to see all of my favorite people, some I haven't seen forever! We are getting alot of visitors coming to see our little guy, and it has been so great to see everybody. So here are a bunch of pics from the last few weeks of our life...

We Love the Rhino! So much fun!!

Carter on Valentines day, All dressed for the Holiday.
We got together with some of my friends and thier babies. It was so much fun to see them all! Mine is a little mad in this pic.

Chelsey Came to visit with her adorable little Tate. We have already planned that they are going to be best friends. It was so fun to hang out together with our kids.

Takin a nap with his Grandpa

So Blessed

So much has happened to our family this last week that I honestly cannot even express how happy I am! Our little Carter has been nothing but joy ever since the moment he came into this world. I never knew that I could love somebody so fast and so much as I do him. We have spent so many hours just watching him, and laughing at his adorableness! I always joked with my family about how my kids are all going to be perfect, and now I have Carter who really has been perfect! He has been such a great eater, sleeper, and everything else them babies do! I have never known or seen a bond so strong between a father and his newborn baby than the bond Carter and Regan have created. It is so special to see the two of them together. I feel so lucky to have such a wonderful husband who has been there for me in every way through pregnancy, labor, and now helping me with this newborn baby. We do everything together because I swear you need at least four hands just to get the kid changed and dressed (now all we need to do is figure out how to get his dirty diaper off and a clean one on before captain blastoff appears. This kid has to change his clothes like 12 times a day!!). So today was the day that Regan was scheduled to fly back to Florida. We did not know how long it would be before I was well enough and Carter was old enough to go out and join him, so the hurt of knowing the three of us would be separated was a huge worry on our minds. Just a couple of days ago Regan got a call from a big wig in Deloitte who had worked it out for Regan to be put on to a bank closing in Salt Lake. He was still needed in Florida, but luckily he works for such great people that they understood how perfect it would be for him to be put on this new assignment close to his wife and baby. Reg started his new assignment on Saturday, and really enjoys it. We were so overwhelmed with how perfect everything has worked out for us. We honestly can't believe that heavenly father just continues to open doors for us. We are so blessed. So now we will be close to our friends and family for the next few months. I seriously cannot even express how happy our lives are right now, and how lucky I feel to have my sweet baby and husband here. I always knew that I wanted to be a mom, and I have looked forward to this experience my entire life. It is better and more rewarding than I every could have imagined. I love every part of this so called "motherhood", sleepless nights and all! I am just so glad that Carter arrived safely and that he is a healthy happy baby. Every day is a full of new surprises as we are still getting to know Carter. He is so much Fun and we love him!!!

This is how Carter must have been in my tummy. He never

Moves his legs out of this position. at 22 1/2 in. he was a little squished!!

Our Newest Addition

The day we've long awaited has finally come! At 11:01pm on Friday, January 23rd, the newest addition to our family finally arrived...Baby Carter. A lot of excitement, certainly a lot of pain, a few tears, and three sleepless nights later, I sit here attempting to place a post that encapsulates a plethora of feelings in a few short thoughts.

My heart is overwhelmed as try to put into words the sincere admiration, respect, and love that I have for my sweet Teri. Delivering a 9lb 10oz (22 1/2 in.) baby as your first is certainly no easy feat, especially considering a stubborn posterior baby (one of the few traits he has of his mom's) and a variety of other complications. Despite it all, I had the privilege of standing by her side and witnessing her exert the determination, effort, and love required to deliver the most precious little child the Lord could have possibly blessed us with, and I love her for it.

I can imagine no other event in one's life so incredible, so gratifying, and so humbling than that of experiencing the birth of one's own child. I can scarcely recall the countless attempts that have been made through the years by friends of mine to humble me in a variety of ways...all to little, or no avail. Nevertheless, the simply cry of a child, my lil' Carter, has effectly accomplished this seemingly impossible feat at each and every occurence. He has melted this daddy's heart and has realigned his daddy's world.

Teri and I are excited to begin this new chapter in our life, and anxiously await all the memorable experiences and precious moments that will undoubtedly come.

-Regan

Thoughts on Holidays and Baby days!

Wow time goes by so fast! I can't believe christmas is over and now we are anxiously awaiting little carter to come! It is crazy to think that he will be here so soon. I keep looking at my stomach get bigger and bigger everyday and hope that he comes sooner rather than later! I really feel like I might just POP! And let me tell you how much I love to hear people tell me that my stomach is getting bigger or that I look huge, as if I am not already aware! It is a good thing I have everybody around to remind me :) The past couple of weeks I have had alot of contractions and I was so excited to go to the doc and find out that I was progressing......but at my 38 week appointment I was still a big ZERO!! so now I am trying everything I hear, crazy or not crazy, like special herbs, and fresh pinapple, I will do just about anything to hear my doc tell me anything but zero again on Friday! It is the most exciting thing to wonder what he is going to look like and what his little personality will be. I picture him coming out to look just like a minature Regan. As much as I have LOVED being prego....not....I really can't wait for the day when I can tackle Regan again, or be able to sit down without feeling like I just ate a basketball. Just to sleep on my stomach again will definately be a time for celebration! No, there really are good things about being pregnant, like feeling your baby move and all of the sweet comments people make, but after nine months....I'm ready to be done! My mom loves having me live at her house right now because for some reason I feel the need to organize everything! I can spend literally all day cleaning! We spend alot of our time shopping and getting things ready for when little cart-dog comes. My dad just made him the most beautiful dresser you have ever seen! So his room is really starting to come together now. It has been so nice and fun setting up for him!

We had such a wonderful christmas this year! We flew back from Florida just a couple of days before and spent christmas eve with my family! Then Reg and I drove down to St. George in the middle of the night after my fam's big party Christmas Eve which only took us like 6 hours in the snowstorm!!! We had a really nice Christmas morning just the two of us.

We spent a great couple of weeks with our family and friends down in St. George! We kept very busy swimming, playing in my family's tenis tournament (that Regan and I won of course), playing Yahtzee which we are all addicted to, and just spending some great quality time with the whole entire family! I love my nieces and nephew's to death, I really have been blessed with the bestest family on earth, and I am so glad they're mine!

The Happiest Place On Earth!

I want to post some pics for us to remember our trip to Disneyworld. We were so lucky to be able to meet up with our great friends Brandon and Akayleia for a couple days. We had sooooo much fun! I was a little bummed that I couldn't ride the crazy rides, but there were still alot of ones I could go on. It worked out so great because Brandon's sis works at the park so we got the "special treatment", Lets just say, we didn't spend much time waiting in line! This was such a fun memory, and I'm so glad we were able to go!

Florida Fun

I finally figured out a way to get some pics on here, yea! We have been having such a great time here in Florida! It is such a beautiful place, and it is so much fun to be so close to the ocean. Regan is doing so great at his job, and I appreciate all that he does for us. He is so sweet to work so hard during the days, but still finds the energy and time to entertain me! I am really enjoying the time we get to spend together here, we have had so much fun. I feel so lucky to have married my best friend in the world, and know that I can be happy anywhere just as long as he is there. The more we experience life away from home, the more I come to realize that I am so lucky to have Regan for my hubby! We do miss our friends and family though! We are so excited to go home for Christmas in about a week and see all of them. We get to see all of our family this year which will be so much fun! Regan's brother Mike, Lauren and their little baby boy Talon are coming in from Denver, so we are stoked to see them again! It has been way too long. And my sis just moved into a new house which I can't wait to see! This Christmas season feels very different than the snowy white ones I am used to, but we have come to find that Christmas in the 70's isn't so bad! Instead of Snowmen made out of snow, they make them out of Sand on the beach...really they do! I am not going to be able to come back here with Regan after Christmas, I guess the doctors don't really want you going into labor on the plane or something like that :) Regan will have to come back to Florida during the week, but can fly home to be with me on the weekends thankfully! I will miss it here! ....(just not the bright green carpet in our apartment, that I will have no problem parting with)