Dental School Decision!

   Well, Derek and I have made the decision to move to Glendale, AZ!!  After a lot of prayer and consideration, we knew that our family needed to be in Glendale for the next 4 years.  We are ecstatic about experiencing year round warm weather, going swimming everyday in the summer, and living by tons of parks, malls, restaurants, museums, water parks, etc.  The other day I was babysitting and the little boy had so much energy I went outside with him and had him race back and forth in the small area of the yard that didn't have snow.  I looked down at Levi and I got so excited.  I realized that when Levi is at the stage of running around everywhere with lots of pent up energy, I can send him outside and not have to worry about bundling him up.  I will want to even go out with him and enjoy some sun rays with him.  I'm excited about going on bike rides with him, swimming with him, and going to the park to play with him anytime of the year.  

     I'm excited that we will be close to our dear Arizona friends.  It's crazy how we lived in AZ for only 1 year, but our AZ friends are like our second family.  Our AZ friends are still some of the first ones to reach out to us, and continually let us know that they care about us.  Since our friends have found out we are moving to Glendale, they are already hounding us about seeing us when we get there.  

 I know that it won't be a walk in the park.  I'm worried about never seeing Derek once he's in school.  I went to the dentist last week and the dentist basically prepped me on the fact that I won't see my husband for 4 years.... so that's awesome, NOT.  I know it will be hard being away when there are family get togethers.  I know it will be hard when Levi won't get to know his cousins/aunts/uncles/grandparents etc.  I know it will be hard that first little bit when we are new and don't know a single person in our neighborhood/ward.  But I'm also grateful that we get to meet new people, and I'm grateful for the fact that we get to experience this adventure on our own.  Having gone through the experience of moving away once, I'm ready to experience the anxiety and loneliness that comes at the beginning.  But I'm also ready to experience something new and exciting.  If I had the option, I'd probably move tomorrow, but because money usually plays a factor.... looks like we won't afford to move until the dead heat of the summer.  

I'm grateful for this new adventure to come.  

 On a side note, Levi has decided to start cruising!  He uses anything to push on to get into a standing position.  He cruises along the couch, entertainment center, book shelves, chairs, people, tables, etc.  Anything he can find he will use it to help him walk.  He has a fun little toy walker that he recently decided to use.  He used to try and use it to stand up and it would slide away and he'd fall.  The other day, he finally grasped the concept and pushed straight down and was able to walk across the living room with it.  That boy is determined to be walking on his own soon.  It really is breaking my heart.  I feel like once he can walk he's no longer a baby.  Time has flown by!  I'm really started to freak out that he's already 10 months old.  He's the sweetest thing ever!  He likes to say dada and mama, sing, bounce up and down to music, wave hi and bye, give hugs, read lots and lots of books, play with his toy car, and be tickled.  It's crazy to think my life even existed before him.  He and Derek are my life!!