But I digress...

Today was a good day.  We went to the Health Dept. to get the official pregnancy test and sign up for Medicaid.  (Jared is an independent contractor through the co he works for, so he technically isn't an employee and doesn't receive any benefits. boo.)  It's hard to explain why, but I was positively giddy when the lady told me that the result was +.  As is it was a surprise or I wasn't expecting it.  Rarely are at home tests wrong about being positive...  It just made it real.  A medical professional confirmed that as of Election Day, we will have a new member of our family.  But when I say giddy...I'm really under exaggerating, if that's even a word.  I couldn't answer her questions in complete  I couldn't remember where the waiting room was.  I sat in the kid's chair and didn't even realize it for a minute...I mean it was embarrassing!  But I couldn't help it...I'm just so happy...I'm like drunk on happy!!

Ready to go out for the day...and we finally got a bow

in her hair. Stayed in there for a while too!

On a much less exciting note, but still noteworthy, I met some neighbors on our street.  We moved here in October and have met about 2 people in passing.  One of the perks of being in a neighborhood is supposed to be becoming friends with those around you: block parties, easter egg hunts, someone to check your mail when you are on vacation... But we haven't really met anyone.  Today I met Joanie and Maryanne.  Lovely ladies a few houses down.  I know nothing about them yet, except that they live there, but I'm excited that things are picking up and hopefully friendships are in the near future.

This is our house!

On a plain out depressing note: Ben is in the hospital. Again.  Lately it seems like he is there more than at home.  Mom and Dad spend way too much time awake in the middle of the night, and I worry about all of them.  I love my brother and I know I haven't really dealt with the fact that he isn't going to be around all that much longer.  He pulls through no matter how menial or dire the situation proves, but I know it has to be taking a toll on him as much as my parents.  My Mother is the strongest woman I've ever encountered.  I can't imagine anyone else being able to carry a burden like this for so long, so well.  One day I hope to be even a minuscule portion of the lady she is.

May the Music Never End!

My Dad always played the guitar and sang...the Burton family as a whole is pretty musical, so I grew up around music and always had a strong love and appreciation for it.  When I entered Young Womens in church, Terry Allen was the President.  She was an absolutely amazing woman...without equal.  She made us so much closer and gave me a whole new love for music.  We sang constantly...every time we got together as youth there was piano music and singing.  We would come early, stay late, and in case of failed activity plans..we would just sing.  Starting as a Sophomore at Dodge County High School, I joined choir under Charles Hernandez.  He molded my ability and just brought my understanding of the art to an entirely different field.  (every single concert we sang a song May the Music Never End)  I don't think I can adequately portray the way I feel about what all of these people in each stage of my life have done for me.  I'll never be able to tell them in a way that they comprehend exactly how they changed my life and made me who I am (aside from the awesome parenting that Mom and Dad gave me, of course).  I get teary eyed, really, just thinking about how much better my life is b/c of them.  

Jared's musicality is just engrained in his soul, I think.  He IS music.  He can do anything, play anything, sing anything, within minutes.  I know his Dad sings and loves it, but Jared just astounds me most of the time.  I may love it...but music is just a part of him, and it's really beautiful to see him playing.  He wrote a song for Jennifer while he was on his mission, that to this day is probably one of my absolute favorites.  When Jessie and Aaron got married (12/31/2011), she asked him to play Chasing Cars on the guitar as the processional.  He learned it in minutes...and it wasn't all that easy.  It was amazing...and really made the ceremony pretty special.  (Disclaimer: I feel like I keep using "amazing" a lot...I apologize, but I can't think of a more magnanimous adjective usually).  

Anyway...so that brings us to the currant date. 2/28/2012.  We have purchased our very own piano and are ridiculously excited.  I'm so excited to have music in our home in a way that is easily accesible and allows both of us as well as our children to enhance/develop our talents.  It's not only a wonderful piano but also has an amazing history (which I love).  We found it on Craigslist.  It's digital, which means it doesn't go out of tune and doesn't way 2 tons.  It's NOT a keyboard.  It feels like a piano, and looks like a small console piano (matching bench and all!)  I just love it.  The man we bought it from said his dad was a big jazz player.  He bought a piano for each of his children (definitely not a family having financial difficulties..the house was amazing...) and then moved in with the son in his later years.  He said that his father never passed a day in his life without playing, and that one was played every day until about 2 weeks ago when the father left.  As cheesy as it sounds...I can feel the love just seeping out of this instrument!  I'm really gushing now, but I simply can't help it.

How perfect is that!!

We shall see...

I am absolutely terrible at keeping a journal.  Really, the worst.  But I know it's important, and almost daily I think of things that I really want my children to know or remember that I should write in some sort of book, but then at the end of the day...I simply fail to do it.  So what made me jump.  Anyone who knows me knows that I'm not exactly prone to commit.

Well...Today is Tuesday.  On Saturday, I found out (according to an at home pee on a stick test) that I am pregnant with my second kid.  I've had that itch for a few months now, but I'm still in school and know that I really shouldn't actively try to have another baby until I've graduated.  Needless to say, I am elated.  Positively beside myself.  With Audrey we told immediate family right off the bat, and waited until the 1st trimester was up to spread the word publicly.  But Jared doesn't want to tell ANYONE...not one single person.  I talked him down from waiting until I am showing (b/c that takes about 6 months!) to telling his family at our Christmas gathering in March. (Jessie was getting married and couldn't get off work, so we postponed it).  

The point is...I want to tell SOMEBODY!! Anybody, really.  I've almost called Jessie about a million times ready to make her promise never to let Jared find out...but I just can't.  So, I need an outlet.  Somewhere I can gush about all the cute things Audrey and the new baby do without feeling bad, b/c I know no one wants to hear more than two 2-sentence stories about that stuff.  I can document whatever goes on.  One day I'm sure I'll make it public..but for now it's just for me. 

Here is Jared and I on our wedding day. 5.16.09

That's us at Audrey's and my very first concert (I was preggers). 10.30.2010

Audrey's blessing day. 12.26.2010