Because they do.

2017. Wow, what an amazing year!

New house.

New baby.

New church.

New truck.

And Level II of the CFA PASSED!

I am so proud of how far we’ve come this year. Jacob and I have definitely grown both independently and together. I saw Jacob help me through my pregnancy, all while spending hours studying for his exam and PASSING it! (Only 40% of the people who take this test pass it!) He is an amazing father who adores his son and whose son adores him. With the purchase of our new home I was able to grow in my design taste and am working to navigate the waters of being a working mom. Together we have grown in communication and faith. We’ve begun reading the same books and discussing them together. With the launch of our new church site we’re learning how to navigate our faith as a family rather than as individuals. It has been a year of growth.

I am loving the process of our house becoming a home. On Christmas we hosted 30 people in our home. I loved walking into each room and finding family members sitting there as if it’s where they’ve always belonged. We are so spoiled to have family near who all adore Grady so much.

We have been truly blessed with our careers. We continue to both enjoy our jobs and were both granted paid leave to spend time with Grady. He had one of us home with him his first four months of life. Now, as Jacob prepares to return to work after his paternity leave, we have three wonderful people to help watch Grady. Our hard work in our careers paid off and we now have a beautiful home and Jacob was FINALLY able to get a truck. (He’s been wanting one since the day I met him.)

Watching Grady grow has been… well, a feeling I cannot put into words. He’s four months old and he’s already so amazing. He has his own personality, his own opinions, and his own way of doing things. But he also has his daddy’s blue eyes and facial expressions and my love for coziness. Seriously, I constantly find this kid rubbing blankets on his face and I’m like, “Yup, he’s mine!”

Last night we joined our group of friends at Bergie’s, a little coffee shop here in Gilbert that is literally so small that almost everyone has to sit outside. We sat there listening to our friend Kelly’s band (Cliffside Push) sing some of my favorite songs. We were surrounded by love. Jacob handed me a delicious cup of coffee as I watched friends help take care of Grady without prompting, one of my dearest friend’s mom treat Jacob and I to dinner, and this blob of friendship were outsiders have no way of knowing which kid belongs to who because we are a community who works together and loves each other’s families as our own. I just sat and couldn’t help but feel loved and blessed.

I also started Walls Beams Love Dreams this year. A project that I hope grows into much more than just a website. I’m not sure exactly where this little website will take me, but I’ve got big dreams.

“Believe that dreams become true every day… because they do.” –Sophia Bush