A circus story

I moved to western Ohio for my first "big kid" job at a newspaper soon after graduation from college in 2003 ... and that's where I met Tim. Our desks faced each other, and for six months, we traded jabs, sarcastic remarks and a constant stream of "I hate yous." On the day I resigned from that job to take a job in Michigan, I told him I'd had a crush on him the whole time I'd worked there. Long story short, he had similar feelings, and we spent almost every minute of my last three weeks there in each other's company.

We dated long-distance for the next 3.5 years, including when I moved to Pittsburgh and our commute o' love went from 2.5 hours to 4.5 hours.

In early 2006, we took a vacation to Florida to check out some spring training games and the beach. 

Vacation! Pass-A-Grille Beach, March 2006.

We interviewed for some jobs, too, and I got hired at the paper I worked at until September 2011. I moved to Florida in the summer of 2006, and we both knew this was a "make it or break it" point in our relationship. Luckily, Tim applied at some nearby papers, moving down for a job at a different paper two months after me.

Finally! We were united :)

On Veteran's Day 2007, Tim surprised me with brunch at a swanky beach-front hotel. I kept thinking he was going to propose - and was anxious during the entire brunch. After brunch, though, we went for a walk on the beach ... and he popped the question.

Engaged! St. Pete Beach, Nov. 2007.

I said yes, of course, and spent the next year planning our wedding, which was held outside of Columbus, Ohio, 369 days later.

Married! Gahanna, Ohio, Nov. 2008.

I moved in to Tim's condo after the wedding, and we lived the life of newlyweds (plus two crazy cats, Mario LeMeow and Sidney Pawsby), traveling, finding our groove as married folk, working hard and loving life.

In late November of 2009, we found out we were going to have another life to love: We were pregnant!

Pregnant! Six weeks, 1 day, Dec. 2009.

The next nine months were spent planning, saving, reorganizing, preparing - all for our little bundle of joy, Elizabeth, nicknamed (among other things) Elle, who was born on July 31, 2010 - on my parents' wedding anniversary (let me tell you - none of my siblings can top my anniversary gift, and I like it that way).

Hours old! July 31, 2010.

Elle has made our life infinitely better, as well as more complicated and simpler at the same time. We've been very blessed, and Elle is pretty much the cutest, most stubborn, smartest, sweetest kid you'll ever meet.

November 2012.

In November 2012, we found out that our family would be growing in July of 2013. We found out in February that we'd be adding a baby boy to our brood.

Wesley was born on July 15, 2013 - a little bit overdue, a whole lot anticipated. He instantly fit in to our hearts and arms, although we're still trying to figure out what life as a family of four is supposed to look like.

Wesley, less than a day old.

He adores his big sis, and she adores him right back - we can't wait to see the bond between them grow over the years.

We're not sure where life will take us next, but we're excited to face the adventure together :)

July 2013: A family of four!