Christmas 2011

These are 3 pictures that captures the theme of this year's Christmas- Roxie...she stole the show. Above is the entire group from my dad's side of the family. The Hansen's. My dad has two brothers who are twins and like my dad, they have three kids...as you can see girls dominate this side so Rox feels right at home. 

Rox and I went to the annual breakfast with Paw Paw and Lannie, Jeff's grandpa and step grandma. So fun as always!

Then we went to Christmas Eve at our church, Watermark, with the whole Hansen clan. It was an amazing service as always. I appreciate it not only being beautiful but getting challenged as well. After we had dinner at my parents house, opened presents, and played "things". One of my favorite things about my family is the amount of games we play and how competitive everyone is....this was no different.

Than we went home and Rox and I watched home alone...might be a new tradition, even though when I say Rox and I, it was really me because she was asleep that night at 7:30am...ha. 

Christmas day was great because Officer got to join us. Unfortunately he missed all the Christmas eve festivities because he was keeping the city safe and I am seriously thankful that police officer's don't get holidays off...how scary would that be!?

We woke up and got the Fox ready together and then headed over to my aunt's for Christmas lunch. It was an AMAZING feast! Than we went to Officer's dad's and had a great time opening presents and laughing at Rox and my niece Blakely. I cant wait for them to play more together.

Than we finished the night with an amazing dinner my mother-in-law cooked and presents and play time at my sister-in-law's. Rox and BLakely CRACKED us up all night. Blakely is at this fun stage where she does such funny things and is such a ham. I just adore her. Here is her and Rox playing:

I know...what a doll!

Hoping your Christmas was a great time with family and friends and celebrating the birth of our Savior!

~an officer and a mrs

Yellow is the new pink

SO speaking of this little hunny's 4 month birthday....

I am finally making her room girly.

People often ask me if I ever regret not finding out the gender until she was born and the answer is NO. The whole experience of not knowing and letting it be Roxie's little secret was magical. I know that sounds cheesy but when the doctor flipped her over for Officer to announce to the room and we both melted in tears I think how I would NEVER EVER trade that moment for anything.

However, this means we have a LOT of yellow and green since those are neutral colors pleasing to both genders. Roxie's room is yellow and her bedding is green gingham, brown, white and elephant with baby chicks sitting on the trunk. The room over all at first was probably a little more "boy" but the bedding itself is more "girl". I love her bedding. Its from pottery barn kids and its just so sweet. I really hate taking pictures of Fox's room to share because it ends up making the walls look so neon and they are not.

I have spent the past 4 months deciding how I was to add some girly pink accents to her room and this is what has inspired me:

I found this the first day I got on Pinterest. It was amazing. My design is pretty eclectic and since the room was originally pretty neutral I just wanted to add some girly flair.

I made this last week inspired by another pinterest find:

Spray painted canvas to be a chalkboard...totally brill for the eclectic room I was going for.

Now I'm working on finishing her letters, and making a mobile...I know I'm terrible that I haven't added one yet but I didn't like the one I thought I would and so I just decided to keep looking.

To pinterest I go and the final room pictures to come!

4 Months!

Happy 4 months Fox!

This past month you...

-rolled over on thanksgiving
-roll through the night, in your naps, while playing, on your changing table...any chance you can
-talk non stop
-love looking at yourself in the mirror
-reach for toys you want
-use your toes and hands to play on your play matt
-chew on your toes
-smile contagiously...especially when you first wake up
-grew more hair!!!!
-sleep 10-12 hours at night

just a typical night...you...sleeping with your feet up on your bumper

We discovered...

-your pain tolerance is low
-you are a performer
-want to hold your own bottle so much...cant quite figure it out
-are pretty independent

love seeing this sassy face while we drive around

You tried....
-rice cereal and cant figure out the spoon but love it in a bottle

You are...

-wearing 3-6 months clothes
-wearing 6 month onsies and sleepers
-finally fit into shoes (you have little feet)
-fit into newborn beanies (you have a little head)

You weigh somewhere close to 14 pounds

You recognize people you know...especially your momma and it melts my heart...

meetings SANTA!

Roxanne Renee, thank you for making our life an adventure! A year ago this month we found out you were on your way....what a surprise it was, but it has made this year the best year of your dad and my life.

Merry Christmas!

~an officer and a mrs

Marrying an officer continued...

Where was I? Oh yea, lots of tears and a rough first year. Above is a picture from our wedding, SUCH a fun day!!


We had lots of these conversations, "so last night I thought this guy was going too....

-attack me
-come at me
-come after me

Or my personal favorite: "Don't panic, I am fine, but..."

I married the guy who is always in the action, the kid who always ended up with stitches, the one who would never back down from a fight, the designated hero.

We had to draw lines on what he could and could not tell me because I would be over come with worry, but more real, I would be so overcome with fear of being alone. That was the hardest part for me. I am an extroverted people person who liked being with people even when I was having "quiet time". This new found alone time haunted me.

I tell you all of these things because for the first year, ehh, first 1.5 I was a victim of my circumstances. I can keep listing all the different things that I thought were terrible about my life, but bottom line was, I was bogged down unable to see a lot of great beauty. Like for starters, I married the love of my life. Officer was love at first sight for me and I think that every day. We have our hard days, sure, but man do I love him.

I married the "designated hero" who God created to be an officer. I'm serious, this is his sweet spot. He can smell trouble and loves finding it. He makes our city a better place and LOVES his fellow officers. He is wonderful at it and doesn't burn out on action and helping people. He is genuinely compassionate for the less fortunate and law breakers. I personally do not get his heart some time, but praise Jesus he is out there and HE LOVES IT! Did I mention that?

I married a guy who cares for me and was trying to lead me the best way he knew on this new journey.

I married a guy who desired for me to be stronger and more independent. He has given me the ability to learn how to trust in my Savior in a deeper way. I truly know how to rely on God in a way I would never have learned otherwise, and officer has always lead me back to that truth.

I married a guy who surrounded me with good people to walk through that hard first year, and encouraged every opportunity to create more support or more adventures for me along the way.

That first year we....

-traveled to Maui
-visited all my besties still in college, whom i missed so much
-visted some besties in new mexico
-I completed my first half marathon
-he boxed in his first tournament
-bought a puppy
-moved (we really like moving...you will learn)
-joined a community group at our church


AN insanely joyous year...so what was the game changer for me?

THIS IS HUGE. If you hear anything from me...this was it. I still remember the day I read it. You see, my story wouldn't be my story without my faith in Jesus Christ. My faith is truly was allows my life as a mrs. to my officer to be fun, but the verse that changed it is:

Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" GAME.CHANGER. WHy? I realized, this IS my life. I am married to an officer. I love him and adore him so I realized I have two choices, every day: a. sulk and be miserable b. drink deeply the cup the Lord has poured for me. Its been different ever since. GOd has allowed me to see joy i never saw before. ALl the good and there is SO much good. So...this our story. Hearts... ~an officer and a mrs.

Marrying an Officer

SO I thought I would give a little bit of our story, our officer and Mrs. story.

This was the last thing I expected you see. I was in my last semester of my junior year of college, engaged to my handsome, God-loving, public relations majoring, senior fiance when it happened...

I'll never forget, we were passing the English building on campus when he said to me, "I think I want to be a police officer....." the rest is history.

The months that followed, or really two years that followed were full of bliss and pain. This wasn't the life I was thinking I would lead. I grew up in a house where kitchen knives were the scariest weapons, and my parents worked a business together....needless to explain more I had very different expectations for marriage. But don't we all think marriage is something that it's not, thanks to TV, media, Hollywood and bad examples....?

Anyway we got married while officer was a cadet in the academy. We got married and he had to return to class the next day. Poor guy. I spend the day at the spa...I know so rough.

But from there...It was a hard first year. He worked some days but mostly nights in that first year and I was too afraid to shower at night in our apartment by myself, slept with an ax by my bed, put a dresser in front of the bedroom door, and cried often. I laugh thinking about those days because by God's sweet grace, I am come along way.

Why did I start going this direction on the blog? I read lots of bad advice and was in search of something good, and quite honestly found nothing...here is why:

Stats of police couples:

According to police chief.com while the national average is 48% of marriages end in divorce, law enforcement is closer to 75%...yikes and this is the part I hate...the dumb dumb excuses why:

Law enforcement officers and other first responders face extraordinary challenges in marriage and family relationships due to factors such as chronic job stress and irregular work schedules. Studies have shown that law enforcement officers who experience ongoing stress are more likely to display anger, distance themselves from their family members, and have unsatisfactory marriage and family relationships. In addition, domestic stress and crises often affect the job performance of first responders. Some of the unique stressors experienced by law enforcement officers include carrying a gun, working hours that are unusual or interfere with holidays or family events, and being on call for emergencies. These individuals, whose service is vital to their communities and their country, are at high risk for divorce.


Here it goes...I am going to say it, only because I have lived it...those are just excuses like anything else, but that is the majority and reality of our world and believe me it has and still continues to be challenging.


But this is our story about how we make it work and enjoy life along the way...


~an officer and a mrs.

OFFICALLY a mess

This is a house wife shout out post. Even if you are a working lady, or a working mom, you know how you also manage your home, clean, do the occasional load of laundry...etc.

I was good at all these things by the way, until the fox and the fact that I am staying at home came into the mix...then all my organizational skills jumped off our apartment balcony and drown in the pool below...yep.

Now, somehow, my messy officer is cleaner than I am...this is a hard reality for me to admit.

I can't really decide how and when this happened. I want to believe that it happens because I am just that attentive to Roxie and that I am reading my bible when I am not devoting all my time to Roxie...but that would be false. I do, however do stations with Roxie daily and spend most of my time working with, playing with, feeding and loving her but there is still a lot of time to keep my house in order.

I am focusing some time on Proverbs 31. Keep in mind I know this could easily get me discouraged but how quick are we too read a bunch of organizing books, buy a bunch of containers and expect to be suddenly a person of order. Confession- i have done all of those things, but I realize I must first work on my heart and pray that Lord gives me a heart of order and shows me where my focus needs to be.

Taking this one for some Christmas pictures tomorrow....OH.MY.GOSH. Its going to be presh!!!

officer and a mrs

This is the first of many updates to my blog.

The focus of my life changed the second Roxie arrived and I couldn't be more grateful for this new adventure and the angel I have been entrusted with. Officer and I love every second of her.

I am still doing weddings as they come up, but this blog will be about our life. The baby girl, the officer and me.

Being a wife to the officer has been the biggest adventure and challenge of my life. I imagine it will always be that way, because many of the every day things that come with it, are completely opposite of my personality....needless to say I have been stretched in ways I never thought possible. The Lord has made me stronger than I ever thought I could be.

Officer and I are documenting our life and hoping to do something with it some day. Its hilarious to me that we do this every day sometimes. Not because its exceptionally hard or really all that crazy, its just not what I thought we would be doing if you asked me 5 years ago...but this is where God brought us and he has made it pretty clear, this is what he designed us to do.

Join us for our crazy life...the officer and the mrs....and the baby.

momfessions

Good early morning bloggers,

Its freezing drizzling outside, baby girl is asleep and I am wide awake with our Christmas tree lights filling the room.

We have had an amazing series going on at our church, called ThanksLiving. Its convicted me in almost every area of my life, but specifically how hard it is to hold Roxanne with an open hand before the Lord.

Ever read the story of Hannah? When the Lord gave her Samuel, she gave Samuel to the Lord. That story has been in my mind alot lately. Most because I can't imagine a mother being able to do that, but of all people to give our children too...shouldn't it be God.

For all you new moms, you are in the heat of it. The early days are trying and hard, but when you get out of them, it gives you even more reason to think you deserve to hold your sweet baby with your hand tightly around them and as I look at my beautiful daughter, perfect, without wrinkles, or wounds from our broken world, I pray she lives a long life and dies of old age in her sleep and that time and the world are good to her. I pray she doesn't have to suffer or learn things the hard way, but most importantly I pray she loves the Lord.

The Lord is showing me I must first be able to love Him with all my heart. How else will my sweet Roxanne know and understand this? Through the Officer and I- that's how. Her earthly mom and dad.

Lord, keep Roxanne safe, grow her to a healthy young woman who loves you with all her heart and soul. Make us parents who model this for her and seek you first before anything else in our lives.

If you follow me...I am making some changes. Weddings used to be the sole focus of this blog and it will be shifting to what my life is now about. My baby and my officer. I am sure one day I will move back to wedding talk, but that is secondary to my new role and new path the Lord has us on...stay tuned.