Our First Anniversary!

I know that I've graduated to my baby blog, but this post only felt appropriate (and it is my 150th post!) for my wedding blog.

One year later... it blows my mind to think of the fact that I was a newlywed just one year ago today. I remember waking up and feeling that first hint of sadness that it was all over. But then I quickly got to go down to our breakfast and gift opening, and then spent the day watching football and playing trivia in my favorite environment to make it all feel ok. Not to mention, we left for our honeymoon the very next day and Tahiti certainly helped to ease the post-wedding blues.

Then an entire year flies by, and  I found myself in tears as Kyle and I danced at our friends' wedding to "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys, one of our wedding songs, on Saturday. I can blame it on the pregnancy, or I can admit that I can't believe how fast time seems to go, only reminding me of the limited time (although it may feel like eternity) we have here. Perhaps it is just the overwhelming thought of all the changes that are about to happen and a little bit of the fear that we will never get a chance to accomplish our goals as a couple once we are no longer "just the two of us".

Who would have a thought that our first year of marriage would have given us so much?! A dream vacation to Tahiti, numerous weekend mini-trips all over the U.S., family celebrations from births to engagements, memories to last forever. Here's to many, many more anniversaries and many, many more celebrations, vacations, and of course, new adventures.

The moment we sealed the deal- September 29, 2012! (photo courtesy of Devon Adams)

We visited Sedona for our first anniversary (although the plan was to revisit Vail, my big bump has some travel restrictions)

Time passes so quickly

I know that it has been eons since I have posted on this blog. I even started a new one yesterday! (http://blueberrydavis.blogspot.com) I realized, however, that there were still a few things I forgot! Life just got in the way, since March especially, so my mind hasn't been able to focus on writing!

Two years ago, my very best friend decided to finally take the plunge and propose. 2 years!? How much our life will change in the next 2 years!!! The past 2 years haven't felt like there were any earth-shattering changes, despite a marriage and lots of other adventures, but becoming parents is really going to make a difference in the next 2.

As a tribute to our 2 years, and nearly 9 months of marriage (in 3 days!), I realized that you all deserved to see some Tahiti honeymoon pictures!

Just a reminder: this honeymoon was a surprise! I was not aware of where we were going until 1 hour before our flight left Los Angeles. Here are my highlight pictures: (disclaimer, we took thousands)

This is me standing in front of the gate waiting to turn around to see where we were going!

Landing in Papeete

Our first snorkel in the lagoon at Intercontinental, Tahiti

Arrival on Moorea at sunset

ATV around the island- highly recommended (on Moorea)

Overview of the island from the center of the old volcano (on our ATV trek)

Our ATV guide was a wannabe photographer and a ham! Louis!

Kyle was afraid when I drove. So was I.

Kyle felt like he also needed to remove his shirt. This was after the dinner show on the beach.

My first Scuba! I was soooo nervous. Especially when I saw the next picture...

...yep, that is a black-tip shark that I jumped into the water with.

Alright CC DG ski gang, this one's for you!

We looked long and hard for some cool beach trees to shoot.

Back to the Intercontinental, Tahiti. Overview of the water fun!

We are having SO MUCH FUN IN TAHITI!!!!

From the highest view of the bay.

Every night I got to watch one of these! So in love.

Experimenting with the new DLSR Canon. At the show.

Obligatory Ocean Bay Pic

We rented a car to drive around the island on our last day.

I loved having "mail" addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Davis!

Celebrate with our free champagne.

Finally, an over-water hut! Cheers!!! Bora Bora, we are here.

Again, sunset every night on sunset beach outside our resort. Champagne toast!

At Bloody Mary's with our friends from New York, Mike and Darlene.

Our favorite dinner- Maikai Yacht Club (also headquarters for Scuba on Bora Bora)

I have been converted to an ocean lover and Scuba nut!

Kyle heard they had windsurfers and HAD to try, even with minimum wind.

Our night dive doubled as a sunset boat cruise.

Island Jet Ski- all around Bora Bora

My first fresh coconut

I felt like I was in a travel brochure... coffee table with a view! (It opened like a window)

Obligatory Palm Tree Island Picture

I will NEVER forget this vacation! We will return for our 10 year anniversary!

We are total cheeseballs. I am ok with that. I know because of this picture that I married the right person.

Kyle lovin' life

The storm clouds were a daily occurrence in Bora Bora.

Stand up paddle boarding was my adventure

In other news, I finally went into the Social Security Office today and changed my name to Davis! I guess I was just waiting for the Supreme Court to come down with their decision on DOMA to make it official. It only feels fair!

Meet and Greet- Maid of Honor 1

I couldn't have possibly chosen one sister over the other, so I am putting them both to work for my wedding! I know that neither of them has much experience in being in a wedding, but what better way to break them in than to be in their older sister's?! I am going to give each of them their own meet and greet page, since for most of their lives we've just referred to them lovingly as "the girls".

I am starting with the middle sister, Amanda. Amanda had to suffer and endure the torture my brother bestowed upon her when she became the third member of our family, AKA "slave". This traumatic childhood lead to her being the kind and compassionate member of the family as an adult. It is only fitting that she majored in elementary education. I am proud to share my teaching profession with her and love when we get to share stories about students. At least she understands my stress and annoyance when it comes to work.

Amanda is not just caring, but creative. She has been the baker in the family for awhile now, starting with an early experiment of melting chocolate in the microwave (caution: chocolate burns), and leading to a recent cupcake endeavor. She also creates endless crafts for the summer camp program she runs through our local community center in Shoreview, MN. She has even more of a connection to my past with her following in my footsteps at my former job as a daycare employee at the health club, and then in her involvement in show choir, although I believe she is a much better singer than I ever was. I also hope that I was a bit of a help in her choosing to attend Indiana University for college as I had visited it during my year of traveling for Delta Gamma and fell in love.

Currently Amanda is in charge of making a card box for my wedding, as I trusted her with the skills to construct one in a creative and practical fashion. I am sure she can apply her teaching tools to get the task done. 

Thank you, Amanda, for stepping up to the challenge of helping me out with my wedding, which I am sure from an outsider's perspective is starting to look like a total production! I hope you'll wear your red dress proudly!

Back in the day! Amanda on the left.

Many family Christmas photos of "the girls"

Girly drinks at the lake

In Branson watching Cassie perform in the show choir.

I think this may have been her first martini

She attended my graduate school graduation from ASU! I fell the first time we tried to get this photo.

At cousin Ben's wedding

"I have to be related to you in the future?!"