California Dreamin'

Time Flies...when you are a little busy!

2011-06-27T11:11:00.008-07:00

Wow...it has been over a year since I last blogged! And A LOT has changed in that year. Here is a QUICK update...
We had another baby. Miss Mylee was born May 1st, 2011. We LOVE her so much. Jerry graduated medical school and we matched into a plastic and reconstruction residency in Loma Linda, California and we have lived here now for 10 days...we are adjusting, unpacking, and getting us, and our kids, back to somewhat of a schedule.

Jerry has had a couple days of orientation, and is really liking it. He officially starts next Thursday (june 30th), so he's off again the first few days of this new week so we will hopefully get all the little things done/decorated.

Tayden turns 2 in two weeks and is in a big boy bed already. This is the 3rd night. The first night was great. The first nap, he played in his room for an hour instead of sleeping. So we went on a walk and he fell asleep in the stroller and stayed asleep when I carried him in. Last night the neighbors had a big LOUD party. I could hear a guy that kept shouting, then others would follow. I think they woke Tayden up, because he ended up in our bed at about 12:30 am. He wiggled SO much that Mylee and I ended up in his bed. She kept waking up, and I didn't want her to wake Tayden up, and Tayden kept somehow kicking my head...yeah...he moved that much!

Mylee is growing before our eyes. She is getting so smiley, especially to her daddy. She is starting to eat more, and stay awake longer. She loves making eye contact and when you do, thats when the BIG smiles happen. She makes us all so happy...and still a little tired too!

I am excited to meet more people in the ward. We already have a couple ties to "home" through the church. It's truly amazing. We definitely miss everyone but are so excited for the things we will learn here and the people and family we will become by being here.

The word that comes to mind....GRATITUDE!

2010-05-19T13:04:00.002-07:00

I can't even begin to express the feelings of gratitude I have been feeling lately! That isn't the only thing I have felt, but I would say my feelings are the strongest there!

As I look back over this past year, SO much has happened! We have gone through some MAJOR changes. One year ago, Jerry was so busy spending all his time, energy, and thoughts on taking his STEP 1 boards. He wanted so badly to get a score that could open up possibilities to his career in medicine. He hoped it would give him the option of choosing a career that would let him have a family life too.

As Jerry was focused on that...along with many other things...I was focused on my ever GROWING belly! I also had decisions to make about our future.

And now..We have an amazing, healthy, handsome 10 month old little boy. Jerry scored above his expectations on the boards, and life is GREAT! Don't get me wrong, our life isn't perfect, but we know we have been so blessed!

Now the BIG question is...where will we be next year? What will happen between now and then? I think if we continue to think positively, and continue to grow together as a family, I know we will be ok!

I am thankful for all of my blessings. I appreciate the love and support I receive daily from the people in my life. I would be lost without it. I am so grateful for Jerry, and the daily sacrifices he makes so that one day we can live our dream! I am so grateful for Tayden and the things I have learned being a mom. And the list goes on and on! All I can say is I am so grateful!

GRATITUDE: a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation

Where do I even begin....

2010-02-17T00:02:00.003-07:00

Wow how time flies! Why do I suck at this blogging thing SO bad? I think about blogging, I want to blog...so why don;t I just do it? Who knows!?!

Well Tayden is now 7 months old, and he is HUGE! At his 6 month appointment he was 95% in height and 60% in weigh, compared to other babies his age! He got his 2 bottom teeth and I LOVE them! They are so cute! He is such a blabber mouth! He talks, and talks, and talks! He actually gave me a very special Valentine...he said "mama" on sunday morning! I loved it!

Bentley (the dog) loves being a brother. Yet I think sometimes he wishes that little guy would go back where he came from! Bents doesn't get near the same amount if attention that he used to! I try, but it's hard to take him on a walk, while holding a baby! (especially since bents is a puller...yea my neighbors see me getting yanked around). But he is a good dog! and we love him!

Jerry has 3 rotations left! We are pretty sure he has chosen a specialty...PLASTICS! I know you automatically think of boobs. But in his rotation he only saw one cosmetic case, the rest was reconstructive! He LOVED being able to work on little kids cleft pallets. He LOVES surgery, and he is a perfectionist with fine detail! I think it fits his personality! I am proud of him, and excited he loves something so much!

I am just busy! Busy being a mom, busy working 2 jobs, and busy planning sharing times! But I LOVE it! The best part is the busy mom part! IT is the most challenging, yet rewarding thing I have ever done! The only part I would change....is the working SO much part. The saddest/coolest part, is that Tayden has/gets to come to work with me! It is SO SO SO hard working w hile your child needs your attention, or is being, cute, or fussy! BUT I get to take him! And when I don't have him, I have the BEST support system! He gets to play with my parents on Thursday's, and my Grandparent's on Friday's. It means so much to have poeple that you know love your kid as much as you do!

Well...now that I have FINALLY blogged...a kind of boring blog...I know...Maybe I can try to sleep! I am listening to Jerry snore, and then talk in his sleep from the office! Haha! He will love that I put that on here! Sweet dreams!

Baby Blessings!

2009-09-23T20:29:00.004-07:00

We got to finally bless Tayden and Cole Sunday! It was a great day! We want to thank all our family and friends who came to support us! We are so blessed that we have so many people around that love us! I hope everyone got to come taste all the desserts we had! It was a lot of work, but it was SOOO yummy and worth it! Thanks to everyone that brought something too...it helped a ton!

It was fun because we blessed Tayden and Cole! So we had so many people there. We were lucky enough to be able to do this at my parents house so we could do them both without people having to come twice...or miss one! I thought it was great to have all the Hammons there too! They are some of the greatest people I know, they have just welcomed my family into theirs...like we ALL married Chad!

Jerry did a great job...he never fails to impress me! What impressed me the most was how prepared and ready he was. He was calm and collected! He does so well speaking in front of groups of people! I love him SO much! I am SO lucky to have him as my husband!

I cant' believe how BIG Tayden has already gotten! I miss his teeny-tininess...but I am LOVING him growing! He is getting SO much personality! He smiles so big all the time...I'm not going to lie...he LOVES me! I still LOVE being a mom! I am so blessed and So lucky! He sleeps really well...so does his dad! If I didn't tell Jerry, he'd think Tayden slept ALL night...he usually has NO idea I get up with him (which is usually only once).

I hope you are all loving life as much as I do! Just remember to stay positive and not let the little things eat at you! It's really not worth it!

Our first family photos!

2009-08-23T21:19:00.002-07:00

Today was a GREAT day! I guess this whole weekend has been great! We rented a lens that Jerry is trying to convince me to buy...and after this weekend I am ALMOST convinced....ALMOST, Jer, not 100%! If it cost 1/4th of what it does I would be SOLD! Haha!

Well, we did get some amazing pictures! And the lens was definitely a huge part in the look of the pictures!

Not only did we take our first family photos this week, Jerry started his rotations for his 3rd year in med school! He is doing internal medicine and loving it! He is on call every 4 days, meaning he works for 30 hours straight! THe worst part about it...Jerry is used to getting 8 hours of sleep a night, and this is not happening! If he gets a little grumpy or short with you...I apologize on his behalf! :)

I also went back to work this week! It has been very emotional for me to leave my little guy! So if I am grumpy or short with you, I apologize! Haha! We are just a bundle of joy at our house...the only thing keeping us sane is our BUNDLE of JOY!!

We are loving life and all it's craziness!

To view the rest of our family photos, click here.

I love my little son!

2009-08-06T14:28:00.002-07:00

This is the first post I've ever put up on here and I'm so excited! Tayden will be 1 month old next Tuesday, can you believe it? Feels like only yesterday that we were in the hospital waiting for him to arrive into this world. He is such a joy, I look forward to going home everyday so that I can be with him and Mindee (and Bentley, of course!). My favorite thing about him are his amazing facial expressions, from the Zoolander "Blue Steel" to Grumpy old men crusty faces, they are all incredible. Yesterday, I was giving him kisses and he BURPED in my mouth! Sounds gross, but I kinda thought it was hilarious. So weird what you're willing to put up with when its your own child. Mindee and I are having so much fun with him, and we look forward to raising him up in our family. Now, back to research...

He's here, he's here, he's finally here!

2009-07-15T14:13:00.002-07:00

Mindee and Jerry gladly welcome Tayden Jeremy Chidester!

We already love him SO much and can't believe he hasn't been in our lives forever! It feels like we have known him forever!

Things are going really well! I feel great, Jerry is in heaven, and even Bentley has welcomed the baby! He is actually very gentle with him. Tayden makes any noise and Bentley is very concerned and tries to make sure everything is ok!

Tayden was born 7/11/2009 ant 12:48 midnight! After a VERY long day of contractions. We went to the hospital early friday morning! He weighed 7Ibs 6oz and was 21.5 inches long.

Jerry got to be a BIG part of the delivery. He got to "glove and suit up". It was a great experience for him! He was the first to hold Tayden! It was really special! Tayden was under a lot of stress so after the cord was cut they had to rush him over to NICU. They had a little area set up in the room, and after they got everything worked out, then I got to hold him!

I already LOVE being a mom! Especially because Tayden slept really well last night...so tomorrow I might feel differently! Haha!

Thank you everyone for your love and support! It has meant SO much to Jerry and I!

He's DONE!!

2009-07-01T14:37:00.004-07:00

Wow! Jerry is done! I feel such a huge relief i can only imagine how Jerry feels! Now Tayden can come whenever! As long as he came after Jerry's test! Can't you see how happy he looks!

Jer, I am SO proud of you! Look how far you have come. It has been a lot of work, but it has been worth it! I love you SO much! Now we just have to wait for Tayden to come!

Time is winding down!

2009-06-24T16:07:00.001-07:00

Wow! How time flies when you're having fun!

Jerry's BIG board exam is quickly approaching! ONE week from today! He is feeling, ready yet overwhelmed at the same time! We are definitely jealous of his classmates/friends that have taken their tests! We can only imagine the relief they are feeling!

Tayden is due in 2 1/2 weeks! It's crazy! I feel ALL emotions at the same time! We will be fine as long as he comes AFTER Jerry's test (even if it's that night) as long as it's AFTER!!

So, good luck preparing this week Jer! I KNOW you will do great! I am so proud of you and all your dedication and hard work! You mean the world to me! I love you SO much!

I am such a NERD!

2009-06-22T11:02:00.002-07:00

So, I was looking at my blog today and realized...people have left comments on mine! I NEVER even looked! I thought it would like e-mail me and tell me or something...maybe it does and I'm just weird and don't know how to use this thing! I am learning though!

So, thanks everyone, I will try to stay updated a little better! I'm terrible but I will try!

So SAD!!

2009-04-16T21:48:00.002-07:00

So, I have been really thinking about my blog lately, and how my New Years resolution was to update it regularly...and this is my first update since then! In fact it's almost been 6 months. Then as I signed in today, I noticed a little thing that said I have been on Blogspot since April 2008, and I think I have made like 3 posts! SO SAD!

I think part of the reason I have been even thinking of blogging is because it's part of my nesting! Haha! I really think it's because I just want to be home! It's hard working 6 days a week every week for 6 plus years! I don't know how my dad has done it all my life...I feel for him! I'm tired! Although that will all end this summer and I'm sure there will be days that I would rather be at work! But I am READY for that challenge!

2008-11-09T18:38:00.002-07:00

So, I think I am kind of figuring this thing out...thanks to Brittany! That was a big help on making it cute!

So, Jerry is still CRAZY busy with school and me with work! But it works for us! Sometimes I feel like out life is for the most part the same everyday, so to update our blog seems boring to me, because all we do is work or school! We try to add a little excitement as we can!

This weekend we were able to supervise a region dance at our Stake Center. It was pretty interesting! We tried to find people that reminded us of ourselves. It did make me feel old when the kids were doing new dances that I had never seen before! Even to older songs like "Venga Boys" (I think that's what they are called). One couple even found two kids in a room alone snuggling in the dark durning routine room sweeps! Haha! Pretty funny! I NEVER thought of leaving the DANCING to sneak into a room with a boy...eeew!

What?

2008-10-19T12:07:00.002-07:00

So, I am lost with this whole blogging thing...I liked it better when Jerry did it because it stayed up to date...but someday I will make it fun and cute and updated! So, in the mean time you will have to look at my ugly black blog with nothing worth anything on it! Haha! Maybe if I sit by Jerry trying to figure it out long enough he will take it from me and have it all done in no time....no luck so far! But we will keep our fingers crossed!

I'm not ready for summer to end!

2008-09-09T12:10:00.002-07:00

So now that school is back in session and the weather is starting to change, I am realizing I had a really good summer, and I am not ready for it to end!

Jerry and I were able to do a lot this summer! We got to goto New York City with some friends, Jackson Hole with the family, and a lot of other fun stuff in between! This is the last "Summer" Jerry gets (even thoughhe had to work this whole summer). Next summer he takes his first set of boards and right after he starts his third year of medical school. Crazy!

2008-06-09T15:36:00.000-07:00

Here we are!

Jerry usually does our little websites and family updates using his .mac account, but he decided he didn't want to renew it this year, especially when there are sites like this that are free. He also told me he is too busy and that if I want one I can do it (although I have a feeling he will take over). So, I decided to get one set up, so here we are!