Just who am I anyways???

                   So for my first post, I think a get to know me fits the bill. Who am I? Well I am a 31 year old woman who loves her family, animals, and having a good time. I met my husband when I was just 13 years old. We started dating when we were 14 and been inseparable ever since. We grew up best friends and stayed that way. As a teenager I barrel raced my horse Star and bracket raced my car. Back in the day it was super cool. A white fire bird with Pink stripes! I loved learning about sea creatures and took classes on marine biology. I interned at a local Aquarium and worked with beluga whales and sea turtles. I spent lots of time with my family. I was very close to my grandparents. My grandfather was a immigrant from Portugal. He worked hard and created his own mason business and bettered himself and our family. He had a great love for animals and cars. I think that is where I got it from. I was always around cool cars and awesome animal experiences. My grandmother was a feisty little Portuguese lady. She took such great care of us and made the best oatmeal ever. I have a little brother, who is not so little anymore. He towers over me. He is the best brother you could ask for. My daughter absolutely adores her uncle. My brother is very musically inclined and can play practically any instrument. My mother and father have always been there for me. My mother is always willing to lend an ear when I need her to, listen to me rant away, give advice, and support me. I can call her at four in the morning and she will be there for me.  she is always singing some tune. She is a avid horse woman and loves all creatures. My dad is an excellent carpenter and has helped us out so much with things in our home. Both are great grandparents to our little lady. Over all I am pretty lucky.

                 Michael and I grew up together. We had a similar up bringing and much of the same struggles. He has always been there when I needed him and, I know he always will. He helped me get through some very dark times. We had a fairy tail proposal. New Years Eve night at a water fire while fireworks where going and delicate snowflakes flew in the sky. A page right out of a storybook. He was my prince charming. We chose to marry in June on my grandparents anniversary to honor their great love. They were married 59 years. My grandfather didn't make my wedding, but his presence was felt. He passed away in 04 after a long battle with cancer. That was  a very tough time for my family. My grandfather loved Michael and used to tell me he was the one. Our wedding was beautiful. My grandmother wore a beautiful matte purple dress. Our brothers were the best men. My dad blubbered like a baby. My mom was the Matron of Honor. A great celebration with family and friends.

               
 We rented a cute little house on a lake after we were married. Then in the summer of 2008 we bought our first home together. It was a cute little ranch on a hill surrounded by woods. We worked on every room together making it our own. We painted every room. Michael wasn't impressed with all my color choices but went along with it anyways. We were a team. We both worked full time jobs. We split the house chores. I did the cooking and cleaning and he did the fixing and mowing. By the fall of 2008 I was pregnant with my daughter. We were ecstatic. Before this point we had suffered a loss of pregnancy and were told we may never get pregnant. Well our story had other plans and I got pregnant. It was not an easy pregnancy. I was very sick the whole duration. I went into preterm labor and had to be put on bed rest and leave my job.

               July 2009 my baby girl was born after a long and grueling, but totally worth it labor. (43 hrs) Its definitely called labor for a reason. She was born naturally at just under 36 weeks. I was so relieved when she let out the loudest cry.  There she was, this pink, bald, screaming, healthy, little 6 pound baby girl. It was amazing. I wasn't sure we would ever make it to this point, and when we did the feeling was overwhelming. She has grown up into this wonderfully sassy, smart, beautiful, loving little girl. She means the world to me. 

              So as now I am a stay at home mom, homeschooling our daughter.  I make custom cakes from home and take care of the house and pets. I use my expertise in animal science to help local rescues. We recently bought a car just like my first car and are building it together. We have a happy, crazy, wonderful life full of excitement and I would love to share all of it with you. So this is me in a nutshell!