The Past Year

(Note: I started writing this post in September...)

It has been a year since my last blog post...and what a year it has been.  A LOT has happened since but I really want to keep the memories alive so I will try to list every memorable moment and milestone since August 2012.  Now that I am done with grad school and internship I should have more time to blog...right?  Most importantly, I have more time to breathe, recover from the last 5 years of grad school, and spend time with my son, who is growing up too fast right before my eyes.

August/September 2012
Shortly after my last post I started my full time internship, the final stage in my doctoral training (before I get my Psy.D).  I knew it would be a challenging year working full time and being a mommy, but I did not expect it to be downright BRUTAL.  I experienced stress like no other, thanks to the awful commute, 40-hour work week (not to mention the nature of my work), and my toddler.  On top of it all, I was trying to graduate on time so I busted my butt working on my dissertation to make that happen.    

October 2012 

Cal Poly Pomona pumpkin patch - 10/21/12

Halloween 2012

Christmas 2012

Christmas program at Jake's preschool

Christmas morning 2012

January 2013
On January 7, Jake turned 2!  We took him to Disneyland for the first time and he got to meet his beloved Mickey Mouse!  It was also our first time going to Disneyland with a child, and let me tell you, that is an experience in and of itself.  We were able to go on two rides, It's A Small World and Pirates of the Caribbean, and we were outta there by 1pm, just in time for Jake's nap.  His favorite part was Toon Town and he seemed more interested in the trash cans throughout the park.   

February to March 2013
Sick, sick, sick.  Flu, ear infections, and pink eye.  When Jake started daycare they warned me that he would get sick a lot for the next two years.  I did not think that applied to me too.

December 2012 to March 2013
Despite being sick a lot, I hustled to finish my dissertation. I remember several weekends in March when I would isolate myself and work on my dissertation in bed.  Brutal, but I was able to meet the deadline to schedule my defense in order to graduate in May!  I could not have done it without Chris.  He is the most patient and supportive husband and I can't imagine life without him. 

April 2013
I defended my dissertation, which made me eligible to graduate this year!  My committee passed me with "moderate revisions" so I knew that would not be the last time that I saw my dissertation, but nevertheless, I was going to graduate!

My parents took me out to lunch after my defense

May 2013 
It turned out that Jake had a very bad ear infection, which explained why he kept getting a fever and a cold when he was not on antibiotics.  After many trips to urgent care and unsuccessful antibiotic treatments, we decided it was time to go back to Jake's pediatrician since birth.  She is a gem and we were so bummed when she left the clinic where we take Jake.  But it is all good now that Jake is back under her care.  She was able to refer us to an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist and Jake's ear infection was treated right away.  He had tubes put in both his ears to drain the lingering infection.  Surgery went well and he has not really gotten sick since then.

St. Jude's Hospital - Fullerton

Before the surgery

May/June 2013
After 5 years, I finally graduated!!!  After my dissertation defense in April I came down with an awful case of bronchitis, which I called grad school-related bronchitis.  I was sick for 5 weeks but had no time to rest since my internship did not end until mid-July.  Not to mention, my dissertation was waiting for me.  I had not even looked at that thing since April.

Another big milestone: our 5th wedding anniversary on June 21, 2013!         

ULV Doctoral Hooding Ceremony 5/31/13

July - August 
I finished my internship in July.  In honor of my graduation and our 5 year wedding anniversary, Chris and I went to Hawaii.  I also went for the APA Convention, which was in Honolulu this year.  Jake went on an airplane for the first time and did great!  His favorite part about Hawaii was the elevator in our hotel.  Luckily, we stayed on the 37th floor of the Hyatt so he got to go on that elevator a lot.  He also loved going on the city trolley.  Right now he is pretty much into anything that provides transportation.   

Waikiki, HI

Lake McQueeney, TX

September 2013
9/5/2013 - Jake went pee pee on the potty for the first time!
9/17/2003 - Jake went poo poo on the potty for the first time!
Potty training is a long process but Jake is starting to get it.

I can't help but feel a little sad at the end of every summer because I know that next year things will be much different as my baby will be another year older...