BIG changes :)

I have decided that our blog is something I need to make more time for! It has been a month since our last post again...I have been amazed at how quickly days, weeks, and even these last 3 months have zoomed by. Jared and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary by going out to dinner while Grammy Pam watched Eli for us. She is amazing and has been such a blessing for us and baby Eli since he's been here! Jared and I got to talk about all the happenings both difficult and fantastic that have happened in our marriage in 3 short years. We discussed many things but the common thread was that God has given us strength to build a family, find love and support in family and friends, and blesses us everyday with all the little joys of being a mommy and daddy. Our discussion included a post I saw on pinterest one day. God has three answers to our prayers. 1) YES 2) NO 3) NOT YET.  This brought a new light to our conversation and our goals set for this next year of marriage. Each year Jared and I make a list of all the things that happened in that year of marriage. These "yearly reflections" are kept together in a book for us to enjoy.

Our Third Year of Marriage....

*****7-11-11 celebrated our second year of marriage and had dinner at Colbert’s*****,

July 2011 Ellis Wedding, Vacation trip to Springfield, MO to tour Jeff’s brewery “Mother’s” and then on to Table Rock Lake to spend time with the Jensen clan,

~August 2011-May 2012 Beka started a new position with P/W Infant Toddler Services

~9/16/11-We found out we were expecting already 5 weeks to be exact and a Due Date of 05/18/12

~September 2011 Jared went to Indianapolis, IN for the BS National Director’s Conference

~Ocotober 2011 Jared was an Usher in two weddings (Hitt/Zlab)

~ November 2011 Beka went to Orlando, FL for NAEYC

~December 2011 Straight No Chaser in KC with the Harlands

~12/12/11 Beka Graduated with her M.S. in FSHS-ECU from K-State,

~12/25/11 We celebrated our 3^rd Christmas together with baby on board,

~12/30/11 We found out we were expecting a BOY (we were ecstatic),

~12/31/11 We celebrated the New Year with the Axman’s at their wedding and Kobe stayed with Jeebz Pfannenstiel

~01/29/12 Beka started the family blog…”The Meitler Minute” to keep family and friends updated with our family adventures,

January 2012 Beka Interviewed for her dream job at Stone House for a faculty position in the department of FSHS-ECE at K-State and accepted/signed the contract on 04/05/12!

~Feburary 2012 we became God Parents to a sweet baby girl Ainsley Harland,

~ April 2012 We had professional pictures taken to celebrate our growing family by B!

~April 2012 we celebrated Easter by making “No-Bake” cookies and lighting a fire for Sundra,

~05/09/12 We welcomed Elijah Lee Meitler to the world at 12:48pm what an AMAZING experience!

~05/13/12 we celebrated Jared’s birthday and Beka’s first Mother’s day,

June 2012-Eli’s first road trip to KC-Jared was an usher for the Alexander wedding

~06/13/12 we celebrated Beka’s birthday and Eli’s one month with dinner at Umi

~06/17/12 Jared’s first Father’s day

~07/04/12 we celebrated our first Independence Day as a family of 4 (cleaning and rocking Eli to sleep while listening to the fireworks boom outside)

******7-11-12, We CELEBRATED our third Year together******

Eli is growing bigger and stronger everyday. We are getting more rest as a family (5-6 hours straight) at night time! Its the small victories as a parent that are exciting. Like watching Elijah laugh and smile when he is pooping...such a man already. He is so funny and full of personality that seems to shine brighter each day. Here is Eli's 2nd month of life for his baby book :)

Elijah Lee Meitler

o  You weighed 12lbs 4oz, were 23.5 inches and your head was 39.5cm at your 2 month check-up

o  You got your first series of shots (3 in your thighs)

o  Your Grandma Pam came to watch you while mommy and daddy went to dinner to celebrate their 3^rd Anniversary (7.11.12)

o  You went to your first ballgame (daddy’s softball)

o  You went to sing-a-long with mr steve with mommy and Grandma Pam

o  You went on your first 1.5 mile walk with mommy and daddy!

o  You sat in your highchair at the table while mommy and daddy ate supper!

o  You started sleeping 5-6 hour blocks at nighttime!

o  You spent time with the Pfannenstiels again J

o  You started to love bath time again…we moved upstairs to the big bathroom

o  You traveled to mommy’s hometown Emporia

o  You made LOTS of trips to Stone House with Mommy before your first day of “school”

o  We learned that WE LOVE YOU MORE EVERYDAY!!

My sister (Auntie Sarah) got to come back and visit in July and we took some fun pictures together with my mom (Grammy Pam). Eli snoozed through most of it, but gave us some great smiles and squeals at the end. Here are just a few that I LOVE!

she is beautiful!

just snoozing away

awesome auntie

love

grammy pam

aren't they beautiful!

hehe :)

he's awake!

so sleepy!

so serious sometimes

amazing smile!

just can't get enough of this little man

"huh?"

all done!

just a few days old here crazy how much he's changed!

As the title of this post says BIG changes are happening soon in our little world! 1) Elijah is turning 3 months old...amazing! He will be starting his first day of "school" on the 16th in the infant/toddler classroom at Stone House. 2) I (Beka) am going back to work full time next week. I'll be back in a preschool classroom doing what I love. Mentoring students and teaching courses for our Early Childhood Education department on campus at Stone House. 3) Jared will be joining me on campus!! YES you read that right. After working for Best Buy since their grand opening in 2006 he will be leaving his position there to work with Career and Employment Services at K-State. His official title is "Career Development Coordinator". He will continue working towards his masters degree and work directly with first year students which is a dream for him. 4) We as a family will get to enjoy evenings, weekends, and holidays together this year for the first time ever. It might sound crazy but we are BEYOND excited to do all the little things together that a retail scheduled has hindered since our relationship began way back when :)
Again just a good reminder for me that God has three answers to our prayers:
1) Yes
2) No
3) Not Yet

With Love & Laughter (and some blowout diapers)
Beka, Jared & Baby Eli