The Best Day of our Lives

On Saturday, Ty and I headed for what we thought was a nice relaxing trip to visit my grandparents in Waseca, MN. The morning started out with what I thought were just some braxton hicks contractions. We drove the two hours thinking, "We are 36 weeks pregnant there is no way that the baby is coming today." While we were eating dinner and chatting with my family, I started to notice that the contractions were getting stronger and closer together. On the way home, we started timing the contractions. When we got to the car in Hudson, we thought we would just stop over to the hospital and ask a few questions. We were admitted and after two hours they decided to keep us.

Daddy holding Elias

Proud Papa and Nana Mac holding their first grandson

Grandma Leslie holding Elias at the hospital

I couldn't believe it! I kept telling Ty, I am not ready. It can't be happening now, because I am not ready. They broke my water and about three hours later at 4:48am. He weighed 6lbs 8oz and was 19.25in long. I guess even when you aren't ready the baby comes and some how you get ready. We couldn't be happier. Welcome to the world Elias Tyler Perrenoud, Mommy and Daddy are so happy you are here!

UPDATE

It has been forever since I last posted. So much has changed since I started student teaching in January.  Where do I even begin!?

In May we graduated from UW-River Falls. We both walked, but I still had to finish student teaching. Ty was bored for about 3 weeks so while he was bored he started moving us. That's right, all by himself. That was only possible since we moved across the hall to a two bedroom making more room for baby Perrenoud. Which brings me to our next piece of news. Ty was offered a job at Xcel Energy in Minneapolis so we are staying in River Falls.

Now, I am home and finally able to begin "nesting" and preparing the apartment for the baby to come in July. We are SO excited for the baby to finally be there. Last night Ty was actually asking him to come out so that "Mommy could feel more like herself." The news this trimester has been back pain and swollen feet! I am not up for walking like I used to be, but I keep telling myself its all going to be worth it when I look into the eyes of my baby boy. Only 5 weeks left!

Mommy and Daddy put together the changing table last night now its time for the crib

Auntie Taylor and Uncle Jason got this for baby. Can you tell we like Sock Monkey?

Week 1:Student Teaching

What a week. It all began with a snow storm and a 2.5 hour commute that should have taken only 40 minutes. Not the best way to begin the new semester, but it was unavoidable. I am slowly adjusting to the early 5am wake up and the 40 minute drive, but so far I have enjoyed my placement. The teacher that I work with is all ready for me to take over her classes whenever I want. I have learned how cute and yet how incredible naughty students can be, but I am quickly learning the importance of classroom management. Today I worked with one of the most difficult classes I have ever seen. Students that were sitting on tables and making rude and loud comments throughout the class. I have also had many adorable moments with my new students as well. They are always asking the silliest questions like, "what color is your bed?" or "what color is your window? Some students are taking to me quickly and sitting right at my feet at circle time. I have learned a lot already in this first week, and I can't wait to learn more. I know that the learning curve is high with student teaching and I can't wait to figure out what it will be like to teach in the classroom full-time. The school I am in has 1000 students and I will see 500+ students every 6 school days. That is a lot of names to remember and I only have 9 weeks to learn them. I now have a new found respect for teachers who actually know their students' names. 

Tyler has been in classes and adjusting his schedule so that he can commute 3 days a week to Chippewa for his internship which they have extended again until he graduates. For the first month he will be commuting 3 days a week and then he will being working from home most of the week and commuting on Wednesdays. Needless to say, it will be a busy first month of the semester with a ton of driving, so we decided that we will be staying in River Falls most weekends until the end of February. If you are driving by, stop in and see us or if you are bored on the weekends we love company. We just keep telling ourselves, push through this and we will be home in Chippewa Falls again soon.

A Great Man Lost

Today, I had to experience the loss of a grandparent. My Grandpa died today at 86 years old. I have so many fond memories of him. From camping in the RV to fishing on the Lake. He was always such a good sport playing restaurant and pretending to be interested in dress up and our games with the barbies in the barbie house Grandma built. He was a veteran from WWII who I was incredibly proud to have known. Although this time has been rough for all of us, we have some comfort in knowing that he has gone to heaven where there is no more pain or suffering and we will see him again someday. He was fighting a battle with dementia and was slowly forgetting who we were, but even at the end he still smiled and said in his signature raspy voice, "Hey peanut." He didn't know our names, but he knew that we were someone special to him. This man has given me so much happiness in my childhood and into my adulthood with his quirky saying and funny anecdotes. He will greatly missed. Grandpa, you are loved and you will be missed. Thank you for fishing and fun, for wisdom and history. I am only sad that he will not be meeting my little one too. This child's grandparents have some big shoes to fill. Love you, Grandpa. Can't wait to see you again someday!

The Final Hurdle

What a whirlwind this last few weeks has been. With final projects, finals, and my re-test for licensing, I have stayed rather busy and a little stressed at times. Finally, it is all over and the holidays have come and are almost gone. Now, I get to unwind before the craziest semester of Ty's and my life begins. I found out that I passed the more difficult version of the Spainsh test and now I have officially passed the FINAL hurdle has been jumped to finish my education. Ty and I will both be graduating in May and looking forward to facing the real world head on. The reality of finding jobs is hitting and we are excited to hopefully be back in Chippewa with our families. There is still a long road ahead, but we are almost there and I feel my second wind coming. This last semester I felt ready to give up, but now, the senioritis has passed and we are ready to face our FINAL semester!

There are SO many updates that I just don't even know where to begin, but they will come with time. I AM off until January 23rd afterall. Wishing everyone Happy New Year, and we are going to enjoy our time off together before its over and the hustle and bustle of the semester starts all over again!

Senioritis

The end is coming! We are SO close to the end of the semester. We are really getting antsy to come home for Christmas Break. Thanksgiving was busy, but nice. Ty has started back working with his internship, but they made it so that he could work from school. It is so great to have him making money without have to spend it in gas to Chippewa. My student teaching placements came over break and I am getting the paperwork ready for taking my Spanish licensing test. Everything is coming together and this just makes me want to be done with school all the more, but there are still 3 weeks of classes and lets not forget finals! There is so much left to do, and so little time to do it. It is starting to hit us both that we are almost at the end and we just can't wait to move back home to be with our families. Senioritis is hitting and hitting hard! We can FINALLY see the end! Now all I have to do is finish my silly e-portfolio and pass my test and the real fun begins, STUDENT TEACHING! No more sitting in class, I will be TEACHING the class. Sorry Ty, you still have one more semester. Anyway, thats what's been going on. We are just praying that I pass this test, because I have to in order to student teach and graduate.

Adoption: A Beautiful Reminder

This last week Matt preached about adoption because it was Orphan Sunday (link to the sermon).  With one beautiful niece who was once an orphan, the sermon hit harder than expected.  I don't think that I stopped crying completely at any point in the sermon.  Not only did it challenge me to think about how I could help the orphaned, but reminded me of a beautiful picture that we sometimes forget. If we are in Christ we are all adopted and He has loved us as He loves his own son.

As our family has been waiting for the next baby Lukowitz (Sophia) to arrive from Ethiopia, I have been reminded of this picture.  The beautiful reminder that I did not do anything and God chose me to be his child and he loves me as His child in a perfect way no one else ever could.  Like my sister-in-law is doing now, he has prepared a place for me (in heaven) where I can be with Him someday.  Adoption is a beautiful reminder and I am so happy that God has placed Annie and soon Sophia who will be a daily reminder of how much He loves us and that He adopted us into his family.  We can't wait to move back to Chippewa so that we can see it and be blessed by it all the time. We are so blessed to have this beautiful reminder.