And I am exhausted! Well, I sent out a Christmas (New Years, really) letter, but in case I don't have your email or something, I thought I would post it on here. Enjoy and Happy New Year!!
Hi everyone! This year has truly flown by and unfortunately, I didn't get my Christmas letter done in time. Normally I would just say, "Oh well" and try again next year but we have had the most eventful year that I couldn't pass it up and so it will be a New Years letter instead. Sorry!
To start from the top...in January Nathan and I found out that we were expecting our first child! What a way to start out 2008, right? We were so excited and the timing couldn't have been more perfect since I had just graduated a month before. Pregnancy was definitely an experience for me...a true emotional roller coaster. I was so excited to be having a baby but less than enthusiastic to be so terribly sick for the first 20 or so weeks of my pregnancy.
The first half of the year was spent traveling around with Nathan on his different pharmacy rotations. He had rotations in Tucson, Thatcher, Sacaton, Phoenix and Glendale and we were so lucky that we had family and friends willing to let us stay with them through all of this. He had some incredible experiences and felt truly prepared to start working as a full time pharmacist. He made us so proud when he graduated from Pharmacy school in June (WOO HOO!) and started working full-time at Fry's. The part he loves most is being able to do the clinical side of pharmacy and finds his work very fulfilling.
While staying with my parents in Thatcher for Nathan's rotation, I was able to put my degree to use a little bit and substitute teach for a couple of months. This was a fun and challenging experience for me, but more than anything it made me want to write a thank you letter to every sub I ever had...it's hard work to step into a classroom full of kids you don't know and try to convince them to behave as well for you as they do for their teacher, even though they will never see you again.
In March I had the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C., all expenses paid, as a leader to student ambassadors, going to learn about our nation's capitol and history. The intent was for the students to learn, but I learned so much right along with them! It was so incredible to see the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, White House and other great landmarks. It was also very humbling to see Arlington National Cemetery and Gettysburg and other such historical sites. This was an experience I wouldn't trade for anything and look forward to going back again with Nathan in 2010.
After a lot of looking and paperwork and headaches, we bought our first home in July. It's a perfect little starter home for us and we've already spent a lot of time working on it, trying to make it our own. When he's not working, Nathan is doing some project around the house. He keeps pretty busy between maintaining the pool and the yard along with fixing things that I break. We've been lucky to have lots of help from my brothers, especially Gary, because Nathan claims to not be very handy. If you ask me he gets handier by the minute. He works so hard for our little family and it definitely doesn't go unnoticed. He's truly appreciated.
And of course our biggest news of all...Nathan and I celebrated our 4th anniversary in the hospital, bringing our sweet little boy into the world. Tanner Allan Coons was born on September 4th in Glendale, Arizona. He weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz., was 21 3/4 inches long and has kept us on our toes since day one when he decided to come 3 weeks early! He has been so much fun and has brought Nathan and I even closer as we learn to be parents together. I never thought I would be one of "those parents", gushing over every little thing your child does. But the love that you feel for your own child is indescribable and you find that you can't help it...you just have to gush! Things like, "Oh my goodness! He just said, 'Guboooah!'" I know perfectly well that Guboooah isn't a word but it was something new for him. We get very excited over every little milestone he reaches. He is so sweet and so much fun! I attached some pictures for those of you haven't seen him yet.
Nathan and I feel so blessed to have such a good life. We often wonder why we are so blessed but just keep praying every day that it will stay this way. We have felt the Lord's love for us repeatedly this year and hope that you, too, know of His love for you. We hope you have a wonderful and safe New Year!
Love,
Nathan, Corrianne & Tanner Coons
