Back it up

I feel terrible, but keep forgetting to post about our ever so exciting trip to Chicago and Des Moines for Easter!! I got 1 week vacation during internship and it was so much fun to go see our friends and family in Chicago and then Alahna and I took a side trip to Des Moines to see our friends and all their growing children (Alahna's friends)! Alahna had a great time with her cousins! Here are some pictures of them all enjoying eachother... (Donny 10, Allison 8, Annalisa 5, James 2)




A trip to the Brookfield Zoo


Alahna had a great time with the girls. She loved all the necklaces!

Alahna got new rainboots for Easter and had to "try" them out =)

Easter is always a very special time of year. We have had the pleasure of attending the easter vigil at the church that Eric grew up in the past few years. It is an amazing composition of acting, singing, worship, scripture, and pure love/joy for what Christ did for us. It brings me goosebumps every year. We love it and were so glad to be able to come out. We didn't get many pictures, but Eric snapped this one of Alahna and I dancing in the aisle to celebrate the Risen King. This was Alahna's favorite part! We also got a good one of all the kids Easter morning. (Mind you this was after they were up until 1130 the night before at the vigil, pretty good!) Also a couple good ones of just Alahna and the easter bunny, of course...







Some of our great friends, Guy and Lisa Merker, bought a gym and are starting a power tumbling and cheerleading buisness! We had a great time letting the kids play at their gym one of the days. I have a feeling Alahna is going to want to be a gymnast like her daddy!


We got a chance to spend some time with the newest Phantavong. John and Christy's precious Jacquelline was 4 months old and sooo cute!



I got away for a few days and went to stay with Adam, Nichole and Haven Cline. Nichole and I were pregnant at the same time (Haven and Alahna are 2 months apart). I developed a wonderful friendship with her. It is so hard moving to a new place where you don't know anyone. I was very thankful for the opportunity to spend time with some of my good friends in Des Moines. Haven and Alahna had a great time playing together. We went to a music class that a lot of the moms/kids from The Downtown Church go to and then our friend Tammy was nice enough to host a little lunch play date so we could all catch up. I truely miss this fellowship that I had with these girls. Unfortunately the East coast has a quite different attitude toward having children (in general) and there aren't as many younger couples with kids. We are starting to develop some friends through a new church that we are going to and I am thankful for that. I'm excited to see the changes in my life and whom God places in my life over the next 3 years while in Philly. I am also excited to stay in touch with the Des Moines crew and see our kids grow up together! Here are a few pics from that trip...






It was a wonderful trip and we hope that some of our friends/family will be able to make a trek out East sometime in the next 3 years so that we don't have to go too long without seeing everyone!

Changes

Lots of changes are going on in the Higginson household!
Change #1: I officially finished my internship on June 23. That was quite the exciting event!! I made lots of good friends and had a full year of testing my patience, compassion, determination, and time management. I would have to say that it was a tough year, but all in all, not as bad as I expected. I think what made it bareable was that Eric is able to stay home with Alahna and they came to visit me often! I don't know how I would have made it through all those sleepless nights without my wonderful family.

We went on a mini-tour of New England during my week break between internship and residency. It was a GREAT trip. We went up to Boston, Portland, New Harbor, Pemaquid, and Boothbay Harbor, Maine and then back down through Conneticut. My mom was able to come out to spend a portion of the trip with us, so that was a lot of fun. Alahna always loves spending time with her grammy and we sure do love the help. We stayed with my mom's cousins (that own a house in Pemaquid, Maine) for the first weekend and then were lucky enough to stay there the rest of the week. Making day trips here and there. They are wonderful people and great hosts. We actually stopped at their house in CT on the way back down too. Here are just a few pictures to capture what we did on our trip...

Boston Public Garden

Portland, Maine (Alahna was too busy wanting to run down the dock to pose)

Lobster picinic: You bring the sides and order the lobster right on the dock (caught that day)! It was our favorite part of the trip

Whale watching boat trip out of Boothbay Harbor. Yes we actually saw whales! And dolphins and seals!!

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

A rainbow over the harbor after a light rain during our lobster picinic. Picture compliments of my talented mother

A stop at the beach in Conneticut before heading back home.

Change #2: July 1 I started my ophthalmology residency! I am finally doing what I want to do with my life and am so excited. It's very intense and intimating at this point but I feel blessed to be here in Philadelphia doing it. I couldn't ask for a better learning environment (Wills Eye lectures every day!) and my senior residents and attendings are very helpful. I know it's going to be a tough year, but I'm excited to continue toward my goal and learn as much as I can.

Change #3: Eric and I have become very fond of dessert and it is finally catching up to us! For about 2 years I was either pregnant or breastfeeding and my body (and me) was used to consuming more calories than normal to keep up with the demands for my baby. Well now that that's been over for 6 months now and my pants/shorts aren't fitting anymore, Eric and I decided to start a work out program together. We are going to walk and do the P90X videos along with 100 sit ups a night and only dessert once or twice a week! I think it will be a wonderful and encouraging way to strenghten our relationship. I'm excited to tone up and get back to the old me. (before another little one comes along and we have to go through the whole thing again =)

Change #4 (and 5,6,etc): Alahna is constantly changing so I should always include her. She is now 19 months and is growing up so fast. Everytime I look at her, I just can't believe how fast it has gone and wonder where my baby is. She runs, climbs, talks, plays, and loves lots. She is a constant joy (unless it's during the minute temper tantrum =) and we are so blessed to have her as our child. I thank God for giving me such a wonderful child and am excited to continue to see her grow!

I used to hate change. I was very black and white, but have allowed more grays in my life as changes continue to happen. I'm excited for all these changes in our lives and to begin to reset my priorities, including God, Family/Friends, Education,and Health/Fitness.