Reflecting back on 26

I am now 27 years old. At first I was kind of having a hard time with it. I know most people would laugh at me for any kind of discomfort for a twenty something age, but I finally realized why I was struggling with it. 26 was pretty much the best year of my life. So many wonderful things happened to us this past year that I'm hard pressed to believe that it can get any better. Here's a recap of 26.

-Shortly after my 26th birthday we FINALLY got Kolt's orders and found out we were moving to Texas. We had been waiting for that information for months and we were SO happy when we finally got the news.

-Kolt's COT date got bumped up from January to October. While it was scary and hectic, this truly worked out for the best for us. Kolt met our very good friend Annie at COT and we were able to move on with our lives that much sooner.

-Kolt had PRK eye surgery and no longer needs glasses or contacts to see!

-I got pregnant. We weren't trying and that was the best part. We had been in San Antonio just over a week when I found out. One of the best days ever.

-I had a mostly worry free and easy pregnancy. After two losses in years past, I was SO grateful to have a complication free pregnancy.

-We've made some great friends. The Nesbit's, the Amport's, the Sanders', and most recently the White's. These are some of the most amazing people and I feel so fortunate to have met them and become friends with them all.

-And of course the most wonderful thing of all, Leila was born. How can you ask for anything more than the perfect child that we have?

When I look back at my birthday last year and think about all that's happened since then, it seems like a whole different life and world away. Last year we were living in a small apartment in down town Salt Lake, childless, pre-air force. I have a hard time even remembering what life was like before Kolt joined the air force.

Over all 26 in all honesty was likely the best year of my life, so far. 27 is going to bring with it new adventures and challenges. Watching Leila grow up will be amazing, sending Kolt off to Afghanistan will not. I don't like to think about that, but it's a reality we'll be facing soon enough.

My birthday ended up being really fun, courtesy of the White's. They came up from Laughlin AFB in Del Rio to visit and we just have such a blast with them. We went to dinner, then we shopping for a present for me. I was hoping to get some sort of peridot jewelry for Leila and for Kolt since they're both August babies. (Kolt argues and tells everyone it's NOT for him, but it is as much for him as Leila.) We got to the mall and shopped and walked out with a darling new outfit for Leila, a new iPhone 4 for Kolt, and nothing for me. :( There was a necklace that I did like, but I want to shop around a little more before I make the purchase. But regardless, I had a good time. We're actually going to go down to Del Rio to visit the White's in a few weeks and Kolt is going to compete with Stephen in a shooting competition. It sounds like a really fun contest and Kolt will LOVE it. It happens to fall on a 4 day weekend for Kolt, so we'll probably spend several days there. I can't wait!