the not-so-typical college life

We moved to Rexburg, Idaho when Eden was seven weeks old. We both only had two semesters of undergraduate work left at Brigham Young University-Idaho. We could do it. Be full time students, full time parents, and full time spouses. Right? Well, here is a glimpse of how that worked out for us:

the scheduling.

We got so lucky. Being our senior year, our remaining classes were only offered at certain times. What if we both had to be in a class at the same time? What would we do? Well, it just so happens that it worked out great. Granted we had to take a few online classes too. We decided we would try and alternate our schedules. I had to nurse Eden at least every two hours, so I could only take one class at a time. before switching off with Kevin. We were on campus each day from seven in the morning to roughly five or six in the evening. Then we had to do homework. 

This is what I wrote while sitting in the mothers' lounge, in the Taylor Chapel, after nursing my baby girl after class: 

"whoever said going to school full time with a baby was hard? because you were right. it's only the third day of school and I'm overwhelmed. it's these short moments between classes that give me reassurance and hope to push through. i'm so grateful I can still share this special bond with my little sweetheart. we can do it little one, but only with the help of your daddy. he's a good one, that man."

I honestly have a thousand pictures of her asleep in my arms in the mothers lounge. And although I could have been doing homework while she slept on my chest, I just couldn't bare to set her down. Being away from her while in class was enough for me. We became quite acquainted with other moms and their babies. We knew where every mothers' lounge was by the end of the year, and it became a quiet, safe haven for us. 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

It seemed liked when she was laying on me, my mind became clear and every worry faded away. What a blessing. It was fun to look back at these pictures and see how sweet Eden grew. I would jot down thoughts and saw it fitting to share the transitions between the beginning, middle and end of our precious nap times together on campus:

"i find there is no time for anything productive with her in my arms. then again, why would i want to trade this for anything else? her tiny little hands let me know i'm loved. her every breath lets me know i'm enough. and her 10.4 pound body lets me know i'm needed. right here, with her. that's where i need to be."

"i'm beginning to think i should start an [page] dedicated to her sleeping in my arms. it's kinda my life right now." 

Like I said, I have thousands of these...

"something beautiful happens when you become a mother. somehow, someway, your heart capacity grows and you love like you never thought you could. you are their comfort, their safety, their home. you are their hero. there is no task more rewarding, no position more fulfilling, no calling more important than the role of a mother. it's the moments like this that I too often take for granted. not today. today I will soak up each passing breath and sweet sigh, and know that I am needed and that I am loved by this precious little human. and that is enough."

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

If I did it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. It really was during those quiet moments between my classes, when I could have been doing homework or working or something else, that I was able to connect with my sweetheart. It was the time I spent in the mothers lounge, holding my sleeping baby in my arms, that I will forever cherish. I am so glad that I had a husband supportive of me and that choice, who bent over backwards to allow these sweet memories to happen. 

the majors. 
 

Kevin was a Business Management Major with a double emphasis in Marketing & Finance. He did so well these last two semesters, and somehow managed to pull a 4.0. He'd never tell you how hard it was and how well he did, he's too humble to brag on himself--that's what I'm here for, right? Not only did he get up super early every morning, and not miss a single class (except for the one that I made him, cause I was sick and could take care of Eden while laying on the bathroom floor... how do you moms do it?!). He also stayed up super late doing homework, making sure each assignment was done exactly perfect, so that he could get the most from each one... even if it didn't count towards his grade. He never skipped an extra credit assignment, even if he had over an 100% in the class, and he got up with me every single time Eden woke up throughout the night. This guy is amazing. I don't know how I got lucky enough to score such a hardworking, dedicated man, but I'm glad I did.

If you're wondering how he managed so well on such little sleep, I'll show you:

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox


As for me and my major, my goal has been to create a non-profit, focusing on third world countries, specifically Sierra Leone, to improve their maternal and infant mortality rates. In order to do this, I'd need various backgrounds, so I opted for a degree in University Studies. I would focus on Public Health, Business Management and Health & Wellness. It ended up being the perfect match for me and my goals.

I was able to actually design the NPO and its programs, budgets, and all the research that went into it. Now I'm just waiting for the perfect time to launch it. We'll see when that happens, but until then, I'll keep modifying and researching it out.

the degrees...

This might as well have been a post showing you adorable Eden sleeping in various positions, but this really depicts our semesters with her. If we weren't in class, we were with her. If she wasn't asleep, she was destroying anything in her reach, and who has time to get a picture of that? But despite how difficult it was, we graduated. We finished our undergraduate studies, as full time-students, with a baby.

If I could do it over again, would I? No. It was hard. But also because I wouldn't have changed anything. I learned so much. I learned how to more fully appreciate the gives and takes in a relationship, both with my husband and my daughter. I learned how to stay balanced, even in heavy loaded responsibilities. I learned to spend time on the things that matter most. And for me, being a wife and mother came first... then school. And ya know what? It turned out just great! I finished my degree with a 3.78 GPA (and that includes the stupid chemistry classes I mistakenly took).

So here's to us on this next crazy adventure: adulthood.