Five Years Ago: hot dogs, a chevron and a cute boy

Five years ago around this time, I was devastated. My missionary that I was "in love" with had left earlier that month and I was sooo sad. Actually sad is an understatement, I was writhing in the depths of despair. I distinctively remember running up the stairs of my dorm room bawling, a really horrible ugly cry and my BFF Melissa (none other than Charlotte Melissa's namesake) came rushing to my side. I cried for hours. I have honestly never cried that long before that or since that time.

The days past and I wrote my missionary everyday. I was diligent and determined. I didn't go out much on the weekends, VERY VERY unusual. My much loved "baby dodge" truck stood still in the snow covered parking lot. My grades had never been so good! I had never gotten more sleep, oh boy how that was going to change.

It is all my mother's doing actually, I was on the phone with her while finishing up my talk for church the next day. I was saying how lonely I was, blah, blah, blah. I was a shadow of my former self. My mom, who is always on my team, and always tell me the truth, even though it is NOT always what I want to hear, told me that I needed to get out and do something, have fun! This was the best time of my life, I grudingly agreed and I went down the hall to find my girls and see if they wanted to do something.

They were ecstatic! You see I was the only one with a car, and pretty much that meant that we always went everywhere in the baby dodge and they had been missing her. We decided to be crazy and do one of our favorite p-town activities....hot-dogging. Hot dogging consists of taking cold hot dogs, and hurling them out of a moving vehicle at passersby. I know this is a very, very juvinielle activity, but none the less, we loved it. And off we went..

First stop was the gas station. The Chevron right by the LaVell Edwards statium. We had to gas up since the baby dodge had been neglected. Just before pulling out, we saw this group of guys walking into the store. I caught the eye of one of them. He was tall and dark, definitely handsome. I rolled down the passenger window and had my friend hurl a hot dog in his direction. He was confused, wouldn't you be, but he had the attention of a car full of cute girls and he wasn't about to pass that up. He came over to chat and we decided to make it a co-ed hot dogging experience. They jumped in our car and we were off. We laughed and laughed and then we all went back to one of their apartments to hang out.

The conversation flowed, we talked sports, school, golf and all of the usual things. I even found myself flirting. What was my problem?! I had a missionary, then he casually asked if any of us had boyfriends, all of us went down the line, I was the last to answer and my answer was NO. All of my girls looked at me, stunned. The past three weeks I had been a crying, moping, ridiculous wreck and now I was a flirting, giggling boyfriendless co-ed. I was back.

We had to leave, the night was getting late. And we just walked away, no numbers exchanged, to be honest, I was surprised. We obviously had a flirtatious connection and he seemed into it. Just as we got in the car, I stayed there for a second thinking. I needed to give him my number. I wrote it on a piece of paper and just as I was going to put it on his car, I hear a knock at my window. "I just realized that if I ever want to throw hot dogs again, I don't have your number." Numbers were exchanged and from that moment on we were inseprable.

I never looked back. We were meant to be. Eight weeks later we were engaged. Five years ago, my life changed forever, thanks to some hot dogs, a chevron station and the cutest boy I ever saw.

By far my least favorite thing

So here I am three weeks post delivery and I know that it is not that far out and what not, however I have to face the fact that I still have 30+ lbs to lose. Oh how I hate loosing weight. It is not that I don't think that I can't do it, I've lost well over 30 lbs twice before and let me tell you, it sucks. Seriously why do women have to bear this burden of gaining weight and then loosing it. No kidding, men do not have to deal with this like women. I know that I still just barely had a baby, but NONE and by NONE I mean NONE, of my clothes fit. I wear sweat pants everyday, and I do not take off my jacket for fear of muffin top, lets just say it is a good thing its February!

It is so hard having gorgeous, skinny minnies all around you. Seriously who are these people that just fly right back into their pre-pregnancy jeans? I mean seriously, I want to rip your hair out, ok not really, but maybe. I had another mini-breakdown this morning, in the shower, yup nice visual huh? Just me bawling my eyes out, hey at least I didn't have mascara on to ruin, right?

Well I will try to be positive, but it really is so so so so hard and I just dread it with everything in me! This for me, is the hardest part about having a newborn, not the lack of sleep, or the cabin fever you get, but the weight that you are STUCK with. YUCK SICK GROSS. Oh well! My goal is to be in all my pre pregnancy clothes by June, think I can do it? I do, because nothing will stop me! I am determined!

cute girls

Reese put makeup on her face, all by herself and looks....well, maybe we have to put on her brush skills! Nice. Charlee is getting bigger and cuter. She likes to be held, but is still a good sleeper.

randoms

Blogger is being really weird and is not letting me upload pictures correctly. So these are in a really random order. Nothing much new. Charlee is adorable and is staying awake for longer than 20 mins. She is kind of liking her bouncy seat now. She is a very good eater, and eats four oz of formula at a time. I love it because that means longer sleep periods! Nice. I got new earrings, hence the random shot of me. I love them. Reese is doing ok. She misses her daddy so much and to be frank I DO TOO! His busy season is over Feb 26th and let me tell you it could not come soon enough, but thankfully I have amazing friends and an amazing mom that lives so close. that have been bringing me dinners and offering to watch Reese. She loves her friends and is so excited when she gets to see them. Thanks girls!

Valentine's Day Girls!

M-F-E-O

"My heart is forever at your service."
-William Shakespeare

"The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite."
-William Shakespeare

"To love another person, is to see the face of God."
-Les Miserables

"Love is like a friendship caught on fire: In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our loves becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable."
- Bruce Lee

"You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love and love and love you."
-Pride and Prejudice

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds, and that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give to you forever. I love you. I'll be seeing you."
-The Notebook

I love you babe, whenever I get asked how I knew we were the one I say, "I think it was a million tiny little things and when you added them all up it meant we were supposed to be together....and I knew it. I knew it the first time I touched him. It was like coming home...only to no home I've ever known...and I knew...it was like....MAGIC." -Sleepless in Seattle

Thank you for being my Valentine and for marrying me and giving me everything I could ever want. We are definitely M-F-E-O

Look alikes?

Reese
Reese

Charlotte

As soon as Reese was born, I thought that she looked soooo much like my family, especially my sister Chelsea, wow Reese is lucky, because Chelsea is so gorgeous! I was so excited to see what Charlotte looked like because I wanted to see what another mix of Bret and I would make. Now that I am getting to know Charlotte more, I think that she looks a lot like her dad, but also looks a little bit like Reese, in some ways. What do you think?

Week 1

The first week went by fast. But yet it seems like Charlotte has been in our family forever. I can't imagine life without her now. She is doing great and she is sleeping like a champ, but I figure she is just a tired little newborn. I am doing well, Reese loves her sister and is getting a little bit of cabin fever. She finally got out today when she went to her little play group. She is so much fun. We miss daddy, he is so busy with work, but we love him and his girls miss him.

Playing house

I had a great weekend. We came home from the hospital on friday and Bret was able to spend the day with us, we all took naps and luckily Charlotte is sleeping somewhat decent. Actually last night was a miracle, I think that she knew that I was stressed because she slept from 10:30-4:30 and then went back to bed until 8:30. I know I am lucky and don't always expect that, but that would be nice. Last night we were eating dinner over at my parents and I have no idea what happened but I just broke down and started crying. I know my hormones are all over the place, but it was a little embarrassing considering that there I was bawling my eyes out for no reason in front of my parents, grandparents and siblings. I don't know what it was but I was just overwhelmed, I think that it was that Bret had to go back to work today and since it is busy season he might be working until midnight! AHHH! I know, but I am so grateful for him! He is such a hard worker. I love him. But it makes it all worth it. I was telling Bret last night, admist my tears, that I feel like real life has started and I feel like we aren't just "playing house" any more. With one kid, it was great and fun but I still felt like we were kind of playing house, now that we have two it feels so real. I can't believe it! But I love my girls so much!

charlotte "charlee"

Bret is really good at making slideshows and made one for me when Reese was born. It is something that I still go back and watch and I cry everytime. He is such a great dad and loves his girls so much. Bret is such a guy's guy and he loves to play sports, but watching him with his girls just melts my heart and he is really the perfect dad for his girls. Thanks honey I love you!

Update

Thanks for all the well wishes. We really appreciate them. I will post a longer more updated story, because I do not want to forget any of it. I have so many pictures and I love them all so I will try to avoid uploading a million pics! but here ya go.

Our new family of four
Charlotte Melissa
Camille
Reese's first time seeing Charlee

This melts my heart!
Can you tell she was excited!!??
Waiting for the arrival! Reading people!
our first picture together. I know it is not the best shot of me, but I love it so much, it is one of my favs because I am so genuinely happy
Gigi and Charlotte

Sad Face

Charlotte Melissa

Guest Blogger: sister1 ...chels.

Hello wonderful friends and family!
guest blogger here (chelsea --- brooke's sister)
and I have just been informed about the arrival of the Wilkins' new baby girl!

Charlotte Melissa

She was born on February 4th 2009 at 11:07PM

She is 20 inches long and
weighs in at 7lbs and 13oz

how precious! right!?

Here are a few first photos of the angel
(before she got cleaned up)
she has a full head of hair, all of her fingers, all of her toes and looks beautiful already.. we are related of course.. I was kept posted throughout the night on her status, i believe they got to the hospital around 1PM
so from 1PM-11PM..
wow my older beautiful sister is such a trooper!
i wish i could have been there but i'll get to see her in a few weeks.

charlotte melissa

you have to love those cheeks!

I will update with more pictures and stories from brooke herself while they are in the hospital as soon as possible

xoxo. chels.

Fun Day

Reese and I had a fun day together. We went to get her hair cut, her first professional one and she looks so cute with her little bob! I love it. She was so excited to get her hair cut! She is adorable. Went to the doctor today and we are all set for tomorrow. I am 3cm dilated and 50% effaced so he feels really good that the induction will go really well. I cannot believe that it is happening tomorrow! Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers! We will update as soon as possible tomorrow! Yay!

Pirate

Reese and I are in a store today and one of the workers looks about 18 years old and he has a lot of interesting piercings and also a kinda crazy hairstyle. Reese all the sudden says loudly, "Mommy, look there are pirates here!" I knew EXACTLY what she was talking about but I just said, "No there are not." But she persisted and said this time even LOUDER, "Mommy, no over there, he is a pirate." At this point I know that the employee heard, and I didn't want him to think that I teach my child that just because someone has piercings they are automatically a "pirate." I just quickly, (well as quickly as I can with my sciatica limp), turn down the next aisle and pray that the kid was understanding, I did not know what to do. But I just have to laugh about it now because it is just funny. I love her and she makes me laugh everyday.

The plan for tomorrow is doctor's appt and then the induction is tentatively scheduled for weds. I will keep everyone updated on the news. But tomorrow I am planning on just having so much fun with Reese and spoiling her, because part of my heart is feeling bad that I am going to have to share my attention between her and Charlotte, but it will all be good, great actually. I am really happy.

Teach me to walk in the light

Bret loves to sing primary songs with Reese. One of their very favorites is teach me to walk in the light. It is so sweet. This morning getting ready for church she started to sing and I decided to record her. She loved watching the video over and over again. She just melts my heart and it is hard to believe that on Wednesday she won't be our little baby anymore. She is so special to me and I just love her more than anything.

Thanks Gigi!

Reese has the best Gigi. She bought her a couple new dresses for church and Reese has been BEGGING me to wear them all week. The day finally came (sunday) when she gets to wear one of them. This was her choice, the hot pink one with the "jewel" on it. Thanks Gigi. She loves her dress so much and is so excited. Now the question is whether or not I can get the dress off of her after church! Hmmmmm.