We met the first day we moved into the residence halls at Oregon State University in 1998. Andy likes to say that I was the second girl he met at college, and said "Meh, she'll do". We dated for five years, and then got married on July 19th, 2003. After completing our MS degrees for engineering, we relocated from Corvallis, Oregon to Tucson, Arizona, where we have lived for seven years now.
Four summers ago we welcomed our son, Lincoln, into the world on the evening of our 5th anniversary, July 19th, 2008. Our first daughter, named June, was born on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, 2010. Our second daughter, named Rosalyn, was born on April 4th, 2011. Our third daughter, named Cora, arrived on September 8th, 2012. We are expecting the final little member of our family to join us, on or around, Halloween 2014!
1/12 - Whoa! We're pregnant! Due date Sep. 15th, 2012.
10/21/11- Broke ground on our house!
10/11- Roxy starts crawling! 8/11- Lincoln starts preschool! 4/4/11 - Roxy born! 8lbs & 20.5in! 2/26/11 - Lincoln starts the ketogenic diet. 2/11 - June starts walking! 11/10 - Level II ultrasound shows no problems & reveals a baby girl! 10/10 - CVS results show healthy baby! 09/10 - June starts crawling! 07/10 - Surprise! We're pregnant! Due date Apr. 13, 2011. 07/10 - Lincoln starts walking!!! 03/17/10 - June born! 6lbs 8.5oz & 18.5". 11/09 - Level II ultrasound shows no problems. 09/09 - CVS results say it's a healthy baby girl! 07/09 - Pregnant again! Due date Mar. 31st 2010. 06/09 - Lincoln starts crawling!! 04/30/09 - Miscarriage@ 4.5 weeks. 04/09 - Pregnant! Due date Jan 4th, 2010. 09/08 - Lincoln diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis and Infantile Spasms. 08/08 - First seizures appear. 07/19/08 - Lincoln born! 7lbs 8.5oz & 19.25" 03/08 - Ultrasound shows healthy baby boy! 02/08 - It's a boy! 11/07 - Pregnant again! Due date Aug. 4th, 2008. 09/07/07 - Miscarriage@ 18 weeks. Baby boy lost to ringed chromosome 18. 05/07 - Pregnant! Due date Feb. 4th, 2008. 09/06 - Tina starts at a real engineering job 04/06 - Our first house! 03/06 - Tina starts work at Civano 09/05 - Tina graduates and also moves to Tucson 08/05 - Andy graduates and starts his job in Tucson 09/03 - Start grad. school for MSs in engineering 07/19/03 - Married! 06/03 - Graduate with BSs in engineering 07/02 - Engaged! 01/99 - Start dating 09/98 - Andy & Tina meet freshman year of college
Pudding painting (according to June it is "Cudding Painting"). :)
They really showed off their personalities. June dove right in. Cora watched June first, and then decided she was going for it. Roxy wanted nothing to do with painting, or getting it on her hands, she just wanted a spoon so she could eat it and not get messy. Lincoln even did it for a little while, and he giggled the entire time. :)
We have been busy enjoying our warm winter weather here in Tucson! On days like these, it is challenging to remember why it is we miss living in the northwest. ;)
The big climbers of the family! This is all these two seem to want to do these days!
This is how Roxy winds up many of her days. She is having a bit of a hard time adjusting to no nap and room sharing with June. She wakes up really early or often will be found out of bed playing in the wee hours of the night. So her sleeping right now isn't stellar, and her little body just gives up around 5-6pm. However, if she does take a nap, then she will be awake until midnight at least. Still she can be pretty adorable asleep with her teddy on the couch or floor. ;)
Today was a big day for June! Not only did she get to make her first ever school Christmas craft, which is always exciting...
but she WROTE HER NAME on the back ALL BY HERSELF!!!!
Her teachers & I are so so proud! They say she has been working so hard on it. Writing her name by herself isn't something that they push the three year olds to do, but that she sees the older kids doing it and wants to learn how to do it as well.
All I know is that this is one craft that is definitely going in the keepsit box! :D
Our baby is one year old and sweet as sweet can be. An excellent sleeper, and a patient and happy baby. So far, she is shaping up to be every mother's dream. :)
Cora Josephine
8.30.13
About Cora
Our sweet & social baby girl is 3 years old! She is walking, running & climbing like crazy. Her favorite things are puzzles, singing, dancing, and playing games with her sisters. She is certain that she is just as grown-up as her older sisters, and can do whatever they can do.
Cora has fit into our family seamlessly. I can't wait to see the little person she grows up to be, and yet I want to freeze time & keep her just like she is now.
Rosalyn Laine
9.23.13
About Roxy
Our little preschooler is 4 years old, and not so little anymore! She has no problems keeping up with June. The girls spend all their time playing together and they all really seem to enjoy it. They also do a lot of fighting, as is to be expected with sisters so close in age.
She is a little bit like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. She can be the nicest, sweetest little girl, and then bam, she is throwing a fit. We really love her blossoming personality, and she is wicked smart. We couldn't be luckier to have her in our family.
June Elizabeth
9.30.13
About June
Our 5 year old kindergartner is a princess and pest all wrapped up in a cute little package. She is a real bundle of energy, so curious and into everything, and constantly in motion. She continues to adore her big brother and little sisters, and distributes both kisses and shoves liberally about the house.
She loves learning new things & repeating everything we say back to us. She is constantly talking & asking questions. It is a real joy watching her learn and discover the world around her. She tries so hard to please everyone, to help mom & dad as the "oldest" child, but sometimes her mischievous nature takes her for a ride. And as always she is the life of the party and the game master for her siblings and friends!
Lincoln Christopher
9.28.13
About Lincoln
Lincoln is our 7 year old, walking, running & climbing 2nd Grader! He is very sweet, displays quite the sense of humor, and has a huge capacity for love. We love that he is developing his own sense of himself and his personality. Thanks to the Ketogenic diet & several anti-convulsants, he has shown great progress with seizure control and social emotional development. He shares a very special friendship with June, plays with Roxy, and is beginning to show some curiosity about Cora. He gives hugs, snuggles, and pinches freely to anyone within proximity. We continue to celebrate every little moment and milestone that we have with our little man.
When he was 2 months old he was diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Infantile Spasms/Epilepsy. This results in multiple daily seizures of various shapes and sizes, as well as medications, restrictive diets, developmental delays, therapists, doctors, and hospital procedures. Despite all of this, he remains one of the best sons a family could ever hope for. We are so proud of him, and lucky to have him in our lives. He is our brave strong son; our little miracle.