Three Become Four

After Clayton's second birthday, we found out we were pregnant with baby number two. We enjoyed our little man so much that we were ready to expand the family!

We found out that we were expecting a girl at my 18 week appointment. Excitement and anxiousness were the two major emotions at this time. Excited to expand our family and add a little girl. But anxious, wondering how we would do with a girl since we were so used to our little boy.

My pregnancy was different this time. I was a little sicker and more tired. Of course, I was working full-time and chasing around a 2 year old. We were also going through the first major remodel of the house. Our "man room" became a master suite and our living room was extended. Patrick, his dad, brother, and friends worked hard to make room for our newest addition. The finished with a week or so to spare.

On April 1, 2010, at 6:30am, Maecie Jane Beare was born. She weighed 8lbs 2oz and was 20 inches long. Maecie is named after my Great-Grandmother, Mae Odom, and Jane coming from my sweet cousin, Sarah Jane....two ladies who have meant a lot to me in my life.

Maecie, weighing 8 lbs, was bigger than her older brother, but has a sweet disposition! She is such an easy-going baby, our sweet little princess. However, very adamant about trying to hold her head up and move her arms and legs as much as possible. My thought is that she is trying to keep up with her always moving older brother.

Clayton absolutely adores her and did not mind anything about her until she decided to sit in his blue bumbo chair! He loves to play with her on the floor and make her smile. Clayton has become my little helper, throwing diapers away, finding her pacifier for me, and trying to make her smile. Now only if he would use the potty!

Our family is growing and we are having a blast! Patrick and I could not ask for better children, family, and friends!

Two Become Three!

We had just bought our first house in October of 2006. Less than a month later, we found out I was pregnant! So our journey to becoming a mom and dad were beginning!

Clayton Daniel was born July 20, 2007 at 11:36am. He weighed in a 7lbs 6oz and was 21 inches long. He had a full head of hair and was already trying to suck on his thumb!

Clayton has been a great highlight. He loves to sing songs (like his mom) and fix things (like his dad). A two year old knew what a wire nut was before I did! Clayton is extremely bright (despite my biased opinion). He can say the entire Pledge of Allegiance, sing his ABC's, count to 12, identify colors and more. What can I say, I love my little Bubba!

The Proposal

Dating for Patrick and me was hazardous to our health! It was late nights (or early mornings, depending on how you look at it), 30-45 minute drives, followed by a few hours of sleep before going to school or work.

I lived in South Charlotte, worked at Carolina Place Mall, and went to school at Winthrop University in Rock Hill. Patrick lived in Huntersville with his parents, worked with Webb Heating and Air, and went to school at CPCC off of ... Our days usually consisted of school, then work for me. Work, then school for Patrick. And when we were done, meeting at my apartment or his house. Talking, watching TV, eating dinner, doing homework, and anything else we could think of to spend as much time together as possible. Then at 2 or 3 in the morning, whoever needed to, would leave and drive home. We would only get about 3-5 hours of sleep before getting up to do it all again.

Within that time frame, Patrick pulled many 24-48 hours of no sleep, I got strep (and Patrick would hold my hair back while I puked....so sweet huh?), had my wisdom teeth taken out, and Patrick left for a week to visit family in Texas. How did we survive? How did we pass our classes? How did two young people ever make it to anything on time? I don't know, but by December of 2004, something would change.

It was Christmas Eve, and I had convinced myself that Patrick just didn't have the money right now to buy me a ring and we would have to wait to be engaged. We had said those three little words to each other back in September, so waiting for things to make it to the next stage was hard! But, I knew it would come in time. Patrick and I spent that evening at his parents. We opened our gifts from each other. We sat in the hot tub, under the stars, preparing for meeting my family the following day. If he had the perfect time, it would have been then, I thought. I went to bed kind of bummed, but excited to see family the next morning and spend Christmas at my parents house.

The next morning, Patrick seemed a little out of sorts. He kept going through all of the rooms in his parents house, getting his bag together, and trying to pack the truck before we headed out. Since my bag was already packed, I tried to wait patiently. Once we got on the road, I thought Patrick would calm down a little bit. But he didn't and he didn't seem his usual chatty self. I was even afraid to ask him to stop so I could use the bathroom, for fear he might have a meltdown.

Halfway into the drive, Patrick asked if it would be okay for us to stop by the temple since it was on our way. He had mentioned doing that before, so it wasn't a huge suprise to me. I thought it would be okay, even though we would have to hurry since we were running a little late.

When we stopped, Patrick grabbed his coat from the backseat, but didn't put it on. When I asked him about it, he said he would in a minute, but he was okay right then. Okay, freeze, whatever, I thought to myself. I don't remember what we talked about or what exactly got my attention. But all of the sudden, Patrick was on his knee, asking me to marry him. Underneath his coat, he had been carrying a red, long-stemmed rose. I could not believe what was happening! My first words were, "REALLY?!". I looked around for a ring, but didn't see one. Patrick was patiently waiting for an answer. And once I realized he was serious, I told him YES! It was then that he pointed out the ring, tied to the ribbon on my rose that I had been holding for a few minutes now.

It was an awesome day! Once we finally made it my parent's house, I showed off my ring and everyone seemed to be happy for us. Well, almost everyone.....but that's a different story.

The day had arrived, I finally had my diamond, my Prince Charming, and I was happy! It was every girl's dream come true!

We were married on June 25, 2005 in the Columbia Temple in South Carolina.

First "Date"

On July 17th of 2004, Patrick and I went on our first "date". Date is in quotations because it was not your average date. Usually, guys asks girl, girl says yes, and guy pays for date. Ours was nothing close to that!

A mutual friend, Brian, asked if my roomate and I wanted to go out with a bunch of friends from the Singles Branch (This is an LDS church where just single people, ages 18-31, attend church together. Talk about a meat market!). My roommate was unable to attend, but I could go and I was excited. I was expecting Brian to call and give me the details. However, it was this guy named Patrick that I had only met once who called. No big deal, it was a group thing and I was going to have fun!

We had planned to go to the drive-in that night. However, it was supposed to rain, so we opted for dinner and an indoor movie. All 9 of us arrived at Rafferty's for dinner. Patrick sat next to me and we got to talk a little. I'm thinking, it's nice to get to know some new people since I was new to the Singles Branch. At the end of our meal, Patrick attempts to pay for my dinner. Weird, since we are with a big group and no one else is paying for anyone. But it was just a soup and salad, so I said okay.

We all head to the movie theatre and choose to see The Notebook. Yes, there were only 2 or 3 guys and the rest were girls. Once again, Patrick wants to pay for my ticket. "Who is this guy and what is his deal?!", are the thoughts running through my mind. I refuse to let him pay, cause it's just kind of weird in front of all these people I did not know well.

Once inside the theatre, I sit down, then our friend Brian sits next to me, along with a few of the other people. Patrick proceeds to cross all of them to come and sit on the other side of me. In other circumstances, I might have had sirens and red flags going off, but I shrugged it off and watched the movie.

Half way through, Patrick and I start talking about the movie and such. And before I knew it, he placed his hand in mine and we stayed that way for the rest of the movie!

Patrick and I parted ways at the theatre, and I went home to tell my roommate of the strange happenings of the evening. But I couldn't help but smile about the whole event.

From that day on, Patrick and I spent every day possible together.