Happy Valentines Day

Both Jonathan and I get really excited about giving gifts (sometimes more me) and we can't wait until the actual day gets here! So on Thursday both of our gifts came in and we couldn't wait, so he opened up his gift from Jocelyn, and she got him a new pair of dress boots that he had been asking for! He was very excited and loves breathing in the new boot smell :) Then I opened my gift from him and it was a 5lb gummi bear, for those of you who know me well, you know I love gummi bears and jelly beans, so my husband thought that if I loved one gummi bear I would really love a 5lb 12,000 calorie one :)



My gift came on Saturday night when I took him to see Wolfman (it's what he asked for) and got a sitter for Jocelyn so we could spend some time together out on the town (babies r us)!

Jocelyn was not without gifts, she received a valentines day outfit, 2 valentines stuffed puppies and a jumper! All of which she loved and just giggled in delight! She even got her first Valentines in the mail from a BOY! Yes Marek McClenny did good and actually put his picture in a card and sent it in the mail! Oh and she spoiled me too, she bought dinner for me Sunday night, Jonathan helped serve it, while I opened my remaining gifts from Jonathan surrounded by tons of stargazer lilies!

When Jocelyn was a few weeks old, I took out my VHS of the Little Mermaid (my favorite Disney movie) so that I could share it with her. To my horror, I found that whoever I let borrow it last, replaced it with the little mermaid recorded on a blank tape, the sound quality was horrible and I was very disappointed that I couldn't share it with Jocelyn


So Valentines day this year was fantastic and having a loving family to spend it with was even better. I hope that everyone enjoyed their valentines day as well! So what was your favorite part?

8 Weeks old

Jocelyn just turned 8 weeks yesterday and she has grown so much!
Here are some of the things that are going on with her now
- She is rolling over on occasion
- crying real tears (which can break your heart)
- took her first shower (and absolutely LOVED it)
- putting pressure on her feet when she stands up
- loves to sit in our lap big girl style
- smooshes her face next to yours (just like her daddy)
- sleeping through the night (thank you LORD)
- smiling more and more often throughout the day
- cooing up a storm, telling you all about her day!
- has more hair and when wet looks like it may have some curl (maybe like her mama)
- her eyes are turning brown :)
- and she is stealing our heart more and more every day
Enjoy a few pictures!

One Month

I can't believe that one month has already flown by since Jocelyn has joined our family. Everything is going so great at home and she is such a good baby! We have both found our rhythm at home together and we love welcoming home Jonathan when he gets off work. She has already rolled over for us a few times but it still figuring out that her arms have muscles too, not just her legs :) She loves to try to crawl while we are holding her, which makes us laugh because as we have said, she is only a month old :) She is smiling a little bit without it always being gas :) and is getting a little bit of a personality as well. I can't believe this time has flown by so fast!

Bad Boys Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do.....

So a little bit of backstory is in order to explain the title of this blog. Back in March I submitted a request to take the entrance exam for the police department(for Corpus....C.C.P.D.) I took the exam and physical fitness test in June and passed both doing rather well on the written exam and scoring 11th out of almost 400 people. I had a background investigation done and was given a polygraph test and then in October I finally got my interview. I passed all with flying colors. I was told that I would be under review along with all the other applicants that had passed everything and than I would be placed on the list of possible candidates for the academy class. I was told the final decisions would not be made until January and not to expect to hear any news untill then. Yesterday afternoon I recieved a phone call asking me if I would accept a conditional job offer with the police department! Of course I accepted! I still have to complete a psychological evaluation and a physical/drug screening as part of the conditions of employment. I will be entering the 30 week academy in April of 2010. Thats right, I'm gonna be a police officer! I'm so excited, I can't believe I've been chosen as one of 15 selected for the academy class. Doing the math makes my head spin but basically I beat out 900 something applicants for a spot in the class. I've been very blessed by the help and coaching and advice I've recieved along the way and can only chalk that help up to God pushing me where He wants me to go. Thanks to all who have been praying for me when I needed it and encouraging me along the way. I can't wait to turn the next page on this new chapter in my life! -Jonathan

Jocelyn - The story of the newest Tidden

Last week Jonathan and I met with the doctor and he let us know that Jocelyn was ready to enter the world early and he gave us the option of choosing the day or having her birthday possibily be over Thanksgiving so we chose Monday as the day that we would meet our little girl.
So Monday morning at 5:30 am, we checked into the hospital, hoping for our little girl by the end of the day. After a busy morning with a few complications, the doctor decided that Jocelyn would make her debut all on her own without any help (no pitocin), so we were in for a long day! Luckily I have the worlds best and most patient doctor and my labor/delivery nurse was off the charts fantastic. So the day went on with JT and I hanging out, my nurse and I chatting, and trying to keep the world via FB updated with Jocelyn's arrival.




At 7:11pm, (with less then 30 minutes of pushing) Jocelyn Cecilia Tidden made her debut to the world at 8lbs and 20.5 inches long. She scored a 9 out of 9 on the APGAR scale and all the nurses couldn't stop gushing about how healthy she looks and "Oh my, those cheeks!" My fantastic friend Regina was there to catch all the first moment photos for us as we saw our little girl for the first time (BIG THANKS). We were overjoyed, relieved, amazed and just so excited for her.

So yes, now we are parents and learning as we go. JT was able to take 2 weeks off of work, so he and I are working as a team to tend to Jocelyn's needs and just snuggle with our little girl. Her favorite thing right now is to burrow... she likes to get as close as possible to you, right on your chest under your chin and fall deeply into sleep. She also is trying to hold her head up... yah I know that should be a later thing, but at 3 days old she has been trying to do it all on her own! So we will do our best to keep you updated, please let us know if we fall behind. We love you all and thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts through out this pregnancy, we couldn't have been blessed with a more perfect child!

Shout out to my shorties :)

A little update... I'm 34 weeks pregnant and my beautiful precious little girl has decided it is time for me to go to physical therapy. Jocelyn LOVES to stay on my right side which has thrown my balance and my every day posture off a bit. My L1 or my SI (can't remember) vertebrae on the right side has shifted a bit off track which was causing me some INTENSE back pain. So my amazing doctor prescribed me some physical therapy here in town. I'm loving it! It's basically alot of water exercises, which make you feel weightless and so light, another perk. And then a good massage and a hot pack.

So the reason for the title... Yesterday I was doing my exercises and the therapists told me to grab a water noodle (floatie) and go to deep water, I start stepping over there and I see the 5 foot sign and realize I can't touch the ground anymore, I am in deep water in the 5 foot zone. That is when I realized I am really short :) Not like I needed a reminder but it made me laugh a little. Oh and to make you laugh a little more, some of the exercises in "deep water" make me bob around a lot, and wouldn't you know it... I got motion sick.... yup I got sea sick in the "deep end" of the pool doing exercises. Everyone better be laughing WITH me :)

Other then that... pregnancy has been fantastic. I love playing, reading, talking and singing to her. Jonathan also likes to play with her hands and feet, poking at my belly and making her go around his fingers :) It's fun to watch the two of them "play" So only 6 more weeks until her arrival and we are getting ready in every possible way. The nursery is almost done, we start our pre-birth classes this Sunday and then it's the baby! Can't wait for all of you to meet her!

Dear salesmen and saleswomen...

Just because I am young does not mean that I don't keep up with my finances, so when I call back about a refund that you conveniently "forgot" to do, don't get upset with me that you have to do more paperwork now to credit back my account.

Also, no no and no, I do not want to finance it or start a line of credit with your store. My answer to your question the first two times will be the same when you ask it the third time, so don't get surprised by it and please stop asking a question I have already answered.

Lastly when I mention that I am only interested in "this, this and this, within this price range" please don't show me all the other things you have in stock that are x amount of dollars over what I mentioned that I am looking to spend. You are wasting my time and yours.

Thank you for your time :)