Family Beach Vacation

Here are a bunch of pictures from the week long vacation we just took with my (Ben's) family. There were 13 of us total with all of my brothers and sisters and there kids, my parents, and my grandma. We had a lot of fun. This was Campbells first time in a bathing suit (it matched her cousins) and first dip in the pool. I think she liked it even though it was kind of a shock to her at first. I even saw a wild dolphin give birth as I was about 10 yards away in an ocean kayak (see photos). It was pretty awesome, I'll have to tell you the story. Anyway, enjoy.

Going Away Party

Tonight J.D. and Danielle Adams hosted a going away party for us at their house. I know its a little early but we are going to the beach for a week after this and won't have but a couple days left once we get back. It was mainly friends from church and stuff. We had a really good time and are very thankful to them for suggesting the idea. During the prayer before we ate, J.D. was praying and Katie got really sad and teary. That kinda made me sad thinking about leaving, but she fought it back and remained composed. I have to admit though, this Sunday at church thinking about it being one of our last, I started getting really sad. We had a rough time in Mobile when we first moved here at the beginning of school four years ago. We didn't know anyone, hadn't gotten plugged in to a church, etc. God really blessed us by allowing us to find Grace Community Church and all the wonderful, Godly friends he has allowed us to meet and with whom to cultivate meaningful friendships. We hate to leave because we love you all dearly and will always hold you near to our hearts and think of you fondly and often. May God continue to bless you all in the time to come. And we promise we will come visit as often as we can, hopefully my work schedule will allow it. We promise to keep in touch, seriously. We love you guys.

And So It Begins . . .

Well we've started packing (sniff...sniff, tear rolling down the cheek). We figured we needed to go ahead and get a move on cause we are leaving to go to the beach with my (Ben's) family for a week and will only have about 7 days to pack and be ready to drive off after that. I have rented a Uhaul and will be packing it myself all day Memorial Day(if anyone wants to help with the heavy stuff). We've actually done the entire downstairs already including the kitchen. Unfortunately last night we realized we were perhaps a little overzealous when we cooked dinner (on the grill, no pots) and had vegetables and realized we had already packed the salt away. Oops. Anyway, please keep one eye on the clock over there and hang out with us, QUICK!

Graduation/Baptism Weekend

Here are some photos from this weekend. One of Katie and I in New Orleans where she took me for a surprise getaway. The rest are from this weekend which included my Honors Convocation for school, Graduation on Saturday, and the Baptism of Campbell at Grace Community Church.

Sorry, I Know Its Been Awhile . . .

Somehow I have let the thrill of blogging pass me by this month of April. I apologize to those faithful blog trollers out there who I know troll these blogs and the links associated with them to check on whats new in the blogoshere. I am sure you muttled under your breath multiple times after clicking on the "Straight Outta Compton" link from someone elses page, "Friggin' Comptons, can't even post anything since Easter, lazy ol'..." as I know I have at other people in the past when I am bored and trolling the blogosphere. So to you I extend my most heartfelt apology.

That being said, let me give a quick run-down of whats happened of late the rest of the month:
1.) We offered much in the way of praise and adoration to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ when our first child, Campbell, surprised us one morning at about 8 weeks of age by allowing us to sleep completely through the night. This is now the norm, and it is pure gold... gold I tell you.
2.) We put a "For Sale By Owner" sign out in front of our townhouse and God sold that about a week and a half later for a sliver under the asking price, again praise God... although, WE actually don't own it, my parents do... can anyone say finders fee? anyone, anyone, Bueller, Bueller...
3.) One of my good friends in Birmingham's wife had there first child, we got to go up there an see him/them. His name is Thomas Winston Martin (calling him Winston I believe, there was some indecision for awhile).
4.) Jumping to the end of the month now, I will officially be a doctor in zero minus 6 days(May 5). Went by fast (I say now that its over).
5.) I am sure there was more, but I can't remember, but I hope to keep the promise of not letting as much time go by betwixt posts, again I apologize to the trollers among us.

Feel free to keep up with the amount of time we have left in Mobile by referring to the countdown to your right. I know, we are very sad too, but all the more reason to get some good hang out time in whilst we're here. Also, of course, hope to be putting some new pictures of Campbell up soon for the multitudes who only come here for the pics and not all this blah, blah, blah . . .

Happy Resurrection Day!

He is risen! Praise the Lord! Campbell was really excited about today too. She had a good time at the church Easter egg hunt on Saturday. Paige, daughter of our freinds Scott and Annie, was so sweet holding Campbell and showing her the ropes of the egg hunting process. Also, our good freinds John and Julia, who moved to Arkansas, were driving through Mobile and got to meet Campbell for the first time today. We love these pictures of Campbell, hope you enjoy them too.

Campbell's First Beach Trip Part 2: The Pictures

As promised, here are the pictures from the beach trip. Also, while we were there, Campbell "cooed" for the first time. Thats the first non-grunt, non-cry sound she has made. For all those who already have kids, shut up, we know its not a big deal, but we were excited. Its the little things you know . . .

Campbell's First Beach Trip

Sunday the three of us went to Panama City Beach to a friends beach house for a couple days. The pictures of Campbell are real cute, but unfortunately I won't have the camera to post pictures until Saturday. Stay tuned.

Home Sweet New Home

Since finding out Katie, Campbell, and I will be in Birmingham for at least the next three years we were anxious to get a place to live nailed down. So this past Wednesday we all went up to Auburn, then Thursday Katie and I left Campbell with Katie's mom Pam and went to look at houses in Birmingham with a realtor. We saw a lot of good stuff, some bad, but went back up on Friday to look more specifically at a starter home-type neighborhood. We wanted something newer, in our price range, and not too far from the hospitals at which I'll be working . . . which is a lot to ask in Birmingham.

But on Friday we loved a lot of the houses in that neighborhood and the Lord was gracious to us and drew us to one in particular. We made an offer on Saturday and after multiple counteroffers came to an agreement Sunday afternoon for what we feel is a very fair price. Katie and I are very excited about this house. It not too far from the hospitals and has all the things we've (Katie) always wanted: hardwood floors, double vanity and seperate tub and shower in the master bath, a good backyard for Bailey (which I will need to fence in), great kitchen, and three bedrooms so we will have an extra room for ALL of our friends from Mobile to come and visit!! And they better . . .

New Pictures of Campbell

Okay, here are a bunch of pictures without the usual boring text. Enjoy!

The Envelope Please . . .

...and the winner is, Baptist Health System, Birmingham, Alabama! That was my first choice so I am pretty happy. For the first time in my life I have a real job. Or at least a job that you have to have more than a high school education to get. Now comes the task of looking for a house in Birmingham. And not just a house, but a house in our price range, which is pretty low. Thanks for everyones prayers and encouragement about Match Day, and especially to our friends in Mobile who were torn between rooting for me to get my first choice and not wanting us to leave Mobile. I appreciate your objectivity.

Here are some photos from Match Day including my beautiful wife and daughter! Campbell looks really cute in her dress. I promise from now on more posts will be about Campbell and with more pictures too. Thats all anybody really wants to see anyway.

Beware The Ides of March . . .

William Shakespeare must have, at some point, been a fourth year medical student. As you may not be aware, March 15th is what, for me and tens of thousands of other fourth year medical students across the country, is known as Match Day. This is the day that the National Residency Match Program releases the results of where everyone will be doing their residency training. To sum up how it works, we as applicants apply and interview at various programs from about November to January. At the end of February we the applicants rank the programs we applied to from 1 down to however many you applied. The programs also rank all the kids that applied from whom they want the most on down. These rank lists go into a computer and through some algorithm and/or gorrilla math it spits out matches of students and programs. Obviously if you are a more competitive applicant, the likelihood of you getting your first choice is higher. If you're a big slacker, you might get your last choice or even not rank at all. If you do rank, you are contractually bound to fulfill that committment to wherever you matched.

Anyway, for me this is all revealed one week from tomorrow at a mini-ceremony for our class. Pray that I will readily accept wherever God has placed me. Hopefully my first choice, but God seems to like to do his own thing, so I kind of won't be surprised if its not. Either way, for fourth years, beware the Ides of March.

Falling Asleep On The Job

Yes, we're tired. Last night at some point (don't ask me the time) Katie and I got up to feed Campbell. I went to pick her up to stop her from crying and came back to our room while Katie was getting the rest of her things together to feed her. Well, as Proverbs 6:10 goes ,"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest...", one thing leads to another, and its snoozeville. Katie amazingly had her wits about her at this wee hour and grabbed the camera and was able to snap this photo. These are the kind we'll enjoy many many years from now, say perhaps at Campbell's rehearsal dinner or something. A little Daddy/Daughter moment. I like it. No, I love it.

Uncle Gavin & Aunt Alissa Visited Me!

Sorry my mommy and daddy haven't updated this blog in a while, I'm keeping them kinda busy. I got a little sick and mommy is still getting better too. But guess what! My Uncle Gavin and Aunt Alissa came and visited me and we had lots of fun. They held me and played with me and tried to keep me awake after I ate. I think they mostly hung out with mommy and daddy, but I can't say for sure, I was sleeping most of the time they were here.

But I sure am glad they came! They love me a whole bunch and took some pictures of me. I think my daddy is sposed to be putting them on here for everybody to see. I get kinda embarrassed but you gotta give the people what they want I guess. Well, its time for me to go back to sleep, but I'll tell daddy to post more often, so don't get too mad at him, k? I love you guys and be sure to comment on how cute you think I am. Just kidding . . . okay, I'm not. :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I put on my best Valentine's outfit and wanted to show everyone my best side! I love you guys and hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day! I'm pretty tired now, so I'm gonna go take a little nap...
Love, Campbell
P.S. XOXOXOX