Keeping Kate: 2014: The Year in Review

There's only so much you can post in a status when Facebook does the "year in review" photo slideshow for you. That's why I'm so thankful to have a blog... I can expand a little more on

what 2014 has brought us.

January

I lost nearly 20 pounds and was looking and feeling fabulous. I was smaller than I had been in a while and was working out four to five times a week for an hour and a half, but I noticed around mid-January that I was feeling really sluggish and tired... More sluggish and tired than was normal...

23rd: I finally trusted my instincts and stopped for a few pregnancy tests at the CVS on my way home from a meeting. I couldn't believe the plus signs I saw on both tests, so I bought two more digital ones that night after my workout. My husband and I laughed ourselves to sleep. We had no idea what we were in for.

February

We announced our pregnancy with Valentine's Day cards to our family and close friends. We were so overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support for us, even though we were still a little scared.

March

I had the best spring break; I took my Praxis II test to become certified in Special Education, which I had grown to love. I passed and am now certified! My mom came with me to my second prenatal appointment that week and got to see Vaught flipping and flopping around in my belly. Of course, we still didn't know at that time that he was a boy!

April

We celebrated our first wedding anniversary with a night at the bed and breakfast we honeymooned at in Oxford. We were just a couple of days away from finding out that...

It's a boy! We found out we were having a boy on April 14th!
I had to keep the gender a secret for a whole week! We were going to reveal with an Easter egg hunt for our families that Sunday.
On Thursday before Easter break, I was called into my principal's office and told that I would not be returning for a third year. As of May, I would be unemployed. I remember this moment like it was yesterday, and it still haunts me. Never in my life had I felt so afraid, so vulnerable. Three times I asked for reasons why I was being asked to resign; three times I was denied an answer, other than "It's just not working out." A pen was placed in my hand and I was forced to sign a sheet of paper stating that I chose to leave my job, to quit. I placed my hand protectively over my belly as I signed my name, shaking so badly I thought I would pass out. I will never forget it. I am still healing; I am better with each day.

Through the fear and pain of such a scary situation, we found a way to have a pleasant Easter with our families. We announced Baby Pace's gender to the delight and surprise of our family and friends. They were so glad to be welcoming a boy to the family for the first time in eight years!

May

I worked with some amazing women. My best friend from work put together an after-school baby shower for me and Vaught. I was so surprised! It will always be one of my favorite memories.

On the last day of school, I left early and cried the whole way home. I loved everyone I worked with and still do to this day. I loved my kids, and I still miss them terribly. Even still, I knew that God was doing something for me, and I knew it was okay that I did not yet understand what it was. To my credit, I did make sure that I had completed all of the work that I had been assigned during those last few weeks. I don't know why, but I still wanted to leave on a good note.

I felt Vaught's first kicks while waiting on a train in Potts Camp... It was Mother's Day.

I was in my first of three weddings at the end of May.

I returned to work at my mother's office, making four years that I have worked as an office assistant for her. I got the official title of Account Manager this year :) I was thankful to wake up each morning and go to a job I absolutely love.

June

SIX months pregnant and finally starting to show!

I was in my second wedding, my baby brother's, on June 28th. I was about to pop out of my dress!

July

I enjoyed a short vacation to Orange Beach, and my husband surprised me by showing up that Wednesday night. We looked at it as the honeymoon we never got to have.

I was in my third and final wedding at the end of the month, Jaymo's. I cried the entire way home, from both exhaustion, happiness for her, and relief that I was done with weddings for the rest of the year.

August

My first official baby shower was on August 3rd, and Vaught Charles got soooo much stuff!!

I finished putting his room together towards the end of the month.

September

I turned 24 and was still pregnant!

But by the 25th, our baby boy was here! Vaught Charles Pace was born at 8:27 that night. Eight pounds, one ounce, twenty and one-half inches of pure perfection!

October

The Ole Miss Rebels beat the Alabama Crimson Tide.

November

I learned that I have even more to be thankful for than I thought. I tried to focus on being more thankful throughout the entire month.

We had an enjoyable first Thanksgiving with Vaught. He wore a gown on Thanksgiving Day, and it nearly caused a divorce.

The Golden Egg returned to its rightful place at The University of Mississippi. I got too shambly at that football game.

December

My blog earned more sponsors!

I returned to work while Vaught went to daycare; the two of us have done really well with this arrangement. I've been surprised at my ease with daycare and am so glad to see how well he's doing with it too!

Vaught had his first Christmas! It was so sweet to spend the holidays with our precious baby boy. He is our entire world!