Happy 'Gotcha Day' to Lucy!!

One whole year with our Lucy in our lives. Oh how you have changed everything sweet girl. You have changed my life, you have changed me, you have changed my outlook. You are my light. God knew exactly what He was doing giving us you. It was the perfect timing and perfect match. The second I held you in my arms May 24th, 2020 I was terrified but so certain it was you. I had just gotten the news 2 days prior that your human sibling went up to heaven 2 weeks prior and you just barged your way into my heart, taking all negative thoughts away and turning them into excitement and anticipation for you. God used you and worked through you to help me. You are a miracle. And now you have experienced every day and every holiday together of a whole year! So fun!

 

Her 'gotcha day' new toy hamburger!

Even though covid was so so evil and possibly took my baby from me, and I hate it, it also gave us you. If you don't know, we would have never gotten Lucy if it weren't for covid. We somehow got on the normally 3 year wait list immediately through lots of prayer and were the 2nd girl on the list for one of Early's Golden retrievers dogs and 5th girl on the list for the second pregnant dog for the February 2020 conceived and April 2020 born litters. When the first dog, Abygale (Lucy's dad's other "partner"), gave birth she somehow only gave birth to two dogs (when the vet ultrasound showed she had 13-14 pups to deliver) which were boys and the third boy dog died in delivery we were crushed because we were so certain this was going to be our dog and our chance, from this litter of supposedly 14. Then Daizi gave birth to 4 boy dogs and 4 girl dogs, one short away from what we were in line for. We were absolutely devastated to say the least. I cried on the way to work, I cried driving home, I cried the whole evening, I cried for everything that felt so wrong and so broken and lonely. I didn't understand, God had sent us Early's Golden retrievers after almost a year of looking with no luck for getting a dog anywhere near when we needed one. Then at 8:30pm Sheri called (which I was sure to say she was so sorry but we didn't make the lineup) but she said, due to covid, 2 girl dog owners dropped out because they had lost their job or couldn't afford a dog right now. I about fainted. This was God. This was our chance and we jumped for it. So when we went to pick out our dog, we didn't just get the last ("5th") girl, we got to choose between 2 girl dogs! That is God y'all. I felt for those families who had lost their jobs or were struggling, but I have to say without a doubt in my mind that we were the best and right parents to Lucy. I love and care for that dog more than anyone could have ever. I love her more than some would love a child. Loved, not spoiled. So Lucy's story is remarkable. So as much as covid took away from me and even though I got it 3 times, I have finally made peace with it because without it, I wouldn't have my sweet Lucy.

The day we drove home with Lucy, she rested on my chest the whole 4.5 hours home. She bonded with me immediately and I was so so so scared because I had no idea what to do or how to even hold her. She seemed so fragile in her 8 pound frame. But Lucy never once showed any fear. Even on her first night alone she slept soundly throughout the night. She is so brave. I taught her all about our house and I was so impressed by how incredibly smart she was instantly. I adored her and we spent the next 3 weeks every moment together and the next 3 months all evening after work together when Cody would be at football until 9pm or later. Especially on game nights when Cody would come home at 2am the next morning and have to constantly work on his masters degree (even now). I spend as much time with her as I could, training her and loving her. I walk her every night for 2 hours, I play with her an hour and a half before work every day, we cuddle on the couch. I play hoursssss of frisbee in the yard together every day, and she became part of our life. She is one of the family and I can't even remember life before her. She is my best friend. I wish I had gotten her 15 years ago lol. She is so perfect. Even when she chews up the baseboards I can't help but love her, so feaking much. The house doesn't even matter. When she jumps on my head or breaks my toe, I can only stay mad at her until the throbbing of the pain goes away lol. Lucy has become my life and she has added so much love to our family. I love you Lucy and I pray to God that she is with us for another 13+ years. We love you Lucy, more than you can ever know. You aren't a dog to us, you are family. Mark my words, when my kids come (Lord willing), she will still be tied for my favorite. 

I am so fortunate also to be her favorite. That is the greatest gift that could ever been given to me, she is my buddy and shadow. It is something special when a dog bonds with you.

 

June 7th 2020

 

Mama, why are you on the inside of my pin? Lucy gave me extra cuddles when I came home from my d&c surgery just 3+ weeks after we had gotten her.

 

Also, we have taught Lucy how to "talk". We have these buttons that we recorded words into that she can ask to go potty or get a treat or go on a walk and she has understood and has been using them since she was 12 weeks. It's remarkable. 

 

My gorgeous girl. I always wanted a "Fall dog" that not only fit the Fall colors and feels during 3 months of the year but all the time. She is so pretty.

 

 

 

Exploring Cody's family's property!

 

 

Her favorite spot is on top of the couch like a cat!

 

Our sweet girl LOVES the water!! I can't wait to take her swimming in the Lake in late July!

 

 

So beautiful!

She loves her ball so much. She takes it everywhere and cuddles it during naps.

We love you so much Lucy Cove Raborn

or the long version: Lucy Cove Sunset and Midnight Moana Raborn 😁

Lucy growth updates post: http://rockinraborns.blogspot.com/p/lucy-cove-raborn-growth.html

6/7/21

Our 5th Anniversary and Trip!

 Happy 5 years to us!!! 

5 years.

4 job location(city) changes.

3 surgeries.

2 places/cities we've lived.

1 perfect dog.

What an accomplishment, I'm so proud of us and so eternally grateful for Cody and God leading us together. I 100% believe in soul mates and I 100% believe Cody is that one person in the entire world I was meant to be with. Without a doubt without a hesitation. Marriage is the greatest thing on this earth and it is a billion times better than I could have ever imagined. My only regret is wishing we had done it 5 years sooner lol, but seriously. I can't imagine what I would have done without Cody and without being married to him, my life would be so sad.

2016

Of course, our wedding year. We loved our wedding, we loved marriage and we loved each other. Everyone scares you into saying marriage is horrible and the first year is absolutely the worst. That couldn't be further from the truth, the first year of marriage is tied for our best year of marriage completely. We loved every single second of it. As bad as it sounds, we have a perfect marriage, and I mean every word of it. We never fight, we never see things differently, we are the same soul. I fully support marrying someone that is the same as you. Opposites don't attract in my book. In 2016 we loved our new apartment in Ooltewah together, we loved our 2 honeymoons, and it was so special having Cody teach and coach at his first full time teaching job post college.

2017

This year, I got my wonderful job at Shaw, Cody started his masters degree, and I hurt my ankle significantly playing soccer. We also decided to build a house! Cody also got his dream teaching and coaching job at Soddy Daisy High School. We went on our 1 year anniversary trip. I also got life changing lasik eye surgery. I give this year a 5/10

2018

We bought a lot to build on in Apison and I traveled a TON for work up north in the winter. We had planned to be out of our apartment by the end of this year initially but realized the house building process was going to be a rough rough rough rough rough rough journey which led us to staying 4 years in our apartment. Cody's masters degree was really tough on us both working full time and Cody doing football constatntly. I don't think Cody got more than 2-3 hours of sleep any day this entire year. This year was misery in ALL aspects of everything and I give it a 2/10 if that.

2019

This year we built our house and officially unofficially moved in 2 days after Christmas. This year we also had to deal with Cody's major foot surgery right before we moved in and finished the house which no one cared about and we (ME) had to move every single thing myself to our house from our apartment and I was made to be eternally bitter that day on due to the circumstances and certain people not getting our house done 2.5 weeks earlier even though I BEGGED GOD AND ANYONE INVOLVED but no one cared. I also didn't have my dream position at Shaw anymore due to funds and have to move 3 positions in 3 months, and my move to Dalton from Ringgold. So fun. NOT. I give this year a 5/10 just because of the house. 

2020

One of our best years of marriage but one of our harder years of life. As you know, we suffered our miscarriage and had to have a d&c surgery, had trouble getting our house finished and moved in, we moved out of our apartment, I broke my toe, we navigated covid and I got covid twice, but we also got our sweet Lucy which makes all of the bad go away. I'd give this year of our marriage a 10/10, we really drew together through all of our life struggles.

2021

This is the year we will actually try for kids. I always pictured waiting for our 5th anniversary to start thinking about kids and when we turned 28. Luckily we turn 28 a little over a month after our 5th anniversary so we won't have to wait long. Those were the main goals to try for kids on top of being established in my career (4-5 years) before I take off to be a stay at home mom for 5-10 years, being in a house, I wanted Cody to be done with his masters degree before we even got pregnant, and having our dog be 2 years old when our baby is born. We are encroaching on all of those things being perfect, we are so close. In a perfect world, I don't want to be 29 or older when the baby is born and I want the baby to be born before June 1st 2022 so any time after June 2022 will be perfect but if I want to be 28 while pregnant and 28 when I give birth that gives me a 2 month window (along with the June 1st thing) and making sure I don't suffer from another miscarriage or having trouble getting pregnant. If it is anything like last time we won't have trouble at all conceiving, it would be having a baby that survives. Oh, it is so nerve wracking. It will be perfect whatever happens, after September we will start trying. I pray pray pray this is baby year for us, I am getting so close to being ready mentally. This will also be the year I quit my job after 4+ years and become a full stay at home dog mom/wife/mom and take care of the house (I want to quit a few months before we conceive so I can detox from the chemicals I work with that aren't safe during pregnancy, and Cody and I will invest a good chunk of our savings to grow for our retirement.  This year of marriage was also one of our best. I'd give it a 9/10.

Next year Lord willing, our baby will be born, and we will have gotten a new truck for Cody that has a back row of seats and 4 full doors.

We are big on milestones and momentous occasions over here and purpose to recognize and celebrate it all. Why not, we aren't promised tomorrow are we? So with that being said, Cody and I did a 1 year anniversary long weekend getaway to a cabin in gatlinburg and ate our wedding cake topper. And for some reason 5 years seems like a huge milestone we have been waiting anticipating for a long time. It's the point where I don't consider us newlyweds anymore and the milestone that marks a new chapter in our marriage and family (kids). So for our 5 year we are doing a weekend getaway to Gatlinburg again but to the indoor water park to mark our big marriage accomplishment and kind of a kicking off to "start trying for a baby" (in about 4 months). We plan to go on a beach babymoon here in about 7 months (assuming all things are going as planned in the baby department and trying to conceive). 

So here are the pictures of the location we stayed at and eating at the famous Applebarn and going to the Christmas Store. We love celebrating our love and I'm so excited for the next 5 years. Who knows, by then we may have 3 kids!

Off to our first stop, Knoxville to spend the night at Nanas!

The view from our hotel window! We hit the jackpot! After we went to the water park, we played in the outdoor hotel water park then the indoor hotel water park until 10pm when they both closed.

At Soaky Mountain water park.

 

The three biggest rides! We stayed at the park from the minute it opened to about closing time! That was we could ride every ride at least 2-3 times!

 

 

The Christmas Store had Halloween themed decor. Interesting!

We hated to go home to normal life responsibilities but we know life will still be a lot of fun because we have a blast together always!

 

We also took Lucy to her yearly vet appointment to update her shots and cut her nails. She doesn't like the vet sadly and I hate to think it's because we never got to go in with her ever besides today thanks to covid so she felt alone and scared. We will never know but I do know we will face her having fears surrounding the vet forever unfortunately. She hid under my dress the whole time.

 

Lucy just loves the park, I love to take her around lunch time when no one else is there.