Aricin's First Summer

We had a very busy summer full of fun times with friends and family. It was a huge blessing to be able to live with and spend time with my family before our big move to Colorado. Aricin has become quite the traveler having gone on his first plane flight to Denver and having logged several long car trips- he's a trooper. We took a couple trips to San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay, went up to the Sequoias with friends, drove through Yosemite, and spent almost a week in Mammoth - all before traveling the 18-plus hours to Colorado! Our little guy is growing so fast. He is now starting to chuckle which is great and growing teeth which is not so fun.

Our drive out to Colorado wasn't as bad as we anticipated with a dog and a baby. They both actually slept most of the trip. We stopped in Mesa, CO for a cousin's wedding before heading into Highlands Ranch. I still can't believe we're here! We are currently in escrow on a home which should close in the next week. It was built in 1997 but is a bit of a fixer upper- the home is bank owned and had gone into foreclosure- the previous owners had lots of pets and left them when they vacated the house. It will be our project and we will be sure to get some before and after pics up on here soon. Until the house is livable we're living with Aaron's cousin, Dawn and her husband and two kids- they also just moved out to Highlands Ranch this month from Ventura. Dawn has become a dear friend of mine and we have already shared many heart to heart talks. Aaron has started preparing for work at Valor- the high school is pretty unreal- it's too bad any of our kids won't be able to afford to go there. Aaron can't even afford to eat lunch in the gourmet cafeteria that serves Grilled Mahi Mahi regularly. We attended a staff/faculty family night at the school and met several young couples we're excited to hang out with soon. Aaron attended a staff retreat in Colorado Springs for a few days and was able to get to know a lot of cool guys he's looking forward to working with at the school. Aaron has also signed on to start helping with a Club Waterpolo team that's based out of Denver- he's super excited about this.

While we definitely have our moments of "we're not in California anymore" I think it's fair to say that we both feel like this is where God wants us to be right now. Nearly every afternoon a small thunderstorm will roll in and bring warm rain to cool things off which is kind of cool. Before we got here we had read that Highland's Ranch was developed by the same people that developed Mission Viejo, CA. Being here now i see the many similarities- it really feels kind of like south Orange County, minus the ocean of course. I can say that now since we haven't had any snow- i might change my mind later. We are definitely in the land of Teva's, REI stores, and 4-wheel drive cars. Oh yeah and the home of Crocs shoes. It seems like everyone out here loves to ski, climb, bike, kayak, and camp. Aaron is hoping that living out here will break me of my fear of the outdoors. I tried to go for a run the other day and despite the air being amazingly fresh I forgot that we are over a mile high and came back panting soon after I left. This is something I ,really wants to conquer-being able to run at altitude. Well, the baby's cry tells me that it's time to end this- we will update you all again soon, thanks for reading!

A Dr. Seuss Father's Day

We can't believe our baby is already 10 weeks old. We have been enjoying life in Visalia with Family and old friends. We are happy to say that we are getting more sleep at night which is making parenthood much more fun. Our little guy does still have his fussy moments and fights it when it's time to go to bed. He is getting more and more expressive and is showing his strong willed personality- looks like he's going to be stubborn like his mom and dad- we're in for some trouble.

It's been a busy past month, with Aaron finishing school, a quick trip to Colorado, and getting settled in Visalia. Aaron is interning at Neighborhood Church and helping to coach El Diamonte's summer water polo team. There have been graduation, birthday, and father's day parties. The summer heat has arrived, and Aricin has enjoyed his first dips in the pool, and late-night walks in the summer heat - he loves being outside!

Gettin' Chunky - up to 9 lbs 6 oz

Cute and quiet, must be sleeping...

Janay and the girls from Talbot wives, one of the last chances to hangout before the summer move.

Brothers and cousins - Aricin at about a month, Attison at about 16...

Two new moms, finding the time to walk and talk on the beautiful California coastline - what could be better?

Like father like son... probably a Laker game, halftime, up by twenty...

Superman, not yet super-sleeper

It's been an amazing first couple of weeks since the little-man arrived; a lot of staring at his funny expressions, sleep deprivation, honing diaper changing skills, fun evening walks (Janay's only time to escape the house), and sneaking naps whenever possible. Now that the playoffs have started, Aricin wants to watch all the games (apparently he's a huge Lakers fan). Thankfully he is healthy and gaining weight (just over 6lbs 6oz at the last appointment).

As a family, we have finally made a decision about next year - we're heading to Colorado. Aaron will be teaching Philosophy, Ethics, Logic, and Worldviews at Valor Christian High. We are getting super excited about the move, and looking forward to a change of pace now that school is winding down and Aricin is here. We will be in Visalia for the most of the summer, and will head into the Rockies around the beginning of August.

Here are some fun pictures of Aricin: with mom and uncle jon-jon, sporting a new faux-hawk, thinking, and just hanging around.

Baby Aricin has arrived!

On Thursday, April 3, 2008 we went in for a normal doctor's appointment and were told that we were already 4cm dialated, over 80% effaced, and contractions had set in. Our doctor advised us to head across the street to the hospital. At 12pm he broke my water and started us on Pitocin to intensify the contractions. When things got really uncomfortable i requested an Epidural. Unfortunately the Epidural did nothing except make me sleepy. I was in back labor and apparently when your in Back Labor there's nothing they can do to lessen the pain. I spent the last few hours of labor on all fours, trying to lessen the back pain and trying to get our little one to turn around. He eventually complied and at 7:22pm he came into the world.

He weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. We named him Aricin Riley Marshall, which means courageous son of the eternal king. (it's pronounced "Arrison") He is one of a long line of A. Marshall men.

It's been a bit of an adjustment taking our little guy home. He's so fun to look at and we are having fun with the new addition. Night time has been a challenge as he is wide eyed and ready to party from 3 to 5am. We are getting closer to deciding our plans for next Fall, and should have some conclusions in the next week or so.

Our last trip to the beach... for a while

37 weeks preggers at Huntington Beach

Finished with Finals!

After another challenging and exciting semester, the Marshall's are approaching a Christmas vacation.

Janay has been working hard this semester as a social worker. She puts in long hours making sure foster kids are well taken care of. All the while, she has a life growing inside her - much of her energy goes to building lungs and kidneys, thumbs and tonsils - she has been very busy! Our baby boy has started to clear some space for himself over the last couple of weeks - revealing an adorable 'baby bump.'

I just finished up finals and some job training. This week will be spent filling out PhD applications and ordering transcripts before we head to Visalia for Christmas. School has been wonderful. I am closing in on a May '08 graduation. Courses have been both difficult and formative. This semester I took several seminars studying Philosophy of Mind, Classical Theism, and Christology. I also studied Social and Political Philosophy independently with a professor. Just 18 months ago, course topics like these would have held no appeal, but I have come to embrace philosophy - along with all the reading and writing it entails - and I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing right now.

These last two years - though filled with their own difficulties - have been a wonderful time for Janay and I. We have grown as a couple, walking together through hard times, and carrying burdens we used to try carrying individually. We have been encouraged by God's work in our lives - answering specific prayers, and providing unexpectedly for significant needs. What a blessing to know there is a God who wants to interact with his creation, and speak into their lives in tangible ways!