January
·
Phil’s work at the airport continued into 2013.
The Brookings Airport is going through some major construction and Phil has to
make sure things run smoothly with the multi-million dollar project.
·
Two of the other coaches on the swim club, along
with some swim club parents, helped organize a surprise baby shower for me. My
mom was actually in town that weekend and was in on the secret, so it was a
wonderful afternoon of games, food and fun!
February
·
Phil celebrated his 2-year anniversary working
with the City of Brookings.
·
I began having some medical issues with my
pregnancy about half-way through the month (high blood pressure, elevated labs,
pain in my abdominal area). On Sunday, February 24 around 9pm, I got a call
from the on-call doctor saying that we should make our way down to the
hospital. Turns out, I was a very sick girl and had a condition called HELLP,
which is severe pre-eclampsia, and the only solution was to deliver our little
girl. About 12 hours after starting the Pitocin, Phil and I welcomed Olivia
Grace Tiedeman into this world!
 |
| Our little family |
·
In her first week in the NICU, Olivia got to
meet all of the Tiedeman clan, as well as my mom and aunt, and some other
Tiedeman and Hollander family members and friends.
March
 |
| Just thinking about the day I can go home... |
·
Phil and I spent the majority of March driving
to and from Sioux Falls to see Olivia. Thankfully, Phil was able to work
part-time, and I was on a break from swimming, so we were able to spend a lot
of time in Sioux Falls. We were blessed to have Phil’s sister’s family welcome
us into their spare bedroom (as Phil’s nephew called it, we got to go on ‘vacation’),
so we had a bed and familiar environment to sleep in on the nights we stayed in
Sioux Falls.
·
Phil’s sisters threw us a baby shower in George.
Olivia was still in the hospital, but through Facetime, she was able to make an
appearance.
·
Finally, on March 28, we were able to take
Olivia home to Aurora! We loved being able to take her to church with us on
Easter.
April
·
After two years of being the head coach for the
swim club, I stepped down and became an assistant coach. I still continue to be the deck supervisor for our swim lesson program.
May
We can’t believe how quickly the
year has flown by! We continue to be in awe at how much love Olivia brings into
our lives and we can’t imagine life any other way. She continues to make us
smile and laugh, and we are so thankful for her wonderful personality. We hope
that you have a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
 |
| Olivia's godparents |
·
This month we had lots of visitors to the our
household. Some college friends were able to come for a weekend, and then the
next weekend, we had some more college friends visit us. My mom and dad were
also here (Poppi Bob finally got to meet Olivia), as well as my Nana and Papa.
Olivia was baptized on April 28, and we had about 18 people come for the
special occasion!
 |
| Great-Grandma Hollander, Grandma Sheryl, Grandpa Warren at Olivia's baptism |
May
 |
| Joel and Kristi's wedding |
·
The big event this month was Phil’s brother,
Joel, got married. Phil hosted the bachelor party in Minneapolis a few weeks
before the wedding, so Olivia and I got to have a mommy-daughter weekend while
daddy was away with the boys.
June
 |
| Meeting Uncle Tom |
·
My dad and brother drove out for a visit, and
this was my brother’s first time meeting Olivia. We were able to do a few
tourist things around here and Sioux Falls.
·
One weekend, the Tiedeman clan came up here and
we spent a day at Lake Campbell fishing.
July
 |
| At the 4th of July celebration in George |
·
We had multiple 4th of July
celebrations. Phil’s family came up to see Phil drive the airport fire truck in
the parade and be here for the celebrations in Brookings. That weekend, we went
to George to be there for their town celebrations.
·
Phil, Olivia and I drove to my uncle’s cabin in
Minnesota to meet up with the Chmielewski family. This was Olivia’s first big
road trip (it took us about 5.5 hours), but we had a lot of fun on the lake for
the two days we were there.
 |
| At Uncle Geary's cabin with my family, including Great-Nana and Great-Papa |
·
The biggest news of the month was that I finally
finished graduate school! On July 2, I completed my two hour oral examination
and passed, so I now have my Masters of Science in Sports and Recreation
Studies.
August
·
Phil was an usher for a high school friend’s
wedding in George.
 |
| Poppi Bob, Mimi Jean and Uncle Tom |
·
Olivia and I went on a 12-day trip to Colorado.
Unfortunately, Phil had to keep an eye on the airport, but we made sure to
Facetime with him as often as possible while we were gone. We had a great time
seeing friends, old neighbors and co-workers and seeing the sights around
Colorado Springs.
September
·
Phil and I celebrated our 5-year anniversary
with a trip to Minneapolis for the weekend. We went to Mall of America and rode
some rides at Nickelodeon Universe and took in a Vikings game as well. It was
Olivia’s first night away from both mommy and daddy, but she had a good time
staying at Grandma and Grandpa Tiedeman’s house.
 |
| At the Vikings game |
·
Phil traveled to Bismarck for a few days for a
business trip, and was able to see a few friends from college.
 |
| Katie and Olivia |
October
·
Olivia and I drove to Bismarck and spent the
weekend with the friends that Phil had seen a few weeks prior.
 |
| At Aunt Mag's party |
·
My mom came to visit and we spent a weekend in
Rochester, MN. My mom put together a surprise birthday party for my aunt, so it
was fun to meet my aunt’s friends, and see some of my uncles and aunts.
November
·
Phil turned 30!
·
I got a part-time job as a recreation therapist
at a nursing home and work just a few hours a month (mainly holidays). I also
accepted a position as an adjunct professor at South Dakota State University for
the spring 2014 semester. I will be the
professor of PE 352 ‘Adapted Physical Education.’
·
We celebrated Thanksgiving in Aurora and it was
so special to have just the three of us. The weekend after, we traveled to
Middleburg, Iowa to have a meal with Phil’s extended family.
 |
| Phil and Olivia |
December
·
I turned 30! And to kick start my birthday, I
broke my index finger on my left hand the day before my birthday.
·
We traveled to Colorado for a week to celebrate
‘Thanksmas’ with my family. It was fun to see Olivia attempt to open her
presents, and have fun playing with the wrapping paper or bag, instead of the
actual gift.
·
For Christmas, we celebrated in Aurora, as Phil
was on-call and I worked Christmas day. It was fun helping her celebrate this
special day and she looked adorable in her church dress last night. This
weekend, we will travel to George to celebrate with Phil’s family.
 |
| Merry Christmas! |
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