my girl.

Before flying home on Monday, I spent the day in Tampa with Kate and Rhonda. I couldn't believe how much she had grown up in just 6 months! We went to the aquarium and got lost in conversation all afternoon. It was so fabulous spending the day with them! =)

my platonic bestie.

It was ultra fabulous getting to see lots of old friends when I was home, you know the type that you know you will have fun with regardless of what you're doing just because you are together!? In particular, it was super exciting to spend time with Jordan. Last Christmas, we celebrated his new job and when he left Gainesville, I was incredibly sad about the 3 hour drive between us. This Christmas, we celebrated an engagement and I left Florida even more sad about the 4 hour direct flight between us now that I moved out to LA. Of all the changes that have happened in the past year, one thing that hasn't changed is the pictures we take when we drink wine together.... i heart my platonic bestie.

engaged.

On 08-08-08, my best friend Megan got engaged! Her fabulous fiance whisked her away to a bed and breakfast in the mountains and staged the perfect proposal. I was on a boat fishing in the middle of Dauphin Lake when I received the call (which I had been waiting for all summer!!) Danny is the exact person I would want my best friend to spend the rest of her life with and I was excited to come home this holiday to celebrate their engagement with family and friends!! Here are the highlights ... a heartfelt, tear jerking speech by Mr. Rick, father of bride.

a plate full of Danny and Megan cookies.

my best friend, the bride.

champagne toast.

bridesmaid, bride, maid of honor, bridesmaid.

great food.

the groom and groomsmen.

after party.

If the engagement party is any indication of how much fun the wedding is going to be...

Save the date because November 21, 2009 is going to be one helluva party! =)

bridesmaid.

the search is on for the perfect bridesmaid dress... =)

dirty santa.

Every Christmas Eve, the Hallams host a fabulous gathering called "dirty santa". I have been so very lucky to be included in the tradition the past two years. This year, I went home with a book entitled "How to Traumatize Your Children", Taylor received a Richard Nixon plate and Tammy got post cards with adorable animals adorned with awesome messages like "I'm sleeping with your best friend". Some families bake cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve; I'm glad I've been adopted into the family that spends it laughing over absurdity.

wishful thinking.

There's no place like home!

There's no place like home!

There's no place like home!

cardinals.

tailgating with the girlfriends at the cardinals game in phoenix over the weekend...

i can do anything for two years.

It's a rarity to find your traditional "feeder/growers" in my neonatal unit. I was super excited the other night to get my hands on a baby stable enough to be held. Most nights I am titrating drips to maintain adequate blood pressures, increasing oxygenation to normalize blood gases or starting IVs to gain additional access to our tiny babies (I've successfully started three in the past 2 weeks!). I don't think a NICU exists quite like Children's Hospital's anywhere else. I've seen the rarest disease processes (babies without brains), cared for the sickest/smallest micropreemies (weighing less than a pound), and even made my first trip to the morgue the other night... At times, my job is incredibly challenging but the knowledge I'm gaining will be so valuable to the rest of my career. I can do anything for two years, right Megalina?

orphaned feast.

The day after Thanksgiving, one of my friends from Gainesville who works at UCLA as a nurse invited me over for an orphaned feast. Her mom was here visiting and cooked an incredible meal for all of us "orphans". She even DVR'ed the Macy's Parade and played it while we indulged in in dinner. =)