Holly & Matt

Our Road Traveled

Operation Immunization 2009

- what an experience!

Introductory rotation at Mercy Hospital in summer ’09

- learned under some great mindsand better people

Where It All Started

We initially met at KU Pharmacy School, but we were just strangers across the room. Our first conversation consisted of me asking Matt if he was married. His sister was in our class and they came and went together, had the same last name, and sat together during class. It was an honest mistake. Other than that, we didn’t talk for the first two years of our 4-year program.

We stood right next to each other and had no idea we’d be so close the rest of our lives.

The Camping Trip

HOLLY

As a last hurrah before our third year of school, we took a float trip to the Niangua River Oasis. The second night Matt and I stayed up all night, literally until dawn, collecting firewood, doing the hokey pokey, and getting to know each other around the campfire. I was intrigued.

MATT

When I pulled up to the campsite, I saw 4 girls putting together a grill. One of those girls was Holly. So I thought to myself, “Self, all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage.”

That second night she figured out quickly how cheesy I was, when I looked into her eyes and asked her, “Where have you been all my life?”

Our first night with some of the gang.

We spent a lot of time here that night.

Becoming “Official”

HOLLY

I was so excited for my sister and Ellsworth friends to meet the boy I was crazy about, so I dragged him all the way to my hometown as a date to my friend’s wedding. I overheard Mindy introduce him as my boyfriend, which was a first for our relationship. I guess it became official at that point.

MATT

I wanted to make a good first impression because I was meeting her sister that night. They are very close and I know how important family is to Holly. That is one of the many qualities that I really admired in her.

CONGRATULATIONS

Tiffany

Ryan

&

The Engagement

HOLLY My friend Stefanie told me she was

getting married in Jamaica and asked me to go. At the time, Matt and I had only been dating for a few months, but I asked him to go with me. I had a pretty good feeling about him though.

He woke me up at 5am the morning after their wedding so we could watch the sun rise over the ocean. Sleepy-eyed, we took a walk down the beach where I found the message written in the sand.

MATTUpon loading the plane, my

carry-on bag, which had the ring in it, was tagged to be gate-checked because the flight was full. I ripped off the tag, which was unlike me, and stuffed it in my pocket before anybody could see what I’d done. Then I held the suitcase as tight as I could and carried it on board.

Sleep eluded me as I was so excited to pop the question that I spent most of the night pacing up and down the beach thanking God for my life and planning my proposal.

The Question: Will you marry me Hollywood?

The Answer : Ya-mon! (Jamaican slang for Yes!)

One of our favorites from the engagement photos by the amazing Kenny Felt

Graduation

HOLLY

May of 2012 was time to say goodbye to our college days as Jayhawks and hello to the real world.

MATT

After going to school for 8 ½ years I was ready to begin using my degree to help others.

COMMENCEMENT 2012

KU

Couldn’t have accomplished this degree without them

Marriage

HOLLY

Our friends and family made our wedding day everything we ever dreamed of and more. By the end of the day, my cheeks were so sore from smiling so much.

MATT

I will never forget that day. That was the best day of my life, or so I thought. In reality, it just keeps getting better.

Buying Our House

HOLLY

We were just casually looking at houses with the intent to buy SEVERAL months down the road, but thanks to our great friend and realtor Colby Reynolds, we found a house we couldn’t resist.

MATT

We have since turned our house into a home and couldn’t be any happier. We may even have room for more than two. We’ll see…

Our First Home

Our Dream Vacation

HOLLY

We found the bridge in Paris that our friend Tracy told us about. Lovers write their name on a lock, fasten it to the bridge, and throw the key over the bridge into the water for eternal love.

It was so hard to leave Europe. We didn’t bring back many souvenirs, but…

MATT

We traveled to Europe with an amazing group of family and friends. A couple weeks after we returned, we heard on the news part of the bridge collapsed. We would like to think the weight of our love had something to do with that.

Oceans 11

Our Little Souvenir

HOLLY

We’re 13 weeks along. Baby Plank is the size of a peach and growing like crazy.

Vocal chords are now developing that will let out that first cry to announce the arrival into this world and later down the road allow them to say their first words.

MATT

My sister (the gift whisperer) gave us a perfect book to help track baby’s weekly progress.

Most recently we learned baby has formed fingerprints that will one day make their mark on this world.

13

WEEKS

Mommy and babyhave been living

offof oatmeal,

bean burritos, bananas, and

peacheslately.

Baby has a strong

heartbeat of 165 bpm and is happy and

healthy.

Morning sickness has

started to ease up

and I am so thankful.

Stocking up on Sleep

HOLLY

Baby seems to be using mommy’s energy to grow. I am sleeping around 9-12 hours a night and napping whenever and wherever I can. Matt has caught me on camera a few times. I am trying to rest up for those late night bonding sessions that we will have.

MATT

One of my favorite games to play lately when I come inside the house is, “Where am I going to find my wife sleeping?” It’s usually on one of the beds or couches. Sometimes she surprises me though and I find her on a desk, dryer, or the stairs.

BABYLIKESNAPS

ITDOESN’T MATTER WHERE

Time to Celebrate

HOLLY

Upon announcing the news, mom started whispering to my belly, dad said that he already knew because he saw it on facebook, Mindy didn’t believe us, and Jill was trying to calm down our niece Addy, because she was so excited to hear she is going to have a baby cousin to play with.

MATTMy immediate family’s reaction

was hilarious and priceless. My dad went for Holly’s belly, my mom just stood there in awe with her hand over her mouth, my oldest sister Megan cried, and my youngest sister Morgan screamed so loud she could have woken up the entire neighborhood.

Mom made a celebratory brunch that we feasted on , complete with sparkling grape juice and baby décor.

A Note to Our Little One

HOLLY

Mommy and Daddy are so excited to meet you. We don’t know if you are a boy or a girl, but we want you to know that you will be the most loved baby in this ENTIRE world. We pray that we can be even half the parents to you that we were blessed to have.

MATT

We thank God each day that He chose us to be your parents and we continue to pray for your physical, mental, and spiritual strength and health. There is no doubt you will be surrounded by amazing people and smothered with unconditional love.

We love you so much.

Love, Mom and Dad

Baby Plank Coming February 15th, 2015!!!