First Two Months of Med School Update!

The first two months of our family starting the medical school journey has been nothing short of an adventure. Just a little background, Josh was accepted to the University of Washington School of Medicine in the spring of 2024, and we moved to Moscow Idaho in July. We got lots of questions why not Seattle... and it's because the UofW has a unique program, it's called the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, and Idaho.) These states don't have an in state medical school, so we get to stay in Idaho (or whichever state you're from for the first 18 months.) After that you have the choice to be in Seattle or stay in your state, for us that would be Boise. We haven't decided quite yet if we will stay in Boise or move to Seattle.

So that is a little background on the University of Washington Medical School. Many people think because it's a big city and lots of opportunity, Seattle would be the best WWAMI campus, but the Idaho campus has actually been beating out Seattle in test scores for a few years now!! GO IDAHO!

Moving to Moscow was an experience...my parents were so sweet to move us up, and Josh's brother James came up too! But moving with a three month old and being 10 days post op from surgery was a lot, and a lot of emotions.

We got all settled in and Josh started three days later with orientation. I was so happy James was there so I didn't feel alone that first week. :) At the end of the week we actually decided to drive 10 hours to a family reuion in Bear Lake, Idaho. ( I know we are crazy, but that's just how we roll) Josh got off a rafting trip with his entire medical school class and we drove straight there! Plus I only cried like once on the way down so success??

We had SO much fun at Bear Lake, (The Carribean of the Rockies) we boated, took Cece on her first boat ride, surfed, ate yummy food, and lots of famous rasberry shakes, and we celebrated Josh's Dad's 50th Birthday (T-Swift Themed). We got to stay in a beautiful cabin courtsey of my in-laws.

ABOUT MOSCOW:

After we got back from Bear Lake, Josh had finished oreintation and REALLY started medical school. The next six weeks were pretty cush, medical schools do more of a review session to make sure everyone is on the same page. So that meant we got to spend a LOT of time together.

We fell in LOVE with Moscow quicker than I have ever felt moving to a new place. Moscow is the COOLEST city. It is extrememly family friendly, very community based, and it kindof feels small town California vibes. There are bike trails everywhere, even right off our front porch there is a beautiful bike trail that we walk and bike all the time! There are beautiful hiking trails 15 minutes from our apartment!! I kid you not, we did probably 6 different hikes in those first 6 weeks. It was so fun exploring, if you like outdoorsy things, Moscow is your place!

Random side note we learned quick: Locals say Moscow (Mos) (co) NOT (Mos) (cow) as in Moscow Russia... if that makes sense.

Moscow is small town feel. The smallest town we have lived in. The population is 25,000, there are farm lands all over and they call it the palouse, which is a french word for tall grass. The palouse stretches over Washington and a chunk of Oregon. It is a very distictive geographical area, rolling hills for days and days. Very pretty, and unique. We live 7 minutes from the Washington border, the town over is Pullman which is where Washington State is located. We don't love Pullman, but we love Moscow!! There are med students who live in both towns. We are super happy here.

During our third week here I got in a bike accident AND I got mastitis...:( I swear I had not fallen on my bike since I was 7 years old, and man it HURT. The road rash pain lasted a good week...I had bruises and road rash on my legs too :( Cece was NOT affected thank goodness!!!

Here's some pictures of hikes and such! We have been having so much fun!

Updates on Cece's first 2 months here!

When we moved here Cece was ALMOST 3 months old, the last 2 months with Cece have been some of my favorite months of life! I love having a little boddy with me everyday. I rarely feel lonenly with Josh studying often, and it is truly my favorite thing I have ever expereinced having a baby. She has completely changed my life. On the drive to Moscow Cece laughed for the first time, it was a little giggle and her giggle is addicting you just want to keep making her laugh over and over again. When we first moved here Cece was obsessed with me singing and dancing to "Sleeping Beauty Once Upon a Dream" now she loves when Josh sings to her too. Cece is a Momma's girl, she loves when I rock her in the rocking chair, she loves little massages before bed, she is such an interactive baby, and always wants to be playing with Mom and Dad.

A cute little memory I wrote down from August was Cece and I were laying in bed together, and I was trying to get her to fall asleep. Lately, when she is tired, she starts babbling and grunting while talking. She kept doing her little grunts. I was telling her "night night," time to sleep, and she just kept grunting at me. It was too cute not to respond, so I did a grunt back, and Cece started laughing and grunted back at me. We went back and forth for 30 seconds or so! Core Memory. She really made me laugh, and I really felt for one of the first times we were really playing together.

Cece hates tummy time, and in September, she got really good at rolling from her tummy to her back. So now, as soon as she is on her tummy, it is straight to her back. She brightens our days like nothing I have ever experienced. Even though some days are long and tiring, I've never been happier. I love taking care of Cece; there is truly nothing better than being her Momma. I feel so grateful I get to be home with her every day. I am convinced med school would be harder for me without a baby!

My Friends:

One of the best parts about medical school is I have felt so grateful to have gotten built in friends! Most of Josh's medical school class is married, and there are 7 of us girls who get together without fail every week. We all bring snacks and we have been watching the bachelor seasons, we are currently watching Golden Bachelorette and it is too pure. We love it!! We have been getting together multiple times a week lately and girls nights are soemthing I always look forward too, espcially with having the baby it is so nice to get out once a week or so! My birthday was a couple weeks ago and all my med school friends and spouses came and we had so much fun. They are truly my family away from family.

LOVE THESE GIRLS + missing a couple in this pic!

To wrap it up Medical School so far is way better than I ever thought it would be!! I am so happy to be on the medical school journey with Josh!