My Boys

Meet Jason

Loves his fruity beverages

Allow me to introduce you to my husband, Jason. Jason is a submariner in the US Navy. He joined the Navy in 2002, and served as a nuclear electrician on the USS Nebraska for 5 years. He is currently stationed in Charleston, SC and is working as an instructor to sailors who plan to serve in the nuclear field.

Jason is the most easy-going person you will ever meet. He has never met a stranger and will talk your ear off about every subject under the sun. He loves science, astronomy, history, computer gaming, fishing, and football. He is a great sous-chef in Andrea’s kitchen, but he is master of the grill. No one scoops up doggie poop better. On a serious note, Jason is the best father Cooper could ever hope to have.

Our Story

Summer 2003

Jason and I met in December 2002. We were both living in Charleston, South Carolina at the time – me for graduate school and him for his Navy schooling. One night I was bored, so I logged into a local Yahoo chat room. He was there as well, and we chatted for a bit. He added me to messenger, and we continued to talk through the next couple of weeks. I viewed him as a friend and nothing more. Our talks never veered into romantic territory.

Summer 2005

At the same time, I was trying my hand at online dating, with disastrous results. After a particularly horrid date, I logged on and told him about my experience. I vowed to never again date someone I had “met” online. He responded “Really? I was going to ask you out.” I gave him my number, and we talked for hours that night. We made plans to meet the next day for coffee.

July 26, 2007

We had great conversations over coffee, and before we left that night, he asked me out for the following Wednesday. I can remember going home and telling my girlfriend “he isn’t Mr. Right, but maybe he’s Mr. Right Now.” Our first date was on December 8, 2002.

April 2009 – Jason trying to do the sorority girl pose, and me trying to get away from him

We had a bit of a rocky start. We went out on a few dates and then I went home for a few weeks for the Christmas break. We dated for another few weeks before I came down with mono and had to move back home for a month to recuperate. I came back to Charleston in February 2003, and something just clicked between us – from that point on we were inseparable. Jason proposed on March 26, 2003 and we married on July 26, 2003.

And Baby Makes Three…

December 2009

In April of 2009, Jason and I started to talk about having a baby. In fact, if you are a long time reader of my blog, you’ll remember when I asked for advice on whether or not it was the right time to have a baby. We started trying in April, and we found out I was pregnant on May 26, 2009. It was a complete surprise – we never expected to get pregnant so quickly.

Cooper Brayden was born on January 14, 2010. He weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces and was 17 inches long. Cooper is by far the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I give thanks to God every day for blessing me with this son. Every day is an adventure, and my life is full of smiles and laughter now that there is a baby in the house. I’m so incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful husband and son!