Intro

I'm realizing that before I do the big reveal on our new blog, to avoid comments from either of our families/friends like "Who is this Jamie person?" or "What? You're dating someone?" or "How come I know nothing about this tall, dark and handsome man that has apparently swept you off your feet?", I probably need to fill you in.

Seeing as how I was born on the same day as Shakespeare (April 23rd), I'll use him to help me with the intro. After all, our story is quite tragic.

Two households (U of U v. BYU), both alike in dignity (the Utes WISH!),

In fair Verona (Utah), where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge (Kevin's still mad that I beat him at Dr. Mario) break to new mutiny (no rematch necessary),

Where civil (childbirth) blood makes civil (Jamie's sterilely-gloved) hands unclean (I'm a midwife, by the way).

From forth the fatal loins of these two (righteous families who have never been) foes

A pair of star-cross'd lovers (Kevin and Jamie) take their life;

Thanks, Bill. I'll take it from here. Where's the tragedy? Well the long and short of it is that I committed in February to work at least one year in Butte, Montana as a midwife, shortly before learning that Kevin is the love of my life and has one year of dental school left in Richmond, Virginia. So from now until May 2009, we are woefully separated by 2305.64 miles (but who's counting?), only to be joined by periodic $350-$450 plane tickets or 30+ hour drives. Are you crying yet? Because I am.

But enough of that. Let's get to the introductions.

In the red corner, coming in at 6'2" and 200-and-change pounds, from West Jordan, Utah... He's a graduate of Granger High, University of Utah, and a 4th year VCU dental student... He can identify any species of bird faster than a speeding bullet, leaving you ornithologically amazed... He can catch fish of any variety on his hand-tied flies with a flick of his wrist... He can and will climb to the top of any peak you set in front of him... An excellent reader of topographical maps... The youngest of four children... The hottest of Jamie's current boyfriends... A fluent Italian speaker and maker of fine lasagna...

It's Kevypoo!

And in the blue corner, coming in at 5'11" and weighing much less than her opponent, from American Canyon, CA... She's a graduate of Vintage High, BYU, and Georgetown University... She's a Certified Nurse Midwife and has delivered 37 babies thus far in her career (catching crownage, as Kevin puts it)... She works in a private practice called Westside Midwifery and Women's Health in Butte, Montana... The second of four kids and only girl... Domestically talented... Directionally retarded... She can jump rope, count the turns of her rope, mathematically calculate her revolutions per second, and think about what to buy at the grocery store simultaneously...

It's Jeebers!

The post just below this one will tell you the activities that Kevin and I have done together for the past several months, so no need to repeat that here. Let's get to the juicy details of our love life! In a simple Q&A format for your reading pleasure:

Q: Where and when did Jamie and Kevin meet?

A: When Jamie was still living in Virginia, attending grad school, she and Kevin had a few mutual friends. Their first meeting was at a George Mason Univ. men's volleyball game. Kevin walked in late and made his way up to the bleachers where Jamie was sitting with some friends from her ward. He sat about two rows behind her, with no people to obstruct the view. She noticed him walk in and thought to herself, "Why are all the hot guys in Richmond?" A few minutes after he sat down, she turned around on her bleacher to initiate some small talk. And small it was. Kevypoo was not too enthusiastic, and Jamie wasn't even sure if Kevin was single. It was December of 2006. Sparks unfortunately did not fly.

Q: So when did they meet again?

A: Not until a year later! (Boy are they kicking themselves now.) A mutual friend of theirs, Ani Gneiting, decided to take a random trip to Richmond for a weekend. She invited Jamie and another friend Kim to come along. Jamie had just finished school and was hanging out until graduation, so she was all for a fun weekend with some Richmond boys. All Jamie knew was that they were going to Jake's house. Turns out Jake and Kevin were roommates.

Kevin showed Jamie some pictures of the Wind River Mountains (a favorite summer backpacking destination of his, shown above) that night at his house and she instantly fell in love... with the mountains, not with Kevin. Come on! These things take time!

Here is a picture of Jamie getting ready for church at Kevin's house. (One of the only pictures they have from that weekend. Oops!) They sat next to each other in the car on the way to church, and also sat beside each other in Sacrament Meeting. Jamie and her roommates just so happened to be planning a party at their townhouse in Alexandria that same Sunday evening.

So Jamie returned to Alexandria with Ani and Kim, and later that evening, Kevin found his way to Jamie's house to hopefully acquire a phone number and the promise of a first date (which he did).

Q: What happened next? I'm DYING to KNOW!

A: Well, Jamie graduated and moved to Logan, UT to live with her brother and sister-in-law, Tanner and Autumn. She worked as a labor and delivery nurse while she was looking for jobs as a midwife. Kevin finished up his semester and went home to West Jordan to visit his family during the break.

Q: When was this first date that Jamie promised Kevin?

A: December 26, 2007. Jamie was in Orem at her Aunt Nicea's house, spending time with family, and was planning to leave the next day to California to visit her hometown. She stayed in Orem the extra day for two reasons: she had a job interview, but more importantly, she had a date with Kevin. He picked her up and they ate dinner at Cafe Rio in Provo, drove to the Dairy Keen in Heber for dessert, and watched A Bee Movie at the dollar theater. The conversation on this date went about a gazillion times better than their original conversation on the bleachers in the George Mason gym. Sparks, as you guessed it, FLEW.

Q: How did they keep dating while they were living on opposite sides of the country?

A: Thank you, Verizon Wireless, for free IN-calling! Kevin and Jamie probably set the world record for most cell phone minutes spent talking to a person that you have only been on one actual date with. Ask Tanner and Autumn. Jamie had no life during January and February outside of work, eating, and being on the phone with Kevin. They had to send each other pictures and videos of themselves just to stay sane until spring break when they could see each other again.

Jamie made a snow angel for Kevin in February.

Kevin made a bold move in their relationship by sending a beautiful bouquet to Jamie's doorstep on Valentine's Day. The card contained a number of Xs and Os... constituting that they had their first kiss on paper.

Q: When was their actual first kiss?

A: No first kiss has probably been more premeditated than Kevin and Jamie's. The distance required them to look forward to that moment with longing and anticipation for several weeks. The first opportunity came when they met up in Arizona during Kevin's spring break. Kevin had a sore throat that was not completely healed, and was worried that this might hinder their long-awaited airport scene. For prophylactic reasons, they refrained from kissing during the first few hours they were together. Can you say TENSION? He carried her bags from the Phoenix airport to their rental car. They headed on the road toward their first destination. Lots of hugging and staring at lips... trying to refrain so as not to get Jamie sick... Kevin reporting how his throat was feeling miraculously better... the tension mounted. At mile marker 197, on I-17 between Phoenix and Sedona, there happens to be a rest stop. Stop, they did. Rest, they did not. It was March 9, 2008.

Q: Where are they now?

A: Kevin is back in school in Richmond, doing his summer term. Jamie is still in Butte, taking care of women and babies.

Q: Anything planned for the future?

A: Just a few things. Scroll to the bottom of the blog for a countdown until their next adventure. Jamie and Kevin will be together again, and have the opportunity to spend some time with Jamie's dad, Greg. The next trip is in July when Kevin finishes his summer term and drives to Montana. He and Jamie will create some more memories in Butte. Most importantly, at the end of July, Kevin will be taking Jamie to the Wind River Mountains!!! Stay tuned for pictures and tales. And let the good times ROLL!