Mothers Day 2016

My sweet babies.

I'm so thankful that I get to be your mommy. I'm thankful that I get to see both you experience everything for the first time. In thankful for every laugh, every smile, every time you look up at me with your bright eyes. I'm also thankful for the times when there are tears. Even though it breaks my heart to see you both cry, I know it means you are learning and growing. And I'm so thankful that I get to be your safe space when you are sad. I'm thankful that I am here to hold you and love on you and teach you. 

The both of you have made me a mommy. It's the greatest most important job in the whole world. I cherish every single moment I spend with you.being your mommy has made me whole and complete. I couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life. I'm so thankful to you both and your daddy for giving me the greatest job there is. 

We had so much fun on my first Mother's Day to two precious babies.

March 28, 2016

My sweet sweet girls. I love you both more than words can say. 

Today aunt sis took hadley to the aquarium. She had so much fun! She saw a mermaid and was so excited to tell her that she wore her buzz light year shirt! 😂 

She also told me that Santa wasn't at the aquarium. She said he was in the chimney at our new house!

Ella had to take a trip to the doctor this afternoon for a diaper rash that will not go away! She did so good and played during all of the waiting that takes place at the dr... It looks like we have a lot of nakey baby time ahead of us! 

Then we met aunt sissy and Hadley at the park. Hadley played hide and seek and Ella loved being outside in the sun. It was such a warm pretty day today.

I'm so thankful for both of you beautiful smart girls. It's so fun to find the beauty in the everyday parts of life. 

Doughnuts for Dads

On Wednesday Hadley had doughnuts for dads at school. 

Daddy got to take her to school, walk her in, have doughnuts and play in the classroom with her! 

He said when y'all got there, you grabbed him by the hand and said, "I'll take you inside daddy". Soooo sweet!! I wish that I could have been there to play with y'all and see you so proud to show off the school that you love to your daddy!

He said you proudly walked him in until you got in the hall and looked at all the people and then up at him and said "hold  you!"  Y'all dropped your backpack off, picked up some doughnuts and OJ and went back to your classroom to play. 

 

He said you are the doughnut in about three seconds and then starting showing off your favorite toys. A camera and dump truck topped the list. 

You started taking photos of everyone and everything! 

Your friends Wils and Elle came in with their daddy and you pulled up a chair next to them and sat while they are their doughnuts! 

When it was time for daddy to leave, you started to get upset and wanted to him to sing hush little baby! So he sang it and then gave you to ms heather. 

Daddy had so much fun and I was pretty jealous that I didn't get to go! I have to wait until May for Muffins for Moms!!

When I picked you up, ms Shannon said she gave you an m&m after daddy left and it made you feel better!

She also said that you went potty at school!! She gave you another m&m and celebrated you at circle time! I am sooo proud of you!!!!! 

This Year

Each new year brings new beginnings. A chance to reevaluate your life and see what things need to change and what things you need to keep on keepin on with. It is my hope for both of you that you will take the start of a new year to really think about your life. To think about where you have been and where you are going. It's so nice to take the time and think about you. Go to a coffee shop or your favorite corner with a journal and sit down with your thoughts. Make a list of your goals for the next year and what you are happy with from the previous year.

I also want you to remember that you don't have to wait for a new year to start over. If things aren't going the way you think they should go, start over right then. Give yourself the ability to see when you need a change and the courage to actually make that change. I will always be there to support both of you no matter what. Your dad and I want the absolute best for both of you. We will be your biggest cheerleaders. And we will always be there for you to discuss changes and future plans with. We want to talk to you about every single thing in your life and give you whatever information we can to better your life. Or be there with open arms waiting to listen.

 

A girl that I went to school with (Austin Boatwright) wrote the following words on her blog. She said everything so beautifully and so perfectly. It's something that I want both of you to read and take to heart. 

Lean in 

By: Austin Boatwright

January 4, 2016

What if 2016 is greater than any Adele love song? The kind of love song you want to listen to on repeat with the high hope that enough replays will earn you front row seats to her performance.

This year: Sing all the words. Start the kitchen dance party. Whatever you are hoping for in someone else-- get out there and figure out how to do it yourself. Define your own brave. Write out your plans. Set goals. Or write nothing at all. Just don’t hold back. 

This year: Maybe you should download the dating app. Don’t take it too seriously but make yourself available to laugh and meet someone new. You might go on an awful one. You might meet someone who brings you silly balloon giraffes and keeps knocking on your door. You gotta risk it for the biscuit, right? 

You can't really be sure how life is going to work. You can’t read the last page and then decide if it is worth the meat in the middle. You draw breaths in and out. You crawl away from the sheets too early in the morning. You send emails. You fall in love. You put gas in your car. You learn names. You do plenty of things you don’t want to do. You dance. You sometimes overstay your welcome and drink too much tequila. You eat tacos. Too much queso. You wonder if you can survive on chips and salsa alone for the rest of your life. You call home. You slam doors. You let people in.

Let him in-- let him fix your car and call you beautiful. Take the long way home. Say too much. Be sappy and too romantic. Resolve some things like a Hallmark movie and leave other things unresolved like every word of a Shakespearean sonnet. Forgive, forgive, forgive.

This year: Send the text. Say the prayers. Take off your shoes to actually feel the sand. Talk to the Uber driver. Eat all the tacos. Splurge on the shoes. Leave love letters on car windshields. Write the damn book. Find slivers of this earth that feel holy and safe to you. Do every little thing fear has tried to take from you.

Lean in. Declare freedom. Do it with a vengeance.

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January 19, 2016

Sweet Ella, 

  As I sit here holding you, rocking you, feeding you, I can't believe that you are mine. I can't believe that I have been blessed with another perfect gift. I love you with all of my heart and am so happy with the way that you fit into our little family.  You make us whole. Thank you for that. Thank you for wrapping your tiny fingers around mine just before drifting off to sleep. It's the greatest feeling in the world. It's a feeling I never want to forget.  I love you so much sweet Ella. 

Tonight your big sister was giving you "zerberts" and it was the cutest thing I have ever seen. You were laughing uncontrollably and would look at Hadley with such love in your eyes. And then she would laugh. I think it was the first time that you both were laughing together. It was the sweetest sound. I'm so happy that I get to hear that sweet sound of my daughters laughing together forever.

I just want you to know how thankful I am for you and how much I love you. You are such an amazing gift to me, your daddy and your sweet sister Hadley. I love you and your sister so much. I always will. No matter what. 

Love, 

your mommy 

Happy Three Months Ella!!

October 23rd

Sweet Ella you are already THREE months old. 

Aunt Sis and I were just talking about how we feel like you were born three DAYS ago!  Time is going so fast and I am cherishing every moment with you sweet girl. Our poor family isn't getting to spend as much time with you as they did with Hadley because I just can't give you up!!! I know how fast time goes and I don't want to miss one second of it. 

You are still sleeping in our bedroom (because once again I just can't part ways with you!!) in your rock and play. You are starting to look a little cramped so we are going to move you to your room as soon as we get a monitor. 

You are waking up just once around 2 at night to nurse. Then I put you back in the RNP and you wake up again when your sister does around 7:30. I nurse you again and put you back to sleep until around 8:30 when I have to wake you up to take Hadley to school. This happens on MOnday Wednesday and Friday. On the rest of the days you get to sleep as long as you want! I hate waking you up

tho!!

You are in size 2 diapers and size 0-3 and 3-6 month clothes. 

You are still nursing about every three hours and it's going great! It ranges anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes which can be a little hard to plan around sometimes but it has been working out ok so far. 

This month you picked up a pretty bad cold from your sister. It was so pitiful to hear you cough. Daddy and I took you to the dr because I was worried that your cough lasted for too long. They said you just had a little cold. We did get to see that you were gaining weight really well. I can't quite remember the number but it was over 12 pounds. 

You are still sleeping very often during the day but I see signs of a schedule forming. 

Our goals for this month us to get you on a schedule and move you to your room. I have so enjoyed this precious newborn time. You sleeping right next to me is the sweetest gift and I love to look over and see you in the middle of the night.

One major milestone you reached this month is rolling from your tummy to your back! We can't even put you on your tummy anymore without you immediately rolling to your back!! 

I love you sweet baby girl. You have truly brought so much joy to our lives and know you gave been such a blessing to others. I hope you remember that even when you were teeny tiny and not able to speak yet, that your smile and your presence truly blessed people. You already have such a gentle and loving heart. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. I am so happy that I get to spend everyday right beside you teaching you about this crazy life. Your daddy and I love you more than you will ever know!

Hadley's First Day of School!

September 2nd

Today was Hadley's very first day of school! 

She is in the ones class with 11 other little ones and 3 wonderful teachers. 

Charlie and I both were able to take her on her first day. I was so nervous for the days (weeks, months) leading up to it! I was worried about sending her to a school a couple mornings a week right after Ella was born would make her feel like we didn't want her around!! We had been talking about school

For a while, reading books about going to school and teaching her the teachers names. She was so excited to wear her backpack but had no idea what was coming. 

We woke up and made her a yummy big breakfast, dressed her in her school clothes and said a little prayer for a wonderful first day (for all of us)! 

When we first got there everyone was taking cute pictures on the steps... This was ours ☺️☺️

For the first couple of weeks, the parents are supposed to walk them into the school and stand at a gate in front of the classroom. The teacher comes over says hello to them and takes them from the parent and we are supposed to leave quickly and not linger. They called it the bandaid effect. I had Ella in the sling so Charlie carried her in. I gave her a hug and a kiss as we were walking up to the school. I was sooo nervous!!

We got to the classroom and mrs Mel saw Hadley and came to the gate. She was so so so sweet to Hadley as Charlie handed her over. We said we loved her and she turned and looked at is and started crying! We had to turn away and keep walking. It was sooo sad!! We got to the end of the hall and Charlie turned around and went back to look through a little window and look at her! He came back and said she was sitting in mrs Mel's lap and not crying!!! Yay!!!!

Charlie and I headed to chick fil a and then home. I did not shed one tear, but I felt like it!!! We watched tv and counted down the hours until we could pick her up!! Charlie ended up having to go to work so I went alone to pick her up.

To pick up, i went in the school and her teacher brought her out to me. Hadley was so so so tired but didn't cry and was happy to see me and Ella. The teacher said she did really well and was just sleepy. 

She sent us the pictures above and I LOVED seeing her happy (kinda??) at her new school. The rest of the day she talked about her teacher. I love her school so much and I hope she loves it just as much as I do!!!! She did tell me multiple times, "Haddie cried at school".  I hope she will be ok with going back in a few days!!!