Sweet girl,

At almost 15 months,

I love that your most favorite things are pineapples,



puppies,



and books.


And most recently: wearing these silly glasses and going down the slide like a big girl.




You have learned a lot of words lately, like:

circle: "gurkle"
duck
quack quack
ella: "lella" with your tongue hanging out, not sure why but it's cute!
hi Pop: "hiBop!"
megan: "may-may"
walker: "knocker" - this one makes me laugh hard!

The funny thing about your vocabulary is that you learn new words but only use them for a little while, then you decide to save them for later. You are also very stubborn about performing on demand. You say your words when YOU want to. Wonder where you got your stubbornness??

Where did time go little girl? I blinked and you went from a tiny baby to a big girl who insist on climbing UP the slide! Wow has it been fun :)

What's wrong with this picture?

Someone please tell me, what's wrong with this picture?


Look a little closer...


Besides the obvious fact that it's mid-January and we still have the nativity scene out (and the Christmas tree - don't judge me, this child keeps me running!)

I guess the birth of Jesus intrigued more than just the usual "little people" crowd at our house this year. I mean, what nativity scene isn't a little more complete with a circus ring leader and his white dog, a zebra, and even a school bus driver.


This is pretty typical of life around here these days. The Christmas tree still up, yesterday's laundry still waiting to be put away, errands left to be run, and a pile of books on my nightstand still waiting to be read. Sigh. How do you possibly get it all done? I'm struggling to figure out how to organize my time a little better, ok, a lot better. For any of you moms out there, do you have a method to your days? I feel like I'm chasing my tail trying to keep the house clean, the clothes clean, etc, yet just starting all over the next day.

I've decided that I am going to assign different chores to each day. Monday will be laundry day and so on. We've also compiled a list of as many meals that we can think of and from there, came up with a menu for the next two weeks. We grocery shopped together for everything we would need for all of those meals. So far, it has been a huge help. Half of the stress of preparing dinner, for me, is coming up with something to make.

On another note, I REALLY want to make time to organize all of my many pictures of Ella into a photo book. I literally have thousands of pics on my laptop and need a way to keep a fun record of our little family's life.

And did I mention that I got a sewing machine for my birthday? Yet another thing I want to learn to do but must find the time.

So my question to you moms is this: How do you manage to take care of your household and still find time to do things for yourself that you enjoy, like blogging, learning to sew, scrap-booking, learning photography, etc?

While you are coming of with your words of wisdom to share with me, here are some pictures of the sweetest little mess in my life :)

Sporting her sweat suit and twinkle toes:


And for those of you who know E, you know that this is soooo her!



And so is this one - she is always soooo busy, often with more than one toy in her hands, and usually chasing Tuckie with his ball in hand.



But she is happiest when she's free to roam around the backyard. It's during that time that I'm thankful we have such a small yard.


She has become quite the snuggler these days. She looooves to give us hugs and kisses and we just can't get enough of them :)

I could go on forever, lol, but I need to shower while this little turkey sleeps...

Happy New Year!

I can think of a lot of words to describe this past year,
and FUN would definitely be at the top of the list.
Right below it you might see:
tired,
sleepy,
exhausted...

but fun would definitely top the list!


This girl is a blessing and each day I am thankful to God for giving us this gift.

I hope that 2011 is filled with blessings for each of you!

Christmas Cards!!

Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you are all having a great December so far.

I've managed to get my tree up, yay! It took far less time this year than last, imagine that :) Despite these little helping hands, I think it only took me 3 or 4 days to get it finished.

The goal for next year is 1 day :)

Next on my list is hanging the garland on my stairs and sending out the perfect Christmas card...on time. Speaking of Christmas cards...

I'm thankful for Kendall's post about the free Christmas cards from Shutterfly! I had no idea and I've been searching for just the right Christmas card for our family. Shutterfly seems like a great option and I will definitely be giving them a try this year! Check out the Shutterfly site if you are a blogger and you can sign up for 50 free cards. Thanks for sharing, Kendall!

In the meantime, I'm still working on sending out thank you cards for Ella's birthday. Cross your fingers that I can actually get Christmas cards sent out BEFORE Christmas!

Back at last!

Wow, it's been so long since I've updated that I almost forgot how to get to my blog- no good! So, once again, I have much to catch you up on. Life has been moving fast lately, way too fast. It goes against my OCD nature to be all out of order on my blogging but I must bite my lip and just blog what comes to mind...

Since my last post Ella has started talking and walking, we've had her first pumpkin patch experience...TWICE :), her first Halloween costume, her first birthday, and her first birthday bash. With much in between as well. I'm going to do my best to catch up over the next few weeks. But then again, Christmas in just around the corner. Which means I have a lot of shopping to do!

So...blogs to come soon :)

For now, here's a sneak peek at my birthday girl:

Goodness, I love this girl!

One whole year??!!

My sweet Ella,


Is it really possible that it's already been one whole year since you were born?


One whole year since labor began and you so kindly got me out of working the weekend shift at the pharmacy...

One whole year since tons of family and friends all gathered at the hospital to meet you...

One whole year...

since I spent almost 48 hours in labor with you, only to have a c-section...

since our hospital room was circled with loved ones, all bowed in prayer over your arrival...

since I heard you cry for the first time and cried right along with you...

since I saw your precious face for the first time and thought just how perfect you truly were...

since I saw that crazy head of hair you are still famous for - I'm pretty sure my second thought after seeing you was "oh my goodness where did she get all of that beautiful dark hair??"...

since I became Ella's mommy and began this crazy, beautiful journey of motherhood...


Beautiful child, you keep me laughing on a daily basis. You are so smart, funny, and sweet, not to mention mischievous and hard-headed like your momma. Since you came into this world you have been a loud one, a feisty one,


that definitely has not changed, but I wouldn't change you for the world. The sound of your giggles and laughter, your shrieks of delight when you spot Tuckie ("Guh-Guh"), your ever so famous "Hiiiiiiii" - our home is a better place because of you and all that you entail.

I adore you more than you will ever know.

Happy Birthday to our "Ellie-love"

May your second year be filled with just as much love, laughter, learning, and joy as the first one was. But maybe just a little more sleep :-)

I love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

Humbled

So many things to blog about...like the awesome anniversary party we had for Mom and Dad, the cute things I am envisioning for Ella's first birthday, not to mention the lovely surprise I found in Ella's crib yesterday...

Yet all I can think about it how humbled I am at God's love. His persistent, intentional, reckless, unconditional love. I am so thankful that He pursues us. Goodness knows He has to sometimes. I don't always stay close by. This past week has been so amazing yet heart-breaking at the same time. I have been so in awe of how many people have reached out and shared God's love with our family, with Michel's family.

In case you haven't gotten my prayer emails, here's what's going on:

Nolan's cousin, who lives in Germany, has been suffering from Lou Gehrigs disease (ALS) for several years now. Last week he was rushed to the hosptial because the disease has progressed and he is having problems breathing. We are not sure how much time he has left. His name is Michel Nahidi.


I've created a website where we will post updates as we receive them:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/michelnahidi

Forgive me for the sparse updates, they are across the world so we don't get them that often. Please go to the website and take a minute to sign the guestbook - share a scripture or prayer or even just your name. It will be amazing for him to see that people all the way across the world are praying for him.

The most important thing we ask is that you pray for Michel's heart...pray for salvation, that he will experience God's amazing love. I cannot imagine the pain he has gone through as his body has become progressively more ill, and he has lost the ability to walk, speak, and play with his children. Please pray that God would place people around him that will share His love with him and that he would accept it with an open heart. I know our God can do mighty things and it is never too late for anyone to turn to Him.

Pray for his wife, Manu, who has remained so incredibly strong throughout these past few years. Pray also for their two small children, Michel and Emma, who have had to see their father, their hero, become progressively more and more ill over the past few years.

We appreciate your prayers more than anything. I believe with all of my heart that God can reach Michel. Please visit the website and share you prayers, scripture, and encouragement with Michel and his family in the guest book section. I know that you do not know Michel, and may not even know me , but I know that God uses His children to show His love to those who are hurting and are in need. I also trust that it is God's will for His created to come to know Him and that is what I ask you to pray for Michel.

Please share this with your church prayer groups, prayer chains, and anyone else who would be willing to pray for Michel.

God promises us that
"Where two or more are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them." -- Matthew 18: 19-20

Thank you tremendously!