March ~ A Good Month!

March has proven to be a really good month! We started it out with a visit from Grandad & Grandma Duncan, which was super fun!! Elli loves attention from her grandparents...good thing she has a lot of them :) The 2nd & 3rd week was dedicated to packing up our home for our latest move; this time to North Carolina!! My mom (aka Nana), came to help us with the packing/movers/Elli entertaining, and got to come with us on a quick little vacay to Charleston, SC (our reward to ourselves for 6 moves in as many years!). I LOVE that place...definitely a "must visit" if you haven't already! After that wonderful trip, we dropped my mom off at the airport and started our 4 hr. drive to our new home in NC. We hit the ground running as soon as we got here, and were blessed to have GG & Grandaddy (Chris's mom & step-dad) come out to help us with the move-in. Oh, and we celebrated my 30th birthday in the middle of all of that too!! It's been a crazy, but wonderful month. A new house, meeting up with old friends, lots of family visits, & a birthday!! What could be better?!

Grandad, Grandma & Elli...in front of the dog fence. She's going to miss those little puppies!

"Whoa!! Did you guys see that?!" This is what she did after she bowled for the very first time!! She was so tickled with herself :)

Nana, Me & Elli at Ft. Sumter
Chris & E at the Magnolia Plantation...in the petting zoo!
In the park on the Battery in Charleston

At the Charleston Children's Museum...we couldn't get her out of the water!!

In the middle of moving, and while staying in a hotel, I thought that there was pretty much no way that I would be getting a birthday cake. I was so sure of it that I went out and bought myself a cupcake :) And what did I find when I got back to the hotel that night?? My sweet husband had surprised me with my favorite cake (red velvet!!) & candles...I felt terrible for doubting him!! He's the best :)

Elli playing in the fountain in front of the Charleston Aquarium.

Dear Elliana, (A Year Reflected Upon)

From the moment I saw you, I knew I'd never be the same. Your piercing blue eyes had me from those first seconds, and I fell completely, totally, head-over-heels in love with you. And I'm pretty sure that your Daddy feels the exact same way :)

The first few days at home were a whirlwind. With family and friends coming and going, we felt showered with helpful advice, love and well-wishes. It was a surreal feeling; the new motherhood thing, and I basked in it. Over the course of the next 12 months I discovered that it's even better than I could have ever imagined. In the same way that your Daddy was made to fly, I feel that was made to be a mother. Your mother. It has been the greatest gift of my life, and it is my daily prayer that through the triumphs and trials that your life will bring, I never take for granted the spectacular miracle that you are.

Each day with you brings something new; a new look, sound, word, or gesture. You smile when you learn new things, and clap when you know you've done a good job. It's all about discovery these days, and you are so very good at discovering. When you find or do something new, you'll look up at me as if to say, "see Mama?!"... it melts my heart. And I can see your personality shining through more and more, too. I can already tell that you're going to be a rule-follower, and that you have a tender heart...things that I think you got from me. You love to snuggle, just like your Daddy, and seem to have his affinity for the outdoors as well. You have a very sweet disposition, and are perpetually laid-back. You've only recently started showing signs of getting frustrated by things, and it's usually because you'd rather be playing than taking care of needless tasks like getting your dirty diapers changed! Ha! You're curious, but cautious at the same time, and there is nowhere that you'd rather be than in our arms (something I hope doesn't change any time soon!).

You have brought us such joy this year, and I truly feel like my cup is overflowing with love. I love your messy hair when you wake up in the morning, and how it curls up above your ears when you get hot. I love your wrinkled-nose smile, and your open-mouthed laugh. I love the sound of your voice when you say my name, "Mama". I love the way that you still have that sweet baby scent. I love your three little teeth, and how they barely peek out from your grin. I love your little fingers as they grip my arm when I hold you. I love the weight of your head on my shoulder as I rock you to sleep. I love that your 4th toe is the longest one :) I love your tender heart, and your inquisitive spirit. I love that the first thing you go to when we sit down to play is your books. I love that when you dance, you flap your arms and try to spin. I love the way your long eyelashes lay on your rosy pink cheeks as you sleep. I love your blue eyes, your heart shaped mouth, and your cute button nose.

But perhaps the thing I love the most about you is a selfish one...I love the way that you love me. It's the unquestioning, unconditional, innocent, and pure love of a child. It has changed me from the inside out. I want to be better for you; to be a good example, a thorough teacher, a great wife, a loving friend, and to let my love of the Lord shine through my life so that you can see where happiness truly starts.

I love you, baby girl. Sweet, silly, smiley, snuggly you. More than you could ever imagine.

Love Forever and Always,

Mommy

Elli's Birthday Weekend

The floors have been cleaned, the balloons popped & thrown away, the wrapping paper discarded, and the toys put in their "places". The laughter & singing that filled our home all weekend is noticeably quieter since I'm the only one here...though Elli joins in occasionally :) Everything has gone back to normal, and it makes me a little bit sad...but only because we had such a wonderful time with everyone that I hated to see them go.

What a party we had!! A total of 11 family members came out from Texas to celebrate Elli's first birthday this weekend, and I can't tell you how happy I was to see each and every one of them. We tried to cram as much fun into 4 days as we possibly could, and I think it was a huge success!! Miss E loved all of her fun presents, and had a blast playing with her cousins. She had so much fun, in fact, that she didn't want to take a nap, or go to bed on Saturday night!! And she was up at 5:30am on Party Day just waiting for them to come back over :)

Chris & I are so thankful that we have such a loving and supportive family. What special memories we made this weekend, ones that I know Elli will treasure all of her life (even if she has to see pictures to remember! Ha!). It was a wonderful way to celebrate the sweetest little girl around :)

The entry table
The food table w/ E's high chair banner...loved it!

The mantle & some of her presents :) See my ribbon topiaries?!

Super Yummy Cake!!

Too bad Elli didn't think so!

Giving her new Bitty Baby some love :)

She loves pushing her in the stroller!!

Such a happy day!

Silly girl!

She LOVES this toy from GG & Grandaddy!!

Having fun in the wagon that Mommy & Daddy got her :)

Swimming after the party...always a good time!

Our little family
Nana & E at the Bowling Alley after the party...so fun!

Going home...it's been a very fun, but very long day :)

I hope you had the very happiest of birthdays, sweet girl. You've made your Mama & Daddy so proud this year. We love you so very much.

Happy 1st Birthday, Elliana!!!

Oh, there is much to say...but I'm just not quite ready to write the big "birthday post" quite yet. So instead, I'm going to borrow an idea from a friend and just share with you Elli's year in pictures. I'll be honest, I cried while picking these out! What can I say? I'm a very proud, very emotional, very blessed Mama!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl. You have brought us so much joy this year, and I pray that we'll be able to share many, many, many more happy moments over the course of your lifetime. I love you to the moon and back.

September 2009 ~ It was love at first sight!

October 2009 ~ One of my favorites! LOVE that face :)

Thanksgiving 2009 ~ Gig Em!

December 2009 ~ Christmas Angel

January 2010 ~ Bath Time Cutie

February 2010 ~ My Valentine

March 2010 ~ Mama's Helper

April 2010 ~ First time in the Pool!

May 2010 ~ Having fun w/ the boys!

June 2010 ~ Summertime in Mississippi

July 2010 ~ Bubbles!!

August 2010 ~ My Love

September 2010 ~ The BIRTHDAY Girl!!!

Weekend Happenings

I've been feeling a little bit down lately. C has been working crazy hours again and has been gone a lot, and to be honest, I'm a little lonely. Such is the mantra of a military spouse, no?! But I decided to suck it up this weekend and have some fun :)

Some friends came over last night for pizza & movie, and I had a great time catching up with them. We watched "Last Song", and oh my goodness...not sure what I was thinking with that one! I'm not really a "chick flick" kinda girl, but I thought this one might be good since I really do like Nicholas Sparks. And it was...good, that is. It was just that I somehow forgot how all of his books end. Sad. With tears...lots of them. Luckily I was able to keep my composure for the most part (read no straight out bawling!), and I'm pretty sure that my friends all had a few tears as well, so I wasn't alone :) Despite the sad movie, it was a really good night and was exactly what I needed!

Today, after a morning of hardcore cleaning (for me) and hardcore playing (for E), I decided to head over to downtown Aberdeen to check out a children's boutique that I'd heard about. I'm looking for a special toy for E's birthday and I thought I might find it if I just wandered around enough! Ha! You see, I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for. Something unique, and fun...with a classic feel. We picked out a wagon for her that I know she'll love, but for some reason I just want to get her one more thing and I can't quite put my finger one what it is. Am I crazy?! Anyway, as you can probably tell...I didn't find whatever it was that I was looking for. I DID find some super cute smocked bishop dresses for the Fall that I will be going back for next month. They are just darling! But no super special birthday toy. Oh well...I still have 4 days. No pressure, right?!

Family starts arriving in 5 days for E's birthday weekend! I can't wait to see everyone, it's been way too long! We have lots of fun stuff planned, and I'm super excited for her party...she's gonna love it!

A Cupcake Birthday!!

You know how I agonized over a theme for Miss E's 1st birthday party? And, you know how (after much deliberation & lots of sweet suggestions from you guys) I picked ladybugs?! Well...plans changed :) I was looking on Etsy for some favor labels, and I came across THIS sweet store, and more specifically, THESE awesome labels...and a new idea was born!!

So, now the theme is CUPCAKES...which, if Elli is anything like her Mama (and I have it on good authority that she is!), she will absolutely LOVE!! I want most of the details to be a surprise to the guests, but I'm pretty excited about all of the fun things that my mom & I found while she was here visiting :) I will leave you with a picture though...one of the out-takes from our invitation photo session!