Ella's First Birthday Celebration(s)!!

We had friends and family over this weekend to celebrate Ella's 1st birthday with us! 

Here are some of the decorations.

I made a banner our of her monthly pictures. 

I love seeing the changes in her from month to month.

Lots of teal and pink everywhere! I really grew to love this color scheme, and it's already putting big girl room ideas into my head! :)

Ella's one year pictures taken by Laura. I plan on posting all of them in another blog post..... they turned out so wonderful!! 

The birthday girl waiting on her friends to join the party!

Travis and Ava

Fun in the bounce house!

Love my girl.

Family pic

Love them both!

Ella and Lucy

Pretty girl Ava

Emily and Ella

Dylan, you're too cute!! 

The bounce house never gets old to them! 

Old friends. I've know Bethany since 6th grade. Her baby Dylan was born in February, and that's her husband Kevin. And Emily has been around forever too. Our Moms grew up together. 

Time to open presents!! 

"Wow!! I can't wait to vacuum the house with this. Thanks Mom!"

Singing Happy Birthday. She was not too sure about that. 

And, we're  crying  screaming!!  

I had to help her along with the icing. Carter couldn't resist either. 

Oh, yum!

Now we're getting into it. 

I stepped outside for a few minutes to take some pictures of the other kids having their cupcakes.....

Messy face Carter

John licked the icing off so delicately. No mess at all - AMAZING!

....and she looked like this when I came back in. 

It took her a few minutes, but she didn't mess around once she figured it out! 

Such a mess.... time to get cleaned up!! 

After party bath time! 

And a little playtime with Carter in the bounce house before naps.

Check out her wind blown hair! HA! 

These two were exhausted from such a fun morning, and they both took great naps for us! After naptime we had family over for dinner and presents. 

Ella making her entrance

Ella and Aunt Beth

My mom brought Ella a smash cake. So cute!! 

4 generations.

Ella loves her new ride on toy from Nana and Grandad.... I think it might be her new favorite!! 

More presents!! My kids are too spoiled.

:)

Ella got a stroller from Aunt Beth and her family. Can't wait to see her pushing her little dolls around in this. Too cute! 

Too cute to resist this butt shot! 

Time for more singing and more cake!! 

Not havin' it. 

Not even a spoon would help. She was too tired and ready to get out of that chair. 

Ella, you have no idea what you missed. That cake was delicious!! We ate it the next day! :)

Yep, give me my bottle and I'm a happy girl. So sleepy. 

But I love that she still has her headband and her beads on!! Ha ha! 

We had a wonderful day on Saturday celebrating the 1st year of Ella's life. I cannot believe it came and went so quickly. Thanks to all of our wonderful friends and family for sharing our joy with us this weekend, and all the fun gifts you spoiled Ella with (and, inadvertantly, Carter....I swear he thinks he got all new toys, too!) We appreciate you all so much!! 

To My Precious Girl on your 1st Birthday

Sweet baby girl,

It's the eve of your 1st birthday, and I find myself sitting here wondering where the last year went. I really cannot believe we are already here. This time last year I was laid up in my bed feeling like I was about to die because my body hurt SO bad. Daddy, Carter and I had gone for a walk around the neighborhood. I think it was close to 2 miles - apparently just enough to send me into labor. Even though I felt so tired and so awful when I went to bed, I slept surprisingly well. I was woken up in the wee morning hours by contractions, and by 5am, we had packed our bags, got your brother up, loaded up the car, called the grandparents, and were on our way to the hospital  in the dark. We were closing in on the last few hours before our lives were all blessed beyond measure again. As excited as I was, I was anxious. I was scared.

Before you were born, I wondered and worried about what it would be like to have another baby. The love we felt for your big brother was like nothing we had ever known before, and just how exactly would it be possible to love like that again? I knew it was possible. After all, every Mother on the face of the planet with 2 or more children had done it before me, so I KNEW it would happen. I just couldn't imagine how. And then you came into this world and I held you in my arms. And I felt it again, just as I had 2 1/2 years earlier. The love a parent has for their child is the greatest, most unconditional love there is. And when all of a sudden there is another baby to love, it's multiplied by 1,000. All over again. Amazingly. Miraculously. Effortlessly.

And that isn't even the best part.

And then. THEN I saw your brother. That little boy loved you totally and completely from the moment his little adorable face popped into our room as I held you in my arms. Then I got it. THIS is why it comes so naturally the second time around. The sibling. Watching that one - the one that made me a mother in the first place - watching him love you. That is what makes it so easy, so amazing. All that wondering and worrying I did, I should have just known. Leave it to my little boy, my first born, to teach me that lesson. And he does love you. I'll always remember his proud smile when he came to meet you, and the sweet tenderness he had with you. I'll always remember the way he sang you happy birthday on the day you were born, in his sweet little 2 1/2 year old voice. So, so special.  

Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky. To be chosen to be your Momma, what a privilege. From the moment we found out you were a little girl, I had always said I hoped you would be just like me. I wanted a Momma's girl. I wanted you to look like me, act like me, all of it. And boy did I ever get that in you. You are my mini-me, and I love it! Even though you're my girl, Daddy does have a special place in your heart. And I expect that will only grow over the years. After all, he is pretty funny, and he gives the best zerberts! And as your mother, if you never take any other advise I give you, you have to trust me on this. Marry a man like him, Ella. You'll never once regret it, ever. And as for that big brother of yours, well you simply adore him. You watch his every move, you follow him, you want to play with his toys and what he has just because it's him and he's cool like that! I know you love him just as much as he loves you, it's written all over your face when you see him. I love watching your bond as siblings grow each day. As I said before. The sibling thing. That is a total added bonus the second time around. Amazing.

As we come to the close of your first year of life, and I look back on these last 365 days with you, I see that you're the perfect fit for our family. I know that God knew exactly what He was doing when he entrusted us with you. And I also look forward to the future with you. There is truly no greater joy in my life than to watch my kids learn and grow, and I'm very much looking forward to more of that with you.

Through tears I write this --- You are my jewel, baby girl, and I hope you always know that. Happy very 1st birthday. I love you more than you'll ever know!

Love always,
Mommy

San Antonio / Austin Weekend

We left Thursday and drove to San Antonio for the weekend. My parents, both of my dad's sisters & husbands, and a few of my cousins went with us. We all had an agenda - watch my cousin Caitlin play volleyball, and watch Andrew march at the Longhorn game. It was a fun weekend with family!! We squeezed a little sight seeing in, too! 

Thursday night we went to Caitlin's game. She plays volleyball at Louisiana Tech. Eric also went to LA Tech, so he's always happy to go cheer on Caitlin and his own alma mater. The basketball hoops were down for the game, and the kids had fun hanging and climbing on the hoops. 

 Carter & Hayden together.

Ella's turn!! 

 Carter had fun with the UTSA mascot. 

He gave him hugs, high fives, and played some silly hand game with him. 

He thought he was pretty cool. 

 Ella made a new friend up in the hotel room! 

 Poor Ella didn't sleep well this trip in her pack and play. 

She ended up sleeping in bed with me 2 out of the 3 nights. 

My sweet, sleepy girl.

 We visited the Alamo on Friday evening

 And took a boat ride on the river on Saturday before the game.

Ella and I stayed back while everyone else drove up to Austin on Saturday after lunch. While they were all tailgating and getting ready for the game, Ella and I enjoyed some girl time and went shopping. Here are some pictures of their tailgate.

Carter got a Bevo.

 Carter & Daddy

 We remembered Carter's binoculars this time, and he had fun looking at everything through them! 

 Carter & Eric find Big Bertha, or as Carter called it, "Big Birth!" Haha.... that cracked me up! 

 Inside the stadium.

 Carter got two Longhorn "tattoos" on his cheeks. That was a lot of fun scrubbing those off. HA!

It was a fun weekend with family, but we all sure were glad to be back home and in our own beds last night!! :)

Bath Time Fun

These two love their baths! And especially when they get thrown in together. Just look how happy they are!!

Just a few minutes after I snapped this picture, Carter, in one of his more ornery moments, sucked up water into his mouth, and then preceded to spray it all over his sister's face. I fully expected her to well up and cry, but instead, she did the exact opposite - she cracked up hysterically. Of course by that time I was already in the middle of a "Carter, don't DO that to her...." type of 'Mom' moment, but when I heard and saw that, it was all I could do not to crack up myself! And I allowed it to continue for another minute or so until I could get a cute video. :) Just listen to that squeal about 20 seconds in!! So cute.

Oh, I just love these two to pieces.