Christmas Re-Cap

Since both Mike and I's parents are divorced we have a lot of get togethers around the holidays.

Christmas Eve we went to his mom's house to celebrate

We had a great time with family and Ellie got plenty of new toys and outfits!

Christmas morning we woke up, I made some coffee cake, we read the Christmas story and opened presents as a family. Our plan is to only give 3 gifts per person plus stocking stuffers.

We figure if that was good enough for Jesus then it should be good enough for us. And I think it will help us focus about what Christmas is really about instead of the comericialization.

In the afternoon we headed over to Mike's dad's house for the H family Christmas

Mike's family goes all out. We're always spoiled and we all got some awesome presents!

This weekend we will be celebrating Christmas with my side of the family.

Saturday we have the H family Christmas, which can be up to 40+ people.

And Sunday after church we have our siblings Christmas.

November thru January is a busy busy time of year for us!!

So far we've had a great holiday season and are so thankful for our friends and family.

We are most thankful for the gift of Salvation. God is so good to us and I am so blessed to be a daughter of the King.

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and enjoyed wonderful time with your friends and family!!

Sometimes and Always

Linking up with Megan over at Mackey Madness for my FIRST

Sometimes: I can't sleep with my socks on

Always: I hate being barefoot

Sometimes: I tell myself I'm going to work out on the exercise bike when E goes to bed

Always: I end up watching DVR'd shows

Sometimes: I want to dye my hair dark

Always: I want it to go back to being blonde

Sometimes: I say I'm going to go to bed early

Always: I stay up until midnight

Sometimes: I think I can walk the mall without buying anything

Always: I end up buy baby clothes

Sometimes: I want to make an extravagant meal in my crock pot

Always: I end up making spaghetti

Thanks for tuning in to my first sometimes and always.

Go check out Megan's blog and link up!!

Ellie's First Birthday Party

We had Ellie's birthday party at our house last Saturday.

I guess the theme was pink and black with a touch of zebra.

When I first had Ellie I wasn't really into all the headbands, bows, dresses, and cute outfits.

Then I decided I was going to have myself a little girly girl and I wanted to always dress her up.

At least while I can still pick out her outfits!

It was a late afternoon party so on the menu was a cheese ball and crackers, a veggie tray, chocolate covered oreo's drizzled in pink chocolate, zebra cakes, chocolate covered strawberries, and chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. 

Thank God for my Cricut, I loved making the decorations.

I loved Ellie's banner and cupcake toppers.

Birthday girl in her birthday outfit.

She got some fun toys and some adorable outfits!!

She got some mega blocks that she insists spreading out all over the living room.

She wasn't so sure about the cupcake at first

but she caught on

After a quick clean up and an outfit change she just lounged around in her new chair from her grandpa.

We had a great day.

No melt-downs, temper-tantrums, and Ellie didn't get freaked out by all the people.

We are so blessed to have such an amazing family and some awesome friends.

I can't wait to see what is in store in the upcoming year!

Happy Birthday Ellie!

12*15*11

You are one!!!

I can't believe how fast time flies. I feel like we were just heading to the hospital not even knowing I was in labor. This past year has been amazing. There have been plenty of trying times, but having you has been a pure joy. I can't wait to see what our future holds and I am excited to watch you grow and see your personality take shape. You are such a sweet little girl and I love all the time that I am able to spend with you. Your daddy works so hard to provide for us and to make sure that I am able to stay home with you.

Ellie-belle you are our pride and joy and we love you so much!!!

This month:

*You weigh 20 lbs

*You have four sippy cups a day and three meals

*You are in a size 2 diaper

*You wear size 9 month-12 month clothes

*You sleep from 8:00 until around 8:00 or so

*You take two naps a day. In the morning you sleep around two hours and the afternoon nap is hit or miss. I think we might have to switch to one nap a day soon

You are walking like crazy!!! I rarely ever see you crawl anymore.

You get into everything. You've gotten yourself stuck a few times with this new found ability.

Your favorite thing to do is to get into the kitchen drawer with all the towels and pull them all out.

Or playing in the Tupperware cupboard.

You love opening and closing all the cupboards.

You babble constantly. It cracks me up. You will have a whole conversation with me in your own little language, I love it.

You've started scrunching up your nose when you smile and it is the cutest thing e.v.e.r.

We had your birthday party this month and had so much fun with all of our family.

You got so many toys and some adorable new outfits.

This past year has been quite the ride! It has been so amazing watching you grow and change.

I can't believe you used to be my little baby and now you are my mobile toddler. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love you and all the hopes and dreams I have for your future. You are such an amazing, smart, sweet, love able, beautiful little girl and I am so blessed that God chose me to be your mother.

I love you so much Eleanor Ruth.

A toddler?

I can't believe this time last year I was going to bed for the last time being pregnant.

I thought I had at least three more weeks before I would meet my daughter.

But Wednesday December 15, 2010 at 11:06pm I met our little girl.

It was the craziest and most amazing experience of my life.

I loved being pregnant, and surprisingly I loved labor and delivery.

It didn't go exactly as I expected but I can't wait to do it again.

Next time the goal is to go all natural.

I was only in actual labor for a little over 4 hours and only pushed for 8 minutes.

It was the most intense thing I have ever gone through.

It hurt like a beetch.

But seeing her beautiful face was the best moment of my life and definitely worth it.



I can't believe that I just put my BABY to bed for the last time.

Tomorrow I will wake up and she will be a toddler.

Where did the last year go?

As hard as it was when she was a newborn and she screamed her brains out because her belly hurt I would go back and do it all over again in a heartbeat.

When I say I miss my little baby everyone tells me to just have another one.

But it won't be the same.

It won't be Ellie. I don't want to just replace her.

It will be a new baby and I will be chasing around a toddler too.

I won't be able to have the same experiences I had because it won't be just me and the new baby.

Part of me feels like I'm grieving the fact that this stage of our life is over.

But I whole-heartedly love where we are now.

She is such a sweet little girl.

Her personality is really starting to show and she cracks me up.

She is so fun, and I love that we are able to do things together.

She will have a "conversation" with me and it is the cutest thing ever.

I love the way she scrunches up her nose when she smiles

and the way she gets so excited when daddy comes home from work.

As much as I am going to miss this stage I am so looking forward to what is to come.

I just know I'm not going to take anything for granted.

Time goes by so fast and I know it's only going to go faster in the future.

Eleanor Ruth I love you so much and can't believe they way you've turned my world upside-down.

I never knew the capacity I had to love unconditionally.

I am so excited to watch you grow and change as the days go by.

I love you.

Glitz and Glam

I saw Raven was doing a Christmas gift blog swap this year and I knew I couldn't pass it up!

Who doesn't like girly, glittery presents??

And I'm always down for any excuse to shop!

I was paired up with Ashley and was so excited when I got her present in the mail.

That is seriously my favorite color of nail polish!

How did you know??

I was just thinking the other day I need to accessorize my wardrobe and then

BAM

A bracelet, earrings and scarf come in the mail.

Ashley, are you a mind reader?

It's so awesome to "meet" new people that you would have otherwise never known.

Blogging is the best.

Thanks so much for all the awesome gifts!

Wanna see what I sent her??

Head on over to Ashley's and check it out!