Happy Anniversary!

Two years ago on this date, Stephen and I were married. Since then we have embarked on many new life experiences. We moved six hours away from our families to a new state, I started law school, and the most life changing and wonderful life experience of all being the birth of Ella Kate last April.

April will always be a very important month in my life. Obviously the weather is generally beautiful in April and everything is in bloom. My mother was born on the 3rd of April so I should have know long ago that this would always be a special month in my life.:) My wedding was on a beautiful Saturday afternoon after some awful storms had come through that morning (not unlike the storms last Friday). Then last year Ella Kate was born in April. What a wonderful month full of blessings!

I cannot believe that it has been two years since my wedding day! People have asked me "does it seem that long?" My answer is "no" which I think is a good thing and reflects a strong marriage. Watching Ella Kate grow in this last year, I wish I could slow these years down. I know I cannot so I plan to enjoy these wonderful April celebrations in my life!

Biscuits....mmmmmmm.....

This morning Stephen and I wanted to go out for breakfast. Since there are not that many places to choose from and since most of them are in Ridgeland where there is no power from the horrible storms yesterday, we decided to go to the favorite Chick Fil-A and have a chicken biscuit. (side note, to all our friends effected by the storm yesterday you are in are thoughts and prayers)

On the way out the door I realized that we had not breakfast food for Ella Kate and even though I am sure that she would not know the difference I just could not give her spaghetti for breakfast. So we decided that she would probably like the biscuits as much as we do and thought now was as good a time as any to let her start trying "big girl" food. Also, we are weaning her off formula and starting to give her milk. Well let me just tell you that she loved every minute of her "real milk" and biscuit. It was so cute to watch her pick up the little pieces that Stephen and I had torn off for her and put them in her mouth, then pick up the bottle and drink her milk. I on the other hand am in shock that my little baby can eat real food now and drink real milk. I find myself asking where the time has gone.

In just a few short weeks my baby will be a one year old and a toddler. CRAZY!!! She is the best thing that ever happened to Stephen and I. Now, a whole new world of fun is upon us. Teaching her to eat with a fork and spoon and seeing what "real food" she likes. I can't wait. She does something new every day. It is so exciting seeing the little girl she is becoming. I will say that she is a pretty good combination of Stephen and I. She has just enough sass and loves looking at herself all dressed up with a bow in her hair in the mirror, but she also loves the deer that hangs in our guest room/office and loves it when her Daddy does turkey calls. So we have collectively decided that she will be a sassy outdoorsy little girl. Thank God for living in the south where those two things can go hand in hand!

Hurry! Before I turn into a pumpkin!

This past weekend was Barrister's Ball or what we in law school call "law school prom." You get to get all dressed and go out with friends that are usually sitting in class with you day in and day out. Well, let me just tell everyone how much FUN it was for me! I do not get out much these days (with an almost 1 little girl) and so for me to get to put on a dress, some highheels and feel pretty was amazing. Stephen went with me and looked very hansome as always, I married him didin't I ?! :) He was so nice to drive me as well, which meant I was able to partake in some "mommy and daddy" drinks as my friends little girl calls them. Needless to say I was a bit of a chatty Cathy, but nonetheless enjoyed conversing with my fellow classmates. I love going to events like this because it is so fun to watch everyone "let their hair down" so to speak. It was also good because I finally got to meet my good friends' husband, who was very hansome I might add, and he got to spend the night talking with Stephen.

I think it is so funny though how adults still tend to seperate themselves, boys over here and girls over there, just like we did at a 5th grade dance. Here we are adults at a "ball" and I look over at the circle of my husband, Amanda's husband and Misti's fiance and they are all talking and we are all talking together as well. I think this kind of subconciously happens without anyone meaning to actually seperate themselves.

Anyway, back to the ball and the reaon I was able to go! Baby Einstein!!! Thank you Lord for the invention called Baby Einstein, specifically our new favorite "A Day on the Farm." Ella Kate is going through what I like to call separation anxiety. We have been fine up until about a week ago and now when I leave her at Rhonda's (daycare) she fusses and reaches back up for me. I just cannot stand it and now what took 3 minutes can take 15 because I cannot leave her until I know she is happy. Well, for us to be able to go to the ball Saturday we had to get a babysitter. Enter a wonderful 15 year old!!! She was great;however, Ella Kate was not so sure. So what did I do? I turned on my old friend Baby Einstein!! (hear the angels singing) That little head whips around and she starts smiling and clapping and laughing and Stephen and I head for the door! I tell you I wish I was the one who invented this wonderful product because the person who did is a genius! On some days I would love to give her a hug!!! (I would assume it was a woman and after some checking my assumption was proven correct!)

....So after enjoying some wonderful adult time, time with wonderful friends that I do not get to see "socially" very often and some "mommy and daddy" drinks it was time for me to go, before I turned back into a pumpkin! (Mother, Wife and yes, law student)

What would/will you do???

Last night after putting a very tired little girl to sleep, Stephen and I watched a Dateline NBC on a case of mistaken identity. We absolutely love these types of shows, i.e. 60 minutes,etc. and they always lead to good dicussions. Last nights program was about a really bad car accident with some students from Davidson University and how two girls identities were mistaken. One set of parents were told their daughter was in critical condition, while the others were told that their daughter had died in the crash. In reality it was the other way around, five weeks went by befoer the discoery was made. Many wondered how the parents of the dead daughter did not realize that it was not actually their daughter in the rehab center. Stephen and I discussed this and could totally understand how after such a tramatic accident and being told that the injuries were severe and she might not look like herself, etc. that all you want is for your child to heal and when the swelling goes down and she looks a little different you just want so badly for recovery and so are so close to the emotional process that you don't see the differences.

Now I must say these two girls did look very similar and in some pictures Stephen and I could not tell them apart. What struck us the most though was how strong both families were in their faith. Throughout a funeral for a daughter who was actually still alive, to caring for a brain injured girl, who in five weeks would turn out not be actually be your daughter both were so strong and now the families are life long friends. These families could all teach us a thing or to about trusting God and the plan he has for all of us.

Whitney was the one who survived and here favorite saying is now that her work on earth was not done yet. God has a purpose for all of us, Here is hoping that we are all being faithful servants and fulfilling the work that he has laid out for each of us here on earth. I know that I turned my television on to watch this show for a reason. God wanted to remind me to love with all I have and remember that everything happens for a reason and that the most important thing is to trust in him and the plan he has for all of us.

Hope everyone has a wonderful evening. We love all of our family and friends so much. God Bless!

I have finally started...

Hi Everyone! After reading everyone else in the world's blog, I decided that it would be a GREAT idea to start my own. I know that for most this is not a big deal, but I usually do not do these things and so this is a big step for me. Our family is 6 hours away and this will be such a great way to keep them updated. My husband Stephen and I are so excited because our daughter Ella Kate is 11 mos and on her way to 1 year. I personally have no idea how this is possible because it definitely does not seem like it has been a year since my ankles were cankles and all my shoes among other things did not fit. Nonetheless, here we are almost a year later and with a little cutie, well sassy monkie, as I like to call her(Stephen corrects me and says she is not a monkey). I like to call her a monkey because she crawls on everything and likes to pick. For instance, Stephen has a mole on his neck and she will push his head to the side just so she can try and pull it off his neck. She is a very determined little girl. Also, she is probably going to be walking in no time and is very ready. So ready, that for the last two nights at around 2 AM she has been sounding off in her crib standing. Now the first time I went in there to see what was going on imagine my shock when my baby, who usually sleeps so sweet sucking her passy, was standing there ready to play in the middle of the night.
Yes, I know this will happen more and more and am not surprised by her sassiness, even in the middle of the night. Those of you who know me are probably not surprised that my child is sassy. This said "sassiness" comes out more and more everyday. For instance, now when she decides that she is done eating not only does she push the spoon back in my face, but she shakes her head back and forth and says something that comes out Nah but I take to mean "no." Also, we are "trying" to teach her what "no" means, which might explain what I just said. When her Daddy says "no m'aam Ella Kate" she whips that little head around and looks at him and extends her right hand and points back at him. Now because I know the importance of her learning some discipline I have learned not to laugh, but let me tell you the first few times I had to bite my tongue to not laugh histerically at her. She is definitely my child.
I hope everyone has enjoyed my first rambling post. We love all of our family and miss you all so much, but hopefully this will make the miles between us not seem so far.