2 weekends behind

I am just a little behind right now when it comes to blogging. It seems as though my life has taken over and I find myself going weeks without an update. I apologize, Poco. Because I know you are the one lonely follower that I have who actually checks to see when I update. According to you my blog is "boring." I'll work on that...and just for that...this post is all about YOU.
Last weekend we went up to Dallas to watch my little sister run in her first ever half marathon.
What a journey!
Poco had been training for months, and the week before the marathon she was horribly sick. On Friday night we still didn't know whether she would be running or not...but she gave it her all and finished the race. We were so proud of her!
It was so fun to go and cheer her on and we wouldn't have missed it for anything in the world.
Here she is on race day! (she's in the lime green/yellow top)

Gambi and Eloise were so excited to see Poco run by at mile 7

Here we are after the race...E just has to hold the leash for Gracie

So proud of Pat and Poco!
Oh look..someone incredibly sweet made you both signs
What a nice person

Eloise made this sign for her Aunt Poco.
When Poco ran by at mile 7...E was holding the sign with her daddy!!

The Roomies trained together!
Yay Poco and Lauren!
Go Girls!!

Poco's cheering section!!

I know I need to upload more pictures of life. This past week was crazy! Tuesday was the Writing TAKS test for my 4th graders, and then on Tuesday night, Eloise had a temperature...not just any temperature..it got up to 105!! We had to go to the hospital, and thankfully it was just from an ear infection. Walt and I have already scheduled for Eloise to get tubes on the 17th. I know it will make a world of difference.
On Saturday we had a birthday party to go to, and then on Sunday we FINALLY started purchasing things for baby girl!
I can't believe that in 7 1/2 short weeks we will be a family of 5! (we included Gracie here!)
I am starting my 32 week of pregnancy or my 8 month!
I go to the doctor tomorrow...after that checkup I will post a picture of the ever growing belly!
I will say this time around, thankfully, I haven't gained as much weight! Maybe it is because I am toting around a 22 pounder!!
And...one more week, then a much needed break...
Spring Break that is!!

Prayer is Powerful

I have to take a moment and ask for those of you who read my blog to please go to Kellie's blog and read about her sweet baby. Kellie follows my blog and I remember when she told me she was pregnant. She is a wonderful mother, and always has the sweetest spirit.

http://kandjstaats.blogspot.com/

Kellie's sweet baby saw the Lord a couple of weeks ago. No one really knows why, she was sleeping at her babysitter's house, but we know that the Lord was ready for her to come home. She needs to be lifted up in prayer. Her sweet girl Maddie was only 4 months old. To have a precious miracle taken away from you is always questionable...but with prayer her and her husband will definitely feel more comforted. Several people are hosting an auction for their family on Monday. You can view things for the auction and even purchase things if you'd like. Prayer is the greatest gift of all.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=44960&id=186874161353204

Happy Birthday Sweet Eloise Betty!

so, i'm an idiot. I had this post all done...and then I went back and saw that I didn't even post a picture of the COOKIES and MILK table. Hmm...her theme WAS Cookies and MILK! So..now some of the pics are out of order. Here are the Mason jars that the adults drank out of. Children had their choice of white, chocolate or strawberry milk and they had 5 different cookies to choose from.

Now on to the real post....from the beginning.

How in the world could I possibly have a one year old? I can remember the day of Eloise's birth like it was yesterday. Since I was induced, I was able to get up and shower, and make myself look all pretty....but something didn't feel right. I asked Walt if we could go into Eloise's room and pray together, and then once we got to the hospital, I asked my doctor what was the percentage that something would go wrong. I just had this feeling. Long story short, Eloise took a while to get here, and once she was here she had to fight for a couple of days. And now...I have a happy, healthy, beautiful, if I do say so myself, one year old.
Where did the year go?
How did I get so lucky?
I remember the long, sleepless nights....those are long gone
I remember a sweet baby who was eating every three hours...that is no more
Looking back in her baby book, during the first month I noted that she stayed up all night long....I now have a baby that goes to bed at 7 and sleeps until 7
Hard? Beyond belief.
Worth it? To know that I get to wake up and experience a miracle every single day...guess that's a yes, huh?
Thank you God for allowing me to be a mother.
and
Thank you God for giving me a wonderful, loving family...with a pint sized little blessing that makes everything all worth it.

Eloise's 1st birthday party was on her actual birthday, Feb. 19th. The theme was cookies and milk; therefore, everything was pink, brown and white. (chocolate, white and strawberry milk)
We had about 40 guests at our house and it was so fun.
My family and Walt's family came in (except for my sis who live in North Carolina)
and all of our closest friends were there. Eloise had a blast! She definitely LOVED the cake, and we were overwhelmed with gifts!
On Eloise's actual birthday she was semi walking around...well, it is now Thursday and we have an official "walker" on our hands! She kind of looks like the Michelin Tire Man (that big blimp)when she walks...it is quite humorous.
Walt took her to get her one year shots on Monday.
E is in the 50th percentile for weight and the 90th percentile for height.

Here was the candy table

Eloise's smash cake
which was soooo yummy! it was just a chocolate cake with buttercream icing, but
OMG

The birthday cake for our guests

guests were given party favors that were pre-made cake mix! I figured it was only fitting if they were at a cookies and milk themed birthday party.
I don't think I can ever look at another m&m again.
I had to separate all of the red m&m's from Valentine's out of the mixes...we now have like 3 tupperware full of red m&ms.

up close picture of the favors

guest were greeted with a montage of Eloise's 12 month pictures.
I thought this turned out really cute and it was neat to see how she has grown.

the mantle.
I picked a favorite picture from each month of her life thus far

momma and daddy
with the
birthday girl!!
we are all in brown, pink, and white!

time to sing "happy birthday!"

this little ham LOVED all the attention...
she just clapped, and clapped once everyone started singing

mmm...cake is good

the cake is really good

and I decided there was no reason as to why she HAD to wear a bib
it's just cake....it came out when we washed it....
and we had another outfit to change into

some of our friends
Carson is the 1st friend Eloise EVER met
Stella is Eloise's first real GIRL friend

Colton with his momma and daddy
Eloise and Colton go to the same homecare....
I would totally be ok if they ended up together

me and with part of my team

brother and sister

momma and daddy bought Eloise a "pink cozy coupe" for her birthday
I think you can tell by her face...that she LOVED it.

opening up some gifts

see that outfit change? So precious

Eloise was baptized the next day at our church, St. Luke's United Methodist.
Ironically enough the sermon was about imperfect parents raising imperfect children...it could not have been MORE Perfect.
Eloise's grandparents, aunts, uncles, great aunt and uncle, and our closest friends were there.
Before we got out of the car I asked God to send His blessings down upon her...what do you know that little angel slept the entire sermon. :)
We then all came back to the house and had lunch together.
It was perfect.
The weekend was perfect.
Now we are just all trying to recoup in this house.
With a walker on our hands...it's pretty difficult.

James 1:7 "Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

E's Birthday

Blog post coming soon about this little one's FIRST birthday! I have too much to say and share...I need to collect all my thoughts! It will be a good one though, I promise!!
But, let me tell you...she LOVED cake!

TOO cute to NOT share....

.we are in LOVE with this little chunk of heaven.


.and SHE is in love with this itty bitty chunk of heaven.