Birthday Girl

“We prayed for this child and the Lord has granted us what we asked of Him.”
– I Samuel 1:27

I no longer have a baby.

I have a one year old! 

A toddler!!

How did this happen?

How did she grow up so fast?

I swear, just last week I was feeling huge and massive.

Counting the days for her arrival.

Walking 1-2 miles every night with the hubby to get things going.

My dear girl,

 Life has been so much better since your arrival.

You keep us on our toes every single day.

You entered the world giving us a scare.

For a moment I thought you wouldn't make it.

I thought I had carried you all those months only to have you taken from me.

You're my angel.

My blessing.

My miracle.

I'm truly excited to watch you grow up and become the woman God wants you to be.

I'll do my very best to teach you everything I can.

Just give me a few more hours of sleep at night, okay? 

last day with my baby

Oh how can I have just one more day with a baby?
This doesn't seem possible!

On this day last year, I was sleeping in as late as possible and laying around all day.
I thought it would be my last for quite a while.
6 pm was the big hospital arrival.

My stomach was in knots all day.
I could hardly contain my excitement and my fear.
Fear of the unknown.
Of not knowing what birth was like.
Anticipation of experiencing it
and finally meeting my precious miracle.

just a quickie..

On September 24 last year,

I found out exactly I would meet my daughter.

When our long awaited blessing would arrive.

When we could go to the hospital and give her an official eviction notice

Get out here, baby!

I am so excited to celebrate her first year of life on this same day.

The big first birthday bash is tomorrow.

Along with Fort4Fitness.

In which I am run/walking 4 miles.

Starting at approximately 6:30 am.

Fabulous.

Party prep

We are getting down to just a few days until babygirl's big birthday bash!!

(Be prepared for a major photo-dump after the party)

I have been in major party prep the last 2 weeks.
With the supply buying, food buying, decoration making I have been a busy bee!

I am so excited to have made a majority of her decorations for the party.
I'm also glad we decided not to go with a character theme party.
Hubby and I decided that our kids will have to come up with a fun party theme
that isn't character related for all of their birthdays.
We think this will be more fun and also a cheaper route.
(Just don't tell them we said that in the future.)

This past weekend I made all the party favors for the guests.
I made chocolate suckers that say
I'm 1.
This gave me flashbacks to my sister's wedding.
Where I was volunteered to make all the chocolate favors.
For like, 500 people.
This is not an exaggeration, folks.
I think for once in my life, I hated even the sight of chocolate after that.
But believe me, that was easy to get over. =)

Here is a little preview for those of you reading who will be at the party.

And of course I have to leave you with a cute one..

Balloon was courtesy of my soon-to-be sister-in-law.
This lasted all of... 5 minutes or so

The power of prayer

Pregnancy is an amazing thing.

A brand new, perfect little person is created in just 40 weeks.

But sometimes God has other plans for those little people.

They don't get to spend 40 weeks safe and sound in their mama's belly.

Due to circumstances beyond control, these babies make their entrance into the world. 

Enter the NICU.

A place of miracles.

A special place for these little miracle babies to grow.

I never had an experience with the NICU until my nephew was born.

My sister-in-law has 2 boys and both were born premature.

I wasn't around yet when the first baby was born.

But with the birth of my nephew recently, my eyes have opened to the joys and struggles 

of premature babies and the whole NICU experience.

Some babies are born needing to spend only a few days in the NICU.

Other spend the first weeks to months of their lives there.

I'm not sure how these mamas make it!

It is probably an awful feeling to be carrying your baby inside you for months 

and then after delivery, have to leave them at the hospital while you go home.

Then there are little guys like this

Who hardly ever have sent mom and dad home with a bad report.

He's such a little fighter.

Such a little miracle.

I was able to go and visit him in his own little private NICU room.

I pictured it to be like I've seen on tv.

Beds next to rocking chairs and repeated.

No private moments with your baby.

No real personal bonding time.

We are so blessed to have a NICU in our hospital that allows private rooms.

Proud big brother. 

He is such a strong little guy.

I am so thankful he has had a good start to his life.

Technology has brought us a long way in today's society.

But the power of prayer and faith can move mountains.

Pea cupcakes?

There's a growing girl in my house.

Her name is Lily.

But she goes by babygirl on this ol' blog here.

This girl can literally eat us out of the house!

I'd say half of my grocery bill is for her.

I'm not sure how this is all going to work when she gets a bit older.

When she can actually pick what she wants to have for her meals.

She currently LOVES peas! 

She has a cup of peas for lunch or dinner.

Babygirl eats every last one.

Does hubby eat peas? 

No, not really.

Do I eat peas?

Absolutely not!

Next summer I am going to give her frozen peas as a snack.

I've heard from numerous people that these are amazing.

People eat them like candy.

Peas as candy? 

Sure, if babygirl thinks so. This is perfectly fine with me!

It's better than M&M's.

So while babygirl is snacking away on her peas

I will be eating things like this.. 

Friday Flashback (FB style)

Christmas toes

It is September.

Yes, this shouldn't be new news to me, as it is babygirl's birth month =)

However.

Last Christmas was alright. 

Except babygirl was just 12 weeks old.

BUT!

This Christmas she will be 15 months old!

Walking and running, chatting and just being crazy!

It is an understatement to say that I am

SO EXCITED!

Besides having our yearly Christmas card photo done

I am thinking about making some for our families 

and of course for our family Christmas tree 

which will go along with my pretty tree (that hubby hates.) 

Here are a few ideas I have come across on pinterest 

click here for the original post to this photo

Aren't these just the cutest thing you've ever seen!

Makes me wish I did them last year as well with her teeny tiny baby toes!

(I've been sick lately... sick with baby fever. SIGH!)

 link

What grandparent wouldn't love getting this card?

 link

I'm not sure babygirl would sit still long enough for this one.

But the fingerprint Christmas lights are just beyond adorable!

 link

I love this one! 

I never had an Advent calendar when growing up but I think hubby will love this idea.

Hubby is just as Christmas-Crazy as I am.

I think he will enjoy finding little things to fill in the bags 

and also the joy the kids will get every night of December.

Just a few fun things I plan on doing with babygirl this Holiday season. 

Who knows? Maybe YOU will get a little footprint from this beauty.

I'll love ya forever

I am striving be a better wife. 

To remind myself to never take my husband for granted.

How do I remember to date him?

Make him feel like he is my everything? 

Because he is.

My husband is the other half of my heart. 

We have been through so much together. 

We have a beautiful child together. 

I have been with him almost 1/3 of my life.

I can't imagine myself without him.

Sometimes it is hard to sit down and focus all my time and attention on him when I have a crazy running underfoot. She takes up my energy when I get home from work and by the time I have eaten and put her to bed, I am just ready to crash myself! I know this is the time when he feels needed by me the most.

I'm making an effort.
Trying harder to learn to balance my time.
Especially if we want to continue growing our family.

Love is still at the base of the family tree. Love makes the roots.
He is my everything.
He should know that. I should make him feel that way every single day.
Because if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have my beautiful growing family.

Thanks for being my cheerleader, baby.
For supporting my crazy thoughts and ideas.
For helping me chase my dreams.
For being my fairytale ending.

confidence

I've always been a writer.

I just never usually shared much.

It's like the closet singer.

She knows she can sing.

But she's terrified to do it in front of someone.

Terrified of the judgement.

I started a blog because I have always been a writer.

I have followed blogs for a long time but never had one of my own.

I want to express myself.

Share thoughts, feelings and dreams.

Capture the days of my babygirl.

Remember the silly, the sad,

 the happy and bad.

September 11

They tell us to get over it, they say to move on, and they mean it well. But I will never get over it. To get over it is to get over the guy who stayed behind on a high floor with his friend who was in a wheelchair. To get over it is to get over the woman by herself with the sign "America You Are Not Alone." To get over it is to get over the guys who ran into the fire and not away from the fire.You've got to be loyal to 
pain sometimes to be loyal to the glory that came out of it.-noonan

Ten years ago today, ordinary Americans went to work or boarded a plane and found themselves fighting on the frontlines of a battle they did not choose. They acquitted themselves with grace and courage, just as the thousands of men and women who enlisted to fight in our armed forces—many on the anniversaries of this day—in order to exact justice for their fellow Americans. We will never forget those who died ten years ago today, we will never forget those who died in the war that started on that day, and we ask God to comfort and bless their families. From across this great nation, grateful Americans honor those who defend our homeland. God bless America.

- Sarah Palin

WE WILL NEVER FORGET


Thank you so much for all the love I received after yesterday's post.

Hitting home, We will never forget

September 11, 2001

A date that no American will ever forget. 

Ask anyone.

Anyone what they were doing on this morning 10 years ago

they can tell you.

Ask me what I was doing last Tuesday, I have no idea.

September 11, 2001 I was in the 7th grade in shop class.

The teacher's phone rang about 9:00am and he turned on the television.

We were all asked to return to our seats because something was going on

and we were all going to watch the news.

I saw the second plane hit the tower.

I still didn't really understand what was going on.

The school day schedule went along as normal.

However, this was not a normal day.

We changed classes at the normal times but we watched the news all day.

In every class.

I still didn't really understand what was going on.

I saw the panic on the principal's face.

I saw the horror in the teacher's eyes.

Yet, I still didn't really understand what was going on.

It wasn't until about 4:00pm when I got home that I understood the severity of the events.

Yes, I saw the second plane hit.

Yes, I had seen the reports about the Pentagon and Camp David.

But at the time, surrounded by my classmates and peers.. 

I still didn't really understand what was going on.

When I got home from school I saw my parents both at home watching the news

sitting next to my aunt and uncle. 

They were glued to the television.

Dinner wasn't made.

No afternoon snacks were prepared. 

Nobody spoke.

They just stared at the tv.

I mustered up the courage to ask what this day had meant.

One word.

War.

Dad said this was a possibility that we were going to war.

War?

That's all I heard. 

I sat absentmindedly watching the news with them.

War.

That's the only thing I could hear.

This isn't supposed to happen.

America being in a war is only supposed to be in the History book.

It's not supposed to happen in my lifetime.

I can hear stories about grandparents and great-grandparents fighting in wars.

But War?

Now?

I excused myself to the bathroom.

I walked in and closed the door behind me.

I sank to the floor with my back against the door.

I cried.

I sobbed.

I finally understood the severity of the day's events.

In the most honest part of my heart,

I knew that I, personally would be affected by this in the future.

I didn't know why or how.

I just had a feeling this was going to hit home, literally.

Fast forward four years to November 2005.

I'm working in Target the day after Thanksgiving.

I meet this boy.

He changes his duties to be able to work along beside me.

We start talking.

Getting to know each other.

On our first night of talking, he says he is thinking of joining the military.

He asks my opinion.

It's just a thought in his mind at the moment.

His parents are kind of iffy on the idea.

There's not really anyone backing him up and being a cheerleader in his corner.

Then he mentions his grandfather.

He has so much respect for this man. This veteran.

He wants to make him proud.

He wants to join the United States Army.

If you know me, you know I was raised very patriotic.

My family was all about the red, white and blue.

I was so supportive of this boy I just met.

I encouraged him to follow his heart's desire. 

Choosing the military is awesome, you are so brave.

Fast forward just 6 more years. 

We've been through

Bootcamp 2006

Deployment 2007-2008

Marriage 2007

Baby 2010

Pending deployment next summer 2012

I knew. I knew on that day just 10 short years ago.

As I sat in the bathroom crumpled on the floor

I knew I would be personally affected by this.

I wouldn't change it for the world.

I didn't lose a family member or loved one that day.

I wasn't in New York in the middle of the fear and terror.

But I am here 10 years later. 

Supporting my husband.

Supporting the decision he made to defend our freedom.

Defending those who did lose family and friends that day.

I can truly say from the bottom of my heart

That this family will NEVER forget.

Here is a link to a website depicting the times and events that occurred that day. 

I cry as I read it.

In Jesus' arms..

I have had 3 pregnancies.

I have one baby.

I should have a house filled with little ones getting under foot.

I am so blessed to have my babygirl.

I am stronger because of my 2 losses. 

But I still think about those babies.

I am a mother of 3.

But a mommy to just 1.

Just because those babies didn't make it in this life doesn't mean they weren't my babies.

And just because I was blessed with my healthy beautiful babygirl,

Doesn't mean I should forget about my other babies.

I will meet them one day.

I will see them in Heaven. 

I will know them and they will know me.

I can't help but look forward to Heaven even more so.

I will see my babies who are already living with Jesus.

photo outtakes

We had babygirl's photo shoot for her birthday invitations this last weekend.

These are just a few of the silly outtakes. =)

pinning butterfingers

My obsession with Pinterest has led to some awesome recipes and crafts. 

Homemade Butterfingers

These were so awesome! Butterfingers are my very favorite candy bar. 

The recipe was SO easy. 

I decided it was time to stop just pinning things and actually put them to use! There is a whole list of yummies I want to make! Hence, one of my boards is titled, 'Yummies to make'.

Hopefully I will get around to trying all of these recipes. It would be nice to turn it into a checklist of sorts.

Feel free to follow any of my boards!

Ashlee on Pinterest

housework

Having a child makes housework basically... triple! It blows my mind how I can spend hours cleaning things, putting stuff away, straightening this and that. Only to turn around the next day and have to do it ALL over again!  Then things get too repetitive and it drives me crazy to have to clean the exact same things over and over. So maybe I'll skip a day.. Oh geez. That's the worst choice to make. 

You would be surprised how messy an 11 month old can be.

Babygirl's BFF

There is a new fixture around our house.

She has to go everywhere with us.

She doesn't have a name.

But she is babygirl's BFF.

Little girls with baby dolls are adorable.

I can't get over it.

Babygirl got her first baby 2 weeks ago.

She spotted it while I was browsing Goodwill. I figured I would let her hold it while I browsed the store. When we got to the checkout she kept hugging it and kissing her head. It was SO cute! 

So baby had to come home with us. She then spent the evening in the washer and dryer before making her official debut. Now babygirl drags her into every room she goes to.