Happy 4th of July!

Adorable.

I posted this picture on Twitter and Instagram, but I wanted to share it here too. 

I love this little girl.

Happy Weekend!

Big Girl Room Inspiration

With the arrival of baby girl #2 approaching rather quickly, Brian and I have had to scramble to figure out where EA is going to sleep!

We decided #2 will use the nursery almost exactly as it is, minus EA's initials and pictures that are currently scattered everywhere. EA will move next door to what is currently the office/craft room/ misc. junk room. 

Monday and Tuesday are booked with plans of emptying that room. I am not sure what to do with some of the craft supplies I have collected over the years but don't actually have a use for until EA is old enough to use them with me, but we will figure it out. We will buy some of the furniture this weekend and paint the rest of the furniture next week.

After spending lots of time online trying to find exactly what I wanted to do in that room, I have found a few inspirational ideas on Pinterest that have really gotten the ball rolling.

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Taza Tarika in yellow

Dottie quilt- found here

I have located a basic comforter, owned the dottie quilt for quite some time, compared prices for the Tarika fabric on Etsy, and began picking out photos and quotes for the wall collage. Hopefully it will come together well.... we just have to empty the room!

Have a great Sunday!

Country Girl

A few weeks ago, my sweet Granny passed away. God is so gracious and merciful in the timing and way that she passed, but needless to say, it was a hard week.

Granny is from a small town in Mississippi. I grew up going there, but Granny moved to Birmingham my sophomore year at Auburn, so I haven't made as many trips to MS as I would have liked to recently.

One of the gifts God gave us through Granny's death was about a week of quality time in MS with EA and my parents. Brian had to go out of town for a large portion of that week, so I stayed in MS to help my parents. It ended up being a great week of family time.

The best part of the week was bringing EA to Granny's house. Granny has lots of land and my parents have done a lot of work over the past few years- it looks amazing. EA had acres and acres to just explore, and she loved it.

I used the time to grab some pictures of my sweet girl. I love sweet pictures of children/ families in fields on photography blogs and was anxious to try to recreate some that I have seen, but what makes these special is the fact that this land is important to our family. It's not just a field, it's our family's history. 

EA and Poppy on the tractor.

She was watching the cows. Seriously, she was a big fan of the spotted friends.

I have so many memories of my mom and grandmother sitting in these chairs on her front porch as I played in the front yard- this picture is so special bc. they brought my daughter into those memories.

God was incredibly faithful during this time. He brought complete and perfect healing to my grandmother through her faith in Him. He rekindled memories that had faded from years of Granny's fight with dementia.  He began mending relationships that have suffered for far too long. He provided a time of relaxation amidst a time of chaos. He showed my family the power of the Body of Christ.

It was a sad week and a hard week, but a week of wonderful reminders of who God is- our Comforter and Healer.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.

Psalm 86:12

EA's Baby Book

As I have mentioned before, I love Shutterfly. I just finished EA's baby book and am excited about the option to share it with y'all. 

Enjoy!

Click here to view this photo book larger

You'll love Shutterfly's award-winning photo books. Try it today.

Photo Dump w EA Update

This morning, I finally sat down to unload all the pictures from my camera from the past several weeks.

I realized- I've missed a lot! My sweet girl is doing so many fun things, so I am going to take a moment to share our October. 

Our church has an awesome, covered playground area, so now that she is walking, we stop by to play from time to time. I love watching her master the climbing and sliding- she loves it!

She had only been walking for about a week when we took this picture. She still wasn't 100% sure she could stand up without her hands in this pose. I know it doesn't capture her face, but it's such a priceless picture of a tiny span of her life.

EA and I headed to Auburn one day to meet some sweet girls. I was so excited to be down there when it wasn't a football game- the place is much more calm, so she was able to roam a little.

Kelsey was so much help that day. Kels was a trooper and helped me keep her corralled. I was bummed we didn't get a pic w Caroline too- it was such a fun time with these girls!

EA can't get enough of steps. This is Samford Hall- she went straight to the steps, and when we brought her down from those, she went to the other set. Thankfully, our house only has one story. 

I think I am seeing a glimpse into the future here....

Brian's middle brother, Scott, got us tickets to a BBQ cook-off one Friday. 

Our girl had her first taste of cotton candy that night. She's a big fan.

For EA's birthday, we joined the Birmingham Zoo. The price to visit for a day is a little outrageous, but to join is a great deal. She's still not sure if she likes the monkeys or the older children who are visiting better.

My two favorite people in the world. She is such a Daddy's girl.

When we were in the cat building, the tiger was pacing immediately by the window. The lighting isn't great, but I love her silhouette looking up as he passes by.

Look how close he was!!

Finally, we ended the month with Halloween. I am so sad that this was the best picture I have of just our little cowgirl. This is two years in a row I have stunk it up capturing the costume. Boo. 

With or without pictures, we had an excellent Halloween. We spent time with friends, did a little trick or treating, and played in our pumpkin bucket. Overall, it was a success.

Happy Friday everyone!

Comparison- the Enemy's favorite game

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I love being a mom. Adore it. It is unlike anything I have ever experienced and it is the most magnificent thing. I remember asking my friend Rebecca right after I had EA- why didn't you tell me it was this good??

But something came with it that has the potential to be equally as life shaking- comparison. For me, it started during pregnancy- why do some people get pregnant so fast while others take so long? Why does their baby move more than our baby?- and progressed right on into her little life- Why can some people bfeed and I can't? Is my daughter's life going to somehow be less because I physically could not give her the milk she needed? How much does she weigh? How tall is she? Is she sitting/ rolling over/ crawling/ creeping/ walking/ talking? 

And anytime the answer is no, I obsess over it. Why isn't she doing these things? and often times- What I am doing wrong? 

This ugly thing called comparison can eat away all of the joy that being a mom can give- it makes me see my precious, wonderful daughter as not enough. I HATE IT. 

What it comes to is simple- pride. Greedy, ugly pride.

And what Satan wants me to think is that it's okay. It's normal. 

The thing is, just because other mom's or just other people in general deal with it, doesn't mean it's okay. My daughter is never going to be just like someone else's daughter, just like my pregnancies will never be like anyone else's. God has a story that is perfect for us- it will not always have "happy endings" or always be easy, but it is perfect because God knows every step of it. Every time I start comparing, I am telling God that I am not happy with the incredible blessing He has given me- that I expected more, better, different. Where what I really got was the most amazing gift I have ever received.

EA will develop all of the skills that she is supposed to in her own time- and I don't want her to develop them in any other way- she is unique and special. That's one of the things that I love so much about her. 

Praise Jesus that He made her exactly like she is. 

Because that's exactly how she should be.

*Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you.*

Isaiah 43:4

Pumpkin Patch 2012

We went to the pumpkin patch this afternoon. It was so much fun! EA was a blast as she played with the cotton and petted the animals- it was a much different trip than last year!!

Here are some highlight pictures of the day!

Have I mentioned... my sweet baby is walking? Why yes she is!

A Children's Book Birthday Party

I honestly believe I have been planning EA's first birthday since the day she was born. I know I have had a Pinterest board about it for at least that long.

I adore children's books and am anxious to develop that passion in EA as well. 

The invitations were a mix of several things I found on the internet. I was looking for something that was pretty, but very child appropriate- I LOVED how they turned out!

Each food at the party was based on a children's book-

We had Mouse's Cookie

and Worm's Dirt Cake

1 fish, 2 fish

Ollivander's Wands

And Lilly's Cheese Doodles

Caterpillar's Dinner

Green Eggs and Ham (Ham sandwiches- they were in the oven when I took this picture)

We also had Pigeon's Hot Dogs, but I missed that picture.

EA had a striped smash cake and grown up birthday cake to go with A Bad Case of Stripes.

Our drink station was decorated with an EA themed chalkboard featuring the things she loves right now- activities, food, and toys. Everyone drank from mason jars in true Pinterest fashion.

For our table, I used a burlap runner, then topped it with terrific book fabric I found several months back at FabricalaCarte on Etsy. 

A chocolate station

I made the banner with brightly color card stock, book pages, and letters. Each layer is stacked and connected with bright ribbon.

BTW my awesome husband made the frame in the middle of the mantle. Isn't he amazing?

My favorite book ever. 

EA's photo banner was made with book pages, matching colorful card stock, and my favorite monthly pictures printed in 5x7. The numbers are hot glued to clothes pins and connect to ribbon that matched the Happy Birthday Banner.

We had a copy of Happy Birthday to You by Dr. Seuss to use as a guest book. People chose a page to sign and give their love to EA! 

EA loved her cake. Though you can't see it in this picture, she had a ONE banner hanging from the front of her high chair that matched the Happy Birthday and photo banners.

The party was a absolute success! EA had a blast and I think her guests did too! I can't believe a year has come and gone- this girl is just amazing.

Birthday Booklist

Diary of a Worm/ Click Clack Moo Cows That Type  by Doreen Cronin

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling

Lilly and the Purple Plastic Purse/ Lilly's Big Day by Kevin Henkes

1 Fish 2 Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish/ Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch