Sleeping Baby

So, I am one of those Moms that is soooo guilty of letting their babies fall asleep their my arms. I mean, really...who can resist your precious little angel falling asleep in your arms and you just holding her and rocking her as long as she sleeps? I have held her for up to two hours, being careful not to move too much or make any noise (and you definitely can't take any bathroom breaks, you just have to hold it). I LOVE IT! Looking at her face with not a care in the world. Moments I will cherish forever. The only downside to this (and yes, everyone warns you about this...books, other moms, strangers...you name it) is she totally prefers to nap on my now instead of anywhere else. But look at this face, could you resist that? I sure can't.

I thought I had finally broken the trend two days ago. She took two awesome naps in her crib, both were longer than 2 hours!! However, the next day she was not having it. Every time I would get her to sleep I would place her in her crib and instantly her eyes would open up. I finally had to let her nap on her swing...usually that is a good enough compromise for her.

In the mornings she wakes up at 7 and I nurse her and she goes back to sleep until 10. I let her sleep in our beds in the morning.

So, if she wants to fall asleep in my arms until she is 10, I will just have to let her. As long as she is getting the rest she needs, I don't see it as a problem. So what if I don't have a chance to clean the house while she naps, it will still get done & I would rather have memories of my baby than memories of a clean house.

Show You Where I (Ella) live...

So, after seeing Kaydee's post last Friday, I found the blog it originated from and I just thought this was the cutest idea. A girl named Kelly does this and she has a little girl just a week or two younger than Ella. So, I know I have posted pictures of Ella's room before, but those were not with a very good camera and I like her room...and this is my blog, so I can do it again! =)

This is on the wall with the light switch as soon as you enter her room...

Two of the crosses are from my mom and one is from Trey's mom. Psalm 91:11 and Psalm 127:3 are on them. Perfect for my baby girls room.

This is what you see directly in front of you as you enter...



And here is a close up of the shelves and the large frame. The piggy bank with a tutu on is from Trey's mom. And of course as soon as I saw the 'Queen of the Crib' plate I had to have it. I have one of her first sonogram pics in the silver frame. She is holding her index finger up saying 'I am number one'. I love this large pink frame. My Mom bought it for me and gave it to me at my first baby shower. I had been eye-ing it at a local store.

And here is her crib...

She only takes naps in it though. For now she is still sleeping in her pack and play next to our bed. Here is a close up of the photos above her crib. They are maternity pictures, sonogram pictures, some pictures of the princess and one very special photo of my grandmother, who Ella is named after.

This is her changing table and dresser. I LOVE the mirror hanging above it. I received this from my wonderful sister in law, Jennie.

Her name hangs above her closet doors...




And my college roommate made this for me, which hangs on her closet doors (Love is her middle name)...



And what would be a tour of her nursery without her...


Hope you enjoyed!

First Swim

Today Trey got off a little early and I had been wanting to go to our communities swimming pool all day, so it was perfect. We got Ella ready, put on her little swim diapers, put on her Ralph Lauren bathing suite, put sunscreen on her, grabbed her sun hat, her floaty, a change of clothes for her after we finished swimming & a regular diaper...and 20 minutes later we were ready to go. (I mean, there is no more running out of the house in like 5 minutes. Every trip requires planning and lots of extra stuff).

And of course we had to take pictures (add an extra 5 minutes...Trey loves this part!)

A close up so you can see her precious bathing suite!

And we are off to the pool...

Now I wasn't able to bring my camera to the pool. You see, about 3 months ago I broke my point and shoot digital camera, so I talked Trey into letting me get a really expensive professional type camera. So, here are pictures of our swimming pool I downloaded off of the community website. We love it.

We stayed for about 40 minutes. Being our first trip I didn't want to overdo it. Ella had a great time. She kicked her chubby little legs and laughed! Her floaty is a little too big, so I held her and bounced with her in the water and she loved that.

I will have to get a disposable camera for our next trip. She looked so cute in the water. I can't wait to take Mommy and baby swim lessons. She has to be 6 months old to do it though so I have to wait until July. She is taking a nap now. I think all that swimming wore her out!

How could I forget?

Okay, so I posted a picture of the neckalce my mom got me for Mother's Day, but it slipped my mind that my wonderful husband also got me an amazing present. He got it for me the week before Mother's Day, so that I would have it for Mother's Day weekend when everyone was coming for Ella's dedication at church.
He got me a dining room table...



Of course I picked it out, but he got it for me. He is smart enough to know not to try and pick any furniture out without me and sweet enough to get it for me if I want it. He is an amazing husband and great dad!

And now he is on to the next project that I decided I wanted...new nightstands. But I am not a big fan of matchy matchy bedroom suites so I didn't want to buy anything & I could not find what it was that I was seeing in my head. So, he is making them for me. I did a sketch and gave him all the dimensions and he is going to build it. Yay!

As of today, we have lived in our house one year! And I love it just as much now as I did when we moved in. We found out we were pregnant the day before we signed on the house. The whole searching process was a killer, but when we saw this one we loved it. It was two years old and is in a community with a water park and a golf course, several fishing ponds with cute little ducks, tennis courts and volleyball courts. Oh and little parks like every three blocks so that if you want to go play at the park you don't have to go far. It is perfect for a family. I couldn't be more happy with it.



Another thing that makes me so happy...Ella.



I mean... those cheeks, that smile...LOVE IT! Also, the high pitched squeal that comes with those smiles. I had to post these pics because they are so funny.

Weekend in Wichita

We were very busy this weekend. We drove to Wichita Friday night and hungout with the family. Ella got to meet her Uncle Zach for the first time. We called James and Brooke and they came over with Blake. Ella was asleep when they got there, but she woke up so we could have picture time. Blake has gotten so big since we last saw him, he is so cute! I think Brooke and I could wins awards for chunkiest babies! I love all the little rolls.


And of course we had to have the Dads pose...



And Blake and Ella bonded...



I have known James and Brooke since Jefferson Elementary and Trey and them are great friends. It is so funny to me that everyone had kids around the same time. Trey's other best friend Justin Veal and his wife had a baby girl. We haven't met her yet, but hopefully we will soon. It is so cute to see those big guys hold their little babies.

After they left we got Ella ready for bed and she found her feet for the first time! It was so cute. She hasn't really let go of the since. Then she put her foot in her mouth for the first time. I didn't get a picture of that, I wasn't quick enough.



Then it was bath time and Trey's mom had gotten her a cute hooded towel, so of course we had to take more picutres...



Saturday morning we woke up and Trey went to his brother Shane's graduation. Me and Ella didn't go because I didn't think it was a good place for a baby, not very much fun and we can't really play. So, we went to my parent's house and hung out. I love to watch her with them. I have AMAZING parents and Ella is so lucky to have such great grandparents.



My mom has a hard time keeping her eyes open in pictures. You can't count or she knows it's coming and will definetely close her eyes. You just have to randomly snap...my sister took 16 pictures of this exact pose and we got one with her eyes open (sort of).



Ella and I went back to the Calhoun's for Shanes party.



By Sunday we were worn out. Ella specifically. So, we headed home around 2, we usually don't leave that early, but Ella was exhausted because she hadn't napped well. We got home and unpacked and I put Ella on her activity mat so I could put up some things. I came back in the room and she was on her tummy! She had rolled over for the FIRST TIME and I MISSED IT!!! So, I ran to get the video camera, rolled her back to her back and she did it again. This time I saw it and I caught it on tape! Video coming shortly!

Trey and I were talking like now it all starts. Before we know it she will be crawling and walking. My baby girl is growing so fast. You want them to stay a baby forever, but my mom told me it will just get more fun as we go.

It's Friday!

So, Trey's mom and the rest of the company woke up at 4 AM to take Rachel to the airport and pick up Zach. Ella and I did not wake up! The visit was nice, Ella's grandmother just loves her to pieces! She got a little fussy because she wouldn't take a nap. When there is company around she doesn't want to sleep, she is too nosey and afraid she will miss out on something...I have no idea where she gets that from! =)
So, today we are packing and heading to Wichita after Trey gets off work. We have to see some friends, hang out with his family and mine, go to Shane's graduation, & Trey has to help Shane with some electrical work at his house. Needless to say, we are going to be busy. I also have to go to the Containery and exchange necklace chains. My mom got me the cutest necklace for Mother's Day, but I want the chain a little longer. It has a "j" charm and "e" charm and a little heart charm and one that says "love". That is Ella's middle name and the necklace is so cute. Here is a picture.

Visitors Coming

So, yesterday Ella and I went to the doctor and she weighs 17 pounds 8 oz and is 26" long! She just seems to be growing so fast. When she was born she weighed 7 pounds 15 oz and was 20-1/2" long. That was only 4 months ago, but sometimes it seems like years ago and others it just seems like yesterday. She also had to ge two shots and she did not like that at all! It breaks my heart when she cries like that. If only I could get the shots for her I would, and I hate shots too! She is so chunky!! She has rolls upon rolls and I think it is precious.

Today Trey's mom and her friend Patti Moore and her two daughters are coming to spend the night with us. Then this weekend we are headed to Wichita Falls for Trey's brothers graduation from college. It looks like it is going to be another busy weekend for us. I just hope Ella naps better this time so that she doesn't get so fussy.

While we are in town we are going to try and see James and Brooke and Blake Fouts. We haven't seen him since he was like a week old and they have never seen Ella. And Ella is finally going to get to meet her uncle Zachary. He is attending school in Kentucky so he doesn't come to Texas that often.

Psalms 127:3 "Children and a gift from God"

This Bible verse is so true. Yesterday I read a blog about a little baby girl named Kayleigh and discovered that she had recently passed away. Brooke Fouts has the link on her blog and I went to it one day and from the day on I followed it and prayed for that baby. I knew that if it was God's will he could completely restore her to new, but that if it wasn't that Mom was going to need God more than ever. After I read that she had passed I cried and cried and told Trey all about it. It made me want to pick up my baby girl, who was asleep and never let her go.

Children are a gift from God. Everyday I am amazed by Ella. If I am in a bad mood she gives me one of those smiles and all of my worries just melt away. I love holding her and playing with her and reading to her. And some of the memories I will always have is of her sleeping in my arms. She is so peaceful and beautiful.

On Mother's Day our families came to Rowlett and went to church with us for Ella's baby dedication. It is not a baptism, it is only a promise. A promise to God, Ella and our families that we will raise her to know the Lord and to accept Jesus as her savior. I don't think that there is any greater responsibilty of a parent than this. It will be mine and Trey's duty to ensure that she knows Jesus and that we are examples of His love to her.

I now have an idea of how much my Mom loves me. Until you have a child that is something you can not comprehend. It is wonderful!!!!!