Praying for Layla Grace

I came across this sweet girl and her family a few weeks ago. She is battling cancer and is having a hard time right now. Her name is Layla Grace and she and her family could really use your prayers right now. It just breaks my heart that a sweet 2 year old baby has cancer and I just can't imagine being that momma right now. I do not know them, but I have a baby girl and I know I would want everyone that could to pray for us.

Words on Wednesday

So this post is not so wordless, but it will have lots of pictures. Lets start with last Tuesday night when we babysat Hunter. Both chubby cheek kids, neither looking at the camera!

Wednesday night we went to church and after church Trey and I both got SO SICK! I think we had a stomach bug because we were both in the bathroom all night long and all day Thursday too. Praise the Lord Ella did not get it, but Trey and I weren't too much fun for her and didn't do a whole lot of entertaining her. She was such a trooped though and I am so thankful for such a good baby.

I loaded up and went to Wichita for my sister and Trey's Dad's birthday on Saturday. Trey didn't go because he still felt bad. I didn't take a single picture while I was there. I was still a little off and Ella just doesn't sleep good anywhere but her own bed, so I was tired and trying to keep up with her. We came home Sunday and Trey was better.

Monday we had a lazy day and stayed in out pajamas all day. Ella had a runny nose so I figured we would just stay home and play. Can you tell she is about to take off in this picture? I love the expression on her face. Like, ok mama come and get me! She loves to run!

Her hair in the front is getting long and always pokes her in the eyes. She always wears a bow when we go out, but she does pull them out a lot of the time. So, I put in a little baby bow and told Trey to pick up some hair bands on his way home. She left in the little bow for a while before pulling it out.

She loves this little rocking police motorcycle. She will just rock so hard I am afraid she is going to just go all the way back. She is getting to be such a big girl. It is so weird. It is like all of a sudden she went from baby to toddler. She is even starting to look less and less like a baby.

I think this is hysterical. I was bored on Tuesday when we woke up and just wanted to play with her hair. No, this look probably won't be repeated until she has more hair, I just had to do it and then I had to take pictures to show Dad. She is zoned in to Yo Gabba Gabba. Oh, that show is so weird, but she just loves it. It is the only show she will watch. I am glad though because I don't want her to watch a lot of TV, I would rather play with her.

She couldn't even take her eyes off the TV to tell me to go get her more juice. She just held it out until I got the picture.
She also had a great time putting the box of building blocks on her head.


So funny! This morning I went to my Moms group and hopefully when she wakes up we are going to go shopping. Isn't my life so exciting?!?! It is a wonder that I don't have like a million readers with posts like these! Haha! I promise they will get better.

My Valentines

Trey and I celebrated our Valentines on Saturday night. We took Ella over to Kyle and Jennies so we could go out to eat. She did get dressed up for the occasion. I know it is hard to tell since I have my hands over her clothes, but she looked adorable. We couldn't really decide where to eat and we just knew everywhere was going to be crowded so we went to Texas Land and Cattle. We both love steak and I love wine, so it was a good pick. We had thought we would drive in to Dallas, but just didn't want to at the last minute...so that is where we went. We did have to wait an hour, but we went back to our car to wait and played rock, paper, scissors while we waited and just laughed and had fun.

I told Trey not to get me flowers, but he did get me chocolates. Don't get me wrong, I do like flowers, but there is a light fixture I want more and I didn't want Trey to waste money on something that will die when I have my eye on something I want! We got Ella Little People Princess building blocks that are pink and purple and she has loved playing with them. My mom has some at her house, but it is a farm, so of course I would rather my girl have a castle. =)

The next morning we went to church and then we went out to eat again after church. This time, Glorias, which is Mexican food. This wasn't really planned, I just was craving some chips and hot sauce and I love theirs. So, I got two Valentines meals!

And this was my Valentines Day three years ago. Trey and I were dating long distance so we had to wait until that Friday when I would come in town to see him to celebrate our Valentines. That night, February 16th, he proposed and it was one of the best days and definitely my best Valentines Day to date.

Snow Day #2

I woke up to even more snow this morning, it was so beautiful. We had 12" in some places! I couldn't wait to get Ella up and go out and play in it. This was one of those mornings where I wanted her to wake up, so of course she slept until 10:15. Once Miss Sunshine finally got up and about and had some breakfast we all got dressed and headed out to play and take some pictures.
Then some of my beautiful baby girl by herself. She was so brave this afternoon, she even sat in it. She was like, this doesn't phase me a bit!So I sat with her. Trey on the other hand enjoyed making very large snowballs...and throwing them! He did this numerous times and it never got old. He was like an 8 year old. We walked over to the golf course and there were a tons of kids, and adults, having snowball fights. It was so much fun! I am sure by tomorrow most of it will melt off and it will be yucky outside.

Snow Day

I woke up this morning and I heard something rustling in the living room. Trey was supposed to be at work, so I was a little freaked out that someone could be in my living room. I slowly opened the door and there was Trey standing in the middle of the room. I was very shocked that he was still home...then I looked outside and saw all of the snow! It was snowing big huge snowflakes and was just so pretty. Us Texans are used to about 1/2" of snow and we consider that a storm, so imagine what we think when we get 9".

We got Ella all bundled up and took her out in it. Isn't her hat cute? That is what Summer got her for her birthday! I love it! Ella didn't care too much about the now. What she doesn't realize is that she probably won't see this again for like 5 years or so. Trey of course decided to build a snowman. It really was a sad little man, so after he was done I went and tried to revive him a little. We also made some snow ice cream. Trey had never had it before, but I remember my Mom making it for us those few times it snowed when I was little.

Snowman still in progress...obviously! Ella was supervising. She also tried picking up the snow, then would realize it was cold and wet and would put it down immediately. This was at about 2:00 in the afternoon. It started at like 5 a.m. and is supposed to continue until after midnight. I guess Trey will be staying home again tomorrow because the roads are supposed to be really bad.

What a Day!

Yesterday was quite a busy day for me. My sister-in-law, Jennie, had an interview so she asked me to keep Hunter. What she failed to do when she first asked me was tell me what time she would be dropping Hunter off. Just kidding! I would keep him no matter what time it was. But, if you know me or have ever read my blog before you know Ella sleeps until about 9:30 or sometimes even 10:30. So that means this mama sleeps until around 9:00 (unless it is Sunday or every other Wednesday for Moms group). Well, Jennie needed to drop Hunter off around 7:30-8:00. Wow! It was hard getting up. Your body really does get in a routine. I am used to staying up late too, so I couldn't fall asleep for the life of me.

Well, this little punkin' showed up and we had some fun playing on the ground before Miss Priss woke up. She wasn't too happy when she woke up and really doesn't like sharing her momma. After a while though she woke up more and really enjoyed watching Hunter. She does not understand though that Hunter is a real baby and not one of her play babies. Her play babies laugh and say mama and dada when you press their tummies and she kept wanting to press his tummy and I know that she was trying to make him talk!Hunter finally went to sleep around 11:30, his usual nap time is 10, but of course they never stay on the same schedule when they are with someone else. Ella went to sleep at 12 and I had 20 minutes to attempt to get on the computer before Hunter woke up. His little catnap seemed to make him happier though so we played some more. Ella woke up after an hour and a half nap and was in a much better mood and really wanted to make Hunter feel welcome. She got all of her toys (a bunch) out of her basket in the living room and would bring each of them to Hunter. So sweet!

I love this picture of the two of them. She is checking him out and making sure he knows who is in charge.
Hunter however looks back to let her know he is no push over! I had a fun and busy morning with these two. I hope they grow up together and are great friends. I had a brother and a sister, but I always wanted cousins. I just always thought it would be so fun at Christmas and Thanksgiving to have a big family. Now that my siblings and I have kids and are having more I think we will finally have that big family.

Our Weekend

Friday night Ella, Trey and I went out to eat at the Olive Garden. I was craving some pasta and wine so off we went. Ella has a new trick of showing you where her belly button is and had no problem what-so-ever flashing everyone that walked by to show them her belly button. Needless to say, she got a lot of attention. I tried to capture it with my camera, but all of you with kids know how that goes. As soon as I get the camera out she sees it and wants to play with it and forgets about her "tricks". My hubby and baby were asleep that night by 9:30. I however was still up at 12 watching TV. I have turned into a night owl. I guess that's okay because I get to sleep until 9 since Ella doesn't wake up until 9:30. Saturday morning she woke up at 10!!

Saturday was quite possibly the laziest I have been in a LONG time, maybe ever! We all stayed in our pajamas all day long and just played with Ella and watched TV while she was napping. While she was asleep Trey told me he was going to go shave his face (his facial hair was getting a little out of control). After a while I wondered what he was up to & I walked in and saw he had done something new. He had been watching Lonesome Dove on TV and he does like to watch John Wayne movies and such, so I knew he was a little obsessed with country and the wild West, but I had no idea how much until I saw this.

Yep, he shaved it into a handlebar mustache. He also told me that Hulk Hogan sports this same look and then proceeded to show me Hulk's moves. Of course, I grabbed my camera...after I made fun of him for a while. Praise the Lord this look was gone by Sunday morning.

This morning we went to church and then tonight we went to a Super Bowl Party. We had a great time and Ella had a good time playing with her friends. And just because, here are some pictures of my baby.
So excited!!!

Inspiring

As I mentioned in my last post a close family friend passed away so Ella and I went to Wichita Falls for the services. I think to say a close family friend might be an understatement. My Mom and Dad have known Pat Walker and her husband Herschel for over thirty years. After struggling with cancer for 2-1/2 years, Pat went home to be with Jesus. I have known them all my life and always loved seeing them. Pat helped with my wedding shower, but wasn't able to make it to my baby shower because she was sick. When Ella was born though, my Mom and I took her to see Pat and we went and ate at the Olive Garden. We all ordered strawberry margaritas, or something like that, and had a good time visiting. Pat cried when she told me how beautiful Ella was and how proud she was of me and what I had become.

Her funeral was a celebration of her life. The pastor had known her for 40 years and told sweet stories of her and her husband who had been married for 59 years! Yes, 59! That alone is inspiring. I think the part that was so touching and so inspiring was this: the pastor quoted Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" or in the New Living Translation "For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better" and said this is how Pat lived her life. How amazing is that? He then specifically called out her grandchildren by name and told them to listen carefully, that their Grandmother had made a difference. Her life had touched so many people, especially women around her age who she had reached out to and mentored and encouraged, like my mother.


Everyone in that church knows Pat was a Christian, knows she is in Heaven. Her Jesus was so real to her and she made sure everyone around her knew that and knew HIM. Isn't that amazing? Don't you want people to remember you as encouraging, as inspiring, as having made a difference? Isn't it wonderful that her faith in Jesus Christ was so alive that it was contagious? I just can't think of anything better to say of someone after they have gone home to be with the Lord than that. When you see Jesus don't you want Him to say "Good Job!"?

To love the Lord and live your life serving Him and be recognized as having made a difference for that is truly inspiring to me.

Finally Home

Ella and I went out of town for almost a week to Wichita Falls. A very close family friend passed away so we went home to attend the services. (More on the later) I was pretty sick the first two days we were there, luckily my Mom and Dad were there to entertain Ella and take care of her so I could try to get better. On the third day I did and we went and visited Trey's parents and went to the Mall. I was going stir crazy after being stuck in someone elses house and I think Ella was getting a little bored too.

Trey came to town on Saturday and Sunday and we went to his Grandmother's house to visit her and then we went over to Trey's brother and sister in law's house to see Ella's new cousin. Ella fell asleep on the ride over. She must have been a very tired girl because she even stayed asleep while I got her out of her car seat, carried her in, and napped for another 45 minutes while we all talked. When she finally woke up her Grandpa posed with his two grand babies.

Ella's cheeks are still red from napping. She wasn't too interested in her cousin because she was asleep and not making any noises or moving.
The toys however were very fascinating! She even tried to climb into the swing. I think she might be just a little (hmm...A LOT) too heavy for it though.
I was so horrible about taking pictures while I was there since I didn't ever really feel 100%. I did get a picture of Ella and her Papa though. He was in Hog Heaven while we were there and just loved on her.

Caleb and Corey came to town and Caleb wanted to love and hug on her too.
Unfortunately Ella was not wanting to love back! She just wanted to play!
She loves chasing Caleb around and playing with his big boys toys. Caleb likes it for about 2 minutes until Ella takes one of his toys, then he is not a happy camper. Kyle, Jennie & Hunter came in town too, but poor baby Hunter wasn't feeling too good so I didn't get a picture of them.

Ella got to spend a lot of time with her Grandmother and Grandad (Trey's parents) while we were at the visitation and funeral. I think she had a good time with them.

We are finally back at home and getting back in to our schedule. Ella just does not sleep good if she is not in her bed or in her mommas arms. So, most night she slept right on my chest so I didn't get too much sleep. The last two days she has slept until 10:30!!!! Wow! I guess she is catching up! It is so nice to be back at home in my own bed and with my baby who sleeps sooo good.