Date Night on a Tuesday

Last night, Adam and I went to a Greenjackets Baseball game. The Greenjackets is our local baseball team. It is actually used to be a farmteam of the Boston Redsox (Ad's favorite), but now I think it is like Pittsburg or something. Anyways, the baseball game was also a mingle type deal for Enterprise employees, where Ad works. It was really fun! We met his co-worker Graydon, his wife, Rebecca and their little boy, Bradley. We all went together and enjoyed grilled hotdogs and hamburgers, watermelon and cotton candy!! It was such a beautiful night, too! We didn't do much game watching, but we enjoy chatting and laughing with his coworkers!! I also found out that Adam is 2nd in car leads for his district!! And the guy ahead of him only has him by like 3 cars!!! I am so proud of him especially with him being the 'new guy on the block!' We left E with Mom and Dad. We figured it might be too much for her but I cannot wait to take her and do fun things like baseball games, carnivals and parks......so fun!! I even made a friend! His name was Charlie and he was probably abou 3 years old...super cute!! He made me excited to have a little boy one day..............ONE DAY!!! Haha!

Ad and I at the game. I had just eaten cotton candy...notice the blue teeth lol

Graydon and Rebecca! We had so much fun with them :)

Vista Print

Have any of you ever used Vista Print for busniess cards or address labels? I used them for the first time last week and fell in love! They have the best sales and they have quality products! I bought 30 announcements, 20 monogramed notecards, 140 address labels for only $35! I thought that was pretty awesome! They actually have a sale going on right now. You can save up to 100%!! Go here and check it out. I bet you will find some fun goodies...just like I did...

1st week back to work and bath time

This past week was my first week back to work. Wednesday ended up being my first day back to work because Ella Jae had a fever. It even continued into early Wednesday morning so she didn't go to daycare on Wedneday either. Mom kept her while I worked. Wednesday is a half day for me which ended up being the perfect day to start back. Nothing like a half day to start back and get back ine routine. Despite missing EJ, being back at work felt great! It was nice being back with my credit union family! I have some of the nicest coworkers!! The rest of the week went well. I refrained myself from calling the daycare to check on Ella Jae 500 times like a crazy person (be proud because I really wanted to ha!). I was kinda sad on Thursday because when I got home from work she was asleep and stayed asleep until 9:40 pm and then I she when she woke up I fed her and she went back down for the night :( I didn't get to spend that much time with her :( I hope that the majority of our days won't be like that. I am so used to spending every waking minute with her so it is going to take some getting used to. I am sure we will find a routine just like when we brought her home from the hospital. It will just take time. But my first week back really was a lot better than I had anticipated, so thanks for the prayers!

I also snapped some super cute pics of E while we gave her a bath. I love when she is clean! Her little face is so shiny and perfect!! I love it!! She is my little bathing beauty :)

Adam made me laugh!

So tonight Ad and I were having our nightly chat and he said that he heard 'the most ridiculous name today.' I said what was it. He said Windsor Salem. He said who in their right mind would name their child that haha! He said what is she going to go by when she is older...Windsor or Salem? I said they are both names of towns and then he said 'and cigarettes!' This made me laugh because he was really annoyed by the name haha! Then I said well, was she cute? And he said 'ridiculously cute!' and his mood totally changed. Hahaha! Then....this made me really laugh....he went on to say that she had a little bow, a cute short hair cut, big big brown eyes and little sandals. I said so what you like kids now (sidenote: Adam never really liked kids before EJ)? He said nooooooooo, very sacastic haha! Ella Jae has definitely melted his heart and made him a real softy!! Adam never looked at kids and everytime we would be in public and a kid would cry or something he would get annoyed. It is funny how a baby can change even the toughest men! I love it!!

Birth Announcement

Is it still considered a birth announcement when it is 2 months late? Oh well, I am sure no one will complain when they receive this...
I bought really cute brown and pink cards before Ella Jae was born to be printed with a picture once she arrived, but unfortunately never got around to printing them trying to adjust to life with a newborn (they will not go to waste...first bday invite???). So I finally decided that I would just upload a cute pic and just have them printed online. So that is what I did. I snapped this picture of E the other day and thought it was too cute not to share with our loved ones. So technically I don't know if I am sending birth announcements or just a card with a cute pic of E on it :) Everyone should receive one in about a week!! Get excited!!

Many Firsts...

Yesterday Ella Jae went to daycare for the first time and to the E.R. I took Ella Jae to daycare at 10:30 am to do a run-thru so I would know how long it would have taken me today to get ready and everything. I picked her up at 5 pm. They said she did well, but I noticed from her progress chart that she didn't nap that well. So it was no surprise that when I got her home that all she wanted to do was sleep. She wasn't eating that great but I thought it was just because she was pooped out. It alarmed when I started getting up with her every hour starting at 11 pm. I can't remember the last time I had to get up with her through the night. At 3 am she was boiling hot and took her temperature and it was 101.7. So I called the ped office and he said to take her to the E.R. I did and we were there for 4 hours :( It was so awful, probably the worst experience of my life. Bless her little heart, she was poked and proded. I don't know if all of it was worth it for just a fever. They drew blood, took a urine sample by taping this little bag to her girl parts, kept checking her heart rate and respirations. Finally she took a little bottle while we waited for results and she went to sleep. The docs really didn't conclude much because her blood and urine tests were fine. So we are going to the peds office to follow up with him this afternoon. She is eating better but still very tired :( I pray that she is coming down with something and that is just a fluke fever. Praying my baby girl gets better soon! I just think that she was playing "hooky" because she didn't want her Mommy to leave her again haha!

4 more days...

I only have 4 more days until I return to work from maternity leave. It is quite a bittersweet emotional time for me. I am excited to get back to work and hit the ground running under new management and learn about all my new tasks that I have ahead of me, but at the same time I am sad because I have to leave my sweet baby girl. I mean who would want to leave this precious thing???I have had several women tell me that it is better to leave your baby when they are this young because they don't know. I even had a sweet lady tell me that she knows many working moms that are great mommas and just because a momma stays home with their child doesn't necessarily make them a great momma. I can still love her and give her everything she needs and still work. She is going to a christian daycare/nursery and I taught 4 year old kindergarten there for 2 years and I know they are going to take such good care of her. I know our days are going to be very long, dropping EJ off at 7 am and picking her up at 6 pm, and that makes me sad but this is the right thing for our family right now. I have a half day on Wednesday so that will be something to look forward to. Also, we have several family members that want to pick her up early some days to just spend time with her. I am praying for peace and comfort as I spend my last days at home and for when I return to work.

You're an old married couple...

When at night you get excited about...

Sitting down, drinking a cold glass of chocolate milk and watching tv. And then this...

happens to you 30 minutes later! Haha!!! (Good to know Ella Jae's 'Boppy' pillow also acts as a foot rest for Daddy! This made me laugh out loud!)

I won! I won!

Lyndsie over at "A Love Worth Waiting For..." had an awesome giveway! I won this awesome hair straightener by Misikko, a $205.00 value! I am so excited about my new flat iron! It is said to work just as good or ever better than the Chi! I have wavy hair and always have to do something with it, either put gel in it or straighten it. So a good straightener will make my life and "getting ready process" a lot easier and faster! I cannot wait to use it! Thanks so much, Lyndsie!!!

My First Mother's Day

Ella Jae,

What a special happy day you made for your Mommy on her first Mother's Day! Mother's Day has always been a little sad for me because my Mommy went to Heaven when I was just 13 years old. I always looked forward to the day when Mother's Day could be happy for me again, and you made Mother's Day happy for me again, Ella Jae. You make me happy everyday! I love you so much and cannot imagine my life without you. Growing up, I always thought of what my children would be like and look like. I thought of names for my babies and even fun traditions that I would someday want to start. And of all the thoughts I had and all the things I imagined, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think of how much I could love you and or just how beautiful you would actually be! You are so precious and sweet, and I never knew how special I could feel when you smile at me or laugh at my silly faces. You even like it when I sing to you and believe me, your Mommy is no singer. I am not looking to when you realize I cannot sing, but maybe you will still like it anyways. I also never knew how helpless I could feel when you cry. I want so badly for you to never feel hurt or pain. I pray for your safety and health everyday. I already worry about you. I pray that God will use your little life for His glory and that you may touch the lives of others. I have so many hopes and dreams for you. And I want you to know that no matter what I will always be here for you and love you more than anything else in this world! You are heaven sent! I prayed for a little girl to love like my Mommy loved me and to be able to experience a Mother-Daughter relationship because mine was cut short. I cannot wait to make memories with you and share in heartfelt conversations, to play dolls and dress up, to share clothes with and go for manis and pedis, to hold hands and skip and run, to bake with and laugh and giggle with. My Mommy always said I was "her heart." And now I know what she meant. You are my heart, Ella Jae! You are my heart, my purpose, my life. It is a privilege and a sweet sweet blessing that I get be your Mommy! I thank God for you and for entrusting me with your precious life. I promise to keep you safe and protect you, to raise you up in all the right ways, and to show you an unconditional love. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I always want you to know how much you are wanted, loved and adored! I am the luckiest Mommy in the world to have the joy of giving birth to you and loving you. Thank you for making my first Mother's Day a very special one, one I will never forget!

Love Always,

Momma

Show Us Your Life-Kid's names

I am participating in "Show Us Your Life--your kid's names" at Kelly's blog. I was always wanted to participate but never have for whatever reason. I was really excited about this paricular post and wanted to share why we chose "Ella Jae."

Ella Jae

I always wanted to have a double-name for my little girl. And it has always been important to me, too, to give my children names with meaing and importance. Growing up, my great-granddaddy was very special to me. He passed away my freshman year in college. He will always have a special place in my heart and after he passed, I knew I wanted to remember him in a special way. His name was Elbert Jacob and those who knew him best called him "EJ." And I wanted an "EJ", too. So I took the "El" and the "Ja" from this name and made "Ella Jae!" Fortunately, Adam loved the name but I didn't give him much choice in the matter, either, haha! And that is how we named our sweet Ella Jae!!

Yah for Wednesday!

Ella Jae and I are excited for our day! Adam will be home at 1:30 and we are going to lunch together!! Then he is going to talk to the dealership about our **new car** We are probably getting the KIA Sportage!! We plan to enjoy nice family time and go to family night tonight at Mem and Pep's. And I pray Ella Jae will be in a good mood and for NO reflux!!

Our weekend

Our weekend quickly went by yet again and fortunately, we were feeling better enough to enjoy it! Friday night we went to mom and dad's to hang out while the band practiced. Ella Jae was not very happy once we got there :( But she fell asleep after getting angry. Saturday, was a great day! I woke up to a dozen pink roses and breakfast :) Ella Jae and I had a hard week with a cold and her reflux, but flowers and DD definitely perked us up!!

Ella Jae even got excited! She was eyeing the chocolate covered donut with sprinkles, which I am sure will be her favorite once she is old enough to actually enjoy one :) She was ready to get her little paws on it! Haha! After downing our yummy breakfast, Adam went to get his oil changed and Ella Jae and I hung out at home and got ready for the day. Then we took Ella Jae over to mom and dad's, and Adam and I went to Cheddar's for my BFF's, Jessica, birthday.

After we ate supper, we all went to play Putt-Putt! It was so much fun!!

Hope you had a wonderful birthday, Jess!

Sunday, we went to Church and to Grandma's to eat lunch. Then we went SUV hunting! It was so hot outside and walking around a blacktop car lot wasn't the funniest but picking out our future SUV was fun! I want a KIA Sportage or Sorento. We found a bronze KIA Sportage that are looking into getting and I am so excited!!! So in a nutshell, that was our weekend!