{Ella Jae's first birthday party}

Happy 1st Birthday, Ella Jae!

Today is a very special day in our family! It is our beautiful baby girl's first birthday!

Happy birthday, sweet Ella Jae!

You are loved, adored, and cherished!

"I thank my God everytime I remember you." Philippians 1:3

One year ago today...

One year ago today was a Friday, and I was 39 weeks pregnant. I remember it like it was yesterday! I slept in, did laundry, got ready for the day and met my father in law and uncle at a local Greek restuarant called "Acropolis." We know the owners well and she told me to eat the eggplant parm because it has been known to induce labor, not sure if that is a Greek thing or what. I thought "yea right, but what the heck because I like eggplant parm." haha! I ran some errands and came home to rest then get ready for a hot date night with my hubby! I took my 39 week preggo picture in the living room before heading off to dinner at "Beef O'Brady's" and then we heading to Books-A-Million. We had a great night together and I remember not eating that much because I had such little room because Miss Ella Jae was taking up all the room ha! We came home and I got in the bed at 10ish and woke up at midnight because I thought I had to tinkle. But when I used the bathroom, I knew something was different so I called the answering service at my doc office at 12:09 am and said I thought my water had broken and she said that I needed to head to the hospital because the only way to know for sure was to take a test. I took a shower and then woke up Adam. He had taken Nyquil the night before ha, so I had to wake him several times before he acutally got up lol! I grabbed my bag and we headed out the door. I had no pain at that point so I wasn't really sure if I was in labor or not, and I didn't have a gush of water like I see in movies, but I did remember my Momma telling me that when her water broke with me that it was a gradual thing. So when we got to the hospital, it was full moon and I had to wait for a nurse to be called in because so many women we having babies that night! Sure enough, my water had broken...and the fun began. 11 hours and 50 minutes later we had a beautiful healthy baby girl!

Before dinner!

{39 weeks} 2.26.10

On the way to the hospital!!!

Our Weekend

We had a great weekend with perfect weather! I am loving the warmer weather! It can definitely stay for a while! Friday, Ella Jae had some time with her Mama while I worked. So after work, Ad met me at Mama's and I picked up some Chili's and we all ate supper together. Mama treated us to dinner as part of our belated Valentine's :) Thanks, Mama!

Saturday was such a beautiful day! Picture perfect in my mind! After E's morning nap we got ready and went downtown for lunch and a walk! It was so great and we really enjoyed our little family time! We are at one of my favorite deli's "What's Cookin,'" saw several people we knew and chatted with them, went into a few of my favorite little shops, and went to "Desserves" to order E's cake and cookies for her party! I am so excited about her little smash cake. I can't wait to see how it turns out. E was ready for a nap after all that so we headed home. Then when dinner time rolled around we wanted to go someplace and eat outside where it was nice so we once again decided to go downtown haha! We ran into Erica (Ad's cousin and my bff) and her fiance' Josh, and we all went to eat at Takosushi together! We were so glad we ran into them and got to eat dinner together! Ella Jae was so good throughout the day and at dinner! She has started being so content when we take her out now. I don't know if it is the tubes that helped or just the stage she is in, but I am so thankful for it! For a period of time we didn't go out very much or when we did it was very nightmare-ish lol! But now she is just the best little thing! Even when she gets tired she doesn't really complain that much :) It has definitely gotten easier!

Me and Ad waiting for our food as we sat outside :)

E enjoyed a pickle...so cute!

It was a little sunny so we put on our shades ;)

E LOVES dogs (and babies) so we had to stop outside of a petshop so she could pet this fake dog lol! She is a mess!

Erica, E, and me at Takosushi for dinner :)

Sunday we ate at Grandma's and enjoyed cake for Tiff's birthday which is Wednesday. The cake...funny story...was sitting on the table and Tiff's two-year-old got into the cake knocked it off the table, and had gotten himself a fork and proceeded to dig in lol!! No one unfornately got any pictures, but we were able to save the cake because when it fell, it fell into the top plastic part haha! My grandma lives next to a church with a playground that is like a 100 years old, but we have always enjoyed it nonetheless! We headed over there to play with the kiddos. Then we came home for naps and E woke up unhappy :( I think she is getting more teeth. She still only has one, and the doc said she would probably get more at one time. We went on Thurs. for a check-up with her tubes and all was well, so I am hoping it is just her teeth bothering her. Poor little thing! We have a big week ahead so hopefully it passes soon!

Me and Tiff!

Life made us cousins, love made us sisters!

Me and E swinging :)

And Lathan cheezin' in the swings! Love my little men :)

Hope everyone had a great week! It is Ella Jae's birthday week!! It will be a busy week for us with party planning and family coming in! Can't wait!!!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I cannot believe it is Wednesday, ALREADY! This week is flying by!

I am linking up for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

This is what I'm loving...

I'm loving the warmer weather we've had the past few days and can only hope it will continue so we can do a little (or A LOT) of this...

I'm loving that E and I met Jess for lunch today at Moe's and we stayed for 2 hours sitting and talking! Love her to pieces!

I'm loving that in 6 days we will be seeing these two ladies and our family from RI who will start coming in to celebrate Ella Jae's birthday! We can't wait to see them!

I'm loving my KK and that we met her, Sam, and Davis for icecream on Sunday at Marble Slab! We have the best talks and she gives the best advice!


I'm loving this super cute tulle wreath and the tutorial I found online to make for E's party!

I'm loving my beautiful family! I can't put into words how much I LOVE them!

I'm loving that we are only days from Ella Jae's 1st birthday...yikes!!! In TEN days my baby will be a whole year old! I adore her more and more each day!

Thanks for sharing in what I'm loving!

Happy Valentine's Day

Our Weekend

Friday was typical. Me and Ad both worked late. Ad picked up E and they met me for BBQ at a yummy little place near our house. I really wanted mexican, but Ad wasn't in the mood :( I could seriously eat mexican everyday! But we really enjoyed our supper, and Ella Jae enjoyed eating some grits, macaroni, and mashed potatoes :) My baby girl is southern through and through!

Saturday was a beautiful day! I had to teach a "Money Matters for Teens" class at a college, so it was nice to have a change rather than just being at the credit union on a Saturday! When I got home for work, I was greeted by a great surprise...E was bathed, her hair was combed, and she had on matching clean clothes :) Daddy got major brownie points for that one hehe! We enjoyed a nice lunch together and wanted to go for a walk, but E was getting tired so she went down for a nap while Ad and I straightened up the house.

E opened her card from her Memere' and Pepere' Lambert :) She loved it!

For dessert, she enjoyed her first powdered donut :)

Later Saturday afternoon, we went out for a little Valentine's dinner with my Mama (E says 'hi' in the picture)! We went to Bonefish, my fav! We had a very surprising 35 min. wait, and E was so good! She enjoyed eating on my garlic mashed potatoes and bread. She is getting to be such a big girl at the dinner table :) She was really pooped after dinner, throwing all her toys on the floor must have really worn her out ha!

Sunday, we enjoyed lunch at Grandma's! We haven't been in a while because my grandma's husband has been in the hospital, but he is out now and doing well, so it was nice to all be back together on a Sunday for Sunday dinner! We always look forward to it! Tiff, Chris, and the boys came so it was so fun being with them and watching them play with Ella Jae! E loves her cousins! She was walking so much to and from everyone! It was the cutest thing! The little stinker could walk consistently if she wanted to, but she is a cautious little one! I am sure it is coming soon though, and then she will be leaving me in her dust :(

Finger painting with pudding

Finger painting with pudding was something I always dreamed of doing when I had children someday :) And finally I got to do it with my EJ! We had so much fun! The best part was watching her face and how she kept looking at me for approval as she stuck her fingers into the pudding and smeared it all around! I think she likes vanilla pudding...

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I am excited about linking up for "What I'm Loving Wednesday!" So this is what I am loving...

I'm loving my sweet little family! They make me smile each day and bless me beyond what I deserve!

I'm loving that Adam and I had got to have a date night on Saturday! We tooke E to Ad's parents, and 4 restaurants later we found one that didn't have a 55 min or longer wait! We had a great time eating dinner together (side by side...gag...I know lol), going to Target and Movie Stop! We missed our little one and talked about her constantly but it felt so nice to just be "us"!!

I'm loving that my Mama came over on Monday and she brought E some little goodies :) The doll she is holding is one she brought her that sings "I'm a Little Teapot" and it came with little teacups! We went to Ross and had some fun girl time together!

I'm loving my Mama! She is my best friend and I don't know what I would do without her! I love that she adores E and that E adores her and lights up when she sees her!

I'm loving that I got to fix my cousin's hair for her Valentine Court at her school on Monday. I picked her up and brought her to my house and we did a little makeover! We had fun chatting while I did her hair and makeup :) She is a sweetie!

I'm loving that yesterday I went to ATL for work and got to go with a good friend from work. It was such a nice change of pace and felt like a little mini vaca ;) After our meeting, we went to the cutest shopping area and I just fell in love!! I got some cute stuff, too, and we had a great time bonding!

I'm loving that I FINALLY got some cowboy boots! They were one of the things I got yesterday on my trip and they were marked down to $19.99!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoo hoo!

I'm loving planning E's 1st birthday in 2.5 weeks!! The theme is Minnie Mouse and Zebra print! She loves Minnie Mouse!! She is going to be so excited at her party :) I am going to pick up her invites today and get them in the mail tomorrow! Can't.Believe.It.Is.Almost.Here.

So that's what I'm loving :)

Super Bowl

Sunday we had some family over for the Super Bowl. Even though Adam's beloved Patriots didn't play, we still had to watch. Everyone made some dishes and we had a fun time together! I barely even watched the game and hated I missed a lot of the commercials :( But I did see the halftime show and wasn't real impressed :/ Eating the food was my favorite part! I think we will be eating on it all week!!

Some of the fam getting ready to watch the game.

The yummo food...minus a few things bc everyone wasn't there yet.

Not the best family pic...but had to throw it in. We were in our "game" clothes :)

The guys playing football in the street at half time...typical :)

Auntie Megee and E being silly before bedtime :)

I can eat like a big girl

Ella Jae can feed herself with a spoon like a big girl! I gave E the spoon with food on it tonight just to see what she would do and she stuck it right in her mouth! Now each time we eat and she uses a spoon I let her do it herself. Most of the time she sticks it in her mouth, but then sometimes she gets all silly on me and flings it hehe! But she is definitely getting the hang of it!