Disney World Day 1

hugging Minnie Mouse

Ella scared of Mickey

Pluto

Donald Duck

starting the day at Magic Kingdom

3-D glasses for Mickey's Philharmagic

Avery picked out princess mouse ears, of course

Avery's mode of transportation that day

finally meeting Sleeping Beauty

Cinderella - her favorite!!

talking with Belle from Beauty and the Beast

We had SUCH an amazing time at Disney World! It was an incredible experience, seeing it through the eyes of our kids. It truly is the most magical place on earth.

We were able to spend three days at the park. On Day 1 we started with breakfast at Chef Mickey's. It was the perfect way to begin the Disney experience. While we ate, Pluto, Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, and Donald each came by our table to talk to and hug the girls. We weren't sure how Avery would react to the life-sized characters she was used to seeing on TV, but she jumped right into it. Ella was a little spooked by them, particularly Mickey.

After breakfast, we headed to the Magic Kingdom and spent a long morning riding rides like Peter Pan's Flight, Winnie the Pooh, and It's a Small World. Early afternoon we headed "home" to nap, and while waiting for our ride, I asked Avery what her favorite activity was that morning. She replied, "Walking on the silly steps." Ben said, "You mean the escalator in the hotel?" Yep! That's right!

After resting, we went back to the Magic Kingdom and tried out some new rides, watched the fabulous light parade, and met several of the Disney princesses, which was what Avery had been waiting for all day. They did not disappoint!! These women were beautiful, sweet, and wonderful with their little admirers.

Ella's 1st Birthday

How in the world did I not blog about Ella's first birthday sooner??

Her first year just flew by. She is such an amazing little girl. Still so laid-back and sweet. Very happy and always ready to just go with the flow. She is crawling all over the place, cruising on furniture, and has 6 teeth! She is a JOY and blessing in my life, and I thank GOD for this past year with her.

I'm ONE!

This is Caleb, less than a week old. I was that small just a year ago!

My first cake!

Yum! I loved it! Why have Mommy and Daddy not given me cake sooner?

Presents!

Pawpaw and Grandpa are so much fun!

Daddy and Mommy love me!

Mimi and Nemaw are the best!

So tired at the end of a fun-filled day.

Something to Think About

Quick post:

This evening, Ben was working on making plans with the guys. After a series of texting back and forth with his buddies, I asked him, "Figured anything out yet?"

Avery thought I was talking to her, and she answered, "God is working in my heart, but He can't come back 'til later."

Random Avery Stuff

Avery got a new bed last weekend. Yes, it is actually a REAL bed finally, fit for an almost-4-year-old. She loves it, and so do we. (She has stayed in her bed every single night since she got it!)



Here's a picture of the fearless big girl climbing our neighbor's 30 foot rock wall. In addition to the rock wall, they had two other huge bouncy houses set up in their front yard today. Fun!




And this ... well, this is what she considers fun. Dragging her sister around the house in a box. Hey, whatever makes her happy!

A Texas Tradition

One More

Scratch that ... she has 3 teeth coming in on top! FOUR at once! In a matter of days, that adorable gummy baby smile is going to be changed forever.

Chompers!

Yesterday, Ella was laughing and I noticed something strange-looking in the bottom of her mouth ... a tooth! Then, later that day, I thought I saw something else unusual, and sure enough, two more teeth coming in on the top! Three at once! We just quit nursing two weeks ago - perfect timing. Isn't she thoughtful? :)

Almost There

I just can't believe Ella is 11 months old today!

She is still the happiest, sweetest baby ever. She LOVES being able to go where she wants to now that she can crawl. We don't need a puppy, because we have Ella to follow us around wherever we go. In fact, I hate to admit it, but on occasion all three of us have found ourselves patting our knees saying, "Come here, Ella! Come on!"

She is getting very vocal now, and loves to express her opinions. With her newfound mobility, she has also learned how much fun Avery's toys are, much to her big sister's chagrin. Diego is often one of the casualties - headless and helpless (see above picture.)

Among other things Ella loves right now: Cheerios, practicing walking, putting anything and everything in her mouth, sucking her thumb when she's tired, and as cheesy as this sounds, Daddy, Mommy, and Avery. Her face lights up when we interact with her, and it is just so incredible to truly be the center of someone's world. What a miraculous gift her life is.

Sleeping Beauty

This is Avery in her newest "princess" dress, which she calls her Sleeping Beauty dress.

And here is Sleeping Beauty later that day with her Prince Charming.

People, We Have Crawling!

I'm about 4 days late posting this, but ... Ella is on the move!

In the span of just a few days she began army crawling, learned to sit up from being on her tummy, started clapping, and then crawled. Now she's all over the place. Life will never be the same!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know it's a Hallmark holiday, but everything has special meaning when you have kids.

We hope you have a great day!!
XOXOXOXO

Ella is 10 Months Old!

Do I look cute?

I LOVE bath time!

I will put anything in my mouth ... the yuckier, the better!

I try to crawl, but just can't figure it out yet!

Still no teeth! Don't you love my gummy smile?

Look at me practicing my standing!

No, Mommy, I really don't like spinach.

Here I am on my ten month birthday!
Look at my cute tummy. The doctor is so happy with the weight I have gained in the past month, and says I am right back where I should be. Praise God!

Sweet, Sweet Freedom

Avery was in Dallas this weekend! My wonderful Mom and Dennis drove her up to Ft. Worth, where Ben's wonderful mom and dad came and picked her up to keep her for a few days.

I cannot believe how much I enjoyed the peace and quiet. Yes, I still had Ella with me, but she doesn't talk, walk, or throw tantrums. She takes three naps a day. She doesn't feel the need to have toys and other miscellaneous items strewn all about the house as if a tornado hit us. She doesn't ask, "Why?" to every single thing I say.

This weekend gave Ella the much-deserved opportunity to receive my undivided attention, while Avery got her special time with grandparents. While they were off visiting the stockyards, playing at the park, baking cookies, going to the zoo, and doing ten-million other things, we were at home relaxing and chilling out. I was reminded of the person I used to be.

Every mommy needs that once in a while.

Thank you SO MUCH Lynn, Barry, Mom and Dennis!

Bayou Wildlife Park

Look! There's the ____ (fill in the blank)!

A hungry buffalo!

Ella didn't enjoy the kiss from the camel.

If I don't look at him, maybe he'll go away...

Get me out of here!

Ahhh! Ostrich!

The girls and I went with a work friend to a wildlife park last week and had an absolute blast! It was the coolest thing I had done in a long time.

We got to visit many animals before hand, like goats, a giraffe, cows, alligators, ducks, etc. Then we went on a long tractor ride through the refuge park and had animals literally eating out of our hands! Some of these animals I had never even seen up close before, and now we were able to pet them! It was amazing.

Avery had the time of her life. Ella wasn't quite so fond of the experience.

9 Months

I haven't posted much lately, but I had to add Ella's 9 month pictures. She is still such a cutie (we think), and such a blessing and joy to our family.

No teeth yet, not crawling or pulling up, and blissfully happy to just sit and watch everything around her.

We're carefully tracking her growth with the doctor, because we recently learned she dropped from the 50th to the 10th percentile. However, we have faith that she will make it back up. (A few extra prayers wouldn't hurt, though!)

Self-Esteem Booster

Avery is wearing her pretty dress, as she calls it, today. (OK, OK, yes, it's actually her Christmas dress that she has insisted on wearing every single day since Christmas. And, no, she hasn't let me wash it yet.)

Anyhow, she was pulling her arm out through the neckhole this morning, and so I told her, "Avery, be careful. You don't want to stretch out your pretty dress so that it doesn't fit you anymore."

Then she said, "Like your tummy, Mommy?"

Nice.

Ella

Ella is 8 months old!

Finally, a picture with Santa!!

I have tried every year for 3 years now to get Avery to sit on Santa's lap for that silly, overpriced keepsake photo. We get all dressed up, talk about it the whole way there, watch for 15 minutes while all the other kids sit on his lap to see that he doesn't bite, yell, or do anything mean. Last year, after the above-mentioned ritual, we even got so far as to get in line before she panicked. But once Santa waved at her, she lost it. (Can you imagine his nerve?)

So, this year, after riding the Polar Express in Grapevine and getting a surprise visit and an uninvited hug from Santa, Avery said that yes, she wanted to go see him at the mall, sit on his lap, tell him what she wanted for Christmas, and take a picture with Ella.

She talked about it all last night and was so excited this morning to put on her Christmasy outfit. All through the mall she couldn't wait to see him. She was pumped, and I was thrilled that finally I was going to get that priceless picture of my two precious girls sitting on Santa's lap.

Oh yeah, I meant that priceless picture of ONE of my precious girls sitting on his lap. Ella was cool with it. She really liked tugging on his beard. (I should have bought that picture instead.) No amount of bribing could get Avery anywhere near his chair, and she is way too big to forcibly put on his lap and get that oh-so-cute crying pic. (I would have feared for Santa's and Ella's safety!)

Maybe next year .... But that's what I say every time!