Elana is ONE!

Cue the tears...

Today, my baby turns one.  

In some ways this has been the longest 365 days of my life and in others, it has been the shortest.  

I was definitely not prepared for what two kids would bring to my life, but I am pleasantly surprised at how amazing both my girls are and how great they are together. 

As a tribute to her first birthday, I've chosen some of my favorite photos of our Elly to share to help me look back on her first year and how much she has grown.

Elana and me, the first time I held her (which was as soon as the cord was cut).

Emmy meeting her baby sister for the first time, just minutes after she was born.

I found this on my phone a few days after Caleb took it.  I think Elly was 2 or 3 weeks old and we were all exhausted.  The only way she would sleep for the first month was if I nursed her to sleep or she sucked on my finger.  She never wanted a pacifier and eventually started sucking on the corners of her blankets.  She still sucks on her blankets.  I think it is really cute and it sure beats trying to hunt a pacifier down at bed time.

I didn't get Elana's newborn photos done until she was three weeks old.  I was really nervous that she, or Emmy, or both weren't going to behave, but they both did exceptionally well and this tired momma was very pleased.

Man, I don't know what I would do without this swing.  It has been so handy with both my girls.

These were taken when Elly was 7 weeks old.  She was sleeping and I just spontaneously decided to try some photos.  I love the colors and how peaceful she looks.

Here, she is 10 weeks old and hasn't stopped smiling since.  I LOVE this smile.  She gets compliments all the time from it when we are out. It is contagious!

Santa Baby - 3 months old

She was surprisingly very comfortable and calm in "Santa's" arms.

First snow day!!!  I promise, despite the look on her face, she like it!

6 months old

First tea party with big sister.  She loves Emmy.  Wants to see her at all times and do everything she does.  It is so sweet, but I'm sure Emmy has no idea how much she is looked up to.

 Emmy also likes to dress Elana up

This backyard photo shoot was taken when Elly was 9 months old.  So adorable.

She also started speed crawling at 9 months.  It was pretty funny.  This was a snapshot I got while cooking when she came racing into the kitchen to see what was going on.  Girl LOVES to eat!

 THAT SMILE!

 Again, girl LOVES food.  It so refreshing since her sister STILL has issues with eating.  Her favorite foods are: any meat, cheese, waffles, mandarin oranges, and bananas.  Actually I haven't given her anything that she hasn't eaten, but these are just a few of her favorites.

And yes, I've started putting her on the potty.  She thinks its funny right now, but I figure it couldn't hurt to get her acquainted with it. She's already used it (#1 AND #2 - sorry if that's TMI) a few times and we've all made sure she knew it was a GREAT thing!

Elana is such an amazing kid.  This go round is so much more fun because Caleb is around.  When Emmy was 11 months old he left for 13 months on a deployment and didn't get to see her second year first hand.  It makes me heart to happy to see him enjoying her.

Having a big sister has shaped her too.  She mimics so much of what Emmy does and follows her around the house.  

She will "give love" to us at the most random times (she lays her head on you and pats you with her hand).

She will peek around a corner and play peek a boo

She will offer you her only to take it back and throw it in her mouth and smile at you

She claps when she is eating something she REALLY likes

She will "dance" by walking in circles and makes sure that I'm watching her

I guess, the second time around I'm really cherishing the little things more since I know how fast it passes.  Needless to say, our family would not be the same without our chunky, smiley, goofy Elly.

My Favorite Things - Cleaning Edition

This is so easy to use.  I love that I can just squirt it right on the floor and run over it with a swiffer and the floor is shining. 

 

I use these everyday, multiple times a day.  I use them in the kitchen, bathroom, on toys, pretty much anything that's not wood.

I despise cleaning toilets, but it has to be done and scrubbing bubbles makes it mess free to have a clean toilet.

This stuff is tough and has gotten out every stain I have tried it on.

I also use the Oxy Magic on carpet and clothes.  I've only been able to find it at Publix and Lowes and usually get two or three bottles at a time because I love it so much.

Mr. Clean and I have more dates than my husband and I do.  I LOVE seeing dirt, crayon, stains etc disappear right before my eyes.  It makes me feel so accomplished!

I recently found the antibacterial Pledge and don't think I'll go back, at least not while I have kids at home.  I use it mostly on our kitchen table and Elana's high chair which is an old wooden chair that Caleb restained.  It just gives me peace of mind.

Home Inspiration - Entryways

With the prospect of us buying a home later this year and looking at homes via internet right now since we don't exactly know where that home will be, I've been dreaming about what our future home would look like, what features would work best for our family, and what amenities I don't want to live without.  It is fun... at least right now it is.  I'm sure once we start stepping foot in house after house and I'm exhausted and they all start to run together, I might have a different opinion, but for now, I'll dream.

So, I'd like to do a series on rooms that I find appealing and channel my inner interior designer.

First up - Entryways

7 years

Yesterday was mine and Caleb's 7 year wedding anniversary.  Honestly, year six has been the worse, most challenging year for us so far even counting the year of deployment.  With family issues, a new baby, a move, no consistent income, and him being in school, life has not been ideal to say the least.  However, I am encouraged and proud to say that I love this man and am so glad that it is him that is by my side everyday going through the storm with me and I'm looking forward to basking in the sun together at the end of this (what sometimes seems) never ending tunnel we have been doomed to.

With negativity aside, we started our seventh year of marriage off right with some quality kid free time, a few glasses of wine, and lots of laughs. 

And I thought I loved you then...

FOUR!!!!

Emmy is now four years old.  FOUR!  I am speechless at how fast these four years have flown by and how much she has learned and developed.  God's work is just amazing.  

Emmalyn is a soft spoken girly girl (for the most part), who is outgoing around family, but still pretty timid with new people. 

Some of her favorite things to do are:  swing, play princess (with any man around being the prince),

pretend she is a kitty (aka Emmy Cat), reenact Frozen, play mommy - either with a doll or her little sister,

fish, dig for rollie pollie bugs and frogs, ask momma questions about very intricate random things,

play with my make up, play pretend beauty shop, sing, talk about all the pets she'll have one day,

jump with her daddy, bake with mommy, take photos with her hand me down camera, take a bath,

look at photos with mommy, play the piano, and have her nails painted.

She is a well-rounded girl who knows that she is loved by many, but especially by God.

She is silly and tender hearted with a little bit of sneakiness (which she of course got from her daddy: ).

She is beautiful and seriously thinks some day she will marry a prince one day (oh to live in the fairy tale world of a children's mind).

She loves to eat fruit and nutella, and loves anything with cheese on it.  She has also recently found that she enjoys bubble gum.

 She has become such a joy in my everyday life.  I find myself wanted to giggle and talk with her because she is so fun.

 I look forward to seeing how she grows; what she will do as a career, who she will marry...

But, in the mean time, I'm content just watching her pretend and playing pretend with her everyday. 

Happy Birthday my sweet, precious Emmy!