SSMT, EC feeds herself and a family picture

Happy Monday!

Let me start out with my second scripture verse of the month for the Siesta Scripture Memory Team. My new verse is......

"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10 NIV

What a promise! It's so comforting to know that the Lord has never forsaken those who seek Him. I pray that my family and I will do our part and never grow weary of seeking Him.

Over the last few weeks, Jeremy and I have been letting Ella Claire "practice" feeding herself with a spoon. She has mastered, hold spoon, insert food in mouth. But, the hard part is actually getting food onto her spoon. :) This is going to take a bit more practice.

"Practicing" with oatmeal and strawberries

concentrating so hard

score!

oops! the wrong end of the spoon in the oatmeal....

...makes for a very messy breakfast

Ready to try again...

Good thing I am always close by to wipe down and control the mess. :)

A few months ago, I mentioned, how I wanted to start taking family pictures on Sundays when we are all dressed up. Well, we did this a few times but have really slacked off. We didn't even get a family picture on the Sunday before Christmas. So, I really wanted to get one this Sunday. I like doing it outside because the lighting is perfect, but because of the cold weather, we weren't able to get one. So, after church last night, even though we had all changed into more casual clothes for the Sunday night service (except for J, he wore the same thing); I begged Jeremy, (and Ella Claire, she just didn't understand) to please cooperate long enough for a quick family picture. 

It was just the three of us at home, so we compromised and I asked Jeremy to stand in front of the camera so I could center the picture and make sure we wouldn't all be a fuzzy blur (I'm still very green with my new camera).  

Being such a good sport!

It took a little longer than he anticipated and he was quickly getting bored! 

So then he got a little silly.....

and then, he just couldn't take any more so, he closed those beautiful blue eyes.

And, I knew, if I wanted a picture, it was now or never.  Ella Claire is half asleep and I still am not 100% satisfied with the lighting. So, next week we will try again! We did have fun though!  :)

I am working on a tutorial for making a blog header, so if you are interested, check back in the next few days. I'm hoping to have it posted tomorrow or the next day. :) Hope you have a wonderful Monday!

frigid temps in the deep south....and everywhere else in the US

I think it's safe to assume that everyone is aware of the freezing cold weather we have all been experiencing this week. Oh my has it been chilly!! Unfortunately the deep southern parts of Alabama did not receive and snow; just ice cold temperatures.  Since we are all freezing I thought I would share a picture or 2  or 3 of my little warm ray of sunshine on a cloudy cold day. These were all taken one day this week, bright and early before heading out the door. Yes, Ella Claire is still in her PJ's...we were on our way to Nonnie and Papa's house!

See those beautiful teefers, we have worked really hard on them! It has taken 15 months to get those 6 (almost. the top two on the sides are mostly in, enough to count anyway.) beautiful pearly whites in!

.....and guess what else friends.....

....these lovely things arrived yesterday! I am so excited to finally have them. I just need to pass them out to my mom, sisters and future sis!

Did you notice my new blog header? What do you think? I am playing around with a few ideas, so you might notice a few changes around here. Pardon our progress! :) Okay, well I'm off to start my day. Speaking of pearly whites, I am having mine cleaned this morning. So, off to the dentist I go. I can hardly wait!

a few lines..or nods from Ella Claire :)

This is my first time posting video on this simple little blog I have and I've discovered that it wasn't so simple for me to upload. :) I'm hoping this works the first time, but if not, I'll be back with plan B.

So.......here she is! Half asleep about to take her first ride in her new seat! I hope you enjoy!

getting into mischief

Little climber...

I get this look quite a bit these days. Scrunchy eyebrows and all.

The climbing was cute when she was sitting on the box, a little scary for mommy (and Ella Claire too I think) when she stood up.

I think these arms clinched tight mean "Help me down, I'm stuck!" So I did and I was much happier with both of her feet planted safely on the ground.

On another note, I had to go into work unexpectedly today for a few hours. So, Ella Claire got to try out her new car seat. We both loved it! Here she is all bundled up, strapped in and ready to ride.
P.S. Don't know if you can see because the picture is a bit dark, but the back of my SUV is loaded down with bags to take to goodwill. And I am very excited about that!

I also videoed her in her new seat on my phone and I am TRYING to upload it to YouTube so I can post it here. Trying being the keyword here. I've tried it twice from my phone and been unsuccessful both times. I have also tried it from my computer; it seems to be uploading at a snails pace. I'm hoping to have it up sometime tomorrow. :) It's cute and I can't want to show it to you. But then again, I am her mommy and I think everything she does and says is cute. I guess you'll just have to check back and see what you think for yourself! :) night friends!

Someone got a new car seat....

...and it's about time! 

Checking out her new ride...

At 15 months, Ella Claire has just now reached the 20 lbs mark. How this is possible, I have no idea. The girl can eat! She still meets the requirements for her old car seat for height (barely) and weight, so we have been in no rush to buy a new one. I know a few of you that are reading this and have babies Ella Claire's age are laughing at our procrastination because she is 15 months old for crying out loud! It's okay, I am kinda laughing too and wondering why in the world we waited so long.  :)

And, just because I'm a little sad to say goodbye to the old car seat, here is a look back at all the fun we have had in it over the last 15 months. (by the way, all of these pics are from my old iPhone and might be a little grainy)

Her first car seat ride. All bundled up and ready to head home from the hospital.

Just a few days old, headed back to the Doctor for another bili check.

I do believe this was her first appearance with her signature "big bow".

Going for a walk, with the car seat in the stroller.

Ella Claire's first Christmas, leaving the house in our pj's to unwrap presents.

One of my favorite pictures. Going to church on her first Easter.

Chewing on those toes...

sweet feet. I think this pic proves she needed a new seat with those long legs. 

Just hanging out with Madelaine. :)

It's out with the old and in with the new. I think I am going to apply this saying to some more things around my house this week. This past weekend I was in major cleaning mode and I think it's time to clean out and ship out the things we have laying around collecting dust. Maybe a little spring cleaning in January? Sounds nice! I think I'll get right to it...

a restful week and birthday party fun

Good afternoon friends! I have to admit, it's taken me a while to get going in this new year. Ella Claire and I started our week out being etremely productive, and then as the week went on, we had a few days with no place we had to go.  That hasn't happened in a while, so we decided to take full advantage and stay home for a few days. I did do a bit of cleaning, but for the most part, we played and relaxed and just enjoyed being together. We even stayed in our pj's one day. :)

I didn't make any resolutions this year, but I have a few things rolling around in my mind that I would like to improve on. For instance we have gotten out of our good habit of running and taking walks together as a family. Part of that is due to the cold weather and the fact that it's dark when Jeremy gets home. So, yesterday, Ella Claire and I bundled up and pulled out our long lost friend, the tike tech jogging stroller. We went during her nap time, so she didn't last long.

My view of my sleeping beauty...

I would say that our first (and only!) effort towards a routine of exercise was a success! I did run attempt to run, but that part didn't go so well. It's been awhile. So, I'm just going to pretend it didn't happen and try again soon. :) Eventually, if I keep at it, I am sure I will be running again in no time. That's the plan anyway. So y'all keep me accountable, okay?

This week, Ella Claire also attended her first birthday party at pump it up. Her friend Jack from church turned 3! She enjoyed playing, but she really enjoyed the snacks! The tables they have set up in the party area are basically heavy plastic and metal picnic tables.  Jeremy and I enjoyed every moment of watching her sit at that table like a big girl eating her gold fish. She also had a piece of pizza on her plate, but wasn't interested in it at all (so daddy ate it).

She sat next to her friend Melody. Sweet girls!

Well, the weekend is now upon us, and it's time for some more fun! Hope you have a fabulous one!

not what we expected

Happy New Year!

It's late and it's been a loooooong day, so I'm hoping this post makes sense. But I have a few things I want to jot down...so here we go!

Our new years eve and new years day didn't go as we expected it to. This year Jeremy and I didn't have any New Year's Eve plans. We decided since Ella Claire is so young we would just stay home and ring in the new year from our living room..... with a little sparkling grape juice! :) At the last minute we were invited to dinner at a friends house were we could bring Ella Claire and we thought that sounded much better than staying at home! But, as the day progressed, so did body aches and a sore throat for me. :( About an hour and a half before we were supposed to arrive for dinner, I called to cancel because I thought I was coming down with the flu. (and not that this matters, b/c I wouldn't want to expose anyone to the flu, but my friend is pregnant. and the flu and pregnancy might just be the worst thing ever!) My aunt, who we spent Christmas with, called my mom earlier in the day and informed us she has the flu. :( How horrible!!! Apparently it's going around, so y'all watch out! Anyway, Jeremy put Ella Claire to bed and we also went to bed early (missing the new year!) and I still woke up feeling yucky. I did get the best sleep though. I slept for about 12 or 13 hours and thats over twice as much sleep as I normally get! Anyway, J and I also had to cancel lunch plans with another friend from out of town. This friend happens to be pregnant also. Lots of babies coming in 2011! So, needless to say our new year was not starting off too great!  but it gets even better....

I won't tell you what time I woke up, it was ridiculously and embarrassingly late. My sister and Andrew were on there way to his hometown to spend the day with his family. Steph texted me and was asking how I felt and was telling me about how their NYE was. In the middle of our conversation she stopped texting me. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am just like my mom and I worry and can sometimes think the worst. The thought did cross my mind that something was wrong, but I pushed that negative thought right out of there. I drug my sickly self out of bed and went to the kitchen to see what Jeremy and Ella Claire were up to. Kim called and we chatted for a few minutes on the phone. As soon as we hung up she called back and said that Steph and Andrew had been in a car accident. MY HEART STOPPED! By the grace of God and only by the grace of God were they okay! They both were sent in separate ambulances to the nearest hospital and kept for several hours for x-rays and test. Both checked out with no broken bones, only scrapes and bruises. Andrew's Mazda is totaled though. They hydroplaned and flipped several times (not sideways but longways) and landed in a steep ditch.  The Lord is sooooooo good! 2011 has just began and He is already showing His goodness and grace. It could have been bad...it could have been so bad! Here are a few pictures of the car and the site were the accident happened.

I really can not thank the Lord enough for watching over my sister and Andrew! I KNOW that his angels were guarding and protecting them.

Okay, I'm changing the subject here, but I mentioned in my last post that I am doing the Beth Moore, siesta scripture memory challenge.  Amy and Skyla, I'm so glad y'all are doing it too! I decided to post my new verse here as well as in my notebook and on her blog. Just another way to keep me accountable. :) And who knows who might stumble across this blog on the day I post a verse and really need it! God does cool things like that ya know! So my first verse is :

"I have hidden your word in my hear that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11

Easy one right? But, honestly I didn't know the reference and I wanted to start this Bible verse memory challenge with a verse that will remind me of how important God's word is. Hiding His word in my heart will keep me from sinning against Him! :) love it!

Well, that's all I have for now! By the way, I don't think I have the flu. As this crazy day has gone on, I thankfully have not gotten any worse. So, I'm praying it's just a little bug that got me feeling bad for a while and I'll be back 100% soon. Goodnight friends!