Ellie is 15 months!

It's a girl!!!! Oh wait... she's now 15 months old. 

Most days I love the app Timehop. Today, it sent me an update of my blog when Hutson turned 13 months. Don't get me wrong, I  love looking back at his sweet face and being reminded of how time has just flown by and he's growing up so fast, but it reminded me that I haven't blogged ONCE since Ellie was born. Not once. I try so hard to not use second child as an excuse, but...the fact is with two constantly on different nap/rest schedules, there is just hardly time. So... there it is, Sorry EllsBells, but you are the second child and I do my best.

Ellie turned 15 months old on April 1st! She is getting so big and SO independent. I'd say raising her so far is the spitting image of her brother. Minus the fact that she has the highest pitch shrill you've ever heard of, she has a quicker temper when she doesn't get her way, and she doesn't mind water in her face.  

She loves finding shaking her Easter eggs. 

Grass is not her favorite. I haven't figured out if she doesn't like walking on the grass, or if she's afraid of its unevenness.

This girl has a big sweet tooth. See her eyeing Hutson's cupcake. That sweetie let her have 1 bite.

I would have never thought that both of my kiddos would have the most beautiful blue eyes, but Ellie's just sparkle. 

15 month stats- We haven't been to the doc yet so weight and height I'm not sure of.

Diapers- size 3 during the day, 4 at night

Shoes- 3

Clothes- 6-12 months, you can kinda get away with some 12-18, but not really

Teeth- Ellie just got the last of her one year molars, giving her a total of 12 teeth. 

Favorite foods: hot dogs, grapes, fruit squeezes, mac and cheese, ketchup 

Words- Dada (she talks about him all day long), Mama, Bubba (brother), Da- dog Uppy- Up 

- She signs please, and thank you, and sometimes more

Things that I love...

- How Ellie nods her head yes when she wants something 

- How she pulls my hand down when she wants me to pick her up

- That she wakes up so happy

- That she loves to sleep with Henry and Henry's friend

- That she is cautious, but willing to try new foods and things

- That she loves bows and dolls

- The look satisfied grin that she gives anyone holding her when she's been crying and I come and put her in my arms. 

-How she still LOVES to snuggle and rest her head on my shoulder.

- That she's sleeping through the night! I'm not taking this for granted, it was a battle.

- How much her brother loves her

Welcome 3rd Trimester!

I can't believe we reached 28 weeks on Sunday! I feel as if this pregnancy has gone by so fast, yet has dragged on forever. Reaching this third trimester milestone made me realize that I haven't blogged at all about this pregnancy. So, here's a little recap with a couple of pictures for you. 

Here I am at 18 weeks! We had just confirmed with a 2nd ultrasound that little one is indeed a girl! We were also very joyful to have just found out that the Kell antigens in my blood will have no effect on our sweet little girl and thoughts of having multiple in-uterus blood transfusions and my blood cells attacking her's were behind us. Big prayers were answered with this wonderful news! 

There was something special about us reaching 25 weeks. It was no specific milestone, but realizing that we were 5 weeks past half-time was exciting!

Here we are at 28 weeks with my little pumpkin! They say she's about 16-17 inches and 2 1/2 pounds. The bad news was I found out that I yet again have gestational diabetes. Bummer right before Halloween and all the tasty feasts of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thankfully, it's not nearly as daunting the 2nd time around and the plus is that last time I went home from the hospital 5 lbs less than my pre-pregnancy weight and was back in my normal clothes immediately. I'll take that any day :)

Here are a few stats/ facts for you:

At 28 weeks I...

- Have gained 11 lbs
- Feel that sweet baby girl kick constantly
- Have set up the crib and gotten almost everything but the walls ready for Ellie!
- Only now crave everything that I can't have because of my gestational diabetes. Especially snickers and pasta, grrrr.
- Ellie is hanging out so low (right on my bladder) with her head on one side and her feet on the other, just like big brother liked to be. I'm hopping she flips by 36 weeks like Hutson.
- Love that my skin is still blemish free!! Unlike with darling brother.
- Think I see the beginning of the pregnancy line under my belly button. But, I can't see it, haha.

Praying for smooth sailing as we approach the rest of this pregnancy!

Hutson is 2 1/2!

I can't believe my baby boy is 2 1/2. Half way past 2, which is still so young, and 1/2 way to the 3, which I feel is so old. I wish I could press the pause button on his life and soak up every last second forever. Well... minus the occasional tantrum.

The things that come out of his mouth now blow my mind, and I can't believe how good  his memory has gotten and how he is able to express his thoughts. Music is his absolute favorite thing right now. He sings ALL THE TIME. Current favorites are "Mosquito Burrito"  by Roger Day, Alice the Camel, Lua Lua lullaby, and the ABC song. I love that he sings the songs I have sang him since birth now when I lay him down to sleep and that he asks to sing his prayers. I love his little voice at the end of saying prayers when he says Amen. I love watching him create stories while he plays and is starting to follow along to directions in a song by dancing the steps they call out. I love that he still can't jump, but LOVES trying and does the one leg up at a time. I love that when he sees my belly he goes "Baby Ellie!" and runs and gives my tummy a kiss and a hug. I love how he treats my friends babies which just reiterates what a wonderful big brother he is going to be. I love that the love I have for him still brings me to tears sometimes, and I look at him in awe that he is my child I have been entrusted to raise. I love that he still says "Snuggle Mommy" when he wants me to pick him up and carry him. I love that he still wants to snuggle sometimes. I love that I can look at him and see him, with the bonus of his beautiful blue eyes.

His personality is continuing to grow more and more, and I see such a combination of Phillip and I in him. Hutson is so kind, sympathetic, empathetic, persistent, INDEPENDENT, sometimes stubborn, mostly patient, funny, creative, mechanical, and polite. He is such a great problem solver.

At 2 1/2 he...
-weighs 27 lbs and is 34 1/2 inches
-wears 12 month shorts and 24m/2T shirts
- wears size 6 shoes
-sleeps with Lamby and Bunny in a big boy bed with a night light in his room
-sucks his thumb
-love cars, trains, and anything with wheels and buttons
-is pee pee potty trained (still poo poo's in diaper)
- is almost fully grown out of his milk allergy. Just down to soy milk!!

What a big boy I have! Please stay 2 forever!

Happy 82nd Birthday Dad!

There is this man that I call my hero.
He is loving, hard-working, and strong.
He always knows the perfect words
when life gets tough to carry me on.

Writing words is his gift.
They come so eloquently.
He is behind every photo and picture taken,
which is truly a documentary of me.















When I have a problem,
he makes it vanish away.
And when I need some help,
He is always there to stay.



Recently he feels helpless,
but I wish he'd realize he's not.
Because he is the most special father
that I ever could have got.

Growing up he was always there
for every recital, play, and song.
I am so thankful that through all the years
we have always gotten along.

So on your birthday I want you to know
just how special you are to me.
And I thank God every day
for the worlds most wonderful father that there could be.

Happy 82nd Birthday Dad!!

Friday's Letters

Dear Hutson,
      The fact that you just said H-U-T-S-O-N - Hutson, totally blows my mind. Two and Two months today and you just spelled your name. Boy you make me so proud. I really wish I could take credit for that, but you love to learn and teach yourself. And I love how you call popsicles Poppysicles.

Dear Eddie, Drew (and Kate),
       Hutson keeps talking about you from your visit last week. He keeps saying, "Drew funny." Thanks for being so sweet and impressionable to my little boy. It was so great to see you guys! Come and visit again soon.

Dear Keurig Vue,
       Welcome home! I simply cannot wait to test your abilities!

Dear Gaga,
       It was so great to see you this past weekend. Hutson loved hanging out and coming to Chat town for a visit!

Dear Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga,
         You are amazing! I wish you were in Birmingham because Hutson and I would live there.

Dear Gabbie, Bumpa, and Nana,
        Get ready for Hutson to talk your ears off. You are going to be amazed!

Dear Crocks,
        You scare me! I love how easy you are to put on Hutson's feet, but I always feel like he is going to slip and fall, and you gave him a blister, so you're out.

Dear self,
       Please learn to give yourself grace as you grieve and learn to take a moment to smell the roses.

Dear Acton Park Friends,
        I can't wait for our cookout tonight! Hutson is so very excited!

Friday's Letters

Dear mind,

       Please come back to me! I feel very scatter brained recently, like my mind is running a mile a minute, and I just can't keep everything straight. I absolutely HATE this feeling and pray life settles down soon.

Dear mother nature.

      Thank you. thank you, thank you for being so wonderful recently! This past weekend was just beautiful, and we are soaking up every minute. 

Dear UAB,

       How kind it was of you to send Phillip home early in fear of bad weather yesterday. Hutson was overjoyed to have his daddy be able to play when he woke up from his nap. I also very much appreciated the fact that I got to finish some sewing orders. And thankfully Birmingham's weather was  tame. 

Dear new sewing machine,

      Let's quit this love hate relationship and just get along! You can make the most beautiful appilques and monograms when you want to, but you sure do have a mind of your own. 

Dear Loft,

      You make the most wonderful jeans! 

Dear skinny jeans,

      I can't believe I was against you for so long. You are amazingly cute and so comfortable! 

Dear Hutson,

     I just love the way you count- 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, erteen, erteen, erteen, ERTEEN! Your abilities also amaze me everyday, as I truly feel I have no idea what you actually know. You blew me away in the bath when I brought out the foam numbers for the first time in 6 months, and you already knew them all. Keep going smarty pants :)

Dear Curious George,

    Thanks for your adorable TV episodes that Hutson loves and that even entertain me sometimes. Just try not to let George mess too much up. Hutson will go OH NO! And sometimes even cry if he is upset at whatever happened. At least he is so compassionate.

Dear Braves,

    You rock! Good luck in D.C.

All I have left to say this week is TGIF!

Friday's Letters

Well hello again blog world!

A couple of weekends ago Phillip and I attended one of his dearest friends weddings in New Orleans. After the most amazing video at the rehearsal dinner of the two of them, Phillip and I both agreed that we have dropped the ball recently on remembering these precious moments of our life. Case in point, I haven't blogged since New Years, and I have really missed it.

So, I  have decided to join my many friends and start a weekly Friday Letter's blog to share what is on  my mind, and mostly my heart, and to help us remember these wonderful days that pass us by so quickly.

Dear wonderful, amazing, fabulous friends (you know who you are) and my parents,
       Thank you so very much for your love and support these past 2 weeks. I truly want to belt out the lyrics, "I get by with a little help from my friends," to you all! Your delicious meals, thoughtful cards, phone calls, texts, emails, generosity to watch Hutson while I go to doctors appointments, hugs, ears to listen, and shoulders to cry on truly overwhelm my heart during this difficult time for our family. I feel so blessed and so loved by you all, and it helps remind me that this is part of Gods plan for us.

Dear Hutson's two year molars,
       You stink! Please come in already so you will stop giving him random fevers that prohibit us from doing fun activities with our friends.

Dear Missy,
       Thank you so much for having a boy 2 1/2 years before me, and for dressing him in cute close that you are willing to share! I just put the box away with some summer/fall clothes for next season and Hutty is stocked.

Dear Hutson,
      Thank you for all your sweet hugs and kisses recently! I love the boy you are turning into, but please take your time and stop growing. When you say "Mama snuggle" my heart truly melts.

Dear wonderful Husband,
      I would be lost without you as my rock to hold me together. Thank you for all that you do and for your understanding heart. And thank you especially for working so hard, so I can stay home with Hutson in June full time and sew sew sew! Love you mucho!