Look Who's Walking!!!!

Bella's been taking 2,3 or 4 steps here and there for several weeks now, but the past day or two she has been walking all over the place! She was just a little proud of herself here.




Look at those beautiful blue eyes!

I cannot tell you how happy I was to see these happy smiles today! After 9 very long days being sick & lots of tears, I missed this beautiful smile!

I'd love to know what she was thinking here.

"Hold me, Daddy!"

What I learned this week

I learned that I am starting to crave exercise! That is a big one for me! I love the high afterwards, but I am really starting to want to go to the gym instead of dreading going until after I get there.

I learned that I really need to get the people pleaser need in me under control. I realized that I am doing a lot of things NOT because I want to, but because I feel like others want me to do them. I think maybe the reason I am so indecisive on a lot of things is because I try to think about what would make others happy instead of me. I know it's not supposed to be all about me, either, but surely there is some way to balance the two!

I learned that I can hang in Body Combat! I don't know why I was so scared of that class! I LOVE it!

I learned that my legs are much stronger than I realized. After a training session last week at the gym I was not sore at all. My upper body, on the other hand, is totally weak!

I learned that I NEED a new sports bra! I'm alright until we start doing jumping jacks or knee ups in class, but then I realized this new one is not confining enough! I don't know where to find one good enough!

I am learning that committing to a small group is really hard this session for some reason. I need and crave the socialization that comes with it, but after getting out of the habit while there was a break, I really don't want to get back into it. I felt the same way with our homeschool co-op after the fall break and have really been struggling to go every week. I don't want to be there and I'm afraid it shows! I don't want to go to a small group and have that mentality.

There are many more posts on what was learned this week over at Musings of a Housewife.

Bella boo's birthday party was a blast!

Saturday we had some family and friends over for Bella's 1st birthday party. It was the first time I've had one of the kids parties at home. It was so much more work than I could have imagined! After it was said and done, I was thankful I didn't plan it around a mealtime and serve a meal! We only had snacks and cake and we were beat! Bella and the kids loved it, though, so it was worth it!

Annalee and Bailey were playing with her.

Chloe Grace playing with the ball popper. Isn't she beautiful? :)

My awesome little sister who is way taller than I am.

Mr. French Toast, Malcolm and Ethan chilling out.

The kids were in a trance watching Prince Caspian.

Chloe Grace enjoying a cracker.

Bella's birthday cake. It was the moistest and most delicious chocolate cake I have ever tasted. We definitely have a keeper with this recipe!

Bella took a minute to rest before eating her cake. She needed all of the energy she could muster!

Bella thought it was hilarious that everyone was singing Happy Birthday to her.

I think this picture speaks for itself. She was having a ball!

MMMMMMMMMMMMMM... yummy cake!









She looked like she was about to pass out after eating so much cake!

Amy and Chloe Grace. Chloe Grace is only 3 weeks younger than Bella and is such a sweet baby! We love spending time with her.

Bella loved opening her presents! She loved the bags and the tissue paper the most, I think! She even loved the cards.

Books are one of the best gifts ever! I hope Bella loves reading as much as the rest of us do.


Michael, Chloe Grace and Aunt Cheryle. Michael loves holding Chloe Grace. He says she's easier to hold onto than Bella!


The girls play really well together until they notice each other's pacifiers!

A sleepy Brody came to play, also! He is the sweetest and most laid back baby boy I know.

We were cleaning icing off of Bella's neck and behind her ears for the rest of the afternoon!
She had a great birthday party! We are so thankful for our family and friends that celebrated her first year with us!

Mrs. Amy is the awesomest!!!

Look at my beautiful Princess! Mrs. Amy surprised us tonight with the perfect outfit for Bella to wear at her birthday party this weekend. She is so talented and has an eye for such cute outfits! I was worried the body suit wouldn't fit, but it did! It's a little snug, but Bella can wear it.

I didn't puff out the tutu yet, but you can get an idea of how precious it is!



Bella had a blast playing with the tutu!


I love the crown on the onesie!


The name on the booty is so sweet! There are cute little bows with rinestones on the sides, also. It is the sweetest onesie I've ever seen!

Amy, thank you!!! You are so talented!

What I learned this week

1. Bella's personality is starting to show more of my traits. Being stubborn, strong willed and ornery is good in some situations, right? :)

2. Bella can stand up without holding on, but only when she has the desire.

3. Michael and Annalee have been amazing this past week with my mood swings, then watching Bella without complaining for hours while I was stuck in the bathroom.

4. I have an amazing husband. No matter the kind of day he had at work, he was always willing to cook or pick something up then take over with the kids as soon as he walked in the door when I was sick.

5. I learned this week that I don't always treat people as kindly as I should. Sometimes I say things without thinking or sometimes things come out wrong. Sometimes I need to say I'm sorry and thank you more often than I do.

6. I have learned that in some situations(ok, a lot of situations) I need to let go and let God have control.

7. I learned that even though I struggled with controlling a situation for years, I could not control it and God had it all together and planned out for my good.

8. I learned from a very wise woman that I need to obey my husband and be under his shield of protection in every aspect of my life. Wow. That was a big one to me. I need prayer in this area.

If you'd like to read more of What I learned this week posts, check out Musings of a Housewife.

Blessed

Ernie surprised me yesterday with flowers, Fireproof and my absolute favorite candy just because he wanted to cheer me up and make me feel better. He definitely cheered me up! I love this man more than anything! He even offered to take all 3 kids to church this morning and let me rest. I was too stubborn to stay home and rest, but it was so sweet of him. Instead of being aggravated because I have not been carrying my load around the house the last few days, he's willing to do even more. He is so good to me.

Procrastinate a little?

Bella's birthday was almost two weeks ago and I finally feel like I've gotten my act together on the party plans. I'm thankful Amy was out of town this weekend and I didn't do it this weekend as I was originally planning! I've been sick since Thursday and would have never had the house cleaned and would not have been able to enjoy the party. I managed to address the invites that we couldn't give out at church this morning. We found cute plates, cups and napkins today. I'm really excited! I love that her birthday is right before Valentine's Day. This year, at least, we will use the heart theme. After this year, she might have an opinion on what kind of theme she wants.

God is good! We found out yesterday that we sold our rent house at just the right time. There has been tons of plumbing issues with the carport, bathroom and some of the living room having to be jackhammered up and new pipes laid. God knew we could not handle that stress right now. It amazes me when we are shown that he had a better plan than we did.