Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

I can't believe you're 3 today. You're no longer a baby. It seems like just yesterday that your daddy and I were at the hospital, pacing the halls, waiting for your arrival. The moment I saw your face I was instantly more in love with a human being than I ever thought possible. My heart became 100 times bigger. You were just perfect with your dark hair and chubby cheeks. It was absolutely one of the best days of my life.

I never could have imagined the joy and fun you would bring into our lives.

You have such a little sense of humor and say some of the funniest things I have ever heard. You're bossy. You love others deeply even at your young age. You're smart. You love to sing and be sung to. Your favorite song to sing is Mr. Golden Sun. You are an extremely picky eater. Your favorite foods are peanut butter and jelly, chicken mcnuggets, pancakes and macaroni and cheese. You obey so well and are easily disciplined. Your giggle is contagious and my favorite sound in the entire world. You speak way beyond your years. You love to be independent. One of my favorite things you say is 'yesternight', which basically refers to any time before right now. You love to snuggle...on your terms. It's mandatory that anytime Rocky goes outside he must first go through your legs and then out the door. You're sweet and kind. You're dramatic. You sometimes wrap your arms around me and daddy and say, "my favorite people".

You make me want to be a better mommy and woman. Your life has brought your daddy and me closer together and more in love. You set a good example of what real love looks like. I could not imagine a life without you. You bring bright beautiful colors into my world.

My beautiful, kind, funny, smart, loving, independent, sweet, darling Chloe....I love you more than measly words can say. I love you to the ends of the earth. I love you to the depths of the sea.

My sweet girl...I love you 'to the moon and back'.

Happy Birthday baby girl. Your daddy and I are so proud of you already!

Haiti

Last night as I was falling asleep, all I could think about was Haiti and the horrific things they are enduring.

My thoughts went immediately to the mothers. Some mothers wondering whether their children are alive or dead. Some wondering how they will feed their children or where they might get clean water. Some writhing in pain from the news that their child was taken away from them too soon. Sweet children without their mommies. I can't even imagine. The thoughts make me literally sick to my stomach.

As I laid in my warm bed, in my warm house, that is literally 50x (if not more) the size of any Haitian's shack, God broke my heart in half for His people. Tears streamed down my face. I tried to hold back the sobs as to not wake up Justin. I begged God to give the people of Haiti peace and comfort, to remind them that He's there, to move in the hearts of His people that are more fortunate to give what they can (or even beyond) and to pray.

We will be making a donation to Compassion International's disaster relief program today. It's the very least we can do. I feel very helpless, but just $35 can give one family food and water for the week. Praise Jesus!!

If I'm being honest, I think we, as Christians, have no other choice but to help.

Top 10 for 2010!

I have been thinking about my list of goals for 2010 for several weeks. Things I really want to work on, change, and implement this year. Here is what I have come up with:

1. Get involved in a ministry that makes my heart sing. This is really important to me this year. I have a few ideas of where I would like to get involved, so I'm gonna start checking into volunteer opportunities.

2. Get my house and life more organized. This is *always* a yearly goal for me and for some reason it's just so hard for me. I am really great at planning but really bad at executing. I'm a work in progress, I suppose. Baby steps.

3. Read through the bible. I got a "daily" bible in The Message translation (I have to say, it's really weird reading this translation when I'm so used to NIV. It's going to take some getting used to!) and I'm really excited about getting all the way through the bible this year. My mom is doing the same thing (although a different reading plan), so I'm hoping we can keep each other accountable!

4. Memorize 24 Bible verses. Beth Moore did this during 2009 on her blog. I'm just a year late :) I will pick a new verse on the 1st and 15th of each month. Here is my first one: "Let the morning bring word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul" (Psalm 143:8). I have a little note card book that I'm putting my verses in so that I can keep them with me and meditate on them whenever (in the car, waiting in line at the store, etc.). If anyone wants to do this with me, let me know :)

5. Complete doula certification. I am going to training at the end of April (it was suppose to be in February, but it had to be pushed back because of lack of participants, which I was sooo bummed about!). This is my dream job and I'm so excited!! :)

6. Lose 15 pounds by the end of April. 'Nuff said.

7. Paint out bedrooms and bathrooms. It's killing me that our bedrooms are still beige. I have a few ideas of colors. Chloe's room is up first -- poor girl...what princess wants to live in a BEIGE castle?

8. Stop "actively" trying for another baby. This is a huge one for me this year. We've decided to let God completely decide what is going on with our family. No more stressing. I'm so over it!! If we get pregnant this year, I will of course be thrilled, but its definitely not in our plans.

9. Be wise with our money. We don't have a ton of debt, but we really want to completely knock it out in the next couple of years. In order to do that, we need to be even more diligent than we've already been about spending our money wisely.

10. Be more intentional about loving others. 'Cuz that's really what it's all about, right? ;)

So, what are your goals for this year?

I'm so honored to introduce....

Kansas City’s newest and most artistically organic event design and photography company— Creative Event Studio.
CES is a two-fold company offering unique event designs centered on individual interests and needs along with event photography to capture life’s special moments. Co-owners, Sarah Ebbert and Ginger Weseloh, have experience working both as a vendor and a client on large- and small-scale events, and know the ins and outs of how to plan, execute, and deliver quality events and photos.
What makes Creative Event Studio different?

· They believe each event has the ability to be unique – because there is no one else like you.

· They believe your event revolves around YOU – the client.

· They believe that great events are stress free – let them do the worrying for you!

Check out their new website at www.creativeeventstudio.com to see what they have to offer. While you’re there be sure to become a fan of theirs on facebook!

Mention this ad and receive 10% off of any package!

******************
Ginger, co-owner of Creative Event Studio, is one of my good friends and one of the most creative minds I know and I am so excited to see her and Sarah's business get off the ground and am hoping them *much* success!

Santa

Now that I've had my pity party, lets move on to something else!!

Disclaimer: Please know that these are *my* thoughts about our own family. I fully support whatever your family decides to do regarding Santa.

As Christmas has been approaching, something Justin and I have talked a lot about is Santa and whether he will be part of our family's Christmas. This is something I struggled with a lot more than Justin did. Justin was really fine either way. He tends to be the much more level-headed, easy-going one around here! Oh, you're not surprised?? ;)

What really concerned me the most was making Jesus first and foremost in our child(ren)'s minds during Christmastime. I feel like Christmas can easily turn into Santa, gifts, me, me, me, and that's not what we want. After *much* talking, thinking, praying, crying (yes, I cried over this as I was worried I was depriving my children of something) we decided that Santa is not going to bring gifts to our house.

There are a couple of reasons we came to this conclusion:

• The main, BIGGEST reason: we want Christmas morning to be more about Jesus being born and celebrating that, rather than what Santa brought and what gifts we get.
• I really hate the idea of threatening my children that if they're not good they won't get gifts on Christmas morning - does anyone really not give their kids gifts from Santa because they were bad? I tend to kinda be OCD about following through on my word.
  
• I don't really like the idea of lying to my children. So many people compare it to other "farirytales", and therefore render it harmless, but I really don't think it's the same. I don't tell Chloe that Barney or Elmo are actually REAL and shimmy their way down our chimney.
  

So, here's what we have decided our ChristmasEve/morning will look like. On Christmas Eve we will bake and decorate a birthday cake for Jesus. On Christmas morning, the kids (yes, this is assuming we will have more than one!!) will wake up to JESUS IN THE MANGER!! (we will have had him out of the nativity set until Christmas morning). We will then eat birthday cake and read about Jesus' birthday. After that the kids will each have 3 gifts to open, just like Jesus had!

When she gets a little older we will talk about St. Nicholas and the godly man that he was. She can still sit on Santa's lap and be excited about seeing him (just like she gets excited about seeing someone dressed up as Elmo). He just won't be visiting our house and leaving gifts.

I'm so excited to make this our little family tradition!!

What are your thoughts? Its okay, you can be honest :)

What does your Christmas look like?

16 Months

I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would not be able to have children.

I'm ready to get off this roller coaster.

I need a hug today.

P-Dub in da house!!

Anyone that knows me knows I love the Pioneer Woman (real name: Ree Drummond). I talk about her like we're best friends. My family knows that if I'm trying a new recipe, most likely it's hers. In fact, most of the time when I'm cooking they ask, "Is that from Pioneer Woman". Not only are her recipes awesome, but her blog is one of my most favorite to visit. She's witty, smart, and talks about calf nuts (who could resist?).

Ree just came out with a cookbook of lots of down home, delicious ranch recipes. The cookbook is a perfect reflection of her. It follows the same theme as her blog recipes, where she gives you step by step (picture by picture) directions. It would be a wonderful Christmas gift for anyone who loves to cook -- or even better...for those who have no idea how to since she makes it *super* easy!

On Monday my mom and I went to her cookbook signing and it was so much fun!! She answered questions from the audience (one of which was mine!), shared her husband (Marlboro Man as she likes to call him) and 2 boys (aka her punks) with us, and signed cookbooks. She was even more beautiful in person. And I have to say...MM is everything she said he is (ahem!). She was even so kind as to bring us cute-as-can-be Pioneer Woman t-shirts.

Here are some pictures from the awesome evening:

MM and the punks bringing in our T-shirts



Oh hello there...



The beautiful Ree answering audience questions



Singing a little Ethel Merman for us (hilarious!!)


Todd taking a picture of me taking a picture of him (and MM looking a little concerned for Ree's camera)



Seriously...she has the CUTEST boys in the world!!



I got Todd to smile for me (is he stinkin' adorable or what??)



Mom and I wait in line to have our books signed. We brought PW some Smokehouse BBQ sauce and Bean mix.


Haha...at one point the boys got a hold of the microphone and started making noises into it. While everyone there thought it was hilariously cute, I don't think MM was all too happy as is evident by the "come hither" finger!



It was finally our turn!



Cheese! (I have to admit that I did crop my mom out of this one as I think she was checkin' out MM rather than looking at the camera!)



That's better



It was such a wonderful mother/daughter evening and I hope to get to meet Ree again (maybe I'll get invited to the Lodge...hehe).