The Big One

One year ago today I delivered our little bundle of cute. We named her Ella.

Ella means “bright light” in Greek.

If you're thinking Wow, you really did a lot of homework on names! 

I would say yes because it sounds like we put a lot of work into the naming process, which automatically makes you a better parent, right?

But in reality, I had loved the name before there was a tiny little shrimp expanding in my belly.  

I could not have been more amazingly on target.  

Her bright light has quickly and seamlessly filled our world.

Ella has her Daddy’s scientific demeanor - calm, thoughtful and inquisitive. And his eyelashes. Praise God. (She’ll never be stuck in the bathroom at an embarrassingly old age trying to figure out the art of gluing little lashes to your eyelids. With the end result being your lid is now glued to your brow. Moving on…)

She got my blue eyes and my I’ll-Rip-Your-Face-Off-I’m-So-Hungry moods.  Unluckily, enough, she also blessed with my I’m-So-Tired-I-Can-Cry-If-I-Want-To moods.  But she's got my independent streak and my love of cheese.  Oh, and my love of sleeping (Thank God). 

We have been blessed with a very bright light.  

Wordless Wednesday (Sort of)

Someone's having a very big birthday next week. 

 11 months going on 21...and that wasn't a typo.  She is seriously going on 21 years old.  

She is HER OWN person.   

And I love it.  

Mommy Guilt: Or, You Know, Just Another Monday

I’m a Mom.  And I’m not perfect.   I know that you’re not either but I fear that some of you are probably doing it better than me.  Have you seen those Pinterest crafts?

This wouldn’t be such a bad thing but this job is kind of a big deal.   I read tonight that we only have 900 weeks with our children before they leave our home.  I know, right?  900 weeks. 

Black beans are her favorite. 

I fear that might not be enough to time to impart the wisdom I’ve learned from all of the John Hughes’ movies.  Notably, never wear your bra on your head during a thunderstorm, and always, always befriend the guy named Ducky.   

With my panic mode dutifully set in for the night, my brain immediately goes to the “working mom” guilt.  

I’m a mom who works outside the home.  There are so many days since I’ve had Ella (ok, all of them) that I question whether I am doing a disservice to her by working.  

Bath time! 

 It’s not like she doesn’t have a fabulous time during the day.   We are so lucky to have my aunt and uncle watch her every day.  She’s loved beyond measure, gets to grow up with her cousin, and gets to go to pre-school and do all kinds of fun things.  She’s a lucky girl. 

But it’s been a trying weekend.  A doctor’s visit on a Saturday for an ugly bug bite that made her face swell up and add that onto the misery of a late summer cold it has made someone extra cranky. 

Sippy cup not being held at the right angle?  Tears.

Diaper change without being able to stand up and walk around at the same time?  Tears, screaming and kicks to the gut (mine, not hers). 

I’m wiped.  And for the first time in a long time I’m looking forward to Monday.

So, of course, I’m a pool of mushy mom guilt.  

The girls.

 Shouldn’t I want to stay home with her all day, every day?   Shouldn’t I want to wrestle her through the tantrums because I took away her sippy cup?  Or at least be there for all of the the really, really good moments? 

Then again, for me personally, I think I have more patience with her when I know I have such limited time.   I’m scared of my ability to be patient and present with her every day.  I don’t know if I’d be the Mom she deserves and the one I want to be if I did not work outside the home. 

But it’s never that easy, is it?  One minute I’m perfectly content to be a working mom and then… BAM…I’m right back to wanting to be a stay at home momma.  

Fabulous hair styling all around. 

Really, it’s like I have split personalities.   I don’t know the answers.  I don’t know what the future holds. 

Right now, I’m planning on getting up and going to work.   Ella will have a perfectly lovely day. 

I am sure there will be a bit of guilt for the way things could be in a perfect world interspersed with feelings of gratitude for the way things are.  That is really all I know.  

Love this girl with everything I have.

All Ella

It's been a while since I've posted any recent photos of my soon to be one year old.

Grandma says its time. We listen to Grandma.

Work, work, work all day long.

It's all fun and games until someone plucks out an eyeball.

But Mom! I want that little weird ball in Dada's head.

Never mind... I've found something better. Daddy's wallet.






This is fascinating.

Don't think you're going to get in on this action.

 

One of Those Weekends

You know those weekends where the weather is so beautiful? Sunny, hot, green, lush.   


You feel like you absolutely MUST be outside, being busy, running errands, taking advantage of every last bit of goodness a Saturday in the summer can bring. 


Thank god this was not one of those weekends! 


It was raining, grey and hot.  So the only recourse was to stay inside, watch really horrible movies, and lounge in our pajamas.  


Done and Done. 

Big girl in a big chair. 

Hmmm...what is there to see in Dada's office today?

That looks interesting....

Piggy on the loose. 

Why are you always taking my picture? 

PJ self portrait

 Green bean guts. 

Hanging out on Momma's lap. 

Weekend In Pictures

It was just us girls this weekend. Dada was doing his duty with the Navy.

We got lots accomplished : naps were taken, Cheerios consumed, pjs were worn. If you're wondering the dishes didn't get all the way done, the floors didn't get swept but we had lots of cuddles and snuggles.

We love our toy from Auntie Y.

I can't even begin to tell you how in love I am with these feet. She crosses them every chance she gets. Just like her Daddy.

Like I said naps were had. Dishes can wait.

NO, you're the one who gets on her belly and refuses to rollover!

OK. No, seriously. I can't roll over. Why are you taking pictures instead of helping me?

We did venture to the grocery store. So gangsta.

Baby Faux Hawk

More naps. More cuddles.

Even with all those naps, I'm still pooped.

Monday morning = Diet Coke.




 

Teacher Gifts

Last week was Ella's last week of school.  I know.  She's already doing fractions.  It's crazy.


For her teachers I wanted to make something unique. She had two teachers for Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday. Plus I wanted to do one for each of the administrators that take the best care of her! So there were 6 total.


I found my inspiration on Pinterest, the new social media hangout.  Look me up at Kristen Siler Vennekotter. 

Source: tipjunkie.com via Kristen on Pinterest

This was a pretty easy project but of course I bit off more than I could chew in a short time span.  So I enlisted some help. 

I picked up 6 terra-cotta pots and 6 trays. 

In addition to the pots, I bought black and yellow craft paint, brushes and markers that write on terra cotta. 

We put the black on the inside/outside of the pots and trays.  And the yellow paint around the rim.   The black went on in two coats, the yellow took about 5 coats! 

Once the paints dried over night, I took the markers and free handed the words on the bottom "Thanks for helping me Grow!" And also used the yellow as a measuring tape and free handed the lines. 

I bought 6 flowers.  Which kind? The pretty kind.  I don't remember the exact name. And some Harry Potter dirt.  It was Harry Potter dirt because the night after I planted the flowers the dirt expanded so that it over flowed out of the pots and all over my floor and counters!  

Magical! 

Here is the finished product! 

Happy Birthday To Me

**yawn** Someone, I won’t name names, had us up for 3 hours last night. Apparently, two teeth are not enough for Ella…er… I mean someone and she’s adamant she needs more. She’s staunchly anti-hillbilly.

We might be in for a long ride.

In other news, I turned 32 yesterday!

Maybe it’s the narcissist in me but I love birthdays! And before you get all “it’s just because you get presents”. Well, duh. Who doesn’t love some gifts? No one. That’s who.

But it’s more than just presents, I love the whole introspection aspect. Looking at the last year and evaluating what went right and what went wrong. And the best part, looking forward to what’s coming up!

31 was a pretty awesome year but 32 is going to be AH-MAZING. I can feel it.

Celebrating life is a good thing. Maybe if we celebrated life a little more, we’d all be a little happier, a little more content, a little more loving towards everyone around us. Maybe that is what we should wish for when we blow out those candles.

Since Mark had navy reserve duty this weekend we celebrated on Friday with dinner at one our favorite restaurants, Trulucks. Those of you in the Houston area I highly recommend it! They have exceptional seafood, most flown in fresh from Maine and Florida daily.

We started out with Jonah crab claws, fresh from Florida.

I had the heirloom tomato salad with buttermilk dressing, bacon crumbles and shaved parmesan. I could have licked the plate. So freaking good.

This was what I had been waiting for...a ginormous king crab leg. Heaven!

Last but not least, chocolate bread pudding with chocolate ganache frosting.

 

Saturday and Sunday were spent running errands with my little teeth-er.

Grocery shopping.

We walked down to the pool.

Drying off after our swim!

 

Post swim nap! She was worn out...at least for a little while.

While she napped, I made my birthday treat... Strawberry cupcakes with strawberry buttercream icing.



 

Finished product...that one needed to be tested. Happy birthday to me indeed!