Hey baby! It's cold outside...

They're growing SO quickly!

My big girl

Today was Ella's first day of Mother's Day Out! She was all over me this morning about leaving because she "didn't want to be late!" She did NOT get her punctuality from me, though I wouldn't have made her late by any means. We had to leave 40 minutes early for a (maybe) 10 minute drive because she was so adamant...the persistance she may get from me:) When we got there we couldn't go in (because we were SO early) but, you can't argue with a 3-year-old. Her teacher had a parent-child scavenger hunt in the classroom and after we found all the objects it was time for the parents to leave. I had to ask her for a kiss and as I watched her all the way to the door, she didn't even turn around. I did manage to make it into the car before I started crying, but better me than her. When I picked her up she was unusually quiet. She was EXHAUSTED! She was, however, excited that she gets to go back on Thursday. When we got home she went directly to her bedroom, put on her jammies and laid on the kitchen floor while I fed Cale. After that, they slept for the afternoon and by "they" I mean "we"! Though I didn't sleep as much as just lay there and hold her. Nothing seemed more important to me in that moment than just being with her and him...they are growing so quickly. I won't pretend to be "big" here. I had been crying for two days leading up to this moment. Though I was excited and I knew that she was as well it was hard to think of her not being here, for even part of the day. For 3 1/2 years she hasn't really left my side. She's more than a daughter, she's my friend. We talk and hang out, she helps me, sits with me. We've spent pretty much every second together...this was a milestone I wasn't sure I was ready to handle. However, she was ready for it and I do need some one-on-one time with Cale. He was super sweet while she was at school and we cuddled and loved until he fell asleep on me. Then, in the quiet, I felt like part of me was missing. I won't lie...I counted the minutes until I could pick her up! This is a good thing for all of us, but not all change is easy. But, it is sad that the one having to put on her big girl panties this morning was the mom and not the daughter! Matt called after I dropped her off. He asked,"How did it go?" I said, "she did fine." He said," I know, I was talking about you!" You would think she left for college or moved out...HEAVEN HELP ME THEN!

Cale's Party!!

We had Cale's first birthday party on Saturday. It was a wonderful day and we were thankful that so many of our sweet family and friends were able to come celebrate with us. It was a little more attention than Cale was used to at this point, but he did eventually warm up. It was a good day!!

CAKES!

The birthday boy!

Sitting in my new chair!

Opening presents...

and some more...

Diggin' my new camo hat...so did my daddy!

Thinking about touching this...

It's pretty good!

I'll just hand this to mama!

The kids with MeMe and PaPa...nobody is looking, but they're all there.

Unfortunately, this is the best I could get with his party hat:(

He did NOT like it!!!

The proud big sister!

MOST of the kids and the BEST we could do...Ella and Sam Sollie...Couldn't you just eat him up!?!

Cale and Sam...They are destined to be best friends...they don't know it yet!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy, CALE!!!!

Well, my baby boy is 1!! I simply can't believe it. First birthdays are special, but for me they are a little sad. It means my baby is growing up and as if he didn't accomplish enough and grow way too much already he now isn't even considered a "baby" anymore. It's a little rough on a momma. However, it is here and we are excited about it. This morning when we woke up Ella and I sang Happy Birthday to him. He rocked back and forth, grinned ear to ear and giggled like he knew it was something special...and it is! Tonight we cooked his favorite dinner (grilled hamburgers), I baked a cake and he opened some presents. Good news-the Euten's are some proud owners of some Tonka trucks (in EVERY color), these are the first trucks our household has seen. The bad news-Cale's still carrying around my brush and Ella's bunny:) He does love his new "boy toys" though! Here's some pics from tonight...

He went for it face first! Saturday should be fun:)

"Here, mama...have some!"

Birthday kisses!

The birthday boy!!

It looks like he's making a mad dash for presents here...NOPE, he wanted the Mickey Mouse bag and there was no stopping him!

My first truck.

"This is my 'nother truck, Chuck. And I know how to make him go!""I think Chuck's my favorite!"

Happy birthday, lil buddy! We love you so very much! You are sheer joy and happiness and I thank the Lord every night for you! I'm honored to be your mother and it is my blessing to watch you grow and learn and love. You have such a special place in my heart and I'm SO glad that you're mine!!

Forget-me-nots!

• Sometimes when you ask Ella where she lives, she says, “Chelsea Lane” instead of Chelsea, Alabama…Chelsea Lane is a little boutique that we go to a lot to buy gifts and such. You can see where that would get confusing.
• She STILL says “fishin”or “finishin” instead of finished. I.e. when she is done in the bathroom she calls me saying, “Mommy, I’m fishin!” or after a meal she says, “Ok, I’m finishin.”
• She calls fettuccine alfredo, “alfredo pencinni”. Sometimes I can’t remember how to say it correctly. It is her favorite food. (And grapes.) She is a GREAT eater and not picky.
• She only likes dirt where dirt is supposed to be. For example, at the park or outside somewhere. She doesn’t mind playing in it at those places and even calls it “playing dirt” as if it were a real game. However, if there is dirt somewhere else like on the floor or in the tub she FREAKS OUT.
• She changes clothes 5,000 times a day…just for the fun of it.
• Her favorite color is “Pink. Light pink.” And she says it just like that.
• She pronounces it “fRavrite” instead of favorite and “eNmergency” instead of “emergency”.
• She used to call a “porcupine” a “pikey pone.” She doesn’t do this anymore.
• She introduces Cale as “Cale Rabbit” to everyone, all the time as if it is his REAL name.
• When not minding daddy one night he asked her if she misbehaved like that at church in the nursery and she kindly replied, “No, I don’t be mean to THEM.” She was VERY serious!
• She calls the garden a gardING.
• She doesn’t like peanut butter…yet. She calls it “butter.”
• Lettuce is “salad.” Whether it’s in a bowl or on a sandwich.
• A turtle neck is a turtle “mick”.
• It’s camo FLAGE instead of camouflage. And if it’s big enough she calls it Hooge instead of huge.
• If it doesn’t come on the Disney Channel or isn’t a cartoon, it’s a “people show.” She doesn’t like a people show!
• She sings ALL DAY. Songs from the radio, some she learned from church, some she just makes up, but she’s always singing. She loves Carrie Underwood. And, she loves to dance. She loves a tutu.
• If it takes more than five minutes than it takes too long.
• When she wakes up in the morning she says, “The sun’s out, it’s time to get up now.”
• She is shy at first if she doesn’t know someone, but warms up quickly. However, if you say something wrong, she’s quick to correct. One time in a store she had a stuffed cat that one of the employees called a bunny. She quickly responded, “It’s a cat!”
• If something is expensive or she at least thinks it should be she calls it “expensible.”
• She would color all day.
• She likes daddy to play with her, but this doesn’t mean play, it means “throw me up in the air as many times as he can possibly do it.”
• She’s a perfectionist and gets frustrated easily when she can’t do something on her own.
• She calls the Tahoe a “Taco”.
• She LOVES high heels, I mean LOOOOVES them. On the flip side she loves her jammies and would only wear them all the time…with heels.
• Ranch dressing is “white sauce” and she eats sauce with EVERYTHING.
• She is a night owl.
• She enjoys going outside with daddy to catch frogs or "light bugs"…and, she’s good at it.
• She is constantly reminding Matt that we’re not supposed to hunt the animals, we love the animals.
• She knows that God is her heavenly father and that He’s always here. She was excited to find out that she had two fathers!
• She is a picker and nail-biter!
• She is a big helper to momma and even offers (sometimes) to help clean-up without being asked. But, sometimes she’s “too tired.” She likes to pick out Cale’s clothes and his jammies.
• She loves to dress-up and has an imagination bigger than the continental U.S.
• She flips her hair like a teenager and knows how to put on mascara (she’s only allowed to use the clear kind.) I told her she can't wear black till she's 16...for now she's ok with this.
• She has a sense of smell like a dog!
• She argues with me when I tell her I love her more…she won’t find out that she’s wrong here until she has kids of her own.
• She is beautiful!
• She is not yet graceful.
• She talks with her eyes.
• She will tell you exactly what is on her mind…she won’t sugar coat it.
• She talks like a southern belle, sometimes she talks like a redneck.
• She has a mean streak, lacks patience, but doesn’t have much of a temper.
• She tests my patience, melts my heart, sets off my temper and challenges me.
• She asks questions…a lot of questions…hard questions.
• She is listening when you think she’s not and can repeat a conversation you had (with or without her) in its entirety, verbatim!
• She is BOSSY, sweet, kind, intelligent, well-spoken and opinionated.
• Sometimes it’s like looking at Matt, sometimes it’s like I’m talking to me.

Simply.Sunday.

Lil Miss Priss!

Matt HATES the lace on this outfit. Sorry! This is just something he will have to get over right now. There WILL come a time when I won't be able to get him into anything that's not covered in dirt or holes...or both! It won't be this way for long...

Chores before church. Cale helps by taking things out and throwing them on the floor, until he finds something he likes and walks away with it. Ella actually directly hands you things or sets them on the counter for easier access. Nonetheless, they're helping!!

My "baby" is so grown up!

While daddy was fishing in Alaska...

we did some of this:

1. Stayed up too late and got up even later.

2. Hung out with "Baby Lukes" and Lissa and watched movies in bed.

3. Dressed up baby Luke's (who isn't really a baby anymore) like Sleeping Beauty...OR for his sake, Bret Micheals!

4. Had Honey come in town to help Momma...which, is ALWAYS fun!

5. And, ate A LOT of dessert!!!

When daddy got home, we got these...(and some other stuff)

And, saw some pictures of his trip,