ONE Sweet Girl!

I can't believe we've had this little ONE for ONE whole year! What a joy it has been to watch her grow, to see her little personality emerge, to love her and care for her, to "get to know her" and be her Mommy. The Lord has used her precious spirit to bless my life, to teach me and show me His love for me in new ways. It is such a priveledge to have her entrusted to my care. It has been one of the best years of my life! We celebrated with a cupcake party at our church with lots of friends and family.

Sweet little face

The closest we got to a picture with her "cake"
She loves this cozy coupe! It's the first thing she goes to each morning and she was in it for 90% of the party. Luckily, she had lots of people to push her around :)

The party!

Checking out a present - with a pizza face

Tiny hiney!

(P.S. Your hiney could look this cute, too! Or your bib or your onsie - check out my little pumpkin designs on etsy or facebook! Thanks, Donna Jo!)

Opening presents

Playing with her main man

Not a big fan of the cake

We had a great day!

Maelie-Moo

Here's a little bit about what Maelie has been up to these days. She has been SO GOOD lately it has amazed us all. She went on an 11 day streak of not one spanking. Her previous record was 10 hours. And she was sleeping :) She's still cracking us up all the time and doing a really good job as a big sister. She and Lorelai have so much fun together. She even "babysits" sometimes while I'm in the shower, etc. and does a really good job. All she talks about is turning four and her Candyland birthday party - I can't believe it will be here before you know it!

Here's a funny conversation we had the other day
M Why is King Herod so mean?
E I don't know - some people just are
M But WHY?
E I really don't know - all I can think of is that they don't know Jesus
M Well, I know Jesus
E Yup
M Yeah, I saw him
E Huh?
M Yeah, when God was making me. He was there, so I've seen him
She does have a freakishly good memory...:)

Riding the golf cart with the Daddies

She is LOVING the snow!

(Yes, she's in a skirt - don't judge. We only wear dresses because pants are for BOYS!)


Having a little pizza at Micah's birthday party. This girl is definitely her Daddy's daughter - the other day we went to Chuck E. Cheese and she ate 4 pieces of pizza!

Painting on her easel - doesn't that look on her face say "come look at my masterpiece?"

We love this girl!!!

Lamby-less 11 Months

Well, unfortunately due to a little chaos in our lives lately this months pictures will be a little different. Sweet Lorelai spent a few days last week at Cook's being treated for what we think is an MRSA infection. It has been pretty rough watching the sweetest baby ever in so much pain, but I think we're finally on the road to recovery. She is back to her happy playful self, with just a little touch of spoiled added in after all the days in a row of being held - but we're okay with that!



At 11 months, she is our little trickster. She's been giving fives for awhile, but over the last month she's learned to blow kisses, play peek-a-boo, say "shh!" with her finger on her mouth, hold her little arms out to play a game with Daddy, bonk her own head when Grammy says "ow!" do her little fingers like the itsy bitsy spider. This is a pretty cute age! She really loves a bath - which is a good thing since she's taking three per day these days. She is getting more expressive, too. Her facials crack me up! She snarls her nose when she's not happy, etc. She and Maelie are having more fun than ever, too. She wakes up every morning and lets me rock her for a few minutes, then sits straight up and either says "da-dee" or "mae mae." She also loves to sleep! I've never seen a baby who will finish her bottle and immediately just wants you to put her in her bed. As soon as you lay her in there, she snuggles up into a little ball and you never hear a peep out of her for at least 9 hours. Gotta love that!

Poor sick baby!

These are when we started feeling a little better.

By Friday, she was in the mood to play a little. This is her laughing at the bubbles Kyle and I were blowing at her. Even when she was really sick, she would still try to smile and say thank you to the nurses. Such a sweet girl!

Funny for the Day

Today on the way to church Maelie said from the backseat "Mommy! If I'm not Jewish, then I'm not an Israelite!" This whole heritage thing is just not working out for her...maybe we should try to read more from the New Testament...

Big Lessons from Little People ...and double digits!

I've always assumed that the Lord would use my children to teach me things about life, myself and Him. It makes me laugh the way he does it, though. It dawned on me the other day that it is in the best moments - moments of my heart bursting with love, pride, joy at them - that he quietly reveals himself to me. Pricks my heart that the love pouring out of me when I look at a sweet sleeping face as I rock her, pride over a new accomplishment, joy at just being their parent is just a small taste of the feelings that He has for me. It is in their not-so-best moments that He chooses to reveal things about myself. For example, the other day I was doing my best bear-wrestling imitation getting a squirmy ten month old dressed. I said aloud to her, "You know this would be a lot easier if you would just sit still." I was a little awed at how immediately and clearly He said to me "Yes, I know that feeling. It would be so much easier for me to clothe you in righteousness and joy, fill you with that wisdom that you keep asking for, etc. if you would just be still and let me." So thankful for the lessons I'm not sure I would've learned without the blessings I know I don't deserve.

Also, I can't believe our "Sweet Little Treat" as she has come to be know is already in the double digits. She is truly a light in our lives - the older she gets the more joy she brings to our family. Her sweet presence is such a blessing and we are loving getting to be a part of her life and watch her personality bloom.

This month is the month of talking! She started saying "Daddy"which I think is precious. She doesn't say dada she says "da-DEE" and gets really excited to see him. She also says "bye" - usually just once, not bye bye, with a wave. She finally started saying mama, too, which she usually does in a fierce way as she fast crawls to me. She learned to shake her head no, which I shouldn't think is funny because it looks like she's mocking me sometimes, but it cracks her up so much and makes me laugh. I don't think she really knows what she's saying, anyway!

Things she loves at 10 months:
Cereal - much better than baby food
Any type of fruit in her net paci
Her sister - she and Maelie love to play together and she thinks Maelie is hilarious
Standing up and jumping
Playing with big kids
Her teacher, Ms. Brandi. She would rather play at Ms. Brandi's feet than be held by another teacher - it's pretty funny and very sweet.
Playing in curtains
Being outside
Her Mommy - she has turned in to a huge Mommy's girl. It wears my arms out sometimes, but I love it!

Things she's not crazy about:
Baby food - we're pretty much over it
Having her clothes changed - she doesn't mind the diaper, but can't handle the clothes coming off and on.
Getting into the carseat, still
That's about all I can think of!

Belated Nine Months

Lorelai has been a busy girl these days! It seemed like overnight she learned to crawl on all fours, pulled up and got a tooth. Now she is just everywhere, but if you can't find her she's usually playing with Maelie. She loves to crawl into her foom or Maelie's and just play, and they love to play together. She is such a content and happy girl. She's also learned to sleep through the night - I mean, really sleep - 10-12 hours a night. I didn't know babies could do that! She also grew three inches since her October appointment, but has only gained 2 oz. That puts her off the charts in height and drops her down to about 50% in weight. Oh, and 200% in cuteness :)In every way, she is a joy to have in our lives and I thank God daily that I get to be her Mommy.

Christmas Picture-palooza 2009

We had a great Christmas this year - Lorelai's first! It was a little hard because Kyle has been working a ton, but we managed to have some fun, too. We had six family Christmases that nearly wore us out with so much fun, but it's always worth it to see all of our family.

The Girls

Maelie and Elizabeth at their class Christmas party
Look out for the newest Chip and Dale's dancer!

Three matching cousings

(Can you believe this is the best picture I got?)

These girls really love each other

Maelie wanted it to snow on Christmas SOOO badly - I kept telling her that it doesn't snow in Texas at Christmas and she was so upset. I think this made her even more excited when it actually did snow on Christmas :)

She said, "I can't believe God told it to snow just like I asked!!"

Lorelai peeking through her new tunnel

Maelie on the new princess scooter

My sister and brother and me

I think this has been Maelie's favorite part of the Christmas holidays - hanging out with Henry.

If anyone knows a good therapist, let me know, we're probably going to need it next week when he leaves to go back to Maryland.

Riding the scooter at Grammy and Papaw's

The Thirty Greatest Moments of My Thirty Years

The Thirty Greatest Moments of My Thirty Years
in no particular order
P.S. There are pictures at the bottom if you get bored reading!

1) When I had Maelie. The strongest first memory I have of her is the sight of her. The second she was born they plopped her on my tummy and I was stunned. It happened more quickly than I had expected. One minute she was in my tummy and the next here she was - a little miracle that I had had a small part of. The sight of her there - perfect and mine - is still hard to put into words.

2) When I had Lorelai. My strongest first memory of her is the sound of her cry. For some reason at her birth she was not in my sight for a few seconds, but at the sound of that little cry I remember looking at Kyle with tears in my eyes and shock at how quickly my heart had expanded and how much I loved her before I had even seen her.

3) When Kyle McKillip called me on Christmas Day, 1998 and asked me out for our second date. After our first date I walked into my house and told my mom I was going to marry him. Part of that was being silly, but I really liked him and was so excited when he called on Christmas to think that maybe he felt the same way.

4) When we bought our house. It's funny, because I'm so ready to sell it now, but when we were 21 and buying a house of our own it was so exciting and I felt like we were "really grown up." It was so much fun working on it with Kyle and feeling like we had a home.

5) When it snowed in January of 2001. Kyle and I were living in an apartment, barely married and so excited about the snow that we moved our mattress into the living room and slept with the windows open so that we could hear it. I remember thinking that this is what I imagined being married as - having fun with your best friend.

6) When I took the Beth Moore "Living Beyond Yourself" Bible study. It was the first Beth Moore and first really deep Bible study I'd done and it showed me new ways to talk to the Lord that changed our relationship.

7) When I got the job at Young Children's World. I really thought that there was no way that they would hire someone as young as I was. Plus, it was going to be a $200/month paycut that we really couldn't afford. Kyle and I spent the weekend praying about the decision to take the job and right after we talked Kyle went to check the mail. There was a check for $500 and a letter from our mortgage company saying something had been miscalculated and our mortgage payment was being decreased by $200/month. No way would that have been there if we had not followed the Lord and taken the job that turned out to be the best job in the world.

8) When Drew, my younger brother by 10 years was born. I was not sure about a baby in our family before he was born, but I remember wanting to stay in the waiting room and not go on walks with the other kids because I couldn't wait to meet him. I loved him so much and still do!

9) When I realized I liked my mom :) We had some rough times over the early years of my life, but sometime in my 20s I realized what a good mom she is and more importantly what a good friend. (It doesn't hurt that she's the world's best Grammy.)

10) When I realized that Kyle was in it for good. I think there were times in the early years of our marriage when I would subconciously test that fact - picking silly fights or escalating them just to see if he really meant it. He did. The Lord shows me alot about His acceptance and love for me through the way that Kyle loves and accepts me.

11) When God put Jayne in my life. She is such a precious combination of friend and mentor. I think everyone needs someone like her - wise, but completely nonjudgemental, a little further down life's road and willing to share her wisdom, faith and experience. I know that I'm a better mom, wife, friend, and Christian because of her influence.

12) When Kasey moved to Texas. Okay, that's a weird one because it stunk that Rob had to be in Iraq, so it wasn't all good, but I'm thankful that we got to live in the same city as adults for the first time in our lives. I think that it brought us immeasurably closer and redefined our relationship.

13) When Henry was born. Getting to be an Aunt was the greatest experience. Love like a Mom with the ability to spoil and never have to spank! I got to spend the first week of his sweet life with him in San Angelo and I loved getting to bond with him. It still makes my day when I see his cute face on skype and hear "what aunt emmy doin'?"

14) When I made Rebellaire dance captain. It was my senior year and being in that group made it so much fun! I was so excited and it was also the first time I had been in a leadership position. It didn't hurt that so many of my good friends were there, too.

15) When I got to bring Maelie to work with me for the first time. I have always loved my job, but having her there with me made it even better. So many women that I love so much were there it felt like bringing her home a little having her in a place I loved with so many Christian sisters loving on my baby.

16) When I joined Richland Hills Church of Christ. Okay, in that moment I probably didn't realize how great it was, but I love my church and am so thankful to belong to a body of believers that loves the Lord and shows it in so many ways. I love our leaders and how they are so intentional about sharing the love of Christ "in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth."

17) When I met Patty Weaver. She is the best boss (even though she's not a fan of that word :) and friend. She has taught me so much about what it means and how to minister to others, especially children and their families. She is a living example of someone who does her best to glorify the Lord in all she does. She has also taught me a lot about spectacularness - how to make things better than people expected, how we can really do anything or make anything happen when we work together.


18) When Kelli had Elizabeth. When our daughters were born, so was a friendship that brings tears to my eyes when I really think about all the ways I've been blessed by it. No one is a better encourager than Kelli. She really makes you feel great about yourself while at the same time encouraging you to be even better. She is always pointing you towards a closer walk with the Lord. I also got my little friend Elizabeth that day - a precious friend to my Maelie and another sweet little someone to love.

19) When Lauren came to work at RHCC. Wow! Sometimes God really blows my mind. What a precious gift from Him to have one of your best friends working right down the hallway. I still get excited when I see her walking down the hall to stop by my office and chat. I am convinced that my life would not be the same without her presence - her ability to bring so much fun and such deep friendship into my life has been a blessing as long as I've known her (which is a long time).

20) Bringing Lorelai home from the hospital. I'll never forget the surrealness of having two full carseats in the back seat and feeling like it had always been that way. I was completely at peace about my new role as Mommy to two and amazed at how easily our family had grown from two to three to four. It was a great drive and just got better as the three of us introduced Lorelai to her new home and got to spend time together as a family.

21) When I moved to Abilene. I loved everything about being there - the friends I came with and the ones I made along the way. The town itself and all the fun things we did there. The classes I took even seemed fun, like the beginning of "real life." Living on my own and the freedom and feeling of being a grown up that came with it. Growing with God and being led to Kyle. I still love to go back there and have a little taste of all those good feelings!

22) When Maelie decided that when she grows up she wants to be a Mommy "just like me." She is the funniest, most precious thing, but she is also a very challenging little girl. There are many days when I question the job that I am doing with her as a mother, but I guess it can't be all bad if that's what she wants to be when she grows up!

23) When I got my quilt for Christmas. When I was around eight years old my great-grandmother made each one of her 15 or so great-grands a handmade quilt for Christmas. That thing has been on my bed everyday since. It's the perfect weight, size, and it's the craziest colors you've ever seen. It reminds me that really great things aren't always perfect on the outside. It's warm when I need warming and surprisingly feels cool in the summer. It's been on campouts, sleepovers, off to camp, picnics outside - you name it, but it better be on my bed before I go to sleep. When it started to get a little ragged, my Grandma took it and reinforced every stitch to make it last longer, so now it's even more precious.

24) When I found out Val was pregnant. This in itself was an answer to many, many prayers, and a few days later when I found out I was pregnant it was the fulfillment of a lifelong wish to get to be mommies together. Val is the biggest and best part of most of my childhood memories and getting to share this stage of life with her is a bigger blessing than I had even imagined.

25) My 30th birthday! A big group of our friends got together for a steak (my favorite!) and then spent the rest of the night driving around town in a Hummer limo looking at Christmas lights. It was so much fun and such a sweet treat from my precious husband. The best part was looking around and realizing how blessed I am to have so many amazing friends in my life.

26) When my Mom got married. I was so happy to see her with someone that she loves so much and that loves her, too. We all love Wayne, especially Maelie, and were so glad to have him as an official part of our family.

27) When Kyle asked me to marry him. We were on top of a mountain in Colorado, and I remember having a hard time catching my breath. I love him so much and it still amazes me that he saw enough in me to want to spend the rest of our lives together. He is such a pillar of faith, such a precious and tender heart - I just cannot imagine a better man. The fact that he chose me is still humbling and amazing.

28) When I went to Italy. My senior year of high school our choir toured several cities in Italy and had the chance to sing in several cathedrals. So much fun with great friends. Such a once in a lifetime experience to be in a foreign country with people I loved, doing something I loved, and experiencing something so new.

29) When I married Kyle. That day in particular was a great day - I remember not being able to keep a goofy grin off my face - but the thing that was so great about that day is that it was the beginning of so many great days. In our ten years of marriage, they honestly have not all been great days, but the cumulative effect of loving him and being loved by him, of raising children and growing up together has been the second greatest experience of my life, only next to my relationship with Jesus. I cannot believe God led me to such a loving, faithful, wise, selfless, and fun partner for life at such an early age, and am so thankful for the years and growing we have done together and the ones to come.

30) When I got baptized. I had no idea at the time how deeply and completely this would change me and shape me. Everytime I see someone get baptized at church it brings tears to my eyes not only that the kingdom of God has grown, but also that that person is in for such an amazing journey as the Lord grows them and draws them closer to Him. I had loved the path that He has led me down thus far and cannot wait to see what else He has in store for me!

Sweet Daddy and Husband

(P.S. That's the quilt, too!)

Maelie's first day at YCW

Having breakfast with Jayne

Baby Henry, less than 1 week old

The women of YCW

One of the biggest reasons this job is so good

Coming home with my girls!

Patty and Maelie

Baby bellies!

First night in our new house

Lauren's first day at RHCC

Maelie - 9 days old

Elizabeth - 1 day old

My sweet family

Me and Maelie

Funny (and disgusting) for the Day

Tonight Maelie and I were playing with her Pretty Pretty Princess game and there are tiny jewel stickers you are supposed to put on the crown. After awhile Maelie said, "Look at this bootiful jewel. Isn't it bootiful?" I absentmindedly said yes and she said "I found it in my nose." No, she didn't stick a jewel in her nose - apparently, she just picked a real winner.

Funny for the Day

I am bummed that I can't find the right stuff to upload some pictures. Until then, this will have to do you.

This morning in the car
Maelie "Do you remember Aunt Nita's birthday party?"
Me "yes"
Maelie "I wore that skirt"
Me "yes, you did" (shocked - Aunt Nita's fifties themed party that Maelie wore a poodle skirt to was in May)
Maelie "Sometimes when I sleep I see pictures. In my eyes."
Me "I think you are talking about dreams"
Maelie "Oh, yeah!! 'Course! Dreams"
Me "Did you dream about Aunt Nita's party?"
Maelie "Yup, and Grammy"

Happy Halloween!

Well, we had a few last minute changes to our Halloween costumes. We were all set to be the Princess and the Pea, but the night before Papaw saw a beautiful Snow White dress at Toys R' Us that Maelie had been seen in the movie brochure and loved. Being quite the sucker, he bought it for her. She LOVED it and wanted to wear it trick or treating, and I could not say no. We bought some black hair spray and came up with a coordinating outfit for Lorelai, and I have to say I think I like the new costumes even better than the originals. We trick or treated with the Bankes and most of the Burchfields (poor Micah had surgery the day before :( and Katie stayed with him) and had a blast in Diamond Loch.

First time in the new dress - loving it!

Lorelai's spur of the moment costume change - the cutest dwart :)

Getting ready to hit the road!
(Not sure where Maelie learned that phrase, but she kept saying it)

The Babies

The Big Girls

Maelie kept saying "This is awesome!"

Lorelai riding in style. She looks a little scared in this for some reason, but she really loved the view from the bjorn

Riding in style.

We finished off the evening at Carol's house where Grammy and Papaw were waiting to see the girls. Carol and her Wayne popped fresh popcorn and the girls got to decompress a little. It was a great night!

One last look at our raven-haired beauty! She loved it while it was costume time but was pretty ready to wash it out and get her yellow hair back!