Our Little Pumpkin Turns One

Dear Ella,
Today is your first birthday. This means big things for you. You are officially a toddler, you can now face forward in your carseat, and no more bottles. On your birthday I wanted to give you some advice about life. Some of which I can see you already understand.

1. Family is everything! Be good to them.

2. Never take yourself too seriously.

3. The world moves at a fast pace. Take time to relax.

4. Never get yourself in a situation that you cannot get out of.

5. Always wear sunglasses, this prevents wrinkles.

6. Lastly, call me if you need me.

Every night when I lay you in your bed I tell you two things... that I love you and to call me if you need me. I know you probably don't understand what I am saying to you but one day you will and I mean it. I will always be here for you.

Today brings some sadness. You are no longer my baby and you are growing up so fast. But I am excited to see you grow and your little personality come alive. I want you to know that you have brought such joy to my life and I love you so much! One day when you hold your own baby in your arms it is then that you will truly understand a mother's love and it is then that you will know just how much I love you. Happy Birthday Ella!

Love,

Mom

What's That in My Yard?

Yes, it's true. The next time you come to my house you will see a boat parked in our backyard. A boat with a nice, bright blue cover on it, lovely. Since I have known Scott all he talks about is how he wants to buy a boat, a Boston Whaler, to be exact. He even bought the Pathfinder just in case he needed it to pull a boat one day. As of last Friday, Scott finally bought a boat, well half a boat. He and his dad went in together. I think it is funny how I'm not working, the Honda won't go in reverse, and my gas bill was $300 and we now own a boat. I am not a boat person so I don't get the big deal. Scott made fun of me because I asked him if he had a trailer to pull the boat. Apparently the trailer comes with the boat when you buy it. We took the boat out for a spin this past Sunday. When Scott went to put the boat in the water it wouldn't crank. Not good I was thinking. Then when it finally did crank all of this black smoke came pouring out. He tried to say maybe Cole had messed around with something. I'm thinking it might have to do with the fact that the boat is a 1990. The boat would not go in reverse which sounded bad to me (What is it with our vehicles and reverse?) but Scott said not to worry because that's what boats are all about. They are constantly having problems. People ask me if we had a good time. Imagine for a minute driving down I-40 with your children in the car. They are crawling all over the car because there are no carseats. There is no roof and the walls are extremely short. This is what it feels like to ride in a boat with 2 small children. Luckily Scott's dad went with us so he could hold one while I held the other. Cole is a little nervous on the boat which is a good thing. He is so reckless sometimes that if he were comfortable on the boat he would probably go overboard. Scott however, looked right at home. Watching Cole in Scott's lap I couldn't help but smile. One day Cole will be behind that wheel without Scott. Probably pulling Dalton, Parker, or one of the Lee brothers on skies, having a blast just like Scott did. It's funny how history repeats itself. And really I don't mind the boat in the yard. At least the blue cover matches the tacky blue swingset we have.

Look girl, I finally bought a boat!

This is fun!

Scott showing Cole how to drive.

Papa Rudy and Ella

Let me see just how nervous I can make my mom!

Why won't this thing go in reverse?

The Strangest Thing

Today I did the strangest thing. I walked down the girl toy aisle at Target. Up until today I've never stepped foot in those aisles. Ella has mostly played with Cole's old baby toys and she is fine with that. As most of you are aware, her first birthday is coming up and I wanted to get her a birthday present. While I walked up and down looking at the girl toys, I found myself smiling and giggling inside. My childhood started to flash before me. I saw dress-up clothes, every babydoll you can imagine, strollers and highchairs for your baby, barbie dolls and I even saw that doll head whose hair you can fix (remember that Lisa). Ella has always been a girl, I know that. But I see her not as a girl but as my baby. My sweet baby, who I rock and hug and kiss. After today I see her in a different light. I see her future. I kind of felt a little sad because I know she is growing up and she is going to be my little girl soon. I ended up not buying anything because she just seems too young for most of those toys. But I know that I will be up and down those aisles again really soon and I'm sure she will have an opinion as to what we must get. For now, at least for one more week, she is still just my baby.

My Baby for Now

Pumpkin Patch

Why is it that family fun days never go as you envision them in your head? Sunday afternoon the Woods and the Olivers decide to head out to the Wilson's Mills Pumpkin Patch. A nice Fall day at the pumpkin patch - sounds great right? Oh, we will have a picnic, feed the goats and go on a hay ride. It will be so much fun. Before you say fun be sure you consider the 90 degree heat beating down on your head, bugs all over your nice picnic, Cole's sneezing fit from all of the hay, Ella's whining because she wants to get down and crawl around in the dirt, melting ice cream all over the kids, a field full of the tiniest, puniest pumpkins I've ever seen, and goats who are so stuffed from people feeding them they won't even come near you. Despite all of this the kids had fun and the adults sure did laugh a lot. Sometimes that's what you have to do - laugh -helps you keep it in perspective.

This is all the pumpkins?

Rainy Days

What to do on a rainy day? Invite your best cousins Dalton and Parker over for a little fun.

Dalton and Cole making Fall leaves and painting spiders.

Ella painting with yogurt.

An evil pirate I have seen, but an evil fireman?

Lounging with popsicles.

We love it when the Hardees come over to play. Now that Dalton has started back to school we miss him! (This was a workday for him.) Thanks guys. We had so much fun.

Pictures that Make Me Smile

Not much going on around here. Just our day to day activities. It is amazing how staying home can simplify your life (you actually have time to take pictures). It's not always easy. Believe me, especially after the day I had today. But when I look at my pictures I smile and remember why I do what I do.

Cole helps me with the dishes.

(Not really-I just put some cups and stuff in there for him to wash.)

Playing dress up with the Hardees. We have here a fireman, a cowboy and a lifeguard.

Parker and Ella going down the slide together.

Ella's still propping her legs.

I had gone inside to answer the phone and when I returned Cole was sitting like this.

Two very deep thinkers. I bet they're wondering

how much longer they will have to pose for pictures.

Every morning I find Ella in her crib like this. (She has a tiny hairbow in her mouth.

I don't know where she found it. If it is small and dangerous, Ella will find it.)

Needless to say I have started using tangle free spray on her hair.

This is Cole's new place to sit and watch TV. He is
hiding in the back behind the pillow. By the way, I don't usually make my bed.

Sometimes my children get too close to the camera.

See Ella this is the way you smile.

Happy Fall Y'all!!!!