Makena Noel...

Our sweet Makena Noel was born February 4, 2013 at 8:18 am.  She came out weighing 8lbs 7oz and with a head full of jet black hair.  The doctor said "Where were you hiding her"...haha.  She is the most precious little baby girl.  She smiles constantly and is just so happy.  I was so nervous about having a girl, but I couldn't imagine her not being here.  



Ready to have this baby!!

Baby Girl has some lungs on her

Since Easton was an emergency c-section, we decided to have Makena via c-section too.  I was so nervous having her.  You always hear these stories about things that go wrong, so having a beautiful healthy baby is such a blessing and a gift.

We kept telling Easton that he was going to be a big brother, but he didn't really understand.  Now that she is here, I think he gets it.  Easton is the best big brother to our "Kena Girl".  He plays peek-a-boo with her, kisses her, gives her hugs, loves to hold her, and sometimes just bugs her to no end.  She loves every minute of it ;)  It melts my heart seeing them together. 

The bad thing about a c-section is that you don't have control over your legs, arms, or anything on your body...haha.  It was so hard with Easton and Makena to be able to hold them when they came out.  Justin did the holding while I just looked and tried my hardest to keep my eyes open because I was so doped up. 

When we had Easton, we didn't have pictures taken of the three of us when we first got to our room.  It's so crazy when you get back to the room because your family can't wait to get their hands on the baby and then pictures happen and it's just a little chaotic.  It's as if you disappear when the baby gets here ;)

The attempt at a family picture (horrible)...I'm so out of it and just want to sleep

Big Brother holding his sister for the first time

I think he likes her :)

Ready to go home...
We Love you Sweet Kena Girl



Time Flies!!!

OH MY GOSH...Has it really been almost a year since I posted last!?!?!?  I can not believe it.  A lot has happened in a year with my sweet family.  We have had another baby (post to come later), sold our house, built a new house, celebrated 3 years of marriage, and Easton turned 2. 

I was looking back at old pictures and he has grown and changed so much.  Last year at this time he was just now learning to take steps and now he is running everywhere and is talking up a storm.  I love our little guy so much and we are so blessed to have him in our lives.  I'm so thankful that God chose us to be his parents :) 

Easton turned two on May 31st.  We had a wonderful time with family and friends celebrating.  Thanks to everyone that helped us make his birthday special.

Sea Life

Party at the Splashpad

Happy 2nd Birthday Easton J

We Love You

Party Time...

I started thinking about Easton's birthday party a couple of months before his actual birthday.  I knew exactly what I wanted and found some cute ideas off of very creative blogs.  That's the awesome thing about Pinterest and Google ;)

I knew that it was going to be hot, so a Pool Party was the perfect solution for a birthday that is at the end of May in Texas.  Luckily, I know some very special people who just so happen to have a beautiful pool in their backyard and who love Easton so much that they wouldn't mind if we had it there...thanks Lolly and Pops :)

It was a fun day with family and friends and I don't think it could have gone any better than it did...oh and did I mention it was a HOT day!!!   

Birthday Boy

Favorite Pictures from our little guy

 Cookies and Cakeballs

Goldfish Sandwiches and Rice Crispy Treats

Perfect Birthday Cake made by our friend Courtney 

 

He took a HUGE bite 

 Lolly and Pops

Grammy and Granddad

Love my Family

Friends and Family

Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate
Easton's 1st Birthday. 



A Year of Joy...

It's hard to believe that our little guy has been on this earth one year.  He has brought more JOY to our lives than we ever could have imagined.  We are so blessed to have him in our lives and so happy that God chose us to be his parents.  I will never forget the moment I heard his first cry and the moment we saw him for the first time.  I was so overwhelmed with love, happiness, and relief that he was ok.  It was just a flood of emotions in that very moment.  I fall more in love with him everyday and so proud to be his Mommy.

Our Big Boy

I love watching every move he makes.  He is so fun right now.  I love how he talks and then in the middle of his sentence he starts laughing...it's so funny that he laughs at himself ;)  He also does it when he talks to his stuffed animals or his Ernie doll.  He loves to play Patty-Cake and he will roll his hands and say "Woll" it instead of 'Roll' it.  He loves it when we play Little Piggies.  He opens every cabinet door and says "Thank You" when you ask him to close it.  He likes to run away from us when he knows he has something that he's not supposed to have...Little Stinker :)  I could go on and on about all the cute things he does, but I don't want to be THAT MOM who can't stop talking about their kid and how adorable he is :) 

This has been one exciting and fun year with Easton and we can't wait to continue to watch him learn and grow everyday.  I'm so thankful that I have this summer to spend with him.  We are going to have so much fun :)

Easter Weekend...

This weekend was very bitter sweet.  My sweet Grandmother, of 91 years, passed away on Tuesday night.  I'm so thankful for the time we had together.  Our last visit with her was a very good one.  Easton was able to see her and definitely entertain her.  She has 5 children, 12 Grandchildren, 26 Great Grandchildren, and one Great Great Grandchild.  She will truly be missed...

Easton with his Grammy and Gran Gran

We spent the weekend out at my parent's house.  This is for sure my favorite place to be.  When we were driving out to their house, I couldn't believe all of the beautiful wildflowers on the side of the road.  The Bluebonnets were amazing and all of the Indian Paintbrushes were so bright with color.  I couldn't wait to get Easton in some Bluebonnets and snap a few pics.  It was so dry last spring that these flowers didn't bloom.  I'm so glad that there was a nice little patch of Bluebonnets on the side of a hill next to my Nanny's house. 

Loving the Flowers

The rest of the weekend was spent helping Grandad with the cows, one of Justin's favorite activities, and playing with cousins.  On Easter, we had the Annual Easter Egg Hunt with Justin's family.  Justin's family is almost as big as my own family but almost all of the Great Grandkids are all in Elementary School and younger.  It's for sure mass chaos, but the kids have so much fun when they are together.  Easton is just now getting into the mix of things. 

All of the Great Grandkids

Pops and his Polo Boys ;)

I love this Picture...haha

My Little Family...Easton is DONE with the pictures

Easter is always a special weekend.  It puts things into perspective and makes you realize how important life is and to not take things for granted.  We went to an amazing church service on Sunday where there were people getting baptized and rejoicing with tears for their new life.  It made my heart so happy that they will now feel the JOY of being a Christian.  My Jesus died on the cross for me and that is a debt I could never repay, but while I'm here on this Earth I am sure going to try and live my life like he lived. . . Always forgiving, loving, compassionate, and showing others his love through my life and my words. My hope is to touch people's lives through my own and that one day Easton (and any other children we have) will do the same.    

Happy Easter

Country at Heart...

One of my favorite things about my husband is that he is a country boy at heart.  When I first met him, I was surprised by the fact that he loves being out in the middle of nowhere and loves every minute of it.  That was one of my family's wishes when I was single. . .that I would find someone who appreciates "the land" and everything that comes with it.  When I first saw Justin, in his Polo shirt and flip flops, I never thought he would love the country like I love the country.  He is everything that my family wanted for me and that I thought I would never find.

First Time on the 4 Wheeler (I was nervous)

Being raised in a small town, you appreciate the little things in life and it's the small moments that mean the most.  It's watching the sunset in the evening, feeling the breeze against your face on a warm spring day, watching the cows graze in the pasture, and just wasting time with the ones who mean the most doing things that make the best memories.  I'm so thankful that God brought me my country boy husband who loves my family and the simple things in life.  I know that Easton will one day be just like his Daddy and love everything about the country.  



My Sweet Boys Together

Swinging in the Country

Taking it all in with Grandad

The Land we Love

Small Moments...

I just had to say that we are loving every moment in our lives.  Every day with Easton is such a blessing and we love hearing him giggle, talk, and scream.  He is starting to copy cat noises and sounds.  He is also starting to crawl and he is into EVERYTHING.  My favorite part of the day is when we are all at home together just spending time with each other as a family.  Easton is so funny and we could just watch him all day.  Justin said to me last night "I love our life together". . .I LOVE our life together too.  We are so incredibly blessed and not a day goes by that I don't thank God for everything he has given us.  It's the small moments that happen every day that brings us JOY.