Goodbye 2009 Hello 2010!!!

I know I say this in almost every post but I cannot believe how fast this year has flown by! Yesterday and Today I have been overwhelmed with emotions, thoughts,and excitement! A year ago yesterday we brought our precious baby home from the hospital and boy did the year begin and our lives change! She is an amazing gift a gift that has so reminded me of Mary this Christmas season. What she went through in the conditions to deliver the Savior of the World. She was not in a plush room at Lakeside Women's Hospital like me and I cannot imagine the pain, the love, the heartache knowing Jesus would die for us, it has given such new meaning to me on the sacrifice, the obedience, the faithfulness of a mother and father!
This year has been so full of change in our lives and through it all as I reflect back I am so amazed at how Jesus has provided for us, changed us, renewed our faith in Him and allowed us to Enjoy life along the way. To say we are blessed is such an understatement. In May of 2009 when we made the decision for me to leave my job as a hotel GM and stay home with Bella I had no idea how we would make it, then 2 weeks later for Josh to loose his job I was quite shaken in my Faith to say the least. Today I am in awe as I look back and not only see how HE provided but allowed us to be apart of so many great things in the midst of it all. Josh started college in August, I worked part time and recently Josh was given an amazing opportunity to have his dream job while still finishing school. Sure there have been sacrifices and changes but so manliness when I really think about it! As we close this year I am so grateful for my healthy family, all the material things I have, friendships, parents, sisters, grandparents but more than anything MY SAVIOR! As we start a new year I have my usual goal to loose weight and be healthy but more importantly I want to serve HIM more. Do more for the kingdom, make a difference, grow my faith and live each day in the comfort and joy the no matter what GOD IS IN CONTROL! HE is more than enough and oh so Faithful through the good times and the bad! SO for the first time in a long time I am anxious for 2010 waiting to see what God does next! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Jesus I just can't THANK you enough! So Happy New Year ring it in big and expect God to do GREAT things in 2010 I know I am!!!!

Bella June is ONE!!!

Cupcake for breakfast!
Carriage ride with Gayla and Tristan!

Cupcakes are yummy!

Lu
Lunch with Mommy and Daddy!

4 pounds 1o ounces I was so tiny coming home from the hospital December 2008!

December 23rd was the big day! The day our baby girl turned one! I cannot believe it where did the year go! She had a fun and busy day- started the day with scrambled eggs and a cupcake for breakfast! Then lunch and a trip to Toys R US to pick out a birthday present from mom and dad. That evening we spent having Christmas with Gayla and Tristan went to look at Christmas and had a yummy dinner! It was a fun day- a little emotional for mom at times as I thought about how hard her first few hours were and months for that matter. No words can express how blessed we are by this little girl, how thankful we are and how honored we are to be her mommy and daddy! Love you Bella Boo!

Christmas Light Tour 2009!!

Baby Bella so bundled up!!
The Family!

Betsy, Gracie, and Aunt Amy ready for the cold ride!

Daddy and Bella Snug as a bug!

In 2006 the first year Josh and I were married we started a family Christmas light tour. We have done lights by limo, train, boat and this year horse drawn carriage! We love it and truly look forward to it every year! It is always so cold, so special to me, and so much fun! Enjoy the photos!!

Just some thoughts!!!

This will be a boring post but just some things I will want to remember! Tomorrow is our precious daughter's first birthday! I am overwhelmed with emotions, thoughts,concerns, prayers and most importantly a heart full of THANKFULNESS. I have many times complained about my poor little girl sharing a birthday so close to Christmas but this week in a quiet, soft way I have been reminder of what a Awesome birthday she almost shares. Christmas the birth of our savior the one behind it all! As most of you know Bella was born at 34 weeks and her first 12-24 hours were scary she was lifeless I vividly remember the amazing peace I felt knowing that Jesus was in control and taking care of HIS baby- yet that was MY baby and I longed to hold her and "fix" it. We couldn't all we could do was TRUST and PRAY and oh how Josh and I prayed and clung to each other,our family, and our savior. It really was one of the most precious times of our life. We spent a lot of time in that room and NICU at Lakeside Hospital and I will never forget the precious people who cared for our baby and us, our family and friends who made celebrating Christmas in the hospital so fun as it could be and the quiet tender moments Josh and I shared with that tiny baby girl we are trusted with. So as we celebrate Christmas this year I have a deeper, renewed, and better understanding of the sacrifice God made by sending his baby boy to earth to die for me. Tomorrow I am reminder of that as I hug our Bella a little tighter and kiss her probably 1 million times- she is an amazing gift that we have been given a gift we do not deserve. Just like that gift of salvation none of us deserve! Thank you Jesus for my healthy, loud,active, beautiful Bella and more importantly THANK YOU for your son!

Santa Clause is Coming to Town!!

Bella had her first visit to Santa on Sunday! Sorry the picture is no that great I took a picture of it with my camera! I was too cheap to buy the CD! She was in awe and the pic is Adorable! Merry Christmas!

Bella's FIRST Birthday Party!!! 12-12-09

This past Saturday we celebrated the little princesses 1st Birthday with one heck of a party!!!! Her Birthday is the 23rd so we decided to have her party a little early! We had it at Deer Springs Lodge which was the prefect setting for our cowgirl theme party! Bella had so much fun and did great no melt down at all! She wanted nothing to do with her cake which was funny I even tried to force feed it to her and she cried. Must not take after her momma and have a sweet tooth! I was happy to have avoided the mess! It was a prefect day and a great party. A huge thank you to all our family and Friends for celebrating with us and all the amazing gifts! Love you Bella Boo and cannot believe you are almost 1!!

Happy Birthday Dad and Bedlam!!

Yesterday was my Dad's birthday and the OSU/OU football game. Well the game is not worth mentioning in my post so I will focus on my celebrating my Dad! My farther is an amazing man, compassionate, a hard worker, loves his family and would move mountains for any of us. He loves Jesus and is the world's GREATEST Papa! Dad we love you very much and hope you had a great day and pray that this year is a year of many blessings for you! Sorry our Pokes did not show up and win for your birthday! Still loyal and true to our Alma Mater OSU even when they loose!

Thanksgiving 2009!

Round 2 of shopping after our nap!

This was 3 am on Black Friday at the start of our shopping!

We have so much to be thankful for that is would be impossible to type in one post! I am incredibly thankful for our family and the people we are blessed to spend the day with! I was not a very good photographer that day but did get a few of Bella eating her first thanksgiving meal! She had mashed potatoes,green beans, sweet potatoes and homemade mac and cheese. You can tell from the pics she loved every bite! As we start this busy but fun holiday season my prayer for each of you is that you stop and remember all that we are blessed with and the true meaning of the season the birth of Jesus! Happy Thanksgiving!

Bella is 11 months old!!!

Eating a Bitter biscuit for the first time! So gross and messy!

Catch me if you can!

I'm innocent I promise!

Mamma's Bling Baby!

Last week on 11-23 Bella turned 11 months old! I cannot believe it and am overwhelmed at the blessing she is! Such an joy and two words best describe her LOUD and BUSY!! She loves to talk and squeal very loudly and on the move constantly! So busy and so much fun!

Happy Halloween 2009!

Gayla and Tristan as Bonnie and Clyde!
50's girl AKA Mimi with her nerdy Boyfriend AKa
Papa!!

Lily, Tigger, Mattie and Hannah Montana!!

Happy Family! Momma Tiger, Baby Tigger and E-Male!

Thanks Aunt Amy and Uncle Doug for a great Halloween Party and Super Fun Night!!!

Pumkin Patch Photos

Pumkin Patch 2009!!

We took Bella to the pumkin patch this week and she loved it!!! We got some great photos of our little punkin! Enjoy!

10 Months!!!

I am behind on my blogging but catching up! Bella turned 10 months old on 10-23-09! I simply cannot believe how fast she is growing in just 2 months she will be 1!!! She is eating all kinds of baby food, loves her "puff" snacks, and drinking water from her sippy cup. She is talking all day long and loves to play with her toys and books in her room, as well as watch Praise Baby! She is a huge blessing and we are so thankful to be her mommy and daddy!

Happy Birthday Mom! ( Better late than NEVER!)

My precious mom turned 60 on October 12 and we celebrated by planning a surprise trip for her! My mom is an amazing women who loves the Lord, her family, her husband, raised three pretty awesome daughters and is truly the world's best Mimi to her 6 grand kids! When my sisters and I started thinking about how to celebrate we decided we just really wanted to all be together and hang out which we do not get to do but about 2 times a year! So we rented a house on table rock lake and headed to Branson, Mo for 4 days! We had such a great time shopping, eating, laughing, crying, eating, shopping, seeing a show,eating, and just being together! My parents, all the girls and spouses, and all 6 grand kids that's 14 total! I am truly blessed to have the family I have and my mom is the center of that blessing! Mom I hope you had an amazing birthday and know how much you are truly loved! I was not very good at taking pictures but here are a few! We had a photographer come and do a family photo which turned out amazing I will post the link later!

9 Months and Heelarious!

Miss Bella celebrated her 9 month birthday on 9-23-09! She is crawling everywhere, eating everything, and loving life! She is the happiest baby and we are so blessed! These pictures were taken last week her first time to wear her high heels. When we found out we were having a girl I saw these baby high heels on the today show and wanted them soooo bad. Josh forbids me to order them and I was not so thrilled about it. Then a couple of weeks later I got a package at my office with these high heels and a note that said " Mommy and Bella Daddy loves you both!" Yeah I cried! Well she wore them and I love them and she is just so cute in them! Thanks for sharing her with us!