A year ago today...

... I headed to the doctor for my 38 week check... and left a few days later with you, my sweet baby Bes. Oh how my life has changed in 365 days. I've said this a hundred times in the past week but I can not believe that you are ONE! Yes, I've shed some tears... never would I have thought I would be this emotional on your first birthday. I was talking to Pop Daddy about how fast this year has flown by and he said, "The next thing you know she'll be 28 years old with a baby that's celebrating her 1st birthday!" and I know his words are so true. Each moment is so precious and as each of those moments pass my heart gets bigger and bigger. The love that I have for you is so wide and so deep it's overwhelming... and to think that we have a heavenly Father that loves us even more is amazing! Only until I had you did I even begin to realize what unconditional love truly is! I thank God every day for you, my precious angel and for your daddy that cherishes you in such a unique way that I will never know. Your sweet daddy and I are in this together and how incredible it is to have someone that shares the same amount of love for you! You have brought a joy to my life that is indescribable and I can't even imagine the fun things that await us! Happy birthday sweet girl! Your mama loves you!

3 months old

6 months old

9 months old

My sweet 1 year old!!

Blessed I am!

This Thanksgiving season I have been overwhelmed with emotion! I am blessed in so many ways... I am a Child of God... have a precious husband that is my very best friend... am mommy to the most adorable daughter in the whole wide world!... have a loving family that is always there for me... in-laws that are too good to be true!... a church that I adore... that led me to friends that I adore even more! :)... old friends that are the best... opportunity to stay home with Bes so that I never miss a thing... the list is forever long! This Thanksgiving was spent in Collierville with Brad's mom (better known as DeeDee) and the rest of his family. We had such a great time. Good eating and great shopping! The countdown 'til Christmas has officially begun!

The first day we were there Bes fell on the fireplace and hit her noggin! Hence, the goose egg with the bruise in the middle!

Getting a good photo of the cousins is well, impossible! With Bes are Brad's sisters kids Lydia and Ella... with baby #3 on the way!!

Whew, what a day!

Let me begin by saying that Christmas cards are so my thing. We ALWAYS sent one growing up and I seriously think about what I am going to do all year. :) When it comes to some things I am such a perfectionist and this is one of them. So back in May I bought Bes the cutest smocked turkey dress and have been planning on sending a Thanksgiving card (instead of a Christmas card) ever since. Well Thanksgiving is almost here and as of today I had yet to have a card in the works. I made one up and downloaded it to Walmart to print. I was actually really excited about it and when I picked them up the print quality was horrible! They were too dark but since the clock was ticking I had no time to have them printed again. Off to find envelopes and I couldn't find 4x6 ones anywhere! I had to buy envelopes that were way too big and well, that just totally bothers me! I know, I know, it's an envelope... that just gets thrown away... but like I said Amy the perfectionist was working on these. By this time it's 3:30ish and I am rushing home to address 100+ cards, stuff them, stamp them and take them to the post office by 5. Of course I didn't make it and now my Thanksgiving cards that I have been so excited about for months are not what I had envisioned and aren't even going to make it before Thanksgiving! So disappointing...

First hair cut!

Bes got her very first haircut! Just a few little snips to straighten out the mullet that she had going on in the back. She didn't know what to think of it all but it was over before she knew it and not a tear was shed. She actually liked "riding" in the chair! Nicole (our precious "hair girl") is expecting little Miss Charlee Claire due in January! I am so excited for her! Fun times await!

Just in time for... winter?!?

Bes is LOVING her swing that her daddy bought her! Timing is not the best... should've ordered it months ago but she is having the best time! We played outside a little today and when it was time to go in she literally pitched a bona fide fit! In her defense it was naptime but my sweet little girl has a temper! :)

FrIdAy NiGhT FuN!!

Leah's hair bow creation! :)

Jack's turn!

Jack and his never ending affection for his and/or Bes's pat-pats.

Jack was eating mini Oreos last night and this morning Bes found one he left behind!

Picture takin' mama!

We had some great weather this week so I took full advantage... took the high chair outside and let Bes have at her lunch! It was raviolis too which made for some messy eating!

Then we got all cleaned up and took some pictures with her wearing my most favorite shirt. She is getting harder and harder to get a good picture of... always on the move!

Life is good!

So I always rocked Bes to sleep and she's a baby and they are only babies for so long, blah, blah, blah, you the know the spill... but she really hasn't been sleeping that well and it's been getting harder and harder to get her to sleep so yesterday I started teaching her to self-soothe. :) Morning nap... she cried for over an hour... and not just any cry, a scream that was literally saying, "How dare you mommy, get in here and get me! NOW!"... afternoon nap 30 minutes... nighttime 2 minutes. ( Special thanks to April for "coaching" me through it.) Then today has gone pretty good too. Hearing her cry like that is by far one of the hardest things that I have done but I knew it was something that had to be done. I was getting so frustrated and overwhelmed with so many things to do and no time to do them because she wanted to be held while she napped. Call me crazy but she is now napping longer and actually feels better when she wakes up and she's eating better too! She's not the best eater in the world, notsomuch what she eats... she'll pretty much eat anything you put in her mouth (excpet noodles) but the amount that she eats. Give the girl a grilled cheese though and she will tear it up! A girl after my own heart! :) So I am feeling refreshed and ready to roll with all my free time. Shower... check... Bible study completed ( and not rushed)... check... house straightened... check... laundry done... check and are you ready for this!?!... I even had time to sit... in silence... and READ! Woohoo!!! This is such an answered prayer because I was really struggling with getting it all done. Thank you Jesus!

You know I always have to post pictures because I take so many and well, I just love pictures! These were taken last week when the Mullins' were visiting. I always have such a fun time playing with Jack. I was trying to catch up on laundry while they were visiting (but no more of that now! :) so I had all the laundry baskets and hampers out. Jack climbed on in and I was toting him all over the house. We put Bes in there with him to take a picture but she didn't know what to think!

aLL BeTtEr....aLmOsT...

My, my, my... so much has gone on and so many pictures have been taken! I think it's officially safe to say that Bes and I are feeling better. "Dr. Daddy" says Bes's ears are still red and we are on our 3rd round of antibiotics but she FEELS better so I will take that. Below are just a few of the bazillion pictures that I have taken throughout the past couple of weeks...

I don't feel good mommy.

Still not feeling too good mommy.

We went to pick up supper/get out of the house one night and when we got home she wanted to keep her hat on... the little things that make you laugh!

Too sick to trick or treat but we decided to dress her up anyway... I never put the finishing touches on her lil' chicken costume but it was precious anyway. Maybe you'll see it again next year...

Hello? Jack? Is that you? Come play with me!

All dressed up... and I'm stuck at home!

Bes and Jack the cutest scarecrow you ever did see!