A year ago today...

A year ago today I took the day off work. I was a nervous wreck. I was beginning to learn the real meaning of relying on God, and learning through real life experiences. I was starting a journey that I never imagined could be as sweet as it actually has been. A year ago today I saw Emery for the first time. Granted she only looked like a little bean on the ultrasound, and I had no earthly idea how much I would love her, but that is when it all started. I am unbelievably thankful God has trusted me to be Emery's mommy, it is the greatest blessing he has ever given me. I am so so thankful!

Then...

And now...

"That my heart may sing to you and not grow silent. O Lord my God I will give you thanks forever." Psalm 30:12

The many faces of Emery...

I could seriously stare at this girl all day long!! She is such a beautiful girl :) Yesterday, while Daddy was at basketball practice, we were playing and she was in her exersaucer in a GREAT mood, so I decided it would be a good time to take some pictures. She gave me all of the faces she makes right now, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE these pictures. It's being able to look at things like this that get me through my work week (and the fact that its only a two day week for me) :)

Oh how it makes my heart happy,..

That I am getting 50 free Christmas cards just for telling you how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE shutterfly's cards. I always order my cards from there. We got Emery's birth announcements and address labels from there too. I am always getting discounts or promo codes for free stuff, and you know how much I love free stuff!! :) The best part is....You can do this too!! Just go to this link and fill out the survey, then they will send you an email with the directions for you to follow. It is super easy and is saving you about $50!!! :)

Here are the cards I'm considering for this year...

I like how I could put a verse on this card...

I like how many pictures I could put on this card...

I like how simple this would be...

And I like the classic look of this one...

I have also used their site to make calendars and photo books.

Check out these links:

Calendars

Christmas Cards

Personalized Christmas Cards

4 months...

Miss Emery you have quite the little personality!! You definitely like to show off. Whenever we take you out and someone talks to you, which everyone always does, you will smile back at them and sometimes even laugh. I LOVE to see you smile, it melts my heart! Although you are so sweet, I am beginning to tell that you are going to keep Daddy and I on our toes :) Here is what you have been up to this month...

-You still LOVE bath time.

-You talk and smile and laugh all of the time.

-You eat every four hours, and take three naps (two long ones, and one short one) and you sleep 10-11 hours at night.

-Everything, and girlfriend I mean EVERYTHING, goes straight in your mouth. You will even grab my hand, and proceed to stick my fingers in your mouth (No one worry, I am married to a germophobe so I only let her if my hands are clean)

-You are a drool machine, and I can see your teeth coming in on the bottom, looks like you will be an early teether.

-You really like to stand up, and your legs are strong enough to hold yourself up, and you just hold onto our hands to keep your balance...such a big girl!

-Your favorite toy right now is a little lion that is crinkly in the middle and has two rubbery paws that you chew on constantly.

-You reach for everything, and get really frustrated if you can't reach it, or if you can't pull it down.

-You started rice cereal on your four month birthday, and weren't really a big fan, but you have started warming up to it, and seem to like it pretty well....bananas are up next :)

-You are 12 lbs 11 oz (40%), 24 3/4 in. (75%), and your head circumference is 16 cm (95%)...your head has to be big because you are so smart :)

Every time I hear the song that's lyrics say: "How he loves us. Oh, How he loves us. Oh, How he loves us. How he loves us, oh." I think about what a perfect blessing you are. God shows me every day how much he loves me when you smile at me, or laugh, or talk, or just snuggle with me. You are perfect Emery, I pray every night that you will be as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside, and that you will grow up to seeking God's heart and that Daddy and I will be everything you need for us to be and that we can be great examples for you. We love you!!

CrockPot Recipe Linky :)

Life Sweet Life is doing a linky for crock-pot recipes, so I'm going to share a super easy one. It is Brad's favorite thing for me to make!!

Ingredients:

1. Package of Chicken breasts

2. 1 can of black beans

3. 1 can of corn

4. 1 packet of taco seasoning

5. 1 jar/container of mango peach salsa (I use the kind that they make fresh at Kroger)

6. 1 pack of cream cheese

You put everything into the crock-pot except for the cream cheese, and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Then you put the cream cheese block on top and cook for an additional hour or hour and a half. So easy and SO SO good :)

Happy Belated Halloween

We had a fun and busy Halloween. It was so fun dressing Emery up. She was the cutest bumble bee you have EVER seen! The best part is that her costume cost all of $4. The tights were Gymboree on 75% off, for $0.98, and I made her tattoo using tulle and elastic for $3!! She already had the black headband, yellow jacket, and black shirt. Thank you to Miss Charley for letting us borrow her big yellow bow :)

Brad was even a good sport and wore black to match Emery, which really made my heart happy!

And how cute are these two little super heroes? :)