The Best Birthday with My Best Girl

Our little Elle made this the best birthday yet!

Though it started off a little rocky....

On Friday night, while celebrating with some friends, her fever got to 104!! 

I was googling my little heart out and calling every experienced mama I knew!

After a long night, we got her to the doctor first thing on Saturday morning.

The doctor suggested lots of cuddles {and some Motrin}.

Poor sweet girl somehow managed to rally for Mama's birthday at the lake though!

After warning our friends that we had a sick baby, they still took the risk and came on out.

{love them for this}

These little smiles instantly cheered Elle up

"Peter Pan's Pirate ship" was a big hit!

A perfect day with the sweetest friends!

My hope is that this next year of my life is colored by prayer and that at the end of it, I can look back and see God working in wonderful ways.  Not just in my life, but in the lives of others!

Was once again reminded this morning of the incredible power of prayer and how I want to be a mama that prays hard for her littles EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

Such conviction.  Such truth.

My wishes came true with this one!

Better yet....my prayers were answered.

Our Greatest Contribution

I stumbled upon these words from Andy Stanley the other day and can't stop thinking about their significance:

....not something you DO but someone you RAISE!

WOW....those words hit me hard.

Conviction.

In the really early months of being a mom, I felt I desperately needed to find a purpose and a connection outside of my family and my daughter.  I felt incredibly empty without it.  I needed to WORK, to contribute, to DO something.

Only in these last few weeks - after experiencing a heartbreaking loss- have I finally been able to see that before all else it is my family that is my greatest purpose of all. 

And while I still long to have purpose and connection outside of that, it is no longer to fill an empty void.

Now, whatever else is added, is simply an overflow of abundance.

Those first months - I'm sure even these first years- will be overwhelming, tiring, and even lonely.

But God is encouraging me to be faithful to the little life (or lives) he entrusts to us.....

and I know, when all is said and done - 

the greatest blessing of my life will be SOMEONE WE RAISED!

{and she's a pretty wonderful blessing already!}

Seven Months

Seven months with our girl!

Elle has more personality than ever....it's something new each week!

Currently, she's blowing us away with her silly faces and ability to imitate.

She's babbling "da-da and bla-bla" constantly!

{which Michael LOVES!}

She's ticklish and she's silly.

And she adores funny noises!

{LuLa is the best at these....she can make her laugh like NO ONE ELSE!}

Joy just overcomes her whole body!

When she's happy - really happy- you can see it from her head to her toes...

she squishes up her nose, sticks out her tonge, waves her hands, and kicks her feet!

In honor of seven months, Michael and I spent this Saturday putting up two swings: one for later and one for now....

{Although I think the "later" one will get plenty of use by mom & dad...NOW}

It's SO. MUCH. FUN!

Elle is pretty happy in her pink swing too!!

She also took her first dip in the Lake Wylie waters this week and LOVED IT!

We've got a River Rat on our hands!!!

We love you, sweet Ellie Gray...SO MUCH!

Blessed to be your parents!

-Mom & Dad