To All The Mothers In My Life

Cindy Sanders (Mom)- truly my very best friend in the whole world. She is my first call to talk to about anything and everything. Mom is my role model and has always set such a great example as a wife, mom, friend and God-fearing woman. She has spent her whole life creating special memories for our family. No matter what we face down the road, I will always have those memories!

Rosemary Warden (Mimi)- the strongest and most unselfish person I know! She completely holds our family together. You know the saying home is where the heart is?...well, she always feels like home to me. Speaking of home...that lady can clean!!!...all day without sitting! Even when we can't be in WM for holidays, she takes the time to send our special family dressing for me and Justin to have here in Texas!!

Barbara Brim (Mamaw)- my big love. The only way my Mamaw knows how to love is to love big!!! As the first girl in the family, she has spoiled me since day one! She has an exceptional way of making me feel special. Mamaw would do anything to make me and my family happy!!! She is always here to help when I need her. We share a love of eating and shopping! :) Mamaw, me and Abby Grace can spend that money!

Sara Sanders (Nana)- the one who takes it all on!! She married my Papaw when I was very young and took on his four boys and all of their children. Sara has completely taken our family as her own. She spends so much time making things special for us...even the small things. I always appreciate everything she does...especially when she cooks fried chicken and spaghetti and decorates for every holiday on the calendar. :)

Betty LoBello (Mam-maw)- the one who raised my man and I think she did a pretty good job. A good reflection of a mother is how her children turned out...and I believe that Justin's character reflects the kind of excellent mother Betty is to him. I also appreciate her accepting me into her family and making me always feel at home.

Steffany Sanders, Leigh LoBello and Cara LoBello-the ladies who take such great care of my nieces and nephews. You are fabulous!!!

Happy Mother's Day to All!

First Week at Work/Daycare...Lots of Smiles

Well, we have finished our first week back into a real routine. I went back to work last Saturday and they were soooo glad to have me back. Ashlyn started daycare this week on Tues/Thurs. All the teachers were so excited to have a little baby. The youngest in the class is 7 months old so they were fighting over Ashlyn. I did call several times and went and fed her during the day. It takes me exactly two minutes to get from my parking lot to hers!! First Day of School Pic posted below!

I went today to get my IUD put in...so no more babies for me and Justin (at least for five years).

Ashlyn is smiling all the time now...especially at Abby Grace. Posting pics of smiles this afternoon. Ashlyn is starting to sleep from 11pm-6ish am. She is up most of the day with several short naps. She never stops moving her arms and legs. Ashlyn loves looking at bright lights, fans and Abby Grace. She is such a happy baby!!!

Trip to WM

We took the girls to Louisiana this past weekend to visit family and introduce Ashlyn to everyone. We left at 5am on Thursday and Ashlyn slept the whole trip. Abby Grace watched movies the whole way. Abby Grace spent one night at each grandparents house: Mamaw & Tom, Papaw & Nana, Mimi & Deda. She had the most fun at her slumber party at Nana's house with Maddie. They were too cute!! I was so glad to be there and celebrate Caroline's & Mimi's birthday. We got to eat Johnny's Pizza, Portico, Chili Verde and Mimi's homecookin'. Ashlyn and Abby Grace got to spend time with their cousins Jessa-Clair and Jillian Kate. The family played some cards and I won (beating Justin and Uncle Brad)!!! Justin and I even got to enjoy a date night while Mimi watched Ashlyn.

Today we got Justin a new car. He has always gotten the old, beat up cars. After mom and I broke down in his car last week, I demanded that we get him an upgrade. He is so proud to be the driver of the newest car in our family!

Abby Grace has Brendan over tonight for a playdate. After five minutes she had him dressed in a tinkerbell dress. If she can get boys to do whatever she wants at five, what is fifteen going to be like? Gosh!!!....I better prepare myself!

7 years ago

To the man who leaves every cabinet open in the house, forgets what you tell him after 3 seconds, can't find his cellphone when it's in his pocket, answers every question with "huh?", freaks out when the gas light is on, watches way too many sports, plays way too much xbox and completely has my heart...Happy Anniversary to the best husband and father in the world!!!

Easter Sunday

We enjoyed Easter in Texas complete with Justin's parents and Mimi's chicken and dressing. (There is no Easter without Mimi's dressing!) We got a special surprise when Jake called Mom and Dad and said that they were coming and bringing their babies. Mom and Dad got to have all four of their grand-girls. We got to meet Jessa-Claire and Jake and Stef got to meet Ashlyn. Abby Grace and Jillian Kate played so well together and the new babies slept most of the day. After a great lunch, we got to hunt Easter eggs. Stef found the "silver golden egg" and I found the golden egg. All the kids got to open their Easter baskets from Papa & Gigi. Abby Grace and Uncle Jake had to rehide eggs because Jillian Kate slept through the hunting. When Jillian Kate went to hunt eggs, she was more interested in picking grass to put in her basket. We had a great day!

Mam-maw & Pap-paw Meet Ashlyn Rose

Justin's parents, Betty & Sam, drove to Texas on Friday to come meet their new grandbaby. We had such a great time. They took us to eat at some of our favorite places: Babe's, Prairie House, Andrews. We got to spend all day Easter with them at my parents' house. They even babysat the kiddos so we could go out for our anniversary. We don't get to see them very often, but we had a fabulous time.

Flying Poo & Date with Abby Grace

Ashlyn's officially nickname is "Little Squirt". We have been joking that ever since her birth she only pees or poops when her diaper is off. The other day Justin and Abby Grace were changing her diaper before we were leaving to go eat with Gigi. All of the sudden, we heard this loud squirting sound. Ashlyn had shot poop several feet. It got on Abby Grace, the floor and all over the changing table, laundry basket and diaper champ. As Gigi helped Abby Grace get cleaned up, I stepped in to help Justin...little did I know that I would be in the line of fire for the next shot. We all laughed sooooo hard! As we finished dinner, Justin and Mom began to fight over who would pay the check. I asked Abby Grace, "Who do you think the boss is?" (meaning Daddy or Gigi)...without hesitation she pointed right to Mommy. My baby is a genius!!!

On Wednesday, the new Miley Cyrus movie came out in theaters. Justin watched Ashlyn so Abby Grace and I could spend some alone time together. As we were getting ready, Abby Grace asked if I would stay home so her daddy could take her. (Geez....what a daddy's girl!) Justin did talk her into going with me. While we were getting our tickets, she was informing me that Daddy buys her coke, candy and popcorn. No wonder she wanted him to take her! :)

Later that day we all four walked to the park. On the way, we ran into the ice cream man. It brought back so many memories of when Jake & I were little and the ice cream man would come to our neighborhood.