Sunday Afternoon Snooze...

Lila's Sunday afternoon nap in her favorite chair...

thirty minutes later...

another thirty minutes later...

and finally back to the original position...

Have I said before just how much I LOVE this girl?!? She's too cute!

TV Breakfast

Just eating breakfast and watching our favorite shows on tv...

A Letter From My Father

I love this and have found comfort in these verses this week. Just thought I'd share...

My Child~
I know everything about you…Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up…Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all of your ways…Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered…Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image…Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being…Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring…Acts 17:28
I chose you when I planned creation…Ephesians 1:11-12
I knew you even before you were conceived…Jeremiah 1:4-5
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live…Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made…Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother’s womb…Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born…Psalm 71:6
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book... Psalm 139:15-16
I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me…John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love…1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you…1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your father…Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father…Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand…James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs…Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope…Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love…Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Ps. 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing…Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you…Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession…Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul…Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things…Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me…Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart…Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires…Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine…Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager…2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles…2Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you…Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart…Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes…Revelation 21:3-4
And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth…Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus…John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed…John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being…Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you…Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins…2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled…2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you… 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love…Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me…1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again…Romans 8:38-39
I have always been Father, and will always be Father…Ephesians 3:14-15
Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen…Luke 15:7
Love, Your Abba, Almighty God

Hoppy Easter!

We had a great Easter with Mimi and Poppa, Aunt Summer, Uncle B, Charlie and Kate. The weather this year didn't exactly cooperate with the sweet little outfits I bought for you girls but we just put sweaters on you and went with it!


The Easter Bunny came to see you while you slept and filled your baskets with goodies! Lila got her Strawberry Shortcake she has been wanting and Emily got a baby Strawberry too! Of course there was the chocolate bunny that we have been talking about ever snce Lila got the Max and Ruby Easter movie last year, strawberry shortcake bubble bath, a few books, puzzles and more candy!



After church we had our egg hunt. Charlie found most of the eggs but Lila really caught on towards the end and filled up two baskets full. We raked in the candy, quarters, tattoos, stickers, and Easter finger puppets! Great Job little egg hunter!Almost a whole week later we are still waiting for those silly tattoos to wear off!

Emily's FIRST Birthday Party!!

Another Day, Another Drama...

The super cute cake in my previous post was made by my sweet friend Robyn. It's so cute, covered with big chunky glass glitter... that's right GLASS glitter. I didn't know this when we had our little photo shoot and Emily gnawed on the 1...

So we spent the day after her birthday in the ER for x-rays and were told to bring her back if she "passed" blood. Of course everything involving Emily is drama, drama, drama and we had to make another trip to the doc this morning when I changed a lovely red diaper this morning. I thought for sure CPS would be waiting for me when I arrived but they said not to worry, this mishap didn't even put me close to first place in the stupidest mom category. Hopefully feeding my child crushed glass will be the stupidest thing I ever do as a mother.

Emily is fine and all is well. With the exception that it is pouring down rain and I am out of diapers and formula... why can't there be a diaper drive-thru somewhere?!?! Seriously! Emily is spending the afternoon in a Dora Pull-Up until Daddy makes a diaper run on his way home from work. FYI... Pull-Ups aren't ideal for a baby under the 18-34 lb. recommendation... It's been an exhausting week so far, and it's only Tuesday!

A Year of Miracles

My Dear Emily,
On your birth announcement I used the verse from Psalm 126:3... "The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy." Little did I know at the time that the Lord had only just begun to do great things for us. I find that on the day of your first birthday you are even more beautiful than that teeny tiny, oh, so perfect present God blessed me with just a year ago today. You are absolutely stunning. So lovely, and your Daddy and I feel so very blessed to be your parents. You have just gone through your first year of miracles and we couldn't be more proud of all the obstacles you have overcome this past year. We praise God for the journey He has brought us through for it has forever changed the people we are and the way we face our troubles.

There have been many days this past year when news was handed to us that sent me straight to my knees begging my father for a different answer. He heard my prayers with faithfulness and today you can hear without aid, you are crawling, and all your doctors feel the spina bifida will not hamper your ability to walk, run and dance yourself silly that has been your Mommy's prayer for so many months. You are now catching up to your peers, closing the gap that prematurity set before you. Today you are a whopping 15lbs 11oz. and as happy and healthy as ever! It was a crazy couped up winter but spring is well on it's way and we have kept your immature immune system from being overwhelmed with RSV. We have so many praises! You have come so far!

It has been a crazy, hectic year. It has had many ups and downs. It has brought some of my best and worst days thus far, but it has also been the most incredible year of my life. I wouldn't change a thing. Not your early arrival, the uncertainty of my own health problems, all the therapy sessions, doctors appointments, weeks upon weeks of not setting foot outside of the house, not a single thing. It's all brought me to a greater appreciation in the true miracle of life. You've been through a lot this year but your story has only just begun. You will celebrate many more Happy Birthdays. You will continue to amaze us all. You will bring your Daddy and I great pride as we watch you grow and become your very own person with your own distinct personality. We will love you and laugh at your sweetness like we do with your sister. I am sure there will be decisions you will make that might not always make us proud but you will always be our pride and there isn't a thing you could do to lose our love.

My parting words for you on the day we celebrate your birth is to remember how very much you are loved. Remember there is nothing you could do that would make me stop loving you. You are my perfect gift from my Loving Father. I know your life will be full. You will get many gifts throughout your lifetime but the biggest, most important thing I will give you is the knowledge of our Lord. My birthday wish, my prayer, for you is this... Always Love the Lord with all your Heart, with all your Soul, your Mind and Strength for He has done Great Things for You and we are Forever Filled with Joy for your Presence. I hope you will know it, feel it, and carry it in your heart all the rest of your days. I love you Smiley! Happy, Happy Birthday My Sweet Baby Girl. We love you to the Moon and Back and Always Will!

A Year's Growth

Here is a year's growth measured in....

diapers...

hats...

shoes...

pictures...


This post started out as a good idea, but the pictures just don't do the tiny objects justice. Each one is no bigger than the palm of my hand.

Soooo teeny tiny! And now sooo big! Emily weighed in this morning at 15 lbs. 11oz!!! Yea!!! Happy Birthday to You... Happy Birthday to You... Happy Birthday, Dear Emily... Happy Birthday to You! (Sunday is the BIG Day!)

Happy Birthday Mom!

My life's journey has been a rough one the past few years, but through it all there have been a few constants that I have been able to cast my anchor to in order to weather the storm. The first of course has been the love and faithfulness of our God, then the absolute Rock my Wayne has been, he has kept us all standing when crumbling is all I feel we can do. The last but certainly not the least, has been my amazing mother who is by my side each and every time I need her without me ever having to ask! Thank you Mom for just simply being you and for loving me through the joys and the sorrows.

I have learned so much from your guidance. I am so much stronger from having watched you be strong. I am more faithful from watching you trust in God's faithfulness. I am more compassionate from seeing you love. I am more of a servant from watching you serve. I am who I am today because of you. You have taught me some valuable lessons in life by your example. I know the "rules" don't matter as much as the love. I know that the experiences aren't as important as the time spent together and I know being there for someone means more to them in their dark days than just prayers alone. Thank you Mom for raising me to trust in God's unfailing promises. For teaching me that people deserve a second chance, and for showing me how strong the bond of mother and daughter can and should be. You are amazing and I will always thank God for giving you to me. Who else would have put their life on hold for six weeks to come sit with your daughter and grandaughter and tend to their every need... and then to do it all over again the very next year!?! I am a lucky girl indeed!

I wish that my girls and I could be there to celebrate with you today but you know you are wrapped in our love today and every day. Have the Happiest of all Birthdays! We love you and can't wait to see you next week! Happy, Happy Birthday from the Allens!

"Sisters Share"

That's what Lila told me when she didn't want to eat her strawberry applesauce...


Emily was all too eager and willing to have her share it...


But I think I'll have to remind Miss Lila of that generous sharing notion the next time she wants to take a toy away from Emily!

Colors of the Rainbow

This is just a funny story I want to remember so I had to jot it down...

Here's the conversation Lila and I just had...
Lila was right up in Emily's facing talking to her...

Lila: "Look Mommy, Enemy has blue eyes."
Mommy: "Yes, she does."
Lila: "And chocolate hair."
Mommy: "Chocolate hair?"
Lila: "Yes Mommy, See?" And proceeds to lick Emily's head.
Lila: "Ooh Mommy... Enemy's chocolate is yucky!" as she wipes her tongue.

I guess it's time we learned more than just the colors of the rainbow. Brown is not "chocolate!" And maybe we should discuss licking people's heads while we're at it! : )

And my LAST post for the day...

Look what happens when Mommy leaves Lila innocently playing with toys in her room to blog...


When I found her in the living room my reaction was, "LILA!" To which she replied, "What? It's not a mess Mommy, it's soap! I cleanin... You wanna wash your hands Mommy?"

Snow Day!