Our Little Lady Is ONE!

Ashley's first birthday was a ton of fun! We had a house full of friends and family to celebrate our little Ashley Mae's first year. I may have gone a little ladybug crazy but it was a lot of fun making all of the decorations and I was really happy with how it all came together.

Happy 1st Birthday Little Lady! We Love you! 

What a difference a year makes!

March 25, 2010

March 25, 2011

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Double Birthday Celebration

Since Ashley and her Daddy share a birthday we had a double birthday celebration on Friday. Bernie and I started by putting Ashley's present together, which turned into a serious project. Who knew a Little Tikes Car could take an hour to put together...throw in a 2 1/2 year old that asked every 5 seconds if we were done yet and let's just say it made for a very long hour. Although once it was all put together the girls had so much fun testing it out. I think Ashley liked riding in it as much as Ella liked pushing it, there were a couple of bushes that jumped out in front of the moving car so we may have to work on Ella's steering. After playing hard we went out to Pizza and games and then eneded the night at home with cupcakes and ice cream. We thought it would be fun to watch home video of Ashley's first year. Bernie and I could not get over how quickly this year has gone and how little Ella was when Ashley was born. Seeing the girls meet for the first time in the hosiptal was very eye opening as to how much can change in just one short year! Happy Birthday to my Husband who has given me the two greatest gifts in my life and my beautiful baby girl Ashley who makes me smile everyday!

Sister Secrets

Lately Ella likes to play in Ashley's crib when the girls first get up so this morning I put them in there and went downstairs to see what I could accomplish in my 5 minutes of free time. As I was listening to the girls on the monitor I heard some jibber jabber between the two of them and then I heard Ella say, "Ash, I love you...you are my best friend!" My heart just melted, I hope these beautiful girls of mine are always best friends :)

Ella's Special Day

At Ella's preschool each kiddo has their own special day in class when they get to bring their favorite toy, snack and pictures to show everyone. Today was Ella's special day and wow was she excited. It was all she could talk about all week and when Bernie, Ashley and I arrived in her class she was so excited she could barley contain herself. She introduced us to her class and showed off her favorite doll Eva along with a collage of pictures that her and I put together of our family. Since she was sharing all of her favorite things we had to bring cupcakes for the class since they are Ella's favorite treat. It was fun for Bernie and I to see what they do in class and for Ella to be able to show us around. A special day for our very special girl!

Ella introducing her favorite dolly Eva

Ella doing the weather forecast

Circle time and prayer

The special St. Patrick's Day cupcakes we made, rainbows with a pot of gold!

My big girl in her new booster seat!

When did she get so big?

11 Months Old

Ashley decided to wake up at 5:00 am this morning, making this mommy a little cranky. But as I was rocking her I noticed a couple things. First that she now takes up my whole lap with her legs dangling down, second that she almost has enough hair to put in a bow. I know this may not seem like much but I swear just yesterday she was my little peanut and as we are fastly approaching one year I can't help to start to notice all of the changes that have taken place in just the last month or two. So here is a little preview of what my little Ashy is doing at 11 months old.

• Sleeping through the night in her own bed the whole time. This is actually a big milestone for us because for a long time she was falling asleep in our bed and I would then transfer her to her own bed once she was asleep.
• Eating new foods! Her favorites are waffles, cottage cheese, blue berries, bananas, and chicken. And just yesterday she started drinking milk! (YAY no more expensive formula!)
• She waves, claps her hands, gives high fives, and dances anytime she hears music!
• She says Mama, Dada, baba, baby and every once in awhile something that sounds a lot like Ella.
• She can take a couple steps but then starts to laugh and falls down
• She thinks standing on her own is the greatest thing ever and always has a very proud smile on her face when she does it.
• Is extremely fast and will grab anything and everything that she can get her hands on including glasses, food, and mom's decorations.
• Speaking of my decorations when you tell her no she holds one finger up and waves it and says, "Na Na Na."
• She loves to share her food with Apollo.
• If you ask her how old she is going to be she holds up one finger
• She loves to eat paper...I know weird. We are always grabbing it out of her hands and her mouth! We joke that she is going to be on that show My Strange Addiction.
• If you say Ashley give kisses, she will lean in and smack her lips...this is my favorite thing ever!
• She loves to push her stroller that Unlce Eddie and Auntie Chrissy got her, it is by far her favorite toy.
• She has two bottom teeth that seriously just popped through this past month.
• She seems to have a little bit of a temper, especially when you take her out of the bath tub before she is ready. She loves her bath time.
• Ashley is still mesmerized by her big sister and wants to be with her all the time. I am happy to report that at this stage in the game the feeling is mutual...I hope it stays that way :) 

But most importantly she has added so much joy to our family and we couldn't love this little girl more!

The Reading Room

Ella loves books and especially likes to read to her sister. It is so funny to hear her "read" to Ashley somehow every book is about a princess and they always live happily ever efter :)

March Madness

In honor of National Craft Month (I know sad that I know this), I thought that I would highlight some of the crafts and projects I have been working on around the house.

First I refinished my old vanity that I got when I was probably twelve. I thought it would be so cute in Ella's room and I loved the idea of the girls having something that was mine when I was growing up. It was unfinished wood and we never did anything with it so after sanding, priming and painting it almost looks as good as new. I am really happy with the way that it turned out and instead of buying a new piece of furniture for the girls I spent $24 on paint. My next project will be to refinish some type of antique chair or bench to go with it.

Primed and ready for paint.

I forgot to take a before picture so here is an in between picture.

After

I fell in love with this fabric that I found at Jo-anns that was on sale and knew it would work perfect for new throw pillows for our family room couches. My mother-in-law helped me with this project because I am not the greatest seamstress and had no idea what I was doing. Could not have done these without her!!!

I saw something similar on a crafting blog (sorry don't know which one) and had to try my hand at it. I made the wreath from some crepe paper streamers from the dollar store and a paper plate. I got the frame from goodwill for $2.00 and painted it white and added the knob. 

These are dollar frames from Michael's that I used scrapbook paper and Mod Podge to make. The flower is from fabric I got at the dollar store and frayed the edges and then sewed together. I have also been making these flowers for hair clips for Ella and one day Ashley :)

I made this initial plaque to sit at our bar area. Again Mod Podge...can I say I LOVE this stuff!

 Lastly I made this tutu for Ashley's upcoming ONE year pictures.



With all of this crafting it's no wonder my husband thinks I need to go back to work :)

Happy National Crafting Month!!!!