A Birthday!!

Yesterday my baby girl turned 1!!! Wow, this year went fast! We didn't do anything big or extravagant because Travis had to work, so we just had cake and let her open up a couple of presents. We will definitely need to step it up a bit in the years to come so that she feels like she has a special day (being so close to Christmas and all!)

Chloee's signiature scowl!! Do you think she is going to have an attitude when she is older? She is actually usually pretty happy, but she definitely knows how to scowl!

Just one candle!

Mmmmm.....Yummy chocolate cake!!

I love this one!! Parker and Chloee shoveling it in!! Chloee's face is priceless!

I took this picture in front of my mom's Christmas tree, but it turned out to be a pretty good one-year-old picture!!

My kids looked aDoRabLe at church on Sunday (I am just a little biased!!) So I wanted to get some cute pictures of them together...BUT.....Parker wasn't cooperating, so this is the only one I got. Not the best I know!!

Happy Birthday my sweet SWEET Chloee!! I love you!!

Some Thoughts

I have a lot on my mind right now, and just need to write it down, so sorry if I don't make sense!! I like to have a plan, and be in control. I get anxious when I don't know what's going on, or don't have a plan. Unfortunately it is impossible to ALWAYS be in control of my situation, which trips me up a lot! I make plans in my mind for how my life is going to go and sometimes forget that the Lord has the final say!

For example, children...I "knew" when I wanted to get pregnant and how far apart I wanted my kids, etc. BUT, the Lord knows better than me and our kids have came at the perfect time in our lives. If they would have come when I wanted them to, I wouldn't have been ready or it wouldn't have been the best time. So you'd think that I would remember this, but yet again I have made a plan for my life about kids, and haven't put my trust in the Lord that he knows best.

When we found out that Travis was getting deployed, one of my thoughts was when to have our next child, and I came to the conclusion that we needed to get pregnant again before he left so that there wouldn't be a big gap between Chloee and our next child. Well over the past couple of months I have let this affect me, and have stressed and worried about getting pregnant again, which has kind of negatively affected a lot of aspects of my life.

Well anyways, I am NOT pregnant, and so I have decided to make some changes that will hopefully make me happier now and in the future as we keep trying to get pregnant. I realized today that maybe we aren't meant to get pregnant before Travis leaves, and maybe we are meant to have a big gap between our kids, and THAT'S OK!!! OR maybe I WILL get pregnant in the coming months and that will be OK too!!

I can't decide when I get pregnant, I can only do my part (which is the fun part I might add!!) and put my trust in the Lord that he knows best and that what is meant to be will happen. I am glad that I had this realization again today, it wasn't anything new, but it was nice to be reminded to have faith in the Lord. He loves us all so much, and knows what we need, and that is SO wonderful!

Harry Potter

A couple of nights ago Travis and I went to see Harry Potter in the theaters. It was really good, and left us wanting to see Part 2 really badly!! I have enjoyed watching all of the Harry Potter movies, but have never read the books. Travis on the other hand has read all of them, and has mentioned several times to me that I needed to read them. So once again as we left the theater he told me that I really needed to read the books, and this time I decided that I would!! I just finished the first book today, and will most likely start the second one tonight!! I will most likly have them finished by the New Year!! I have a tendancy to be a little bit of an adict when I get reading a good book(s)!!

My List

I haven't taken the time to write down the things that I am thankful for this year, so I thought that I had better get it documented. (I have thought about it a lot though!!)

1. Travis--He is my everything, and I would really be lost without him. He is my very best friend!! I am so grateful for his willingness to work hard to support our family, and for his unconditional love for me. I am also so thankful that he is such an amazing father, our kids are truely blessed to have him for their daddy!

2. Our Kids--Some days I want to pull my hair out! But our kids are great!! I love having the opportunity to be their mother, and to watch them grow and learn new things. They make me so happy (most of the time!!)

3. The Gospel--Where would I be without the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, and all the many blessings that come with the gospel? I wouldn't even want to know. I am so grateful to know that no matter what I do, and how much I feel like I have failed, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me!

4. Living close to family--I loved living in Florida, but it is such a blessing to be near our family. My mom is a lifesaver and is one of my best friends. She helps us with the kids so much, and our kids adore her and my dad. Also Travis' grandma, she is such a wonderful person. I consider her my own grandma, and love that we have such a good relationship with her. Family is such a huge blessing!

5. Our little house--It is cute and cozy and keeps us warm. I am grateful that we have a place that we can call home (even if it is just a rental for now) I am also grateful to have such amazing landlords!! They make renting great!

6. My minivan!!--I know, I know its not anything too fancy, but to me it is beautiful and luxurious!! It is great to have a reliable vehicle, and one that is roomy and can fit our family comfortably.

7. Preschool--It gives me a break for a couple of hours twice a week, AND is helping Parker so much! He has become quite the little singer, and loves to sing his school songs. I am grateful that he has such wonderful teachers, and such a wonderful bus driver!!

8. My Talents--Sometimes I have a tendancy to hide them, but I am working on not doing so, and have enjoyed improving and learning new things!

9. Our Portable Dishwasher--It's a life saver!! Living without a dishwasher is NO FUN! So I am grateful that I don't have to!

10. My Calling at Church--I get to work with the young women, and I am loving it so far. I am having to get out of my comfort zone a bit, but I am learning a lot, and love our girls! They are wonderful!

All in all, I am a very blessed girl! I just need to always remember that, and work on living life with an attitude of gratitude!