First Official Mother's Day

Yesterday was my first official Mother's Day. Everly is still recovering from getting her tubes in and adnoids out, so we didn't make it to church. E and I got dressed up anyway to celebrate. Brett was so excited for me to open my present I opened it in the bathroom while he bathed Everly. It was a beautiful portrait of Everly taken by a local doctor. It was featured at LAAC Lower Alabama Arts Coalition. I was so thrilled. It is probably my favorite picture of her. It captures her natural beauty and innocence.


I wanted to reflect on a few things that being a mother means to me and changes Sweet E has brought to my life.

It's ok if-
You don't get a shower that day, as long as your child has a bath
You don't eat, but your child has had three meals plus snacks
You don't get your hair done as often
Pedicures and manicures are out
You spend your days in yoga pants and if you get time to iron your t-shirt you are doing good.
You watch PBSKids all day, because you think it's educational
You wear your hair in a ponytail all the time and when you finally wear it down you're amazed at how long it's grown
You never buy yourself anything and your child has a closet full of clothes
You cry tears of happiness because of the little things your child accomplishes
You cry tears of sadness because your child is growing up too fast

I love being a mommy! I always thought I wanted children, but now I can't imagine life without her (I know everyone always says that, but it's true). She did the sweetest thing last night. She just crawled over to me and laid her head in my lap and I just stroked her hair. Oh, it just melted my heart. I hope she will never grow too big to lay her head in my lap. I can just picture us in her teenage years when boys make her cry(don't do it boys...her daddy will get you) laying her head in my lap and us having a talk.

Sorry if this post went a little all over the place. The purpose of this blog is to record our family memories...so it can be like that sometimes.

Our Sweet Girl's First Easter

What a wonderful day! Perfect weather, wonderful food and loving family!
This is the tree we got married under.

Little Brett coming to get the camera

It's hard to get a still picture with a crawling baby...how about that basket? :)

E got some sweet potato puffs, strawberry yogurt melts, a bathing suit, a life is good bib and The Story of Easter book. From my parents she got a prize egg filled with money and a stuffed bunny wearing a bonnet. Pop and Gimme got her some more puffs (we can never have too many!), a monogrammed snack container, stacking snack containers, and a monogrammed hairbow.

Brett & I also got baskets from them. I got some sweet jewelry and B got a LaCoste shirt. Brett has had his Easter basket since he was a baby. We wanted to do the same thing for Everly. We were going to order her a Beatrix Potter basket from Pottery Barn, but they were sold out by the time I got around to it. I like what we did much better! We went to T & C pharmacy in Opp. They have a ton of beautiful fabric. Brett & Everly visited...cause you know everyone knows everyone there and I narrowed the fabric choices down to two. Brett came over and made the final decision. Then we picked out a basket together. Brett painted the basket white. Then I took the basket and fabric to Kids Unlimited in Elba (I love that store and the people that work there). They sewed the liner, added bows, and monogrammed it for her. Now we have a treasure that is uniquely Everly's. I can't wait to fill it for years to come!

Easter at our church

Ok, so this one has nothing to do with Easter at our church, but I forgot to share them with y'all. I accidentally, yes...seriously accidentally ordered Everly two bunny shirts. I like these because she'll be able to wear them all summer. The one on the left is from Smitten & Co. on etsy. The quality of the shirt is outstanding! It is so soft, I wish she made adults! The one on the right is from ifyousaysew.com.So anyway, on to the real reason for this post. We enjoyed a weekend full of events at our church, First Baptist Andalusia. Friday night B, I am so grateful for a wonderful Christian husband, worked the computer system for The Living Lord's Supper. It was one of the more difficult shows for him to work. I prayed the whole way through. It was such a moving performance. I was just bawling at the end. How could you not? Jesus died for us all!

Saturday morning I helped hide eggs for the churchwide egg hunt. My MIL (Gimme) brought Sweet E to our church along with her "souped" up stroller. I can take no credit for this...Gimme did it all. It was the sweetest ride there in my opinion! This is one of my favorite traditions. All the kids bring their bikes, trikes, pedal cars, and wagons. Lots of them decorate for the holiday and we make a trip around the church in parade fashion.

Afterward we gather on the steps of our beautiful church and listen to the Easter story. This year the church provided a sheet of stickers and construction paper for the children to follow along as Bro. Fred shared the true meaning of the holiday.

We didn't let E participate in the egg hunt, since she can't walk yet or eat the candy. When all the precious children were finished we gathered in the fellowship hall and enjoyed a delicious lunch. I am so happy to be a member of a loving church family. We are so proud that Everly will grow up in such a wonderful environment with people that love us!