Bella Grace...

Sweet Bella Grace is now 16 months old! When did that happen and can this be right? This child has grown up WAY too fast. I am not sure how it happened and am pretty sure I would slow her down if I could.

She has been such a blessing to us these past 16 months. She was the most precious baby ever. Slept like a rock from day one. Ate like a champ. Still does. Always happy. She is just too funny! She is one spunky little girl. Oh, and I am pretty sure she is the busiest kid ever. I think so! There can't possibly be another one that is busier. I am asked often how I do it. Well if you can think of another option let me know.:) I would not trade a thing about her. She wears me out. She is LOUD! She can make this noise that is absolutely the loudest most annoying sound in the world. Oh its bad. BUT, I love her and adore everything about her.

She is biting. Yep. Not fun at all for a parent. Pretty much my worst nightmare. You look at her face and say oh no, not Bella. That's what I thought. NOPE, she does it. A lot! I'm praying about that daily!

She loves for Alyssa to get in her crib with her first thing in the morning. they play and laugh and it is sweet music to my ears. She loves to swing and jump on the trampoline. She can put away some chick fil a and some donut holes. Yes we give her donut holes. Don't judge.

She is just great. Everything about her. We am so blessed she is our daughter. She brings us much Joy and we can't wait to watch her grow in the ways of our wonderful LORD.

What a sweet baby!

What a mess!!:)

Pictures...

Here are some more of our pictures. They are not all edited but they are still amazing!!:)

http://bit.ly/9XVArP

Wonderful Weekend

Matt and I had a wonderful weekend together! He got home Friday and told me we were heading to NWA to spend the weekend. He had a fishing tournament on Saturday so he wanted me to come to his weigh-in with him and to a family cookout after that! It was a great surprise. We went to dinner and a movie Friday night and stayed at a hotel in Springdale. He got up early (4:30am) and headed out the the lake with his partner. (fishing partner) I opted to stay in bed and sleep:) I got up and headed to a massage and hand treatment that Matt and scheduled for me! IT was a day of pampering for me and I absolutely loved it! We met up later in the afternoon and had a great rest of the day and evening together! We missed the girls, but there is just nothing greater than spending time with your best friend. Especially when it is you husband!

Matt thanks so much for taking the time to think of us, and of me. I appreciate you and love you more than you could ever know! What a blessing you are! I am so proud of you!!

Oh, and Matt got second place in his tournament!

Daily quotes from the one and only...Alyssa Ward

There is never a dull moment when dealing with my Alyssa. She is a mess. She is the most tender child. She loves others and has such a soft spot for hurting people. She Loves Jesus and is continually grasping who God is and what he did for us.

Here are some of our recent conversations.

Alyssa: "Mommy why is that man standing on the side of the road? Does he walk everywhere he goes?"

Me: "Yes baby he walks everywhere."

Alyssa: "Why, does he not have a car?"

Me: "He probably doesn't have a car." "He might not have the money for a car. Not everyone has a vehicle to get them from place to place."

Alyssa: " Well mommy, we can give him some of our money. That is what Jesus called us to do!"

Me: "You are right Alyssa. Christ wants us to love others like he loves us."

Alyssa: "Yes you are right mommy!"

Alyssa went with Matt to feed my dad's dogs while he was out of town last summer. Jake one of the dogs was on his death bed. Alyssa went with Matt (because I was at the dr. with Bella) to take Jake to the emergency vet. Jake ended up having to be put to sleep because he was dying and miserable.

So this weekend, she told her Nana that Jake, Papa Carl's dog died when they went to feed him. But, he did not die on a cross like Jesus did.

There are always funny conversations with Alyssa, but I love hearing her talk about Jesus.

"Train up a child in the way he should go:
And when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Proverbs 22:6

Family Pictures

We recently had some family pictures made. We were in need of some new ones. The last time we had them done was when Bella Grace was 6 months old so we needed an update! Photographing Sound never dissapoints! A.J. does a great job and is so easy to work with. He has a 1 year old himself so busy little Bella was nothing for him. He chased her down with the best of them!!:)

Thanks A.J. We can't wait to see them all! Oh the decisions we have in front of us:)

Check out the blog and you will see our faces!!:)

Here is a little sneak peak.

The last couple of days have been a little rough for sweet Bella Boo! She started out Monday night with a high fever. High as in 104. The Drs. don't seem to be too concerned with a 104 temp, but as a parent it is something to be concerned about. So we got her fever down and put her back to bed. She woke up Tuesday morning much better. She played outside all morning and was just her normal self. we went to get Alyssa from preschool and when I got her home she was hot again. I gave her two luke warm baths and put a cool towel on her head to get her fever down and for 5 straight hours her fever stayed about 104. Nothing, not even meds were breaking this fever. So, I called the pediatrician and she told me that this weird virus with extremely high fever and no other symptoms was going around and to keep an eye on her for a few days and if she's not better bring her in. Matt got home about 5 and she was acting much better. By 6 she was playing and jumping on the trampoline. We were thrilled that her fever had broke and that she seemed to be feeling better.

During the time of her 5 hour high fever Bella just wanted to be held. She didn't want to walk, talk, or even sit up. Her head just fell on me and that is where she wanted it to stay. She NEEDED mommy. I must admit that i hated she was hurting, but I was loving my cuddle bug. For those of you that know Bella, you know she is never still. She is always talking and smiling and walking and getting into something. She is just one busy girl and has been since she was a little baby.

During this time of holding Bella and praying for her, I couldn't stop thinking about how it must feel to be the Lord. You know, all I want as a mom is for my kids to want me. To need me. To reach for me and to love on me. Christ feels the same way about us and about me specifically. I always run to him when I need him, or when I am hurting. He wants to me to desire to run to Him at all times. Not just in times of trouble or helplessness. He wants me always. How it must hurt him when we neglect his love. He is always there. Just waiting for us to run to him. Waiting for us to sit still among him, but we are too busy running around. Too busy talking. Too busy with "life" to be still and know that he is LORD. Lord of all and Lord all the time. Oh how I love how God teaches me more about him in the little day to day things in life. Who would have thought while holding my sick Bella Grace that the Lord would show me more about himself. He always will, I guess I was just willing to listen today!

Thanks you God for your patience with me! I am so busy doing my own thing that I don't stop near enough to listen for your still small voice!

Easter Weekend..

This was a great Easter weekend for us. We had a very low key weekend. Friday night we had dinner with the Morgans. We love this sweet family and do not get to spend near enough time with them. It is always a blast when we do get to see each other. Thanks Matt and Annie for dinner (it was awesome) and for your hospitality. We love you guys and always look forward to our time together. We got up Saturday and went to our egg hunt. It was fun as always. We have a wonderful preschool director who always goes way out of her way to make sure everything is perfect! Thanks so much Paige and Jack and Frue. The kids loved it and your effort made it super special for them. We are blessed to you have your sweet family! We came home and chilled Saturday night. We had a great service at FBC Lavaca on Sunday. We then came home and all napped and hung out here the rest of the day. It was just a relaxing weekend for us. Here are some pictures from our weekend!

Me and my sweet Alyssa

Little Bella Grace. She is on the go...as always:)

Bella was wanting something out of Alyssa's basket!:)

Daddy and his little one!

Easter Sunday

Someone was ready for bed:)

A day at the park!

Wednesday was park day! This weather has been absolutely fabulous and the girls are just living outside! They come in stinky and a wreck every night but I will not complain. It was a long Arkansas winter and they have been stuck in this house for what has seemed like forever. So, this warm weather is a much welcomed blessing!

Matt's sister Chelsea came in town for the week. Jonathon her husband is a brilliant man in med school. He was taking a big test (of which he passed) in Chicago this week so she decided to grace us with her presence and spend her week here. She always wants to see the girls when she is in since they don't get the chance to come in too often! We love Chelsea and Jon and they love the girls to pieces!

My girls L.O.V.E the park so we go pretty often to picnic and play! That is a great way to get out of the house and do something different without spending money! Pack a lunch from home and bring a blanket and you have a cheap outing!!

Here are some pictures of the day!

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward."

Psalm 127:3