Easter 2014

I know I have said this before...but Easter is one of my absolute favorite holidays. It is just such a refreshing weekend spent fellowshipping with family and getting to celebrate our Lord and Savior. I love that it is warmer, things are growing, and summer is just around the bend!

We had an absolutely fantastic week. It was beautiful weather and we couldn't have enjoyed ourselves anymore. We spent the majority of the week outside doing fun things!

Last Saturday, Christian had to work, but we went with my family to our church's Easter egg hunt. It was called "Chicken and Eggs" and it was a lot of fun. Aubrey was in a very clingy/shy mood, so I couldn't get much excitement out of her.

I mean she looks down right miserable in this picture, but I promise she had a great time with her cousins.

 

 

 

 

After the egg hunt, we went to eat lunch at MooYah's which is a new burger place in Baton Rouge. I'm not a big burger person, but my mom had a turkey burger that looked fantastic.

 

Weston decided to blow out not one, but two diapers on our lunch date. Needless to say, I was a little stressed...had to change both his and my outfit! Here he is just moments before his lunch fiasco! So much for cute Easter outfits, huh Buddy?

 

 

On Wednesday, we decided to dye eggs with Bre. She was so excited. Aubrey is very into arts and crafts so anything with paint or stickers is right up her alley. It was storming that night so we had to make it work in the garage...memories don't wait for weather!

 

 

 

On Saturday, we decided to go to another Easter egg hunt put on by a nearby church. We went last year and it was lots of fun. Since Christian didn't get to go to the one at our church, we thought we would go to another so he could experience the fun!  It was absolutely packed. We had to walk about a mile to even get to the event and there was very little shade, so it was direct sun for everyone. The church does an amazing job of putting together such a huge event...it's just overwhelming with all the people!

 

Aubrey didn't mind the crowds, as long as she got her snowcone!

 

 

Weston must have something against Easter egg hunts because right before the big hunt...he straight up blew it out (again). We of course had forgotten the diaper bag (a mile away) so we improvised with napkins and made a bee-line for the car.

 

Lessons learned: 1.) If you want to ensure a poopy...leave the diaper bag in the car.

 2.) Perhaps Weston needs to go up a size on diapers.

3.) Projectile poop is very dangerous.

 

He is just so innocent though...

 

 

After we made it back to the car and changed Weston Hayes, we decided to leave and get some lunch. We went to eat at our favorite Mexican place and enjoyed our little family over some "Chips and Cheese" as Bre likes to say.

 

That evening after naps, we went to church and listened to an amazing message from our pastor. He did a fabulous job preaching on the proof of the resurrection from a secular perspective. It was extremely powerful.

 

On Sunday (Easter morning), we woke up and had breakfast. We gave Bre her basket and let her spend the morning playing with her new goodies. Isn't her basket adorable? My sis made them for the kiddos and I absolutely love them! Bre didn't get much...just a few dollar store finds and some gummy worms. 

 

 

Christian cut the grass and I made a cake during naps and then we packed up and headed out to celebrate Easter with Christian's side of the family.

 

We went to his Nanny's house and it was so much fun. It's a little bit of a drive out to the country but it is so much fun for the little ones. We had an Easter egg hunt, (thankfully Weston spared us a blowout on this particular hunt) dyed eggs, and ate fried fish. We also got to see their horses! It was great to get to relax and spend time with family.

 

 

We are so blessed to have such wonderful families to make special memories with. Each memory we make is one that I cherish and hopefully my babies do too.

 

 

A few posed pictures just for more memories!

 

 

Above all, we are thankful for our Lord and Savior dying on the cross so that we might be free. His resurrection gives us the freedom to live forever in eternity.

 

Happy Easter Everyone!

 

A letter to my girl

Dear my precious Aubrey Lane,

Life is flying by at rapid speeds and my eyes fill with tears at the thought of how quickly your little life is passing me by. I fall apart emotionally just thinking that you will be in school in a little over 2 years. That thought alone is enough to put me in bed for a few days. 

A friend of mine lost her husband a few years ago, leaving behind a precious 19 month old daughter. She later found an email account that her husband had set up for their daughter and was amazed to find that he had been writing and sending her emails all throughout her life. Simple day to day things he wanted to tell her and things he wanted her to know when she was older...having no idea that he would pass in just a few short months. Can you image how much that little girl will cherish those words written from her daddy...just for her.

Since my blog is so dear to me...it is a written, solid piece of our past and our journey in life...I decided to post my letters here to you. I think of my blog as a tiny gift that I can give to you and Weston...a chance to look back and see where we have walked and where we are headed as a family. There is comfort and security in knowing your story. It's a story that we are writing together on a daily basis. A story of trials, tests, times of joy and lots and lots of laughter.

There are so many thing I want to say to you, Aubrey. So many things I want to instill in your little heart. Lessons I want you to carry with you along your journey of life...even if I'm not always by your side.  I want you to always, always remember a few foundational truths from your momma and I intend to write to you periodically so you can look back and cherish my words. I write these to you today, knowing you won't read them until later, but I vow to talk with you about these on a daily basis and hope that they are planted deep in your tiny soul...so that one day you will flourish and grow into a mighty young woman.

Today you are at the precious age of 2.5. A very fun age that is best described by curiosity, challenging moments and cuteness. You are so full of life...you radiate zest and passion. Everything is a new adventure and nothing is boring or dull with you. May you always feel that way about life, Aubrey. May life never become mundane or boring to you. Continue to seek out fun adventures and be curious about things that you've never seen.  I believe with all my heart that your passion for life is going to take you to amazing places.. Okay...enough chit chat...here is this letters nuggets of truth that I want to share.

Lesson #1: You are absolutely beautiful just the way you are. You will grow to become critical of your looks, your body, your flaws...but girlfriend I am telling you...you are gorgeous. Now don't misunderstand me...your inside is way more important than the way you look on the outside, but for today I want you to know that when I look at you...I see pure beauty. You have beautiful blue eyes that hold wisdom and knowledge far beyond your years. You have the most precious little freckles that speak of your individuality and uniqueness. You have full, pouty red lips that will one day speak the word of the Lord to listening hearts. You have the most feminine little hands and feet that will one day allow you to fulfill the works of your destiny. Everything about you, Aubrey, is beautiful. Know that God made you and He did not mess up. Never doubt your beauty, Aubrey...never doubt for a moment that you are the most gorgeous thing God has created. You are valuable, treasured and enough.

Lesson #2: Your daddy and I are not perfect. We argue and fuss and make mistakes. And then we will make some more mistakes. Never once will we claim to be exactly what you need... all the time. We are selfish and sometimes will let you down. We will mess up as parents and fall flat on our faces at times...but know this...our love for each other is strong and we will weather every storm together. Know that your mommy and daddy's marriage is one that will not be torn apart. We stand on a rock solid foundation that is Jesus Christ and He alone cannot be shaken. We will without a doubt have fights amongst ourselves...but more importantly we will always fight to stay together.

Lesson #3: Your kindness is contagious. Just this morning, I sat back and watched you "baby" talk your little brother. You continued to sweet talk him, comforting his little cries and then proceeded to put his noonie gently (this is rare for you) back into his mouth. I sat back, almost quick to rush us on and out the door, but instead savored this little moment. A moment of tender kindness and love. It warmed my heart, but even more so it spurred me to want to show kindness to someone else.  Mommy is in need of constant reminders to be tender and kind...it's just not something that is instilled deep in me. I tend to be tough and sometimes harsh. However, seeing your kindness did something to me...it urged me to slow down and think of how I could be a blessing to someone else. Never for a moment think that kindness isn't noticed or spread. You can be a light in a dark world. Your kindness for others is what will point them to Jesus. Your simple acts of kindness are what will leave a lasting impression on the hearts of those who are hurting. I hope in the days ahead, you and I can practice doing kind things for others. Remember sweet girl...kindness is contagious and will change hearts.

Aubrey Lane, may you know you are my sunshine. You make me laugh more than anyone else on the planet. Your potential is so great and I can't wait to continue to watch you grow and blossom into an amazing young girl. Keep these simple nuggets with you as you go...you are beautiful, your mommy and daddy are in this together and your kindness is contagious.

I love you, Bre...

Mommy

 

 

Weston Hayes----Three Months Old

Weston Hayes you are three months old! Stop it little dude...just stay my baby forever please?

 

 

I'm gonna make this short and sweet cause I am on borrowed time...both babies are sleeping and I know at any minute I will hear one or both!

 

Weston you are stealing my heart more and more each day. Just when I think I can't love you anymore, you give me a huge, cheesy grin or coo this precious sound when you see my face. You know how to milk it, buddy!

 

 

You are FINALLY letting me get some sleep at night. I wouldn't say it is anything we've done differently or anything, I think you are just older and able to sleep longer stretches. I still don't have you on any type of schedule and we just make each day work. You are so easy going so it's nice to not have to sit at home and work around timed naps. You just sleep a little here...a little there and for the most part you are good to go!

 

 

 

I feed you around 8:30 each night and then you have been going until 3:30 or 4:00 am. Then back to sleep until your sissy wakes you up at 7:00. Praise the Lord, because this momma was struggling without her sleep.

 

You eat every 3-3.5 hours and are a champion nurser. We have nursed in the car, the playground, dressing rooms, bathrooms (YUCK) and even at Pretend and Play...we just make it work.

 

 

You are wearing a size 2 diaper and 3-6 month clothes. You love bath time, your swing, your boppy, and a moving car. You dislike being wet after bath, still cars, being in one place for too long and unfortunately your sissy...but I know that will change soon.

 

 

We simply adore you Weston Hayes. You are just the cherry on top of our little family.

We love you little man!!