Happy 5th Anniversary to Us!

On Saturday, June 7th, Jarod and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary. My how time flies! I really can't believe how much has changed in our lives in the last 5 years. We had a lot of time to reflect on the last 5 years and a lot of time to talk about the next 5! God has been so good to us and blessed our lives in so many ways over the last few years. We are so thankful for so many things, especially our daughter Allie. What a true joy it is to watch her grow as a child of God.

My parents kept Allie over night and Jarod had our date all planned out (which he kept a secret until 2 days before we left). He made reservations at the Hilton in downtown Ft. Worth. This is the hotel where JFK last stayed before he died. In fact, we think we stayed in the room across from his suite. The picture below was on the wall across from our room. Jarod booked us on the executive floor, so we had a few added perks. It was so nice to get away and just spend time together. We had so much time to just talk and it was wonderful. We went and ate at a really nice restaurant that had great food and a great view of the city. We also got to eat outside on the rooftop. The picture of us above is at the restaurant. After dinner we walked around downtown and then later we went to Marble Slab. Yum-O! The biggest surprise of the night was my gift. I had no idea he was getting me anything b/c we had said that our date was part of our gift and we planned on getting a grill b/c I'm dying to have one. But, just before we went to dinner he surprised me with diamond solitaire earrings. They are just beautiful! It has been a wonderful 5 years together and I look forward to many more!

**I tried to find pictures of us from high school and from our wedding and couldn't come up with any! Oh well!

First Haircut and Watermelon

On Friday I took Allie to get her first haircut. It was probably way over due, but I was having a hard time coming to the realization that it was time. We didn't have something drastic done. We just had it "evened off" and hopefully it will help thicken it up. Bless her heart she was given hair like her mother. The above picture is the final outcome. She did so well. She never cried or whined or anything. She was pretty serious the entire time and was happy when it was over.

This was her look the entire time!

I love this picture. She looks like such a big girl getting her hair dried. Of course when I dry it with a brush it never stays that straight. It always flips out.

Now on to watermelon. Allie loves watermelon! We all went to the store yesterday and I picked up a watermelon for all of us to enjoy. When I started cutting it, Jarod brought Allie into the kitchen and started eating some of the slices. The pictures below show Allie eating her watermelon. Notice how wet her shirt is from the beginning and how wet her shirt is at the end.

Annie Brooke Tenery

My sweet niece, Annie Brooke Tenery, was born Friday afternoon right before 1:00 pm. She weighed 8lbs. 8oz. and was 19 1/2 in. long. We can't quite tell who she looks like but she definitely has my brother's chin like the other 2 kids. She has really dark, curly hair which was a shock to us all. Both of her names are after family. Annie was my great grandmother's name and she had dark, curly hair. Brooke is Kelly's sisters name and she also has dark, curly hair. She had some fluid in her lungs so she was put in NICU until 9:00 pm. that night. The only one who had seen her was my brother (her daddy). Kelly (her mom) didn't get to hold her until that night. Of course being the aunt that I am, stayed until we could see her. Annie and mom are both doing well. Her brother Greer and sister Karlie are ecstatic about her! Sorry for all of the pictures. I'm a very proud aunt and just had to share several.
First family picture: Karlie, Greer, Annie, Kelly and Scott

Greer came down with strep throat and had to wear a mask, so Allie and Karlie thought they would wear one too!

This is the very first picture I took of Annie. It was before any of us got to hold her and she was back at the nurses station waiting to meet her mommy.

Look at those sweet cheeks!

Pink might be her color!

Greer, Annie, Poppy, Mimi and Karlie

This was the last picture I took of her before I left the hospital on Saturday. I hope to see her again next weekend!

Mother's Day

I just wanted to share some pictures from Mother's Day. We all had a great day. Jarod, Allie and I went to church with my parents and my brother and his family. Then we all headed to my Granny's for lunch and some relaxation! It was so nice being together. I love being with my family and my mom was lucky enough to have all of her kids and grand kids with her. After we ate and chatted, Jarod took Allie and my nephew Greer and niece Karlie outside to play. Eventually we all ended up outside. It was a beautiful day to be outside. Some of the pictures below are pretty funny of the cousins. They were swinging as I was taking pictures and laughing the entire time. Allie just lights up when she is around her cousins and there is going to be a new baby girl cousin added this Friday! We are so excited. Allie loves that her name is going to be Annie b/c of the show Little Einsteins.
I hope every mother had a great Mother's Day!

We could never get a picture of Allie looking at the camera.

Greer, Allie and Karlie

I love Karlie's cheesy grin!

Can't you just hear the laughter in this picture?

My brother Scott, his wife Kelly and soon to be baby Annie!

A family of four soon to be five!!! I'm sure I will have lots of pictures to share of my new niece next week!!! I just love babies.

2 Year Check-Up

Allie finally went for her two year check-up on Thursday. It was delayed b/c of the cold she had. I felt like the appointment went really well. She weighed 29.7 lbs. and is in the 89th percentile. She is 35 in. tall and is in the 76th percentile. So, she is a little heavier than she is tall, but he isn't worried. She only had one shot and she didn't even cry! I was shocked. Her lips quivered but no tears. I think if she would of had another shot we would of had tears for sure! She cried and threw a fit when we had to take her shoes off to be weighed and measured. What a girl! For some reason she is obsessed with shoes. She always wants to have them on or for us to have our shoes on. At Carmen's they have to keep all of the shoes outside in a basket b/c she likes to take everyone their shoes. Her doctor thinks she is doing great. He expressed a concern with her speech development b/c she refuses to talk to him. When he asked me if I was concerned I just laughed. I assured him that she talks mostly in complete sentences, a lot of 3 word phrases, sings, and already tries to read familiar books. She is just so shy when she doesn't know you. My family (besides my parents) never thought she talked until Easter. So, hopefully he believes me and won't ask again.
I feel like every day she is learning something new or saying something new. All day today she has told us "No, it's mine." "Mine, mine, mine". Which, yes she has told us this before, but now she points her finger at us or tries to hit us. Oh the joys of turning 2!

A Birthday Party and a Cold

Well, my poor Allie came down with a cold and fever early Friday morning. What rotten luck! It was a low grade fever, but by the time she went to bed it was at 102! I decided Friday night that we would just move her party to Sunday afternoon because I didn't want her to get everyone else sick. It was a very easy adjustment b/c this party was just family. She usually kicks a fever within a day so I was sure that by Sunday she would be fine. When she woke up Saturday, she had no fever. Jarod and I finished things around the house and I continued to check her temperature all day and her temp was never even normal. She acted like she felt good so I knew that Sunday would not be a problem. My parents came over Saturday night to bring over her b-day present. They got her a sandbox. We also gave her our present (an outdoor climber). She loved being outside and playing. Sunday we got up and went to church. She was a little crabby and we put her down for an early nap. She looked kind of puny, but I didn't take her temp. By 4:00 her party started and she was very excited to see her family especially her cousins Greer and Karlie. They played together and everyone had a good time, but I suspected that she was running a fever again. She just didn't look like she felt all that well. After the party we went and ate at On the Border. Yum-O!!! We got home kind of late, got her ready for bed and sure enough she had a fever! I was shocked. I couldn't believe she didn't run one for an entire day and 1/2 and now all of a sudden it's back. So long story short she finally went to the doctor today and she has an ear infection, possible throat infection (whatever that means), and a cold. Poor baby. She would not nap at Carmen's and cried today every time she coughed because it hurt her throat. I got her those suckers for kids to help soothe her throat and she absolutely loved it! Hopefully she is on the road to recovery. Sorry for all of the pictures. We never got a good one of just her with us. Oh well, maybe next year.
If you couldn't tell by the first picture, Allie's theme for her party was farm animals. She absolutely loves animals! Carmen who takes wonderful care of my child, also made this adorable and yummy cake in the shape of a cow!

I made the piggy cupcakes. They were so easy to make and I made them especially for Allie b/c they weren't made with eggs. When it was time for her to eat her cake all she wanted was the marshmallows! Oh and I can't take all of the credit for the cupcakes, I got the idea from the Internet.

Smiling after eating M&M's.

Pouting after I wouldn't give her any more M&M's!

She just finished blowing out her candle!

Her new climber for outside! She loves it. Unfortunately she hasn't been able to enjoy it since she has been sick.

Tonight with her grape sucker before going to bed. She looks like a big girl.

Her newest phrases since turning two: "No, it's my turn" and "____ what are you doing?" and she will keep repeating the last one over and over again until you answer her.

Happy Birthday Allie

Wow! I can't believe that Allie is two years old. I have to say that I have been a little weepy about it lately. There is just something about your child turning two. It's hard to explain. Allie is a constant joy in our lives. She continuously amazes us everyday with new things she has learned or new things she has to say. I am amazed how verbal she has become within the last couple of months. She is very observant and inquisitive of her surroundings. Her newest trick is asking for one parent when the other is getting on to her. Man she learned that fast. She is very dramatic and has "fake crying" down pat. She likes to ask us what things are and takes our answer and puts it into her own sentence. She thinks she is a "big girl" and wants to do everything on her own, but if she needs help she is not afraid to ask for it. She gives the best hugs and kisses and is the funniest kid I know. Jarod and I are truly blessed to have her for a daughter. Words can't express the love and joy she brings us daily. We look forward to the next phase of her life and I'm sure she will be turning 3 before we know it!

Things she likes to do at 2: play outside (pitches big fits when we leave the park or Carmen's house), sing any song she has ever been taught and occasionally tells me not to sing with her, dance parties in the kitchen, playing with her baby dolls, playing with her cars, and helping Carmen take care of the babies.

She has her two year check up next week and her birthday party is Saturday afternoon with my family.

At the bottom of the post are pictures of Allie when she first born. It was such an exciting time for us. I was very lucky to have such an easy pregnancy, labor and delivery. If you ever need to hear a "good" story just ask me.

Allie eating her birthday cupcake today at Carmen's. She definitely knows what cake is now!

Allie helping decorate cupcakes.

Yum-O!

First family picture taken at our house. I can't believe how tiny she is.

This picture was taken the day after she was born. She still sleeps with that hippo, but prefers Care Bear.

What a sweetie! I'm amazed how she looks nothing like this now. When she was born she had darker skin than she does now and she had brown hair. The blanket that is wrapped around her was my baby blanket and it is her favorite blanket now!