Shameless

Okay, ladies. It's now time for my shameless plug for Baby Boot Camp. As a lot of you know, I became certified to teach a few months ago to take over for the instructor when she went on maternity leave.

FIRST--Starting mid-January, I'll be teaching MY OWN classes on Tues/Thurs at First United Methodist Church in Richardson! I'm SO excited! Baby Boot Camp "StrollFit" classes are for pre- and post-natal mommies. If you don't have a baby in a stroller already, want to take the class without baby, etc, that's just fine! We welcome mommies of all stages! If you're interested, leave a comment, call, email, or message me on Facebook for more information.

ALSO for you runners out there, I'm heading up the 5K training program with Baby Boot Camp as well. This program is geared towards moms that have never run on a regular basis, but we will amp it up for those of you that are old pros and just want to get back in the swing of things! P.S. DADS are invited too!
 Here's the link to register: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=ipje9ecab&oeidk=a07e36n20cw1608f78c&oseq=a01csg7pg7rvr

ANOTHER class you might consider is Restore the Core. The owner, Melanie, will be teaching starting in January. This is a GREAT class! I can speak from personal experience. If you want to just lose weight in general, StrollFit is right for you. If you're looking to tone and tighten that mid-section. THIS class is amazing!
Here's the link if you're interested in that class:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=ipje9ecab&oeidk=a07e36n0qqoc23171ec

Baby Boot Camp has helped get me back UNDER my pre-pregnancy weight and has provided a social outlet for me as well. I'm so glad I can set a good and healthy example for Emmie so young AND provide her (and myself) with the opportunity to meet some incredible kids and moms!

I hope to see you girls there!

Caroling with Santa

                             Silent Night                                                     

Do you hear what I hear?

Sigh. Maybe next year we'll get "Holly Jolly Christmas."

Happy Christmas, Harry!

**For those of you that are not Harry Potter fans, you cannot fully understand the strong feelings of excitement and awe with which I write this post.**

Last week Emmie and I flew to Orlando to meet my parents and sister. MacKenzie was the keynote speaker at a student convention there, and they decided they would visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I got a call a week or so later from my mom telling me they had a free plane ticket and would make admission to the park, etc my Christmas present. Being the OUTRAGEOUS Harry Potter fan that I am, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to spend two days pretending I was a part of a world that I've loved for so long. And let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint in the least! It was truly magical! I teared up (scoff if you must) on numerous occasions.
                                                          Oh, how I wish it was a real place!
                                                                         (the entrance)

Hogsmeade

(My breath caught in my throat. It was SO much like the book/movies.)

Hogwarts

I want to be a student. There. I said it. Laugh all you want. I don't care. ;)

So Kenz and I 'became' students! Gryffindor, naturally.

We even ate at The Three Broomsticks!

The Lewis kids have always had great imaginations, so we knew we'd be perfect candidates if, in fact, Hogwarts did exist. 

MacKenzie and me waiting in line for the ride in the Hogwarts School!

Kenz and I accidentally wrecked the flying car over by Hagrid's place on our way to the Dueling Dragons roller coaster. At least it wasn't in the Whomping Willow!

The Lewises are evidently not the only huge fans of Harry Potter. This is Kurt Fuller. He's the dad on the new show on Wednesday 'Better With You.' Crazy!

We took a break from our magical world to enter into a super silly one. Emmie got to visit Seuss land!

She even got to ride on Horton and Gertrude's baby on the carousel

and a flying fish!

We had an amazing time. It was so nice to be a kid again, even if only for a moment. I'll leave you with this incredible snapshot as we said goodbye to the magical world of Hogsmeade on Thursday night--with frozen butterbeer in hand.

Happy Christmas, Harry Potter!

Emmalyn's FIRST Birthday!

(I'm finally getting around to doing this! Sorry, baby girl; you're keeping Mama super busy now.)

What an incredible feeling to experience your own baby's first birthday! It's indescribable. I had such a range of emotions that day--from being giddy about showing her off to all of our friends and family to holding back tears and trying not to fall apart. I felt as if I had turned around, and my teeny tiny baby was ONE!

                                                                           Then

Now

         We had dinner with Milton and Lonna (Mimi and Gunpowder to Emmie) the Tuesday before her big birthday celebration. They got her clothes, some toys, and she even got one of those Hallmark recordable books from Lonna's mom. So sweet.

         On Wednesday night (with VERY little sleep gotten by Logan) headed to Tennessee to start Emmie's birthday weekend!
                                         (After spending all night in the car, she's still so sweet!)

 Thursday and Friday were spent spending time with family and preparing for the big party on Saturday. THEN on Saturday afternoon we had friends and family from all over middle TN come to celebrate our baby girl. Lonna and Milton even flew in from TX! So Emmie had an aunt, uncle (and soon-to-be aunt), BOTH sets of grandparents, both sets--on my side--of great-grandparents, and her GREAT GREAT GRANDMOTHER! Plus my aunt and her family, Jill and Joe, Allison, the Ayres, and Rob! It was quite the party!

          She got SO many cool presents: a tea set, Spanish/English maracas, great clothes, books, a handmade bag from Nana, a singing/dancing penguin, a witch puppet(to start her Halloween collection)......and the coolest gift ever, a Smart Trike from my parents!! 

While Emmie was opening/playing with her gifts her friend, Connor (who we have already decided is going to be her future husband), gave her a HUGE birthday kiss. She was a little scared. ;)

Next came the cake, and Emmie wasn't quite sure about it either. She played in it but didn't like how it tasted. No sweet tooth?!?! Are you SURE she's my child?!

It was such a great day! I'm so thankful we were able to be around so much family and so many close friends. We couldn't have asked for anything more. Everyone got to love on our sweet pea and fall even more in love with her.

Emmalyn Faith,

Your daddy and I cannot believe a year has already passed! You have grown up so quickly, my goober girl. You are almost walking everywhere by yourself. You are saying TWELVE words. TWELVE! It's amazing to watch those little wheels turning, and you learning like crazy every minute of every day. You have such a sweet demeanor (with a streak of stubbornness) and charm everyone we meet. We can't even leave the apartment before you have your hand up in the air ready to wave at anyone within your line of vision. Your "hi" is truly a southern "hi". It lasts for such a long time! You wave hi and bye-bye. You give kisses and LOVE your baby dolls. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to BURST with love for you! I cannot wait to see how God works in your life and uses your gift with people to further His kingdom.

I love you, Emmie girl.

Love you to the moon and back,

Mama

The Chief of Mischief

I was putting clothes in the washer, and Emmie was playing in her room....or so I thought.

You're caught, goober girl!

"Mama, this is so fun!"

Shrieks of happiness ensue.

Stay tuned. Posts about Emmie's first birthday weekend coming soon!

The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm

Two weekends ago, our little family + Lonna headed to the middle of nowhere Texas to go to The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm. None of our family had heard of it...can you believe that?! I had been searching for a great "fall" activity for our family to do. I just googled pumpkin farms in the area, and it was the first one to pop up. After we got back, it seemed like 4 or 5 other families I know had gone the same weekend and missed us by a couple of hours here or there.

Anyway, all that to say that we were NOT disappointed! Emmie LOVED all of the animals, especially the goats and sheep. She even repeated "Baa" when we told her what sheep said! She even got to pick her own pumpkin out of a real pumpkin patch!!! I was beyond excited....maybe even more so than anyone else in our family that came. ;) I love that we got to go out in the country, let Emmie play in the dirt, pet animals, and pick a pumpkin.

Here are some pictures of our day!

My lil pumpkin

Our family

Practicing her walking

Emmie and Mimi

We love fall! We were married on Oct. 6th, and our little pumpkin was born on Halloween!
 Yay for October!!

Raspberries

Tuckered Out

This is what happens when your baby decides not to nap for 3 days....she CRASHES.

Happy 26th Birthday, Logan!

    Yesterday my handsome hubby turned the big 2-6!

 We had a quiet family dinner at Jordan and Kimberlee's house on Saturday and spent a low-key day together yesterday. We did, however, get to go on a date-thanks to his mom! WOOT! That's a big thing for us lately.
     I loved getting to spend time alone with my main man. He's pretty special. ;)

Here we are at J & K's--Emmie LOVED the cheddar and herb biscuits!

Yesterday we started off the day with a family workout at Baby Boot Camp (lots of daddies came because of having the day off), and Logan showed 'em all up! That's the manimal I know and love! HA!

We went to Kona Grill for lunch, and La Duni for dessert. MMMMMMM. 

Then we headed to Sports Authority to get Logan his new tennis shoes w/ the gift card his parents gave him.

And to top it all off, we ended the date with a stop by Babies R Us to get diapers. Life is a little different now, huh, Logan?

Happy Birthday, Baby! You are the greatest husband and dad to our little girl! Emmie adores you, as do I.

I love you.

Love,

Your girls

9 and 10 months old!

I have gotten so behind on my blogging that Emmalyn turned 10 months old before I even had time to do a 9 month blog post!

9 months

                                                                       10 months

At 9 and 10 months, Emmie:
-crawls with one leg down and one leg up. (Sunday 9/5 started crawling on all fours.)
-pulls to a standing position and will let go to stand on her own for 5-10 seconds at a time
-wants to try a bite of any kind of food anyone else is eating.
-likes table food AND baby food. SO thankful.
-loves goldfish crackers.
-LOVES LOVES LOVES her dog, Zeus
-says "Mama" and "Dada." I'm pretty sure she knows I'm "Mama," but we're working on recognizing Logan as "Dada" still.
-signs and knows the word "dog"
-knows signs for "milk," "all done," "more" and "food," but doesn't do them herself yet.
-nods "yes" and shakes head "no"--mostly at the correct times.
-"talks" ALL.THE.TIME. Whew.
-gives "kisses" to her baby dolls.
-is definitely a flirt.
-continues to be such a happy baby! smiles incessantly!
-cut her left top tooth and working on the right one.
-naps pretty well (except for past 3 days)
-sleeps pretty well
-goes 10 hours without nursing at night
-nurses 4-5 times during the day and seems to be going strong. No baby-led weaning here for now.
-does really well in cradle roll with or without me there
-"sings" along when we have music playing

AAAAAANNNNNDDDDD as of Sunday, September 5th (drum roll please), Emmie took her FIRST STEPS! It's just one at a time...no consecutive steps yet...but we are SO excited! (and a little nervous as to what this now means!)

Emmie Lou Who,
Your daddy and I cannot believe how much you have changed just in these past few weeks! You're into everything, happy as a clam, and a people lover. We are so proud at how hard you work to accomplish what you want...even at this very young age. We laugh at all your silliness every day. You are our sweet little sunshine!

We love you, goober girl!
Mama and Daddy

My heart is BURSTING with joy!

    I'm about to BURST with excitement! My little brother is ENGAGED! I can barely believe it! We are so thrilled to be adding the gorgeous, funny, smart, and sweet Louisa to our crazy clan. The Lewis bunch knew pretty much from the beginning (at least I did) that this Godly girl would become part of our family someday...and we're SO thankful Drew didn't screw that up! ;)

     It's such a strange and wonderful feeling to see my brother be so in love. He has so many accomplishments to his name, but I know he will agree with me when I say that having such an amazing girl love him is his proudest! After working in Honduras and serving its people together for 10 weeks, you would think she would have gotten sick of this smart alec boy! She never ceases to amaze me! :D 


The proposal was as romantic as they come! I mean, who doesn't swoon over a boy singing to you and playing guitar!

It was obvious to everyone around them from the start that they were perfect for one another!

Louisa,

I am so blessed to have you as a sister. You are such a Godly girl, and you are so good to my wonderful brother. Thank you for loving my brother unconditionally and being such a support to him every day. I know the two of you will have so much fun together for the rest of your lives and continue to bring joy to everyone around you. I knew you were wonderful from the moment we met, and I would not be able to part with my brother so willingly to anyone less worthy.
I love you.

Drew,
I am overwhelmed with so many feelings about you growing up, getting into pharmacy school, and becoming a husband! I'm proud, nostalgic, sad, and bursting with happiness all in the same moment. You are a good man. A Godly man. One of the best men I have ever known. You deserve every happiness in your life, and I believe you picked THE PERFECT GIRL. She's amazing. I love you, my little bud.

                                                           Sigh. Aren't they beautiful?

Embrace the Camera Thursdays

I was reading here about "Embrace the Camera Thursdays." This mommy talks about having tons and tons of pictures of our little ones but how many do you have of YOU and your baby/babies???? When you look at old pictures of your mom and you, do you focus on the fact that she has no makeup on? or how tired she looks? or how her hair isn't perfect? I surely don't. I think my mother looks simply gorgeous in every single picture.
.....Wanna know a secret??
YOUR baby/babies will think that about you! It's time to quit worrying about looking perfect for each and every picture and JUST. DO. IT....whether it be with one or all of them!

So grab your little one(s), set the timer on the camera, and jump in there! Our little one(s) deserve those precious memories of just time with mommy to be documented!