Birthday Week at our House!!!!!

Ella Claire around a month old

Ella Claire will be 1 in one week. Since it's so close to Christmas we are having "birthday week." I'm going to give her a present everyday until Monday (when we are having her birthday party). Then, Tuesday on her actual birthday we are going to just have a fun play day with her to celebrate. Then....our Christmas festivities start on Wednesday. She's not going to know that to think after the next two weeks. LOL



I'm also going to post special things about her everyday this week. Stay tuned for lots of pictures and birthday stories. :)








Post #1 about Ella Claire:

January - Ella Claire was very demanding from day one. She cried a lot and colic set in early. We thought we would never survive those early weeks and months. I really think God was trying to teach me patience. He succeeded.....somewhat! :) Anyone who has survived true colic knows what I'm talking about. She was worth every hour....or day.... that we didn't sleep, every nervous break down LOL, and round the clock nursing and pumping sessions. Yes, on top of colic.....we had trouble nursing, but I was determined and we made IT. :)



Some notes I made in December/January (I'm saving her birth story until next Tuesday): We came home on Christmas eve.......after some heavy pleading at the hospital. We actually stayed 3 nights with Gran and Bim before going to our home. Bryan helped finger feed her (like a little puppy due to nursing issues) for a few days after we came home. It was so sweet!....Ella Claire was way over birth weight in only a week. Pa Jackie was preaching at Cornerstone then...They had "Ella Claire Matheny Day" on Jan 13th. Ella Claire made her 1st Warren County Wrestling appearance in Jan. 15th. She slept 6 hours straight before she was a month old....only once though. They gave us the..."it's definitely colic," spill on Jan. 18th. She slept with us back then.....when she slept!!!!

My baby girl is almost O-N-E!!!!

They say it's your BIRTHDAY.....

Sisters by chance, friends by choice.

Before Veron and Steph call me....this is the only picture I could find of the 3 of us. (Can we get a better one soon!)

Yes, this is a horrible picture of me (I was 8 months preggo and about to be put on bedrest) and both of my SILs will probably kill me, but they both have December birthdays.

Veronica turned the big 3-0 yesterday. Thanks for all that you do on your "days off" to help with Ella Claire. We really appreciate you.

Stephanie's birthday was on December 3rd. Steph, We love you despite the fact that you are still sooooo young and skinny. :)

Happy Birthday....We love you both.

2 things Ella Claire loves........

1. her "Bim"....aka my daddy, Jim

He came over one night before work and she had to put her hat on to be like him.

She didn't like it covering her ears though. LOL

2. her zebra while wearing Bim's hat

Calling all Moms.......New Carseat Needed....HELP!!

Ella Claire needs a new car seat. We are in the process of deciding on which convertible car seat to purchase, but anyone that knows me...knows I am terrible at making decisions. I need any advice on this that you more experienced mommies can offer. I think I have in narrowed down between two brands, but any words of advice would be helpful.............Help Me!

Christmas Pictures

Check out my little darlings at Ford's website. Ford does fantastic work. These little girls though......are a "FEW" of my favorite things. :)

What a Doll!!!!

I had the cutest rag doll made for Ella Claire's 1st birthday. Check out my link below for The Trendy Spot. Just toooo cute and I know my almost 1 year old (can you believe that???)..... will absolutely love it because she wouldn't put one down at the craft fair...but we had to have one with blonde hair and blue eyes. Help us name her......Ella Claire's rag doll is the one with brown and pink polka dots (because she has an outfit to match, of course....LOL.) Please help us name our new rag doll for Ella's 1st birthday.

This is how I feel......

This explains our lives lately!!!!!

I guess you have to know Ella Claire to appreciate this really. She never falls asleep anywhere unless she is being rocked or riding in the car. However, Wednesday afternoon I was working and Bryan was making dinner and this is what we found. I guess all this finally caught up with her too. We need a vacation after moving.

11 things about Ella Claire at 11 months

My sweet baby girl is growing so fast. She turned 11 months last Sunday. Here are a few things about her...

1. I am walking EVERYWHERE!



2. I am little Miss Independent. (She only wants to eat or drink what she can feed herself. She doesn't want anyone to help her. She wants to do everything herself. LOL)



3. I have 8 teeth now and have learned to BITE (and it hurts sooo bad). I think it is so funny when I hurt my Mommy.



4. I love chocolate. My Mommy and Daddy aren't happy about this one, but Nanny Matheny shared her breakfast of Sundrop and a Hershey's bar every morning while we stayed with her. That chocolate is some GOOD stuff. :)



5. I like to play the drums with my Mommy's pots and a spoon.



6. My hair is curly in the back.....very curly.



7. My favorite words right now are....Daddy, Baby, Bye, Pa, Jax and.....Momma, only when I'm tired or hurt.



8. I love to pretend that I am typing on Mommy's laptop. I can work, too. :)



9. I like to play chase with my Daddy up and down the hall at our new house. My Daddy is so silly.



10. I never sit still for 2 seconds at a time. If I'm awake I am on the go, go, go. I am very active and just a little high strung as my Mommy says. Whatever that means. :)



11. I have a little temper. I can throw a full out temper tantrum when I am mad cause, yes, I am a little drama princess. :)

My lil turkey's 1st Thanksgiving!

Bree and Ella Claire (playing with Bryan) at Granny and Grandad's house

Gobble :)

playing outside at Aunt Vickie's


Isn't she adorable?

Ella Claire's 1st Thanksgiving was a long, but fun family filled day.

Ella's 1st Halloween

I adore this child.

My girls