Darling Girl,
What a year it has been...there have been so many amazing moments. Daddy and I have lived in Austin for two years now and we made the big decision to move to Colorado. It is very bittersweet, as we love so many things about where we are now.
We love our wonderful neighbors, the Boltons, we love our house...the house where we made you and brought you home from the hospital. We love having all our family close by. We love having our friends nearby. We love your first teacher, Lyn, who has developed such a special relationship with you.
But sometimes, God calls you forth for a bigger purpose, and being dutiful servants, we must listen and obey. The Lord has called us to Colorado. We were there the year before you were made, and daddy had his dream job. I think the Lord believes we are not done with our work there, so he is leading us back West. We know this will be an amazing adventure, as we have family and great friends there. Not to mention an incredible background that we can play in, hike in, camp in, swim in, ski in, and oh so much more.
We are happy to have made you in Austin, TX and brought you into a world where all those near and dear to our hearts were there to watch you grow this year. We know our family and friends will come visit us in Colorado, and we will travel back to Austin to spend time with our village here.
Daddy and I bought a house on Collinsville Place, very close to our cousins the Kolleths. We will raise you here and add to our family there. This next place will most likely be where your first memories are formed. And mommy and daddy want them to be great memories. We strive to lead extraordinary lives. We think Colorado, Valor Christian High School, and all the opportunities the Lord is putting in our path will lead us to extraordinary destinations in this life. We will be able to serve God and our community more than we could have ever imagined. As a mother, that is all I could ask for, is our family be together, to be healthy, to be happy, and to be serving the Lord.
We move in about three weeks and are trying to spend quality time with those we hold closest to our hearts before we embark on this new chapter of our lives.
We hope you'll always know where you came from and how special Austin, Texas is to our family.
We love you little Austinite.
Love,
Mommy
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Monday, May 4, 2015
You're ONE!
Oh sweet Halen. I cannot believe this year has gone by. It seems like yesterday, that daddy was driving me to the hospital to deliver you. And then you were in my arms, so new and precious.
Now here we are 365 days later. It has been a wonderful year, Halen. Daddy and I have absolutely LOVED being your parents. We are thankful every single day for you in our lives. We can't imagine you not being part of our family.
This weekend was so special. First it started with daddy taking off work on Thursday to spend a daddy/daughter day with you. You guys had breakfast at J & J's, then went to story time at the Cedar Park Library, then you came to have lunch with mommy at work, we ate Rudy's BBQ, then you went to the Domain, where I met you after work to walk around and spend time together.
Then on Friday you played with Gigi all day. Friday night daddy and I stayed up late getting ready for your birthday party on Saturday.
Saturday morning, we cleaned the house, wrapped your presents, made food, and you ran errands with mommy all to prepare for your birthday party. Then in the afternoon Uncle Matt came to help daddy, YaYa came to help mommy and Aunt Dana came with Piper. While you and Piper played we finished getting ready. Jennifer and RJ showed up early to help too!
We walked over to Millrun Park, where your 1st birthday party was held. The theme was a Garden Party, with bright colors and flowers, all to celebrate you. Daddy and I created a fitting menu: Chicago-Style Hot Dogs, Papa's Herb Potato Salad, Julie's Italian Pasta Salad, Neicey's Pinwheels, DiDi's mini egg salad and PB&J sammys, Lilly Pullitzer Fruit Salad (watermelon, strawberries, green grapes and mint), YaYa's lemon poundcake, cream cheese sugar cookies, Traci's French vanilla cake balls and mommy made you a coconut-vanilla smashcake topped with the cream cheese sugar cookies. Everyone loved the food. I also served a cocktail and lemon water.
We hung out under the tall trees with a beautiful breeze blowing, so many people came! You played with our neighbor Brooklyn, school buddy Presley, Gaia from school, your BFF Piper, best bud Jaxon, cousin Crash. You had the prettiest pink, bubble dress on that YaYa bought you. Daddy pushed you on the swings.
Then you got to meet your PawPaw for the very first time, your daddy's dad. He held you and played with you. You also got to meet your Aunt Jennifer for the very first time, your daddy's sister, and your cousins, Caroline and Logan. They all loved meeting you and celebrating your first birthday.
Nanny and Poppy Hall came, NeNe spent the weekend with us, she just loved cuddling you and playing with you.
Then after awhile we decided to sing, Happy Birthday, to you and let you eat your first birthday cake. I took off your pretty dress, and left you in your diaper. Then I put the cake in front of you. You ate the cookies first, even shared with daddy and a few other people. You were so cute, you took your time eating your birthday cake. Finally you started to taste the icing, and eat your cake. Finally, you got really into it and started to pick up your cake like a shot put. We took videos of you, you were so sweet and funny. You kept wanting to share your cake with everyone.
Then daddy and I had to take you over to the dog park and hose you down. You loved the hose, you kept trying to drink the water. Then after we cleaned you up, you played some more and we opened all your presents. You got some AWESOME stuff... a water table from the Bolton's, cute clothes from Gigi, pool toys from Papa, YaYa's famous flashcards, a bubble lawnmower from Cora, a tunnel from Neicey, and so much more!
Then later that night, we stayed up playing with your YaYa and NeNe. You were so tired! Then the next morning, was your actual first birthday! We had a relaxing morning. Then got ready for church...you were dedicated on your birthday. It was so special. Daddy, mommy, DiDi, T, NeNe, Papa, Gigi, and YaYa met with the Pastor and we talked all about you, and prayed for you. Then we were led up on stage, where Pastor Tim blessed you, and we all committed to raising you in a Christian home. We promised to help you create a relationship with Christ. Julie, Neicey, Gram, Nikki, Aunt Dana, Kathryn were all in the audience watching your dedication. Your Godparents: Enna and Uncle Mike, love you so much. They have vowed to be there for you every step of the way.
Then after church we went out to brunch at Kerby Lane, then you, daddy and I went downtown to walk around the Pecan Street Festival. You LOVED the petting zoo, we saw a ponies, a camel, a kangaroo, a tortoise, and lots of goats. You kept talking to them in your own language, and would pet them when they came close. Then we celebrated you officially turning ONE at 4:43 p.m. Daddy and I swelled with pride that you are our daughter. We are so proud of you. You are gorgeous, have the sweetest personality, so pure, so wonderfully made. Those blueberry eyes capture our hearts every day. We cannot express how much we love you. It's more than the world can contain.
Cheers to you baby girl! On to year number two!
Love,
Mama
Now here we are 365 days later. It has been a wonderful year, Halen. Daddy and I have absolutely LOVED being your parents. We are thankful every single day for you in our lives. We can't imagine you not being part of our family.
This weekend was so special. First it started with daddy taking off work on Thursday to spend a daddy/daughter day with you. You guys had breakfast at J & J's, then went to story time at the Cedar Park Library, then you came to have lunch with mommy at work, we ate Rudy's BBQ, then you went to the Domain, where I met you after work to walk around and spend time together.
Then on Friday you played with Gigi all day. Friday night daddy and I stayed up late getting ready for your birthday party on Saturday.
Saturday morning, we cleaned the house, wrapped your presents, made food, and you ran errands with mommy all to prepare for your birthday party. Then in the afternoon Uncle Matt came to help daddy, YaYa came to help mommy and Aunt Dana came with Piper. While you and Piper played we finished getting ready. Jennifer and RJ showed up early to help too!
We walked over to Millrun Park, where your 1st birthday party was held. The theme was a Garden Party, with bright colors and flowers, all to celebrate you. Daddy and I created a fitting menu: Chicago-Style Hot Dogs, Papa's Herb Potato Salad, Julie's Italian Pasta Salad, Neicey's Pinwheels, DiDi's mini egg salad and PB&J sammys, Lilly Pullitzer Fruit Salad (watermelon, strawberries, green grapes and mint), YaYa's lemon poundcake, cream cheese sugar cookies, Traci's French vanilla cake balls and mommy made you a coconut-vanilla smashcake topped with the cream cheese sugar cookies. Everyone loved the food. I also served a cocktail and lemon water.
We hung out under the tall trees with a beautiful breeze blowing, so many people came! You played with our neighbor Brooklyn, school buddy Presley, Gaia from school, your BFF Piper, best bud Jaxon, cousin Crash. You had the prettiest pink, bubble dress on that YaYa bought you. Daddy pushed you on the swings.
Then you got to meet your PawPaw for the very first time, your daddy's dad. He held you and played with you. You also got to meet your Aunt Jennifer for the very first time, your daddy's sister, and your cousins, Caroline and Logan. They all loved meeting you and celebrating your first birthday.
Nanny and Poppy Hall came, NeNe spent the weekend with us, she just loved cuddling you and playing with you.
Then after awhile we decided to sing, Happy Birthday, to you and let you eat your first birthday cake. I took off your pretty dress, and left you in your diaper. Then I put the cake in front of you. You ate the cookies first, even shared with daddy and a few other people. You were so cute, you took your time eating your birthday cake. Finally you started to taste the icing, and eat your cake. Finally, you got really into it and started to pick up your cake like a shot put. We took videos of you, you were so sweet and funny. You kept wanting to share your cake with everyone.
Then daddy and I had to take you over to the dog park and hose you down. You loved the hose, you kept trying to drink the water. Then after we cleaned you up, you played some more and we opened all your presents. You got some AWESOME stuff... a water table from the Bolton's, cute clothes from Gigi, pool toys from Papa, YaYa's famous flashcards, a bubble lawnmower from Cora, a tunnel from Neicey, and so much more!
Then later that night, we stayed up playing with your YaYa and NeNe. You were so tired! Then the next morning, was your actual first birthday! We had a relaxing morning. Then got ready for church...you were dedicated on your birthday. It was so special. Daddy, mommy, DiDi, T, NeNe, Papa, Gigi, and YaYa met with the Pastor and we talked all about you, and prayed for you. Then we were led up on stage, where Pastor Tim blessed you, and we all committed to raising you in a Christian home. We promised to help you create a relationship with Christ. Julie, Neicey, Gram, Nikki, Aunt Dana, Kathryn were all in the audience watching your dedication. Your Godparents: Enna and Uncle Mike, love you so much. They have vowed to be there for you every step of the way.
Then after church we went out to brunch at Kerby Lane, then you, daddy and I went downtown to walk around the Pecan Street Festival. You LOVED the petting zoo, we saw a ponies, a camel, a kangaroo, a tortoise, and lots of goats. You kept talking to them in your own language, and would pet them when they came close. Then we celebrated you officially turning ONE at 4:43 p.m. Daddy and I swelled with pride that you are our daughter. We are so proud of you. You are gorgeous, have the sweetest personality, so pure, so wonderfully made. Those blueberry eyes capture our hearts every day. We cannot express how much we love you. It's more than the world can contain.
Cheers to you baby girl! On to year number two!
Love,
Mama
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