Reese's 'R' Party

The Invitation!
The front door!

The candy Bar!

The beautiful cake!

Reese's first ever cake!

Opening presents!

Lovin it!

She was so dirty from head to toe!

This is what she did at the end of the night!

Reese's birthday celebration turned out AmAzInG!

I had such fun making all the decorations, setting them up, and enjoyed everyone Ohhing and Ahhing over my hard work! I had never done so much to prepare for a party but with this being my last baby to turn 1, I wanted it to be the best for her!

We had a lovely group of people here to help her celebrate. We ate some good food, some yummy cake, watched Reese giggle while opening presents, and enjoyed seeing her attack her first ever piece of cake!

God has been to us this last year by blessing us with Reese and for that we are thankful!

On this day one year ago...

My life was blessed...

Happy 1st Birthday Reese Prestyn!

What a Blessing she is!

my sweetie and me!

one of my favorite pictures of Reese


The 1st picture of all the girls!

Reese still in the hospital in her sweet monogrammed beanie

Tomorrow is the day I have anticipated so much for the last 3 months and at the same time dreaded for the last year!

10 months old and oh so sassy!

My baby girl will be turning one at 2:24 pm September 10,2010. I begged, pleaded, tried everything in the book to get this baby born on 9-9-09! How awesome would that be?! But she had her story ready to be written! (and so did my doctor!)

I hope, pray, and plan on doing her 1st birthday party, and my last 1st birthday party up right! I want everything perfect just for her. She has been the greatest blessing to our family! She has completed us in so many ways more than I can explain!

I always knew I wanted another baby, #4, but I thought I wanted it around the time when Sophie went to kindergarten. The moment I found out I was being blessed and entrusted with another child, I was ecstatic! God had other plans for our family and I am so happy he did!

I want my sweet baby girl to know that she is such a doll! She has fulfilled my life! I thank God very often for her. I pray very often for her. I always thought I had my life perfectly laid out just as I wanted it. This baby made me take a step back and smell the roses. Enjoy each moment. Study every detail. Ponder every thought. I NEED my children! I NEED their love, their devotion, their love and lives! They are everything! I don't know if I would have taken it all in like I do since Reese if it wouldn't been because of her.

Thank you Reese for making me slow down! I want to cherish every moment with you, savor every long, sleepless night, and I want to hold you every time you want me to!

Your life makes me complete!

I love you sweet baby!

Happy 1st Birthday tomorrow!!!

Love Mommy

9-10-09

September means a BIRTHDAY is coming up!!!!

2010-2011 school year

So summer came and went. We did Disney, tons of trips to visit my parents in Waco, a trip to Arkansas, and a trip to visit my grandma in Kerrville. So August came and it was time to start school! The girls were beyond excited!

Here are the big girls on the morning of the first day of school:

Madalyn and her 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Harp. She is switching classes this year, my sweet firstborn is growing up :o(
Loraly and her 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Cleveland! Mrs. Cleveland's daughter is in Madalyn's class! They have already become friends! I think this is going to be a great year.

So the 2 little ones and I have cleaned house, done laundry and ironing, organized closets, went grocery shopping, cleaned more...WOW what we can get done with only 2 little ones at home! Poor Sophie began missing her big sisters Thursday. It only took 3 days of them being gone :o)

We also started back to Wednesday night church this week also. They don't have class during the summer for the kids due to vacations, etc.

Well, my little baby Reese will be turning one in 2 weeks exactly! I can't believe it! Life is good, couldn't ask for more...

I know you are all dying to know these things about me :o)

1. I am 32
2. I have 4 daughters
3. Got married at 21
4. had firstborn at 23
5. Everything seems to happen to us on odd years. Got married at 21, had Madalyn at 23, Loraly at 25, Sophie at 29, Reese at 31.
6. I am the youngest in my family, but the first to get married
7. Mark and I have been married now for 11 years
8. I love the color RED
9. I am shy at first but once you get to know, I will tell you just about anything!
10. Mark is my only :o)
11. I have breastfed all 4 of my daughters
12. I went from being preggo with Sophie for 9 months, breastfeeding her for 13 months, to immediately finding out I was preggo with Reese, and am still breastfeeding her.
13. The longest I have been away from Reese was last Saturday when a friend and I took our older daughters to 6 Flags for the day. We were gone for 8 1/2 hrs! The longest away from Reese before that was 2 hours just to see a movie!
14. When people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would say a Mommy!
15. I don't believe in divorce.
16. Am not a pet person.
17. I love a clean house, but am not a clean freak
18. Will rewash something if it gets on the ground after washing.
19. I am superstitious.
20. find it funny that people think just cause we have 4 girls, that we were still trying for that BOY
21. believe strongly in God, love church, read the bible, pray very often, but feel funny when people try to *throw* their faith in your face.
22. when talking to my husband on the phone, we say we love each other probably 5 times before hanging up
23. believe that people need to live for the future, and not live and dwell in their pasts
24. literally thank God every morning for letting me, my husband, and girls wake up to live another day
25. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Even though I have 4 kids, (don't worry it cant happen, literally)I would love to have another baby in a few years :o)

Peace

I am at a time in my life where I feel as if this is just where God wants me to be. Mark and I rely on each other for so much, love, support, parental guidance, house work, making money, friendship, etc. Right now in life we are making it...and by this I mean we are making our children happy, making them healthy, providing them with what they NEED, our bills are paid on time, we have food in our pantry, we don't go hungry. We don't have much, but it doesn't matter because we are happy. I am trying to teach my children (and my husband) the difference between NEED and WANT. There are definitely things we want...beach vacation, new clothes, new shoes, a newer family car, a pedicure :o), to not have to ask for help :o( financially...We laugh together, we live together, and we love together as a family. We have more than some families, but we have a lot less than others...in the terms of tangible items. I feel that we have everything we could ever need, hope for, pray for, and dream of! We are so blessed to have what we do...love, 4 beautiful, healthy daughters, my parents who would drop everything for us, aunts, uncles, siblings, that are all willing to help with the children, friends who are amazing!, but most of all a God that leads us where he wants us to be, shows us how to love, shows us how to parent, and leads us each and everyday in His way.

We don't make a lot of money, but we do with it what we should, our bills get paid, our children have food, and a roof over their heads; its just hard to accept that life isn't about a new car, steak for dinner, name brand clothing, having a perfectly manicured flower bed, etc. but rather life is about the happiness, love, and laughter that you can find in our house (on most days).

Numbers 6:24-26"The LORD bless you and keep you;the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."

and He has given me peace.