Hannah's 1st Birthday!

Hannah's birthday was a little more low-key since we have the luxury of her not knowing about it yet :-).  It fell on a Sunday, so we had our regular routine of church, lunch at Papcitta's, and naps.  That evening, we celebrated with iced sugar cookies & presents!

After having eaten her cake the week before, she fully appreciated the beauty of icing!

We got Hannah the same thing for her birthday that we got Kate - her first baby doll!

she wanted to share the baby's bottle

big sister showing her how it's done

One...already?

Sometimes it feels so easy to go right back to this moment.  Seems like she just got here.  But, then most, it's much easier to see how full this last year has been.

 I can't believe I have another one-year-old.  And, what I really can't believe is that it is has been just as amazing the 2nd time around as it was the first.  Maybe even a little better.  This time, I knew it was going to go so fast, so I sat more.  I held longer.  I let things go when I just wanted to be with my baby.

That baby is long gone.  She is a mover & a shaker who is more thank likely louder than I remember her sister ever being.  I have loved learning how to relate to another little girl.  She is so, so different in a lot of ways.  Much feistier.  Funnier for sure.

 This little girl thinks my lap or hip is the place she is supposed to be, and I remind myself often that one day she'll move along & it won't be.  So, I stop again and hold her a little longer.

I look forward to our years to come & learning more about her.  Learning the best ways to comfort, the best ways to challenge, to discipline, and to make her laugh.  This little girl is helping to write my story as a mom - and as a woman.  I am thankful for the things she's already, and the things that she will teach me.

Today, we're celebrating this little girl turning one - and I'm going to stop & soak up as much as I can.

White Rock Marathon Relay

A few months ago my sweet friend, Kate Coleman, who is a Senior at A&M this year started talking to me about running in the White Rock Relay with her and her friends.  This was *before* I was pregnant.  I hemmed and hawed & told her I really wanted to, but would have to figure out all the logistics of David keeping the girls overnight, etc.  Not to mention the logistics of being 30, in at best, decent shape, but not great, and running with a bunch of college students????

Well, time passed, I found out I was pregnant & I still wanted to run, but kept warning Kate that I don't run as fast as I did in college (and it wasn't fast then!), and now I was pregnant! I gave her many opportunities to kick me off the team, but they were sweet enough to have me!

It was a great break for me - I left Saturday at the beginning of nap time & got to do some shopping along the way in Canton & at the outlet mall before meeting them for dinner for our pre-race meal at Cheesecake Factory!  After a little more shopping at the mall, we headed for sleep!  

The next morning, we headed over to Eistein's for a little breakfast while we waited for our legs to start & I ran into one of David's old roommates, Caleb Dean, & his wife!  It was super fun to catch up, and David was very jealous!

Patti, Kate's mom - and one of my friends!, came and drove us around to our different drop-off points.  We were so glad to have her there, because this was the weather during our race...

Kate &  before running

I ran the last leg (5.2 miles), and got to actually cross the finish line which was super fun.

Kate & I (soaked!) after the race

our team after the race

I love races, and loved getting to do this with Kate & spend time with the Coleman women for the weekend!  Thanks Kate for letting this old pregnant lady join your team!

MOPS Steering Team Dinner

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of hosting our Steering Team at my house for our thank you dinner.  Bethany & I could not do what we do coordinating MOPS without these women!  They love & serve our moms in really incredible ways.  We love having a chance to get to pour some love back into them!

We decided to make it a tradition from last year & have soups for dinner - tomato basil, chicken chili, & taco! yumm!!  

 After our yummy dinner we played some holiday "Minute-to-Win-it" games!

After getting out our need for competition & an excuse to give out some prizes, we did what we love most and spent hours visiting!  Did I mention I love these women?

Santa Land

One of my favorite things we did this year was Santa Land!  David & I went in College Station while we were dating & I loved it, so I was excited to get to show it to Kate.  We borrowed my mother-in-law's suburban, invited the Molinas to join us & headed down I-20!

Kate LOVED it.  She gave a constant commentary in case we were missing anything - she pointed it out!

I think my favorite part was these trees that were synchronized to music.


I tried to take a picture of Kate & I - this is what the result was when I turned the camera around...

Classy.

Our car all loaded up on the way to Tyler.

We let Kate out to go through the lights.  She loved being close to Daddy & getting to point all of it out.  

DEFINITELY hope this becomes a tradition.  Love doing all these fun holiday things with my family :-)

We Like to Party Double Time

As I started thinking about upcoming birthdays, I was pretty sure I was going to figure out a way to make sure my girls each had their own special day.  Well, practicality took over and I decided to create a double party - and I think it turned out pretty well!  The girls both seemed to have a great time, I know we did, and I think our guests did too - I'll call that success!

It turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL day, which was great so the kids could play outside!

While they were waiting to eat, the kids also got to paint (one of Kate's all time favorite activities these days!) frames as a party favor, that could later hold their photo booth picture!

Kate & Nana

The Wilson girls

playing in the playroom

 We had what is becoming a traditional party meal at our house - hot dogs & chili.

 After lunch we got out the cake & candles and each girl was sang to.  I did manage to pull off doing that separately.  This year, Kate really understood more & had so much fun with everyone singing to her!

My girl loves icing

 Hannah wasn't so sure about the cake.  I tried to help her out, but for a long time she wanted none of it.

 Poppa tried to show her how good it was...

Kate even tried...

 So, we let her have a little space while Kate opened presents...

 And she quickly decided she'd give it a try.

 She caught on pretty quick.

 Pretty sure this girl loves her some cake too!

I can't believe I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old.  Like they say, the days sure are slow, but the years are flying by.  I loved getting to celebrate them!