Evelynne at 11 months.

Yes, you read those two little numbers on that pumpkin right. Evelynne is eleven months today!!

Which means she only has one more month to go until she reaches the early stages of toddler hood.

It means that this will be her last monthly photo shoot.. Scratch that! I may just take these monthly shoots until she's old enough to tell me how she really feels about my obsession with capturing memories with photo's. But who knows she may love it!! She has the cheesy smile for it.

It's so unreal to me that my daughter is a month away from being the big one!! O.N.E. This has been one incredible year and the best year of mine and Leon's life by far. We can't even describe how blessed abundantly we are to have such a wonderful baby! She is our gift, our treasure.

And one of the ways I will be celebrating Evelynne's one more month of still being a baby I decided to start a series about the first year of Evelynne's life.. It will contain some old posts, poetry I have written to her, stories, and some letters.. And did I say lots and lots of pictures!?!?! Prepare yourself... :)

At 11 months Evelynne is:
Walking.
-Saying "dada" and "up" (Still waiting for "mama"!!!)
-Understands the words "no" and "Bye bye".
-Playing peek-a-oo.
-Playing chase.

Evelynne loves:
-Her Mr Giraffe, Teddy and Sophie the giraffe.. She loves all stuffed animals but those are her favorites..

-Bananas!! This girl goes bananas for bananas. She can't get enough of them. Which I'm not complaining. I'd much rather her love banana's than something she really shouldn't eat.

-Dogs.. She developed a new love for dogs. Unfortunately we can't get one with the place we're renting right now.. One day in the next few year's we'll have to get her one.

-TV.. Her favorites are Veggie Tales, Mickey Mouse and Harry The Bunny.

-Leaves.. Every time we go for a walk she has to hold one in each hand.. It's so darn cute!

Weight: I'm guessing she's around 20lbs by now.

Food: This girl usually eats anything and everything I put on her high chair but for the last couple of days she has refused to eat most things.. Just chicken, cheese,banana's, peaches and snacks. Today I finally got her to eat a English muffin with peanut butter so that's working. She's also throwing food now. fun! Every time a piece of food falls on the floor all I see is this racing through my mind $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.. Crazy I know..
I just gave the last bit of baby food I had to a friend because Evelynne won't touch the stuff anymore. Now that she has the real stuff she no longer wants Puree's so I just cut up fruit, and a sandwich for her and she's happy! I still nurse her anywhere from 2 to three times daily. And after her Birthday party we'll try to start weening her.. It's bittersweet for me.

Sleeping: Through the night still yay!! She goes to sleep anywhere from 6:30- 7 and usually wakes up around 6:30 the next morning. though these past couple of days it's been 5:30.. Whats up there, little munchkin?? I'm just happy she's sleeping through the night.

Memories: Evelynne is now starting to cuddle with me finally!! One of our new morning routines are laying on the couch together and watching TV.. So simple and yet, so cherishing! She is also getting really good at giving kisses on her own.. I love it!

Going to the pumpkin patch was so much fun!! Her favorite part was the animals for sure and the pumpkin.. She didn't want to let it go.. With husband working all the time it's hard to schedule family time in sometimes. But when it happens it makes family time that much more special!

Evelynne experienced her very first Fall bonfire goodness at her cousins 3rd Birthday party.. It was so much fun and everything was so perfect. Evelynne loved the fire and the food as well.

clothes: Evelynne is wearing anywhere from 12 to 12-18 and 18-24.. Lots of fall clothes!! :)

Mama: Feeling great!! Still somewhat in shock that Evelynne will be one soon.. But I'm enjoying every minute and forever will! Starting to get baby fever but I'm hanging in there.. Leon and I have talked about waiting until we hit our two year anniversary.. Until then I will have fun loving on my baby as long as I can.

Daddy: Leon and Evelynne have developed a stronger bond in the last month. Leon has been working so much lately so when he's off he really tries to make it about us! He's wonderful. Last Saturday he took Evelynne on a walk by himself for the first time ever and my heart was so warmed. She even calls for him when he's not there and tries to follow him when he goes down stairs and whenever she sees him she greets him with an ear to ear smile!  Is she slowly becoming a daddy's girl?

Dearest Evelynne,
Words can't describe how much we love you! You are so wonderful and amazing.
God has shown favor on us by blessing us with you. We couldn't have a more perfect baby.
You have made our family complete! We love you!

Here are some of my most favorite video's of her this month.. I just wish I could video tape her 24/7! Can't get enough of this girl!


1. Evelynne laughing at me dancing around like a crazy person!// 2. She's a walker folks!// 3. Our future worshiper// 4. She had enough stroller time.

31daysofblogging// Exciting moments of the week.

It has seriously been raining all week last week! From dawn to dusk.. I'm usually a huge fan of rain. The sound, the look.. The way it makes you feel so cuddly and  gives you permission to stay in your PJ's all day and get lost in a book.. However, Motherhood has changed my line of thinking a bit.. I still love rain and the sound (especially thunderstorms) but when your daughter gets cabin fever when she's in the house to long things go crazy.. Piglet loves the out doors.. LOVES it! It's her favorite place to be and when she can't go outside she's not a happy camper..Thankfully my friend Carolyne and I were able to get together with our little darlings to make some fall crafts! Isn't pinterest the best for fall idea's? 

E did so well! She's like a natural born artist. We had so much fun.

For the first time since Spring Leon and I got to go on a date.. Oh it was so nice to be able to just enjoy a nice quiet dinner and not have to rush our meals down our throat.  It was nice to be able to just share our hearts with one another, and to get to know each other even more than we  did.. Even if it's something as simple as what super hero you'd want to be if you could. We like to ask questions like that. It keeps the Marriage fresh.

It's funny how special and important dates are now for us.. Before when we were just dating it was something we did like two times a week.. Now we're lucky if we can get out once every three months.. The good thing about that though is that because we don't get to do it as often we appreciate it so much more.. It's so much more special and memorable. It's not just going out to eat. It's a time of fellowship, to slow down for a second to enjoy each other, a time to remind each other of why we fell in love. And let me tell you something ladies, I'm in love!

Leon would be Super Man by the way and I couldn't make up my mind between Iron woman and Optimus Prime!  =)

Where do you like to go on your dates or go with your girlfriends to chill?

Do you have any cute fall crafts that would be good for an almost one year old?

Happy Fall!!

Happy Fall to you!! I  personally feel like fall starts the day pumpkin spice latte's come out.. But technically Fall started yesterday so in that case Happy Belated Fall.

Speaking of yesterday did you wish Frodo  Baggins Happy Hobbits day??  I was gonna dress up like a hobbit but soon realized I had nothing hobbitish in my closet.. Not even a hobbit cape or sword. I soon realized my closet wasn't as exciting as I thought!

 The weather here has been extremely wonderful!! Early 70's so Leon and I have been going park exploring. We absolutely adore how Piglet loves the swings!!

I believe she prefers Leon's push much more than mine! When I swing her I barely let go of the swings but when Leon pushes her she's screams and laughs without a care... And lets just say I'm trying to keep my heart in my chest!!

This sums it up pretty nicely!!

                                How was your weekend?? :)
                                         Much love XOXO
                                                -Heather

Encouragement on ways to live a happy Marriage. (From the newbie herself)

It's so hard to believe that I have been married for almost two years now coming December 23rd.... Such a wonderful and memorable day. Because it was the day my best friend and I became one flesh.

This year in a half has been incredible! A season I wouldn't change for the world.

Yes, we had our up days and down days.

We had days where we were great financially and then there were days when money was just weird and I hated it!

We had days when we I was terrified to be a parent and then again all of our days we can't even comprehend the blessings  our child  brings us every day. Being a parent was always a calling on our lives, always a dream. We just didn't expect it to come true so soon and boy are we glad it did!

So during this year in a half of Leon and I being married, living together, making decisions together, committing together,  raising a life together, and loving each other. Here are a few things we live by that keeps our marriage a happy one.

1. God is fully the center of our Marriage.. We continue to work on not making any decisions without Him, We trust that He will provide and not money or jobs. And most important we have learned to seek God's love and affection more than each other. Because we both agree 100% that Jesus is much better at loving us and fulfilling our every desire more than we are capable and how can we even love one another if love itself (Jesus) isn't dwelling in our hearts? 

2.  Many people encourage the famous martial advice to give your 50% and let the other give their 50% but Leon and I fully believe that we need to give each other much more than 50% but 100%. We need to give our all to each other without the doubts and negativity of "I'm doing way more for my husband than he's doing for me"  Ladies, those thoughts are dangerous and can only lead to a stronghold on your marriage... Whenever those thoughts pop in the noggin throw them out and give your husband another 100% . If your spouse isn't giving you his 100% don't lash out on him or refuse to give him your loving.. Let God speak with your husband and correct him with wisdom.. You just keep doing your thing and you will be blessed. :)


3. Those who compare themselves among themselves are not wise.. So don't compare your marriage to another. That's mainly the only problem I have with romantic movies. It gives us women such an unrealistic romantic reality and influences us to compare our husbands to this Mr. Darcy. And it's not even just movies.. It can even be easy to compare our marriage to our the marriage of a friend, a "love story"  page on a blog, or even your expectations. Ladies lets just turn these negative thoughts away now in Jesus' Name.. Our weddings were amazing, our husbands our even better, and though our Marriages are not perfect we are right where we're meant to be and we are blessed beyond measure and God has a bright future for our Marriages! Doesn't that excite you wifey??
 
4. I'm so glad Leon and I took premarital counseling and I seriously recommend it to everyone.. One thing it has taught me is to "Communicate" Communicating my feelings in the past was always a struggle to me.. I was a go with the flow kinda girl a little to much and never spoke my opinion on anything.. But that quickly changed after I was encouraged that speaking your opinion (Especially to your husband) is a great thing and very important. I honestly think that's why sadly so many marriages break up these days..

"I think what we have here people, is a failure to communicate".

 So my husband would say. It's so important..I know if you have a husband who works all the time like mine.. (A police officer, in case you you didn't know) It's kinda hard to get a word in because their either sleeping or working. Night shifts are the worst! So God has given me the idea to write Leon a journal and put it by his nightstand.. Leon looks at it when he gets home or when he's off and then we talk about anything that's on our mind when he's off. Communication is key.

5. Circumstances happen. How will you handle them? One thing Jesus has really taught Leon and I is that we have control and power over our circumstances. Yea, things happen. Things that are not fair. But we have the power of the Holy Spirit to change them with our attitudes and words. So instead of having a pity party about how life isn't fair. We praise Jesus because we know that He knows the plans He has for us. Plans that will prosper us and give us hope. To God be the glory.