Best Cousins!

 4th of July and now November! 

6 months ...1/2

I sit down at 9:07 pm to write to you....can't believe literally 6 months ago you entered our life.  Part of our relationship it seems like we are old friends and that I have known you for a lot longer and on the other hand we are new best buds.  I love you so much and our journey seems to be moving so fast.  Fast but I can still remember the moment you entered the world...A GIRL!!

So Builder likes to say your current age is 1/2 and Lulu likes to still say 5 months and not move on quite yet.  6 months old and you are SO much fun!!!  Your most favorite thing right now is to blow raspberries.  You will do this for hours and just cover yourself in drool until your shirt is soaking wet.  You are a loud little one, not sure who you got that from!!  When you want something we all know, you can really hit some high notes.   You laugh a lot and are so ticklish.  You have mastered sitting up.  You love play time with your toys and have quite a reach.  Sophie is your favorite toy.  Whoever created this toy knew what they were doing!!  We still take our morning walks and with the cooler temps we have inserted your stroller blanket and you love a quick morning snooze there all snug.  You still sleep ok, in your bed but up a few times a night.  You are loving food, we started with the fruits and our now to veggies.  Your favorite, peaches.  You were not a fun a squash but after mixing with some apples you were sold.  You get super excited when you see any type of food or your bottle.  You love to sing and watch people dance.  We still have great snuggle time.  You don't crawl yet, you would rather sit or stand.  Your hair has started to come in really blonde.  Pappa calls you pumpkin or etta.  I call you etta kate, etta, ek, pea, and lately my little monster!  Whatever you go by I am sure you will know your name...when you look back at pictures and as you know I LOVE a monogram or embroider (Builder will always correct this term as I use monogram for it all).  You have all variations on your clothes and bows.   

I know over the next 6 months you will grow and change so much.  It is truly amazing to watch and I will be right there for it all.   I know that any journey with you will be exciting....EK we will celebrate BIG in 6 months but for now we are getting ready for your first Christmas!!!

6 months old.....

mom moment

Mom tear...had them.  May be strange but it was a strange moment tonight when I realized I had not nursed EK today.  This may be a strange post for some to read so you can stop here if you want. But for me nursing was just part of it.  It worked for me and it worked for EK.  Going into it I went pressure free, I wanted to do it but if it did not work I would move on.  I did not set a goal from the start but as it progressed I said 6 months would be nice age to stop.  I have no idea why just sounded good and maybe far off.  It was creeping up and it was still working for us.  Why change a good thing?  Well EK had other plans...last week she decided she was done and on to bottles.  So strange just like she woke up one day and was like give me a bottle....remind me of this when I am trying to potty train (remember I had mom tears lets not move that fast!)  Not thinking to much of it then we started with a bottle for that feeding and then that is really all she wanted.  Well momma can't just stop so it had to be a progression.  But here we are a week and half later....it is over.  Tear.  I have to say I love the bond I have with her.  I am sure I would have it no matter how she ate but it was special.  Tear.  I can tell you mom tears are something special as well.  As I put EK to sleep tonight the eyes weld up and at first I thought ....come on but then I let go.  I cherish these moments and really time goes by so fast.  Tear.  Pea you are one strong little pea and I love that little fire and spark you bring. 

So I have now entered the bottle world and even though I have tears tonight, in the words of my grandma when she say ek....these are 'happy tears'.  I am ready and so is EK...works for us so on we go.

Turkey day

2 Little Turkies!!

Gobble! Gobble! Gobble! We are FULL!!! Thankful for SO much today and everyday!

This is our standard ....blowing raspberries!!  Makes me laugh every time.  Even when food goes everywhere.  Sweet Potatoes were perfect for Turkey Day!

Pappas turkey creations!

What is this bird?! 

Super close up!  Too much turkey! 

3 years!

 

Has it really been 3 years?? We are still newly weds right....!!  Still feels like just yesterday we were preparing for the big day and our big European trip.  It was such a fabulous time with my best friend ever.  The builder means so much to me and I truly am thankful for each day I get to spend time with him.  We have accomplished so much and the biggest this year, the birth of Etta Kate.  

 Lots of 3 for us this year... 

 A look back at our Honeymoon....I want to go again looking at these pictures.  It was 3 very busy weeks and I still know that I learned so much on that trip.  I would not say it was a relaxing lay on the beach honeymoon but I am so grateful for all I experienced.  I have to recap, who knows some day I may read this and need the reminder.  First stop was Paris! 

 Yes this is how builder looked on travel days....we covered some ground.  Won the best husband award right away.  Yes I did carry a bag as well.  Yes I OVERPACKED! 

 Second stop was London

 Followed by Lucerne

 Rome, then Florence, then Venice

 Then NYC, arrived the day after Thanksgiving for shopping and Radio City Rockettes!

Builder I look forward to all that is ahead for us, lots of love!

Week through builders new phone

Too Cute!

Picture sent to me while at work....pappa says...just too cute had to take a picture.  Love her!