Happy Birthday, My Handsome Man!

This very minute, 4 months ago, you came into this world! :) Our world has been better for it. Love, Mommy and Daddy :)

Abby's Best Friend

Two weekends ago I was visiting my sweet family in Temple. I was struck at how God linked a moment with my little niece Abby to what God spoke from Beth Moore on Psalm 62 just the week before. Beth had challenged us after she read the power-packed pep talk from David-- "What if we read Psalm 62 everyday?" It really hit me-- verses so concise and bold. Beth spoke about the freedom we have to lay it all out before the Lord and "pour out our hearts to him" like no one else on this earth. I am convinced He has ears like no one else on this earth--and a incomparable shoulder to cry on. And then I was talkin' to Abby in the kitchen on Valentine's weekend. I know--- it's proven again that God can teach us "from the mouth of babes." Abby is my 6-year-old niece, but everyone thinks she's my daughter. She has dark features like me, and every time she can't walk out of the house without her jewelry or gets goosebumps when she shows off a new outfit, her mom and dad look at each other and ask "How did this happen?" But no, she's not mine. We are close, though, so it was not strange that we had a little talk by the fridge over some lunchmeat and cheese.

So I said to my little brunette twin... "Abby...who's your closest friend right now?" She paused. She twirled around a little bit-- I could tell she wanted to give me a real answer. Then she began processing her thoughts out loud.

"Well, there's Tella." (Stella--is her friend, but she calls her Tella--I knew what she meant :). "But I would have to teach Tella about BFF.....and......hmmmm."

Cute. I hadn't heard BFF used in a few years. Well, at least by someone in the appropriate age range. I mean, my dad and Danny Dahlquist use BFF for each other, but it's different coming from a 6-yr old girl.

She continued. "And Ariel....she knows about BFF. I wouldn't have to teach her that we have a baby in the house, that i have a new baby cousin named Hunter....So, I guess Ariel is my closest friend."

I asked, "So, what do you mean you don't have to teach her?"

"Ariel already knows everything about me. She knows about Hunter, she knows about BFF. We talk. She knows. I tell her things. We talk everyday after 'cool.' " Abby answered matter-of-factly and happily.

So, there you have it. She knew her best friend by what the friend knew--by who she had taken the time to tell about her life--and who listened. The information Ariel held was a treasure to Abby, and she trusts her with it. She trusts that Ariel took special interest in the things Abby shared and that Ariel remembered it. Abby knew she wouldn't have to "teach her" about those important things over and over again.

God has as sense of humor (if you didn't know). Abby's mom's favorite Disney character is Ariel.

Ok, and yes, she's my favorite too, but, we don't have time to list the similarities between my niece and me.

"Trust in Him at all times, o people;

Pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8

Pour it out. He knows.

Love, C

Hunter's First Valentine's Day

Maybe someday you'll get chocolate, kiddo! ;)

My little cupid--thanks for the idea, Leslie~

Hunter trying out his bow and arrow pose for Cupid

One of my favorites! I must say, I saw this happy face just a few days before Valentine's Day, when Hunter got his first Valentine...from Jemma! I showed him Jemma's picture she sent, and he just SMILED and SMILED! :)

Hunter with his Aunt Lana --aka "Atlanta"

Hutner with Gigi and Pappy

Happy V-Day! Smiles all around!

Hunter with Nana and Daddy--so happy!

Hunter's First Valentine

Well...it happened! Hunter had his first valentine! Christy came to visit Friday, February 5th. Hunter loved his little Valentine, Brinley Culli! Can you believe how they are lined up so cute! 1 month apart! Christy and I made jokes the whole night about how we will be seeing these pictures again at their rehearsal dinner for the video slideshow. And Matt always adds that the rehearsal dinner "had better be awesome." LOL

Lindy's Sprinkle & Ella's Cocktail

Ella Brooke's Cocktail (recipe below)

Ashley's Pretty "e" Mini-Cupcakes

Sprinkle Hostesses and Mommy of Honor (we all have had kids in the past 4.5 months-- except for the Mommy) LOL

We had a great time hosting the shower for Lindy and Ella Brooke, who is on the way! I must give a shout out to Tae to made the pink pom-poms in the backdrop. The Krafty Korean strikes again. ;) Everything was so fun and PINK!

Here's the recipe to Ella's Cocktail~ which made it's debut at the Sprinkle:

Mix 2 cans Bacardi Pina Colada (and use the Bacardi can for the rest of the measurements)

2 cans of water

2 cans of Cranberry juice

6 cans of Fresca

Frozen fruit for additional ice and texture (I used peaches)

we did it~fourth trimester~ complete!

dear hunter,

Well, cutie, we made it! They say that first 12 weeks is like another trimester...and what a learning curve for us both! I know what a culture shock that must have been for you. you had to work so hard for your food, sleep at different times, and for the first few weeks everyone was showing you a pointy tree with lights on it. I think it got kind of dizzy...everyone trying to burp you and swirling you around those dazzling lights. Between the Christmas lights everywhere and the cameras flashing--I'm sure you had enough stimulation to last for ANOTHER 3 months. Then suddenly, the trees went away. I'm sorry that is one of the only kinds of trees you have seen since you were born in the winter. We have not been able to get out too much! Like today...it's freezing and snowing in Texas!

Some of my favorite memories are of us dancing around the house together. I loved holding you as we listened to Christmas music together while it was snowing outside on December 4th. I still laugh at how tickled you got when Jingle Bells would come on the radio. And then there's the "Me and Hunter" playlist on the ipod. Our favorites include "You've Got a Friend in Me" -- (which is so cute to play when you are laying down eating with your little feet dancing at the back of the boppy pillow) and "Getting to Know you"-- because that's exactly what we are doing! The lyrics are just perfect for us right now.

You've been given lots of love and that is my main job description to date--to get the message to you how crazy we are about you. We already dream big dreams for you, kiddo. I know you are going to do great things. Love, MoMmY