From Our Family To Yours...

Next Year's Halloween Costume for Ilah Already Purchased!

While we were at the mall over the weekend, I stopped in to Pottery Barn Kids to browse...but ended up leaving with a little something ; )Ilah's Halloween Costume for next year was purchased! When I saw this adorable cupcake costume hanging on the rack I just couldn't pass it up! Look at how cute it is!!!.....What makes this Momma love it even more is that it was regularly $59.99....and I got it

Ilah's First Trip to Build-A-Bear

Over the weekend we took Ilah to Build-A-Bear for the first time!! She about leaped out of her stroller when we passed the "workshop" window. So naturally when she got inside, she was amazed!Once inside, we went to the wall where you choose your bear - or your monkey, dog, koala, sheep, etc. - Build-A-Bear doesn't discriminate ; ) Ilah reached in and grabbed her choice....Here she is hugging the

Ilah's Fun-Filled Halloween

We originally planned to go to our church's Trunk-or-Treat night last Friday night but unfortunately it rained and even though they didn't cancel it, we passed on going. I was bummed for Ilah {who didn't even know we planned on taking her there}; I really wanted her to have a fun-filled night, being out and about with other little kiddos. But I was determined to find an alternative...so I was on

Ilah & Her ABC Puzzle

I have a tendency to buy toys for Ilah that are a bit ahead of her age-range {those that are a non choking hazard}. In the first nine months or so, I understood that certain toys were important for her [and any young babies] developmental and cognitive growth, while also promoting stimulation. But as Ilah got closer to turning one, I found that most of the toys within her age-range were "piddly".

Ilah, 21 Months Old

I can now relate to every parent out there who has said "time flies" as it relates to how quickly their children have grown up. My daughter is just a few months shy of turning 2 and it seems just now that she should be turning 1. I feel like it wasn't at all almost two years ago that we welcomed her into the world and into our arms...it seems like yesterday. Ilah, you are the most amazing little

Looking Cute For The Raindrops

Remember this post when I spewed about how hectic the month of October would be for me? Well, I'm in the thick of it. Everything is piling on top of each other. I was prepared for the things that were written on my calendar...but then came things that I didn't anticipate having to deal with. Its as if a truck driver made a front door delivery of "hoopla" and said "good luck with that ma'am" and

All About Ilah {and Talk of Baby #2 - What's Your Opinion on a Good Age Difference Between Children?}

I've been loving the brisk mornings here in Atlanta. By the time the afternoon rolls around, it's close to 80 degrees out and the day takes a warmer shift - but hey, I'll take it over the sweltering summer heat that we had this year. I hope that the weather isn't teasing us and ends up reversing itself for a bit - it's been known to do that : / But given that we're now in October, I'm confident

Saturday Fun at The Fair!

In Friday's post I mentioned that we didn't have anything planned over the weekend but it turned out that Saturday was Ilah's day of fun! We spontaneously decided to go to The North Georgia Fair! I didn't even know there was one until that morning when I looked up something fun for us to do as a family that day : ) We got there around 12:00 noon...Ilah, who usually never wants to hold our hand

Our Friday

Our morning began with kisses and hugs from Daddy before he headed out for work. These days Ilah has started to pull him down to sit with her, or reach up for him to pick her up, to delay him from leaving. And daddy always takes an extra few minutes to be with his baby girl. She's wrapped around his finger I tell ya ; ) When daddy headed out, it was onto breakfast, then play time, then onto

Shopping For Seasonal Clothes Ahead of Time

It's no secret that I love good deals. Especially when it comes to Ilah's clothes, which she outgrows in what seems like just a few months time. Although there are lots of darling outfits in the stores, and in online shops, I hardly ever pay full price for something. Instead of spending a few thousand dollars for my child's seasonal wardrobe, I only spend a few hundred. I learned my lesson when I

Ilah's 2nd Birthday Party Dress

I've been on the look out for an adorable cupcake dress for Ilah's 2nd Birthday party. I haven't found anything in the stores {that I liked}, and much of what I was finding online was what I considered to be rather expensive for a dress that maybe Ilah would only wear once. I bookmarked a few "potentials" but I kept coming back to this one:So I bought it on Monday : ) I think it's SUPER cute and

We're Ready for Halloween!

I know, I know...we're not even through September yet and I'm talking about October and Halloween. But I'm super excited this year as Ilah is older and she can have a little fun getting dressed up and toting her Halloween treat bag around ; )Towards the beginning of the year, my mother-in-law bought Ilah a Halloween outfit on clearance at Dillards after Halloween was over. It's not a "costume"

Our Labor Day and Ilah's Fun-filled Tuesday!

I could have sworn it was just September 1st....and now it's the 7th. These weeks/months are FLYING by. Fall is starting to break through the heat here in Atlanta. Last week it was in the mid 90's and this week it has been in the high 60's. Talk about an instant shift. But I'm not complaining! Come on fall!I thought I would backtrack and do a post highlighting what we did for Labor Day. My hubby

Prepping for Ilah's Cupcake Themed Birthday Party

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I purchased some decor for Ilah's 2nd birthday party but that I didn't feel like pulling all that stuff out, unwrapping what had been carefully wrapped, go through the process of taking a ton of pictures, then re-wrap all of that stuff neatly, and then put it all back in our storage area. I said I would "eventually" get around to it, and post pictures of those

Sunday Funday!

In our area, school is back in session - and for those kids, summer has ended. Not the heat necessarily {it's still in the 90's here in Atlanta} but in the sense that fun summer days have have come to an end. They have been replaced with early morning wake times, packed lunches, heavy back packs, and homework in the evening. Boo! But for Ilah, she is still loving the summer days! Soon enough we

Remembering Then...And Loving Now

I remember when Ilah was a teeny tiny baby, fresh into the world and so small in her first few months of life. Whether I was cuddling her against my chest, cradling her in my arms, lying down next to her, or holding her with one arm while I did something else with the other, I would create special moments just staring at this little baby that God had blessed my life with. I was emotionally

Our Monday {and Ilah is 19 Months Old!}

My adorable, sweet and funny little Ilah has been oh-so temperamental lately. Could the terrible two's be approaching early? For now, I'm just chalking it up to a few bad days. Hopefully ones are ahead, but I know this is all a part of the toddler stage. The fits have been daily - and often - and those few minutes that she is throwing herself on the floor and whaling her eyes, seem much longer

Ilah Getting Acquainted With Something New

A little while back, after she woke up from her nap one afternoon, Ilah came face to face with something new....Her shadow. She cracked me as she checked it out, moving closer to it to see what would happen....Maybe if she gave it a punch, it would move?....Maybe if she put her ear to it, it would whisper something to her?....Maybe if she talked to it, it would say something back?....Maybe if she