Dear Mac,

I cannot believe that almost a whole year of your life has already gone by. It seems like only days ago we were all anxiously awaiting your arrival into the world, and now it's nearing time to celebrate you turning one. You are the light of our lives, and have brought our family so much joy. Your daddy and I never dreamed being parents would be so much fun and rewarding.

I sit here and look through old pictures of all your firsts and can't do anything but smile and cry. You are the biggest blessing to our little family and I'm so grateful God picked you for your Daddy and I. You have grown so much over the past year, and it's been pure bliss watching you change and develop your little personality. From the first time you opened your eyes, the first time you rolled over, the first time you crawled, and those first steps you took..every little thing you've done has been amazing, and made us so proud! You remind me every day that God knows best. The day we found out you would be joining our family hundreds of emotions ran through my head, but as I sit here tonight while you're sleeping in your crib, I know without a doubt that God's timing was (is) perfect.

I love the way you adore your daddy! Your face lights up when he comes into the room and I pray that you two always share the special bond you have now. You love when daddy chases you before bedtime, and squeal happy sounds when he gets you. It makes mama's heart smile watching the two of you together. I love seeing you get so excited for bath time in the evenings, and I cannot wait to see you play at the beach this summer. You're a little water baby! I love hearing you say mama, and enjoy seeing you and your furry sister play so well together. She was your mama's very first baby you know. ;)

I see characteristics of both your daddy and myself in you! Some people say you look like daddy, while others think you look like mama but we feel like you're the perfect mixture of us both. I promise that your daddy and I will always be your number one fans.You can count on us to always be there for you. We will always be together, and we promise to never involve you if we ever encounter problems between the two of us. We are a family, and we're in this together.

We will soon go from counting weeks and months, to counting years. While that makes your mama sad that a whole year has already flashed by, I know the best years are yet to come! We now cannot imagine our life without you. We love you to the moon and back times 1000, sweet boy!

XOXO,
Mama

28 things to know...

Last week I turned 28. I know I still am young, but I've learned a lot in my life thus far. I've still got a lot to learn, but today I'm sharing 28 things I've learned that I feel are important things to know about life.

1. You are only in control yourself. 
2. Some things you will never understand. 
3. Being a grown up isn't fun. 
4. The older you get, the faster time goes by. 
5. Saving money is important.
6. Your opinion is your own. Don't try to force it on other people.  
7. Real friends are hard to come by. 
8. Your mother usually does know best.
9. Things always work out the way they're supposed to be.
10. You reap what you sow. 
11. Be kind.
12. Never let anger get the best of you. People don't forget what you say and how it made them feel.
13. Hard work will always pay off.
14. You are capable of doing anything you set your mind to as long as you're willing to do the work it takes to achieve it.
15. Almost everyday is filled with new learning experiences if you just open your eyes.
16. There are times when it will be necessary to agree to disagree with others, and that's okay.
17. Always look out for yourself.
18. Love yourself, just the way you are.
19. Laugh often.
20. Happiness comes from within, not from others.
21. Dream big.
22. When you're having fun, time flies by.
23. Communication is key to successful relationships.
24. Don't wait for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain.
25. A pet will always show you unconditional love.  
26. Being a parent is the biggest, most rewarding, but also the most difficult, responsibility you'll ever be given. 
27. Be patient. Some things just take time. 
28. Love hard, but guard your heart.

Party Planning for the BIG #1!

It's hard to believe that it was a whole year ago when we were planning for our little man's arrival, and now we're beginning to plan for his first birthday extravaganza! I don't know where time goes, but I do know it goes by way too fast once you have a little of your own.

If you follow me on Pinterest you've probably noticed the planning of Mac's first birthday has commenced. I have been pinning lots of ideas lately. I've chosen to go with the theme of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse because that's Mac's favorite. If you could just see the smile that comes across his face when the boy sees Mickey come on TV, you'd understand why I say that. Plus, it's a theme that will be relatively easy to find and make things for. Kylie from OK Momma will be helping me with some fun ideas for the party. I am so blessed and grateful for her creative self and our friendship. It's been so much fun getting ideas together and collaborating for this BIG celebration, but it also makes me so sad that my baby boy is transitioning into a toddler. ::sigh::

Here are some of my favorite pins on Mac's 1st birthday board. You can see all that I'm pinning by following me on Pinterest!

11 months old

Mac is 11 months old today. I'm not too sure how I feel about this, but I don't really have any control over the time that passes by. I say it all the time like a broken record, but it's going by so fast. These past 11 months have been the best months of our lives, and we are grateful to God every day for blessing us with our little nugget!

This month started off a little rough for our little man. He was sick for the very first time over Valentine's weekend and it hurt this mama's heart. It was just a little cold with runny nose, fever, and a cough but it was still sad not seeing him feel good. He's all better now though, and back to his happy self again!

Mac started WALKING this month! Our baby boy is not so much a baby anymore, he is transitioning into a toddler. It's so much fun watching him grow and get his personality. He is definitely going to be all boy! He still loves bath time, and is now taking his baths in the big bathtub. He loves to splash and kick around in the water. I cannot wait to see him this summer when we go to the beach! I just know he's going to love it since he loves the water. Mac enjoys playing in his room with his toys and likes reading books. He still isn't fond of nap time, at least at home on the weekends, but he does sleep well at night. He is mr. independent, and we are discovering his temper. The boy can throw down a mean fit when something isn't going his way. He loves watching TV, and Mickey is still his favorite! He is talking all the time and can say, "no no," "dadda,"and "mama". He is wearing 12-18 month clothes, size 5 shoes, and size 4 diapers. He is taking a few bottles a day, and eating soft foods.

Mac,

It's so hard to believe that you are almost 1 year old! This year has flown by and we cannot imagine life without you. This time last year we were preparing for your arrival, and we're now planning your first birthday! You are the light of our life and have brought so much joy to us. We love you more than you'll ever know, sweet boy!

XOXO,

Mama

March Friday Favorites

It's March, one of my favorite months because it's my birthday month! The question is though, how is it already March? WHOA! This year is flying by! Thank goodness spring is on it's way though. This girl is so over winter, and spring fever has set in.

1. These Sam & Libby gladiator sandals.

Target does it again! I snatched these up a few weeks ago at my local Target for $29.99. I think they're adorable and I know I'll get good wear out of them once it gets warm. I got the neutral color, but they also come in black. I'll for sure be packing them when we head to the beach in just a few weeks!

2. Advocare Spark Drink.

This girl, right her, loves her Spark! I have come to love this stuff so much that I now prefer it in the mornings over coffee. I've tried every flavor excluding pink lemonade. Fruit punch and cherry are my first preference, but I also do like watermelon and mandarin orange. It all kind of depends what kind of mood I'm in. I drink this in the mornings to get me going, and before I work out. I also sometimes have it as an afternoon pick me up. I always stay stocked up! 

3. Lemon Mint Leaf Candle from Bath & Body Works.

I've said it before, but Bath & Body Works candles are my favorite. They give off a strong fragrance while burning, and they last forever. I also usually have a couple of the wallflower plug-ins too. The Lemon Mint Leaf has a very clean smell and is a perfect scent for transitioning into spring and summer. I will start burning this scent at our house as soon as I finish up my winter candle. 

4.  This anniversary date art for the master bedroom.

This is one of my favorite recent pins. I love the idea of having our anniversary date hanging on the wall in our room. I always struggle with what to put in our bedroom because it is just our space. I personally like the things I hang on the walls to have meaning, and this simple little piece would be a perfect addition to anyone's master bedroom. I am keeping this in mind for when we move. 

5. This recipe post.

My recipe post for teriyaki chicken stir fry was the most popular post from last month on the blog. It was a readers favorite, and it's definitely a favorite dinner at our house too. 

So that's a wrap for this month's Friday favorites! If you check out my "birthday wish list" post from last week those are some other items that you could say are on my current favorites list too. Let's chat! What are you loving lately?

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February Wrap-Up.

February was a pretty exciting month for us! Mac attended his first OKC Thunder game, we put our house up for sale, and Mac taking his first steps are all things that took place.

Mac went to his very first sporting event, an OKC Thunder game! We sometimes get tickets through my work, and this time we didn't have a sitter so we just decided to take Mac with us. We went on a Sunday afternoon and the boy loved it!

Mac started taking his bathes in the big bathtub like a big boy. He LOVES bath time and now loves to chase around his trucks in tub while he's getting clean. When he hears bath water running he crawls to the tub as fast as he can; getting a bath is one of his very favorite things to do! 

Queenie & Poppie came for an overnight visit. Mac loved having bedtime stories with them.

We got quite a bit of snow, so on our snow day I made a batch of snow ice cream per Clete's request. It was no surprise that Mac loved it! 

He kept screaming for more, so I just got out one of his spoons for him to eat it with. 

These two are the best of friends! Mac shares his snacks with Honey, and his new thing is playing tug'o war with her. She is really good with him, and they're funny to watch together. Just a boy and his dog. 

And that's a wrap for February! 

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Birthday Wish List

March is sneaking in on us in just a couple days, and that also means my birthday is just around the corner! 27 is going to be a hard year to top with all the excitement we had adding a little one to our family, but I know 28 is going to be great! I've put together a small list of wants I'd love to be gifted so if anyone wants to inform my husband that would be much appreciated. Here's my wish list...

  

tory burch miller sandals | kendra scott elle earings 

Hunter rain boots | stella & dot bracelets | 50 mm camera lens

1. Tory Burch Miller Sandals. I've been eyeing these sandals for quite some time! My mom and sister both have them, and I want to add them to my shoe collection. Plus, they're the perfect sandal for our upcoming beach trip as they can be dressed up or worn casual. 

2. 50 mm camera lens. I have come to have a new love for dslr. After attending the Tulsa Mamarazzi workshop in January, I use my camera all the time. I would love to have this little gem that came highly recommended from the workshop leaders. I also need to make the purchase of a lens protector to prevent the lens from getting scratched.

3. Hunter rain boots. I've been wanting a pair of these for a while now. The rain boots I have I got when I was in high school, and that was 10+ years ago, so I think it's almost safe to say these would be considered a need! 

4. Kendra Scott Elle earrings. Kendra Scott just recently came to OKC and I've been dying to add some of her adorable and stylish jewelry to my collection but I've had a hard time deciding what I should buy. I've decided I want to add the "elle earring" in black since it will go with 90% of my wardrobe. Anyone who knows me well, knows that black is my preference when it come to clothing color. 

5. stella & dot bracelets. The gold "spike" bracelet has been on my want list for quite some time, but other things seem to come up that are greater wants. 

So those are a few of the things I'm wishing for this birthday. What kinds of things have been on your wish list?