My Very First Blogger Award!!!

I got my very first blogger award from sweet Kindall at Some Kind of Wonderful!! Everyone should definitely go check out her adorable blog and follow her hilarious post!! I get sad when she doesn't post for a few days...step it up Kindall ;). I know Kindall in real life! She recently became a stay at home mommy to sweet Mason...he's adorable! Maybe Ellie and him could have a playdate soon....they share a pediatrician! Kindall used to work at the non-profit were Steven and I both volunteered for many years! Thanks Kindall for the sweet award!

Here are the rules:

1. Thank and link back to who gave you the award!

2. Share seven things about yourself!
3. Pass it along to seven blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy!

4. Let the recipients know you've left them an award!

My 7 facts:

1. On March 16, 2010 my entire world was rocked when I became a mom to a premature baby girl!! She is a blessing in every way imaginable and I wouldn't change one second of our story!

2. I must drive the same day to work EVERY SINGLE DAY. I don't go the quickest route but it's typically the least traffic route. Even days i'm running late there are two other routes that would be a little quicker but I can't do it's like my car is on auto pilot.

3. I take preventative migraine medicine in the morning and at night. I must take this little bitty pill with a glass of ice tea....a FULL glass of ice tea. It typically gets poured, pill taken, and then the rest of the glass WASTED sitting right next to the sink....terrible I know.

4. One time when we had open house at preschool I had to draw a picture of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Most children drew things like a fireman, postman, doctor, dentist, etc. I colored a picture with different colored hair.....I wanted to be Cyndi Lauper. I'm sure my parents were proud.

5. I graduated college in 3 1/2 years.

6. Upon college graduation I accepted a job in Colorado Springs. I knew absolutely no one. I moved a few weeks after graduation....I made some life long friends and don't regret my decision one bit even though I am back in Oklahoma now!

7. Steven and I dated for 6 years before we were married.

Now my award goes to.....

Behymer Business. I know Daysha in real life....her sweet Lyndon was a preemie. We are neighbors and she welcomed us home and into loving arms when sweet Ellie was a preemie! She is also expecting baby #2 and we are praying everyday for a healthy full term pregnancy!

The Steen Style. I worked with Laura's husband AND she went to high school with my husband....such a small world! They are currently remodeling their home and I LOVE following their adventures!

Live.Love.Laugh. I only know Heather through the blog world. She commented and offered support during our journey with Ellie. Shortly after she announced her pregnancy. In August her world was rocked as she delivered sweet Brayden 3 months early. He got to come home right before Thanksgiving and is doing wonderful!

The Adventures of Mc & Max. Casey is my very best friend and I love following the boys on her blog!! We don't get to see each other too often with her living in Tulsa and us both having full schedules....maybe this award will encourage her to post!

Life With the Earles. Bobbie is one of my sorority sisters and I LOVE reading her blogging adventures...I rarely comment and I love how she always talks about her two readers....make that three I read you just don't know it!!

Footholds of a First Year Teacher Lindsey is 'family'. She is braving her first year teaching and after a challenging start is doing fabulously well as everyone knew that she would! Lindsey you make us all proud!!!

The Strope Situation My sweet Becky! Becky is my 'big sis' from the sorority house. She has three BEAUTIFUL children! I love keeping up with them all!

Two Sweet Girls

Our family friends youngest daughter is 8 and she is absolutely one of the sweetest things in the world! I was in college when Avery was born and I was pretty smitten! She was one of sweetest most content babies. I have LOVED getting to watch her grow into the sweet girl she is today! We have gone on family vacations to Florida, lake trips, Taylor Swift concert, she was in our wedding, long summer days swimming, pedicures......just to name a few of the things we've shared. She was so excited when we told her we were having a baby and even more excited when we found out it was a little girl. At Christmas this year she would watch my belly for as long as it took for Ellie to move. She told me things like when I got to big she would help me paint my toenails :). Last Saturday she came over and spent the day with us while her family was at her brother's track meet. She LOVED spending the day with Ellie and we LOVED having her she was such a big helper. She is the youngest of three with her siblings being 19 and 13....so being around a baby was new for her but you would have though she had 2 younger siblings! I can't wait for Ellie to grow up and have Avery in her life!

Funny Faces

Playing with Carson

Sweet girl

Taylor Swift!

4th Birthday

Opening Taylor Swift Tickets

Holding Ellie for the first time

Last Saturday...I LOVE this picture

Steven and I are both so thankful for so many sweet friends in our lives but we are extremely thankful for Avery and her family!

Sweet Chloe

Our dear friends have been in China for the past week anxiously waiting to meet their sweet daughter!!! They've been sending us updates while they've been gone and we knew to expect pictures and video of their Chloe meeting by Monday morning! Well much to my surprise I logged in this evening to see if they had any touristy updates before the big day tomorrow and they had already shared the video of their first meeting!!

I am sure it does not help that I am already an emotional mess and that I hold a very special place in my heart for adoption but I was REALLY a mess after watching their video! I watched it multiple times. I had not shared with Steven that it was posted and he came in the bedroom to find me crying.....I am pretty sure he thinks I've lost my mind!

Hopefully I will have pictures soon to share with everyone. She is absolutely adorable, perfectly healthy, and adjusting very well. I can't wait for them to arrive home so I can meet their new bundle of joy!! They will arrive back to Oklahoma the same day we find out the sex of the baby so we will all have lots of celebrating to do!! They have been waiting 4 long years for this day and I could not be more thrilled. I know they will be wonderful parents.

Chloe actually shares the same birthday as Steven so Christmas Eve this year will be extra special...not only will it be Chloe's first Christmas experience but also her first birthday. I hate to say it but I think Steven's birthday might be overshadowed this year!

Weekend!!

This week has been crazy to say the least! The weekend will be just as crazy with lots of busy plans! We have dinner tonight for our friends Chad's birthday at Shogun which is should be yummy and lots of fun! Tomorrow we will be leaving for Tulsa, with our new camera in tow to see our sweet friends The Masters'. I can't wait to love on my two favorite little boys McClain and Max! On Sunday we have a birthday party to attend on our way back to town. So needless to say the weekend will be crazy but should be lots of fun!

What's a post without a picture!!! This is Steven and I with our friend Chad who will be celebrating his 38th birthday tomorrow!!!

Max Travis Masters

This weekend I headed to Tulsa! One of my best friends and the matron of honor from our wedding was set to give birth on Saturday to her 2nd son! When I left Yukon the latest update I had was that he would probably make his appearance around lunch. I was doing all I could to make it there on time and when I arrived Casey had not progressed much at all. I like to think Max was waiting on his Aunt Jamie to be there :). After a smooth labor and delivery Max joined the world at 3:07 pm. He was 8 lbs 15 oz and 18 3/4 inches long with a head full of black hair....MUCH different than Big Brother McClain! He is absolutely perfect!! Mom and baby are both doing great! We will be making another trip up on Saturday to visit.....I don't know if I can wait that long!!

McClain waiting for Max to arrive.
He was more interested in his toys than having his picture taken.
McClain's reaction to the news his little brother was here.
Daddy with his new baby boy!
Not quite sure he wants to be here yet!
Thumb sucker!
Hanging out with momma!

Terrible Blogger

So, I'm officially a terrible blogger! Things have been hectic to say the least!!! After our successful trip to Arkansas I spent the weekend in Tulsa with my dear friend Casey! I spent some time helping her prepare for her upcoming arrival, Max! We are patiently waiting for him to get here....any day now! If she hasn't had Max by Saturday morning she is schedule for an induction.....needless to say I'll be heading back to Tulsa this weekend! I can't wait to spend time with her and her sweet family!