Happy Blogoversary to me!

During the past year, we have come so far. We've grown from this:

To this:


Thanks, bloggy friends, for being there for us to lean on.


♥,

Amanda and Brooklyn

Prayers for a friend

I just wanted to ask everyone one to keep Ava and her sweet mommy Hope in your thoughts and prayers. Ava has been inpatient at Cincinnati Children's Hospital all week having all kinds of tests and procedures so that her doctors can figure out exactly what is wrong and how to treat her. So far, the tests have revealed a few "new" problems for little Ava. She is also having a hard time with the anesthesia that they keep having to give her and is having issues with her heart rate and seizures because of it.

Hope found my blog not long after I began writing it. Little Ava has laryngomalacia, as we came to find out that Brooklyn has as well (Hope has called Ava and Brooklyn "malacia buddies." Cute!). She has been a great source of support for me and I am so thankful for her friendship. She is one of the only people that I have felt like completely understands everything we have been through with Brooklyn. I don't know anyone in real life who has been through what we have been through. Hope, you have been so wonderful. I wish I could be there with you this week.

Please pray with me that the doctors will be able to figure out exactly what Ava's medical needs are. Pray that she will stop having reactions to the anesthesia and that these procedures won't cause her any pain or discomfort. Pray for peace and strength for Hope because it is so ridiculously stressful to have a baby in the hospital, especially when you don't know what is wrong. Brooklyn has had a lot of these same tests and procedures and I know that it is so hard to watch your little baby be put through all of this. Also, please pray for wisdom for Ava's doctors - that they will be able to discern what Ava needs and take care of her in the best way possible.

And I'm sure Hope wouldn't mind if you stopped by her blog and let her know that you are thinking of her and Ava!

Wordless Wednesday: God made your eyes to match the flowers....

Brooklyn in a little bluebonnet patch. *Sigh.* I love her so much.

My 100th Post!

100 things.....

Ten things I love about Brooklyn:
1. Her beautiful smile
2. Her hilarious laugh
3. Watching her learn and discover new things
4. Snuggle time
5. When she holds my hand
6. Taking naps with her
7. Her sweet little voice, talking in a language no one else can understand
8. Her friendly personality
9. Her soft blonde hair
10. Her bravery and strength

Ten goals for myself:
1. Lose weight
2. Be happy
3. Be the best mommy Brooklyn could ask for
4. Be a good wife
5. Organize more
6. Be more patient
7. Worry less/Be more optimistic
8. Be more active
9. Spend more time with the friends I have
10. Make new "mommy friends"

Ten "addictions":
1. Coca-Cola
2. My iPod
3. Taking pictures
4. Google Reader
5. Baked Doritos
6. Facebook
7. The Office
8. Pineapple
9. Blogging
10. Lipstick

Ten things I like to spend my money on:
1. Anything that makes Brooklyn smile. Anything that would look cute on her. Anything for her, really :)
2. Music
3. Educational toys
4. Anything PINK (a girl can never have too much pink)
5. MAC eyeshadow
6. Lotions and perfumes
7. New healthy/low-fat foods
8. Picture frames
9. Scrapbooking stuff (that I never get around to using)
10. Getting Brooklyn's pictures done

Ten places I want to visit:
1. Hawaii
2. Cayman Islands
3. Bahamas
4. Vegas
5. Italy
6. Australia
7. New York City
8. Ireland
9. Switzerland
10. Iceland

Ten things I love about my husband:
1. His eyes
2. His great sense of humor
3. That he is the best friend I've ever had
4. That he loves to surprise me
5. But that he usually ruins all of the surprises because he can't wait to tell me! It's so funny.
6. His dedication to his goals
7. How easy he is to talk to
8. That he is a sweet and fun Daddy to Brooklyn
9. His smile
10. His devotion and love for me. I trust him 1,000,000%.

Ten favorite foods:
1. Enchiladas
2. Eggplant Parmesean
3. Spinach
4. Fiesta Lime Chicken
5. Mac and Cheese
6. Pineapple
7. Queso
8. Garlic butter shrimp
9. Bartlett pears
10. Shivers from TCBY

Ten baby items we couldn't wouldn't want to do without:
1. Peanut Shell sling
2. BabyLegs
3. All things Gymboree! It's a sickness, really.
4. BebePod seat
5. Exersaucer
6. Trumpette socks
7. Fisher Price baby piano toy
8. Fisher Price Aquarium
9. Robeez shoes
10. Lullaby GloWorm!

Ten qualities I envy admire in others:
1. Self-confidence
2. Optimism
3. Unshakable faith
4. Entrepreneurship
5. Creativity
6. Resilience
7. A peaceful spirit
8. Patience
9. Musical ability
10. Quick wit

Ten reasons that I am happy I started a blog:
1. My bloggy friends GET ME.
2. They offer me advice.
3. Or they just listen.
4. They are going through many of the same things as I am.
5. And that makes me feel like I'm not alone.
6. It's given me a place to just be me.
7. I can fret and vent and cry and say what I really feel.
8. I can do all of that and not be judged for it.
9. I can show off my beautiful Baby Bear.
10. It's helped me enjoy writing again!