What a Difference a Year Makes?!

Violet and Mommy-2007

We both have gotten skinnier! Omigosh!Wasn't she so chubby and cute?! NOT ME, the baby ya silly! I will always remember Violet's First Halloween. She was almost 3 months old and so adorably chunky! Matt and I carried our little flower around and followed our little niece, Breanna around the block. We didn't trick or treat since I would have eaten all the candy by myself! Then we all went back to our house and ate the Chicken Taco Soup I had made. Good Times.

Violet-2008 Playing in her witch costume.

My baby is almost 16 months old. She is so much fun! Turning into such a little stinker! The witch hat is too small but she didn't like wearing it anyways. Were taking her to Gigi's church Fall Festival on friday. Matt and I will most likely dress up as well....Like this.

Us- 2006

Just KIDDING! Were gonna be more G- rated, not Gangsta! I'm a dork that's why you love me!

Happy Halloween!

Brainy Baby

Violet has watched this movie four times today! HELP! First I chose to turn it on for Emi and Violet to wind down before nap time. Then when I went to the gym Matt turned it on for her. He didn't know she had watched it earlier. When I got home she was real fussy and I noticed she may be cutting teeth. So, I gave her Tylenol, a bath, and tried to get her to bed. I laid with her for fifteen minutes as she kicked me and banged her head against the wall before I gave up. She walked into the living room and sat in her chair and waited for us to turn her movie on. Then she watched it 2 times in a row! It's all that would keep her happy! I've got to hide this movie.

Reason #375 That Violet Is Cute

We went to Fall Festival the other night (pics soon to follow). Violet got a big pile of candy and little toys. She really likes this little plastic giraffe. She carries it every where. Yesterday she made the giraffe give us kisses. Then she took a bath with it. In the bath Violet noticed that her shampoo bottle has a baby on it. She said "Baby Baby". Then she made the giraffe kiss the baby. When she does kisses she says "MUAH" really loud! So cute!

For Michael

Michael Williams October 30, 1984 - October 20, 2008

I lit a candle for my cousin and his family tonight. I know they are missing him and heartbroken over their loss. I can't stop sending prayers up to heaven for them! I know my cousin is in Heaven. I'm grieving for Michael's family and little girl that will always remember him. I don't know how much she can understand right now at the tender age of three. Tomorrow is the funeral. It will be hard for everyone.

Lord, help us through these hard times. We probably will never understand why some are taken at a young age or so suddenly. But we can find comfort in You. Amen.

I just read my mom's newest blog. And I just cried tears of joy. If you are a believer in Christ, you will understand. Here is what she wrote tonight.

"Tonight Jeff and I went to the visitation for my nephew, Michael at the funeral home. The place was packed with family and friends. It was a precious sight to see. As Jeff and I stood, saying our last goodbyes to Michael, a little girl about 7 or 8 came up to us. She didn't know me, but I recognized her right away. She was the spitting image of her mother, Lisa, who is Michael's older cousin on his mother's side. The little girl came and stood between us and Michael and then looked at Michael and looked closely at us and said, "are you friends of his?" I said, "I am his Aunt Julie, his daddy's sister." She said, "Oh." And then paused for a second, "Did you know that Michael's horse also died in the accident?" I said, yes. Then she said the sweetest thing I will probably ever hear. This little girl said something profound. She said, "I am so happy that Michael knew Jesus and asked Him into his heart so now he can live in heaven. I think he is probably riding his horse right now and he is happy."

This little girl just proves to me more that God sends us comforting messages even in the littlest ways.

My Free Plates

Here is one of my free place settings by Royal Doulton that I got from Albertson's. Not really my style but it's still cute in it's own way. For every 10.00 you spend you get a sticker to go towards these plates. 36 stickers gets you 1 free dinner plate, salad plate, and bowl. So, I got 2 sets. I like Albertson's and their bakery makes some really good chocolate chip cookies! Modeling these plates is the Chicken Tortilla Soup I made last night. One of my favorite easy meals to make!

Go shop at Albertson's if you want free plates!

Very Sad Day

Today is October 21. My grandpa was taken from us this day 7 years ago. It might be weird that I remember the specific date but he and my grandma were in town to visit that weekend. He really was a great grandpa! Every time I see a vegetable garden I think of him!

Miss you Mr. Peepaw-Walter Henderson!

We found out last night that my cousin, Michael Williams was killed in a freak car accident. It is very shocking for everyone. He was my age (maybe 23) and has a 3 year old daughter. He went to Mansfield High School. It is so sad when young people die. It has been a long time since I have seen him. I'm hurting for his parents. For my friends that pray, this family needs prayer. We will miss you Michael!

On top of all these unfortunate events, I have a stomach bug. I can't eat anything and I have to tie a blanket around my nose when I'm changing a diaper, Not fun at all and I'm trying to watch two toddlers (that are sleeping soundly right now). Matt was nice and took a sick day from work to help out with Violet. I'm so grateful for my family and in times like these we need each other.

Love, Jill

Arshooosgonnagobyebye?

Some little baby is starting to be a daddy's girl. If she hears the smallest sound outside the front door, She's off running and saying "Daddy Daddy!"

I know he's got big muscles and he gives you ice cream. But your MY little baby. I carried you in my belly for 9 months and also was put on bedrest anxiously awaiting for you. Then I didn't sleep for the next 6 months and only stayed up and watched your little chest breathe. Can he really win you over with tossing you in the air and the whole "tickle monster" act?

This morning when daddy was putting on his shoes you said " Arshooosgonnagobybye? " You really did. We waited a long time to hear you talk and now you talk all the time! As much as you look forward to Daddy time, I know you love Mommy time to!

30 Day Shred

I got this workout dvd last week. I really like Jillian's all or nothin' attitude. I also have her Making the Cut book. But I haven't gotten to do the program yet. It consist of using a lot of weight circuits that my apt. gym doesn't have. But your supposed to be able to lose those last 10-15 pounds if you follow it over a month! The book will have to wait until I can spend at least an hour in the gym. Which is hard to do with a one year old! So, I got her dvd. It's more practical for me right now. It has 3-20 minute workouts that burn fat and tone. There are 3 levels. I have done Level One, one time so far. I'm gonna add this into my routine for those days that I get too busy to get on the treadmill. I want these pounds gone!

Violet goes to the Circus!

You see that big, tall, elephant right there? Yes, that one! Violet and I were first to saddle up on this big thing. The circus guy takes Violet from my arms and plops her right on top of the elephant! And no they do not use any straps or belts to secure the children. I thought I was gonna faint! He didn't give me any notice at all and then it took me way too many seconds to hoist myself up there with her. I know she's tall, but does she look old enough to sit all alone on top of a 12 foot tall elephant?! No! But she didn't mind. She loved her elephant ride! It was a "dog" to her. Everything with four legs is a dog. Her grandparents bought her one of those lovely, light up, circus things. That toy puts her in a trance. Can you tell? We had a good time.

Thank you Gigi and Bapa!

Are you curious?

Who reads your blog? I use sitemeter to track mine. Sometimes when I'm bored I go check it out. It tells you what business or home provider looked at your blog. It even says how long that person stayed and how many pages were viewed! Neat, huh? It's free too, so you should try it. Most of the time it's just my mom peeping in on me. I do get the random page views from India or Canada sometimes. My mom had someone find her blog by googling FOOT FETISH! Haha, that's pretty funny!

Small Updates

(My sweet little baby last year on her first Halloween)

1. Violet and I traveled to Frisco yesterday to visit Miss Mandy and Baby Brandon. Kristen and Gage came as well. We had a good time enjoying pizza, cheesecake, and a walk to the playground!


2. I'm watching my neighbors one year old baby now. Today is the first day. It's going well and Violet and her are napping right now, yay! I will be keeping her at my house for 2-4 days a week. It's a good way to make some pennies!


3. Matt has been way too hyper/peppy/happy. JK. What has gotten into him? Anybody know?! LOL. He took the day off today and has been so eager to help me with the babies. And NO, I'm not complaining!


4. I have been having a late night snack almost every day! Not good and it's always a carb! It's becoming a bad habit. Gotta work on that.


5. It's Kristens Birthday today! Hip Hip Hooray!

Muah to my friends and loved ones! And Justine if your reading this, I miss you. We gotsa go to the circus!

Things I Love about Fall

1. Perfect outside weather for running or taking V to the park.


2. Time to make soups and stews!


3. Pumpkin Patches and Halloween Costumes.


4. Taking Violet trick or treating.


5. Getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Daddy Matt and I took V to get a pumpkin last weekend. She had a blast! One of her favorite words is BALL. So, she just pointed and said BALL over and over! Speaking of pumpkins, pioneerwoman recently posted how to roast and puree one. I can't wait to do that for my new favorite cupcakes! When I think of the word cupcakes I automatically think of the word RUN! So, there are like four 5ks being sponsored in Fort Worth this month. I'm not sure if I could run the entire thing but I will run most of it. Who's ready to run?!