Ella Grace & Olivia

Last night after babysitting a co-worker and friend's 2 boys I stopped over at Tori and Rush's house to see the girls.  I also had a little present for Miss Ella Grace from me and her Uncle Joey.  It is a crib-sized chenille and silk white blanket with her name monogrammed on it.  I thought it was something she could keep and think of us.  While I was there chatting with Tori about the Olympics and everything else I got some precious pictures of Olivia and her new little sister.  Enjoy!

And then there is a great one of Tori and Ella Grace from Valentine's Day (below).  Beautiful mom and beautiful baby :)

Honeymoon Figured Out!

So I finally decided on a honeymoon for me and Joey and now I never have to worry about it again...woohoo!!  This is the biggest relief EVER!  We are going to Costa Rica and staying in an all-inclusive private villa.  It has a chef, bartender, and house keeper that come everyday at 7 am and stay until after dinner.  Our wedding planner had suggested it to me in December, and of course I started looking at a million other places.  Soooo true to my track record I decided on the first thing I looked at :) haha. I am so excited, and now have something concrete to set on my sights!

a little Valentine's Day and a little honeymoon...frustration :)

So it is the Valentine weekend and I am without my valentine.  I would say this thought makes me extra sad, but really I do not "believe" in this holiday anyway.  I pretty much think you should let the people you love know it all the time. AND ever since I learned the reasons for this day have nothing to do with the heroic efforts of St. Valentine and his plight and more about the commericial world needing money because the Christmas holidays are over; I can not support it.  (haha that sounded a little bitter...)

However, I have used this time to get one more step closer to booking our honeymoon for this summer.  If you know me (which I am guessing if you read this blog you do) then you know how this trip has really frustrated me.  I want it to be incredible due to the fact it will be the only time I see Joey for a year.  I believe I have narrowed it down to the following and now I am just weighing the pros and cons:

Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas

Capella Ixtapa in Mexico

MataChica Resort in Belize

Kamalame Cay off the coast of Andros Island (Bahamas)

Little Dix Bay Resort in Virgin Gorda

Caneel Bay in St. John

Casa Colonial in the Dominican Republic

The Peninsula in the Dominican Republic

So this task is keeping all of my time occupied when I am not a work.  If you have any input or know anything about any of these places please let me know! 

AND...for everyone that is with their loved one on this weekend: enjoy every minute, feel blessed, and make them know how much you love and appreciate them.  I know I would be if I could.  I love you Joey and appreciate everything you do!

The big day!

Ella Grace was born at 11:52 am on Wednesday, February 4th 2010.  She is 6 lbs 13 ounces and 20 inches long.  She is beautiful! Another bonus for Rush is his newest little girl was born on National Signing Day for college football.  Her birthday is a favorite among all men :)  Here are some pictures of the newest family member!

Olivia's big moment: meeting her little sister!

Ella Grace is almost here....

If you did not already know that my sister-in-law, Tori, is about to have baby I am telling you now :)  She and Rush already have one precious little girl, Olivia who is almost 3. 

I met Olivia in May.  This picture is one of the first times I met her.  She is a mess!! I love her.  On this up-coming Wednesday Olivia will be a big sister to Ella Grace Letson.  I am so excited to be able to take the day off and be there.  It will be a time for family and celebration.  I am on picture duty for the hubs.  He absolutely adores Olivia and wishes more than anything he could be here for the birth of his newest niece. 

I wanted to post a few pictures of our niece, Olivia, with family because come Wednesday it will be Olivia and Ella Grace: sisters :)

The Month of January...

Well January has officially come and gone now.  It started out incredibly awesome with New Years.  Emmylou (or Emmy or Lou as I like to call her) came to spend 4 days with me and Jared.  My parents were gone to Atlanta and Nashville to have some fun so the three of us hung out.  We went to Elise's one night and hung out with her, Alex, Cameron (her brother), and his friend Tyler.  Of course the most important person there was Hazel...the sweetest baby ever born.

She basically slept and smiled the whole time we were there.

On MLK weekend I got to go to New Orleans for Casey's Bachelorette party.  One, I am not in 18 anymore so the constant "Bourbon Street" thing is pretty hard for this old lady.  Two, I do not get to see Casey enough.  We went to grad school together for a year and half and made a religion out of front lawn talks, Monday night dance parties, and walking around Auburn.  I am SOOO ready for her wedding at the Naval Academy chapel on March the 20th. 

Oh...and on our last day we went to eat at Brennans for brunch.  It was amazing!  Their famous bananas' foster is pretty much my choice of dessert now.  The funny thing was...I made the reservation for us and they had little a little place card on the table with my new married name on it.  It is still very strange to see it or hear it.  It makes me happy...ha!

One CRAZY month!!

Well I am so sorry for how long it has been.  The last time I posted was the day I started this blog while in Italy with Joey.  There has been a lot of event over the past month, so I will probably make this several entries. 

I will give you the run down of the list of things since the day of the wedding:

1.  Went to Italy to spend 10 days with Joey.

2.  We spent 4 incredible days in one of the villages making of Cinque Terre; Corneglia.  It was our first Thanksgiving together and amazing.  We ate amazing food, drank local wine and champagne, explored the town while making friends with some locals, drank my weight in coffee, hiked to a neighboring town, went free climbing (quite the adventure), and shot some excellent photography.  It was an incredibly romantic trip. We hiked down to a rock beach and then lost the trail and had to free-climb back to the trail.

YAY me... I am so glad Joey loves to the same things!!

3. Upon my return to the states I finished my internship at Morris Avenue Intermediate School in Opelika, turned in all of my work for my Master's of Collaborative Special Education at Auburn, and moved back to Birmingham. That chain of events made for one exhausting week!

4. The week I left Italy begun the countdown of the time Joey and I will be apart.  I have received more support, kind words, and prayers than I ever imagined possible. God is good!

5. I started my new job in Mountain Brook City Schools the following Monday.  I am so excited about this adventure I am beginning.  The school, students, teachers, and administration are more than ideal.

          

AND LAST NOT BUT LEAST...

6. Christmas holidays happened.  It has been an awesome month just very busy!

I promise to get better about updating this blog for my friends, family, and especially for you Joey. :)

***This picture was saying goodbye at the airport in Venice---I look rough!***