This month I decided to join in on a photo a day on Instagram. I thought it would be a fun way to take a picture every day. Follow me on my instagram if you like (username: ebethr)

Here is the first half of the month:

We had such a great Thanksgiving break. However,  both Jason and I came down with colds so I'm covering myself in hand sanitizer and praying that E doesn't get it. My parents came down on Wednesday night and came over on Thursday morning.




We watched the Thanksgiving parade and Jason started the turkey. E enjoyed watching the parade, and I hope it's tradition that she enjoys for years to come just like I did growing up. I made a sweet potato casserole that I make every year, and I tried a new recipe for stuffing from the Pioneer Woman. The stuffing was awesome. I even took out the sausage and made it a vegetarian dish and it still turned out well. We also had mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, rolls, and loads of pies - thanks to my mom!



After our late lunch, we went over to my aunt's house to visit for a bit and then came back home. My parents and I ran to Target because I just happened to run out of something that I couldn't wait the next day to get. Oh my goodness. Target was insane. I picked up a couple of things for gifts since I was there and then went to stand in line. The line was all the way to the back of the store to check out and if I didn't need to get something I would have just left. Never again. Black Friday or in this case Thursday is just not worth it.
On Saturday, Jason and I got to go out on a date!! We hadn't been out alone since E was born so it was nice to have some time together. We went and saw Breaking Dawn Part 2 and then went and had lunch. Breaking Dawn was really good, and in my opinion, the best movie in the series. The ending was crazy and that's all I will say about it =)  Later that night, we headed to the Gaylord to take Christmas card photos. Getting a baby to look at the camera is definitely a challenge. Here are some outtakes:




If you live in the area, I highly recommend going to the Gaylord. The inside is decorated so pretty for Christmas and you can get some great pictures in there.


Sunday was spent getting ready for the week and having coffee with a good friend. I was sad to see the weekend go away. E's first Thanksgiving was a success and one that I will always remember. So much to be thankful for and she is definitely the biggest blessing.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I can't wait. Turkey and all the sides - I am excited to stuff my face. We are just having a low key Thanksgiving here at our house with my parents. Thanksgiving has been a hard holiday for me and Jason the past 2 years and yet even with our pains and struggles, I have SO MUCH to be thankful for. This past week I have been thinking about all the blessings in my life, and it has made me grateful and humble for all the things in my life that I don't deserve.

I am thankful:

- that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I am thankful for His grace that covers me every day and when I fail that he continues to love me. I am thankful that it is none of my doing that He saved me and His faithfulness.

-for my husband. God blessed me with an amazing man. He is my best friend and I am so glad that I get to grow old with him. Life with him gets better every day.

- for E. We have waited so long for a child and every day I thank God for this little blessing in our lives. She is the most precious thing and words cannot express our love for her.

-for family. For my wonderful parents, Jason's parents, and our siblings and siblings in law.

-for friends. For friends who are like family. I have wonderful friends who have stood by me in the good times and bad, and they are all so special to me.

- for my dog, Lucye. She is such a good dog and has been great with E (with just a little bit of jealousy). She gives unconditional love and makes your day better with just a cuddle.

- for a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my tummy.

- for my health and my family's health.

- for laughter.

- for my church.

- that I live in this country where I have freedom of religion and speech.

- for chocolate and sugar =).

- for coffee.

- for music and how music can tell a beautiful story.

- for creative expression in all its forms.

-for Christmas time - it truly is the best time of the year.

What are you thankful for?

1. I'm loving this dress I got for E for Christmas. I die! I bid on it at Carisa's Bowtique and guess how much I got it for?! 10 dollars! Go me!


2. I'm loving that we are having Friendsgiving with our home group this weekend. Can't wait!


3. I'm loving that Breaking Dawn Part 2 is coming out this Friday! I'm excited to see it. It's going to be a good one!


4. I'm loving that Thanksgiving is next week. Bring on the food coma and Macy's Thanksgiving parade!


What are you loving today? Have a great Wednesday!

On Friday, we hung out at the house and made a Target run for some essentials. E got to play in her new bebePOD. She loved it! It was so cute to watch her try to reach for the toy with her hands. It definitely took some concentration.


Saturday Jason had to work the hospital and my friend Sarah Jane came over to visit and meet our little one. She even brought Starbucks! Then E and I made another Target run and then hung out at the house.

When Jason came home, we watched the Texas A&M/Alabama game. It was a really great game and I'm very impressed that A&M beat the number #1 team. Jason was quite proud of his alma mater. After the game, we caught up on our television shows for the week. Thank goodness for DVR!
On Sunday, I watched The Last Song that I had recorded the night before while Jason was seeing patients at the hospital. I liked it but does Nicholas Sparks write a book that doesn't have to be so sad? I mean goodness all his books are depressing. That afternoon I worked on a blanket for a friend and I'm not going to lie I might have cursed it under my breath because the fabric was cut wrong at the store which made more work for me. It's still not done because I got mad at it =).


I even got to clean and tidy up the house and then settled down to watch my Sunday night shows of Once Upon A Time and Revenge. Not a busy weekend but a perfect weekend for our little family.

Dear E,

You are two months old now! (as of last Saturday)I can't believe it! It seems like just yesterday that you were born. I feel I will blink and I will be writing your 3 month post - stop growing! You are the light of our lives and we can't imagine life without you.


First things first, we have had a rough month with your acid reflux. It has broken our hearts just to see you cry and grunt. I can't tell you how many doctor appointments and lactation consultant appointments I have been to this month. They have told me a slew of different things that would be causing your discomfort even though I kept telling them it was your acid reflux. Finally, we went to an occupational therapist for a feeding eval on Friday and she confirmed what I have thought all along. You have moderate to severe acid reflux which is causing you to choke, gag, and wake up from your sleep. She suggested we try rice cereal with my breast milk in a bottle for half our feedings especially at night to see if that helps. We also will be getting a wedge for a trial for a few days and I'm hoping with all of that we can finally get you to sleep better and be somewhat comfortable. Your mom and dad will not stop fighting to finally get the answers to help you.




You have changed so much this month and I can already see parts of your personality coming out. You  started smiling at your mommy and daddy several weeks ago. It melts our hearts and we love to make you smile. It is the most precious, most beautiful thing in the world. I have only caught it a couple of times on camera. I think you like to save it just for us. You are swatting at things with your arms and have knocked off my glasses several times when you get going. You look at rattles and follow them with your eyes. You are starting to enjoy your books that we read to you and will look at the pages. You hold your head up really well at our shoulders and are starting to push through your arms from the floor during tummy time. You also have started to notice your hands and will "clasp" them together and it looks like you are thinking hard about something.


You love bath time except when we take you out, but who likes to be cold?? We still use the newborn sling because you just aren't quite big enough to fit in the tub. We tried once and you slipped and slid several times and you weren't a fan. You LOVE Taylor Swift!   I mean love her! If I play her music you will calm down and usually fall asleep. I think I might have listened to her a lot when you were inside me - you would move a lot when I played it then too. You are also cooing back at us when we talk to you. We absolutely adore it! You are happiest in the mornings. You will smile and coo a lot. You did not get that from your momma =). Although when you are upset, you let the world know. You put that bottom lip out and have the biggest tears. It tears at our heart strings for sure.

You weigh 12 pounds and 10 ounces and are 22 inches long. The rolls on your legs, arms and chin are just so lovable and your daddy and I love to kiss them a lot. You are wearing 0-3 months and 3 months clothing and are in size 1 diapers. We were using cloth diapers but you got a horrible diaper rash that needed a prescription. It's clearing up now so hopefully we can put you back in cloth diapers soon. You had your first outing that wasn't doctor related to where else - Target! You slept the whole time but don't worry we will go there a lot and you will learn to love it. We also took you to the pumpkin patch.

You had several visitors this month. Your Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Justin and your cousins, Karis and Kaelyn came to visit you and so did your Maw Maw and Aunt Minette. Some friends came over to my house for a Pampered Chef party, and they got to see you for a minute before you headed to bed as well.


You are the light of our lives, E. You are just the most perfect gift and we thank God for you. We can't wait to see what this next month brings.


Love,
Mommy and Daddy