Happily Ever Mock

Hallie is very talkative these days! I never want to forget all of the cute exclamations and phrases she says, so I thought there was no better place to document them there right here on the blog!

Names Hallie Can say:

• Momma
• Dada
• Stella
• Nana
• Bapa
• Pop
• Matt
• Anna
• Brayden
• Cleo
• Sadie 

• Puppy
• Up
• Hi
• Hey
• Bye
• Duck
• Quack
• Cup
• No
• Baby
• Done
• Again
• Ball
• See
• Pretty
• Hot
• Yum

I can’t believe how vocal she is! If you were counting that’s about 35 words and phrases! It baffles me how quickly she is learning and how she repeats everything we say! Each day is a new adventure with my sweet girl, and I can’t wait to see what she says next!
We are also wishing Hallie’s Nana a very Happy Birthday today!
If you want to see more photos of Hallie, make sure you are following us on Facebook!

Her bookshelf in her room (we actually need another one!)

We also keep books in her play area so that she can read throughout the day!

 So today I thought I would share some of our favorite books-

Mommy’s Favorites:
For me, I tend to enjoy reading Hallie either ones that were my favorites as a kid or ones with a really cute story (ie. Alice the Fairy and Fancy Nancy)

Madeline- 
I think I had EVERY Madeline book as a kid, and I memorized the words to each one of them before I knew how to read! Reading Madeline to Hallie now is so fun! it’s like sharing a bit of my childhood with her!
Giraffes Can’t Dance-
This was one of my favorites to read to the kids at story time when I worked at Barnes and Noble.  I just love the lesson that it teaches about individuality.
Alice the Fairy-
This one is just darn hilarious! A little girl pretending to be a fairy and do “magic” like turning her Dad into a “horse”. Too cute in my opinion! You can’t go wrong with this one!
Fancy Nancy-
Who doesn’t love Fancy Nancy.  Just a cute story about a cute little girl!
Lift the Flap Bible-
This one is a win win in my book.  Hallie loves opening all the flaps, and I love that I am planting little seeds about our Faith early.
Jillian Jiggs-
This was my absolute FAVORITE book growing up. It’s about a little girl with a huge imagination that has trouble cleaning her room! My sweet Mom found me a treasury for me of all of her books the Christmas before Hallie was born! It was such a special gift!
The Napping House- 
This one is an adorable story with super sweet illustrations!

 Daddy’s Favorites:


Hop on Pop-
Daddy just bought this book for Hallie on their latest Daddy Daughter Date.  He loved it because of the title and she loves it because of the rhymes!
Pete the Cat-
This really is a sweet book, and Daddy loves it because of how positive Pete the Cat is! He lets everything roll off his back!
Texas Alphabet-
Of course this is one of his faves…it’s about Texas…need I say more?
If you Give a Mouse a Cookie-
Christopher says he likes this one because “it teaches valuable life lessons”…whatever that means!

Hallie’s Favorites:


Dear Zoo- 
Hands down this is Hallie’s favorite book! She loves lifting the flaps, and ALWAYS has to kiss the puppy in the end!


Baby Giggles-
Hallie loves looking at all of the sweet baby photos in this book! Especially the baby in the bath!
Baby Animals– 
Again with the animals! She can’t get enough of them! Plus this one is a touch and feel book!
Yummy Yucky– 
We quote this one almost daily! Every morning when Hallie tires to touch my coffee I have to say “Mommy’s coffee is yucky!” bleh!
Where is Baby’s Belly Button-
Another lift the flap book! She loves pointing out the baby’s belly button, eyes and etc.
Polar Bear, Polar Bear-
We were given the copy of this book with the sound buttons! Hallie laughs when we push the buttons! It’s too cute!

Hopefully we introduced you to some new books for you and your little ones to enjoy!
What are some of your favorite books?
<3Kelly

I still have a hard time believing that Hallie is a year old! It’s not fair how long 9 months of waiting to see those tiny fingers and toes seems, but how fast it all goes once you finally have that sweet beautiful babe in your arms.  Reminiscing about my pregnancy is a little bittersweet to be honest.  It wasn’t that the pregnancy itself was that hard.  In terms of morning sickness and other common pregnancy symptoms, I pretty much lucked out.  However, I did have a Subchronic Hematoma on the larger side of average that caused a lot of worries and concerns during my 9 (Hallie was pulled 3 weeks early due to continued concerns) 8 months. This left me uneasy and unable to enjoy the whole stretch of my pregnancy.  There were things I wish people had told me and things I wish I had done.  So today I am sharing my 9 tips for 9 months:

1.) Definitely wait the 12 weeks to share the news with too many people: Pregnancy can be scary and there is so much to worry about.  I think it is smart to wait at least the full 12 weeks before making too big of an announcement.  In our situation I worried every day that I would never get to meet our baby especially during those times when the hematoma was bigger than her.

2.) Don’t Google strange symptoms: If you have a symptom that you think is odd, don’t Google.  If you do this you will ALWAYS come across the worst case scenario that will terrify you and make you beyond paranoid.  Just call the nurse at your OBGYN’s office.  That’s one of the many reasons that they are there.  Don’t worry about being “that lady”.  You know the one I am talking about.  The one that calls for every little thing.  Just do it.  You will be glad you put your mind at ease.

3.) Every Pregnancy is different: Just because your sister, your mom, or your best friend had specific pregnancy symptoms or craved pickles and chocolate ice cream, doesn’t mean you will. Having to have a C-section isn’t always genetic.  Just focus on what is right for you and your babe and….

4.) Make decisions that are right for you and your family: Don’t let anyone pressure you into doing something that doesn’t feel right for you. For example, initially when we started noticing certain things at my 37 week appointment, my Dr, sent me upstairs to be prepped for a C-section.  I am lucky enough to have had a Dr. who took the time to ask my husband and I how we felt about having one. We concluded that if we could try having a V-birth first without having more complications that we would like to try that first.  When our birth plan went successfully my Dr. congratulated us for knowing what was right for us! (Hallie ended up being only 4 lb 15 oz. and took 3 contractions and 6 pushes to get out….can you imagine if we had had a C-section instead!)
I also had a nurse that tried to push me into latching when we had already decided that we would be an exclusive pumping family.  My Doctor had to finally ask the nurse to stop asking me to get Hallie to latch! We knew what was right for us!

5.) Pick a Dr. that makes you comfortable: If you start with one Dr. and you don’t like the way they are doing things or it just doesn’t feel like it’s a good fit…SWITCH! This is an important time and you need to feel calm and comfortable through it all! Even given our extra complications, our OBGYN was so positive, calm and helpful through it all. I could not have chosen a better doctor!

6.)  Take advice with a grain of salt: Like I have already said, you know what is best for you and no 2 pregnancies are exactly alike, so take advice with a grain of salt.  For example when people tell you to sleep now because you won’t be sleeping when the baby arrives…not always true! I had a really difficult time sleeping when I was pregnant and actually slept a lot better once we got home and settled in.  I knew that Hallie was safe and BONUS she has ALWAYS been a terrific sleeper!

7.) Pack your hospital bag early: At 6 1/2 months into my pregnancy, we were sent to labor and delivery with some irregular bleeding even after the hematoma was gone.  Thankfully I didn’t have to deliver that day, but it could have been a possibility. I remember scrambling around the house throwing stuff in a bag. Thank goodness I actually had time to really pack a bag before Hallie really made her arrival!  (Things to pack: Comfy clothes, shirts that open in front if you are planning on pumping or breastfeeding, toiletries, phone charger, camera, snacks, going home outfits for you and baby, something to help pass time, your own pillow, etc.)

8.) Know that if you share your baby names, there is a good chance someone isn’t going to like it: I made the mistake of sharing our name possibilities and ended up being completely turned off to a name we were DEAD SET on, because it hurt my feelings that people didn’t like it. Go with your gut when choosing names and don’t share them if you are sensitive like me.

9.) Do what your Dr. says: Your Dr. is the professional.  If they tell you no heavy lifting, or to stay on bed rest, listen! They really do know best and are trying to keep you and the baby safe.

I hope this is helpful to some mommies to be out there.  It will also be a good reminder for me to look back on when the day comes for baby number 2….just not yet!

<3 Kelly

Oh hey, it’s Friday! This weekend should be a pretty good one! I get to go see my sister in “Into The Woods”, so that will be a blast! I’ll also be getting ready for our family trip to Galveston for my mom’s birthday! This weekend will be a perfect time to shop too, because it is tax free weekend!

Speaking of shopping, for today’s “Oh hey, Friday” I thought I would share with you some of our recent favorite products!

1. Carter’s 2 piece PJs
 As much as it makes me sad that baby girl can now fit in PJs other than her cute footie ones, these little pants (which by the way still have to be stitched tighter to fit on my teeny babe) make morning diaper changes with my less than complacent little girl much easier! Plus these puppy ones are her new favorite and she tries kissing them while she is wearing them which is hilarious to watch! We also have the princess ones and the ballerina ones!

4. Mickey Mouse Bath Toys–
Okay we were given these cute toys as hand me downs, and Hallie has not yet put them down! She takes them EVERYWHERE just like her puppy, except these can be easily thrown in the dishwasher or scrubbed down with a disinfectant if she drops them in a restaurant! These are the perfect toy for all of your Mickey Mouse lovers!

5. Snack Catcher-
This darn contraption is amazing! Seriously, whoever came up with it is a genius and I bow to them! It is perfect for many reasons! Hallie likes to dump out bowls of everything and this bowl has a little spill proof lid with slits so Hal’s hand still fits through to grab a snack, but when dumped or shaken vigorously, the goldfish or cheerios stay intact.  Also she can only remove a few bites at a time which is great for keeping her busy at Church and keeps her from shoving in a giant handful of cheerios at once!

These are just our recent faves! What are some of your favorite products?
Happy weekend!
<3 Kelly

Morning! I was Tagged by Courtney at Sweet Turtle Soup!  for this fun Love/Hate post
I tag Sindi with My Infertility Journey

1. Seafood, Beef and pork..yep I am that picky!
2. Hot weather…unless there is a beach or a pool involved
3. Creepy Crawlies…bugs, insects, lizards, snakes..bleh!
4. Cotton balls…okay, I know this is an odd one, but have you ever pulled a cotton ball apart…ugh I can’t even think of it…it’s the worst feeling in the world!
5. Root beer. Once when I was little, I got a root beer Popsicle stuck on my tongue and my dad tried pulling it off instead of melting it..it bled a lot….needless to say it had a major Garcia effect on me!
6. House cleaning….You know..putting away laundry, cleaning the kitchen, scrubbing the bathroom…yuck!
7. Death and sickness
8. Constantly cleaning up dog hair
9. Driving! It gives me crazy anxiety! Man if someone could just drive me around all the time it would make me so much happier!
10. Not having enough hours in the day…EVER!

1. My family and friends

2. Crafting and party planning. Oh and there is nothing better than a new pack of crayons!
3. Dance. Specifically ballet!
4. My puppy girl Stella

5. Holidays! Christmas and Halloween are my faves!
6. Pajamas and a warm blanket, reading with my girl!

7. A good cup of coffee
8. CARBS! Pasta, bread, dessert! Mmm! Rigatoni, freshly baked bread and cookies…now I am drooling!
9. Taking trips, I especially love California!

10.Pictures and memories

Who?- Who are you? Tell my readers a bit about yourself

When?- When did you start blogging?

Where? –Where do you live?

Why?- Why did you decide to blog

This weekend (most of) the ladies from my moms group drove down to our girl Taylor’s family’s lake house for some much needed R&R as well as tons of laughter, food, drinks and quality time! Taylor was precious and decorated the whole place SUPER adorable complete with personalized wine glasses and cute little gift baskets on our beds!

As soon as everyone arrived, we played a game and had some yummy martinis!

 We stayed up late (some of us later than others) talking, chatting…one of us might have meowed while asking about a popular pediatrician in the area, Dr. Katz. Finally though it was time for bed.

I woke up to a beautiful view the next morning to the most gorgeous view! I was up first so I got to enjoy some peace and quiet with the sunrise!

Some of the other ladies started waking up, and coffee on the deck was a must!

We had breakfast and mimosas!

Then we decided to head out to the water for some fun in the sun!

First time Kayaking

Clearly I am a natural

 Thank GOD for our pal Whitney, who calmly informed us of his presence in the room and caught him and set him free!

After that scare, we chatted some more…I MIGHT have opened another bottle of wine, then made some delicious mini pizzas for dinner!

After dinner, we headed out to the dock for some fun group pictures! (So sad that Frankie had already left and that Amy and Serene couldn’t make it…otherwise our WHOLE group was there!)

(From Left to Right: TOP- Whitney, Danielle BOTTOM- Me, Larissa, Taylor, Melinda, Andrea)

They were delicious

Clearly! Once we came inside, we had a dance party, played some old school games, like flip cup and catch phrase oh and Andrea might have tortured Larissa and Melinda with a Cicada that got inside…(What was it with critters crashing our party! I haven’t even mentioned the Possum that got on the deck! Sorry no pics!)

Dancing to Backstreet Boys! Larissa was really into it! lol!

“I had the time of my life!”

“And I owe it all to you!!”

Hiding with the Cicada

Coming out of hiding once the cicada was put outside!

I absolutely LOVE how Hallie’s 1 year pictures turned out and I can’t wait to share them here with you! First I have to tell you about the day…er days we took these photos.  We were just coming out of that major flooding that Dallas was having! Remember me talking about those weeks of nonstop rain? Yep these photos were taken right at the end of that and the humidity was at it’s finest of course…don’t believe me, check out my hair towards the end of these photos!
Anyway, Hallie was also in a fairly grumpy mood the day we went to take the pictures (even with Whitney trading Hallie little pieces of tortilla for smiles…Bribery works folks!) so we ended up  stretching them over 2 days! (Thanks Whitney!) So that’s why you might spot some inconsistencies with the balloons and what not! But even after all the fuss, as usual Whitney did a fantastic job with the photos!

So without further ado…some of my favorites!

The purple blanket was her favorite baby blanket

This is the crown she wore in her newborn pictures

This is the sweet one we used for the party invitations!

Of course Princess Margot had to make an appearance

The pearls were a gift from Hallie’s Memi when she was born

Mini Daddy

Thank you again Whitney for the lovely photos! I am having a hard time choosing which ones to frame, so any thoughts are welcomed! Also if you want to check out the rest including Hallie’s lovely bear crawl photos (since she couldn’t yet walk and refused to crawl on the pavement) you can check them out here!

Happy Thursday!
<3 Kelly

Happy Wednesday friends, and welcome back to another edition of Who, What, When, Where, Why Wednesday! Today I have Sara from My Journey of Doing over to tell us a little more about herself and her blog! I LOVE that Sara, like myself is from Dallas!

When?- When did you start blogging?

Ready to get to know Sara a bit better? Here comes the fun part:


1. What show could you watch reruns of over and over and never get sick of?

2. What is your favorite recipe to make? 

3. Tell us about your favorite memory from your wedding.