T-E-N

And just like that my Ella girl is ten.

She was born on Thanksgiving night, ten years ago. I can remember that day like it was just moments ago. She instantly became the love of our lives and appropriately earned the nickname "butterball". Life with this girl is sweet and it seems like it only gets sweeter with time.

and now a little bit about our birthday girl....

♥ she has a heart of gold
♥ she is the most incredible big sister, always nurturing, always giving in
♥ she is shy, but is slowly starting to blossom
♥ when she gets comfortable she reveals a totally silly and a quite talkative side
♥ she is a bookworm through and through. when all is quiet you will surely find her curled up somewhere reading a book
♥ she has grown a love and appreciation for some of my childhood favorites....anne of green gables, little women, pollyanna....she has both read the book and watched the movie of each more then once.
♥ she hopes to be a doctor like her daddy when she grows up
♥ she loves her food as long as it doesn't include tomatoes or onions
♥ her favorite meals are breakfast for dinner, anything korean, mexican and steak and mashed potatoes
♥ she is incredibly artistic and loves to draw
♥ she has a huge love for soccer...like a year round club soccer kind of love
♥ she is a defender to the core, just like her daddy
♥ she loves to cuddle and still asks to sit on our laps (i totally love that)
♥ she is a Jesus girl through and through
♥ she is a go with the flow kinda of gal
♥ she is extremely patient and calm. its a challenge to get her fired up before games
♥ she loves watching chopped and survival shows
♥ her favorite color is blue

My sweet ella bella you are a complete joy to all who know you. I feel so incredibly grateful to be your mama, you make us proud every single day. I pray that your love for Jesus continues to grow with each passing day and that He will use your heart of gold to be a ray of light every where you go. Just remember that no matter how old you get, you will never be to old to hold my hand, to curl up on my lap and to be my baby. I love you my precious girl.

♥

{4}

{four years young}

my baby girl is four. 

i don't remember the others being this hard, but i assume its cause she is my baby. 

yesterday i took every single opportunity, and then some, to ask her how old she was just so i could hear her say "free" (in her sweet little voice). 

at one point my middle child thought something was wrong with mommy and said, "mommy, you already asked her that a bunch of times....". Ha, yes mommy was in denial yesterday. 

i suppose the idea of growing up is always gonna be a bit harder with this little cupcake. 

guess we should have another. (just kidding babe, i can just picture your face right now)

a little bit about my riley roo...

♥ she is a mama's girl....still. (i am loving this one)

♥ she has energy for days and can often times be found wrestling her big sisters

♥ she always wins

♥ I am convinced God threw in a little extra joy when He made her. It is infectious. 

♥ she laughs all the time, about anything and everything. 

♥ if you get her laughing hard enough she will always cover her mouth and fall over, unable to contain herself. 

♥ she loves school and does not give mommy too much grief at drop off (like someone else does...)

♥ she can ride a scooter like its her job. 

♥ she eats it all the time while riding her scooter, and i mean bad and isn't hardly phased at all. 

♥ she is one tough cookie

♥ she loves to play make believe with her sisters and usually ends up being the student of teacher chloe

♥ she sleeps with about a million stuffed animals and two blankets but isn't super particular about which ones. 

♥ i can usually get her to take an hour nap most days. (this keeps me sane)

♥ she loves to be carried. why do i even work out my arms? 

♥ she is lactose intolerant, which we didn't find out till a few months ago. (which explains the daily tummy aches and tears of pain...sorry baby)

♥ her favorite foods are all things dairy. yep not good at all. we have had to make some adjustments. 

♥ she is now hyper sensitive with this whole lactose thing and is sure to notify all that, "i can't have dairwee...does this have dairwee??" 

♥ she loves to sing along to mama's worship songs in the car and it makes my ♥ happy

♥ her big sisters think she is just about the cutest thing and can't get enough of her (most of the time)

♥ mommy and daddy literally cannot get enough of her. sometimes i just wanna eat her...i know some of you mamas can relate...my hubby thinks i am weird. 

we ♥ you riley girl so much!!

time flies...

...when your having fun.
wow it's been awhile.
looks like my last post was just under a year ago. much has happened and it would take one too many posts to catch you all up on the events of the past year.

for now i sit here, the night before my baby's fourth birthday, feeling so nostalgic.
four seems so big, like no more baby, no toddler. she is growing, but growing into this incredible little girl that i thank my Heavenly Father for daily, sometimes countless times in just one short day.
i love her more than this blog can contain.

i pulled up her pictures from birth to three years. my goodness time has flown.
i am clinging to the fact that she says that no matter how big she gets she will always be mama's baby. i am so okay with that.

happy last day of three baby girl.

{brand new}

{one year young}

{two years young}

{three years young}

and you better believe we had a little fun with our annual photo shoot this year. but, for now these pictures will have to suffice. time to go wrap some birthday gifts for my sweet riley roo.