8 years!

this last week, we celebrated 8 years of marriage (really!). My precious husband had planned a little 2 night get away to the north ga mountians, a place i met him on a collage retreat 10 years ago. We were both in college, both lived in atl, and both happened to be on this retreat. It was crazy weird to be back at the same place we both remembered talking in the lobby, meeting, and learning about each other.

we dated 2 years, and 8 years later, we are married, have 2 kids, and are so thankful for that meeting place!

sweet friends and fam...

ellie's big day was filled with joy! her party was a blast but a blessing to us all as we watched this big 2 yr old giggle with a precious heart beaming from with in. Maggie- oh this girl....where do i begin? she adores miss ellie, loves her, is a master at feeding her, and gives much much love to ellie....we are so so thankful for this sweet friend...she is heaven sent!

aunt t always there to celebrate miss ellie with us. my kids love having the twins around to play with have one blast all together. thank you for your constant love, prayers, and love you give her.

sweet neighbor friends! ellie loves her auntie stace!

my prayer warrior friends- miss lauren is one dear heart. she is on her knees always praying for ellie- along with chasing after her 3 redhead girls....and mrs meredith is a champ mom is 2 girls....sweetest!

mr. robert and mrs. erica are jewls! Erica made all these therapy game boards for ellie and just loves making my kids smile!

banana, with her niece and nephew, and jd! thanks for always being so dear to us!

the girls!

the bates family girls....so fun to have you there!

mrs. kelly, banana and miss els!!!!!!!!!!!! we had a great great day!!!!!!!!!! thank you all for your constant love for miss ellie she is one blessed girl!!!

her big day....

 sat jan the 14th we celebrate with dear friends and family miss ellie's 2nd b-day! She loves yogurt so we found great girly yogurt shop to celebrate her big day! we love u els!

                                                                    bi bi and ellie

                                                                             2!

                                                   i couldn't love her enough.....my happy girl.

happy birthday to you.....

                                                           pappy and ellie!
                              there are many more pictures to come...just wanted to share a few!

party at ellie school!

we celebrated with her sweet friends and teachers yesterday...the b-day girl is 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yummy ice cream....

one proud momma

teacher, sweet ms. lakeitha.

how old is ellie? she is 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!

brother was so excited to have a party at sisters school....who ate chocolate icecream?

our family.

ms pat helping ellie walk....0h how she loves her some ms pat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

playing in the acvitity room.....so big!

getting in the ball pit all by her self.....

she did it!
what a fun day to celebrate you sweet girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ellie is 2!

                              Happy birthday to my sweet ellie!

               4 weeks old- g tube in tummy only 1 week...god oh how you've gotten us through so much.

Two years ago today my entire whole changed.  I was blessed to welcome a precious 6 lbs 4 oz little girl into our family.  Your mommy couldn't wait to put bows in her hair, to explode our house with as much pink and ruffles as mike would allow, but most of all have a mother daughter relationship with my little one.  Two years has quickly passed, and with a teary heart, I say- I am one blessed momma.  Ellie- you are my little love.  No one meets you that you don't touch with your constant smile, your sweet spirit, or your cuddly heart.  God created you one precious soul, a tender hearted child.  I never knew the life you would live the first day of birth....but i knew God was mighty, and big.  I remember looking out the hospital window and seeing a bird flying in the rain...i remember choking up- and thinking- god if you say you even take care of the birds od the field...then i KNOW you'll cover my girl.  Things have been different for you, but we rejoice that you are ours. Your heart is tender and huge.  We love to scream to the top of our lungs when you accomplish something new....you're laughter is a gift to us all.   We thank god you are in this family.  We couldn't ask for more. 
We love your bubbly heart, the way you hug your daddy (all the time).  The way you clap your hands over and over when you wake up from your nap and i come in to get you out of your crib. Aweeee what my heart feels, pure love!  Everyone better watch out if you have a push toy, because you are on the move.  I love your "heys" you tell everyone in stores, on the phone, or just to your teachers at school.  We are so very proud of you. 
Today we celebrate your life, you, and I am one thankful momma today to thank god for him blessing us with someone like you....i am forever changed b/c of you sweet girl.

To friends and family.  I thank you all for covering my child the last 2 years.  For praying for her eating, her developemental markers, and her health.  We are truly forever touched by those that have encouraged us, loved us through difficult times, and love all over miss ellie.  She is so blessed!
love you-
mommy 0x0x

look how much you have grown and how sweet you are....thank you for blessing us lord with miss ellie!
                                                           happy birthday sweet girl!

happy birthday to you!!!!!!!!!

happy birthday to you mike

 Today we celebrate your birthday with utter joy!  You mike morrow are one amazing man!  A man that loves your family whole heartedly, serves others often, gives constantly, is one loved daddy, such a hard worker, talented builder, loving, gentle, and manly all at the same time! 
I love being married to you mike, you are more than enough for me.  I love your heart for God, your children, and your wife.  You can come home from a long day at work and leave your work outside the door as you constantly embrace your family inside the door.  Your honesty is unheard of these days...you live a life full of adventure, love, and passion to be different (in a good way).  I celebrate you today mike, the day that you took her first breath of air, and how god has formed you through the years to be just what our family needed!
We love you sweet daddy!!!!!!!!

today....

There is a new found joy in the mornings....

 this morning we all have fun play time...lots of coloring, counting, singing, and using our imaginations!!!!!!!!! good morning sweet loves.

 graham and his fireman....do you see them on the ladder?  he is alllllll about fireman right now, he wears this hat non-stop when he is home, and so there is a litlte someone in the house that likes to do just what brother does.....

 fireman ellie.  she has been scooting around the house in this hat...and just lovvvvves to put it on and off.  i know she has been watching her big brother and wants to do the fireman "play" just like him.

in the midst of this morning- our joys are found- but our hearts are also heavy at the same time. this morning- we are praying for mike's cousin.  her name is kelly.  she had a baby two days ago and yesterday had major complications when they tried to take the spinal cath out of her back.  She has been in critical care since yesterday.  Please cover kelly with prayer today and her family.  Kelly and her almost 2 yr old daughter, new baby charlotte, and husband would thank you for praying for her.  They will try again today to get the spinal cath out...so pray it can come out with ease and she can start to tend to her new baby.  God is mighty.

happy new year 2012!

We had a fun new years night with our sweet friends the beckners!  We had a yummy mexican dinner out with all their girls.  Graham loves getting to play with reese and hadley, and miss ellie and baby brynlee were adorable together babbling at the table to each other.  We had a great time together!  After dinner they came over to roast marshmellows and make some smores! 

                                                     we love our red head friends!
lauren has been such a devoted friend to me, prayer partner, and loyal sister through all our trials with miss ellie.  she has been a great encouragement for me as a mom, through many hard days,  she   She's the friend that just knows how when to send a sweet note, randomly bring us dinner, or just call to check in.  She has a hugeheart for my kids- especially miss ellie.  Through her life she's been touched by other who have struggled health wise, so her love for those around her is real.  I am blessed by her sweet heart.
 miss ellie after getting her bath....have her new years drink......milk! =)

 graham being silly in his superman pj's, that i must say...he lovvvvves!!!!!!!!!!

 happy new year to my dear hubby!  This year has been a struggle for our family in many ways.  Watching this man stand firmly for christ and love me through hard days has been such a blessing.  I couldn't ask for a sweeter more devoted family man.   I am so blessed by him, his love, his heart, and the humbleness of his heart.  happy new year babe.

                                            this is ellie's little buddy brynlee...she's so sweet!

Not one minute after the beckners left our house, 4 of our neighbors saw mike's fire and decision to come over and sit around the fire til midnight.  Our kids were sound asleep of course...but we actually stayed up til the new year! You know we are "real" parents when midnight seems sooo late! happy new year 2012.