Thursday, November 27, 2014

Our Little Turkey & a Family Thanksgiving 2014

What a special day to remember what we are truly thankful for this season. I am so blessed to be a wife and this little girl's mama. It is the greatest job in the world! I am beyond words thankful for my husband who is my best friend and also an amazing daddy that I get to share my life with.

As part of my husband's job (which I am very thankful for), his schedule around this time gets a bit hectic. It makes for traveling during Thanksgiving pretty impossible. So we are so lucky and thankful that my parents were able to join us this holiday season.

 
{Oma & Opa at our Thanksgiving lunch}
This was our first Thanksgiving with my family since Auby was born last year. It was a perfect blending of traditions and the spread wasn't bad either;). Our menu consisted of cornish game hen, asparagus, my great grandmother's stuffing, 5 cup fruit salad (which quickly transitioned to 4 cups ever since I was a child and I hated, and still do, coconut), cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, and our  afternoon mosas. It was delicious!

To Oma and Opa,
We are so thankful for you both. We are so thankful for sharing this holiday with you and baby. These are memories I'll hold dear for a lifetime.

It is amazing to think what a difference in a year can look like. Here is a picture of our daughter's first Thanksgiving at 6 weeks old last year. Oh how times have changed.

{Thanksgiving blessings in 2013}
This year Auby was ready to go... an empty belly and hungry hands. She loved the crescent roll and fruit salad with mallows of course. The stuffing may have been a bit much as we quickly went into melt down and coughing mode. So we quickly switched to a meal of black beans, meat, carrots and peas, and pears. I am assuming it was a hit as she shoveled her food into her mouth and when she finished her plate quickly became a hat. Mid day impromptu bath was definitely our next stop. And yes that is my child under the table hopefully not looking for scraps with the pups. I plead the fifth on this one.
The past two days have been filled with baby play and family fun. We've danced, made animal sounds, read stories with Oma and Opa, played in our kitchen, made a drum from wooden spoons, climbed the stairs, pet the pups, and even seen Santa on tv during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I have loved watching my daughter love on my parents and the pups. As new traditions are made and old ones are continued, I am reminded just how THANKFUL we are for these special moments in time and that Christmas is right around the corner. Let the countdown begin! Enjoy a few pictures from my parents visit.

  {Auby's Ballerina Fun with Daddy and the pups}
 {Story time with Oma} 
 {Sending "warm" wishes on a cool walk with the family}
{Auby & Opa time} 
 {Hope Park Fun with Oma & Daddy}
{Special moments with Oma including holiday crafts, puppy play, giraffe kisses, and so much more}
 
Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Monday, November 24, 2014

College Crew Thanksgiving 2014

Happy Thanksgiving to our College Crew Family.

Love,
The Zellners
 
Tonight, we hosted our 6th annual Thanksgiving dinner with our college friends. It is amazing to think that we were once this young and that our young adult lives had just started... many before weddings and children. I love this picture collage as it shows how our little group has grown and changed since 2009. While we have some new additions join us and some old loves move on to new adventures, our heart is always in the same place knowing that this little group is truly a blessing to us all. So enjoy our pictures of our night. Our once group of 10 has now expanded to 17 + one on the way. (We cannot wait to celebrate our sweet Brushwoods.) We are truly blessed.

 
 {Girl play}
 {Boy Time}
 {Emily}
{Turkey Dinner}
 
{Thanksgiving Spread}
 {Photo Opt}
 {Jacob, Em & M, Aubrey, & Bryson)
 {The Girls- Steph, me, Kristin, & Paige} 
 
{The Gents- Ray, Adam, & Dustin}
 
{Kristin & her little man}
 
{Paige & Auby} 
 {Daddy feeding Auby}
{Adam, the baby whisperer}
 
To our friends near and far, we are truly THANKFUL for you this Thanksgiving and are reminded how truly blessed we are to have your friendship.

November Novelties

Happy November 2014 
 
This November, our little family has enjoyed lots of November novelties. From our first November snow...
 to morning play on our stairway.
Daddy took a trip to Fort Worth for a men's conference which left an over night play date just for mommy and baby. Oh how I love my little cutie and our chick-fil-a breakfast date. We may have had a tantrum or two as mommy tried to replace the Cherios with chicken minis. Boy was I wrong;)
But a quick trip to Old Navy and a little dressing room mirror fun, put a smile back on our faces. Oh how I love my little mini.
 5 years ago, I married my best friend and husband on November 14, 2009. I am so thankful for the man that he is, was, and always will be.
Some of my favorite moments are with this little girl, a book, and her imagination.
 
 
This month Aubrey got a horrible tummy bug for about 4 days, but it didn't get her down. A walk, beautiful weather, and some stylish glasses was all she needed to brighten your day.
 Mommy and Daddy cheered on our Texas Aggies.
Oh how I love our baby giggles.
We celebrated Kristin's 30th Birthday. I am so thankful for this amazing super mama who truly deserves the world!
 
 Our Adult Bible Fellowship hosted an old fashioned fellowship day. Love God's PURPOSE!
 ABF Chili Lunch and Play Dates 
 My King and his Princess
Pioneer Day in First Grade
 
We are truly Thankful for our November Novelties.

Auby's Month-iversary Series: 13 Months

 
Dear Auby,
13 months has quickly come and gone. I've realized that within another 13 days, you'll already be a month older. I decided that it was time to go ahead and update your month-iversary series. So here it is sweet girl. Here's to another month of adventure, growth, belly laughs, hugs, cuddles, tantrums, as well as heart welcoming moments and love. You are our heart sweet girl.

Date: 11/7/2014
Age: Thirteen Months
Measurements: Weight: 21 lbs
Clothing: You are officially in 12 and 12-18 month clothing. It is so much fun to put you in little sweaters and jackets this month as our November has gotten extremely cold. You are still wearing size 3 shoes, but will quickly be moving to size 4 shortly. We bought your first pair of boots this month.
Eating:  You are eating all big girl food and are officially 100% on cow's milk. You drink about 16-20oz of milk per day. Our goal is to transition you from a bottle to a cup before Christmas. I am so hoping to not have to bring all of your bottles and cleaning pieces home with us to the holidays. Your favorite foods are fajita beef, blueberry activia, carrots, green beans, peas, bread, fruit cocktail, macaroni and cheese, marshmellows, and more recently broccoli. Who's baby is this?

Sleeping: You are a very active sleeper. You are a little rolly-polly and sleep tucked in a ball or on your back with your hands behind your head. I love that you let us know when you are tired and the way you communicate with us by saying nigh-night and ba-ba. You love stuffed animals and now a pillow in your crib. This month you've done pretty well on sleep. There are nights were you do seem to cry sometimes throughout the night in your sleep and typically do not wake up fully. Sometimes we do have to put you back to bed. You go to bed about 7PM and we wake you up around 6AM. Weekends you have been waking up between 5 and 5:30. Oh how I long for the days for you to "sleep in." We can sometimes give you an early morning bottle if the sun isn't up and put you back to bed. You sleep with a humidifier at home but are fully capable of sleeping without it in full light (due to daycare).

New Activities and Random Tidbits:
- developing and mimicking new words/sounds including baby, mimi (Mattie), peese (please), elpa (help), da (down), ta-tu (thank you), mo (more), doo (shoe), auby (your name), and others
- "running" hugs
- giving high fives
- turning on your light each morning
- giving kisses on request (sometimes sloppy ones;)
- showing "love" / giving hugs to stuffed animals and friends
- laying your head down on a pillow when we say nigh-night
- making animal sounds- This has become one of your favorite things to do.
- signing more- you've got this one down so well... especially if you really want it;)
- You love to observe things around you. You are such a chill baby and really like to take it all in
- You sleep on a cot at school with a blankey only. What a big girl!
- You celebrated our College Crew Thanksgiving (with 5 other babes), Kristin's 30th Birthday Celebration, and enjoyed several play dates with sweet friends.
- You got the tummy bug and were sick for 4 days :( Mommy quickly got it after you.
- love to point
- walk to your chair in the morning and drink your ba-ba from your chair
- love playing in mommy and daddy's bathroom and the kitchen. There are tons of (dangerous) things you can find there

Likes: ba-bas, hugs, stuffed animals, playing with your kitchen, ball pit, babies, carrying around a purse or bag, going "shopping" for toys, "reorganizing" the game room (pulling everything from the shelves), making animal sounds (We love the Eric Carle Animal Babies book), playing in your high chair and straps, pearls, musical toys

Dislikes: being in your car carrier, long drives, bows, being told no, not getting what you want, cold wipes and being changed, and wipes your nose

Happy 13 months sweet beauty!
Watch baby grow!

{12 and 13 Months}

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Lucky Number 13

Sassy and Sweet, my beautiful spunky monkey turned the lucky number 13 yesterday! Well 13 months that is. Baby girl, where has the time gone? I remember holding you in my arms for the first time, totally in love and totally excited and terrified all in one breath. You are truly our heart sweet baby. A true apple of our eye.

I love all of the newness that each day brings. From the moment you wake to the moment you go to bed, each moment has surely made us fall in love over and over, kept us on our toes, made us laugh, and from time to time made us question our parenting skills. 

You are the happiest baby I know. I love your new words, new skills, baby play, and "running" hugs to mommy and daddy. Talk about heart warming and melting.

This month you have surely found your voice. You absolutely love to babble. We have held full conversations... which we are still learning to decipher.  You love saying (in your own way) mommy and daddy, dog, up, thank you, hello, good-bye, bottle, water, and animal sounds. You love quacking like a duck and monkey sounds. We have just taught you what a giraffe says... sticking tongue out... that may be a front runner for sure. Again all words said in your cute little Auby way.


We have definitely seen a few little tantrums this month which typically are a result from not getting your bottle fast enough, having to take away some sort of object (most of the time because it is dangerous), or fussy from exhaustion. But all of the tantrums and tears have no match for my love of you sweet angel. Your smiles quickly melt those moments away.

Oh how you love mommy and daddy's things. From cell phones, chapstick, daddy's work computer and the like, you definitely are a big girl.

 
Keeping us on our toes is an understatement. You have just recently learned to climb. From climbing on tables, the couch, your chair, and attempting to use your chair to climb over the baby gate has all been a bit of a challenge, but we are quickly learning your tricks. You are one determined little lady. If you want it, you go for it. I hope you keep that forever sweet girl.

 You are definitely your daddy's little girl. You look just like him.
 I absolutely love your love for books. It makes this teacher's heart smile.
While your attention to them is pretty short, you will quickly grab one and find a spot on our lap. We want reading to be such an important part of your life. I too hope this is not lost with age.
Sweet baby, may you continue to grow and shine God's light to others. May you love with your whole heart and may it be filled with child-like wonder.
 

 
 13 is such a lucky number. May this month be filled with all adventures, excitement, and love. Happy Lucky number 13!!!
Related Posts with Thumbnails