The Perfect Surprise Birthday - JACK WHITE!!!!

This all started back in October.   Jack White tickets were going on sale and I knew that I had to get tickets some how some way for Derek's birthday.  Knowing they would sell out in 2 minutes (and they did), I had outlook calendar reminders, and multiple monitors going up waiting for the tickets to go on sale.  At the strike of 10am, I was ready to go.  Long story short, I GOT TICKETS - woohoo!! Now I just have to keep this a secret for 3 months - not fun!

This past year I have had some bad luck with Jack White shows:
Show #1 - Derek was supposed to go to Shreveport and see him.  Without going into major details, we definitely had a heated conversation about him going so close to Eli's due date.   However, Eli decided to come early and a day before show, so clearly that was out.  Now it is just comical!

 Show #2 - Red Rocks amphitheater.   Derek had a blast, but I was cold, wet (it was raining the entire time outside), and my 8 week old baby was 2.5 hours away.  My mind was going crazy.  So here we are - THIRD TIME IS A CHARM -- and a charm it was!

I was trying to keep this a complete surprise to Derek, but he was trying to buy tickets on Craigslist and finding a way to attend the show.  I ended up giving him his birthday present on Christmas just so he would stop looking at tickets.  However, I still had one trick up my sleeve...We had 4 tickets, and his best friends John and Jess were driving in from Shreveport to go with us.  This was by far one of the best nights we have had.  We love them so much, and they totally made the entire weekend.

Happy Early 31st Birthday Derek!! I love you, and am so happy this past weekend worked out.  To see you so happy was such a thrill to my heart.  You are the best husband and dad, and you totally deserved this!

So a little back ground information.  Derek met John and Jess at Louisiana tech.  They have all three been best friends, 12 years, 2 weddings, and one baby later, we still love them if not more!!  These are definite life long friends, and we love experiencing new life chapters with them. I love the pic above from their wedding!

 John and Jess suprised Derek at our house, and they were so nice and brought a donut king cake.  A nice touch to add some Louisiana flare.  I think he is still in shock the just walked through our door.  It was perfect, and his reaction was priceless!

 We were not supposed to take pictures, but I couldn't help myself.  Seriously one of the best shows I have seen in my life.

 LA Tech Bulldogs - Watch out yall!! :)

 I am clearly obsessed with Jess' hat.  She has the best style - I need one!! 

Eli loved meeting John and Jess. He is kind of in a "stranger danger" mode right now, but with them it was nothing.  He loved hanging out with them and was sad to see them go.

Eli's Adventures

This boy LOVES the outside!!  After all of the rain and muggy weather, we had a few days of great Texas winter afternoons --- sunny, no wind, 60 degrees - perfection!  Eli was so happy to be able to go back outside.  These faces just show complete joy and happiness. Love it!

The Daniel Fast

Derek and I recently took on the challenge of doing the 21 day Daniel Fast with my family.  Alison and Eric do this every year, so we decided to join them and my mom.  The premise of the Daniel Fast is basically eating everything Daniel ate in the bible while he fasted as well.  At the time he was under King Nebuchadnezzar's rule in Babylon, and decided to only eat fruits and veggies because he did not believe in the "royal" animals and meats they were worshiping.  Instead, Daniel fueled his body with fruits, veggies, legumes, and water. He relied on the Lord for his strength.

www.ultiamtedanielfast.com was our saving grace.  This provided some great recipes; however, some of our favorites meals were what we came up with on own because we had to use the veggies before they went old.  Such as a Cabbage stir fry, Thai coconut soup, spaghetti squash with my homemade roasted tomato/pepper sauce.

I am so glad that Derek and I did this together.  There were definitely some hard days in there and we were able to help each other when the going got tough -- especially the last week.  However, I am so impressed with Derek.  He quit coffee cold turkey, and he handled his first fast as a champ!  In addition, I am glad this pulled me back into cooking.  I used to cook all the time before Eli was born, and now I have been using the "I'm tired" excuse, so we would run somewhere to pick up dinner.  I love knowing what is in my food at all times, and this made me remember how much I love to cook for us, and that I am not to tired at the end of the day.  This is just what we do!

Overall this was a great experience, and I would like to continue the tradition with my family.  It was such a better and more fulfilling 21 days than just trying to start a new diet in January.  Definitely a great challenge that put us back on the map with healthy eating habits.

 I resorted to drinking my smoothies in a wine glass

Our Daniel Fast Picnic.  Even Eli loved his butternut squash and sweet potatoes!

Welcome Jackson David Halamuda

Yay!! We are so excited that Jackson is here.  He was born on 1/7, at 5lb 15oz.  The same size as Eli.  They were destined to be besties from the beginning.  Congratulations Jenni and Brian -- little boys are the best!!

Christmas with Poppi and Grammi

We were supposed to all meet as a family at my dad and Sal's house, but everybody seemed to be sick.  Instead, Poppi and Grammi came over and we had Christmas separately.  Maybe next year we will get it right and all be together.  In the mean time, we loved our private visit and love our traditional gifts of Champagne and Whiskey!!

 Pecans on 3!!

The gift that keeps on giving!  Now I see where Kyle can get his goofiness ...

 Eli loves his Airplane sheets and toys.  Thank you Poppi and Grammi!

Happy New Year!!

Derek and I decided to take it easy while ringing in the New Year.  We found out that it is hard to get babysitters this night, plus this was my last day of the year for work, so we were waiting on that one last deal.  We had a great time, and made the most of every minute ... until we passed out at 10 watching netflix and drinking prosecco in bed:)

 We went for the fancy stuff for new years - ha!  This pretty much sums up our night. :)

 Cheers!

 Eli ringing in the new year.

 Netflix and Champs

Derek dipped into his Christmas present -- Moonshine Cherries.

7 Months

I feel like this is the time that Eli is learning something new everyday, but I could have said that on the last post. Regardless, he amazes me everyday with the new things he is learning. I cant believe he is 7 months already.  I love this little boy sooo much!!!

1) Weighs a little over 13 lbs.  We have a formal weigh in and height check next week to make sure he is still on track from his 6 month check up.  I still struggle with his weight gain, but I have to remind myself that God is in control, and he will grow the perfect amount each month.  We are still on track for a 1lb weight gai and as long as we maintain this rate, we are good.

2) Eli recognizes his name and will turn to look at you when you are talking

3) Just started to kind of get on his knees and rock back and forth - very early stages

4) He has 3 ways of getting around right now - the crab walk on his back, the downward dog roll when he is on his stomach, and then just rolling all over the place

5) We finally moved him to the crib and he is doing great.  We have him almost back to sleeping through the night.  I still dream feed at 10, and then he normally wakes up around 4 or 5 for his first morning feed.

6) Recently sat up for the first time on his own!!!

7) He knows 1-2-3.  When he hears this (with whatever we are doing) he will get ready on 2 and then has the biggest smile on 3 when he accomplishes the task at hand. PRECIOUS!

8) Starting to make the "motorboat" sound, and has even started doing that when he eats and spits out his food.  He thinks its hilarious - I guess he has a little mischievous side to him as well.

9) His head is HUGE!!!! He definitely gets that from Derek.  All hats his size will not fit him.  He only fits into 12mo hats or bigger.

10) Dances in the bathtub by shaking his head back and forth really fast.

My Little boy!!  Love him so much - 7 months old

 

 Such a big head.  None of the Santa hats would fit him.

 Loves chilling and grocery shopping with his mom at good 'ole CM!

 Thank you Joshua and Ashley for the "Dude Abides" Onesie.  If anybody knows Derek, you know his favorite movie is "The Big Lebowski".  Derek even went as "The Dude" for Halloween.  So glad Eli can wear this now.

 Woohoo - Sitting up!!

 So gangsta in his musical bouncy gym

Texas Christmas

 Some of my favorite people!!

 Christmas Eve Services at the family church.  Ali and the crew did an amazing job with worship this year.  It is easy to just get into the Christmas song rut, but they took it to a whole new level.  Great job and so much fun to watch!

Dad and Sal got Eli this onesie - "Oh Come Let Us Adore Me".  So cute, and Eli rocked it!

 Why is it that I always think Eli and Dad make the same faces??  Glad Dad and Sal came up for a little bit.  We were supposed to celebrate their official Christmas on New years, but everybody got sick. I am looking forward to our Target Christmas - or Valentines day now?!?!? :)

 Christmas can be exhausting!!

 Do remember the awkward Santa picture that the sibilings took??  Well, lucky mom - I made it into a blanket as one of her gifts.  That way she can curl up with us whenever she wants!!

  At Ali and Eric's - thank you for hosting another great Christmas!

  This boy will not sleep on me anymore unless he is on his back - and even then that is few and far between.  He stayed there for hours - so of course I couldn't move.

 Christmas Mimosas ... Let's make sure we start the party early!

 Love these stocking hangers my dad made.  Ali was even nice enough to add Eli to the mantle this year.

 Mom sandwich - Love my boys!

 What does Santa bring a 6 month old?!?!?!?  I struggled with this so much.  We decided to go the minimalist route because we knew we would be bringing back gifts from grandparents and family.   However, I had to take a picture of Eli's first Santa gift, even if it is small :)

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