Our Weekend in iPhone pics - Feb 24 - 26, 2012

We had a fun, busy weekend!

We started out by going to eat Friday night at Texas Roadhouse. We had a gift card we hadn't used from Christmas so we had our family dinner date night there. I love our Friday night family dinners. We've been going to dinner date nights before Mallory and now it's family dinner date nights and I hope this tradition continues for a long time.

We laughed at the end of the meal becuase the waitress asked if we wanted one check. I guess she didn't think we were together, even with Mallory.

Saturday, we went to see Cade play in his basketball tournament. He did so well and his team won the championship!

They were so excited!

Saturday night, I headed to Allen to see my friends/former co-workers Amy & Betty Ashley. Amy has moved to Nashville but was back in Dallas to pack up the rest of her stuff.

We met at Gloria's and had a great time. It's been 3 weeks since we'd been together but it seemed longer and it was fun to catch up. Love those gals!

Sunday was a busy day for us. We started out with our usual Sunday morning routine and that includes our breakfast:

Fancy, I know! But it's what we have in the Estes household every Sunday morning and we love it!

After church, Mallory and I headed to Samantha's baby shower. We are so excited for Samantha and Brad and can't wait to meet Zoey!

It was a great shower! She got the cutest monogrammed bloomers and I love her bedding! She and Zoey were showered with great gifts and I am looking forward to her next shower in March!

Sunday evening, Brian and I both had bible studies. We finished up Beth Moore's "Psalms of the Ascent" last night. It was really wonderful and I look forward to our next bible study. I learn so much from them.

This isn't an iPhone pic but I wanted to leave you with this funny pin from Pinterest.

Haha - I hope you have a wonderful week!

Let's Rock

I think this is one of my new favorite pictures of Mallory:

She loves to rock, either with someone or by herself. We were at my parent's house last night and my Mom brought out the little rocking chair they've had forever and Mallory loved it. It's so neat to see her play and use things that I used to. I love that my Mom kept things like that.

We were at my parent's house because Brian was out of town and we were going to stay with them. Well, my Mom called and said they would keep Mallory if I wanted a night to myself! What?!? Before she even finished asking, I had said Yes :) What did I do? Well I cleaned up, caught up on blogs, tv, pinterest, etc...and was in bed by 9pm and I didn't have to turn the Baby Monitor on. I didn't fall asleep right away but 8 1/2 straight hours of sleep later, I'm a new woman! Thanks Mom & Dad!

And, of course, the child who hasn't been sleeping well at night, slept perfectly through the night at my parent's house. Of Course.

9 Months Old & Other Things

First, I have to say Happy 9 Months to my baby girl!

We don't have our 9 Month appt until next week so I will have stats and info later, but until then, Happy 9 Months Mallory!

This past weekend, I'm happy to say that "Mama" is now Mallory's 2nd word. Mission Accomplished :) Now, we can work on "Dada". In the beginning, she would say something like mama, but definitely this weekend, she started saying it more. I love getting to witness all the new things she is doing!

Yesterday, we got to have lunch with my BFF Julie and her daughter, Emmalyn

She's so cute! We met at Chick-Fil-A and at 12:30 pm, it is a madhouse there. I'm just so grateful that Julie and I's friendship has lasted all of our lives and that we are still imporatant in each other's lives. We are both mothers to daughters and it is so fun to be there for each other in this time in our lives.

Today, I'm off to my old office to see everybody - I can't wait to see them all! Happy Tuesday!

Our Weekend in iPhone pics - Feb 17-19, 2012

Happy Monday to You! We had a wonderful weekend with our family and friends!

My weekend in iPhone pics actually starts on a Thursday this time just because I wanted to include the couple of pics I took at my Dad's birthday dinner. Thursday night, we headed to BJ's to celebrate my dad's bday which was actually about 3 weeks ago, but we finally could all get together to celebrate.

Love this pic of my nieces Kayden, Kiersi & Mom

We all got to enjoy a pizookie - 4 cookies and ice cream on the top = Yummo!

Friday night, we headed to Brian's aunt's house to celebrate the February birthdays in the family

Look at those yummy desserts - yes, I ate too much this weekend!

Mallory's Aunt Pam got her this Easter bib - her first Easter gift!

Saturday during the day, we didn't have anything planned so we hung at home. Mallory's Aunt Laurie gave her this ball and Mallory loved it so we played with it forever.

Saturday night, we were excited to go celebrate our friend, Ryan Ivey's 30th birthday

It was a Broncos theme, if you couldn't tell :), and Kati and Ryan's mom did a great job decorating. My sister-in-law, Melody, made the football cake - isn't it awesome? Ryan was surprised and we had a good time!

We got to hang with some of our favorite people including Karyln and her mom, my great firend, Kati! Kati did a wonderful job putting the surprise party together!

Sunday morning, we headed to church and this was the first Sunday that Mallory went without a headband with a bow. Her hair is long enough to hold a little clip bow - it was so cute!

Mallory and I both took a Sunday afternoon nap while Brian went to Firewheel to get some things. When he got home he surprised me with this:

A new computer! We hadn't had a home computer for us since we both had our work computers but since they wanted their computer back when I left work :) I've been computerless. Not anymore! Thank you Brian!

And that's a wrap. I want to leave you with what I learned last night at Bible Study. Beth Moore said something that really hit home: We has sisters-in-Christ should learn to fight FOR each other instead of with each other.

Zephaniah 3:9

Our Valentine's Day

Mallory's 1st Valentine's Day was so much fun! We had a great day and I'm so glad I got to be with her!

This is our shirt we got for Valentine's Day. It says "My Heart belongs to Daddy" which is so true. She always smiles when she sees him. I laugh because this is the best picture I could get - she really didn't care to smile for the camera yesterday morning.

We started out by going to the library and saw our friends there

Not sure what she and Liam are looking at but it must be interesting

Afterwards, we set up a play date with Liam & Karlyn

Love these three cuties! They still don't know what to think of three mommas trying to get a good picture. If I could only hear what they are thinking right now

Valentine's Day treats for the kiddos

After the fun with friends, we got ready to spend the evening with Daddy.

I made Brian's favorite cake in a heart shape. He didn't believe I carved the heart shape and that is wasn't heart shaped pans haha

Mallory got a card and a book from Mom and Dad. She also got some Valentine's day treats!

Brian brought home dinner

Can't go wrong with pizza and breadsticks

And we spent the rest of the evening loving on our sweet Valentine, Mallory

As you can tell, we don't have a tripod so this is our family portrait. I'll take it!

It was a great day!

Our Love Story

I wanted to jump on the bandwagon of bloggers giving their love story and since it is Valentine's Day, I couldn't think of anything better to blog about.

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

Almost 4 1/2 years - Since August 2007

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

Brian and I met at our church. He helped teach in the college class and I went to our Twentysomething Sunday School class. We became friends and started hanging out together - not just the two of us, with some other friends. We became very good friends and started talking to each other all the time. One weekend, he went out of town for a friend's wedding and I realized that I missed him. Of course, I didn't say anything but August 5, 2007, he swept me off my feet by asking me "if I wanted to do this thing or what??" I said yes and I would say the rest is history but we broke up mid-November because we both knew it wasn't working but didn't want to lose our friendship. That didn't last long - we were back together by mid-December and the rest is history.

(our first photo as a couple)

3. If married, how long have you been married?

Will be 3 years on April 4

4.If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding?

We got married at the place where we met - our church. We had about 200 people. Our reception was held at the Center at Rockwall just down the road. It is a day I will never forget!

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?

No

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

a. He Loves Jesus

b. He is a Hard worker

c. His humor (most of the time)

7. Tell us how he proposed.

He completely surprised me! He told me he had to go to Miami for work the same time that I was in Tampa for work. I was excited we would be in the same state but sad we weren't in the same city. On Saturday, Aug 15, 2008, I thought he was flying home from Miami but as my event was ending, he called me and told me he was at the arena. I looked up and there he was. I was very shocked but I didn't think anything - I thought he had a layover. We got back to my hotel room and he got down on one knee and proposed. I was definitley surprised. He did good. You can read more about it here.

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

He's given me all of those, except for champagne, so he's a whatever he asks me what I want, he gets kind of guy and that's what I love about him.

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Well, I wouldn't mind a sunset dinner on the beach but I'll take a movie and snuggle on the couch anyday.

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant other one day? If you could do anything?

I would love to go to Hawaii with him. I've been but he's never been and I think he would love it.

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

Hang out at home with Mallory and enjoy our first Valentine's Day with her

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

I just only wish for a card.

13. Give us one piece of advice on keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Honesty. Tell your spouse how you truly feel and talk it out.

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Our Weekend in iPhone pics - February 10 - 12, 2012

Happy Monday! To be honest, I was hoping this post would include pictures of us in the snow but alas, if some made it here, it wasn't very much so, nothing pic worthy. We did have a good weekend though!

Friday night, we went to eat at Cotton Patch Cafe with my parents. I love living close to them so we can just call each other up and do something. We had a good time.

Mallory and I waiting for Dad to get home from work so we could go meet my parents. Yes, that is a scratch right between her eyes. Someone needs to cut her nails! Wait, that's me - I file them usually because I'm horrible at cutting and usually end up hurting her more than helping her :/

Saturday morning, I did a little shopping. I wanted to get Mallory a shirt to wear on Valentine's Day and when I got the The Children's Place, I saw this:

I got really excited that I get to buy Mallory an Easter dress!

We played some when I got home and I just laugh when I see this pic:

Mallory has no interest in crawling. She either rolls over or just lays down when I put her on her stomach. Why move on your own when people will just carry you where you need to go???

Saturday afternoon, we headed to see cousin Cade play basketball

Brian and Caleb - these two love each other so much!

Mallory was extra whiney on Saturday so I was happy to pass her off to family. She perked up of course when we got there

And then she crashed on Pop:

Saturday night, Brian went to watch Caleb play basketball so it was just us girls as the house.

I took this picture because it was the first time I took her out of her little bathtub and let her just sit in our bathtub.

She loved it! She scooted around all over the place and loved splashing with her feet. All the while not letting go of her rubber ducky, of course.

After she went to bed, I went to clean up the floor

For a little girl, she does make a mess

And then Sunday, we went to church and went to eat at El Chico with our Sunday School class after church.

You get 10% off of your bill if you bring your church bulletin on Sunday. I say, that's a good deal. And Jill even drew a flower on her church notes! I love our Sunday School class and the people we get to serve with!!

Well that's that! Another weekend in the books. Hope you have a wonderful week!