Katy Ellis Baby Dedication

May 10th: Happy Mother's Day!!

This past Sunday was a beautiful day!! We got to spend the day with our entire family celebrating our Katy Ellis and committing to raise her in a Godly home. It was Mother's Day, but it was also baby dedication Sunday at Radius, our new church here in Lexington.

 At first, I was a little peeved that my mother's day had been hijacked by Baby Dedication Sunday!  This meant rather than being lazy and pampered, I would instead have to cook and help host a huge family gathering. Thankfully, the Lord softened my heart (and my attitude) and helped me see that there is no better way to celebrate being a mom. He helped me remember WHO gave me this opportunity and WHO entrusted this child to me. Katy Ellis is not mine; she is the Lords!

Thank you Jesus for letting me enjoy this precious child, may I use every day to show her YOU and demonstrate YOUR love for her!!

Katy Ellis decided to start Mother's Day off right with a 5:30am wake up call for Mommy! So thoughtful.

As a result, I knew that post-church pictures were NEVER going to happen, so we quickly got in our family pics before leaving for Church that morning.

My subjects were less than cooperative.

Blakely's face in this picture!!! HeeHeeHeeHee!!

Blakely loves her baby sister! Since I found out Katy Ellis was a girl, I have been dreaming of these two becoming best buddies, and it is starting to happen! Blakely always tried to include KK, and always make sure she gets some of Blakely's snacks and drinks. She is always saying "come on KK! come on!" And she always wants to "stay and play with KK." I am so thankful these two will always have one another!

Stink Face!

GrandAnnie even came all the way from Canada for Katy Ellis special day!! ;)

Sweet cousin Walker was also dedicated on Sunday, so we were all able to celebrate together.

 Mom's beautiful party decorations were also Alyssa and I's Mother's Day gifts! Aren't they beautiful?

GrandAnnie getting some baby Walker snuggles in... watch out, he spits!

Best buddies.
(Banks: "DeeDee these too tight!" as he pulls his suspender straps off for the 100th time!)

At first glance, I thought this was great picture of me and my girls on Mother's Day, and then I realized they both look LESS than THRILLED to be with me! HA! Oh well.

 

Alyssa and I with out two freshly dedicated babies, Kathryn Ellis and Walker Harrison.

 

 

Obsessed with this picture!! Realized after I saw it that I don't think I have a nice picture of all 4 kids with Alyssa and I in it!
Me and my co-parent with our 4 kiddos! ;)

 

LOVE Walker and Banks as if they were my own kids!!! They are part of my crew!

 

Alyssa and her boys. So blessed to get to raise my kids with my sister!!

 

 

Another BEAUTIFUL Mother's Day gift from my talented Mama!! Each word on my serving platter was a memory from when I lived in Charleston. I love this so much, and I totally got choked up when she gave it to me! Such a sweet surprise!
My personal favorites: Home Team BBQ and Angels&Rascals! HA!

We had a BBQ Buffet! Hudson's BBQ, homemade Mac n' Cheese, cole slaw, baked beans and rolls. YUM!!

 

Rich seems to fit in nicely at the kids table.

Katy Ellis totally SHOCKED her mama!! She had already had her supper in her high chair. I got her down, and she crawled over to the kids table picked up the fork and USED IT!!! Y'all!! She is 15 months old. She can't walk.... who knew she could us a fork!

I have NEVER even given her a fork, but I guess she had been watching Banks and Blakely use theirs.

She is so proud of herself for using the fork!

She did it OVER and OVER again... she ate every bite on the plate!!

I might add that this was STOLEN food.... off Banks and Blakely's plates. They had left to go swimming... and she just jumped right up and commandeered their plates!

This is one little miss who will not be denied or held back! You go KE!

She was obsessed with this little umbrella!!

Katy Ellis enjoying the beach with her Daddy

First Kayak ride of the season!

I think she ate about a 1/2 cup a sand. Oops!

GG reading to her girly Granbabies.

My girls TORE UP some cake!!

Walker's first taste of cake.

Banks always eats dessert like a boss!

Swiper stealing cake off Blakely's plate.... didn't recognize what had happened until after I was editing the pictures! HA!

Get it girl!

While Blakely was busy trying to steal the frosting roses off the big cake, KE was helping herself to Blakely's cake! HA!

Such a special day celebrating my little Katy Ellis! I am so, so, so proud of this little bug and humbled that God has called me to be her Mama! I am going to do my best, but I know that my best will not be enough. I will not be enough. AND THIS IS PURPOSEFUL!! I will not be able to LOVE Katy Ellis perfectly, but I can point her to the one that can! I can teach her about Jesus and spend my days with her pointing to Him!! Only He can be the ONE she needs!!!
That is my promise. That is my "dedication." That I would first seek Christ for myself, and then seek to help Blakely and Katy Ellis to find him, too!! God be praised! AMEN!

Pastries for Parents

Blakely's End of School Program: May 6th

Today, Alyssa and I had the pleasure to attend Blakely and Banks first school performance. They are technically 8 months apart, so when they start real school they will be in different grades. It has been so fun to have them in the same class this year! I know this is a short season where they are in the same class/are best friends/ dress alike everyday/ get confused for twins.... but is such an amazing season!

First stop the Chapel for their performance. You can see Banks and Blakely on the very back row.

Oh course they sat together. They did several songs:
Wheels on the Bus
Baby Bumble Bee
Fire Truck

They did a great job and really seemed to enjoy the hand motions best of all.

Blakely spotting Mommy and Auntie in the audience. Her and Banks were a little excited blowing us kisses and catching ours.

So proud of my big girl!!

...And my big boy!!!

Banks and Blakely each got a giant muffin...

Within 5 minutes Blakely had barely tasted hers and Banks was gone. Typical.

"Do you know the Muffin Man?? The muffin man..."

They loved getting to drink from big kid cups.

One of Banks and Blakely's best school friends, John Thompson!

These two!

Banks and Blakely have had the BEST teachers this year. Ms Robin and Ms Stephanie! We have loved having them as teachers, and they have made Banks and Blakely's first school experience so much fun!! Thank you for an amazing year!

Art Show! Top is Banks snowman and bottom is Blakely's police car.

So proud of these two! They have had a great first year of school, and we have had nothing but good reports. They are going to do us proud in the classroom!