so hard to say goodbye to 2010

This year has been filled with so much love and excitement, I can't imagine anything else topping it. In a matter of twelve months I managed to...

get married

earn my second degree

give birth to Elle Elizabeth

make a life plan

discover my love for children

change my last name

buy a new car

move

purchase my sixth couch in six years (I have a sickness)

start sewing

enter the world of blogging

hear my baby cry

hear my baby laugh

get a tattoo

switch cell phone carriers

fall madly in love with my daughter

fall deeper in love with her father

AND

 realize I love making holiday-inspired baby clothes...

 NYE ball dropping (super easy to make & so gorgeous in person).

Bring it on 2011. I'm ready for you.

giraffes, rosettes, & one handsome lil' girl

It's official, my baby girl is a giraffe. I knew she was long, but didn't know 97th percentile long. She's apparently 28.2 inches in length (we think more like 27) according to her six month stats. Her weight is right on track for her height (18.6 lbs, which is a tiny bit below average) and she's even more bald than she was two months ago. She's perfectly healthy and best of all, the dreaded shots are over for at least six months! Hallelujah!

Since we were already out and handling our shots very well (I think I hate them more than she does), we thought we'd stop by the mall and use the gift card from Elle's sweet aunt Krissie. This was almost a complete disaster because apparently everyone else had the same idea. Get in and get out. Straight to Gymboree we went, well almost. The Disney Store caught my eye and I couldn't resist taking a quick peek  (Do we really ever outgrow Disney? I hope not). I made a bee line for the Belle section and fell madly in love with this skirt...

found here

Good thing I didn't impulsively buy it because I was able to find this...

found here

for less money and in her size! I will just add my own rosettes (which is great because according to the reviews, the rosettes fall off the Disney skirt) and voila! Perfect skirt for her first Valentine's Day.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, I found this adorable sweatshirt while we were out...

found here

and had to get it for her. Yes, I know it's for a lil' boy, but that's the beauty of it! Her lil' brudder (God-willing) can wear it later too! 

I really need to stop falling in love with questionable clothes for her though because we've already heard two strangers say "What a beautiful baby, how old is he?" this week. Headbands are officially a must 'cause apparently the pink carseat and hearts attire just aren't doin' it anymore.

Which brings me to my last purchase of the day...

found here

her very own giraffe headband. Perfect.

My baby giraffe may not have a ton of hair just yet, but she still can rock her barrettes...

My poor bald baby.

the best gifts in life are free (or under fifty bucks)

Buying the perfect present for Shawn had been my number one Christmas to-do in the past. This of course was before baby Elle arrived. We both decided this year we wouldn't go crazy on one another in the gift-giving department, and instead work on making Elle's first Christmas one to remember. Although gifts weren't the main attraction of this year's Christmas, I still wanted to share a few of my favorites...

her jammies from auntie Kel (that's the tushy flap)

her first bible from her Nani

And my most favorite gift from Shawnee to me...

it's an advent calendar which I adore on it's own...

and each box had a special trinket and note

a few of our memories

The crazy part about it was, I saw the calender when I was out shopping and fell in love. I was going to go back out and grab it after Christmas, but good thing I didn't because he surprised me with it (I had never even shown it to him). Each day had a memory from our relationship, starting with the day we met and a adorable note to match. It ended with a picture of our little Elle and of course a few tears from my sappy self.

It truly was the best gift I have ever received and I look forward to sharing it with Elle one day.

Shawn received his most precious gift too, and as much as I would like to take credit for it, It was Elle's doing. She said dada for the first time yesterday, it may have been a day late, but it was well worth the wait.

How will they ever top these next year?

our first family Christmas

Our first family Christmas has come and gone and it was well worth all the craziness beforehand. 

We had a lovely time at my uncle's home on Christmas Eve. Elle was one of four ADORABLE babies who stole the show. The home was filled with amazing smells, laughter, joy, food and kindness. I couldn't have asked for anything more. Well, maybe a fully charged camera battery, 'cause this is all I was able to capture before my camera died...

our family photo

Elle's "Elle" sweater

Ellie and Uncle Jonathan

trying to hug her cousin Genta right before the camera died

Our Christmas mornin' went a lil' like this...

enjoyin' one of the goodies from her stocking.

giving Grandpa Raye his gift.

opening her ball.

she didn't quite get that the ball was the fun part.

our lil' present.

using her big girl sippy!

I love that face!

playing with her toys...

 

she loves Mama's so much, I thought I'd get her one of her own.

Daddy's sexy leg in the background.

And her most favorite part of Christmas, the wrapping paper...

merry Christmas baby Elle!

After all the gift-giving, we enjoyed a delicious meal and had a mellow rainy day just the three of us. 

 It was a perfect Christmas day.

holly jolly wishes

 In between all the wrapping, shopping, and cleaning, I wanted to take a moment to send everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays wish! I hope everyone's holiday is filled with love and laughter and maybe even a lil' smooch under the mistletoe!

Merry Christmas All!

the first "noee"

The Christmas crafting is coming to an end. Mostly because Christmas is two days away, but also because I think it's driving Shawn a lil' nuts. Five more minutes constantly rolls off my tongue as my glue-covered fingers try to finish their latest craft. I'm sure he'd like his somewhat-less-neurotic wife back from the holiday happs; there were just so many "firsts" that needed to be done!

Well good news Shawnee! Here is the last of the firsts...

traced Ellie's hands and feet

I absolutely LOVE things made with kiddie prints. It's such a sweet way to "remember when". I cannot wait until Elle starts bringing me home her own lil' school-made surprises, but until then, I'm on hands and feet duty.

I knew I wanted to do something Christmas'y with 'em, but not exactly sure what. Then I remembered my new found love for "ornaments with meaning" and I thought it'd fit perfectly there. I already have plans for next years and the year after too! (Sorry Shawnee.)

On another note, I saw this today...

Yes that is "NOEE" not "NOEL" but the nice part is it's ten dollars off! I thought about getting it since I already have an "Elle" har har (Sorry guys, I couldn't help myself.)

And baby girl finally got some use out of her other present Christmas shirt...

2 days and counting 'till our first Girouard Christmas!

not your ordinary ornaments

A few years back, I was walking down the Christmas isles at Target when all these bright, glitzy ornaments caught my eye. I had to have them all! Why I thought I absolutely needed a flamingo or ballet slipper on my tree is beyond me now, but at the time they were necessities. 

Now that I am a wife and mother, I would love a tree that tells a story. (Don't worry, once Elle has her Elle's in Onederland party Mr. Flamingo will probably have a home on our tree.)

Well, thanks to the Mr., we already have two perfect ornaments to start out with...

All that was needed to complete 2010 was Elle's first ornament.

Baby's first ornament can come in many forms. I thought of  baby carriages or angels, maybe even something with her picture, but then it hit me! I'll make something to go with her stocking! I came across this lovely tutorial and the rest is history. I thought it was perfect for her first ornament because not only is it roses (her birth flower), it's also adorned with pearls, which are her birthstone. Perfect.

Here's how it came out...

Can't wait to see what's in store for us next year!