Day Nineteen Hundred and Nine

The First Choice Tree

Went to "Happy Depot" (Amelia's pronunciation) to pick up some wood for a project and found our tree while we were at it!! It's the first time we've ever chosen the first one we looked at, and we couldn't be more thrilled with our Beauty! Our tree either ;) Amelia was quite proud and she even stood right in front of it, waiting for a picture be chase she knew this was our keeper. Happy Depot!!

And this mantle was our wood project turned finished project! The entry is coming together and I love it! Thanks for all your help, Adam!!

Day Nineteen Hundred

The Feast of Thankfulness 2016

Little Chef was up all morning preparing our afternoon meal. 

She made the turkey marinade, the rolls, the pretzel jello salad, the corn, the apple pie...

...AND the homemade whipped cream. 

It was difficult however, to determine if she like helping or licking better. I think maybe the squeaky clean utensils might be an indication of where her heart truly lies though. 

Oh yes, squeaky clean toes as well. Because you can't let a drop of heaven go to waste, even when it turns up on the bottom of your foot. 

Mimi's finished product.

Not over exaggerating: the absolute best turkey I've EVER had. Ever. Pinterest, you win. Mimi, you win more because you made it happen. Oh, if taste buds could speak!

#MimisMeal

For only 21 months, we've got ourselves quite the chef and we're more grateful than ever to share such sweet days alongside our tiny best friend. She's lit up our lives in ways we couldn't have experienced without her and as I reflected on yesterday, being her mom has made me realize with greater truth the incomprehensible love, grace, and mercy our Father pours over his children. And that sort of Love builds a desire in me to always find a reason for gratitude and thankfulness, regardless of circumstance.  

"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

My heart overflows in thanksgiving for the life God's called me to and for the people He's blessed me to walk alongside. Every day, I desire a life marked by obedience because of what He's done for me. I am so grateful. 

Happy Thanksgiving 2016!

Ours was relaxing, entertaining, fulfilling, and productive. Our little nest is finally starting to really become our own and we're buzzing with joy over the outcome all our little projects. Thank you Jesus, for allowing me to thrive under the care of my husband and in the richness of motherhood. But more than anything, thank You for your death on a tree...that saved a wretch like me. 

Day Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-Nine

The Shiplap Surprise

Our Fifth Anniversary project came alive last night! And I couldn't be more excited!

Adam's project completely transformed itself after applying a coat of dark stain to our shiplap. He worked SO hard to both surprise me and to create something so beautiful out of wood...and Mama is just LOVING my thoughtful, treasured gift.

Adam's finished project.

STUNNING.

And every time I sit down before the tv, I'm reminded of the strength and durability of our marriage (wood) and from Whom it comes from. Praise God.

Mimi approves too!

And so she celebrated by floating on her back in the bathtub for the first time ever! Yesterday was one good day.

Day Fifteen Hundred and Sixty-Six

The Baby's First Christmas

Celebrating the birth of our Savior has never been more exciting!

After a basically sleepless night - thanks Right Front Tooth for officially making your debut over night...your timing was splendid...and quite painful - Amelia was up at 9:00 and ready to party.

She picked out the absolute perfect gift to open - after first wildly admiring the new Conley vacuum - and look! Millie's first Bible! (Thank Grandma Heather and Grandpa Dan!!)

Amelia hopped up on Dada's lap to begin the family tradition: reading the Christmas story of Jesus' birth in Luke 2...

...and then listening to a sermon, given by Dad!!

Adam gave an incredible message to Amelia and I - one he'd been preparing for the last few weeks. We are so blessed to have a Daddy to look up to, who's constantly yearning for more Jesus, and who's ability to share what he's learned is clear, bold, focused, and passionate.

Thank you, Adam for providing our family with such a rich Christmas experience that's centered on the sole reason we have life. Christ! I can't wait until Amelia can actually understand what it is you have to say on Christmas (well, and all the other times too)!

Merry Christmas, Amelia Lynn!

We sure love you!

(And so do a lot of other people, proven by the crazy amount of gifts you had sitting under the tree!)

But, there were two things for Mommy that couldn't quite fit under the tree.

A vacuum.

 And our brand new - one of a Daddy-made kind - table and bench!!

It's so so so perfectly gorgeous!

Beautiful work, Adam!

THANK YOU!

We had such a lovely morning and afternoon celebrating with our little girl. She's almost ten months, so by now, she sort of understands the concept of tearing into things. She managed to open a few gifts, but maybe her most favorite was the avocado we left for her in her stocking.

Then again, the bottom of the block holder was a winner as well,

as was our family ornament.

Oh yes, and anything not given to Amelia was her favorite as well. Pens, iron-on vinyl, Mommy's special printer. Typical, right?! But hey, we had a happy baby most of the day, and for that, we were so pleased. She's got the sweetest, most playful and fun demeanor and we're grateful for our very favorite Christmas present this year: her!

This time of year is just so special and we're thankful for all the kindness poured out over us this Christmas season. We feel alive. Excited. Ready. We feel cozy and settled - at least more than we ever have. And that in it's own right, is yet another beautiful gift.

We love you, dear family and friends!

We hope your Christmas was lovely and sweet and spent with the people who bring out the very best in you! And if you were host to your very first ever Christmas dinner, we hope you didn't accidentally put yeast in Jesus' birthday cake or end up serving supper an hour late or forget the wine! Good thing our precious company didn't much mind! (Love you, Dana!!)

She says, "You did what to Jesus' birthday cake?!"

;)

Day Fifteen Hundred and Fifty-Six

The Sickie Piggies

First piggies of her whole life! Thanks Grandma!!

And I'll bet by looking at her here, you'd be shocked to learn that our Millie is suffering from her very first official cold. Poor baby has snot and a little cough and for a short time yesterday morning, a mild fever. I think this season of traveling and flying and bed hopping and teething has finally caught up with her. And the rest of the Conley Clan too. 

(I must say, I'm pretty impressed with her little immune system so far. She's flown on countless planes and sucked on an impossible number of different germs and is just now having symptoms...9 1/2 months into her baby life!)

That's right. Dad has whatever Millie has.

And Mommy does too.

Nothing a little apple cider vinegar, saline rinse, rest, and snot sucking won't fix (I hope)! Amelia, Adam, and I have still yet to use a single dose of medicine this ENTIRE year and we're hopeful we can keep it that way! We shall see! Until the bug retires itself from our family, Amelia and I will be home resting. But Dad? He'll still be in the garage working on the table. He's determined to have it done by Christmas dinner, cold sickness or not!

Goodnight from the sleepy, snotty Conley family!

Day Fifteen Hundred and Fifty-Two

The Strolling Library Babes

So, at the library the other day, Carston, Lara, Amelia, and I met new friends Taylor and her mommy during story time. Then we learned that they live like, five houses down from us. Yay! MORE FRIENDS!! And so, we got everyone together and took a stroll around the neighborhood. Whitacre included.

We were having so much fun. Girl talk. Baby talk. Sunshine. Smiles. It was perfect. And then, we looked down. Whitacre was gone.

NOOOOOOO.

Recovery Mission: begin. RUUUUN!

WHITACRE!

You scared Mommy!

Didn't I ever tell you not to play in the street?! Gah! You coulda gotten run over by a car, Silly Bear! Come back here!

We recovered the missing polar bear, finished our walk, and headed home.

We're loving our sweet neighborhood! Missing bears and all!

Table update:

Adam applied a (accidentally thick) layer of stain to the bottom of the bench yesterday. He managed to rub it in pretty well though and now look! Beauty in the making! We're hoping to have our table finished and in our dining room by Christmas!

Day Fifteen Hundred and Forty-Nine

The Kid That Hates Cars

Even if we give her her OWN car with her OWN bestie riding shotgun, she still hates it. Like, seriously, Amelia?! What's a Conley gotta do to make you like vehicles?! My goodness, Woman!

And so, we left the car in the driveway and instead watched Daddy and Pete work.

In more ways than one.

In a few days, we'll have a gorgeous and perfect table.

In a few months, we'll have a lefty throwing gas again.

Yes please!

Day Fifteen Hundred and Twenty

The Baby Girlfriends

A Kennedy-Amelia play date was yesterday!

8 months old Amelia.

8 weeks old Kennedy.

I think Millie Girl says YES to new friends...

...and YES to a baby sibling.

While Adam and I are totally all about the possibility of having a second child in the near future, my body still isn't ready for it. And so, we wait! 

And we play with littler babies in the meantime!

And we sand chairs.

And we watch Dada sand chairs.

And giggle.

And pucker.

And find things in the pavers.

And pick things in the pavers.

And try to eat things in the pavers.

Oh, and while we wait, we also watch Dada practice towel drills with no shirt on in OUR backyard. Oh la la! Loving EVERYTHING about this photo!