Picture Update

My eldest sister got married Saturday and the photographer snapped this sweet picture of us! It was a beautiful ceremony and reception, SO happy for them!!

It's been a while

This blog has taken a backseat to life, clearly. I have a hard time keeping up with it these days, and you know what? I'm okay with that. Adding a baby to the mix of our family really has been easier than I thought it would be...minus bedtime routine. Ha! Our family is just in a season of life where we are on the GO constantly. 

The past nearly 5 months have been a season of change, growth, new friendships, self examination, ups and downs. I would be lying if I said it was all easy and beautiful, but I can say that out of the difficult moments have come beauty...beauty from the ashes. My heart could leap outside of my chest with the new love it has experienced adding our sweet baby Ella. You guys, that girl is my JOY!!! I do not know how we did life without her. She completes us for sure. I thought I would give a brief update on each family member and post a few pictures...maybe I'll be back again in the next few weeks, maybe in a month or so. One thing I have given myself lots of this season is GRACE, and lots of it. Permission to not be so hard on myself. Permission to be in the moment more. Life is too sweet and goes by to quickly to sweat the small stuff! 

Ella is 4 and 1/2 months old! She is a TALL, skinny little thing! She weighs 13lbs and is 26 inches! She is in the 98th percentile for length! Ella Bella, as we lovingly call her is so relaxed. She reminds me a lot of Tristan as a baby (looks and temperament). She has such a sweet disposition, she LOVES her mama...like more than any of my babies have. Ha! She is my 24/7 sidekick. She is sleeping so wonderfully at night, only waking to eat once...sometimes twice (11pm and 4am). Her blue eyes seem to be sticking around. It is so funny to me that Dwight and I, of all people got a blue eyed baby, but we wouldn't have it any other way! It's the first thing most people notice about her, and I know she will be hearing about it most of her life. Oh, how I love that girl!!

Kennedy is THREE YEARS OLD!!!! HOW??? She had a super fun birthday party at the park and literally had over 20 kids there. The girl loves people!! She has SOOO many sweet friends and they were so generous and kind to come to her party to celebrate her. Unlike her baby sister, Ken Ken has been having trouble sleeping at night. I think part of it is getting older and being afraid of things, and then just adjusting to the new baby (whom she LOVES!!!). She has been sleeping on Tristan's bottom bunk most nights, and some nights wonders into our room. She always goes to her daddy's side of the bed because she knows he won't turn her away. Ha! And the best thing of all...Ken is POTTY TRAINED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She decided all on her own that it was time (finally) and hasn't looked back. Thank you, Lord...seriously!!!

Tristan is just a sweet and tall as ever! The boy is going to be taller than me soon. It makes me want to cry. He has really matured and grown the past 6 months and its just about too much for this mama's heart to handle!! He is doing awesome in school and tested a grade ahead on his reading level! He has come out of his shell so much here lately. He started playing basketball for Dwight's club team and boy has he gotten good!! Dwight and I can't believe the growth he has had. I know it is so fun for Dwight to watch his son excel in something he is so passionate about. 

Brianna and Amari have been coming over on the weekends about twice a month and we love when they do. I always feel like our time with them is too short! But I am so excited to have them both for most of the summer! We are going to have FUN!!! Bri has become a preteen and to be honest, it's scary. Haha! She is such a sweet and beautiful girl, I know we will make it out alive...! ;) Amari test for the gifted and talented program in school! We are so proud of him!! He is such a smart and loving little guy.

Speaking of Dwight, he has been a busy man (nothing new!). He completed his first year as the head men's varsity basketball coach, which is a near miracle given the fact that we had a baby smack in the middle of season. Actually, he had to leave the very first district game to meet me at the hospital because I was in labor with Ella. Ha! Having a baby during basketball season wasn't our smartest decision we have ever made, but we survived! The Nolan Vikings went on to have their best season on record and made it so far in the playoffs. Words cannot express how proud I am of this man of mine. He has been my backbone over the past 5 months and I am beyond grateful for his love and support. Team Juice (his club team) is also growing and doing big things! Just two weekends ago we had 4 out of 7 of the teams bring home FIRST PLACE in a tournament. If that isn't a testament to the coach that he is, I don't know what is. 

Then there is me. Ha! Well, I have officially adjusted to having 3 children. It hasn't always been easy, and to be honest, at times it has brought out some ugly, but I have grown so very much. The Lord has been taking me through a season of letting go. Letting go of things in my life that aren't suppose to be there...whether that be short or long term. Letting go of MY plans and trusting in HIS. Letting go of having control (or thinking I do). Letting go of the old to embrace the new. It hasn't always been fun or easy, but so very needed. I have said that this has been one of my hardest yet sweetest seasons in life. I literally wouldn't trade it for anything. I feel like a different person than I was even this time last year. Change is not fun for me... or something I usually welcome, but I am starting to learn that sometime it is necessary in order to have what God has for me.

Ella Reese Colema

Well hello! It's been a while...and there is SO much to update on, 2 months worth!! But I will start with the sweetest update there ever was, baby Ella! She joined our family 2 weeks and 1 day early on December 10th 2016 @ 10:07pm. She weighed 8lbs 10oz (thank you, Lord she came a little early!!) and was 22 inches long. Baby girl was big! Ella is just the sweetest most easy going baby. I never knew my heart could love so much, but it has! 

Kennedy and Tristan are head over heels for her, and so is her daddy! Life is certainly hectic at times but I wouldn't change it for the world. I will leave  you with a few pictures we recently took of her!

I'm going to try reallly hard to catch up on here soon!

Ella's Baby Shower

Early this month my friends hosted a sweet baby shower brunch honoring Ella. 

This little miss is already SO loved!!

Well, helllllo!

It's been over a month since I last posted and we have lived so much life! While I have so many pictures to upload, I'll start off with our trip to the pumpkin patch with my bff, Jill and her sweet baby girl, Ellis! Jill and I loaded up the girls this morning and headed to a fun patch in Flowermound. The weather was beautiful but got a little toasty towards the end (thank you, Texas). After looking at all the characters, scoping out pumpkins, bouncing in the jump house, and going on a hay ride...we loaded back up for lunch and more girl time!

So very thankful for this friendship!! Jill has been with my through nearly every season of life- the highs and lows...from middle school to motherhood. Love these girls!!

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I can't believe October is nearly over!!