Sugar and Spice birthday!

My precious girl...

my SUGAR and my SPICE...

is turning two on Christmas Eve!

Yesterday we celebrated with a few family and friends,

and so I wanted to share a little of the party with you!

I couldn't help but think of the Sugar and Spice theme,

because it truly describes my

up-and-coming two- year-old!

We had a great time due to amazing help from my mom, my mother-in-law,

my sweet friend Jessi who came in town, and my hubby!

Lord knows this bout-to-pop preggo mama needed all the help I could get.

I maybe should not have put on a party in my state,

but I just HAD to celebrate my little girl,

and make it all about her,

especially before her world gets rocked with a new baby any day!

we made "sugar skewers" and "spice skewers",

and they were so yummy!!

we also had some fudge, spicy cheese krispies, grape jelly meatballs,

puppy chow, tortilla rolls, sugar and spice pecans,

and of course cake!

some juice boxes, sparkling grape juice, water...

and some vino and beer for the parents!

I put a few sweet pics of her around,

which made my heart just melt every time I saw them.

the sweetest thing happened during the party...

starting with one of her bff's Caden (Jessi's little boy who came in town),

kid after kid came up and gave Abigail a big hug.

it was PRECIOUS!

...lots of birthday love for my sweet girl...

in leiu of gifts,

we asked for people to bring books to donate to a children's hospital,

(more on that in a different post)...

bc we are trying to teach Abigail that "stuff" is not important

and that giving to others IS.

But of course, the grandparents had to bring a few gifts for their baby girl...

she loved opening the packages as much as the gifts themselves!

She got some new "runny shoes"

(running shoes), and just LOVED

trying them on and modeling them for all of us.

(SUCH a girl...look at that little pose!)

It was a SWEET party...

and I can't wait for the actual day on Saturday!

My birthday girl is getting extra special hugs and cuddles this week...

It's her last week of being ONE,

(isn't it cute to say someone is "one"?! we LOVE that!)

and possibly her last week of being MY only one.

{tears!}

Happy Birthday week Abigail!

that was my lovely - here's some more lovely for you:

celebrating A . . .

Today is party day for my little A...

She will be TWO (what?!) on Christmas Eve!!

(but we are celebrating with friends and family today)

I have already been an emotional mess, being 9 months preggo...

and about to celebrate that my firstborn is turning 2

does not help with the spontaneous tears!

I can't wait to share pics with you from her party...

and in the meantime, I am enjoying this last week of Abigail being ONE.

BTW with the holidays, birthday, being preggo and exhausted,

and the coming new arrival...

I will not be hosting Pictureless Post Sundays anymore.

But i SO apprecuate those of you who linked up the last few months! :)

in His Strength

I cannot believe how close I am to meeting my next little princess!

Just under 3 weeks now till she's due...

God has been reminding me that I cannot do ANYthing without HIS strength.

I need it so badly.

And I know I will need it even more with two little ones.

I've been really open lately concerning my anxiety of adjusting to life

with a newborn and a toddler.

But thankfully, in the last week or so,

the Lord is giving me such JOY

as I look forward to this new arrival.

When we were touring L&D at the hospital the other day,

we heard the brand new cries of a little one

who had literally just been born minutes before.

I cried.

And then the Lord reminded me what a blessing I am about to experience again.

That's what I needed.

I needed to hear those little cries, to remind me that

all my anxieties will go away

when I hold this new little one in my arms.

Even in the midst of heightening toddler fits,

being so physically uncomfortable,

Christmas, Abigail's birthday planning,

being so totally hormonal that I've been losing it almost daily

(my sweet husband is holding me together)...

HE GIVES ME STRENGTH.

{pictures by the lovely Kelly Madole.}

And just like the verse for my blog (Hebrews 12:1) says...

I am looking towards the JOY He has set before me.

"I can do ALL things through HIM who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:13

linking with Casey today - lots of lovely hearts being shared.

just a pic . . .

Holiday DIP Exchange!!

Holiday Dip Exchange is here!!

Come link up your favorite dip of the season,

and get some new ideas to try this Christmas!!

Im sharing my favorite dip, I take it everywhere...

"Sarah's Cheese Dip"

you need:

4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayo

1 can (drained) Mexicorn

Salsa (I use Pace chunky) - about 4-5 TBSP

salt, pepper, and a little onion powder

Just mix it all together in a bowl...

..let your little have a taste for approval, :)

and HAVE FUN at your party!

(or just at home when you need a yummy cheese fix)

*It is really great served with the "Hint of Lime" Tostitos chips.*

ENJOY!

Now, SHARE YOUR FAVORITE!!

and go check out some others too - you might get some great new ideas!