Stro's Commissioning

We are excited and I am proud to say that Strother has completed his one-year apprenticeship as a pilot, and is now officially commissioned!  It was an exciting month of November as it all came to an end.

First, on November 17, Strother and the other two apprentices got to bring their wives and parents to Baton Rouge to meet the governor, John Bel Edwards.  We met with him in the press room of the capitol, he spoke to each family individually, spoke to the group as a whole, and then even showed us his office!

Marshall, Eric, and Strother - the three apprentices

Three apprentices and the three commissioners, who were in charge of the apprenticeship

Stro and the commissioners

Apprentices, president of the association, and commissioners

Stro and Governor Edwards

Lily hung out with my mom and grandparents while we were at the capitol, and then we all met up for a late lunch at Drusilla Seafood, where Stro and I had our rehearsal dinner almost eight and a half years ago!

Love!

 

Emily was in town too, and I just love this picture of them!

 

The official commissioning was held on November 28 at the Westin Hotel in New Orleans.  It was simple, but very nice, with a few speakers and a steak dinner.  Afterwards, there was a party at Barcadia, and I was so happy with the number of friends who came out to support and congratulate Strother!

 

I wish I had pictures of Strother and his friends who came to the commissioning ceremony, he and his parents, and he and the other apprentices, but I let the professional photographer take care of all those!  Here are just a few:

 

Feeling fancy!

Bob, Jen, Ken, Josh, and Nikki

Almost our whole group!

 

Stro has been commissioned for about a month now and has taken 12 ships up and down the river so far.  We are loving the schedule and he is loving the job! 

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

For Thanksgiving this year, we spent Wednesday night and Thursday at my mom's in Mississippi.

Turkey dress!

 

Of course, I brought the beans as entertainment. 

 

Here's a selfie I took...

 

...and one Lily took!

 

Lily helped stir the mixture for sausage balls!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately Lily was at the beginning of a cold, so she didn't sleep much that night. But the next day I got some sweet naptime snuggles!

 

Rested after nap and riding the "tractor"

 

Before we left Wednesday evening, she and Mom decorated Christmas cookies for each of us!

 

Yum!

So cute :)

Fall Fun!

Our fall was filled with pumpkins, leaves, and lots of beans!

This fall sensory bin was on repeat for the entire season!  Lily loved the beans- scooping, pouring, counting, sorting by color, burying toys and so much more. If she even saw the container that I put it in, she immediately said "beans, beans!"  

 

One of my favorite things that she did with it was make "cakes-" beans in a cupcake liner with a leaf on top. Then of course, we pretend to eat them while we pour the beans back in the tub. 

 

Every now and then, she even got inside the tub with the beans!

Sensory tubs are always fun; I can't wait to make a Christmas one!

 

She also LOVED painting leaves!  This was her first time with paint, and she definitely explored what all it can do, including painting her hands and my hands numerous time, haha. I just cut the leaves out of construction paper, and she used qtips as an easy paintbrush. Afterward, I strung the leaves on a peace of string and decorated her play area with them. 

 

She loves playing in water, so we did a "pumpkin bath."  She had to scrub the "dirt" off the pumpkins with soap and water and then rinse them in a clean bowl of water. She loved it!

 

She also LOVED the train ride at the mall. We had to bribe with her a cookie to get her off, ha. 

 

Once again, it was super hot when we went to the pumpkin patch (notice her red cheeks?!), but she loved the bounce house slides and the hay ride!

 

Since painting was so fun, she also painted two pumpkins. 

 

Sorting and counting the pumpkins

 

We also went to a fun church carnival with Nate...

 

...and Lily had a blast driving her car!

Fall is a favorite season of mine, and this one was no exception!  Looking forward to fun Christmas activities next!

Baby Eli On the Way!

On June 23, I found out I was expecting a baby!!  About a month later, I went to my first doctor's appointment and found out that I was 10 weeks along and due February 20.

Lily's birthday party was that same week, and our families came over the morning after the party for breakfast and presents. The first present we had Lily open revealed an ultrasound picture and the big news!  Lots of squeals and excitement!

Family of four!

 

Excited grandmas 

Then on October 4, Stro and I found out the gender. We had our families over on October 8 to reveal it to them, and by then we had chosen a name so we shared that with them too. 

 

The baby's name is written on the chalkboard, and there were a couple of ultrasound pictures out on display. Lily wore her "big sister" shirt, and we had her open a gift that revealed the gender. Little sister or little brother?

 

Little brother!

Next, we pulled down the curtain to show that his name will be Eli Simon. We love the name Eli, and Simon is in honor of Stro's brother, who passed away in July. 

 

 

 

The best pic I could get of her in her big sister shirt, ha

 

Just a few cute things I had bought for him already. He is definitely already a well-dressed baby, as we have all been buying lots of button downs and corduroy pants!

I'm currently 25 weeks and feeling great! We are praying for a safe delivery and a healthy, strong baby!  Lily even loves to pray for baby "E I" and requests an extra prayer for him just about every night.  :):):)