she's 8 months!

I LOVE YOU MALAYA LYN




These are the years, the gentle years,
The soft and sentimental years
When wee little fingers
Reach and touch
And little eyes gaze
With wonder and trust,
When you love so tenderly
And so so much,
These are the gentle years.
These are the years, the rainbow years,
The quiet, walk-on-tiptoes years,
And smiles and sighs
When both of you watch
With misty eyes
The tiny bed
Where a cherub lies,
These are the rainbow years.
These are the years, the tender years,
The blissful, sweet-surrender years,
When your little treasure
From above
Is the soul and purpose
And center of
Your plans and dreams
And dearest love,
These are the tender years.

- Barbara Burrow


Happy 8 months TOOTS!!

Leap of Faith

A LEAP OF FAITH is the act of BELIEVING in something that is not tangible.


That is MARRIAGE, it is the act of BELIEVING. BELIEVING in each other and the promises you have made to one another. There is no certainty in marriage. Just because the exchanging of the ring has happen it doesn't mean all your problems before suddenly disappears, you aren't guranteed a HAPPILY EVER AFTER.


THE RING IS JUST A SYMBOL OF YOUR LOVE AND DECLARATION TO EACH OTHER!


When you walk down that isle you take a LEAP OF FAITH... FAITH that each other will keep their promises. BELIEVING that your love is so strong it will stand in any storm.


I love Charlie. I am so happy I made that jump with him 4 years ago.


Here is to the youthful LOVE we still have for one another and to many more adventures together... HAPPY 4 year anniversary!

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Through the YEARS of NEW YEARS

Usually bringing in the New Years consist of...
1) Charlie and I getting into our "DRESS TO IMPRESS" outfit
2) a FABALOUS dinner with great friends
3) SHAKIN the night away at the hottest party in town


Case in point ...

BRINGING IN 2006- TAKING IT BACK TO PROM hotel party!





Bringing in 2008- LAST STOP land party!




Bringing in 2010- Dublin Ireland




Which brings me to BRINGING in 2011...


Just like every other holiday this past year, New Years Eve you can say was VERY DIFFERNT! Charlie and I of course wanted to spend this New Years Eve with our little TOOTS. Knowing we may easily be in our PJs passed out before the count down began, we decided to do something exciting with Malaya during the day to celebrate bring in 2011. So who else would understand sitting on the couch, in your PJ and being in bed once midnight struck...
AMAZING FRIENDS THAT ARE IN THE SAME BOAT AS YOU!!





The Johnson Family! Our history together has been incredible, we were engaged only a month from each other, married with in only two weeks from one another and now our bundle of joys are only 3 weeks apart.. you can easily say our families will be growing together.


We spent a beautiful day at the ZOO. Anthony and Malaya had a wonderful time together and we were "ewwwwing and awwwwing" at just how adorable they are together.




~ Oh how the events in your LIFE
changes as you grow up...
I LOVE IT and AM GRATEFUL FOR IT!

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Happy New Years Everyone~ Love THE BATES!

a brand NEW CHRISTMAS!

Christmas has and will always be my favorite holiday. I love looking at Christmas lights, I love turning on the radio and hearing the Jingles, I love the rush of finding good presents for the ones I love. However this year Christmas has brought a brand new FEELING for Charlie and I. It was not about the presents we wanted to give one another, honestly we could have cared less about what we got. We were just excited to be spending this special day with Malaya. We were so excited to get her dressed up in her Christmas outfit, parade her around our families and watch her expressions as WE opened up her gifts :)





"I don't know what's going on BUT I sure do like it"





"A purple and pink laptop so I can be just like daddy"




"Alright I'm strapped in LET'S GOOOOOO!!!"





"weeeeee I love my new wagon"





~THE GREATEST PRESENT WE HAVE EVER RECEIVED~

Ms. Mason

In mid December my beautiful little sister graduated from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education. I was the definition of A PROUD BIG SISTER that day! As she walked across that podium and recieved her diploma, I had flash backs of her, crying, struggling, trying to figure out the path that was made for her...



My lil sis is going to be an elementary teacher and a FABALOUS teacher she will be. She is here, she is taking the next step in life as a grown up and I AM SO PROUD OF HER!! I LOVE YOU MELISSA MARIE.