{ Releasing the Inner Child }

It's been a while, but that just means that I have plenty of stuff to blog about so, prepare yourself for an onslaught of posts...hopefully (provided life doesn't become too crazy).

I firmly believe that there is a little kid in all of us that keeps day to day life from getting too serious to handle. It's what makes "the little things in life" so exciting and meaningful. That being said, Joey recently had his twenty-something birthday and I threw him a birthday party that really brought out his inner kid! One of the things I love most about my man is how he is able to be serious and also maintain his fun and silly side. Before you read on please note this is a judgement-free zone where Joey's inner kid will be revealed. If you're going to judge, stop reading. But if you're ready to keep an open mind and remember how fun birthday parties were when you were 5, please join me in a cottage in the Deep South of Texas and meet...The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!

Joey's birthday conveniently fell on a Friday this year so he was able to request permission to stay off base. Ellie and I picked him up and made a stop along the way home. 

Joey knew that several surprises awaited him at home but I don't think he quite understood the magnitude of what was waiting for him. I had ordered a pizza from Pizza Hut for dinner and that was our stop on the way home. This was no ordinary pizza, however, this was a Ninja Turtle pizza. 

As we arrived home, I ran inside to add the pizza to the festivities awaiting Joey. He grabbed Ellie and headed inside. The scene inside was everything Ninja turtles! 

See that smile? Yeah...That says his birthday party is a success!!

Ellie and I bought Joey his favorite TMNT movie, a mask and nun chucks, and TMNT armbands. 

This day quickly became one of my favorite memories, not only from Texas but in general. This is only the second birthday I have been able to spend with Joey and I can not wait to hopefully spend many more with him!

I have been so incredibly blessed with an amazing family! Love these two more than words can say!

His birthday wouldn't be complete if I didn't call him old. What does he expect me to say? 

 Obviously Eliana had fun! Her first party hat!

Joey got to enjoy a birthday cake from our favorite bakery, Bird Bakery. Peach Amaretto...yumm! Bird is a must if you ever find yourself in San Antonio.

We went all out and not only did Joey have a blast all three of us did! The rest of the weekend was full of Farkle, TMNT movies (old and new) and priceless family time! 

Joey's party was fun for the whole family. I hope we never take ourselves so seriously that we cease to enjoy "the little things" in life.

My Kind of Hopping

Today I am writing my first food post and prepare yourself because it is going to make you jealous. How do I know this? Because I tasted all this yummy stuff today, I know how good it was, And I know what all yall are missing out on.

If you know me, you know that I love to bake. What I love about baking is the creativity behind it. I can bake a cake and decorate it and then by the time I'm done I have no interest in eating it. The lack of interest has nothing to do with whether or not it will taste good, but everything to do with the fact that I already did the fun part! I'm artsy, what can you do? I always love going to bakeries. I enjoy trying new things and looking at the work that others do. When someone else has made it, I enjoy eating it as much as I do looking at it. Also, since being pregnant I have been craving sweets like nobody's business! So, while here in San Antonio, I have been scanning through my trusty urbanspoon app and have discovered several places I want to try. Today is the glorious, bakery-hunting, day! Joey is off, it's a beautiful (and by beautiful I mean as hot as the place below!) day, and we are both in the mood for some goodies!

Our first stop was Lily's Cookies. This place was so cute! It's a bakery dedicated to all things cookie related! 

They had a cookie bar, which had around fifteen different cookie jars on it! Every jar held a different kind of cookie and you could make your own mix. They had everything from red velvet crinkle cookies to Mexican wedding cookies, chocolate chip to ranger cookies! Seriously, cookie heaven. I couldn't get a real great picture of the cookie bar but there is an awesome picture on their website. From the cookie bar, we tried a Mexican wedding cookie, Texas honey, and toffee almond crunch. Each of them was delicious. The Texas honey surprised me the most. What surprised me was it tasted a lot like a spice cookie and was very soft. Lily's sells their cookies from the jars for just $0.65 each or $7 a dozen. That little detail, coupled with their delicious variety and taste, makes this bakery very dangerous!





Lily's also had a case full of decorated cookies. There was just too much cuteness to describe! Today, the cookies in the case were to celebrate the San Antonio Zoo's 100th birthday. They change from week to week I believe. Either way, they were super cute! I chose the pink hippo. I couldn't help myself! I have been wanting to try to make frosted cookies like these for a while now. When we are settled (we're in a transition phase) and all of our kitchen things are in one place again, I will be trying this and more than likely sharing the experience on here. More to come on iced cookies. I left feeling very inspired though.

As though cookies were not enough, they also had a few different kinds of dessert bars. We tried the lemon bar and the snicker's brownie. Oh. My. Goodness. Lemon bar = heaven! The crust was amazing! It had no powdered sugar on top, so I didn't choke by accidentally inhaling it, which was a plus. Everyone does it. I am not ashamed. The Lemon bar tasted like lemon meringue pie with out the meringue. Yummy. The snickers bar? Super sweet, but amazing! I'm sure Joey will be asking me to figure out how to make those soon. He loves his peanut butter and chocolate! My favorites were the lemon bar and the iced cookie. I will definitely go back at least once more while I'm here. The only downside to Lily's Cookies was the hours. They close at 5:30 during the week and are only open until 3:00 on Saturday. We caught them just before they closed and I am so glad we made it!

Our second stop was unplanned and also right at closing time. Joseph's Storehouse and Bakery was on our way back home from Lily's and claimed to be the best bakery in San Antonio so we had to stop in.

They were closing but still had a decent selection. Joey chose the snickerdoodle and I chose the danish. First of all, please notice the size of these things! HUGE! You can hardly see my fingers around the cookie when I hold it! The danish was a cheese danish and was amazing. It reminded me of the one my mom buys from Emerson's back in Kentucky. The dough you could tell was made from scratch. So yummy. The snickerdoodle was also quite yummy. I only had one bite though. By that time, there was probably enough sugar in my body to sink a ship. I didn't totally fall in love with Joseph's or get the feeling that it was somewhere I HAD to go again, but it was still yummy. Another downside was the customer service wasn't great. We waited a rather long time while one employee was on the phone and the others were just walking around not really doing anything. Overall, not crazy about it. I could find a better bakery. That's just what we did!

The last stop of the day was a cute little place called Nothing Bundt Cakes.

As soon as you walked in the door you could feel the energy. It was bright, cheerful and welcoming. The concept of this bakery was all bundt cakes. The bundt cakes came in all different sizes, from the normal size to "bundtlets" to "bundtinis". Nothing Bundt Cakes (NBC) had adorable artificial cakes all over the place to show you different decorating options. As soon as we walked in one of the employees offered us a sample of the cinnamon swirl flavor. It was so moist and delicious! Nine different flavors were sold as well as a seasonal flavor that changes monthly. Joey and I agreed on the white chocolate raspberry bundtlet to share and it even came in adorable packaging. We had intended to try it after dinner as our one year anniversary cake, but we were too stuffed from dinner. For dinner we went to a Brazilian steakhouse which was one of the coolest dining experiences! More on dinner later. We still have yet to try our cake, but if it's as good as the sample, we have nothing to worry about. NBC was a great experience all around. You could tell the designer of the store took everything into account. They even had merchandise such as, kitchen gloves with mustaches and lips, a spatula called the battter finger, and all sorts of cake picks and candles! I would definitely go back to NBC. It was such an inviting bakery!

Overall, we had an awesome time bakery-hopping! I really enjoyed spending the time together as a family sharing something as simple as good dessert. I can't wait to go back and try more new things or even hunt down other gems! For now, I need to finish my pink hippo cookie, brush my teeth, and head to bed.

Unexpectedly Blessed

I'm taking a break from my series of "In the Rear View" posts to share something that happened today. This is also my first post involving Ellie...and yes there are pictures! *May contain graphic images of poop explosion* You have been warned. But it's not that bad, doesn't smell, and was much worse in person.

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Today started out as a normal day. Eliana (my baby child) woke up around her normal time, we played, she ate and then we got ready to go run some errands. We are staying in a cottage near Ft. Sam Houston, which is a blessing I will have to write about in a different day. We drove on base and almost made it to the PX (post exchange- it's like target on base. Except it's not as big, sells designer brands and is part of a small “mall”. There are other souvenir type shops, a barber shop, and a food court in the mall.). The PX was supposed to be our first stop, only I forgot my credit card aka no money. You see 5/3 keeps canceling my card and sending me new ones because of "security breaches". Since January I have had four, now five, different cards. So, I forgot the new card at home. We drove all the way back, for the card, and returned to the PX. There wasn't too much I could do without any money. We sat in the food court while I activated the card and then did our shopping. I have had the card about two weeks now and still had not activated it. That means it had been that long since I bought anything! Be impressed.

But back to the story... we finished at the PX, like any other normal day and went to the post office. Only problem, I forgot one of the addresses I needed. That was unfortunate. (I'm beginning to sound like I still have pregnancy brain.) By the time we finished mailing my other packages it was 4:30. We had some time to kill before picking up Joey and I was hungry. Having talked to my dad the other day about a Burger King feud that has long existed in our family, BK sounded good. This is where the real story begins. Yes, everything before was necessary to the story, in case you're wondering. Other than the two major things I forgot already it had been a pretty normal, uneventful, pain-free day. Then, we drove into the Burger King parking lot. I was walking in, super excited to get some food in my tummy and the drive-thru guy came outside and asked me if I was the one waiting for food. My face must have been priceless. I was literally walking across the parking lot. Why would he think I was waiting for food? Bad sign #1. I continued to be excited about food and walked in the restaurant. What was the first thing I saw when I walked in the door? A man in the classic "I've been waiting here forever and I'm starting to get ticked" pose. Arms crossed, leaning on the line divider bar, staring at each employee who appears to be doing nothing. Admit it. You at least know exactly what I'm talking about if you haven’t been guilty of assuming this pose at least once in your life. Bad sign #2. I decided to stay anyway. I was practically starving. I was also beginning to regret trying to run errands today. I ordered, received my cup, and started dispensing my drink. The coke overflowed all over the counter because I got distracted by Ellie playing with Olaf in her car seat. Who wouldn't?

 

Olaf is the newest addition to our family. Daddy couldn't help it. We went to the Disney store this week. I can't help that I chose a husband who has stellar taste in Disney movies! So, sticky with coke, I found a table, situated myself and went to pick up my food. On attempting to eat my rather long awaited lunch/4:30 snack, I sadly realized my fries were cold. Not lukewarm (can non-liquids be called lukewarm?) straight up, cold. I requested new ones and was happily surprised when they were entirely too hot to eat! Believe it or not this trip became more positive. However, you have to fully understand how rough it was in order to appreciate the unexpected. It's worth it, trust me. 

I finally settled, and began eating my lunch. This is when I noticed the table directly across from me, seated at the table was a family of four. The two kids, who were probably in their twenties, both had disabilities. I kept accidentally making eye contact with the girl and smiling but she didn't smile back and didn't seem to be uncomfortable with the fact that we had made eye contact like 20 times in five minutes (I was at a restaurant alone after all. Ellie didn’t count in this situation because she was too distracted with Olaf to notice Mommy. Who can blame her? I was not having a conversation with anyone and there wasn’t much to look at in Burger King). It bothered me, but more to come on that later. So I was attempting to eat and then I realized it had been three hours since Ellie ate. Surely I could feed her at the same time I ate. And I did! Quite successfully actually, considering I was trying to use the cover. Feeding Ellie was going just fine until I heard the unmistakable sound of Ellie pooping. No problem, this happens all the time right? Wrong! Two words: poop explosion! Only it took a minute or two for me to realize that. I was still eating and then noticed my hand that's holding her feels wet. I looked at my hand and the unfortunate was confirmed. I stood up to go grab a napkin and held Ellie away from me and toward the only other table with people sitting at it, the aforementioned family. Consequently flashing them with her lovely explosion. It just happened to be on Mommy's favorite outfit for Ellie. Sad. (I'm really hoping It comes out when I wash it!)

I wiped my hand while walking as fast as possible to my table to grab the diaper bag. The mom however decided now was a good time to notice the baby in the room. Ordinarily I love showing Ellie off and talking with others about her, but now I was trying to handle a situation. So I smiled, responded to her remark about how small Ellie is, and tried to keep moving. She then informed me the girl I've been making eye contact with was only two pounds when she was born. I was shocked! But still distracted by the much larger than I thought explosion I was faced with. We finally made it to the bathroom only to find no changing table and the bathroom was quite disgusting! Perfect. Mentally to myself: "Poop explosions are bound to happen. Yes Shelby, in public too. We've done this before. Calm down. This is no reason to panic or even be embarrassed." After resuming normal breathing patterns, I decided to utilize the sink counter and the changing mat I luckily added to the diaper bag and got down to business. 

I was thankful I had plenty of wipes and Ellie was in a good mood. Not so much as a whimper! I was so impressed with how smoothly clean-up was going and then my arm touched something wet on my shirt. Yes, people...It was on me too! You didn't think it could get any better did you? I dove into the diaper bag looking for the shirt I hoped I put in there, and in perfect consistency with the rest of today, no shirt. But, by God's grace, I wore and undershirt today! Not that it fit, or is something I would ever wear out of the house, but there's was no bright yellow mess on it. At least I had something to wrap Ellie's clothes in so they didn't contaminate the whole diaper bag. This, my friends, is the second use for my lovely shirt.

Ok. So, diaper changed, both of us dressed with pretty much new outfits on, changing mat soaked (was there water on the counter when we started? Eww. Just eww.), stink bomb-mess in the trash can, we gathered ourselves and headed back to the table. 

After all the excitement that had come about, I realized, there really was no point in me asking for hot fries. Now none of my food was hot. Then I heard the words I never would have expected, and hadn't been asked yet, by a stranger, since Ellie was born, "Can I hold your baby?" This came from the mom with the disabled children. *Deep breath* To my surprise, I smiled and "yes" escaped my mouth. In my head: "Am I ever going to eat again? This is impossible. Be nice." I was glad I said yes though, because this was the turning point of my day.

I handed Eliana to the woman and decided it would not be socially acceptable for me to go back to my table and eat while she held my baby girl, even though my table (and FOOD) was, a mere, five feet away. The mom asked me her name and I told them. They told me what a pretty name they thought she had and then father asked me why we chose that name. I don't think anyone had asked me this either, and I was so excited to share! I told them that her name means "God has answered" in Hebrew and the conversation was off and running. The son who was in a wheelchair asked if she was a preemie (a question I get a lot), told me how he wants to have kids one day but needs to find a girlfriend first, and told me how beautiful she is. Then the moment that hit me the hardest, the girl who I was so confused by earlier, asked what Ellie looked like and what color her hair was. She was blind. The girl's family described Ellie to her and then I told the girl she could touch Ellie's hair to feel how much hair she had. 

In the middle of my day, at a time I regretted greatly my decision to go to Burger King, and all I could think about was my food, this family blessed me and gave me more of a reality check than they may ever know. Both of this woman's children were two pounds when they were born. The girl who is blind was born at twenty-three weeks! She told me that, unlike Ellie, she had no hair when she was born. The guy had such a great sense of humor, outgoing personality, and bright outlook on the future! He was cracking jokes the whole time! The girl asked my name and told me how pretty it was and that she had never heard it before. Her name was beautiful too. Heidi. She was so cheerful and sweet. The mom surprised me again by asking how old I was. At first I felt the judgment of her thinking I was too young. However that's not at all what she thought. She encouraged me and told me that she thought it was a good thing to have children early on in your marriage and life. I was totally wrong in thinking she was judging me. Unfortunately, we couldn't talk all day. I had to pick up Joey and still had to eat at some point. 

In the middle of what I thought was a terrible day and a horrible idea to go to Burger King, I was unexpectedly blessed! This family had been through so much. Two kids with disabilities. Two children born only two pounds. These parents had to watch their children fight for life the second they met each other. You could tell how much it meant to this woman to hold a baby in her arms again. Ellie gave her so much joy! My problems were nothing!

I am so blessed to be this healthy little girl's mommy! I'm blessed to get distracted by her cuteness and spill things. Blessed to have her be able to poop on me. Blessed to have money (even if I do forget to bring it) to run errands. This family probably will never know how much their small interaction meant to me. My day was totally turned around with a reality check that I very clearly needed. As I left and walked to my car, I was moved by all the many blessings that I take for granted every day. God has been so unbelievably good to me and my new little family. If I see this beautiful family again I intend to tell them how much they blessed me. I hope to run into them here on post again. But even if I don't their story will stick with me and continue to remind me thank God for His blessings everyday. After all, not only did He give me the family I met today to remind me, He also gave me these two to remind me everyday.