Felix's Mama Doll.

Last year for Father's Day, I surprised my husband with a custom Who's Your Daddy doll from Duke & June. I have loved watching Felix play with her daddy doll. Imagine how excited I was when Mandi started making Mama dolls! 

My sweet twinkie Marianne ordered one for Felix for our birthday and lovies--- I am so in awe of Mandi's work yet again. 

Her attention to detail (like my side part, beauty mark) makes the doll one of a kind. Marianne chose the floral dress I wore during our maternity shoot. How Mandi found fabric exactly like my dress makes her (and my doll) even more amazing! She even made sandals like the ones I was wearing.

I love these dolls so much and think how special I hope they will always be to Felix.  I would have loved to have one of my parents when they were young and first figuring out their little family.

We're best friends, didn't you know?

 and then my heart exploded!

Her poses kill me! Oh Felix girl, you are something else.

Marianne, you couldn't have picked a more perfect gift for us. We love you and your thoughtful heart! XO 

Mandi, we love your thoughtful heart too. Thank-you for taking the time to make another extraordinary doll, even with nesting and being 30+ weeks pregnant. I know I say that over and over, but I am a huge fan of your dolls. You are awesome, my friend. THANK-YOU!!! Our best wishes for baby Duke ♥

Felix's pal.

We spent all of yesterday traveling. I can now say I've been on a plane that has been struck by lightening. I know it happens more often then you (I) think, but it has never happened to me and I'm already a nervous flyer. I was glad to have husband's hand to hold. Thanks be to God for keeping our Felix girl safe.

Our few days with family in Virginia was just that-- TOO FEW. It went by incredibly fast and I wasn't ready to leave.

I'll share a few photos from our trip next time but today I want to relax with my teething baby (she cut her first tooth!!! at least now we know the reason for the extra fussiness) and attempt at unpacking our bags.

But! I had to share Felix's new pal that came home with us from our trip to my in-laws. My husband's cabbage patch doll when he was a baby!


I think Felix and Bobby Humphries are going to be the best of friends, just like her Papa and him. 

(this is totally random but two things I loved at the airport : family restrooms are so much cleaner! & those quick spa places. I spent $50 for a 30 minute back/shoulder/neck chair massage and it was quite possibly the best massage I have EVER had. My poor back needed to be popped in so many different places and when he did me that favor, it felt so good I wanted to cry and hug him at the same time)

For keeps.

I was only six months pregnant at the time, but I couldn't resist buying Felix a Who's Your Daddy doll from Duke & June. I actually got it for for husband for Father's Day. 

Seeing her with her doll now makes me smile. It's one I hope she'll always have. 

(Duke & June now has a blog! Mandi posted about a custom couple order. I'm thinking Felix needs a Who's Your Mama dolly) 

What I wouldn't mind getting from my Valentine + THE PERFECT GIFT

(you know, along with a heart-shaped box of  my favorite ferrero rocher chocolates)

The History of Love novel by Nicole Krauss 

NARS Orgasm blush

Pyrite Heart bracelet made by my friend Danielle of Dinosaur Toes

A lacy bra (it's hard to feel sexy when you're forced to wear nursing bras but if I opened a box from my husband and found that pretty? it just might be how I get my groove back) 

This Shanna Murray illustrated decal

A personalized iPhone case with a photo of my baby Valentine from Tiny Prints

(I recently made the switch to iPhone and was searching for the perfect case)

Hello, perfection. This one stands alone because it's actually what my husband ordered for me!!! (I know it's not Valentine's Day yet but we suck at keeping secrets)

I couldn't think of a better gift on our first Valentine's Day as a family of three.  Thank-you Husband. I love you! ♥ 

Catching up with Friends is my Favorite.

This past week I got to meet up with a sweet friend I hadn't seen since we were 19-20 when we met during my summer holiday in Italy.

Now Jenn and I are first time Mothers to baby girls. Jenn and her precious 8 month old daughter Stella live in Georgia but were in the next town over visiting friends (actually throwing a surprise baby shower for one of her friends!). Lucky us that she drove to nowhere El Paso ;) to have lunch with my family.  We had such a great time catching up!

Stella in her jeggins wanting to talk to Felix (who's wearing the most amazing pair of gold shoes--they actually stay on! and get so many compliments--a gift from Auntie Claire)

Stella is the happiest baby ever!

Hurray! A Maxham family photo because we actually had someone to snap one.  Lovies, how handsome is my husband? And goodness our babe is beautiful. 

I'm a lucky girl. 

I have these two, and I have the most wonderful friends, including you reading this post. xo 

Christmas in January.

I was probably the only one taking their Christmas tree down last week. But you might remember that us Maxhams were apart for Felix's first Christmas that we decided to celebrate twice. 

Fe and I flew in on Sunday and a week ago today we celebrated Christmas together as a family of three. 

Felix and I in our matching silver sequined bows (hers was a gift from Gracienne)

Felix's first cabbage patch doll! A present from Grandma Maxham. Her name is Mary ("Mary had a little lamb, little lamb...") and I can already tell they're going to be the best of friends. 

Trying to take a family photo. Why does the front facing camera never come out as clear?

I had to get Felix and her cousin Sollie and Nora these custom name puzzles after Jessica blogged about them on her son's Christmas wish list. Even though it's way too early for them now, what a fun way for the girls to learn how to spell their names.

Hmmm... what will Mary and I do today?

Christmas was a hit with this four-month-old and tired her out! I can only imagine how much more fun next year will be.

I mean seriously, how did I get so lucky? sigh.

Fe's first Christmas.

I love that Felix's first Christmas was a white one. Since we were all coming down with colds (thanks Marco!) my parents didn't want us to be out in the cold for long. I'm thankful my brother snapped this one of us. My little sister Maddie made the girls the adorable Santa hat Fe is wearing. 

I loved that we were able to spend Christmas surrounded by my family. There is no greater joy than seeing your parents and siblings love on your baby. Every bit of it was magical... listening to christmas songs while we ate, laughing as we opened our gifts, watching my niece BriBri play in her first snow. 

Felix and Sollie got their first barbie dolls from their Lola. I mean how cute is my Mom? I can't wait for Fe to fit into her Dallas Cowboys cheerleader costume that Auntie Marianne got her (and we can tell her that once upon a time her Mama wore something similar for Halloween...) and my brother Marco and Christina got her this Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper. I can already tell what a lifesaver it will be when she's able to use it. 

Marco also snapped photos of the girls in their Christmas dresses. It's so special they got to spend their first Christmas together. 

Felix 3 months, Sollie 6 months  Baby's First Christmas

Auntie Christina holding Fe and me loving on my Sollie girl. I can not get enough of my niece! 

We did miss my husband though who unfortunately has to work. Thanks to my little sister's upgrade from her husband, I am now a happy owner of her old iphone 4. It is so nice to be able to FaceTime with Chip and even sweeter to see Felix coo at her Papa. 

I hope your Christmas was just as magical! Did you have a white one? What was the best thing you gave/received? 

Read Christina's blog post to see what i gave her (i gave myself one too and was so excited to start it today) and to see another photo of us with our girls. Plus, I just love her blog and I'm not just saying that because she's my sister-in-law ;) 

us maxham girls.

For my anniversary gift, husband gave in to my wish of a white Christmas tree and i couldn't be happier! Me and Felix braved the Black Friday traffic/crowds all for this tree. I'm so excited to decorate it.

Other than that quick trip, we've been in our pajamas since (that and I finished all of the green bean casserole and baked macaroni).

Did you venture out today or even last night? if so, what did you get? A friend who had gone to Target last night waited nearly an hour to check-out. Thank goodness we didn't go there or walmart. Bless you working in retail!

Felix and i hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving. We're going back to bed to cuddle xo

i love us.

(about our wedding date)

circa October 2007.

my friend Jackie posted this old photo on facebook.

it's a terrible photo of me (wearing way too much make-up in my reporting days) 

but a great one of my now husband (far left).

we were both working at the news station back in Wichita Falls and this was during an event called Safe Kids Halloween. 

i remember we gave the little trick-or-treaters more candy than the one piece our sales rep told us to stick to. 

we weren't even dating yet.

and now we have a 5 week old daughter together.

seeing this old photo reminds me of this post. 

i am so glad it's him.

my world, these two.

i love watching my husband and baby fall more in love with each other every day. 

(my Mama made Felix and her cousin Sollie all kinds of bows like the one she wore today. i absolutely l.o.v.e. having her here with us)

happy things with which to end the week.

♥ that this guy is my husband. that this guy is Felix's Papa. 

♥ Felix getting some fresh air while Mama hangs laundry outside (love those toe toes peeking out of her sleeping gown)

♥ Felix snoozing while Mama watched the Cowboys game on Monday Night Football (let's not talk about how many interceptions were thrown)

♥ the beautiful flowers my in-laws sent me and Felix

♥ remember this deer pillow that was on my nursery wish list? Lindsay over at Undomestic Mama (who has fast become a dear friend and a go-to with my new Mama questions) surprised us with it, along with a custom print from her etsy shop Lilo Prints (currently it's in husband's care with instructions to frame it for Felix's nursery). We can't wait to someday meet her and her ADORABLE twin boys.

♥ since i've been exclusively breastfeeding, bath time is Papa and Felix bonding time. I mean look at this photo -- he's holding her hand.  

♥ last night as Mama was watching Grey's Anatomy (that show never fails to make me cry) Felix fell asleep with her arms crossed that her sleeping gown looked like a straight jacket ha

but what's making me most happy today?

♥ My Momma will be here this evening!!! *this was after i told her i was pregnant (i was 12 weeks along) I can't wait for Felix to meet her Lola :) oh, and obviously i'm wearing twinkie's Angels shirt. I will be so nervous watching the Texas Rangers game tonight.

+ also, don't forget to enter the giveaway if you haven't

Happy Friday Lovies! what happy things are you ending the week with?

+please leave a link below if you do post-- i'd love to share in your happiness xo

a week ago my life forever changed.

the last photo of my baby bump at 39 weeks, 6 days.

the very next day where husband tried to relieve my back labor pains. 

our felix.

a week ago today at 4:55 p.m. our life forever changed. this sweet girl wearing that pink bow became my life.

in an otherwise quiet hospital room around 10 p.m. when i finally got to hold my daughter, i played this song for her.  

"I'm runnin' over love clouds to you

Blue moon... is shining there for us now

It's followin' us around the room...

Just you, just you, just you, just you...

I've waited for you all day

I've waited for you all day

My love."

i love you, my felix girl. my heart is full of love for you my little.

(thank-you Kary for giving us your song with Miguelito)