Eli is One

Well, he's ONE. Before having kids I would see moms post all the time saying things like "I wish I could slow down time." and I would be sitting in my office, with no windows, thinking, hmmm, I wish I could speed it up, today is going so slow! Then I had E. And someone pushed the fast forward button. I wanted to pause time. I wanted to soak it all in. That was the most accelerated year of my life. He grew up into my big {well, not so big....} one year old. Let me give you a glimpse into his heart. Elliott Cash has a light about him. He spreads contagious joy wherever he goes. His smile lights up every room. He looks people straight in the eyes and pays attention to every detail. He communicates in caveman grunts. He is the most determined little one I have ever known (and in this aspect reminds me so much of my dad). He is small and extremely athletic. He is a momma's boy but absolutely loves his daddy too. He's happiest outside and his best friend is our dog Mack. He likes to be touching me or his daddy 20 hours a day. He has one hand on us most the time. He's learning independence but always checks that we watching him a he explores.

Here are the typical one year stats moms like to document:
Weight: 18 pounds (2%)
Height: 28 in (8%)
Head: (46%)
Favorite foods: Quiche florentine, smoothies, green beans, salmon, blueberries, avocado
Words: Mama, Dada, Bye-Bye (while waving), ball, snack 'nack', Mack, dog, Baba (my dad), hey, hi, ya, and his favorite NONONONO
Songs: Oh yeah, oh yeah (he sings yaaayaaayaaa) and Nah nah nah nah- nah nah nah nah- hey hey hey- good bye (nahhhh heyyyyy byeeeee)
He is taking steps (about 5 in a row),  can point and attempt to say all the animals from his kindermusik booklet when asked, still nurses 3 to 5 times a day, loves turning the pages as we read books, sings in the car to the music, can hold certain tones, uses the sign more while eating, claps his hands when he's proud of himself, can demolish a room in seconds flat and loves to pull everything off the shelfs, loves hinges (opening and closing doors, turning on and off lights, ect), gives the sweetest opened mouth kisses, give high 5's, and so much more.

Eli, you are truly the light of the world. You will change so many lives for the kingdom of God. I am proud of you always. The words I love you don't seem sufficient but they will do.

Spring 2014 Top Trend

My style is an interesting juxtaposition between un-done,

 effortless (literally, I have a baby), boho and uber femme. 

I honestly cannot stand getting ready, so I try to limit the whole make up thing to a few times a week. 

In the same breath, those few times I week, I enjoy to go all out and have fun with my girly side. 

This trend has been one of my favorites for a few years

 now

The full skirt:

{see skirts here}

The far left Tracy Reese if my fav. 

Pantone's Spring Colors

A lot of my family and friends ask at the change of the season what the new colors will be. 

I rely 100% on Pantone for my response. 

Here are their predicted hot colors for Spring.

Two shades of purple... to each their own... but you won't find me in them.

Hand over the neutrals and the shades of blue. 

Oh, and pantone, you forgot hot pink. 

Easter 2014

 Eli's first Easter was so much fun! 

We started the Holiday season with a trip to Willow Bend Mall with Eli's friend Mathew to visit the Easter bunny! 

We then had an incredible breakfast and personal Easter Egg hunt at the Dallas Arboretum with Eli's best bud Conrad Cash

After breakfast a couple of our other friends joined in the fun for a play date

We went to our neighborhood Easter Egg hunt

E was so into crawling quickly to find the eggs! 

Next, Eli and his friend Mathew threw an Easter party

Claire and myself had so much fun planning, decorating, cooking, and hosting

The Easter bunny came! 

As well as some real bunnies!  

The king and prince of my heart

Next, we dyed eggs at home: 

We also had fun dying eggs with the Alcala clan

This morning the Easter Bunny dropped off gifts for all and we attended the sweetest church service at our new church home Grace Outreach

I like to plan. I like events. I like to constantly be busy, so much so that I have a track record of over committing. I am working on this. 

At the end of the day, as well as at the end of this life, all the events and gifts are meaningless. It's the heart behind it. It's the thought and the love poured into it. 

This Easter the gravity of the sacrifice God made by giving his one and only son is heavy upon me. 

This is the first Easter that I am a mother. I would kill a thousand men and give up my own life ten-thousand times before giving up my son. God gave up His son for me. 

God, you are good!

As I thought about the  Easter story, the Lord impressed in my heart the words,

"It is finished." 

Some of the last words Christ said on the Cross, meant that our debt has been paid. We owe nothing. 

Wow, God, you leave me speechless again. 

All I can scrounge up is a simple thank you. 

Welcome!

Welcome!
Thank you for stopping by our family blog. I created this for us. It's a way to document our memories, speak what's on our hearts, and share with family and friends a little part of our lives. We are a Christian family that whole heartedly loves the Lord. Mitch, my husband, is one of the greatest men I've ever known and he continually takes my breath away. I, Lauren, am a tenderhearted, busy, fashion industry loving, travel enthusiast, who loves to try new recipes and to work out. I recently became a new mother and there is nothing in the world I love more. I feel like I walked into my calling when I gave birth to Elliott Cash Stack. Eli is the most determined, happy baby you will ever meet. His smile lights up the room. His calling is vast. I cannot wait to look back on this blog, years from now and see how we have grown.
xx,
Lauren