My baby is 3!!

Zoe Maryn Wade was born Saturday, October 22, 2005 @ 7:26 pm. I didn't think I could love her anymore than I did that day. But my love for that 7lbs, 19.5 inch long baby has grown everyday and continues to grow but now for a 33lbs, 38inch tall preschooler. She has my heart.

All Dressed for her Royal Celebration

We had big 'Royal Celebration' for Zoe on Saturday, Oct 18th. I took the Friday before off so I could run around like a crazy mad woman without having to worry about any extra bodies with me. I baked and decorate her 'Castle' cake too! (I have to admit, it was really cute) Saturday was a good day. My MIL and SIL were in town from San Antonio and were a HUGE help! (Thanks, Lyla and Stel) We had a bounce house and a special guest appearance from Princess Belle, from Beauty and the Beast. (Thanks, Dad & Suzanne, Shane & Mom and Debbi Day from Extreme Kids) Zoe and the kids ABSOLUTELY loved the party! Zoe was tickled PINK when Belle showed up for her birthday party. She had so much fun!! She received TONS of gifts! Everything from Princess barbies, a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader uniform to a Karaoke Machine! She truly had a great day and is blessed with many friends and family that love her! Thank you to everyone that was there to share in her birthday. Here are some pictures from the party:

This is 'THE' Castle Cake

Princess Belle doing her magic show

Zoe with her butterfly face painting

Future Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader

All in all it was a great party. I think everyone enjoyed themselves. After the party we went to the fair. I think we have started a tradition. Every year, since Zoe's first b-day party we have gone to the fair the weekend of the party. Zoe loves her some sausage on a stick!! We had an action packed weekend. I will post later about Zoe's actual birthday full of events!!! Stay tuned!
Always,
Proud Momma
Stefanie

Happy Birthday Bubba!!

Today, is my older brother, Thomas Jason's, birthday. He is 28 years old. As many of you know my brother is currently stationed in Iraq. He will be there until next year. This is the second birthday he has spent away from his family. So this blog is going to be dedicated to him.

Happy Birthday J!!!My Brother is one of the funniest, goofiest guys I have ever met. When we were little we were both involved in pee-wee football, well he played and I cheered. My Mom used to take us to eat at Monterrey's Little Mexico in downtown G.P. after every game, win or lose we ate Mexican!!! Anyways, one day my brother randomly said "Mom, can I have the bu-u-t-ter" (Think Paulie Shore) we all laughed until we cried that day. And to this day, My mom, brother and I will crack up laughing at the mention of 'bu-u-t-ter.' This is a picture of my brother and I at one of our pee wee games... How cute are we?!

My brother went in to the Marines, the week before the start of my Senior year in high school. This was supposed to be the best year of my life and it started out terribly. I don't think I have ever been soo sad. (yes, I admitted it!) I knew I would see him again, but he was leaving us. I remember my mom and I cried for weeks after he went off the bootcamp. We all flew out to Caliornia for his graduation. It was soo cool to see my brother again, but this time not as just my brother.... He was a Marine. He was an adult. He was my big brother. I was soo proud of him. This is a picture of him and I at this Marine gradutation in California, 1999.

My brother is in LOVE with Superman and has been since before I can remember. He used to fix his hair with a little curl in the front to look like Superman. I thought he just looked Goofy! He used to draw Superman and all the superheros on EVERYTHING!!! I think he had every Superman comic book that was ever made! My Brother is in the Army, has three beautiful little girls and a life of his own. We are both adults now, we both have our own lives, our own family's. These years are supposed to be the best years of our lives, but I'm sad. I miss my brother terribly. But I am very proud of him. It's weird how sooo many things can change and still be the same all at the same time. I pray for my brother every day. I wish him good health, strength and courage to get through all the trials he is facing while at war. We don't talk as much as we used to, but we are both very busy and with the time difference, he knows better to call me in the middle of the night!!!

Happy Birthday Bubba! I love you and miss you!

Always,

Stef

Are you kidding me!?!? Really?!

OR

OK, so I have always wanted to be in on the political things in life. But for some reason I'm not. I told myself this year I would be and I would vote. (no, I haven't voted previously, EVER) I want to vote. It is my right as an American. This effects my future and my childrens future. I should vote, Right?!

McCain and Obama both have strong points on issues that I believe in. Obama for withdrawing troops, McCain for No Child Gets left Behind, Obama and McCain for the Death Penalty, to name a few. All of which I believe in. So I am rather torn as to whom I'm going to vote for. So since I cant decide on a Presidential candidate, I figured I would look to whom they picked to be their right hand person, the second in line, The Vice President. I attempted to watch the Vice-Presidential Debate last night, which was a beating!!! I could only stomach so much "Gosh, Darn it!" and fumbling over words. Are you kidding me?!.... Really???? YOU ARE GOING TO BE VICE- PRESIDENT, TAKE A FEW FREAKING CLASSES ON PUBLIC SPEAKING, Please?!

(sigh)

Give me something to work with?! I know this election is going to be a big election for America, because of the "Firsts" in history. The First Bi-Racial President, the First Female Vice-President, and the first time Stefanie Wade is voting. This is important people!!! Like I said I am torn. I'm going to go do more research and I will get back to you... Until then have a great day!

Stefanie

What's going on?!

It's been a while since I post somethings, so how about an UPDATE!

Zoe is growing like a weed! She's completely out of 2T clothes now, her 2T jeans are highwaters! She's getting excited about her upcoming birthday and that she will be 3! She has learned that her birthday is in October and she is going to be 3. So Cute! Zoe has been potty trained since she was two, but we have still had night time wetting. Well, this week we decided that we would try again (after many failed attempts and wet sheets) on the night time potty training and I have to say we are doing pretty good. We stop giving her drinks after dinner time and make her go potty before bed. She's been getting up on her own around 3:30am to go potty, and has been dry since Sunday! I hope we can keep this up, I really don't want to buy anymore pull ups!

I have a cute story: Monday, on the way home from picking up Zoe from daycare, Zoe randomly says "and to the pupublic, for which its hands; one nation, under God, indevibible; with libaty and justice for AAALLL!!" I looked in my rear view and said "What did you just say?!?" "The Pledge of allebance, Momma" I immediately asked her to do it again, and she did!! My daughter is a genius! Or is this normal for a 3 year old?! She knows the Pledge of Allegiance!!! I'm sooo proud of her.

Nick is doing good! He's busy, busy, busy both at the Harley shop and the Tattoo shop. He is meeting all kinds of cool people. We recently went to the drag races in Ennis with some friends. He was in heaven. He has gone to the races the past few years with friends, but this year I went also. It's really cool! Of course to start out, I was like "It's just some cars going down a track" But it is far more than just that. It really was alot of fun! Isaiah and Lyla went with us. We all had a good time!

I am doing well also. I'm busy trying to get Zoe's birthday plans taken care of, which is stressful. What can you do at a 3 year old princess party, that everyone will like? What food should we serve? I'll figure it out, eventually. I am still at UTSW in transplant and I just recently start working with my Uncle Jeff and brother Matt on the weekends. It's hard to not hang out with Zoe, but she gets to hang with her Opppa & Zam (my Dad and Stepmom) so that makes it a little easier. She understands that work is something that has to be done. I am having my wisdom teeth taken out in November. I'm kind anxious and nervous about it. Yes, I know it's a month away but those of you that know me, know that I'm a worrier!

My family is doing good. My Mom and Stepdad are going to New York on Saturday, they will be gone for a week. I hope they have a good time! My Dad and Stepmom are doing good. They are busy with work and my little bro, Matthew's life. (you know, Sports, work, girls) My Brother, Jason is still in Iraq. I haven't heard from him in a while. But he sent my mom and dad a funny video he made. You can tell that his experiences over there haven't changed the comedian inside him.

He's a nut!

Well, that's all I have for now. I hope everyone has a good week!

Always,

Stefanie

One Month ago....

One month ago today, my great grandmother passed away. I have been handling it fairly well. (Yay, me!) I did however have a few ‘moments’ that I couldn’t fight back the tears.

Moment #1: I had a dream about great grandma. It wasn’t set in a recent environment, It was sometime in the past. It was a very short dream. We were sitting on the couch and she turned to me and said “Be a good wife, mother and friend. Love your family and be happy.” and that was it. I woke up completely frazzled. I was a mess. But what she said in that dream has stuck with me ever since.

Moment #2: My grandma Ruth gave Zoe great grandma’s twin bed and bedding. Well, the other day I got the bedding out to wash it and I was completely overwhelmed with the fragrance of great grandma. I stood in the garage, frozen. I looked at Nick and said “it smells like Great Grandma.” Instant tears. Needless to say the bedding didn’t get washed that night, and has yet to be washed. I will however wash it before we used it… Just not yet.
Moment #3: I was uploading my pictures from Great Grandma’s viewing and funeral to my computer, and Zoe came over to sit in my lap, as she normally does when I’m on the ‘puter.’ We were looking through some of the pictures (mostly family and flower pics) and we came across this picture: Zoe said “That’s Great Great Grammy” and I said “yes, ma’am it is.” A few seconds past and she said “Where is she??”… I froze. (What am I supposed to say? How do I explain this to her??! Please God, give me the knowledge to explain this to her?!?) She asked again “Where is Great Great Grammy? Is she at her house?” Here’s what I said “No baby, Great Great Grammy is not at home. She is in Heaven with God.” Zoe said “Heaven?!, That is where the rain comes from. Is she playing in the rain?!” (Let the tears begin.) “Yes, baby. She is playing in the rain” Then she dropped it. She hasn’t brought it up since. Wow, that was easy.

I miss her and think about her everyday. It’s hard to not think about her. Like I said in a previous blog, there’s not a memory I have that doesn’t have her in it. She is forever in my heart. I love you MaaMaw!!

I hope everyone has a good day!

Stefanie

Story Time with Zoe

Everynight before Zoe goes to bed, we either read a book or tell bedtime stories. Well, last night was a bedtime story night. I tell my story and she tells me how much she liked the story then says "Ok, I tell you a stowy now." and she tells me a story quite similar to the one I told her. So here is my little reinactment of the story telling time.

My story:
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who was turing 3 in October. (Zoe buts in to say "Just Like me!! Same, Same!!") She had pretty brown hair and eyes. (Zoe said "Just Like me!! Same, Same!!") She also had two parents that love her VERY much, they are the King and the Queen of the castle. The princess was growing to be such a BIG girl! (Zoe said "I'm a Big Girl too!!") She was completely potty trained and didn't pee-pee in her panties at night. (Zoe said "Uh Oh... I pee-peed the odder night, not Same, Same.") The Princess was very smart and was learning everything she could at school. She really liked school. (Zoe said "I love school") The princess loved to read and tell stories at bedtime and never gave her mother, the queen, any trouble when it was time to go to bed. (Zoe said "B End") (my story ended there)

Zoe's story:

(during story time Zoe is holding her little hands together like a book and opening and closing them.)

Once a time, there was a witch, with a green face, and pink hair, with lots of sprinkles, and glass slippers. (I then asked "is this a witch or a princess?") Ohh, this is a princess. She loved her mommy and daddy berry much and was a big girl and she pee-peed on the potty. B End.


Hilarious. She is sooo cute!! I got most of this on camera and will post the video another day. I love story time with Zoe. I don't feel like my night is complete if I don't put her to bed and tell stories.

SAVE THE DATE!