Eleven from Eleven

October 15, 2005 will forever be a day that I hold near and dear to my heart. Not only did I get to marry the love of my life, but I also had my favorite people surround me as I did so.


When I was asked how many bridesmaids I was having, I got mixed reactions when my answer was shared. To many people, ELEVEN bridesmaids (not to mention the eleven groomsmen to coordinate, and the four children in our wedding) simply put, was ridiculous. But personally, I could imagine it no other way. I was beyond honored for each of those girls to stand beside me and celebrate the most exciting and important time in my life thus far. The memories I have of that day are so special to me, not only because of the events that took place, but also because it was the only time all of the people I love the most were all in the same place at the same time. Something so easy to take for granted at the moment.

Not only am I thrilled to have had these girls stand beside me on my big day and so many other days!, but also to have had the honor to stand beside these girls on their "big days"! We have shared life, laughs, joys, disappointments, childhood, high school, college, boyfriends, desserts, breakups, trips, husbands and babies.

With the newest BIG DAY announcement, I personally have hit a little milestone....

ELEVEN from ELEVEN.

Each girl beside me in 2005 was footloose and fancy free, some had the joy of already becoming a wife, but at the time no one had yet began the journey that is motherhood...

MY HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

Now less than four years later, seven of those girls have given me beautiful examples of what it means to be a mother.

So in honor of "Baby 11" I want to celebrate some of my very favorite women and the first 11 babies I ever truly loved...even way before they were born.

Leslie
Baby # 1. Abby Hollis McElheny February 5, 2007

Shea
Baby # 2. Savannah Grace Williams July 18, 2007

Carrie
Baby # 3. Noah Christopher Jones November 16, 2007

Laura Baby # 4. Harper Elizabeth Mielke May 15, 2008
and
Baby #5. Lily Martin Mielke May 15, 2008

Alyson Baby # 6. Savanah Claire Clemons September 14, 2008

and
Baby #7. Payton Elizabeth Clemons September 14, 2008

Allison Baby # 8. Morris Jefferson Jeff February 11, 2009

Shea Baby # 9. Graham Henry Williams February 27, 2009


Leslie Baby # 10. Miles Roland McElheny July 19,2009


and...
Sarah Beth BABY EADY makes Baby #11! Due February 13, 2010!



That's right...from October 2005 to now we grew from ZERO babies to ELEVEN.
TWO sets of twins! SIX baby girls and FOUR baby boys!
What a joy each of them are and what a joy each of their Mamas are to me!

Five Friday Favorites!

1. How I met your Mother Season One
I typically let my husband watch enough TV for both of us so that I am off the hook and can let my A.D.D run wild. I am not one to want to sit down and watch an entire season of any show (very unlike the hubs!) BUT earlier this week John bought Season one of How I met your mother. We have enjoyed this show together for the last few seasons, but this week we started with the pilot episode and I am hooked...I would even go so far to say this show is better than Friends!


2. Zapp's Voodoo Gumbo Chips
My newest guilty addiction. My coworker Laura discovered this delectable treat at Derk's one snacky afternoon and we have been hooked ever since. VERY dangerous! We are in love. If spicy is what you are after this is not your chip, but if you crave "everything under the kitchen sink" flavor you have met your match!



3. eBay
Goodness gracious don't get me started on eBay! It is a major problem and my hubs and piggy bank would definitely agree. It combines so many things that I love shopping, bargains, and friendly competition. I should stop but it's just too fun! I mean do tell where else in the world can you get


This brand new still in the wrapper hubby wear all the time shirt for $11
or This retails over $300 bcbg dress for $45!?



4.Mini Babybel Cheese
Babybel cheese. Horrible for you I am sure, but I do not care. This cheese is worth it! I fell in love with babybel a while back and had totally forgotten about it until John and I were reminded of it on an episode of Unwrapped. Paired with yummy crackers it is the perfect "after school snack".


5. www.modcloth.com
My online shopping problem is news to no one, but this is a site that recently caught my eye and it was love at first sight. My online "wish list" is busting at the seams with wish they were mine cute summer dresses
like this...

or this...

how cute is this...

I love the ruffle on this...

how perfect is this!?

...now if they could somehow find their way to my "shopping bag"!

Happy Birthday Honey! I love you!

"theyhadababyitsaboy"

Sunday night I learned one more reason NOT to go see Harry Potter...luckily I had gracefully bowed out of movie night with John (largely due to the ridiculous amount of money one movie ticket costs), but man am I glad I did!?

A little after 7:00 my dear friend Leslie called to let me know that she was heading to the hospital hoping to meet Baby #2! She warned me this could be a false alarm, but she wanted me to know just in case. I waited what seemed like forever to hear if they were going to get to stay. Once Leslie called to tell me it was officially baby time I couldn't stand it and hopped in the car to rush and meet that baby!

Our wonderful friends Sarah Beth and Michael were already at the hospital waiting baby's arrival when I was getting in to Birmingham. Michael was so sweet he told me to pull up to the front hospital entrance and he would go park my car for me in the deck since it was after 10:00pm.

I rushed in and was beyond thrilled that I had not yet missed the big announcement of Baby's arrival. After greeting everyone in the waiting room, I told Sarah Beth that I felt terrible that Michael might miss the announcement parking my car! As soon as I got those words out of my mouth I saw John coming down the hall heading in to the waiting room. I had just long enough to think "Sad..Michael is going to miss it!" and I heard the other entrance to the waiting room open and Michael came in JUST in time to hear

"It's a BOY!!"

Miles Roland McElheny


7 pounds 20" and absolutely perfect.

Leslie is a rock star and makes things look WAY too easy! I think I'll just let her birth my children for me.




I love him already....he, on the other hand, may not love me so much for the outfit I gave him to come home from the hospital! I think it is precious and perfect, but his dad did not seem to agree!....Isn't he handsome!?

High five to Montgomery!

Saturday night John and I had what I would probably have to say was our very best "Montgomery date".

Our friends Alex and Susan were so gracious to share tickets to the Biscuits game with them Saturday night. Biscuit games are always so much fun! We decided to kick the night off with a little sushi dinner at Kabuki. Perfect. Saturday night was an absolutely gorgeous night and by 7:30 we were full from a delicious dinner and outside enjoying America's favorite pass time.

At the end of the game we decided to leave and head to the a new spot called "The Alley Bar". That particular night they had dueling pianos so we thought it would be fun to check it out! It was a blast! We were thrilled to see so many fun people out and about in Montgomery and of course we loved the music!

Another fun thing about the Alley Bar is there is a freezing cold room complete with fur coats...I am sure they imagined just women would wear these!?


As John and I drove home that night he said "How awesome would that have been as a first date!? Friends, sushi, baseball, perfect summer night, dip and dots, cock tails and dueling pianos?!" And he was SO right!

I am sure that marathon date would have for sure won me over, but I told him I was so much more thankful for it to be date one million because I would have lost way to much sleep trying to figure out what to wear to such random things all on the same night!

High five to Montgomery for the perfect summer night!

The world just got a little sweeter...

Um, did you know that Starburst now sells a pack with all pinks and reds!? This means all strawberry, watermelon, fruit punch and cherry. Genius. My darling husband came back with a pack from Target. While Starburst will no long be able to highlight his selfless love as he always gives me the pink ones...I think it will absolutely strengthen our marriage.

Happy 4th of July!

Say yes to the dress

I tempt myself daily with various "eye candy" Clothes, shoes, sales you name it! When I fall in love with clothes on line I have the pointless habit of emailing John. I am sure he is super concerned with what dress or pair of shoes has caught my eye for the day....but he is patient and typically responds to my emails instead of automatically deleting. Yet another reason why I love him. I don't really know why I email him...maybe part of me is wishing he would respond "I actually have a huge pile of money I have not told you about, that dress is awesome. Buy it immediately." typically not the case. A few weeks ago I emailed him this dress.

Anthropologie's "Walk-A-Ways" Dress. Only $129.00 right!?! I think it is SO cute! SO fun! And perfect for almost any summer occasion.

John's perfect response simply stated:

"it's cute and neat but is it 130.00 for one dress cute and neat??"

...darn. He is right. Probably not what I need to spend.

SO, you can imagine my delight when I found this.

Lulu's "Little Sparkler Dress" $34! Cute neat and absolutely $34 for one dress cute and neat! And how perfect this little get up is called "The Little Sparkler" ordered just before the 4th of July!