Friday Celebrations

Friday was a great day, full of celebrating. I will list:

Friday, May 14th- Kate's Chick-fil-a birthday party.
We went to our Kate's 3rd birthday party at Chick-fil-a. I didn't even know that you could have a birthday party at Chick-fil-a? I was excited to experience this birthday party because it seems like we have been to every birthday party venue in the DFW metroplex. The kids all got Chick-fil-a kids meals and played in the kids area. The adults snacked on chick-fil-a party trays and visited. At the end of the party we sang happy birthday, ate cake and made our way out. Rett was tired and had already eaten lunch. I was happy.


Friday, May 14th- Troy gets a promotion!
Earlier in the week Troy flew to his company's corporate headquarters. He was interviewing for a new position: The Southwest District Manager. He went prepared a 30/60/90 day business plan and went through five rounds of interviews and at the end was told, "Thanks, we'll let you know.". He said he was exhausted at the end of it but left each interview feeling good. They called to congratulate him on Friday they said it was a unanimous decision. Troy will now manage the sales reps in Dallas (Troy will hire a new one to replace himself), Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi. In addition to a hefty salary increase he will also get a new car or car allowance (he hasn't decided if he wants to take the company car or pick out his own) and work from home on Fridays. The downside to the promotion is that he will be traveling ALOT more. He will likely be out of town weekly and while he loves the traveling, I do not. My mom helps me every time Troy is out of town,(she comes over for dinner and helps with baths and bedtimes)...but she might grow tired of it if she has to do it every week. Plus, when Troy is gone it upsets our schedule and Rett asks for him frequently. Anyways, I am SO proud of him. He has worked hard to get to this point in his career.


Friday, May 14th- Ellie turns 10 months old!
It's hard to believe my sweet little baby will be a year old in only eight short weeks. In the past month she has learned to speed crawl (seriously, she moves so fast it almost looks like she is galloping). She pulls up onto everything and in the past week or so will "cruise" around furniture. We have also introduced a few more solid foods. She has tried bananas, strawberries, cheese, bread and meat sticks (yuck). She still chokes, or rather gags easily, which makes me a nervous wreck when she's eating. She says Mama, Dada, Baba(for Bodie), bye, and ball very clearly. She knows what these words/sounds mean and uses them to get what she wants. For example, if I am in the same room with her and leave she will start saying, Mama? Mama? Mama? and the same is true if Troy is in the room with her and leaves..then it's Dada? Dada? Dada? I think her verbal skills are very advanced for her age(as were Rett's at this age). Maybe it's because she has two parents who are talking around her all the time or because I work with her on pronouncing words or maybe because I chose not use any baby sign language. Who knows? I just like that she's talking. :)

She LOVES this kitchen!