Exciting News

Being the crafty girls that we are, Abby-kins and I are going to be doing something fun in our spare time (snicker).....Details coming soon! What do you think of our logo? Our friend and graphic designer, John helped us out big time! Shout out to Mr. Beck!





xoxo muffins,


Nicole

Slacker Posting with Easter being over a week ago...

I am so freaking cute.

I want to squeeze her just looking at this picture.

Ham didn't go over so well.

Southern Easter Dinner.

Us in our Easter attire.

I am growing impatient and more hungry. Hurry it up.

This is the last cute post you are getting out of me!

Waiting patiently for the bunny.

Hello hello!

It was another busy weekend. Nothing too crazy but just enough running around to make me yearn for another weekend....on Monday.

I got out for a girl's night on Friday with Beth and Kristen. No pics were taken but plenty of fun girl talk and wine was had by all!

I am busy working on projects and we are doing our best to keep up with our Ella. She is talking and waving and testing the word "no" at every turn. She took a step! We were floored. We don't think serious walking will come anytime in the super near future but it is progress. She is standing on her own for about 1 second and then claws the ground.

We got GREAT news that we had been a little freaked about (read ME- Scott takes a lot of stuff in stride). While having an MRI done for some neck pain which showed that my sweet hubby has some bulging discs (I feel like a total butt hole for thinking he was just being a baby), the dr. noticed that he had a lump on his thyroid. We went in for ultrasound and after waiting for DAYS (okay, maybe 2 days), we found that is a cystic thingy and is NOT malignant which is a fancy word for cancer. So, no malignant cancer thyroid thing. Very excited about not having to worry about this. Praise the lord. He is so good to us.

Hope you guys enjoyed Easter and are having a wonderful Spring! The weather has been tremendous in Chicago; hope its been great where y'all are...

xoxo,

Francis Clan

Mexico, getting older, and of course, Ella!

Dinner for Erica...table all a-glow..


Ella playing in grandmother's purse...oh, dear..

Ella and grandmother...

Ella and Mommy after my bday dinner in Atlanta..

Ella in her pink shades!

Bliss.

Yes, we take pictures of food. But only really good food. This is guac, obvi, from our FAVORITE mexican food place of all time. Too bad its in downtown Playa. It's called Yaxche's and honestly, the best food we have ever had! I urge all Playa visitors to drag yourself off of the resort to check this place out. We got the inside scoop on their new location. Can't wait to go back...

Scotty is a happy fella.

Rain = no bueno.

Wine = bueno.

Awkward shot at dinner. Waiters aren't good photographers typically.

Lounging poolside. Happiness.

No, not taking pics of chicks in bikinis. This is a sushi chef that will bring you plates of sashimi and any roll you desire. Secrets Maroma is the best.

Would you believe!? Probably not, but we ran into Gavin and Shauna. Random good times!

Horses on the beach.

The water. Ahh....

Posing on the sand for Scott.

Debating- modelo or Sol?

Yep, that's the porch which is also your own pool. Glad we sprang for it!

The room. So beautiful.

So, we are back and not as refreshed as we were a week ago, but recharged albeit only slightly at this point. City living does that to you, I guess...

Ella is almost 10 months old. This makes me sad, happy, anxious and overwhelmingly proud of the sweet baby tornado that took over our lives 10 months ago....

I never knew of such love and adoration before Ella. Her daddy and me stare in amazement as she reaches new milestones every week. She is bright, sweet, loving, expressive, demanding- when she wants it, please provide now, thanks very much!-happy, and all around perfect. She is talking up a storm! She is now saying uh-oh after a week with gram-cracker. All of a sudden, after being home for a couple days from our 9 day vacation, she threw her Sophie and sweetly muttered, "uh-oh". Scott and I looked at each other, perplexed, because we don't usually say "uh-oh" and try to refrain from dropping "s*it bombs" in front of our sweet and impressionable child. And, honestly, we never, ever dropped those before Ella, so.....

So now, Ella is saying "uh-oh", something that sounds like cat, hi, bye (with a southern accent, might I add! I am kind of proud), momma, dada...

She is also drinking out of a straw! She likes jamba juice. She already has great taste in food.

She took a couple of VERY wobbly steps on her own a few days ago! I think our girl will be walking in no time at all....

As for Mexico, it was delightful, very much needed and really relaxing. I developed a raging sinus infection and it rained a full day, but all in all, such a great trip! Ella did a great job with gram and e-pa! I will have to ask E-Pa to send some pictures of the week she spent in McDonough.

Last night, a few friends gathered to celebrate Erica's big day. We had such a great time. I am thinking of you tomorrow, Erica!

Easter is just around the corner! We trekked up to Woodfield to see the Easter bunny. Great Success! Ella was a happy camper, no thanks to the 2 little girls in front of us who screamed bloody murder and hit the bunny. Wow. Our little angel took it all in stride and observed the bunny for a bit and then happily sat on the bunny's lap.

We have a busy week and are a little anxious about a few things....I will be really glad when its over....

Besides making a pot roast (Francis family Sunday tradition), that's it for now..Happy Sunday, lovelies...

xoxo

Decoupaging Diva

I have been forever in love with embossing and decoupage. Dating back to probably, I'd say, age 10 or 11, I'd stamp and heat gun my way through a Saturday afternoon. Finally, after all of these years, I am getting back into coorespondence making and mod podge-ing.


While baby sleeps (and I procrastinate at work), I find myself surfing inspiring DIY blogs and am so glad that I found a particular blog, modpogerocks.blogspot.com. After finding this terrific site, I thought I'd give my old skills a whirl and voila! Check out these fun coasters! If you'd like some, I am taking orders =)




xoxo muffins,

NF

Parties, Chicken and Fun times

Sweet Ella trying to get into the dog food bag.

Trying on clothes in the clothes basket.

Caught mid-squeal/scream. I love it!

Waving and cruising the furniture. Skills.

Her "farm". She loves this thing!

Intent on seeing who goes home on American Idol. I don't even like AI anymore, but the singing captivates Ella. She loves to listen to people singing! I am glad she appreciates the arts this early in life =)

Panko breaded chicken. MMMMMMM...

Non-panko chicken. No, thanks mom!

Okay, enough chicken. Day 3 of chicken for dinner.

Pretty Holly and Ella at O's 1st bday party!

Happy Ella.

The girls at the party!

Hmmm..icing.

Where's more icing, mom?

birthday girl, Olivia!

sweet girl...

ella had to thank her for such a good time.....

Ella and Daddy at Hank's party!

Pretty picture, Turner family!

What a small world! We finally met some family friends, randomly at Hank's first bday party!

Hello, Hello!

We have had parties galore! We love celebrating our friend's birthdays even though it makes this mamma really wistful. I just don't know where the last 9 months of our lives have gone! Well, I know that they have been spent doting, loving, spoiling and doting some more on our sweetie pie blue eyed bug.

Ella is, as of 9 months, eating more "big people" food (see above), cruising furniture, getting into EVERYTHING, squealing with delight at most ANYTHING, knowing what "no" means but not really caring while she smiles coyly at her momma, throwing herself back unannounced because someone will always catch me, right?!, cranking out aligator tears over nothing at all when she wants attention, and, mostly, just being adorable, adventurous, and vocal. I especially love when she "sings" softly while resting her forehead on mine, and I sing back to her. This goes on for a good 5 minutes. She loves being close and cuddling. I treasure these moments and will have to reflect back on these times when she is 13-21!

Mommy and Daddy are leaving for Mexico via Atlanta a week from today and we are happy but mostly sad and anxious (I guess, mostly me!) due to leaving Ella for 4 whole days. I know, I know, she will be fine with gram and E-Pa but I just know I will be a weepy mess leaving her. Such an overwhelming sense of mommy guilt as soon as you have this little life to care for. It seems so indulgent to spend days at the beach when we could be home with our baby! I know its important for us to spend time, alone with each other, but I will be so sad to leave her. Hopefully, the margaritas will ease the pain!

I hope everyone is having a great Saturday so far! Our Saturday, so far , has been spent listening to music, making coffee and pancakes (Ella's favorite) and taking turns working out at the gym.

While Daddy gets his fitness on (and Ella naps), I figured I'd update our blog.

xoxo,

nic, ella bella and Scotty

PS- Get well soon, Uncle Curt!