I Just Didn't Know.

"I just didn't know", is what I thought about having another baby. I mean, my life felt so full with just Belle that I "just didn't know" if I wanted to go through all the stages again with another baby. "I just didn't know" if I could possibly hold enough love in my heart for two babies! "I just didn't know" if Anthony could handle me pregnant again...

"I just didn't know" what a beautiful baby was waiting for me in Heaven. "I just didn't know" a sister could show so much love to another sister at such a young age. "I just didn't know" what such a contagious laugh could add to something that was silly. "I just didn't know" my heart could expand to the size it is now.

Layla, Mommy loves you so! Without knowing it you gave our little family the song in our hearts and the completeness that we needed. Your daddy adores you and your sister will always need you. You are SO special to all of us! I love you.

My Sweet Girl.

Have you ever felt so very undeserving of a child? I have. Belle came into this world with the world's biggest chocolate brown eyes, so deep, one could get lost in them, and such a steady soul searching stare. Beautiful. She was and still is my teacher in how to best be a mommy. She doesn't hold grudges and she is very forgiving and wants to see God in everything. I'm proud to be her mommy and I hope that she is proud to be my daughter. I know that there will be times that she just KNOWS she knows better than me but God, I hope they are few and far between. I pray that I will always stay approachable and loving and stern when she needs me to be.
Belle, Mommy loves you so much and SO enjoy watching you grow. You are a gift.
Love,
Mommy

I Can't Believe Christmas is Almost Here.

Wanted to share a couple of pictures of the girls making their own gingerbread houses at Granna and Grandpa's- It was sooo much fun.

If you remember I mentioned that the Rutledge house hold was going to be BUSY ... that was an understatement. I think I have whiplash from all the things that have been going on.
First let me tell you that our play at church, "The Gospel According to Scrooge" was a success! There is not a mommy around that is more proud of her daughter right now. Belle did a great job as well as all of the other kids that were involved in this play. It takes a lot of work and they did great.
Second, right before the first night of the play Anthony hurt his knee. we have since found out that it is a torn Meniscus ( pardon if I spelled it wrong) and he will be having a knee scope done on Tuesday, keep us in your prayers.
Thirdly, the girls are both home from school and lounging around like they should be and wouldn't you know that is when I would get a head cold. Pray for us all.
Not to sound like doom and gloom because if anyone knows us we will muscle right through it and continue to have fun.
I will close with a Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!
Love, Jessica

The Rutledge's are...

BUSY!!! Boy, I don't think my schedule is going to slow down until January. Between Layla and Belle's school activities and extracurricular activities and the church play and keeping the family fed and the house clean I don't know when there will be time to post anything. I will do my best though, I don't want to let any of faithful readers down.
I was watching "What Not to Wear" yesterday and the woman was 35 and frumpy, when asked how she let her self get that way she answered that she just always puts herself last. I could really connect with that woman, she was truly beautiful but like a lot of women, never looked in the mirror and said to her reflection "you're beautiful".
The hosts of that show got on to her and said that she was beautiful and to stop hiding behind the "mommy uniform" - in this case was a velvet track suit with bulky pockets in front- they told her she could be "Molly" and still be a mommy and a wife. She needs to realize she is still a person that holds many jobs but the jobs shouldn't drowned out the woman she is.
I walked away from that show ready to NOT wear a velvet jumpsuit that I have worn in the past, and get rid of a lot of old clothes that I think I hide in. Maybe it's this new chapter in my life of staying home and not being in the working world that makes me feel I don't need to dress nice, but I have to remember, I do still have a husband that would like to see make up on me from time to time. My girls probably like it when I get pretty, they say so before church every Sunday.
My mom was on to something when we were little. She would always wear her hair in curlers and clean up around the house and then right before Daddy came home she would fluff her hair and put make up on so he came home to a lovely wife and mother.
Ladies, throw out those old clothes, velvet jumpsuits and tapered "mommy jeans" go out and buy something nice, with a waist line. You may see me out there buying something too.

Happy Birthday Archie!!!

To the pup that stole our hearts, the dog that thinks he's a kid. The puppy that loves his family and the family loves him, Happy 1st Birthday!!
At the request of two little girls we will be giving Archie a present of assorted cookies from Pet Co. and he is already feasting on a new raw hide bone that was given to him to calm his nerves after a long day at the groomers.

It isn't easy staying this handsome but someone has to do it.

Nothin' Much.

That may seem boring to some people but not to the Rutledge household. We are blessedly doing nothing. We had a really busy September with the church play, that I was honored to be a part of, and all that goes into that sort of thing. The girls are both having an outstanding year so far and my little side business is doing okay.(advertisement, Halloween necklace and earring sets are on sale for $20 this month). We have been steadily coasting, now we just need to get little Layla's tonsils out, this is happening October 3rd. She is a little scared but I think the idea of a whole week off of school with nothing but ice cream is really starting to sound good. Pray for Mommy and Daddy though because those thirty minutes that she is in surgery will feel like four hours.
Well, hope all is going well for all of you that read this. I hope to update this more often but who knew when I quit working I would be busier than ever before?

Meetings, meetings, meetings!

I just got back from a, you guessed it, meeting. I went to my first parent volunteer meeting at Layla's school today. It felt so good to know that I would be available at my own leisure to help out in different ways around her school. I wish I had had that opportunity with Belle but I guess this is just one of those change offs. Anyway, big things happening this fall, first is our play at church, it's a two act play on September 16,17,18 and 19th. It's gonna be really good. Then, on October 3rd little Layla will be getting her tonsils and anoids out. Mommy can't wait!!! She will be able to sleep so much better. Mark your calendars for October 8th, that's Emma's Bayou Bash, take a look at "I'm Especially Fond of You" on my sidebar for more information about that and how you can help fight Batten's Disease.
That is all I have time to share right now but I will try and keep you posted! Oh! don't forget to check out my business blog, wwww.laylabellejunkinmytrunk.blogspot.com!