Happy 10 months sweet Ally girl!

Oh man...this month has been CRAZY!! Not only did we have the holidays...which were super fun, but we had a little scare with our Ally girl. At her 9 month appt, we found out that Ally was losing weight and that she had a urine infection. We even had to go to occupational therapy because she was having a really hard time eating solids. I ended up starting to feed her every 1/2 hour and supplementing nursing with formula (which she hated!). She didn't do so well with that, so we started feeding her every hour (nurse one hour, then do a solids meal the next, then nurse again, etc). Ally became my #1 focus and my days became very busy with preparing food literally all day long! Today we had another doctor appt and I am so happy and relieved to say that she has gained 2 and half pounds in a month! She is finally getting her chunk back, Praise the Lord! We had so many people praying and I am so thankful that our little girl is back to health again. Now...the girl LOVES to be in her high chair and eats SO much!! She also went from waking up every 45 mins to an hour EVERY night to now only waking 3-4 times a night. I feel like we have had such a roller coaster of a month with our girl, but I am so thankful that things are finally back to normal. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the month:

my favorite outfit right now...so sweet :) 

she has been wanting to be held more during her nap...and I am enjoying the snuggle time! 

my little Christmas Eve girl 

little Ally fell asleep during the tractor parade in Reedley

my Christmas cuties :) 

And then the 10 month pictures: 

trying to jump off the chair...good thing Daddy was there! 

Ryan was trying to hold her ;) 

                     
10 month stats: 

weight: 17 lbs 10 oz

height: 28 inches

-started crawling this month! 

-loves to eat mac n cheese, yogurt, bread, ground turkey, Gerber puffs and yogurt drops. You will pretty much try anything now. :) 

So thankful for our sweet girl! 

2012...The Highlights

2012 was a great year. I am thankful for the gifts that it brought and the changes we experienced. When I think of 2012, I think of 3 main events that happened:

1. The birth of our beautiful daughter; Allyson Grace Ekk on March 6, 2012. She has brought so much joy and love to our lives. I am reminded of how good our God is through our little girl. What a perfect gift she is and how blessed I am to be her mommy.

2. We moved back to the Central Valley. In August we said 'goodbye' to our beautiful home in San Diego and the dear friends that were there. It was a good 2 years that we were there and I am so thankful for the friends that were made and the experiences that we had there. We moved in with my brother in law in Dinuba temporarily until Jason gets a job so we can continue to save the little money we have and that I can continue to stay at home with the kids-such a blessing as well! We are so thankful for the opportunity to live here, but are also looking forward to being back in Fresno if that's what the Lord wills. :) 

last photo shoot at SeaPort Village....one of our favorite spots! 

So many friends came to help us pack up and move and/or  entertain and hold our kids. :) 

3. Jason GRADUATED from law school!! What an accomplishment! He graduated in 2.5 years (it usually takes a full 3). I am so proud of him and all the hard work that he did. He did such an awesome job juggling 2 jobs, family and school. I still don't know how he did it, but I am so glad that he was able to fulfill his dream of completing law school. Now, he can have 4 letters after his name; Jason Ekk MA JD. and I will add s-t-u-d!

As this year draws to a close, I am so thankful for all that it brought, but am so excited about 2013!! This will be a significant year for the Ekk family. Our prayers are that Jason will pass the BAR in February, that he will find the job that he is supposed to have, and one of my biggest prayers is that God will provide a home for our family this year. So much to look forward to and lots of uncertainties that are keeping us on our knees. I am so thankful that "God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Looking forward with hope to all that 2013 holds.