Way behind...short post and pics!

Thanks Aunt Ashley for the new outfit!

The Toney Family is growing!

Grandpa and Raylee at the Arboretum!




So, I haven't blogged in a while, but there are some great pics of Raylee that I wanted to share. My dad was in town last weekend, and we also had some Toney family time this week. Enjoy!

Mother's Day!

My first Mother's Day was wonderful! Michael planned a surprise day for me and it turned out perfect. He let me sleep in while he bathed and dressed Raylee. He then gave me a beautiful card that "Raylee made." Then we headed off to the Warwick Melrose Historic Hotel in Dallas. They had an amazing brunch, including every type of food you can imagine...so I started with breakfast and a mimosa, then continued with lunch, and dessert! They had live music and beautiful flowers. We had a wonderful brunch and definitely overindulged! We enjoyed the rest of the day by looking at houses (one of our favorite past times!), and then layed around the house and played with Raylee. I am so thrilled to be a mom, and I am absolutely in love with my daughter and my husband! Being a mother is one of the most difficult yet rewarding challenges I have ever faced. I worry everyday about the mistakes I will make, and pray that the Lord will protect her from those mistakes. However, I can't imagine my life without my little Raylee. She makes me smile even in the worst of moments. I feel so blessed to be in exactly my position, and I thank God for her health and the miracle of her life. Here are some pics that I took to document the day!

Brittany's Wedding!

This weekend I was a bridesmaid in my good friend Brittany's wedding. It was beautiful, and we had a great time. I really enjoyed seeing all my college friends, and I miss fun times with "the nine!" Here are some pictures from the weekend!

2 Months!

Last week was a busy week as we had Raylee's two month checkup and a visit from her great-grandparents! After her first immunizations, Raylee cried for about 3 hours straight! I cried right along with her... :( I feel so thankful to have a relatively happy baby, and I pray for those parents that have a colicky baby. We also got a great report from the urologist who checked on Raylee's kidneys last week! She is perfectly healthy! Praise God!


On Tuesday, Grandma and Grandpa arrived and even though it rained almost the whole time they were here, we still had a great time! We went to the Dallas Arboretum and had a picnic! We all really enjoyed it! In fact, Raylee and I even got a membership. We also got to go to Kaufman and have dinner with the in-laws, which was really nice. Pictures forthcoming...

My grandparents are THE hardest working people I know, so of course they found little projects around our house to work on. My grandmother put some finishing touches on the nursery, so here are some pics for her to see. Thanks grandma and grandpa for everything!

Bitter sweet...

So, I know it has been a long time since I posted, but I recently returned my work laptop and it has hampered my computer time. It is much more difficult to post when I have to come up to my office with little Raylee. The reason I had to return my work laptop is that I have officially resigned my position as teacher and cheer coach. I titled this post "bitter sweet" because this truly reflects how I feel about resigning. I am so thrilled about the opportunity to become a stay at home mom and be fortunate enough to watch my little girl grown up. I am not so naive to think that everyone has this opportunity, and I am confident that this is the right decision for MY family. However, this doesn't mean that I am not just a little bit sad to leave my love of teaching and coaching. Having a child, and making the decision to stay at home has changed my life completely. While many of the changes are welcomed, sometimes I am just not sure who that leaves me to be. I have always found my identity in my achievements, and I feel as if I have to now find a new identity. I am definitely a people person, and working with high school students was extremely rewarding for me. I will miss my students and cheerleaders terribly. As I resigned last Wednesday, I saw many sad and surprised expressions on my students faces. I am one who hates to disappoint, so this made me have a twinge of regret. My principal had only well wishes for me, and I know that I left an impression on my students and the faculty at my high school. I know I worked hard and even influenced a few special students, so it is hard to leave it all behind. I know the Lord has a great plan for my family, and I will trust in Him to find my new identity. Next to God, and my husband, Raylee is the most important person in my life, and I want to look forward and not backward to the blessings she will bring to it.