My Little Gymnast

Lila and I did a parent and child gymnastics class this summer. She loved it!

Pool Time

Today was Lila's first day in the pool this summer season. We went to the beach when she was 4 months old in October, but we haven't been back until now. Man oh man, did she have a blast! She got to swim with her friends Will and Mason, so I think that was the majority of the excitement. She seriously wore me out because she would not stop moving the whole time. She was absolutely covered and had me soaked within a few minutes of stepping in the pool from all the splashing and kicking. Now I am thinking I should have signed her up for those swimming lessons. Considering Michael was not with us and I was in the pool with Lila, I didn't get any pictures of this hysterical moment. We did take Daddy back the next day to show him what fun we had. I didn't get a great picture of her in the pool, but here she is all dried off ready to ride in the wagon. This brings back memories of the 5th grade and images of my future with Lila. Why you ask? Let me preface this story with this. I was a good kid in school...seriously, I really was. My mom did, however, get called in for a parent teacher conference with Ms. Bell. Now, let me just say that this is the teacher that loved me. I went with her to the movies once, she took me to her hairdresser because she wanted her highlights to look like my natural highlights, etc. etc. BUT, I had a problem with staying in my seat and doing my work. I think she finally gave up and just let me stand beside my desk to do my work. I couldn't sit still and I wanted to go around and talk to everyone. To this day I still get grief from my sisters because they had to go search for me door to door to my neighbors asking if I had been there. I liked to go visit everyone in the neighborhood when I was 3! Mr. Cody gave me ice cream sandwiches, Tracy let me play with her barbies, and The Simpsons let me jump on their trampoline. Let's not forget that if we were in the grocery store, parking lot, or church lobby, I was doing cartwheels. Or, if there was a chair or a bench close by, I was probably doing backflips off of it. Anyway, this is why I am scared. The girl won't stay seated. She has to stand up. I can't even pick out a card at Target without turning around to find her standing in the seat turned around backwards leaning over into the buggy. Those belts are just not tight enough. You have already seen how she tried to climb out of the crib. She has now managed to pull her ride on toy over to the ottoman, stand on top of the toy and climb on top of the ottoman. I am hoping this is just a phase, because if I have to go through what my mom went through with me, I won't have a any hair left.

Birthday Fun!

My niece Ella turned 5 at the end of June. It is truly hard for me to believe. I think mainly because my sister Kim was about to drop child at any time the day Michael and I got married. So, when I think of Ella being 5, I think of us being married for that long. Actually, it has flown by. That is good, I guess! :) Here are some pictures from the fun day. The kids had a blast. Not only was there the pool, but also a 15-20 ft. blow up slide. I REALLY wanted to go down it, but everyone advised against it. Maybe next year! Here are some pictures of the kids at the party.

Lila LOVES the pool. Time to watch Ella open her gazillion presents!

Time for some cake. The Birthday girl surrounded by her family.

Jay Boy REALLY liked the cake. He is handsome even covered in pink!

Wordless Wednesday

Yes, I know...it is suppose to be "Wordless" Wednesday. Well, those of you who know me know that I can't go without saying at least a little something. So here are my few little words.
I'M SCARED!! Thank goodness for the video monitor.

Starting her early...

We attended our first ever political event on Tuesday. This made Daddy happy! Monty Lankford is running for Congress and we went to George Jones' farm for a FUNdraiser! I will say, I felt like a total goob strutting in to find that we were the only ones who decided to bring their child! Lila did great and was the hit of the party. I wasn't paying much attention when a man came up and was talking to Lila and telling me he had 3 little girls. I was concentrating on trying to eat my own food and shovel food down Lila and was just like in my head..."Uh huh, whatever." I glanced up to notice his nametag said Van Hillary! OOPS! I started paying attention then. I wish I would have been a little more polite from the beginning or at least said something halfway intelligent. We had a great time, but Lila was up WAY past her bedtime and was ready to go. She also wanted nothing to do with Mommy and Daddy. She was ALL about some A.J. and Mr. Morgan. Poor Ashley holds kids all day long to only get a night out and have another child only wanting her. I took some pictures, but I will ask permission to post first.

Also, I am WAY behind on weekly pictures, but here I am at 26 1/2 weeks. I have some pictures of me in this same dress at around 15 weeks. Things sure change! :)

We are off to the lake for a fun filled firework friday!

The little things....

So, I am totaling loving this imitating stage that Lila is going through. It will probably drive me crazy later, but right now it is just really cute. We are driving in the car yesterday and the song All American Girl by Carrie Underwood comes on. I look in the mirror and Lila is bobbing her little head. I hold up my hands and start snapping my fingers. She immediately started trying to snap her own fingers. Then we get home and I am spraying some air freshner. Moments later she goes and picks up the can. Not only does she hold it and twirl it around like she is spraying the room, but she starts making the "sshhh" sound like it is coming out! This morning we were folding clothes and listening to her kindermusik CD and I start leaning way over to the left and then to right and then she started doing it. She has done some things like that before, but it always seemed to be a delayed reaction. Now she does it pretty immediately. Oh, its the little things they do that just get ya!

A Just Because and Travel Tips

So, I need some advice. We are heading to Alaska in July! I am super excited, but I am also very nervous about my non sleeping on anybody, doesn't sit well or long in a lap, and non watching TV child, for the 10 hour trip. Our flight from Atlanta to Alaska is a VERY large plane and guess what? It is PACKED! There is not an empty seat beside us. That means for 7 hours we will have Lila in our lap. Let's not forget that I will be almost 7 months pregnant. Yes, we probably should have coughed up the money and purchased her a ticket, but Geez, that is a lot of money. Anyway, I need some ideas to keep her entertained. This is also the child that totally freaks in an elevator (although I will say we have had some progress with that lately), so I am nervous about the noise, etc. What about her ears? Will they bother her? I apologize now to those sitting around us.

Ok, second question: This is for those mothers about there with lots of kiddo's, especially say 5 and under. I am looking into going ahead and purchasing a double stroller with an sit and stand in the back. I.E. the Joovy Caboose triple sit and stand. Here is my thinking. I will have 2 15-16 months apart, and the Good Lord willing (and if these 2 don't change my mind) we would like to have more within the next several years. Let's say Lila is like 4ish and baby boy is 3ish and then we have another, do you think this is a good idea? I am thinking that Lila will be old enough to where she doesn't want to ride in the stroller anymore, but if we are out on a long day (zoo, mall, amusement park) then she may get tired and want to stand or sit in the back and then I would have the 2 seats in the front for the younger ones. Help Please! What strollers would you suggest? I really don't want to buy 500 strollers trying to figure out what is best, so I would like for this to be a 1 time purchase, for a while at least. Thanks in advance!
And I leave you with this:
Just because I think she is cute....