Love is in the Air

Michael and I had two great friends get married the day before we left for Alaska. One of which Michael was born in the same hospital room 5 minutes after her, and the other who has been one of Michael's best buds since elementary school. So, we loaded up the car and headed to Gatlinburg for the weekend. In true Harrell fashion we rolled into the Park Vista for the rehearsal at the exact time it was starting. Michael literally jumped out of the car and ran in as I went and parked the car. We decided to pack all of our things in one bag since the rest were being used for Alaska. I will never do that again. We used Michael's old baseball bat duffle bag, which is longer than I am tall. So, here I am, pregnant belly and all, carrying Lila, our huge bag, (which luckily didn't take out any car windows on the way), Lila's diaper bag, my purse, food bag, etc. I am sure it was a site. I must say, I thought I was a little crazy trying to carry all of it, but our parking spot was a long way away, and I didn't want to make 2 trips. I honestly thought that someone would offer to help me along the way. Nope. Not until I was about to get off of the elevator to head towards our room did someone finally offer to help. I got lots of "bless your heart" looks, but no help. Oh well. We made it, and I got to work out my right bicep a little more since I carry Lila with my left. :) Anyway, Michael and the groomsmen were doing lunch the day of the wedding and hanging out, so I decided since the wedding wasn't until 7 pm that I would go visit my sister, brother-in law, and neices in Maryville for the day. Lila slept in a little longer than usual, so I didn't leave as early as planned, but I was still making good time. That is, until I drove an hour in the wrong direction up into the mountains towards NC with no cell phone service! I followed the directions Michael gave me from Mapquest, however he didn't put in the hotel's address, just Gatlinburg, so it had me going the wrong way. Yes, honey, I am still blaming you! :) I feel like I should have known better, but it has been a long time since I had been up there and I had not taken back roads to Maryville before. It was actually really pretty and I think that if I wasn't so upset I would have really enjoyed it. Here is the thing....I knew we were going to have a long day with flying the next day and would be traveling a lot in the car in Alaska, plus the drive to Gatlinburg, so I really didn't want Lila to be in the car for very long. Boy did that backfire! Plus, I wanted to spend as much time with my family that I could before having to come back to the wedding. I did finally realize that I am not going the right way, but there is no place to turn around. I also just got a new phone the day before that I still don't know how to use, so that was frustrating. Not that it mattered because I couldn't get any service anyway. Plus, everyone was driving 15 miles an hour! I finally get to an overlook and I am just crying. I see a tour bus and work up the nerve to go ask for directions. I dried up my tears before approaching, but as soon as I opened my mouth, I just started boo hooing. I don't really know why...hormones I guess! He finds a guide to help me who was super sweet. He gave me a map and told me to put my car in low gear and to not cry while going down the mountain. I finally did make it my sisters and back for the wedding. The wedding was beautiful and I love to see 2 people so happy! Stephen is my boy, so to see him smile made it all worth while. Lila loved seeing her daddy in the wedding and kept calling his name while he walked down the aisle and stood up front. Luckily we were outside and the wind blocked her yelling, but it was still really cute.
Here is my dancing queen. Now, let me tell you. We sat in the very back, the furthest away from the dance floor. However, as soon as we would put her down, she made her way, crawling through all the tables to get to the dance floor. One girl was up dancing and Lila crawled right through her legs. She didn't know what to think. It was too funny! Here is Lila with sweet Becky. Lila loved playing with all her jewelry!

So, shortly after the reception, we loaded up the car and headed back home to try and catch some zzz's before having to be at the airport at 9. Well, it couldn't be that easy, now could it? This just happened to be the night that some oil rig turned over and spilled and they closed the interstate both ways. Long story, but after rerouting to Chattnooga we finally made it home only to sleep a few hours before getting up again. Still to come...ALASKA!!!

New Tricks

This is just so I can document this for myself. My one year calendar ran out, so this is the next best thing. Lila has now started not only blowing kisses but will look at you and make the smacking noise of blowing a kiss with just her lips...you know the one, MUAH! If I knew how to put video on here I would show you. She also does her hands up in the "I don't know" motion when you ask her something. She really seems to do this if I am walking around the house looking for something, like my keys or her paci and I am asking her what I did with them. She also does it when I ask her things like, "What do you want to wear?" "Where did Chloe go?" Etc. I love it! Some days I really believe she knows what we are saying because she had been doing the "I don't know" thing when Michael asked her if she was going to be good on the airplane to Alaska and guess what she said!?!? "NO, NO, NO!" OH GREAT!

Happy 4th!

We went to our good friends lake house for the weekend of the 4th on Norris Lake. It was so nice to just relax and do nothing but eat and be on the boat. No cell service...that was really nice. I was freaking a little just worrying about work calls that I might miss, but I quickly got over it. I still heard my phone ringing in my head though. I would hear something in a song on the radio and look for my phone! Thanks D&T! We had a blast. It was a little overcast and rainy some, so I didn't get my tan on liked I had hoped, but that is ok. I think God is trying to protect me because he knows how much I love to bake in the sun. What I didn't do was get a good family 4th of July picture. Michael and I were rough from the day on the lake and Lila is teething so her hands are in her mouth. Oh well. I just knew I would at least get a cute picture of bug on the 4th. I found this adorable little headband at the dollar spot at Target for her to wear. Yea....she wouldn't have anything to do with it. I tried my hardest to get a cute little picture of her in it, but to no avail, this is what we have! I still think she is precious! Happy July 4th! Lila getting ready to go on her first boat ride. "Get me out of this thing!" I know that is what she is thinking...I just know it.
She is starting to warm up to the idea and actually likes going fast and watching the skiers and wakeboarders being pulled behind the boat.
Look at those cheeks. 5 more minutes and she would have been out. As soon as we slowed down to pull into the marina, she opened back up her eyes. We were so close!

I'm a Big Girl Now!

Yeah! I get to face forward.

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!