Look what I did...

On this Memorial Day!

My first time tubing on the lake!
Hope everyone had a happy Memorial Day!!

Cousins

Lila had a big time playing with some of her cousins this weekend! They were sweet to let her tag-along!

Clete and Lila

Lila and Carson

Besties

Meet Lila's new best friends AND travel buddies ... Barney and Baby!

Piano Girl

Here is one version of Lila playing the piano at home the other day. She's not singing quite as much in this one, but it's still pretty cute.
Excuse her dress ... she'd yanked her skirt off and pulled her bow out. She apparently wanted to have a lazy-day-Saturday.

Too Big

My baby's getting too big! Spending these last several days exclusively with her has really made me realize how much of a little girl she is. We've spent our days reading and coloring and playing outside. She's become quite fond of a certain baby doll and carries her everywhere. "Baby" even ventured out shopping with us earlier this week. She loves the shoes in my closet and drags them everywhere and pulls them out to look at them. She's doing SUCH little girl things! She's so independent and social, but she's such a mama's girl right now.
Our biggest "she's-getting-big" moment was when she took herself off of her nighttime bottle. I'd worried about her staying on it too long and struggled with when to take it away. My wise mama told me that Lila would do it when she was ready. She always loved that bottle and expected it after her bath. I thought it would be hard. Hard? Ha ... Lila doesn't make much hard. Last week she started playing with it more, and by Sunday night, she just wouldn't drink it. So Monday night, I laid my baby down without her bottle, and it about killed me! I want her to do what she's supposed to when she's supposed to, and last I checked nobody goes to kindergarten with a bottle, but I wouldn't have minded a few more weeks of snuggly time with her. Now it's bath then bed....she won't even let me read to her!! She'd much rather just be laid down. Sassy thing..
Anyway, this is all to say and help me remember when my baby started turning into one fantastic little girl.

Lots of Water

We spent this morning at the splash park ... have a good feeling that most of my pictures will include Lila and some form of water!! We're lovin' summer!

School's out ...

for the summer! Woo-hoo!
We headed to the lake Friday night for the weekend. Josh arranged for his parents to watch Lila, and he and I went on a nighttime boat ride to eat dinner at Sinclair's. On the way, we enjoyed this pretty view! It was so nice to spend an evening with him and have some adult-time.

Saturday, Lila ventured into the water. It was something to get used to, but she seemed to really like it. NO FEAR! She has none...she would've walked right off the edge of that pier if we'd let her!
She drove the boat with daddy,

and then she settled down with Mama for a nice, long, boat-ride induced sleep!!

She got a little dancin' in a little later on. LOVE those little leggies!

We're really excited for summer! Bring it on!

My Girl

Lila and I played a game the other afternoon...I'd run to one side of the den, then she'd come chasing after me. I tried to catch her expression on camera, so the pictures might not be the greatest. They do, however, capture her sweet and fun little personality. I'm SO looking forward to my summer with this sweet angel girl!

Oooohhh I love her!

Lakin' It

Yay for the summer and spending time at the lake! Growing up, I didn't spend much time at the lake and I'd probably only been on a boat once or twice. Then I met Josh and he introduced me to summers of boat riding and floating in the water... I love it! I'm so glad that Lila will be able to spend a lot of time at the lake as she grows up. Not only that, she's blessed with some cousins that she's smack in the middle of that she gets to play with while she's there! Lucky her! Yesterday we headed up and Lila and I had a really nice time. Josh was feeling a little blue due to a work accident and the 7 stitches in his left hand, but he was a trooper.
Lila and Karlee played really well together and enjoyed the boat ride.

Lila loved loving on Raleigh...she gave that little fellow more kisses and pats on the head! Too cute!

She enjoyed driving the boat with "Bop" as she calls Pop, and Uncle Montey let her drive too!

She finally crashed and took a good long nap.

Mimi watched over her and Raleigh while the slept.

Last night at dinner, Lila started to get the hang of a fork. She was much more coordinated then I've seen her be before, and she was able to spear a pineapple and put it in her mouth. I was pretty proud of her! :)

We're looking forward to many more Lake Saturdays with family! We really enjoyed our day!!

Lila and her Bean

Lila planted a seed a couple of weeks ago at Sissy's. Boy, has this thing grown! I will proudly say that I made an extra effort not to kill my child's first plant. My other houseplants are wilting as proof. I can only pay attention to one green thing at a time apparently! Lila was very excited about it's growth!!

Mother's Day Weekend

We had such a great weekend. Mine and Josh's weekend really started Thursday, I guess. My parents came down and picked Lila up so that she could spend a few days with them and Casey in Madison. Josh and I had a couple of really relaxing nights ... we even went on a date! "Date Night" is hilarious ... by the way!

Saturday we met my family in Boaz for a little get-together with some of my dad's side. We had so much fun visiting and seeing everyone.

Family Shot

My dad and his two sisters, Aunt Janet and Aunt Cat

Daddy and his big sister

Lila and Aunt Cat

Lila and Cleo feeding the fish at my aunt and uncle's house.

Playing with sweet Cleo!

Having a discussion with Aunt Casey

My Aunt Janet, her daughter, Rita, and her great-granddaughter, Cleo

Climing on her daddy

Grammy putting Lila to bed Saturday night.

Mother's Day Morning

My family (minus the photographer :)

We stopped by the lake to wish Mimi and Granny a Happy Mother's Day too!

Reading

Found this picture from a couple of weeks ago...I mean could she get any cuter?! I LOVE to watch her read a book!

Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day and after a whirlwind weekend of visiting with lots of family and driving all over the state of Alabama, we are exhausted! I have about a jillion pictures to upload and include in a monster post about Mother's Day, but that'll have to wait till tomorrow.

Just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there ... particularly the ones so near and dear to my heart. My mother ... words can't explain how great she is. She's mine and my sister's best friend. The things she's done for me and my little family are overwhelming. I am so lucky to have such an amazing mother and example. My life is also full of other wonderful examples of mother's whose love and support is neverending. What a blessing to be surrounded by such great women ... grandmothers, mother-in-laws, aunts, cousins, friends!

Being a mother has been a tremendous job...and I've only done it for 15 months!! I am immeasurably blessed to have my daughter in my life. Lila is such a happy child. Her hugs, kisses, cries, jibber-jabbers, and looks are priceless. I would not trade anything for the expression on her face when we walk in a room and the way she makes her way towards us. I look forward to SO many more Mother's Days spent with my angel girl.

Stay tuned for some great pictures from the weekend! It was definitely worth the exhaustion!

Throwdown Thursday

The Brown Girls, Anna Claire and Chloe, came and hung out with Lila and me Thursday night while their mom, dad, and brother went to a school thing. We went to Target and shopped, had pizza and ice cream and played a lot outside. Lila loved it! I did too ... they did a great job of keeping her entertained! They're sweet girls ... Lila loves all the Browns, and I'm so glad she spends her days with them while I'm off at work.

We picked up some sidewalk chalk at Target and my driveway is now a masterpiece. Lila liked it too and hung in with the big girls while they drew. My child's beautiful first sidewalk chalk drawing!Among other things, Chloe helped Lila mow the lawn...
Anna Claire helped Lila blow dandelions and..let her play with her necklace. Lila's a sucker for jewelry.
We had fun ladies! Come back anytime!