May Part 2 - Summer Fun!

Lots and lots of fun in May.  Gymnastics meet, end of the school year, Memorial Day fun, pool and family time.  As I was going through the pictures, I was amazed at how much we did!

H.G. LOVES the pool!  I can set her in her float and she just loves to sit and watch Lolly.  She gets a little upset if I hold onto her, so I just let her float around a bit (in very close proximity of course!)

Lolly is on a gymnastics team and just moved up to Level 2.  I'm amazed at how much she has learned and how well she is doing!  When I was first asked if she wanted to be on team, I responded with a very perplexed look saying "You mean, Lolly?  The one who does a sideways frog hop for a cartwheel?"  Little did I know that the technique was there, it just needed honing.  And wow, how she has improved!  Take a look at these pictures.  Due to her practice time, this was the first time Husband was able to see her on the floor (and not just in our living room).  He really was amazed as well as the coaches are really great at teaching.

And just a quick little flashback.  This is one of my favorite pictures of Lolly when she was three.  Notice her outfit.....

As this is H.G. in the exact same outfit at 7 months.  Yes, there is only a 13 pound difference between the two NOW.  So this shows how big H.G. is compared to Lolly.  Couldn't be more different, but they're also quite a bit the same.  

Memorial Day weekend, we went for a little family miniature golfing.  Sadly, I ended up in the air conditioned car as H.G. was heavy and it was hot, hot, hot!  

 So we immediately went home and got into the pool!

 And last but not least, I took a four day trip to Vegas for a conference.  It was me all by my lonesome and with H.G. still not sleeping through the night, I spent all my time in the room resting when not at the conference.  I wasn't feeling well either.  And the ENTIRE family back home ended getting horribly sick....including my poor in-laws and I was so helpless!  They were all better by the time I returned home and H.G. never became ill, but it was apparently pretty bad. Poor family!  

Anyways, I went out for an early dinner at (of all places in Vegas as we have one back home), Benihana.  Cheers to myself! 

Happy Thursday Y'all!

May - Part 1 - Kentucky Derby, 7 Months and Family Photo Shoot

May would be a big photo dump if I didn't split into two blog posts!  I really need to be better at keeping up.  I do have lots of fun things planned once I do get caught up next week, including giveaways, fashion updates (Spy It, Buy It) and some new products that I love.  

But first.....

Thanks to a very good family friend who happens to be a photographer, we had pictures made.  I really wanted beach pictures.  We've never had them done and I've always wanted pictures.  Well, who knew they are SO difficult to get!  I should have listened to the Sharda when she said we should do them in the morning.  We chose about 5:00 p.m. and wow was it windy!  The girls pictures turned out great, as did the rest....except for my hair was parallel to the ground!  Haha!

I don't think I ever posted H.G.'s baby pictures.  Here's one.....look at the difference seven months makes!  (THOSE LIPS!)

So we moved to a nearby park and got some really fantastic pictures!  Here's a few.

If you're ever in the Palm Beach or Treasure Coast area, even for a beach vacation, be sure to look her up.  She will travel a bit!

Sharda Gorin Photography 

The first weekend of May, we held our 2nd Annual Kentucky Derby Party (skipping a year in between due to my being pregnant with H.G.).  Thanks to a good friend, I have quite a few pictures, but here are just a couple.  

Of course, there were lots of hats, even more Lilly and lots and lots of bourbon for the Mint Juleps!  With the help of a chef, I was able to cater to about 75 people (children included) and of course, the house was decorated in roses and Derby decor.  You may remember our first party that I blogged about HERE.

H.G. turned seven months in May AND started crawling!  Ack!  She's everywhere and into everything!  Lolly never touched a light socket, never opened a drawer, never played with the toilet paper roll.  In fact, our house was barely even baby proofed with Lolly!  With H.G., there are fences everywhere, door locks, doors shut, socket covers and mommy, daddy and Lolly running constantly to keep H.G. out of her latest interest (which is in everything BUT her toys!)  

She's lucky she's so darn cute! ;-)

Her serious look for when she's checking something out.  A lot of people are intimidated by this look but one quick smile and you've got her wrapped around your finger.

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

April...

Wow, when Ashleigh complained at me that I hadn't blogged in a while (along with a few other long time blogger friends - Laura namely ;), and the family), I didn't realize it had been that long!  A lot has happened in three months.  So, for the benefit of catching up (for myself, for the family and for the girls and their future diary), here goes three or four posts to get current. 

Honestly, a whole lot didn't happen in the second half of April, so today, I'll just post a few, not many, of the Easter pictures. 

You may remember H.G.'s Easter poof.  Well, it managed to stay on her head for the service and our family pic, but by the time we started the Easter egg hunt, she was done, so this is the only close up picture I have!

 

Family picture: Are you absolutely shocked that no one wore Lilly?  I was shocked.  I can't believe I wore cream (and let me tell you, it was a slight disaster that morning).  It all turned out fine and I don't feel like I am too washed out with my pale skin, but ask Husband.....he'll confirm that there might have been a slight freak out that morning!  Haha!

Hailey is wearing her silk organza dress gifted from a client of mine.  It was SO pretty and she received so many compliments.  I had it cleaned and preserved for her little girls (hopefully...wink, wink).

Rarely due I get pictures with the girls and Husband.  

 Found one! (She insisted on wearing her Valentine's Day shirt....at this age, you just say "whatever.")  At least she matches!  These days it can be touch-and-go when it comes to outfits!  Though I do admit that she has an impeccable sense of style and while I wouldn't necessarily choose to wear certain things together, she manages to pull it off quite well.  :-)

 H.G.'s after Easter service dress.  Doesn't she look like a decorated Easter egg? 

More to come!

 Happy Monday Y'all!

Weekend Fun!

This weekend, I skipped out of the house Saturday morning for a pedicure and manicure....BY MYSELF!  Husband kept saying, "Why don't you take Lolly, a mother-daughter date?"  I promptly responded that I hadn't done anything by myself without the kids in 6 months and therefore, I'm going ALONE.  :-)  Husband texted me this picture while I was out.  Look at H.G. compared to Lolly.  They couldn't be more different when it comes to their weight situation! 

Later Saturday afternoon, I took both girls to a Frozen birthday party (leaving Husband alone....thus my alone time earlier that morning).  Check out the Frozen Elsa wigs that my friend Kristie made!  She's SO crafty!  This is the same girl that makes all the flip flops at My Little Florida Girl.

We spent that entire evening outdoors.  It was gorgeous and all our neighbors were out enjoying the weather.  H.G. LOVES the wind in her face. 

This was from Friday.  Husband told me earlier that day that my dress looked like something was "up with it."  I ignored him and rushed out the door only to find at about 3:00 pm, that I'd been wearing the dress BACKWARDS all day long.

Just a sweet picture of H.G.  I took this for my friend, Rachel who gave me this dress. It belonged to her now 5 year old daughter though I'm pretty sure she didn't wear it until she was a year old.  I barely got it on H.G.!  

And our Sunday best.  :-)  I love this sweet smile!  I wish you could hear her laugh.  A baby's laugh is truly the most heartwarming thing ever!  Hearing both the girls laugh together, even better.

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

I like big bows, I cannot lie.

This is H.G.'s cream colored Easter headpiece.  It looks HUGE due to the angle of the picture, but it's really not *THAT* big.  Okay, it's pretty big.

I can't wait to share her dress!  It is this gorgeous 100% organza silk dress from a client of mine (the dress cost a fortune...I could see the price.  I hope she doesn't spit up all over it!)  Anyways, Easter is the perfect time to wear it as it's so fancy, I'm not sure when else she'll have the chance.  So I'm happy she's big enough to wear it.  

But, judging from this picture. The big fluff might take away from the dress!  Ha!

Happy Friday Y'all!

A Very Merry Un-Birthday.....

...to our sweet H.G.!  

It was her 6 month birthday yesterday!  I could say the same thing everyone says: "Where did the time go?"  But I'll stick to the obvious; that our lives are so unbelievably blessed by both our girls.  Sure, there are really rough times (like at 4:00 am when H.G. just will not sleep and the times when Lolly whines incessantly) but when the morning comes and H.G. looks at me with those HUGE blue eyes with that big grin and at the times when both the girls are sitting and laughing and playing, I'm reminded of how truly blessed we are.  Lolly and H.G. have made our family complete.  

Okay, enough fluff.  Y'all know how I feel.  

I'm FINALLY getting the settings on our fancy-dancy camera set to the right positions to capture such sweet moments as this.  Husband actually said "good picture" last night without a "but."  That's HUGE when it comes to picture taking for me as he's kind of a whiz at photo capturing.

I made the little onesie on my embroidery machine.  WAY cheaper than buying the outfit on Etsy for $50+.  The bow was made by a friend and the tutu is MudPie from Zulily for around $8.  I have three more onesies in the pack that I purchased to make this one, so I have some other cute appliques up my sleeve.  :-)

Happy Wednesday Y'all!

Art Show, H.G. Milestones and Go Cats!

Good morning!  Well, there I was, all on a roll and keeping up with the blog and then spring break happened and illness happened.  Well, you know the story.  Anyways, we are back to our regular daily programming and therefore, back to blogging!  :-)

One quick happy.  I was driving through to McDonald's to get coffee this morning and while waiting, the nice young man (about 25 or so) started talking to me in this dialogue:

Him:  "Did you hear about our pizza?

Me:  (quite skeptically) "No."

Him:  "Ah, you didn't want to hear it anyways, it's too cheesy?"

Bada Dum (ricochet)

Him:  "What about the money?"

Me:  (now smiling).  "No."

Him:  "No, that's probably wouldn't make any cents."

Bada Dum (ricochet)

Him:  "By the way, you look nice today.  The blue and white for Kentucky?"

Me:  "You better believe it."

Him:  "Here's you coffee.  Go Cats!"

Now....what if we were always greeted with that kind of attitude?  I couldn't' stop smiling all morning.  That type of attitude is certainly infectious!

______________________________________________________________

Moving on....

Lolly had her very first art show this past weekend.  I received a phone call from her art teacher earlier in the week wanting to place Lolly's work on display at a local art show.  Needless to say, Husband and I were both elated and somewhat befuddled!  Lolly has always enjoyed drawing and now that we think about it, she's been more into this creative art the past few weeks then ever before.  According to her art teacher, Lolly has a wonderful interest in this art form and would like to continue encouraging her down this road.  How exciting!

So Saturday night, I secured a babysitter for H.G. and the three of us attended her art show and then went out to dinner to celebrate, complete with a Shirley Temple and dessert.  Lolly was slightly sad at first as she greatly missed H.G.  Looking back, I think Lolly would have rather her been there to help celebrate.  I missed the boat on that one.  I thought for sure Lolly would enjoy some alone time with Mommy and Daddy.  I was wrong but we still had a great time out.

We made it home from the art show just in time for the big UK game against Wisconsin.  Clearly, Lolly didn't make it through the entire game.  In fact, she didn't even make it to game time!  Speaking of UK (and I'll quote Julius Randle) "Did you see that?"

BIG NEWS on the H.G. side of things.  She is now sitting independently!  Wow, a whole new world just opened up for her (and for mommy who can now walk away for longer than 30 seconds without a child in tears due to back-laying-boredom!)

Poor thing also had a cold over spring break and she just couldn't shake the cough.  It was keeping her up all night long and she was wheezing.  So I took her to the doctor.  Bless her little heart, she was having asthma type issues (just like Lolly had as a baby and I had all throughout my childhood) and she had a little fluid (though not infection) behind her ears.  We treated her all weekend and she is finally on the mend!  Yay!

I'm so proud of Lolly's writing.  She's really improved the past couple of months.  In fact, she's started keeping a little journal where she's been writing a lot of poetry (yes, poetry with rhymes, pentameter etc.)  Husband and I had been concerned she wasn't progressing in this skill as well as the other kids in her class, so she's been getting tutored twice a week.  She's doing great now!  We had to be kindly reminded that Lolly is one of the youngest by 9 months in all the first graders and while she is exactly where she needs to be, writing is a skill that tends to come with age as well as teaching.  There are a few other young students with whom I'm friends with their parents and they are having the same issue.  So we're not behind by any means.  She's ahead in her skills for math (actually, quite far ahead) and she's ahead in reading, so all is well on the first grade front!  Yes...we're helicopter parents and no, we'll never stop hovering.  Ask us how this is going when Lolly turns 16!

Anyways, I love this surprisingly accurate story.  And we particularly love that Clem has a blue tear due to being bit by the horses.  I do love that she spelled "there" - "thar."  I mean we are from "up thar in Kentucky!"  :-)

"gelis" means jealous.

And last but not least.  It's game day so I am dressed appropriately! Go CATS!!