Dora the Explorer

Handley has recently become obsessed with DORA the EXPLORER.  She asks to watch it EVERYDAY and would probably watch it all day long if I let her.  I found out that Dora Live was coming to the Fox Theater in Atlanta this past weekend and was able to get tickets for the show.  Handley wasn't really sure what to expect, but she knew this was going to be a special treat just for her and she was so excited.  Gigi and Papa came over to watch Harper and we were off.  

All dressed up and ready to go!

Gigi and Handley.  Before we left Gigi gave Handley a little Dora doll and told her all about the special things that she would get to see.  Gigi loves going to see shows at the Fox and was so excited for Handley's first trip there. 

All her excitement caused her to fall asleep on the way there!  Notice I've graduated her to the BIG bow...love it! 

Daddy and Handley outside the theater

I love this picture because it shows just how in awe Handley was of the theater.  If you've never been there, it is pretty amazing.  It looks like a castle on the inside and is just gorgeous.  Also, the ceiling looks like the night sky with stars that twinkle.  What a special treat for a little girl!

Here we are sneaking a picture up by the stage before the show began.  

After looking around we got some popcorn (which Handley just loved) and headed to our seats to wait for the show to begin.  Handley had a lot of fun dancing during the show and taking it all in.  She definitely took advantage of little Harper not being there with us and was stuck to me like glue.  I'm really happy we were able to do this special outing with her and hope to plan some more fun things like this in the future. 

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin...

My little girl is ROLLING!!!  Harper had rolled from her tummy to back a few times about a month ago, but I don't think it was intentional.  Today she started rolling in both directions and she did it all day long.  You know how they say that babies don't sleep well when they are about to do a new skill (rolling, sitting up, pulling up, walking, etc.)?  Well that is definitely true for us.  Harper has been sleeping about 11-12 hours at night, but last night she was up twice.  It made since today when she started rolling all around.  

Here's a video of her new trick. :-) Sorry my film making skills aren't too great in this clip.  

A week at the lake

We just got home from spending a week at our lake house.  Some of our great friends from Orlando came up for the week. They brought their boat along with them so we had 2 boats, 6 adults, 5 kids (and one on the way), 2 dogs, and TONS of fun all week long.  

Handley had a blast being up there with her friends.  As soon as she woke up each morning she would start asking about her friends and make a bee-line for the living room to see who was there to play.  Harper also enjoyed the week.  There was another baby with us and I swear she knew they had something in common.  As soon as I would sit them next to one another she would start "talking" and reaching out for her.  So sweet. 

Some of my favorite memories from the week were:

• eating yummy meals (thanks everyone for cooking all week...I don't think I lifted a finger in the kitchen)
• watching the girls have a real tea party together
• lots of princess dress-up
• Sydney and Duke (the dogs) trying their hardest to go with us so they could swim
• lots of girl talk
• the guys and their love of wake-boarding/wake-surfing (again and again and again)
• learning to play poker (I had great beginners luck)
• Wii bowling and the guys' obsession with Mario Cart
• watching funny movies
• lots of time swimming, tubing, riding around on the boat
• days spent at the waterfall beach
• lunch at the Tiki Hut on our last day

We are already looking forward to next year!

Between the 3 cameras we took what seems like a million great pictures so here are some of my favorites.  

Maddy, Marlee and Handley on the beach

Robby surfing 

The girls watching their daddies be crazy

All the girls

Our boat

My two precious girls!

Harper enjoying a boat ride

Marlee and Handey riding the tube with their daddies

Family shot

On top of the waterfall

Baby girls!

Sisters

All the kids

Corey wake-boarding

Yes, that is Handley sitting on the potty on the back of the boat. :-)

Ready for lunch

We even found a tractor!

Throwing the ball for Sydney

Dress up time

All three guys jumping off the rock

Happy Birthday Cameron

My youngest brother, Cameron, turned 25 on August 5th so we had him and Trey over for a birthday dinner.  Handley is obsessed with all things birthday (singing happy birthday, cake, blowing out the candles, etc.).  When I told her it was Cameron's birthday and that he'd be coming over for dinner she started asking about the cake and if "Cameron blow out his candles?"  She helped me pick out the cake and icing at the store and make his cake.  Sure enough, she loved singing and helping him blow out the candles.  

Singing

Harper, Trey and Handley

The girls with Uncle Cameron and Uncle Trey (notice Handley is trying to "hold" Harper...that was the only way we could get her to pose for the picture)

Harper - 4 months

I am loving this age so much.  I remember when Handley was little I would say, "this is my favorite age" and then sure enough, another month would pass and I'd say it again.  It just gets better and better.  

At 4 months Harper:

• has become a thumb sucker!  She still takes her paci in the carseat and stroller, but at at night and for naps in her crib she will knock the paci right out and fall asleep sucking her thumb. 
• is STTN (sleeping through the night) and sleeps about 10-11 hours although one night on vacation this past week she slept 13 hours!!! 
• sleeps completely unswaddled (not sure why I was so worried to take her out of the swaddle...I think it is just what she needed to sleep better at night). 
• Drools like crazy and needs a bib on unless I feel like changing her outfit 3-4 times a day.  I hate covering up her cute outfits, but I know this phase will pass soon. 
• loves to stand up.
• takes 3 naps a day (although I think she may be ready to go down to two soon) and sometimes needs a short little cat-nap right around dinner time.
• thinks she is so big and loves watching Handley and her friends play
• is very social, will smile and flirt with anyone
• has a great giggle and laugh
• is beginning to grasp toys well and brings them to her mouth
• still has bright blue eyes (yea!!!) and curly hair that doesn't seem to be falling out at all!!!

Blog Book???

Anyone out there know if there is way to turn my blog entries into a book?  I feel like there has just got to be a way to do this (besides just printing the pages and putting them in a notebook).  I'd love to have a book (similar to a photo book) with all my stories, pictures, and captions so that I can hold onto it for years from now and keep it for Handley and Harper as they get older.  Hopefully someone reading this will know how to do it and share the info with me!   Thanks. :-)

Girls Trip to Wilmington

You may have been wondering what we've been up to?  Last week I took Handley and Harper to Wilmington to visit my parents for 5 days while Robby was gone on my brother's bachelor party.  I flew with both of them BY MYSELF!  We flew out at the same time as Robby so he was able to help get us through security, thank goodness.  I love how TSA expects me to hold my infant, take my toddler's shoes off, fold up my gigantic double stroller and put it though the x-ray machine (um, really? - there is NO way it is going to fit through there) and also convince Handley to pass her beloved Be-Be (blankie) and Lambie through the x-ray machine.  Yes, reinforcements were definitely needed for that escapade. 

Our flight there was quite eventful...after sending Robby off on his plane our flight was delayed an hour, I lost our boarding passes (which I thought would be a bigger deal than it was...they just printed me a new one), and once we were in the air and about ready to land in NC the pilot announced we'd have to circle for 45 mins. because Air Force One was at the airport and no planes were allowed to land or take off!  Despite all that I had several people comment on how well behaved my kids were.  That made me feel good. :-)  On the way there and the flight back home Handley loved saying, "apple juice, please" when they flight attendants asked us if we would like a beverage.  

Here the are, on Harper's first flight!

Our trip was really relaxing.  I took a nap every afternoon (something I never do at home because of my never-ending to-do list). Handley loves for Mimi to do everything for her, which was fine with me because it meant I got a break.  We also got to visit with my grandparents and other family members while we were there.  It was so much fun and I'm just happy to know I can do it again! 

I took a ton of picture while we were there...enjoy!

Handley had fun playing in the baby pool in the backyard with the dogs. 

One time she was backing up and fell in.  She thought that was hilarious and kept doing it over and over again. 

Harper in her favorite position...STANDING.  The girl will not let you sit her down.  She just straightens her legs and demands to stand.  

Because she loves to stand so much, I knew she'd like the exersaucser my mom got for her off Criag's List.  I don't know why I hadn't thought to pull ours out of the basement, but did it as soon as we got home.  Here she is for the first time in it, trying to figure it out.   

And here she is on the second day...LOVING every STANDING second in it.  She thinks she is so big :-)

Harper with Bimmie (my grandfather)

Me, Handley and Memaw S. (my grandmother)

Dadaw and Handley reading a magazine

One night we were there my mom, Memaw M. and Handley started shelling some October Beans.  Handley was fascinated by the whole process and sat there for an HOUR helping them shell the beans to freeze.  I loved watching them because it brought back memories of sitting on Memaw and Papaw's screen porch and helping them shell beans when I was a little girl. 

And my absolute FAVORITE picture from our trip...my little Ducky. Is that not the cutest cover-up you've ever seen?