Vacation before our vacation

Before Mike and I headed out west for our vacation, we traveled down 85 South to Atlanta for the weekend. Mike played with my Dad in a golf tournament and while they barely missed making the playoff, they had a great time and Mom and I enjoyed the parties that came along with the tournament. While they didn't make the tournament playoff, it's a tradition that all the players watch the final playoff holes and they called us to come up and watch it. Ella thought this meant it was her turn to play golf and as you can tell, she took right to it!
I hope she takes after her Dad's golf skills and not her Mom's. I did play that one junior golf summer and it wasn't pretty.

However, she hasn't quite learned golf etiquette so while the golfers were putting, we quickly distracted her by playing a movie. Thank goodness for iPhones!

One final swing before heading home.

Ella had so much fun at DeeDee and Papa's house and one of her favorite things was DeeDee's big walk-in closet full of shoes! We all know how much this girl loves shoes and finding a whole new closet full was like finding gold. She would go, close the door and come out with different shoes each time that she had to put on right away! DeeDee definitely has some fun shoes.

We also got to see one of my oldest friends, Amy and meet her little girl Abby for the first time. Amy actually lives in Dallas but just happened to be in Atlanta for a wedding so the timing worked out perfectly. Amy, Abby and her husband came over Sunday afternoon and we got to meet sweet little Abby. She is so adorable and such a good baby, laid back baby. Ella was very jealous whenever I tried to hold Abby. She is definitely jealous and doesn't like it when her Mommy has another baby in her arms. But she did like touching baby Abby's feet and of course seeing Amy and Jason again. Can't wait until Abby gets a little bigger and these two girls can grow up together and play.

I will do another post later this week with tons of pictures and a recap of our trip to San Francisco, Yosemite and Napa but while we were away, Ella got to stay and play with DeeDee and Papa in Atlanta. She was very spoiled and had a great time with them. She loved playing in the little pool they set up on the back deck and also helping Papa water all the plants and flowers. And apparently, watering is more fun when you are a naked noodle!

They were very busy while we were gone. Eating lunch at Chick-fila most days, having dinner with Uncle Court and "FerFer", Great Grammy and Nanny coming to visit, going to see Papa's new office and even a trip to the Georgia Aquarium. DeeDee said at first, she was very tentative but then had fun looking at the fishies but in the end, she just wanted to run around and play with the other kids there. I guess we wait a couple more years and then go back when she is a little bit older.

We missed our little girl so much and couldn't wait to see her when we got home and give her a big hug and kiss. She was also very excited to see us but I know she had a great time with DeeDee and Papa because she has been talking about them and asking for them ever since we got home. Thanks DeeDee and Papa for taking such good care of our little girl and letting us get away for a couple days.

Just a few quick pics

We have the suitcases out, the laundry is being folded and we are getting ready for a big trip. Tomorrow, we are heading down to Atlanta to see DeeDee and Papa. Mike is going to play with my Dad in a golf tournament all weekend and Mom, Ella and I are going to have some bonding time of our own. We are also super excited that we are going to get to see Amy, Jason and meet baby Abby for the first time! On Monday, Mike and I are are flying out to California for a couple days to celebrate our anniversary while Ella and Dakota stay and play in Atlanta with DeeDee and Papa. We are so excited about visiting San Francisco, hiking in Yosemite and wine tasting in Napa! Definitely will have lots of pictures to share from that but before we head out, wanted to post some pictures from the last week. We had a super busy weekend and I actually hardly took any pictures but here are a couple I captured.

On, Sunday, we went to watch Mike play soccer and actually broke our back luck curse and his team won and Mike scored a goal! My parents got Ella a soccer jersey from Barcelona last year when they were on the cruise and this is first time she was worn it and I think she looks pretty darn cute in it but she definitely need a bow in her hair so people know she is a girl!
Ella is all about the pool and water table ever since we have pulled them out a weeks ago. She is also obsessed with swim suits and goes into her room and pulls then out and puts them on over her clothes. I think she is ready for the beach!

This picture was actually from last weekend but I forgot to post it so here you go. All the girls climbed onto the bench themselves.

After the soccer game and a nap on Sunday, we headed over to Addie's 4th birthday party/ice cream party. Ella didn't really care for the ice cream but loved the m&ms and sprinkles! I didn't get any pictures of the birthday girl or eating her ice cream but did manage this one with Ella and Wesley in Wesley's hot pink convertible! It won't be long until they are driving for real, scary thought!

One of Ella's new favorite things to do is to "walk doggie." She immediately grabs Dakota's leash and follows her around the house trying to put it on, we help her and then outside and up the street they go. Ella must listen to us a little too closely because we hear her saying "heel doggie" or "sit doggie" all the time.

Dakota is usually pretty tolerant and lets Ella take charge and walk her up and down the street.

It's official. This girl loves shoes! Putting them on (herself of course), taking them off and repeat. And her favorite is finding other people's shoes and putting them on. She will find her friends shoes while playing at their house and has to try them on or find Mom and Dad's shoes and put those on.

She is like a magnet to shoes, she can hunt them down anywhere and put them on and try walking around in them.

And she doesn't discriminate either. She will wear Mommy's or Daddy's shoes, they are both equally fun.

I think we are in for big trouble as she grows up!

And if you noticed the scratches on her nose and chin in the pictures, yes, that was from a fall she took on Saturday while at our annual neighborhood party. Trying to act like the big kids and sit in a big kids chair and she lost her balance and fell sideways onto the pavement and scratched her nose. I think it has been much worse for Mike and I then her, she doesn't seem to mind and when I open the neosporn, she says "chin chin" because she knows I am about to put it on her chin. I guess these little bumps and bruises come with the territory but it still breaks my heart.

So, off to do more folding and packing. I know we are going to miss our little one like crazy while we are gone but it will be nice to get away also for a couple of days and we know Ella will be spoiled rotten while we are gone.

My Weekend

My weekend was pure bliss! Because I got to have to "me" time but I also got to have family time, the best of both worlds. And also because this little girl and her Daddy spoiled me rotten and I loved every minute of it.

(Ella has officially gone preppy, sporting her first Vineyard Vines dress. They don't make baby sizes so this is the first of many I am sure!)

It started Saturday morning when the guys planned a fun day for the Mom's. Jaime, Tracey and I went shopping, had lunch and then went to the spa. Honestly, what could be better! While we all love being Mom's, it is nice to have some adult time to relax and refresh. While we were away, the Dads were in charge and Mike documented his day with Ella. First, breakfast in the PJs and yogurt all over her face!

Then, they ran some "secret" errands that I didn't find out until the next day and where else would they have lunch? Of course in the trunk of the car eating Chick-fila. Ella is obsessed with playing in our cars lately and so a picnic in the trunk with french fries and extra ketchup is just about heaven for her.

The weather was so amazing this weekend, blue skies and 80 degree temps so we pulled out the water table for the first time this season.

She had so much fun, she even wanted to climb in and go swimming.

After I got home, we all went over to watch the Kentucky Derby with the best buddies. And guess what? Ella got into more water and made a big mess, so we put a towel on her to dry off and she thought Mommy's hat for the Derby hat was pretty cool and wanted to wear it. This girl knows how to accessorize, she found a necklace (shocker) and wore the towel on one shoulder because she knows that's in style these days.

We finally got her changed and we were all ready for the big race. My horse came in 3rd but no big money for us this year. Ella loved watching it though and kept saying "horsey horsey horsey" over and over again. She loves her animals!

I think we might have a musical prodigy on our hands! Tracey just got a new piano and Ella climbed up herself and started playing!

Sunday morning, I had the best morning. Mike made breakfast in bed and not just cereal but an egg white omelet, bagel and fresh fruit. Ella joined in and enjoyed eating her cheerios and the fruit with me in bed. Then, they surprised me with some gifts. I am very lucky girl and got a new Ipod for running and some new Lilly sandals I have been wanting. Daddy and Ella are good at picking up hints I have been dropping! And Ella thought the shoes were pretty neat and had to try them on immediately. Girl has good taste!

After breakfast, we went to watch Daddy's soccer game. Daddy has definitely been trying hard to get his little princess into playing soccer and it seems to be working. She likes watching the games on tv with him and watching him play.

As soon as we arrived, Ella spotted Mike and started yelling, "Hi Daddy" over and over, it was really cute! And once the game was over, she ran up to him on the field.

Unfortunately, they lost the game. I think we might be bad luck because that two weeks in a row we have gone, they have lost. But Ella did get to kick the ball around with him after the game.

After the game, we went to lunch and sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather and then came home and Ella and I both took a nap. Being pampered all weekend is tiring. In the afternoon, we took a walk and just hung out at home which was a perfect ending to a great weekend. Thanks again to Mike for spoiling me and to these two little rascals for making me so happy everyday. (Well, make that one that makes me happy and one that semi makes me happy and semi drives me crazy but I guess since she was my first, I will keep her. For now.)

And a very special Mother's Day to my Mom (DeeDee) and to Mike's Mom (Grandma) for being such amazing Moms and grandmas. We love you both very much and hope you had great weekends also.

Slower Pace

After all the festivities of Easter, we have settled into a slower pace. More hanging out at home, more impromptu play dates in the cul-da-sac and more picnic lunches. Here are some pictures from the last week.
Ella is really into stalling before nap time and bed time these days. She will take one stair at a time and then stop halfway to take a "break" on the landing. Of course, this also happens to be where Dakota was taking a nap in the sun. Ella had to get in some cuddle time and kisses with her dog before going to rest of the way up the stairs.

DeeDee and Great Grandma came up to Charlotte visit last week and of course that meant going shopping. DeeDee found some new sunglasses for Ella! But they were about as expensive as mine so no designer glasses for this girl yet!

We are also having amazing spring/summer weather here over the past week so we have been hitting the parks.

Ella is still very tenative at the park. She would prefer to just step up and down the stairs and walk over the bridges than to go down a scary slide. But she is happy none the less.

On Saturday morning, the girls left the Dads in charge while we went to pick up new flowers and vegetables to plant and have some lunch. The Dads all met up for breakfast and then to the park. I am sure it was a sight to see, 3 Dads and 5 little girls. These two girls taking a break at the park together!

Yesterday, we went to watch Daddy play soccer. She watches soccer on tv a lot with Dad at home so she was pretty entertained to watch in the beginning.

But we had to bring some snacks to keep her attention. Nothing a little granola bar can't handle. Unfortunately, Mike's team lost the game to their big rival but he did score a goal and we got to see that.

We love that it is finally warming up enough to bring out the baby pool and bathing suits are optional when you look this adorable in just a diaper!

Finally, we met Daddy today for a picnic lunch. They have this great park in the middle of Uptown which is perfect for Ella to run around.

Hi Dad, catch me if you can!

We are enjoyed the slower pace of last week and this week looks to be more of the same. We will enjoy it before the summer really picks up and we are nonstop on the go again!