Splish Splash

We bought Ella Grace a pool today. Of course, when I shop I don't look at product dimensions. I buy what I think is cute no matter how big or small. I came home with a 7 ft pool complete with slide, waterfall, palm tree, and blow-up dinosaurs. It takes up our entire backyard - or patch of grass is a better way to describe it:)

The water was way too cold so Ella wouldn't get completely in, but she enjoyed splashing her hands in it.

Why she chose to read "Common Stocks, Uncommon Profits" is beyond me

And then moved to another area of the living area to flip through the pages...weird.

Love her little curls

Ella & Her Dada

Spagetti and Bed Head

Quick Ella Update

It's been forever since I updated you on Ella Grace's growth and development - I guess some of you care. Life's moved way too fast for me since January and I've realized that I've been saying for over 12 months now that I will photo book every month of her life - haven't even started! Nor have I even made the slightest marking in her baby book - not even her birth date! Thank God for this blog so I can backtrack!

Anyway, as of 5/20 here are her stats:

Height: 30 in (50th percentile)
Weight: 20 lbs 6.5 oz (20th percentile)
Head circumference: 47 cm (90th percentile)

To sum it up, she has a big brain and is tall and thin:)

As you all know, she's all over the place and more fun than ever! We spend a lot of time outside on the weekends (when it's not raining) walking up and down the neighborhood streets.

- She loves her watermelon raincoat. When she sees it, she grabs it and demands we go outside. She usually gets her way.
- She loves Otis. Literally lays on him - which he is taking better these days.
- Loves fruit and pretty much only fruit. Oh, and string cheese.
- Is OBSESSED with books! I haven't seen anything like it. We literally read books 20-30 times each night.
- Loves water - bath, pool, you name it. We need to start taking her to our gym pool.
- Loves those big puzzles.
- Waves to everyone. Makes me so mad when they don't wave back around here - how rude!
- Is a huge talker now. New words include mama, dada, milk, wawa, "ffff" for dog, "ffff" with her finger over her lips which means "hush" to Otis when he barks, book, ball, Ella, "heeeey" (it's long and drawn out; she sounds very southern which I love), "pppsss" for please, she blows on her food when it's hot and I'm sure there are some others. She signs several things like "more" and "all done" - something school taught her.

Half of these words started coming out of her mouth in the last 2 weeks. Kind of scary to think what she'll be saying in a few months!

1 Day w/ Family Before Heading Back

We got in Saturday afternoon. It took Ella a little while to warm up to us. We went by the wedding shop and saw Emily in her beautiful wedding dress and also got to see Judy and Lisa. Brian's parents, Eric, and Aunt Eileen and Uncle Sergio stopped by to see miss priss before we headed to Gran's for dinner. Oh, and that is the day we also met Josh! It was an action-packed afternoon before we headed back home to pack up and jump on a plane back to the rainy city Sunday morning.

This child has ZERO fear of the pool - it's actually quite scary. She would walk right into the pool with Brian catching her on her way in. Time for swim lessons.

Gran & Pop's backyard - lookin' good!

There's no such thing as a good family picture - ever! She won't look at the camera.

Cal - Emily and Josh's crazy dog

Nothing like a 7 a.m. photo shoot before we headed to the airport.

My parent's pool

Dad's favorite pair (hehe!)

Our FL Trip

Brian and I headed to PCB Florida Sunday night. We pretty much just lied on the beach, ate a lot of seafood, drank a few libations, and enjoyed the local fare. One night we went to Tootsies, a Nashville-based country bar that has discovered many mainstream country music stars. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed a 2:30 a.m. late night Waffle House feast. It had been 6 years since I had been to one of those and it was by far the best meal ever!

N.A. beaches don't get any better than this! So beautiful - water was perfect and there were stingrays everywhere. I hate it that the oil is heading that way.

We'll be back in September...and October! Yay for weddings!

At about 1:30 a.m. Don't judge!

I don't know what these are but a guy was basically sitting in this contraption with a fan looking thing behind him flying over the ocean.

Pretty much the coolest mini margaritas ever. Just throw in your cooler and pour over ice. Perfect!

Congratulations Are In Order

Congrats to Emily and Josh! They're FINALLY engaged, hehe! We met Josh last weekend when we were in Memphis and we really like him. He's funny, very personable, and perfect for Emily - not sure who will get the last word in because they both like to talk A LOT!

Their wedding is set for October 16th at Carillon Beach in Florida. Ella Grace gets to be a Flower Baby. So exciting!

Can't wait for the big day!