Our little girl the socialite!

Playing with Joe in the pool
Taking a walk with Big Joe
With Mom at Ozan
Visiting with Anne at the Peach Park
Hanging out with Lea Ann at Big Joe's birthday party

Last weekend Mike was away at a golf tournament for 3 nights, so Mary Elizabeth and I had a girl's weekend. We had fun being lazy each morning. I brought M.E. into my bed and gave her a bottle then we just hung out and watched TV. Saturday afternoon we went to my friend Heather's barn for a going away party for Heather's mom, sister and stepdad who are moving to North Carolina. Sunday afternoon we went to LuLu and Joe's pool and went swimming. While it was fun to have a girls' weekend it was nice when Mike came home. Being the only grownup in charge is really tiring! M.E. and I have had some fun adventures this week. Pat and Joe came over 4 mornings this week to stay with M.E. while I rode one of my horses. I also used the free time to go to the grocery store one day and mow grass another. It is nice for M.E. to be able to spend time with her great grandparents. Big Joe even took her on a walk up the driveway on Friday. Wednesday we ate lunch with Mike and 2 of his friends from college who live in Pelham now. Thursday we went to new teacher orientation to work the ACoE table. M. E. was the main attraction at the county office! Ladies would come by to visit then go get their co-workers and come back to visit. We saw some ladies 3 and 4 times in the 3 hours we were there. Friday we went with my friend Anne to the Peach Park and Ozan winery. It was a real girl's day out! Friday night was Big Joe's 83rd birthday party. Pat and Big Joe's friends came to LuLu and Joe's for a BBQ dinner and cake. M.E. stayed up too late then passed out when we got home! It is really hard work to be the center of attention! Unfortunately she did not drink enough milk before going to bed, so I would imagine that she will get up at least once in the night and want a bottle.

UPDATE- Mary Elizabeth slept through the night. What a good girl!

Trip to Huntsville

Visiting Scottie and Phillip's house
Checking out the backyard
Eating lunch in Athens
Scottie and Mary Elizabeth at Ann and Jim's house



On Mary Elizabeth's 5 month birthday LuLu and I took her on a road trip to see Scottie in Huntsville. We left around 7:30 in the morning and I really thought Mary Elizabeth would sleep on the trip since it was her usual nap time, but she stayed awake for most of the trip. She was a good traveler, talking to her elephant and monkey and singing, then napping when she needed a break. We stopped in Cullman to fuel up the car and get breakfast at McDonald's. Mary Elizabeth enjoyed getting out of the baby bucket and stretching for a few minutes. We picked Scottie up at Ann and Jim's house in Athens. We enjoyed getting to see their beautiful home on the river. It was also the first time Ann, Jim and Patrick had gotten to meet Mary Elizabeth in person. After a quick visit we headed to Huntsville to see Scottie and Phillip's house that is undergoing renovations. Scottie has made some great choices in flooring and colors. The house will look terrific when it is complete. After touring the house it was back to Athens for lunch at a cute Mexican restaurant for some great food. Mary Elizabeth enjoyed the outdoor breeze and took a quick nap. We took Scottie back to Ann and Jim's then hit the road to try and get LuLu to Vestavia for a hair appointment. Mary ELizabeth finally decided to take a real nap and slept most of the way home. When we dropped LuLu at Joe's office Mary Elizabeth and I went in to visit with everyone at Joe's office. We finally made it home around 4:45. Mary Elizabeth had a hard time going to sleep last night, but that is typical after she has had a busy day. She was still asleep by 9pm though!

Father's Day Weekend

Visiting with Gwen and Dennis
Hanging out in the hotel room
Bathing in the sink!
Dad and his little girl
By the pool with LuLu, Joe and Scottie

We had a busy, but fun weekend. Saturday Mike's half sister Gwen Robins and her husband Dennis came to visit. It was the first time Mary Elizabeth had gotten to meet Gwen and Dennis. We ate lunch at Bonnie and Jerry's then headed to Ross Bridge for the night. It was the first time we had stayed overnight at a hotel with Mary Elizabeth and everything went well. She was good at dinner. The youngest and best behaved in the restaurant actually! We were off the regular schedule and didn't get her to bed until 9 (instead of 8), but other than that everything was good. The hotel sent a pack-n-play for a crib. Mary Elizabeth didn't mind, but I had expected a real crib. Sunday morning we woke up around 6:40 to find Mary Elizabeth wide awake, on her tummy with her sleep swaddle down around her waist. Since we were going straight to church Mary Elizabeth had to have a bath, which in a hotel sink was a two person job! We went to church with LuLu, Joe, Pat and Big Joe. Mary Elizabeth wore her dress from baby dedication and looked like a doll. After that it was off to Mama B and Papa House's for lunch, then to LuLu and Joe's for a little swimming. Peggy, Lea Ann, Jim, Scottie, Pat and Big Joe were all there. Pat and Big Joe gave Mike a beautiful book titled "Say Daddy." I know he and Mary Elizabeth will enjoy it. Needless to say the little girl was worn out. Her good humor wore out during the middle of the afternoon. She and her daddy got some hugging time in while he watched golf. I think it is safe to say that Mike enjoyed his Father's Day.

Fun Saturday

Playing with Mama B
Showing off the new sun hat
Getting dry and ready for a bottle after a long swim

The past few days Mary Elizabeth has been waking up earlier than normal. We start hearing her "talking" around 5:30-5:45. She will just lie in bed and chat with her mobile buddies and try to catch her toes. I wish I woke up in that good of a mood! After her morning nap today her Papa House and Mama B came to visit. The 3 of them hung out in the house while Mike worked in the garden and I mowed grass. After Mike's parents left we went for a late lunch at Moe's and made a quick stop at Publix. Later in the afternoon we went swimming with LuLu and Joe then cooked out at their house. Mary Elizabeth is really starting to enjoy swimming. She kicks her legs and splashes the water. She does get surprised though if she accidentally splashes water in her own face! I took Mary Elizabeth's sleeping blanket with us and put her to bed after swimming, then we ate dinner. She barely even stirred when we brought her home and put her in her own bed! All in all a fun day!

Rolling!

Mary Elizabeth always plays in her rainforest when she gets up in the morning. She has started rolling on to her side while she pulls and plays with toys. This morning she made it all the way over. I know this is just the beginning of a lot more activity!

Busy day

Mary Elizabeth is such a good sport. Today she woke up early and we haven't stopped since! After an early nap we went for a walk at the park, then came home to clean up. It is so hot these days she needs a bath after riding in the stroller because she sweats so much. We went to eat lunch with my friend Anne, then we stopped to see Dad at work. We had hoped Papa House would be there, but we missed him. Then it was off to Target for a little shopping. We found a new bucket hat for Mary Elizabeth, new shorts for mom and got some applesauce to add to Mary Elizabeth's cereal. Once we got home Mary Elizabeth headed to LuLu's to hang out so I could mow some grass. It still amazes me that I can drag her all over everywhere and she still has a smile on her face!

New adventures

Mary Elizabeth continues to enjoy the pool. She has been swimming 2 more times.
She also enjoys taking a break from the pool to play or nap in her tent.
Resting with mom after a swim and a snack.
Modeling a suit that Aunt Peggy gave us.
Swimming with LuLu and mom.

Eating cereal continues to go well. She is swallowing more than she spits out!

Saturday night was our first big adventure. I finally made the leap to let Mary Elizabeth sleep in her own room. She has been ready for a long time, but it made me nervous to sleep in another room. Saturday night was the big night and everything went fine. Mary Elizabeth is such a good sleeper. She generally sleeps from 8 pm until 6 the next morning.

Sunday night was another adventure. Mary Elizabeth had a sleep over at LuLu and Joe's house while Mike and I went to an event in Birmingham and stayed overnight at a hotel. Mike and I had a great time. It had been a long time since we had done anything fun just for us (probably May of 2007). LuLu and Joe also had a great time with their overnight guest. Joe got some alone time with Mary Elizabeth while LuLu went to a bridal shower, then Pat and Big Joe came over for dinner that night. I got home around 10 am Monday after dropping Mike at work. LuLu and Mary Elizabeth were singing songs and having their morning chat. It had been a busy morning so far, Mary Elizabeth had talked to Hobbes, had a bath, and eaten 8 ounces of milk, so they were due for some down time. Once Mary Elizabeth got home with me she ate a little, then went straight to sleep for 2 hours. I think she had worn herself out babysitting LuLu and Joe the night before!