Farm girl

Mary Elizabeth really likes to play outside! Since I have gotten home from the beach we have walked all the way to Joe and LuLu's each day. She likes to follow Molly and tell Molly what to do! She also fed Doodle a carrot for the first time. Today it was raining and I was trying to explain to M.E. why we couldn't go outside, then I decided, why not? I stripped her to a diaper and off we went. The photo of her with her eyes closed is M.E. headed across the yard in the pouring down rain and she is loving it! She was a happy girl! We walked to Joe and LuLu's the came home and had a popsicle on the porch. She was so funny. When the popsicle broke she wanted me to fix it. Try explaining that one! I had to go to school this afternoon so my friend Catherine hung out with M.E. during naptime, then played with her until I got home. I am lucky to have good friends and a child who doesn't care who gets her snack after nap!

Family Birthdays

The day before I left for the beach M.E. and I went to the Peach Park with my friend Anne. M.E. FINALLY ate ice cream. We made a huge mess because she wanted to do it herself, but it was fun. Anne got to witness a full scale M.E. meltdown as we got in the car to come home. M.E. was great until she had to get in the car seat to ride home and let's just say we both were soaked in sweat and tired before she was strapped in! She is such a funny kid though. Once she was in and got a snack, all was forgiven. We got home in time to change and head to Jim and Nick's BBQ for family birthdays. M.E. was great considering the day we had. My girl is so much fun to hang out with!

Dad and M.E.'s weekend

I went to Sandestin this past weekend with my sister and another friend of ours. This was the first time I had been away from Mary Elizabeth for more than 1 night. I was sad leaving, but once the trip got going I had a great time. I highly recommend that all moms get away once in a while! Mary Elizabeth went to school on Friday and LuLu picked her up afterwards. Mike got M.E. around 6:30 then he was on his own until Sunday afternoon! The two of them had a great time. They went to our usual CXhick-fil-a for breakfast on Sat then made a trip to Publix. I never realized that Mike had not taken M.E. anywhere on his own (other than school or his parent's house). It was good for the two of them to have an adventure! I did leave him the camera, but he didn't take any photos!

Playdate

We at lunch at McDonalds today with a friend of mine from TMS and 2 of her kids. Her husband's aunt and 2 cousins also joined us. There were 5 girls ages 18 months- 10 years old. It was fun to watch M.E. try to interact with the "big" girls. It is strange how nice I now find a playplace that has dining tables! The grownups could talk, eat and still see the kids. My how priorites change after you have kids!

Visit from Peggy and Jessica

Jessica (a cousin) came to visit Aunt Peggy Sunday night and then came swimming with us Monday afternoon. Mary Elizabeth likes to watch and play with big girls!

Sprinkler fun!

Mike was working in the garden Sunday afternoon and M.E. and I were just playing in the yard when I decided to strip her down and try out the sprinkler. She thought it was great! Her daddy showed her how to stop the spray with a cup then let go. It kept her entertained for ages!

Girl's Lunch

Mary Elizabeth and I just got back from lunch at Jim-n-Nick's with Heather and Honor. Heather has been my friend for nearly my whole life! It was cool to eat out with our "girls". Mary Elizabeth sat at the table like a big girl and Honor (who is 2 months old) took in all of the sights. They were both good girls and Heather and I got to chat and catch up.

Beach fun

Mary Elizabeth has this beach thing down. She loves to move sand from one place to another. There are a lot more people today and M.E. really enjoyed watching our neighbors "set up camp."

Beach trip continued

The trip continues to go well. We played at the beach again on Friday afternoon then went to dinner at The Shrimp Basket Fri night. We headed to the beach around 9 am this moring and stayed until noon. Mike and I successfully applied sunscreen to M.E. 3 times and changed a diaper on the beach! I am amazed at how brave my girl is! She will go wandering to visit and explore. She is also not afraid of the ocean at all. She likes to let the water wash over her feet and watch the waves come in. We watched one little boy scream as his daddy tried to take him to the water. I am so lucky to have an easygoing girl (and a good husband)!

Beach Trip

Our trip is off too a good start. We went to the beach last night when we arrived and Mary Elizabeth thought it was great! She loves the sand and likes the ocean (but she is careful to hold hands). Last night M.E. went to bed at 8:30(without a fuss) and slept until 6 this morning. YEA! A 2 bedroom condo is the way to go with a little one. We went to the beach at 8 this morning, spent some time at the pool then headed back to the beach. While we were at the pool I made a picnic lunch, so when we came in at noon M.E. had some milk and went to take a nap. She is currently sleeping soundlly in "her" room.

My little horseback rider

After her nap today Mary Elizabeth wanted to bring the big stuffed horse into the den. She immediately sat on him! After a little snack I got her riding horse out that she got for Christmas but never really rode much. She wanted on the Radio Flyer horse and she is still there! Maybe there will be ponies in our future!

Swimming?

I'd had forgotten about this picture, but I thought it was pretty funny! Mary Elizabeth and I have been to the pool a few times on our own. The biggest problem is getting both of us dry. I have found that I can strip her and change her diaper pretty quick, then I can dry off. The last time she headed for the flower bed in her dry pants before she was dressed. She likes to dig in the dirt!

Girl's weekend and Big Joe's birthday

This is one of Mary Elizabeth's favorite places to sit at LuLu's house. She has on frog sandals that Scottie bought for her. Mary Elizabeth loves these sandals, because you know frogs like to HOP!

Mike was on his annual golf trip to Mississippi this weekend, so it was just me and Mary Elizabeth. We weren't on our own for long though! Scottie and Phillip came to celebrate birthdays and father's day (Phillip was out of town last weekend). We had a great day at the pool Saturday and then ate dinner with everyone. Sunday we went to church and then to eat at the college. Taking M.E. to eat at the college is great. Even if she isn't interested in the buffet, there is always cereal, bananas and milk available. M.E. really wore herself out playing with everyone because she slept almost 3 hours Sunday! Part of our birthday present to Big Joe was a "date" with me and M.E. We picked Joe up at 9 am this morning and took him to storytime at the library, then M.E. went back to play at his house for awhile. We finished the "date" with lunch at McDonald's. It was a really fun morning. I am so glad Pat and Big Joe live here now so they can play with my girl and enjoy her.