Look Who Learned to Swing!

Look who learned to swing! In the course of a week, Ellabee got her first haircut and learned to swing - seriously, pumping and gliding. Pretty soon, Miss Anne Bailey will be ready for the infant swing. SOOO ready for her to start sitting up! Who would have thought five years ago that I'd be excited about a three year old learning to swing BUT it's the highlight of our week! Well, except for the tumble - with pumping and gliding you've got to have some falling. Disclaimer: No Children were harmed in the making of this blog.

Our First Big Girl Haircut

We broke down Saturday and took Ellabee to get her first big girl haircut! I will have to admit that I shed a few tears as they cut those curls off, but it is adorable. She looks like a little girl and not a baby anymore - where did my baby go?

Anne Bailey at Five Months

Some pictures of the little princess at five months:

Swimming, Swimming - In the Swimming Hole

At first I was a little concerned with how our summer swimming and Bay fun was going to happen - especially since each time I got into the pool with Ellabee, she attached herself to my waist, yelling that she was "swimwin" but she was really cutting my circulation off. But once we got this child in the water, she's become quite the little fish! She even jumped off the side of the pool into Miss Sarah's arms yesterday!

Our summer swimming at the pool (or the OKP - in Ellabee-ese) and the Bay is looking promising!

It's all Good until She likes my Toy!

So, Anne Bailey is laying on her pallatte on the floor with her few toys. Ellabee enters the scene and notices a toy piano that Ellabee did love as a baby, but that I've explained is now Anne Bailey's toy... you can imagine how that flew over. Here are some shots before I had to intervene... I kept thinking about that Rick Bragg novel All Over But the Shoutin'. Yep, that's my life.

No, Mommy, I don't think I WILL share this little toy piano with my sister.

Yep, I remember now that I like this toy and I am going to take it from my baby sister and store it away in the playroom so she can't find it.

Birthday Fun for John

I have figured out the best way to throw a party with John Stone in the house - don't tell him about it! For his 32nd Birthday, I just let him come home from work to a birthday party with some close friends. He was amply freaked out for the first thirty minutes but a couple margaritas later, all was well and he went on to have a good time! The real fun began when the sombreros came out!

The weird rash, an explanation

I realized that I didn't explain about the weird rash in the title of my last blog. Several opinions (including two doctor's) later, we think it's poison ivy, which is odd because I use to be very allergic to poison ivy and then I got it really bad in high school and since I haven't had it... but it's back... or is it. Not really sure what it is, but I've bought out the anti-itch section at Walgreens.

On a different note - a day of joy. My good friend Tori (best friend from high school and college roomate) had her little girl today! Anna Katherine Long was born this morning at 34 weeks. She weighs 5 lbs 7 ozs and is doing SO GREAT! Welcome precious one - we've prayed for you so!

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.

1 Samuel 1:27

Dance Recitals, Swim Lessons and Weird Rashes

The dance recital happened last Friday. It was a hoot! We were good parents in that we took the camcorder so that we can have it for all posterity. If only I could figure out how to now transfer it to DVD... but never fear - I will... probably in a few years! Ellabee was definately star of the show and did very well. She is a prima ballerina and is SO into it.

The dancing queen with her flowers. She was a flower fairy!

Ellabee and our friend Grayson. He brought all the little girls in her class a daisy.

Miss Ashley is our teacher.

Maw Maw and Anne Bailey came to watch.

We start swim lessons tomorrow morning. It's in the pool outside and it's been in the 60s in the mornings here. I'm afraid she's going to freeze, but here it is anyway. We'll be there with swim suits on and ready to jump in!

We had the huge Cinco de Mayo engagement party here Saturday night. The house hasn't looked better! I've added some pictures from that too. enjoy!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo, Amigos!

This kid's darn cute

So, I know you aren't supposed to say outloud that your kids are cute. I do have to say though that this kid, Anne Bailey, is pretty darn cute. Ellabee is one of those too... but Anne Bailey - wow.

The famed dance recital is tonight. John just called to say he has picked up some flowers for the dancing queen. I have the camcorder powered up and will have the camera ready for some candid shots. We had the practice this morning and there are stuffed flowers involved... waving them wildly over their heads... can't wait. I'll have to post some shots after the fact. Here are a couple from Anne Bailey. She and Fennigan had a moment on the floor earlier and then she showed off her latest trick - she takes the skirt of her dress and stuffs it all in her face. How funny