Nap Time... oh please Make it Stay

Oh happy day - Aunt Tori popped in for a visit and we got to visit with Kat, Tori and Mrs. Long - "Dee Dee". Here's a pic from today. Kat is growing so big! She's holding her head up and doing just great! GO KAT!


On other news from the Stone home, Anne Bailey is doing really well with her eating. I think she's getting ready for us to start getting her on a more normal (family) eating plan... I'm eager to see how much she weighs at the doctor. Ellabee is fascinated with when she was a baby, so we pulled her baby book down from the shelf and looked at when she was Anne Bailey's age. AB is right on track with what Ellabee did, but so far ahead on her weight... well, she's healthy for one, but wow. Do you know that Ellabee weighed 16 lbs at one year old? Anne Bailey probably weighs that now. Here's a pic of her eating her finger food! Come on teeth and then we can start into the fun world of true finger food!

The battle of nap time and bed time has became quite a problem in our household. Ellabee has figured out that she can escape the confines of her room and also that she doesn't HAVE to do what we tell her. Well, that's been going on for a while actually. So, she's also gotten sneaky. For instance, I put her down for what we now call "quiet time" in her room with books, her blanks and a kiss... I did hear the door creak but didn't think too much of it since it didn't slam. Well, I head upstairs about 10 minutes ago to switch the laundry and Ellabee is crashed out on the steps, ASLEEP! I didn't think enough to grab the camera before I moved her to the bed, but how funny!

I'm dying that my solitude of the afternoons is about to be gone. I mean, when am I going to work, sew, cook - sit and stare into space and think of nothing? Ugh, I'm bitter. A bitter mama... or "mom" as she has taken to calling me. Yep, Mom and Dad... like a yank!

Weight Watchers Update: 27 lbs and counting!!! I've gone through my closet already and moved out a bunch of my clothes that no longer fit. They are gone OUT of the house, never to return!

I have a problem... well, it's really fetish

I have a fetish (and by the way DO NOT google that word - I need to go pray after what popped up). I really have a problem. It's diaper bags, and strollers, and baby slings. Seriously... I could probably start my own store. I actually do have some of my items out on loan currently. I could do my own consumer reports thing.... but in my defense, when you work at a place that has an influx of people with small children, you are exposed to all the best and worst.

I don't know what it is about these things, but I've decided I do have a problem. I'm not saying that I'm stopping my fetish, but I do realize that there is an addiction here.

Here are just some pictures of what we currently have in our house! Along with my comments:

My newest purchase. This is a great bag and in my defense, I did have a gift certificate (thank you Missy) for my birthday. I do love it though! AND when I don't need a diaper bag anymore, it's a purse. It's not as big as I would have liked, but it makes me not carry so much stuff... which is good - especially now that I don't have to bring pullups too! WOO HOO.

This was bought on sale and served me well. I like that it's so deep... especially when I had two kids in diapers! Lots of storage space!









New Native carrier was great for carrying AB when she was a newborn. Never really mastered the side carry in this, but I hear you can do it.






This bag saved my life at Target on several occasions. At 29 lbs, Ellabee can ride in it on my back and it doesn't hurt. Great way to keep her contained until she starts her escape artist routine - and it's kindof hard to get to her when the child is on you back :)









My newest sling. I love the maya wrap because AB can just ride right along on my hip. It is a little hot in summer but it works and I love it. I think I'm done purchasing slings!

The Bob jogging stroller - with all the running John does - a necessary thing. We love it!







A single stroller that we love. Great for when Ellabee has to walk and for John's car when he takes the girls.







The sit and stand from Baby Trend. Currently on loan to Laurie. Great when you can click in the baby seat and Ellabee can sit on the back.






The latest purchase. This is the Eddie Bauer Tandem stroller. We love it and have convinced others to purchase this too. It's not huge and is easy to manuever.

More Pics from the Bay

Hanging out on the Bay. The "very good swimmer" and mommy...

Love this shot of Ellabee.

Anne Bailey loved the water. We went up to the Cold Hole on Magnolia River (Magnolia Springs - a natural cold spring) because of the heat. The water probably was 65 or 70 degrees, but it was SO refreshing.

The activity on the beach at Sand Island. Amy and Emery cooking, john applying sunscreen and Chancellor skim boarding.

Off to the Bay for a Week!

For a last gallavant of the season, I took the girls down to Fairhope for six days at the Bay. Ellabee was SO excited about being on the water and Anne Bailey actually figured out that she was somewhere other than home on this trip. That resulted in a very sleepless night on the first night for both of us (we bunked together) but after that she seemed to figure out that the Bay house is a safe place to visit. Kind of makes me nervous for our trip to Disney in December.


While we were there, we went to Sand Island with Amy, Emery and the boys for Ellabee's first trip to the beach. She loved it even though it was hotter than HELL there.

Paw Paw was home for some of the time so he and Ellabee had a good time playing with the blocks. AND I am proud to announce that the fear of the water seems to have disappeared. Ellabee actually got in the water unassisted, let go of the ladder and proceeded to swim around in the water... of course she screamed like a banshee for the first five minutes, got out of the water and proclaimed that she is an excellent swimmer.

Paw Paw and Ellabee had a fun time building block towers and then knocking them down.

And in true Bay House experiences, Anne Bailey took her first bath in the sink.

Ellabee found a new friend roaming the sea floor while we played. She's checking out the hermit crab on the back of the boat.

Daddy came down for the weekend and got to go on the maiden voyage to the beach.

Chancellor, Garrison and Ellabee hung out in the water with me. The only little bit missing was AB, who stayed home with Maw Maw to avoid the hot sun and heat heat heat! Thanks Maw Maw!

Meet Emma!

Sweet peanut Emma Elizabeth Hall was born July 31st! Ellabee, Anne Bailey and I went to visit the newest bundle of joy on August 3rd - don't stress, we were all invited by her parents Kristen and Dugald. She's just precious. You can check out their blog for more pictures.

Green and Chocolate Bogies

M&Ms... they are our "treat" that rewards a successful trip to the potty. Ellabee doesn't get to eat much chocolate or sweets for that matter (I mean, the child isn't deprived, but we don't eat it daily... probably a treat once a week or something like that). Anyway, m&ms are our potty treat. After a successful trip to the potty this morning which resulted in poo poo in the potty, I gave Ellabee her treat of 4 or 5 m&ms... which she took gleefully to her play room to enjoy while watching Barney. I went upstairs to put Anne Bailey down for her nap and heard a commotion in the play room.

Ellabee rounds the corner with green and brown bogies coming out of her nose... my curious little girl had shoved a green m&m up her nostril! Honestly, I didn't freak out, but was on the phone with the pediatrician when the m&m melted and out it came. All is well, but I bet she won't be putting anything else up her nose! well, I hope not!

And back in reality...

After a relaxing weekend at the resort, we returned to the reality of babies and tantrums and POTTY TRAINING! We knew that with Ellabee's strong will, it would take just announcing that pullups were no more! So, here we are in the middle of potty training. I find it funny that I have a masters and two undergraduate degrees and yet, my conversation these days involve mostly the words: poo poo, pee pee and potty... She's doing really well with it... knock on wood. She is my child though - she knows that after a successful trip to the bano, she gets to eat three or four m&ms... hey, it works!

I think it's safe to say that Daddy missed his girls while we were gone... and what's under that dress, Ellabee?

BIG GIRL PANTIES!!!!

And the newest little bundle of joy - While we were away, Jackson Capp came. We were able to swing by on the way home from Georgia to meet our new little God Son - he's just SO precious.

Oh and a weight watchers update... 20 lbs and kicking!

Weekend at the Ritz

Isn't it just fun to say that? We spent the weekend bebe free at the Ritz Carlton Reynold's Plantation for the wedding of John's cousin, Emory Mayfield. It was definately a fete. We enjoyed every bit of it. Enjoyed the candied pecans and lemonade at every turn and DEFINATELY enjoyed the spa. We also got to spend some time with Ben and Jen without the girls.

John and his dad with cousin Margaret (who lives in Rome Georgia and is an OBGYN)

Ben and Jen and John and me... hanging out waiting on family pictures with the bride and groom.

On the bus coming back from the rehearsal dinner.

Uncle Ben and Aunt Jen come to Visit

Uncle Ben and Aunt Jen came to Birmingham last week for some time with the girls. We enjoyed getting to know Jen and Anne Bailey loved getting to know her Uncle Ben. We hope they'll come back a lot more often and we're definately looking forward to more time on the west coast.

We had a good time playing wiffle ball in the front yard. Seems the Stone boys married athletes!

Ellabee - too cool for pictures.

Uncle Ben and Anne Bailey hanging out on the porch