Look who turned ONE!!

Our nephew, Dalton, turned one!! Man, the first year of a baby's life can go by so quickly. I remember the day Olivia and I were racing to the hospital in Memphis to meet this little guy. What a blessing he is and will continue to be. God has blessed our family beyond measure. We love you, baby Dalton!

Zoo Boo

Last week we met Uncle Matt, Aunt Leelee and Wil Franklin at the Jackson Zoo for a night of Halloween fun. They had lots of games, a magician, train and hayrides and carousel rides. Both Olivia and Wil Franklin had a great time despite the abnormal frigid temps. Olivia was a cute little bumble bee and Wil Franklin was Buzz Light year. We are all prepared for some more Halloween fun this week.

Pumpkin Patch

We were so excited to take Olivia to the pumpkin patch for the first time. She is at the age where everything is exciting and new which makes outings like these a lot of fun. They had a hayride, lots of animals to see and pet, pumpkins (of course) and corn in a sand box to play with. She had a ball and we did too watching her face and eyes light up with joy with everything going on around her. Love this girl and our little family outings. 

New Park

Olivia and Wil Franklin-too cute for words

A new park just opened in Flowood and we are soo excited about it. It is very nice and has three different stages of playgrounds for different age children. This summer a sprinkler and dog park will open right next to it. We were so thrilled that today we went twice to play! This will be our spot for the next several years, I am sure.

Isn't this how your supposed to sleep in a big girl bed???

I am guilty for going into Olivia's room a million times a night before I go to bed to check on her. It's just a habit now, I guess. Hays and I love to just stare at her sleeping and whispering about how cute, precious, pretty and adorable our little baby is. We have done that ever since she was a tiny baby, we just can't believe how blessed we are and are so thankful for this "little" one.

She's officially a BIG girl!

Eeeeeeek! Well, we bit the bullet. Ever since we found out we were having baby #2 I have worried about the bed situation. We paid quite a bit for Olivia's crib and really didn't want to buy another one. We really wanted the next baby to be able to use it. So, I asked around to see what other moms did and what kind of advice they would have. I think almost all the moms said to keep her in the crib as long as I could and that I would regret it if I didn't. I decided to just go ahead and do it. I would rather have sleepless nights NOW with one rather than sleepless night later with two.

Tonight is her second night in her big girl bed. It has been a breeze so far (knock on some wood for me). She has fallen right to sleep and did not wake up until 7 this morning. We have our fingers crossed that tonight will be much of the same. It does help that the bed is made for a little princess. :)

I think she is already in love (and maybe trying to go to sleep as well?).

When I put her down for her nap today I started feeling quite overwhelmed with emotion. She truly is growing up way too fast. I just wish I could keep her a sweet little girl forever. If time flies by this fast with the first child, what will it be like with the second?? I am little scared to find out.

2 things that are BIG in our household right now:

Ring around the rosie. You play once, you play a million times!

 Play-Doh. It comes out every morning right after breakfast and even sits and watches Barney with us.

The Fair

My parents were in town this weekend so we decided to take Olivia to the fair for the first time. The fair is a very interesting place but still fun to go and eat, eat  and eat some more. Olivia had a great time at the petting zoo and was able to touch all the animals she only sees in cages at the zoo. We walked through one of the barns and she had the best time mooing at all the cows. It's so much fun to watch a child as they see many things for the first time. She was so amazed by the big animals and didn't know what to think when they actually made a loud noise.

 She rode in the stroller, walked or was carried by one of us while we all ate our way through. She was a good sport especially to be there past her bed time.

Yes, she has a leash on. It's the only way to keep up with this busy body when she refuses to ride in the stroller. 

 I couldn't believe she actually touched some of the animals.

She did get to ride her first fair ride. Hays took her down a slide. She was clinging to him for dear life the entire time. I think Hays enjoyed it more than she did.

Camping-the second go around

Well, it's beautiful weather outside which calls for another camping excursion. We met our good friends, the Gurners, in Lousville, MS for a night of fun. They have a 9 month old little boy, Abe so we were anxious to see how the kids would do while camping. Hays and Chris have been back country camping in Alaska as well as many other places so this is an old hat for them. Although it might be a tad different with 2 kids in tow.

We cooked hot dogs, roasted marshmallows and chatted around the fire. All in all it was a great time and both Olivia and Abe were good little campers.

Hays and his mini me.

LOVE my baby girl!

Dorito, anyone??

They are such good little campers. Although Olivia would not go to bed at her bedtime around 10:00 she was knocked out and slept between me and Hays all night without a peep.

Can we say someone must have slept like a log?? Look at that hair.

It was a great second trip for camping. We definitely have a little camper on our hands. She was so excited the whole time. This makes her daddy (and mommy) smile from ear to ear. Maybe I can talk Hays into a pop up camper now?! Many more trips to come in our future (after baby #2 gets here).

Catching you up on the girl...

An early morning walk in her jammies. Nothing better than a good walk and a good book.

 Why, oh why all the climbing little girl???

Her new favorite toy. Toted that bear ALL over the house.

Pup dog was hungry for some breakfast, I guess.

Ring around the Rosie is a big deal in our house at the moment. If you participate once, you do it another 30 times! This time she was able to talk her daddy and stuffed animals into joining her.

Daddy/Daughter Weekend

While I was in Nashville Olivia and Hays had a little daddy/daughter weekend. I think I have been away from them maybe one night since Olivia was born but definitely not a whole weekend. They seemed at have a blast without the mommy hen around. They spent the night in Oxford one night and went to the Ole Miss game and then just hung out the rest of the weekend.

These are some of the pictures I received in texts throughout the weekend. You'll have to excuse Olivia's hair and wardrobe choices in these pictures. Hays did the best he could. :) I missed them both sooooo much!

She was showing her daddy how she can drink out of the Mt.Dew can by herself. Oh my....



What was she wearing?? And that hair....

Tickling Lilly with the little piggies.

Wil Franklin and Olivia at the Ole Miss game. Gigi must have dressed her and combed her hair.:)

Did you happen to see my man on tv?? Yep, caught in action doing what he does best!

Girls Weekend

Last weekend Hays kept Olivia and I was able to go to Nashville to have a girls weekend with Amanda and Kristin, two dear high school friends. We had SO much fun and it was so relaxing. It was also really nice to hang out with old friends that will be close friends forever no matter how far we live from each other.

We slept late, went out for breakfast, did a little shopping, ate some more and went to a cool painting class. I guess, once again we were having such a good time I only took one picture. It was so much fun and I hate these girls don't live closer.