Concert on the Square, Beth's Wedding - FEATURING MISS ALANA THOMPSON

We had a wonderful weekend that all started Friday night when we attended the concert on the Marietta square. The last Friday of each of the summer months the Marietta square puts on a big concert. It is so much fun!! People bring their camping chairs, food, etc. and just hang out, dance, and have a good time. Gigi (Nancy Dorsey) had a table close to the front so Dave, Ella Kate, and I joined her, LeLe, and Papa John to listen to some great music. Ella Kate was up well past her bedtime but had a great time.

On Saturday we drove to B'ham with one of my good friends and college roommates, Whitney. Whitney kept Ella Kate entertained on the car ride to B'ham. Once we got to B'ham we met Melissa, Cameron, and Alana for lunch at the Summit. Cameron and Ella Kate were so cute playing and checking each other out.

Saturday night was Beth's wedding!! It was awesome!!! Dave and Ella Kate stayed back at my Mom's house and had a little Daddy Daughter date night so that I could go act silly with all of my old college friends at the wedding. Dave says that when I am around all of my Auburn girls at a wedding reception we act like 13 year old girls at a Jonas Brothers concert. :) It is true but we do have fun!!! Beth's wedding was all that it should have been - especially when she closed the night with her Oscar speech and Shout Out's to Sterling Apt's 102 and 103!!!

On Sunday we went to church in Vestavia and ate lunch with Uncle Don, Aunt Nancy, and Logan! What a fun weekend!!

Ella Kate and Logan checking each other out at lunch.

Ella Kate playing with her walker at Nana's house.

My old Auburn college roommates (Whitney, Melissa, Cameron, Trina, Ella Kate, and Alana)

This was the first time Alana has met Ella Kate since she now lives in Tampa!! Ella Kate just loved meeting her special Aunt Alana.

When we picked Whitney up we started laughing as we basically had on the exact same dress. I guess great minds think alike :) We decided it was picture worthy.

Yes - that is Mr. David Hunter on stage with the band at the concert on the Marietta Square.

First Trip to the Georgia Aquarium

Today we met Ruth and little Harris for lunch at Chick-fil-A and then headed to the Georgia Aquarium. We had such a great time and I think Ella Kate and Harris loved it to. Ella Kate did a lot of pointing :)

Ella Kate playing with her new Mermaid book that we bought in the Aquarium gift shop. She also finally suceeded in pulling her bow out of her hair :)

Ella Kate loved the Beluga whales.

Ella Kate, Ruth, and Harris checking out one of the large tanks at the aquarium.

Harris and Ella Kate looking at the fish.

She was pointing at all of the fish.

Ella Kate playing in her room before we left for lunch and the Aquarium. Yes - we had to change outfits after lunch b/c I think she got more on her than actually went in her mouth.

Being sweet and playing with her favorite chair that Nana bought her for Christmas.

On her tip toes practicing her ballet skills.

Swim Lesson #2

This afternoon Ella Kate had her second swimming lesson. It was a fun mommy daughter afternoon activity. The two of us drove to East Cobb where she takes lessons and had lunch just the two of us at Moe's. She did great at Moe's and ate a big lunch including most of the chicken from my quesadilla.
Ella Kate loves loves loves her swimming lessons and her teacher Ms. Mandy. She had a blast today. She normally holds onto me with a pretty tight grip but today she tried several times to swim away from me. I can't even count how many times she slid down the slide at least 7-8. She loved it. Today we learned how to hold onto the side with both hands. Ella Kate mastered the skill. The big challenge is to blow bubbles in the water. We are still working on it.
Below are some pics I took before we left for swim class.

Ella Kate and her multiple "Walkers

Ella Kate is getting closer and closer to walking on her own. Her new trick is using any and everything as her walker. She has a little stroller walker that she pushes but she often pushes it a little to hard and she can't quite keep up with it. She prefers to use chairs as her walkers. While I was doing dishes today she "walked" her own high chair, kitchen chairs, and bar stools half way across the room. It is hilarious. I would have thought they would all be to heavy but she can push and walk them just about where ever she wants to go. I have got to get it on video. The best was when I looked over and she was scooting her high chair from the kitchen towards the den :) Pretty cute to see this little girl pushing this huge high chair.

Below are some pictures I took of Ella Kate when we got home from church this evening. She was being quite mischievous before bath and bedtime. I thought it was pretty cute :)

Miss Nosey peeping into a kitchen cabinet.

Taking a closer looksy...

Pulling out the pots and pans.

Scooting away blaming it all on JoJo.

Friday morning playdate at Mrs. Jill's + randomn pics

This morning we went over to Jill Tidwell's house for our regular Friday morning playdate. Jill has two little boys, Bennet and Beau. They were both so cute and Ella Kate especially liked Bennet. He is two and a half and introduced Ella Kate to cars, motorcycles, and firetrucks. Ella Kate was immediately interested. Good bye baby dolls hello toy cars. Mollie and Harry and Brittany, Pres, and Georgia also joined us at Jill's. It was so fun to see them all play together. It is funny how kids have no concept of personal space. If one of them saw a toy they were interested in they would just crawl over any thing or child in their way. Unfortunately my child, Ella Kate, was particularly guilty of this. Ella Kate has finally gotten her bye bye wave down and does it pretty much constantly. She and Harry enjoyed waving at each other. It was also funny to watch the little ones eat snacks. Jill, Mollie, and me had all brought little snack bags with cheerios, cheetos, etc. for our little ones to munch on. When we got out the snack bags the kids came running. They did not care who their mom's were - whomever had the best looking food the closest was where they were going. So so funny. It is so amazing to watch Ella Kate transition from the baby stage to a little toddler.
Ella Kate is exhausted from playing and down for a nap at the moment. I probaly need to take a quick break to as we have another playdate this afternoon. It is really tough keeping up with Ella Kate's schedule. :) Dave makes fun of me with all of my playdates but I have just as much fun as Ella Kate does and I am so thankful to have so many great friends with kids close to Ella Kate's age. I realize that I am very lucky to be able to work part-time and be able to spend so much time with my sweet sweet little girl. I thank my lucky stars everyday!!!

I did not get any pics at playdate today but these are a couple of shots of Ella Kate holding my keys before we left for playdate. She was waving bye bye at me - her new favorite activity.

This is a picture of her this past Monday before we left for swim class. She looked so cute in her little bathing suit and cover up. Miss Nosey Rosey was about to pull her towel, etc out of her swim bag.
Getting ready to go to swim class.

Playdate with Cayden

This afternoon Carrie Beth and her little boy Cayden came over for lunch and a playdate. Sweet Carrie Beth made a Quiche, crousant and sausage rolls, and even brouht over some fruit for lunch. I was so impressed. She is such a great cook and as most of you know cooking is just not my forte. Thanks Carrie Beth!!! Ella Kate and Cayden had a great time and it was nice to catch up with Carrie Beth. She has just started her own company www.sugarbritchesdesign.com. She designs and prints stationary, invitations, etc. She is so talented and I can't wait to see what she comes up with for Ella Kate's first birthday party invites. Check out her website when you have a chance. Enjoy the pics.

Ella Kate showing Cayden her new cabbage patch kid doll that Nana got her for Easter.

Ella Kate, Cayden, and Carrie Beth. Cayden was watching Baby Einstein.

Below are pics from Easter that I had meant to upload earlier. These are some great pics of Ella Kate with her LeLe and Papa John.

Photo Session & First Swimming Lesson

I have been a little picture crazy lately.... Leigh and I decided to have a photo session with Ella Kate and Josh while Josh is in town from Texas. Leigh decorated her sun porch with black felt and was in charging of entertaining the babies to get smiles. My job was to snap the pics as quick as I could in hopes of getting some good shots. I thought they turned out great!! Enjoy the pics.

Ella Kate also had her very first swimming lesson this afternoon. We had a little Mommy / Daughter afternoon and the two of us went out to lunch before her swimming lesson at Mellow Mushroom. She did so good at her swimming lesson and absolutely loved the water. She kicked her little feet so fast and even blew a bubble or two. I could not believe how brave she was. The teacher asked me if I thought she would slide down the baby slide into the pool and I said that I was not sure but lets try. Ella Kate let Ms. Mandy take her out of my arms in the pool, she walked holding Ms. Mandy's hand to the slide and slid right to me with a big slide on her face. I am so glad I enrolled her in the lessons - her and I both had a great time.