fun times

Ya gotta love Baxter. She's so cool she just has one name. (OK, not really, but as long as we've all been friends that's all we've ever called her).

Yesterday was her birthday and a group of us got together to have some drinks! I, of course, was thrilled for a night out. Josh was a sweetie and was on baby duty. Eileen of course was a little rascal for him and would not take her bottle or go to bed peacefully. Little stinker.

It was a fun night spent with those folks who you don't get to see very often.. but when you do, it's like you've never been apart. We're all 'adults' now, most of us have kids and mortgages and giant electric bills.

But last night we were just like a bunch of goofy college kids. I have not laughed that hard in ages. (In fact, we made such a rucous that the table behind us was ready to start a brawl!). All that being said, I was still home by 10pm. So it wasn't really like college!

Happy Birthday Baxter! I am glad we got to celebrate with you.

Over the River and Thru the Woods...

Yep. We did it. Survived our first road trip with Eileen! She did pretty well. She really is a little trooper. We went to Grandpa and Beanie's house in Memphis, about six hours from here. Of course, with her, it took about 7.5.

We left here last Thursday in the late afternoon, thinking that she'd sleep since it was close to bedtime. Her teachers had even kept her awake most of the day to make her tired so she'd sleep. yeah, right. She did not sleep for the first half. Got really mad at about the halfway point (can you blame her? Stuck in a seat facing backwards all that time?!). Luckily it was our regular stopping exit for food. Once she had a little break and a meal, she was in better shape. Josh did ride in the back seat with her for the second half of the trip, and that helped keep her calm.

Of course we hit rain and it was dark and OH! how I hate that. I swear the truckers go 100mph in the rain.

Anyway, we got there safe and sound around 11pm that night. I was worried she'd be all out of whack. But she's really just so laid back! After she hung out with Beanie and Grandpa for about an hour, we all went to bed. She slept in the pack-n-play- and did great! I don't know how we got so lucky in the baby lottery, but I know better than to take it for granted (and that we'll probably pay the price when number two comes along!).

These pictures are from the trip back. Since driving at night clearly didn't buy us any extra sleep, we just did it during the day. It was a GORGEOUS day. So we stopped at one of the 'nice' rest stops (really?! isn't that an oxymoron?) and had a baby picnic. She's a big fan of her portable high chair - she might like it better than her big one!

I fed her some lunch.. which was fine.. except that she was fascinated by the big rigs and motorcycles giong by. Every time one passed, she just stared in amazement. Visions of tattoos and mullets on my little butterball were haunting me.


We stopped again later for mommy and daddy to eat. The poor souls at the Wendy's where we stopped had to deal with one smelly baby. I had no idea she had a dirty diaper until we were already all buckled in to the little restaurant high chair! And of course there was no changing station at this Wendy's. So we ate fast and then went out to the car. And she got a diaper change and an outfit change (never a good sign!) right there in the parking lot. Of course Josh took pictures. We must have something with which to blackmaiul her when she is a teenager.


We finally rolled into town around 6 Sunday night. So most of my first mothers day was spent in the car, but that's OK. It was actually pretty fun.


This last picture is her in one of her new outfits Beanie got her from Gymboree. I admit, I have never actually walked into that store for fear I will bankrupt our family. I was happy to get any of the hand me downs from Mary Kate. And now I know my fears were spot on. Just the most a d o r a b l e outfits you have ever seen. I really think Beanie and I could have bought out the whole store. It's a good thing the one here is not super close to my house. We really would be in trouble.

Anyway- you can't see a great deal of the outfut - but it's too cute. And of course, the shoes stayed on all of 5 minutes. but again, too cute.

The entry below this one has more snippets and pics from the trip!

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Little Rascal

She really is a little devil. All weekend at Grandpa and Beanie's she was just hilarious. I swear, she knows she can do anything and get away with it. For instance..

I was feeding her on Saturday night. If I am not shoveling the food into her mouth fast enough, she growls at me. No joke. So there we were, me shoveling and her growling. Grandpa was standing beside her giggling. Then, she sort of cuts her eyes over at him, grins this little devil grin, turns back to me and continues growling. As if it were an inside joke between she and Grandpa! Of course that sent all of us into hyeterics. And then I fended off a panic attack.. if she's this devious now, what will I do when she's two?!?!?

Anyway... it was a fun time. It was really nice to have a little mini break. I realized I had to relax. I couldn't go clean the bathroom or do laundry or weed the flowerbeds. We really got to play with Eileen a lot. And then Josh and I sat on the back deck with a cocktail, soaking up the sun and reading (I got through two months worth of Real Simple!) while little lady played her heart out with Grandpa and Beanie. We never get a chance to do that sort of thing at home. So even tho it was short, it was really refreshing.

We went out to lunch. Eileen was scared of the waiter at first, and by the end of the meal she was full on flirting. She got to meet Aunt Debbie for the first time. She loved her. Usually, if I am holding Eileen, she does not want to go to anyone else - not even Josh! She saw Aunt Debbie and practically jumped into her arms. It was too cute! So they played and played. Eileen could have cared less if we were around or not! Someday if Aunt Debbie ever moves to Knoxville she can be our nanny! :)

We also went to go see Jo, who is Eileen's great-grandmother. She lives in a cute little assited living facility. She had not yet gotten to meet Eileen, and she had a blast with her. Eileen was the hit in the living area- she was attracting the other residents like crazy. I think Jo was loving getting to show her off. Eileen just sat in Jo's lap and then just played with her toys, oblivious to all the people ooohing and aaahing over her.

I am sure there is more that I am forgetting. Of course I should have blogged this on Sunday night... and I actually started this on Monday night.. and now it is Wednesday afternoon and I am finishing.

:) When I remember any more little stories.. I'll be sure to share!