A little fun with the rocks

Belle's favorite thing to do outside this year was to grab the brick chips under our deck and place them all over the yard, she could have done this for hours! Busy busy bee!

A quick visit from Great Uncle Doug and Aunt Karen

We have been so fortunate this year to see my Uncle and Aunt twice!  They came up for a quick visit to see my parents in the mountains in late August and we headed up to join them for dinner!  Belle LOVES them both and we really appreciate the early birthday presents and Aunt Karen helping Mommy with pinwheels for Belle's birthday party :)

Girl's Beach weekend!

For the past three years we have gone to the beach for a long weekend with my best friend and her mom!  The first year Belle was in my belly, second year she was crawling and this year she was running!  So crazy how fast the time flies!  We had a great time as always with lots laughs and yummy food!  Thanks Leila and Lauren for all sweet gifts and Gams for an awesome trip.  Belle even got to see her first fire truck when something happended to the alarm system!!!

LOVE this little face!

Reading with Grandpa

Belle loves when her Grandpa comes for a slumber party!  Here are the two buddies reading before bed!!!

Birthday wishes for Daddy!

Bri requested homemade vanilla ice cream for his birthday so Belle and I made some yummy homemade ice cream.  Of course Daddy also received lots of kisses from his number one fan:)

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Happy Birthday Mommy and Daddy!

At the end of July, I tured 30 and Bri turned 35 and we decided to get away for the weekend.  Grams watch Ms. Belle and we escaped to Wild Dunes for a relaxing getaway weekend. We enjoyed time on the beach and a few yummy dinners!!

Thank Grams for a little our weekend getaway!

NKOTBSB

As many of you know, I will be the BIG 3-0 this week, it has been making reflect on the last 30 years of my life, really? I'm 30?  Anyways, to relieve a dream that I had in 3rd grade I FINALLY went to go see New Kids on the Block and Back Street Boys with a bunch of my girlfriends on Saturday night.  Reminiscing about my third grade birthday party, which was NKOTB themed including puffy painted t-shirts and every gift associated with the band, it was a dream come true...:)  I really think I am going to start listening to their music again! We all felt like "little" girls all over again. Thanks ladies for a wonderful night and for the fabulous hospitality (Steve and Teresa)

Can't wait for us all to get together again.

Happy Birthday Will!

Belle sweet little friend Will turned three this past week and have everyone over for a fun "car" party and swim. Of course, our water baby loved swimming in their fabulous pool!  Belle even sat on Ms. Jennifer's lap while Will opened his presents, I think she was just at home!  Will loved his new "Cars" play dough kit, thanks for the great tip Amy!

Hilton Head

We enjoyed our second annual beach week at Sea Pines located at Hilton Head Island with the Mcgalliards.  We enjoyed fabulous time on the beach, wonderful food, tons of laughs and best of all memories that will always be remembered.  The girls have grown so much since our last visit:)  The newest addition to the annual beach week was little Eva (The McGalliards' second daughter at only 8 weeks)!  She is so precious and we loved every minute of her!!!

Our little beach baby couldn't get enough of the water or the beach!  Everyday including since we have been home the first thing out of her mouth is "I want to go to the water" or back to the beach! She also took some dance lessons from her bestie Elsa. 

We couldn't have asked for a better week!  Thanks to the McGalliards for another great trip!

Visit with Granny B

On our way down to our fabulous trip to Hilton Head with our awesome friends the Mcgalliards, we stopped by Granny B's for lunch, even though we were super late and only found our way thanks to Bri's parents!  It was a great visit and we were so glad that we stopped by!  Belle was able to feed the fish in the pond, sit with Granny and enjoy lunch.  It was great to get some stretch time out of the car!

Belle LOVED playing with her great-granny!

Sparklers

Once we got home on the 4th we did our own little sparkler show with Belle...she was a little scared but thought they were pretty!  Since Belle still goes to bed early we didn't get to enjoy a full fireworks show, but maybe next year!  We were able to catch some glimpses of the our town's show from our neighborhood which made it feel like the 4th!

Happy 4th of July

We headed over to Bri's parents to celebrate the 4th this year!  All the cousins had a blast swimming and playing.  Belle especially loved showing baby Gabriel the ropes, they were too cute together!  Thanks Ledbetter/Kigers for a great time!

Belle dressing herself

I did what I said I never would do, well there is a lot of things I said I would NEVER do before coming a Mother, but this rates up there as one of the top, not letting my child wear cartoon character clothing...lol...silly I know.  Well I broke down and Belle is in seventh heaven with her "dora" (not even sure how she knows who she is:)), princess and elmo jammies and ONE elmo regular shirt.

Here she is dressing herself in one of her beloved outfits....still needs some work figuring out pants, you think?

Technical difficulties

For some reason, pictures are showing up clearly!  I will work on this and reupdate a few posts :)

Meeting Baby Eva!

Belle and I headed up to Charlotte to meet our friends' newest addition, sweet little Eva!  We are so excited for them and catching up!  Mommies and toddles included! Can't wait for our annual family beach trip in July!

See link from the Mcgalliard blog since I forgot my camera!

http://mcgalliardfamily.blogspot.com/2011/06/megan-and-belle-visit.html

In other great news our dear friends Teresa and Steve are in engaged!!!  Belle and I were able to join them for a yummy lunch to celebrate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Growing Up

I know I post a milestone update about Belle periodically and lately she has really taken off with milestones!

She now, thankfully for Mommy and Daddy as all 4 canine teeth! Belle can sing quite a few children's songs, she loves to prayer at dinner time, can read or memorize :) some of her favorite books, loves to take a shower(who would have ever guessed?), can pick out all primary colors and shapes, knows most cartoon characters by name whether she has seen them on TV or not, can sing her ABCD(four letters not bad), can count to five and lastly is interested in potty training again! 

Physically she is getting taller, esp. her legs and has a quasi-mullet, so yes hair!  She can throw a major temper tandrum as she is starting to become independent but can also be the sweetest little girl we could ever had asked for and is most of the time :)

We love this sweetie pie and can't believe 2 years is right around the corner!