I'm joining in with Joy at The Sowell Life for today's Friday FIVE!

1. {Walking} Since her first steps two weeks ago, Millie Janalee has really taken off.  Yesterday, I'd say she walked just as much as she crawled around.  And I love it!  She breathes very hard with such a determined look, and her little wobbly steps are just the cutest ever!

2. {Playdate} Wednesday, Millie Janalee and I stopped by The Square Cupboard to pick up Jamie.  We all went to visit Hillary and her little Ann Phillips for the afternoon.  Actually, Hillary was having Beaufort Bonnet Company and P.B.J by Jolanta trunk shows.  The little ones had so much fun playing and we had such fun watching that we ended up staying until suppertime!  I may or may not have allowed Hillary to start her DG recruitment 2030.  Haha!  Once I got home and found someone to remind me of my Chi O recruitment song, I got busy singing it to Millie Janalee!  We joke, but OH how just the thought of those recruitment days stress me out already!  It does not matter to me if Millie Janalee goes through rush or not.  It doesn't matter if she chooses a different sorority. I just pray she is happy! (But, she sure does look cute wearing all those owls!)

3. {Chatterbox}  Y'all this little girl of mine is quite the chatterbox!  She just talks and talks and talks to herself all day long!  She's not saying too many words, but she is making complete sentences or paragraphs in her own little language.  She has recently started talking into the telephone.  It all began with a remote control.  I held it to her ear and said, "Hello!" And she just got going.  And hasn't stopped since!  She seriously waits until her play phone is up to her ear before she starts her conversation.  I. Love. It!

 
4. {Mississippi Bloggers} If you are a blogger and you live in Mississippi, we want YOU!  I'm the editor for Mississippi Women Bloggers, and it has been so amazing and FUN meeting all these incredible ladies blogging right in our own state.  If you have not joined yet, please take 20 seconds to register your blog with us.  This allows others to find you and connect with you.  September is upon us, and we have our eyes open for guest bloggers for this month's fun theme!  Come check us out and join the fun!

 
5. {The Common Cold Strikes Again}  It's true.  Millie Janalee is making her way through another cold.  It has been nothing compared to our last bad cold, and it only made for one sleepless night.  Mostly we have a runny nose and nasal congestion.  We are in full vaporizer, Vicks, and honey mode!  Here's to hoping for a weekend of wellness.

What have you been up to this week?  Hop over to The Sowell Life and share!

Relaxing Back Home

Last weekend, Russ and I spent some time relaxing back home.  We had Lee's birthday fiesta Friday night, and the rest of our weekend was filled with relaxing at the in-laws.  Russ's brother was in for the weekend too, so it was nice to catch up with Jimmy and his busy family.  Roan and the kids have been getting Olivia settled at college, and Jimmy got us caught up on all the fun.  Russ's sister also spent most of her time visiting with us on Saturday too.

Millie Janalee is doing all sorts of new tricks for Granmomma and Pop...mainly walking a bit.  Y'all this girl cracks me up with her walking!  It's the most precious thing watching this little person learn to take steps and keep her balance and try to go faster.  Now, she will not.  I repeat, will NOT walk or stand unless it is her idea.  She's got a little "determined" disposition about her.  No surprise here!

It's so nice to just relax during a hometown visit.  We are usually so busy with planned activities or events that we don't really get to just lay on the couch and watch tv with Russ's dad or sit around the kitchen table for hours talking.  We did all those things while Millie Janalee crawled, walked, and played around all over the floor.  All that playing may or may not have resulted in extra baths!  Ha!

Sunday, after church, we ate lunch with my family to celebrate my grandmother's 87th birthday.  I cannot believe I didn't get a single picture!  I was a little preoccupied I guess.  Millie Janalee slept through 3/4 of our lunch, and then I got busy trying to feed her lunch before everyone got ready to leave.  And gathering all our belongings to carry back to the car usually takes all hands on deck.  Ha!  So...I didn't get one.  In fact, I didn't even think about it.  I'm so sad.

After lunch, Russ and I took Millie Janalee to visit Russ's grandmother at the assisted living.  We rarely get to see her, so it was fun to visit.  She always says that Millie Janalee is "Just precious!" and she wants to know how old she is a few times before we leave.  Munu doesn't look a day older than the day I met her 13 years ago!  She looks so young and fit.  I hope I can maintain that way...but it's very doubtful!  Considering I'm already sporting quite a few WHITE hairs!

I stayed for Sunday night church while Russ studied.  (I'll be so glad when the boards are over!)  Our church just dedicated a new youth building, and our Sunday night church service was held there.  It is an awesome facility.  I'm very proud!

A late arrival back home and sleeping in Monday morning is what Millie Janalee ordered!  She's her mama's girl!

FredLee's FIESTA

Today is another family birthday!  My brother-in-law turned 27 today, so we celebrated this weekend with a surprise fiesta.  He and my sister recently accepted new jobs, so I inherited the job of decorations and setup while my mom and brother took food and drink pickup.  My dad helped me hang lanterns and brought in the extension cords and fans.  It was a family affair...in between a toddling one year old at our feet.

Kristin had everything together in one spot, and it turned out not to be very difficult to set up.  I'm sure you have realized by now that she is the party planner, so we were feeling a bit inadequate.  Ha!  It turned out pretty cute if you ask me. 

They came in from their hour and a half drive home from work, and Lee actually had a headache.  Oops!  I'm pretty sure the family yelling whatever Spanish words we knew and blaring Mexican Fiesta music wasn't in his plans for the afternoon.  Bless him!  We got him medicated, and he seemed to turn the corner.  Or at least put on a good face.

Millie Janalee, Auntie Kristin, and Uncie Lee

You know it's not a family party around here without some fun headgear and accessories!

Millie Janalee spit up down the front of her outfit just as Kristin and Lee were pulling in, so she smelled of sour milk.  There's a downside to the whole milk endeavor.  Thankfully, I had a change of clothes for her in the car.  After a wardrobe change and a good swing with Susu, she was ready to party with the rest of us.

We enjoyed a yummy Mexican spread: Taco Bell, Mi Toro, and D-Shy's Tamales with a delicious Heath Bar birthday cake.  Most of us helped ourselves to second and third trips to the food table before the photo booth took flight.  Headgear and accessories go hand in hand with a photo booth in this family!  We pulled out the frame from Millie Janalee's birthday bash and dressed up for our photos.  Things got a little cray cray at this point!

The birthday boy and his Senorita

Dustin and Sheila

"Aunt Nana", Uncie Lee, and Auntie Kristin

Pawpaw and Susu

Pawpaw and Maw Maw

My little Spanish familia!

In full disclosure each of these poses took 20 pictures each trying to get the perfect one.  Ha!  I'm so glad we do this, because then we are able to catch moments like this one below.  Be still my heart!  I cropped myself out of it, and I love how Millie Janalee is looking at her silly daddy!

I told you things got a little out of hand at this point.  The Pandora Fiesta station blared as Pawpaw showed Millie Janalee how to dance around with her maracas.  She watched intently before trying to do her own "Fandango" (I used Wikipedia to come up with a Spanish dance name. Ha!)

After lot of dancing and shaking those maracas, she needed to sit awhile and rest.  I thought this was a great time for her to wear a sombrero.  Perhaps we should've invested in a baby sombrero...

No birthday party is complete without the off-tune family singing of the "Happy Birthday" song!  We rigged up a 27-ish look for the birthday cake, and I stuck a few decorative toothpicks in for good measure.  I think it looked just wonderful...professional even!

26+1

Dustin lighting the candles

Making a wish!

It certainly was another family birthday celebration for the books.  Happy Birthday Uncie Lee!  We hope you have the best birthday yet!

Determination

We do have one very silly and playful girl on our hands.  I love that we can have fun with her all the time!  And, we also have a pretty determined little feisty thing too!  When she makes up her mind to do something...she pretty much better get to do it.

Or else.  Ha! (And we have certainly lived through some "or elses".)

I mean just look at that determined look in those eyes and her focused face as she pushes her Cabbage Patch baby around the living room.  It's the cutest thing to watch her love her babies, "pat" them (looking more like beating their face to a pulp), and push them around in the stroller.  I snapped one from the back too just because it was cute.

Determination will help you in life, sweet girl.  There will be times that you will walk uphill toward your goal.  There will be times when you have to stand firm in your beliefs.  Determination will keep you focused and working hard.  Working toward the goal God has set for you.

 "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galations 6:9

There will be times He will put up walls and close doors on you...

And you'll want to sit and cry.  You probably will.  It's okay if you do.  I did.  During those days of longing for a child, I cried.  I cried hard.  And I fought.  I fought for my own way.  And you might do the same some day.  Because we can't see past our here and now.  We can't see how God is working all these walls and closed doors and tears and frustrations into something far better than we envisioned.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Keep that determination strong and change your path.  Pray about it, and ask God for direction.  Then follow His direction.  He will lead you to something great!  It probably won't be what you originally thought you wanted.

It will be something so much better than you ever even knew was out there!  So much more colorful and playful and fun and rewarding than that closed door!

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! Ephesians 3:20 (Message)

And when you have your heart's desire (whether it's the original desire or something better), you can sit back and praise Him for all He has done.  Looking at all the sweetness in your life that comes through the hard times and determination.

Those are the moments the old hymn finds its way back to your heart.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

And to take Him at His Word...

Our Silly Girl

Let me introduce you to our silly girl.

At 13 months old, this sweet girl is the life of the party!  She's "happy, happy, happy" as Phil Robertson would say.  Everywhere we go, she just talks and smiles and laughs and waves at everyone we pass.

• She loves to jump with her hands up and say, "Boo!"  
• When she stands up on her own, carefully steadying her balance, she looks around to make sure everyone sees her with her arms straight out to the sides. 
• She loves to mimic Uncie Lee when he whispers and makes noises with his mouth.  It's hilarious to watch her do it!
• She also likes to mimic Auntie Kristin when she stomps her feet really fast.  She kicks her little feet as fast as she can.
• She squeals and belly-laughs when Farley starts barking and walking around.  She laughs even harder when he does his tricks for her.  Oh, it is so fun!
• She loves to play with her toys and come up with new ways to play.  For example, she likes to put the Little People farm animals in the little kitchen microwave...and the egg on her nose like a pig's snout. (as seen in the pictures)  
• One of her favorite things to do while crawling or watching television is to hold a toy in her mouth without using her hands. This proves to be so funny when you look over and see six inches of Mickey Mouse sticking straight out of her face.  Every time I try to grab a picture of it, she pulls it out.  Every time!  My goal is to snap a photo of this little quirk as soon as I can.
• She just learned to lean in and give me a kiss when I ask for one...wet as it may be.  She learned this today at Lowe's while we were shopping around the closet organization aisle.  I took a break from my focus (which was to organize my "office space" in the living room) to lean in and play with my little friend.  That pretty much happens every time we shop together.  We giggle and play and talk through every aisle.  Shopping was so boring and lonely before Millie Janalee! Ha!  Anyway, I leaned in and said, "Give Mama a kiss!" and puckered my lips.  My heart nearly burst when she leaned in and kissed me right on the lips!  We've been giving kisses all night.  
• She likes to point to her "nose" when I say, "Where's your nose?" Except mostly she points to her cheek. Ha!  That's close enough.  It is on her face.  She doesn't just point, though.  She points and keeps tapping her little pointer finger on her cheek...all with a smile on her sweet face.
• She likes to push the boundaries.  This may not be so much cute, but I would put it in the silly category.  Because if you know me or ever saw me teaching, you know that I don't give any room to budge outside the rules.  Example: Today my silly girl was headed straight for Farley's dog bowl just like she had done earlier in the day.  She enjoys sticking her hand in the water bowl or picking up dog food.  I said, "No, Millie Janalee." She stopped and turned around to look at me.  This repeated itself about 3-4 times in a row as she inched closer to the bowl.  Then, that girl turned her back to me and crawled like lightning toward that bowl!  Like I wouldn't get up and chase her down.  She's got some lessons to learn.  Pushing her boundaries for sure!  She is also learning the hard lessons of pushing so hard.  Bless her!
• She finally, after 13 months of life experience, is picking up and drinking from her sippy cup on her own.  We had a little standoff/hissy fit last week over the whole ordeal.  Who knew that she was just letting me hold it just because I would.  Ahem.  Don't get me wrong.  I loved holding that cup for her - especially since it gave me extra snuggle time, but I also know it is important for her to do simple things (like holding her own sippy cup) independently.  And one day I'll surrender the spoon too.  Some day.
• She can devour a Nilla Wafer like nobody's business!  Before I know it, she sticks the whole cookie in her mouth and flips it over and over until she can bite down and chew it.  I do keep a close eye on her, but she seems to hold her own when it comes to good cookies.

Oh, this girl is silly.  And quirky.  And funny.  And growing.  And loving.  And smart.  And spunky.

And she's MINE!

Happy Birthday Susu!

In this family, birthdays are kinda a big deal.  No, we don't all have parties like Little Miss Priss did for her first birthday, and I'm pretty sure her future parties won't be quite as big either.  But we do celebrate.  Together if at all possible.

Every. Single. One.

Today, we celebrated my mom's birthday.  I would tell you how old she is, but I didn't get her permission for that.  So I'll leave you guessing.  To celebrate, we all drove from all over and met in Memphis at Jim's Place.  If you have never eaten there, it was a very nice experience.  Good food.  Good company.  Good times!

Millie Janalee is no stranger to a fancy restaurant, but this was the first time we've been to a "table cloth restaurant" since she started eating table food.  I inconspicuously pulled out the disposable placemat and stuck it to the table before cutting up her yucky turkey sticks.  You may remember me talking about those here.  I added cut up grapes and some puffs to that.  Thankfully, she only threw a few pieces on the floor...and Russ quickly picked them up so we wouldn't completely blow our cover as civilized folks. Ha!

Millie Janalee put on a delightful show, as she usually does when an audience is present.  The rest of us enjoyed appetizers, full meals, AND desserts!  Mama opened one of her gifts from Daddy - another Ronaldo bracelet to add to her collection.  All while Dustin tried to figure out why you need so many bracelets on one arm.  Ha! 

After spending well over two hours eating, visiting, laughing, and eating some more...we headed outside to leave.  Dustin, Kristin, Lee, Russ, and I gave Mama a jewelry armoire.  Since we didn't find it appropriate to bring a piece of furniture into the restaurant, we saved it for the end of the evening.  I think she was pleased.  She's been asking for a jewelry armoire for quite some time now.

We stood around admiring her gifts and soaking in the last minutes together before we all loaded into the four cars it took to get us all to one location.  Millie Janalee spent some one-on-one time with everyone before hugging and kissing everyone goodbye.

I'm assuming everyone made it home safely by now, and my little family is snug in our beds.

Uncie Bucket is SOOOO funny!

It was a proper celebration for the one who brought us into this world and sometimes reminded us that it meant she could take us out of this world too!  Ha!  Happy birthday to the one who taught us how to laugh at ourselves and never take life to seriously, believed everything we said growing up whether it was true or not, chased us around the house with the wooden spoon, laughed before she ever got to the spanking part, did our homework for us when we were sick (even if she did make a 40 on one of my social studies papers), fixed our lunches until we graduated high school, brought us many a forgotten personal belonging no matter how far, still offers a nice head or foot rub when you go home, taught me how to lose my keys, and showed me that family is always the first choice when deciding how to spend your time!

Happy Birthday Susu!  Here's to many many more!