Millie Janalee has crammed so much into her short little 5 1/2 weeks of life!  But, one thing we had not done...until now was visit Granmomma and Pop's house for a weekend.  Russ and I have been working on updating our life insurance since Millie Janalee's arrival, and we made an appointment with a lawyer Friday morning to make a will.  I feel so "together" right now.  Even if that feeling doesn't last long.  Ha!  We went ahead and named the executors, trustees, and guardians if something were to happen to both of us.  Then, we also went ahead and did a Power of Attorney for each other.  It was so easy to do and took less than 20 minutes.  We will go back on Friday to sign the final draft.  We joked that we would try not to walk in front of a car until it was signed.  Obviously, we are not looking to use any of that paperwork...but it's there if we need it.

I digress.

In preparation for our big debut at Granmomma and Pop's, Millie Janalee got all cleaned up and smelling fresh the night before.  I asked Russ to get the water ready, and he looked at me like..."Huh?"  I realized that I had always done the bathing, and he probably didn't know what to do.  I told him it was a good skill to learn in the event I wasn't here, and he agreed as long as I stood behind him to talk him through it.  Ha!

So, Daddy gave Millie Janalee a bath for the first time and he did a wonderful job!  I love watching Russ with our daughter.  He is always so gentle and sweet with her!  I always knew he would be a great daddy...and HE IS!

We had planned to introduce Millie Janalee to Russ's grandmother, but she has been in the hospital for (what they think may be) shingles.  Soooo...we opted out of that!  We spent Wednesday night just hanging around.  Russ's mom wasn't feeling well either, so she kept her distance and went to bed early.  Russ's dad was at the hospital with Munu until later.  So, we enjoyed a low key night waiting for Pop to get back.

A little "mommy and me" time

Sweet girl!

After visiting with Pop for a little while...and calming down our little fussy, gassy girl, we went upstairs to get settled in for the night.  I think Millie Janalee loves her room at Granmomma and Pop's house.  We laid on the bed to kick around a little while before putting our pajamas on.  I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of Millie Janalee in her little cradle.  I think all the children have used it, and it is so precious.  Millie Janalee slept very well in Granmomma's cradle.  I'll try to remember to take a picture next time.

Pre-bedtime play

Ready for bed!

Every morning, we woke up to Aunt Jenny waiting on us in the kitchen.  She told her gym partner that she just couldn't workout while Millie Janalee was here because she didn't want to get sweat on the baby.  Good excuse!  Ha!  Aunt Jenny couldn't wait to get her hands on Miss Millie Janalee each morning at the breakfast table.  She stayed most of the time we were in town.

Jenny, Russ, Millie Janalee, and I went to lunch Thursday at Island Chill, a newer restaurant downtown.  It was very good, the atmosphere was great, and it was perfect for a sleeping 5 week old.  Thursday night, I requested a special meal from Granmomma.  The Mansel clan joined us for baked ham, boiled okra, green beans, squash, peas, cornbread, fruit, and banana pudding!  I hope I didn't leave anything out!  It was A-MA-ZING!  We enjoyed the rest of the day and night playing with the newest cousin.  This is what our social life consists of now...staring at this pretty girl!  I LOVE IT!

Grace holding her newest baby cousin

Elle loves Millie Janalee!

Uncle Jeff hasn't seen her since the placement ceremony.

Hanging out with my little family

After supper, Millie Janalee got dressed for bed...and more playtime!

Elle, Millie Janalee, and Grace

Granmomma and Pop with Millie Janalee

The oldest cousin with the youngest cousin...Wow!

Millie Janalee just eats up all the attention!  She saves all her fussing for Russ and me.  And that's fine with me!  She is such a social baby.  Sweet girl!  We worked so hard to get her to smile at us while we played.  She's almost there!  She made a few new noises Friday, and I fully expect her to be smiling at us in no time!

It was certainly worth our trip...

"over the bridges and through the intersections...to Granmomma and Pop's we go!"

(my rendition of "Over the River and Through the Woods")

Happy 55!

Last weekend, Millie Janalee and I went to visit Susu and Paw Paw for Susu's birthday!  Kristin and Lee hosted a delicious cookout for the occasion with filets, strawberry feta salad, bowtie pasta, and a delicious strawberry cake!  We were accompanied by a few Yayas too.  It was a fun way to spend Susu's 55th birthday!  Unfortunately, my camera was acting up and I don't have many pictures from the night.  Poo!

After the Sip & See Saturday, we went back to Kristin and Lee's to visit.  Later on, Uncie Bucket and "Auntie Sheila" came over and spent some silly time with Millie Janalee.  Most of the time Dustin did the "Uncle Hank walk" which basically consisted of lunges and bouncing while walking around the room.  This is something he learned from a friend who recently had a baby.  Ha!  It was hilarious!  We have more video than pictures.  Once he started, Millie Janalee would NOT let him sit down.  After a while, Dustin told Millie Janalee he was cramping up.  She did not care.  He had to continue.

Dustin is anxiously waiting for the day Millie Janalee can talk and play back.  Right now, she pretty much just looks at him.  I have a feeling these two will get into lots of trouble together.  But, I can't wait to watch!

Millie Janalee, Uncie Bucket, and "Auntie Sheila"

We had a great weekend at "home."  It's very different going home to visit now...a good different.

American Idol Nashville Tour

You may remember that my mom bought our family tickets to see the American Idol Tour in Nashville back in June...for my dad's birthday.  This was certainly before we all knew about Miss Millie Janalee, but everything ended up working out perfectly!  This past Friday, Russ and I loaded Millie Janalee into the car for our first big road trip and mini vacay.  This was a test.  Could she hang with this crowd or not...

We only stopped once to feed Millie Janalee...and once for me.  Ha!  She made the trip wonderfully!  We actually beat the rest of the group to the hotel, so we had some time to relax and feed our sweet girl before the rest of our crew arrived.  The first thing we did was plop Millie Janalee on our big bed for a picture of her first vacation hotel experience at Loews Vanderbilt.  It was certainly not her first hotel experience, since she spent the first few days of her life in a hotel.  This was different.

She was dressed for a nice dinner, because we had reservations at Ruth's Chris downstairs at 8:30.  She wasn't quite ready for her filet, roasted asparagus, and potatoes au gratin like I was...so I fed her formula instead.  She was pretty excited about her menu...

Yay for formula!

When the rest of the family arrived, they went down to the restaurant while Millie Janalee finished her dinner.  I think it's safe to say she was the youngest one there.  She slept through most of our dinner, and when she awoke...we just passed her around the table. 

Millie Janalee LOVES to listen to Russ play the guitar!  On our way back to the room, we passed the "hotel bar," which was really just an area in the lobby.  The entertainment was a lady playing the guitar and singing.  We decided to stop for a while and sit while she played.  Millie Janalee never flinched...as is normal when Russ plays. 

The next morning, we woke up to a leisurely day with no strict plan...until our dinner at 4:30.  When we got up and ready, we decided to take a stroll to Pancake Pantry.  It was only a mile away, and it was a beautiful day!  The entire weekend was very pleasant.  Sunny and borderline fall temperatures!

Me, Russ, and Millie Janalee strolling the streets of Nashville

Kristin and Lee

When we arrived at Pancake Pantry, our little girl was hungry...and the line was all the way around the corner and down the sidewalk.  I found a little spot on the brick steps to feed Millie Janalee while Mama, Kristin, and Russ kept our place in line.

Our hungry girl

Mama and Kristin holding our spot for a party of nine!

Daddy and Lee kept me company while I fed our itty bitty.

Our breakfast was, as expected, delicious!  I had the Swiss Chocolate Chip Pancakes and Russ had some kind of southwest arrangement.  We were all stuffed and ready for our one mile trek back to the hotel.  The day couldn't have been more perfect for our leisurely walk!

Like mother like daughter!

Millie Janalee's first Pancake Pantry experience!

Susu and PawPaw strolling their grandbaby back to the hotel

We spent the rest of the afternoon, which was really only a couple of hours, resting and playing with Millie Janalee in the hotel room.  Russ and my room was the gathering spot, and we were fine with that!

Karen and Teri met us for dinner at Maggiano's.  Dustin and Sheila had a mixup on the dates of the concert and weren't able to come last minute.  Karen and Teri gladly stepped in!  If you have never been to Maggiano's, may I please make the suggestion!  Oh my!  So good!  When you order off their classic pasta section, the chef sends you home with another pasta order of your choice!  I don't have any pictures of our dinner, but I did manage to snap one of our new little obsession.

Following dinner, my parents wanted to keep Millie Janalee while Russ and I took a date night out in downtown Nashville.  We were excited...until we pulled into the parking lot where we were to be dropped off.  Millie Janalee was screaming and crying.  With TEARS!  And I nearly lost it!  I scooped that sweet baby into my arms, snuggled her, and fed her a little until she was completely calmed down.  Everyone was very patient waiting on this poor mama.  Finally, I turned her over to my parents and walked away.  I certainly felt a little different "going out" this time.  Tempted to pull out pictures to show every stranger I met in the bathrooms, sidewalks, and taxi.  Ha!

Since our dinner was so early, so was our night.  We started at Big Bang around 7:30, because there was no cover charge until 8:30.  We never left!  Ha!  We spent the rest of our night laughing, singing, talking, taking pictures, dancing, and having a great time! 

Kristin, Karen, Teri, and me

Dancing the night away! I look like I'm in pain.  Hmmm...

At some point during the night, Teri and Karen snuck a note onto the stage asking that they recognize Russ and me for being new parents to our 3 week old Millie Janalee.  Oh my!  They made the announcement...and called us on stage.  Why?  To do the Hokey Pokey!  I was dying!  I was stopped a minimum of three times on the way to the restroom for people to tell me how great I looked after having a baby.  Ha!  I only explained it once.  The other times, I smiled and said, "Thank you!"

On stage with bachelorettes, bachelors, and birthdays

Since we arrived so early, we had great seats for the night.  However, our favorite entertainment was that of the staff guy who guarded the stage.  He sang and provided motions to every single song played.  He deserved a raise!  Russ and I tipped him all we could afford...which was a whopping $4.  He gave us all bumper stickers and posed for a picture in response.  Ha!

I'm gonna guess that we left The Big Bang around 2 in the morning...at which time I was craving a funnel cake more than ever!  We asked the vendors and shops still open, but we came away empty handed.  A fun night nonetheless for sure!

Sisters

The guys held down the fort most of the night

Yaya TT and me

Ending the night with a BANG!

We caught a taxi back to our respective hotels.  Since we were unable to find a funnel cake, we dug into our complimentary pasta dishes from Maggiano's.  Millie Janalee was asleep and probably contemplating her 3 o'clock feeding when we all dispersed to our rooms for the night.  I would say our first date night out since Millie Janalee was a success!

Sunday, Rhonda and Michael invited us over for lunch.  Michael is a wonderful cook, and they love to entertain.  We were happy to enjoy a yummy lunch of hamburgers, baked beans, slaw, smoked chicken, and canned pears from their pear tree.  We spent our afternoon enjoying the weather outside on the deck, visiting, and of course playing with Millie Janalee! 

Lee introducing himself to the goldfish

Auntie Kristin, me, and Millie Janalee swinging

We planned to stay with Rhonda and Michael Sunday night after the concert, and Rhonda graciously agreed to watch Millie Janalee while we were gone.  Russ and I are so grateful to Michael and Rhonda for taking such good care of our little one on her first night with a babysitter!

Rhonda and Millie Janalee

Mama made reservations for us to eat the pre-show dinner at the Bridgestone Arena.  It was an all you can eat smorgasbord, and we all ate all we could!  So yummy!  A great start to the evening!

Daddy, Mama, Teri, and Karen

The birthday boy!

Lee and Kristin

Me and Russ

After dinner, we headed over to our seats.  We had wonderful seats!  Oh, and the girl behind me was chowing down on a FUNNEL CAKE!  If I hadn't been so stuffed, I would have jumped up to grab one for myself.   Now, I guess I'll have to wait until I visit some sort of fair grounds.  Hmmm...

Karen, Teri, Mama, and Daddy (biting his lip in anticipation I'm sure! ha!)

Lee, Kristin, me, and Russ

As the lights dimmed, we were excitedly waiting for our American Idol favorites to hit the stage!  My favorites...Colton, Skylar, Joshua, and Philly Phil of course!

The concert was great!  The energy was high.  And the crowd was thrilled to welcome Colton home to his hometown of Nashville, TN!  All my favorite idols performed to my expectations.  Joshua is unreal in person!  And, Elise knows how to entertain too!  Great show!

Top 10

Colton Dixon

Skylar Laine

Joshua Ledet

Our American Idol...Phillip Phillips!!!

Thank you, Mama, for always planning trips and experiences of a lifetime!  Thank you for taking charge to create memories!  Daddy...in Russ's words, "We're so glad you were born!"  Ha!  We had a blast!

There was just one place I couldn't wait to be...

Snuggled up next to my sweet girl!  Perfect ending to a perfect weekend!