Since Mama and I drove down on Thursday, we had a few days to ourselves to be silly at the hotel.  One of our favorite evening events was our visits from Clancy and Selah Grace.  Millie Janalee was FULL OF ENERGY every night!  And she loved playing with Selah Grace!  I can just envision the fun we have ahead for those two.

There was lots of peekaboo...

Just checking to make sure Susu was looking for her...

"There she is!"

"Where's Millie Janalee?"

{GASP} "THERE SHE IS!"

This could go on for hours at a time if there were no distractions.  Ha!  And there was a little distraction.  Poor Selah Grace endured lots of "playing" with her big cousin.  Obviously, Millie Janalee is obsessed with headgear at the moment.  Poor Selah Grace...

Millie Janalee and I are both night owls.  And late sleepers.  So, once Russ got into town on Friday night, we kinda had to find things to keep us busy so Daddy wouldn't think we were getting sleepy and send us to our respective beds.  No, not us!  We are just getting started Daddy!

Come play with  us!

Uncie Bucket and Pawpaw came in town on Saturday, and we joined them at Bass Pro Shop to stroll around, look at the aquarium, and play on big machines like this one.  Or at least that was Pawpaw's plan.  You know, he always told her that he'd get her any car she wanted when she could say his name.  Hmmm...maybe this is the one.

 

It was good to get away with family and simply enjoy spending time together.  We ended our Saturday night with the outlet mall, a late dinner at Cracker Barrel, and tons of laughing til we cried moments at the hotel.  Literally.

The Old Home Place

Last weekend, my family took a family trip to Jackson to celebrate my cousin's baby girl's christening.  Mama, Millie Janalee, and I drove down a couple days early.  I had a meeting Thursday, and I needed help with Millie Janalee since Russ had to work.  And Mama had a meeting Thursday night.  So it worked out to be travel buddies.

Since we were going to be in town without a packed schedule (this RARELY happens), my mom spoke with one of her cousins who she hasn't seen in years and years.  Perhaps even since before they were married.  I'm not sure on the exact facts.  Millie Janalee and I joined Mama when she met "Little Becky" for lunch.  We were delighted that some of the other family members joined us.  One of my Pops' brothers, a sister, one of the brothers' wives, and "Little Becky" (named after "Big Becky") brought her daugther-in-law.  We enjoyed a delicious Southern meal in Byram before them taking us over to the old home place.

This was the place Pops grew up.  As we pulled into the driveway, Mama began gasping and talking ninety to nothing about all the things she remembered doing as a child around the various spots we passed: the big tree, the gate, etc.  So, I knew I would need to take Millie Janalee's picture around some of her favorite spots!

Everyone began walking toward the house...some from their own house that was also located on the land.  Most of these family members still live on this land.  There were stories...OH the stories!  And lots of connections and names that I tried to keep straight.  My mom still laughs when she talks about how confused I was after we left.  You have to remember, I don't think I have ever met any of these family members.  Except "Big Becky" because she attended my wedding.  But, as you can imagine, we didn't get a chance to visit much that day.

What I do know and will always remember is how much Pops' brother looks so much like him.  I'll be honest.  I sat opposite him at the lunch table, and there was a moment when I had to focus on my food and stop looking at him so I wouldn't cry. Talk about an awkward way to meet a table full of new family members. Ha!  He has a quiet demeanor just like Pops, and so many of his characteristics.  Very surreal.  And it was an honor to meet Pops' family.

We spent the afternoon sitting around the kitchen table talking.  We also enjoyed touring the house and looking at old pictures.  Below is a picture of my mom's grandparents.  This was their home.

My mom's aunts and uncles left lunch a little early to "stop by the bank" before we came to visit the home.  When we arrived, they greeted Millie Janalee with her pick of goodies.  Her favorite was this chocolate and marshmallow cookie/cupcake thing and Hawaiian Punch.  She loved it!  She also enjoyed taking her own little tour of the house and playing with the puppies - Dixie and Peanut.

Hours later, Mama and I loaded a very sleepy Millie Janalee into the car.  We headed toward the hotel room after a long day without a nap.  Millie Janalee slept about 15 minutes in the car, and that was it for the day!  Wow.  Completely worth skipping a nap!  Getting little glimpses into the "good old days" is one of my favorite things!  I was happy to share the experience with my mom and Millie Janalee.  And I hope they were happy to share with us.  I'm pretty sure they were!

Sprinkling with Friends

A week after Kristin's shower given by the ladies at our hometown church, Kristin's best friends and their moms sprinkled Hughes with another little shower.  It was a fun get-together with yummy food and great company.  We enjoyed visiting over an early lunch menu.

We were excited to have more out of town family join us for this day.  My cousin and her mom drove in from Jackson with Selah Grace.  It was fun to see Selah Grace growing so fast and looking so completely adorable!  Selah Grace and Millie Janalee weren't the only little ones around.  Sweet Rayne joined us too, and Millie Janalee enjoyed talking to "the baby".  I think it was the first time we saw Rayne smile all day.  She liked watching Millie Janalee flit around dancing and singing her heart out for the big captive audience.

Millie Janalee was so excited to get down and run around the big room filled with gifts and people and open space.  She literally danced in circles, ran around, talked and sang, played "peek a boo", and helped Auntie Kristin open gifts the entire time.

We did manage to slow her down long enough to sit with MawMaw for a little while.  I'm pretty sure it made MawMaw's day.  She loves it when Millie Janalee can slow down long enough for quality time.

It's happening.  Hughes will be here very soon.  This month is what we expect.  His due date is April 24th, so we are all on countdown mode.  These three cousins will soon have their own little baby cousins.  And things are about to get rowdy!  Our beach trips will never be the same.  And, yes, this year's beach trip is planned for all three babies to be in tow! 

Bring on the full-time beach baby duty!

After the shower, Clancy, Aunt Patsy, Uncle Howard, and Selah Grace joined us at Kristin and Lee's to just hang out and enjoy the afterglow.  We let the girls play on the floor.  Millie Janalee loved talking to the baby.  She kissed her and loved her and tried to squish her and all the other things a 20 month old would do to a little helpless person.  Ha!

These little girls are ready for a protective little boy to join ranks! 

Showering Hughes

Well...I'm not sure if anyone is even hanging around here anymore.  I've been missing blogland lately.  I've got good excuses.  Lots of traveling, playing, hanging around family, and the most recent project - SEWING!  And when I say sewing I mean serious business...like 5 or 6 outfits made.  It's my newest obsession and favorite hobby these days.  More to come on that later.

In the meantime, I've fallen short of blogging about the sweet showers my newest nephew has had to celebrate his little life!  My sister is due the end of April, so all these Spring showers just make me happy!

Her first shower was at our hometown church.  You may remember my shower back when Millie Janalee was born and how I talked about our church family.  Yes, I still call them my church family even though I'm living away right now.  We were raised in this church, and as the preacher's family, this church served as an extension of our family.  Thankful for that life!

I attempted to bring Millie Janalee to the shower.  She's such a social butterfly, so I knew she would have a ball.  And I knew the other ladies would love seeing her.  However, I was on picture duty and there was a staircase that she found.  In case you haven't heard she would love to run straight off the top of steps and fly.  Therefore, when my dad came in to bring my grandmother...I sent her with him.  She spent the day with Pawpaw and my Uncle Donald.

But not before saying, "Hello!" to the mother-to-be...

I was delighted to see my Aunt Gail in attendance.  We are all so busy, so we rarely get to see this side of our family.  She has a grandbaby due in about a week or so.  Fun times in our family!

We all enjoyed delicious punch, a yummy cake made by Russ's sister, and some of Kristin's favorite cravings while we watched her open gifts.  Hughes was blessed with many, many sweet gifts!  Outfits, blankets, toys, accessories, and more!

Millie Janalee brought Hughes a gift form Disney World!

The hostesses gave Kristin the car seat she registered for.

It was a wonderful afternoon visiting with those we love and to feel loved!  I managed to gather all the hostesses together for a group shot.  I hope I got everyone.  As I look at these faces, I am reminded of the special individual relationships I have with each one of them.  I could go down the list...but I'll spare you the details.  I seriously thank God when I look at this picture for these women and what they mean to our family.

Of course, we gathered for a family picture too!  And can we take a moment to acknowledge the pregnant woman here.  I mean, seriously?!  I'm pretty sure if I were pregnant I would just roll around like a big blow up beach ball.  Hughes is nicely packed in that little basketball-looking tummy.  And that's it.  Which makes for a very cute mommy-to-be.

Okay, I just wanted to point that out. 

We are on major countdown mode around here.  Hopefully, I can blog about his second shower before his actual appearance. 

Zoo Day with Friends

Last week was Spring Break for everyone in this area.  Of course, that means nothing to a stay at home mom with a toddler.  But I knew it was Spring Break by the beautiful weather.  The Monday of Spring Break was absolutely perfect!  We had some friends coming into town for a doctor's appointment, and they planned a trip to the zoo.  So we joined them for the fun!

These little girls are just the cutest!  Of course we are all a little biased, but just look at them...

We've pretty much made a plan to force them into best friendship.  Ha!  Their little personalities are blooming so much right now, and we spend lots of time texting pictures and videos of their shenanigans.  Caroline and Millie Janalee were born 12 days apart and have been friends since their first meeting.

They also play together in the church nursery on Sundays when we are in town...which is a lot!  And of course their first birthday parties were a week apart with each other as the "special 1 year old guest."  Ha!  Chris and Mary Anne graduated with my sister and her husband.  And sometimes I still think it's so funny how much Mary Anne and I communicate on a daily basis.  Anything from videos of the girls to questions about food or schedules or anything gross. 

We all enjoyed spending a beautiful Monday afternoon at the zoo, and the girls had a ball.  Now that they are talking some and have learned animal noises, we heard lots of growls and roars and mooos.  I love seeing excitement in their eyes when they see these real live animals.  This was Caroline's first trip to the zoo, and it was our first trip this year.  So things were just like new for Millie Janalee.

Of course we stopped for the occasional BFF photo shoot.  The adults all flailing and jumping around talking baby talk trying to get two toddlers to smile at the same time.  Yep.  That was us.  So much for trying to be cool like the old days.  Parenthood makes you cool on all new levels - like making a scene just outside the panda bear exhibit while two adorable toddlers just stare at you emotionlessly like you're crazy.

Because we are.

The girls had time to chit-chat throughout the day.

And they both certainly enjoyed a few snacks...ummm...A LOT of snacks throughout their stroll.

The camel even enjoyed some of their snacks actually.  Oops!

Public Service Announcement: If you plan to take a family picture next to a camel at the zoo, move the stroller filled with Gerber puffs far away from his reach.  Or else he will lick the stroller tray clean.  Which leads to all kinds of levels of disinfecting.  Haha!

These little friends had such fun waving at the animals and observing their surroundings.  They enjoyed spending a day with friends, and I did too!  We missed Russ, and I am thankful Chris and Mary Anne let me crash their family day.

Maybe we can stick a few more of these trips in before the end of summer!  Actually our zoo membership ends in April, so Russ and I better get to visiting the zoo in the next few weeks!

Thankful for friendships and beautiful days and all the fun animals at the zoo!