In case you didn't know, it's football season.  That means Millie Janalee and I have had a few travel days making our way back down South to cheer on our favorite team!  I knew how busy our families get in the fall, so we saved up our trips home for football season.  Starting with the first game day against Southern Miss.

For those of you counting, these gray glasses were on loan.  So these don't count!  Ha!

I'm not one for looking at weather forecasts.  Oops.  It turns out that the entire Saturday of the game was a high percentage of rain.  Ha!  A little rain never hurt anyone!  That's what ponchos are for right?  So we went anyway.  Actually, my mom, dad, Millie Janalee, and I drove down to Columbus to visit my brother in his new home on Friday.  We ate supper together and spent the night with him...saving ourselves from a very early morning traveling.  We had lots of fun!

Kristin and Lee drove down with Hughes Saturday morning, and these Bully babies enjoyed their first game day together.  Millie Janalee loved playing with her real live baby doll cousin.  It took quite a bit of supervision to make sure she didn't pick him up or sit on him.  Ha!

Aunt Megan enjoyed her baby time too...

Just as the Weather Channel predicted, the bottom fell out a few times during the day.  The guys spent lots of time standing and pushing water out of the pooled pockets on the tents so they wouldn't collapse.  They did a superior job supervising water control!

The girls were in charge of the children.  Actually, I just enjoyed my food and drink since Millie Janalee much preferred sitting with Hughes and Kay Kay.  So I took in the sound of rain and quality time with my people.  Hehe!

I decided that Millie Janalee hasn't been a child until she's played in the rain.  And this was the perfect opportunity.  So I stripped her down and showed her how to catch rain drops.  I'm pretty sure it was her favorite tailgate to date.  She taught herself how to catch rain with her tongue too.  Happy wet baby girl!

And there is nothing better than a good, long nap after playing in the water.  Even Susus need good naps in the rain...

The rain came and went throughout the day, but it had slowed to a sprinkle by game time.  Kristin and Lee decided not to take the 4 month old into a rainy game, so they drove on back home.  I used some wire cutters to "hem" an extra adult poncho for Millie Janalee, and we were GAME READY!  Complete with the white beads.  Perfect for the "white out" game.

The game was relatively dry with lots of touchdowns.  A great way to start the season!  Millie Janalee rang her cowbell and learned how to yell, "Gooooo State!"  She's a huge ballgame fan.

We wrapped that 49-0 game in MAROON AND WHITE!

Surprise Belated Birthday Party!

As soon as we arrived in town from our rough day, Russ's family gathered for a special dinner and celebration.  A belated birthday celebration for the baby of the family.  Jeff grilled pork chops, and Jenny and her mom cooked a few other delicious sides.  We sang "Happy Birthday" and everyone helped blow out her candles.  She was too disappointed that the song was over to blow them out by herself.  Ha!

Loving being the center of attention!

Making a wish

She asked for a fork but had a difficult time tackling the cupcake and the liner with her big fork.  So Aunt Jenny gave her a little assistance.  Yummy lemon cupcake!

Russ's parents had Millie Janalee's birthday gifts displayed on the living room coffee table, and Millie Janalee knew exactly where to find them.  Grace helped her open her gifts one by one and she was so excited about each one!  Gasps and "OOHHH!"s all the way around.

Our evening continued with the musical stylings of Miss Millie Janalee.  Have I mentioned how much she adores being surrounded by an audience.  Playing the "nannos" and singing "Jesus Loves Me" was her performance for the night.  And lots of big smiles to her audience as she sang.  Over and over.  Such a ham!

Eventually we all had to say our goodbyes.  Millie Janalee loves her family, and I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual!  Hugs and kisses all around.

It was such a pleasant ending to a long and difficult day.  Thankful for family and birthdays and hugs!

Time for Your Checkup

Another part of our trip home was to visit Millie Janalee's pediatrician.  I know we will need a pediatrician here in Missouri, but I just couldn't take her to a new one for her two year shots.  Not yet.  I hate shots more than she does, so I was comforted to see a familiar face.  Plus we just love him!

Before our appointments - I also had to make a last minute dental appointment before her checkup because a filling came out the week before - we met Jamie for lunch.  My mom came with us for the day, and we enjoyed catching up with Jamie!

As soon as they called us back to our room, the nurse came in to prick her finger.  Talk about a big welcome!  From there it was pretty much all downhill.  The thought of even sitting back on that white papered table was enough to throw my girl into a whirlwind of emotion.  So we sat together and snuggled.  And I gave her a paci.  Because pacis make everything better.

We got a great report!  Happy and healthy two year old.  25 pounds (10-25%) and 35 1/4 inches tall (50-75%).  She had those mean old shots and didn't pass out.  Screamed?  Yes!  But no passing out this time. Remember she has passed out before during shots.

Her lead levels were a bit elevated, so we were sent downstairs to the lab to get a better reading.  Which meant...not a finger prick.  A NEEDLE IN THE ARM like an adult!  It. Was. Horrible!  Seriously terrible.  And it seemed to last forever.  Bless her little heart!  It was a terribly long day and the needles just kept coming.  The nurse gave her a sucker when it was all over, and that seemed to make things all better.  I stopped at Walgreens to give Millie Janalee some Tylenol to help her feel better for the ride home.  Then Mama and I stopped by Sonic for a stiff drink before making the 2 hour drive back home.  We were tired.

Me thinking her obsession with Doc McStuffins would make this doctor visit fun was completely wrong.  But I am very thankful for a happy and healthy baby girl.  God is good!

Uncie Lee's "Potty"

The day we got our first set of glasses. Millie Janalee and I traveled the 5 1/2 hours to visit family for the first time since the move.  I have never had such a busy visit in my life.  Nonstop!  But we had such a great time.

Literally, our first stop was to visit my sister and her little family to celebrate her husband's birthday.  We arrived right before the birthday boy.  Kristin and Lee's mom (Aunt Nana) made and/or delivered a yummy dinner from Olive Garden complete with a mocha birthday cake!

As soon as Millie Janalee walked up to their door and say the birthday cake door hanger, she started yelling "Potty!"  Yes, we are having a PARTY.  "Potty" time!  She had a blast and loved wearing her birthday hat.  Off to the side, of course, so there was still room for the bow.

So happy we are able to make it in for special occasions and celebrate with our family!  Hughes has nearly doubled in size since we saw him last.  These two are gonna be so much fun to watch as they grow.

Happy birthday Uncie Lee!  We hope it was the best one yet.

The Better to See You With

It happened.  Millie Janalee got her extra set of eyes on August 25!  Y'all.  She is the most precious thing I have ever seen. EVER!  I promise.  I could just eat her up with a spoon.  I put those little glasses on her face at the optician's office, and she was all smiles!  Never even tried to take them off.  Well, maybe she did at first.  But once she got to playing and walking around the office, she probably forgot they were on.

We really think she can tell such a difference.  First of all, because she rarely tries to take them off.  Secondly, she studied things so closely when she first got them.  I didn't specify before, but she is wearing bifocals.  So she walked around looking over the top of the bifocals trying to figure it all out.  Now, she runs all over the place like normal.  I swear she smiles bigger, laughs harder, and plays louder with her glasses on.  I didn't even know that was possible.

We have encountered several different reactions.  The most popular reaction from adults has been thinking they were pretend glasses.  Which makes me laugh.  I never thought of that!  Ha!  We have had to explain them many times, but never a negative word.  She stops traffic wherever we go.  People just think she's the cutest thing.  And I must agree.

I mean seriously...

I'll go ahead and admit it here before you notice and start rolling your eyes and making judgements.  We (with big help from vision insurance and grandparents) did purchase more than one pair.  I won't tell you exactly how many.  You can make it a fun game to count as I blog.  A girl must accessorize after all!  In fact, when our neutral pair came in late I told the optician that we couldn't clash with maroon.  He laughed and let me borrow a pair of gray ones for the ballgame.  That's how much they love us there. Probably because they have never seen such accessorizing.  Not to mention the hairbow.  Remember, people here don't wear bows or smocked clothes.  Ha!

God has big plans for sweet Millie Janalee.  Her story is huge and long already.  But God is still writing.  He sees her heart and her potential and her future.  He loves her more than I do.  Hard to believe, but it's true.  And I trust Him completely with her little life.  The ups and the downs.

Thankful for His working in our lives through struggles big and small.  The better to see Him with!  Literally.

Festival of Nations

Russ and I decided, when we moved to the St. Louis area, that we would take advantage of all the city has to offer.  Or at least as much as we can.  The end of August we made a family Saturday out of it and headed for Forest Park for the Festival of Nations.  It is a huge multicultural event featuring over 40 ethnic food booths from various countries/regions, dancing and music, arts and crafts, and a bazaar with unique gifts from around the world.

It was also probably the hottest day of the year.  Ha!  We were all soaked by the time we left, but we had such a great time!

Listening to Nigerian music/singing

Trying native food from Iran

One of the residents under Russ is from Iran.  He and his girlfriend (or wife...I can't remember) helped with the Iran food booth.  They offered Russ some food free of charge, and Russ is always game for any kind of food!  Ha!  We had a nice visit with Sam and his girlfriend before continuing our stroll taking in the sights.  There were SO MANY different kinds of people there!  So interesting. And very fun!

We watched some of the Mexican dancers perform for a while.  Then Millie Janalee met some of the ladies waiting for their turn to perform.  She loved their costumes!  The ladies kept telling her to, "Look at Poppy" when Russ was taking her picture.  She was probably very confused.  Ha!

We strolled upon the international bazaar area of the festival.  I loved looking at all the unique gifts from around the world.  There was jewelry, clothing, handmade fans, Russian dolls, and so so much more!  Russ and I decided to let Millie Janalee pick something out.  She chose this sweet little doll.  Since that day, Russ has had to doctor her eyes with gorilla glue.  Millie Janalee was devastated that her "bebbies" had lost her eye.  We learned that coloring her eye in with a Sharpie just would NOT do.  Ha!  Needless to say, the doll was a hit!

She found the one!

"Yep.  That's it Daddy!"

Sweet baby love

We finished our afternoon with a nice big cup of fresh squeezed lemonade while watching the belly dancers perform.  Obviously, this man is having a little too much fun...

We are so blessed to have these opportunities to enjoy as a family!  Thankful for our "year long vacation" as I call it.