Happy 4th of July!

"Wake up in the mornin, feelin like P Diddy..."

All American Baby E

Happy Independence Day!!

Does this girl love her toes or what???

Sweet Miss E ending the day with Grandma

Yeah I Know, I'm Too Old

I debated posting this because, well, let's face it. I'm a bit too old to be obsessed with a teen novel/movie. And it's a bit embarrassing. However, there are those friends of mine who are just as into the Team Jacob/Team Edward debate as I am....you know who you are.

I decided to post because believe it or not, Twilight played an integral part in my pregnancy with Miss E. When I first found out I was pregnant, I had decided to start reading the series. I am normally a very speedy reader. Little did I know how enthralled I was to become that I would finish all 4 600-ish page books in less than 2 weeks. Those books kept me sane through the first few scary weeks of being pregnant. Every time I opened them up, I was completely drawn away from the scary, real world that I was in and into a totally old school romantic one where I decided I wanted my husband to become a vamp and bite me. Shaun found me reading them at all hours of the day. And anywhere I could sit down.

I was also really into white cheddar popcorn at the time. I was eating bagfuls in one sitting. And all my friends knew and laughed at me. Well it turns out that I was sharing that delicious airy snack. When my best friend wanted to borrow and read one of the books, I got a text from her letting me know that when she turned a particular page, out fell some cheesy popcorn! I told her to keep it, morning sickness had set in and popcorn was definitely on the barf list.

So, as you can see, Twilight has left me with very fond memories. I think back to how excited I was to find out we were having a baby. And I think about the wonderful friends and family that held my hand when I was overcome with nervousness before appointments.

In fact, there was a running joke that I was in fact pregnant with a vamp baby and Ella would come out with fangs. Oh only if that were true!

So all this to say, that my best friend scored tickets to a sneak preview event last week of the new movie, Eclipse, the third in the series. There were nine theaters all showing it the night before it was to be released. So a newlywed, a new mom and a very pregnant gal all got together and went to see Eclipse. And we were the oldest people there who didn't have teenage children. Enough said.

A Few of My Favorite Things

The cuteness factor at the Harris House today was just through the darn roof. Ella was dressed in a "Rose" tank with her Guess jean bloomers. The bloomers are 3-6 months but are still a little big on her! And the pants that go with the tank top are huge!

We were supposed to run errands in between eating and naps since the weather was going to get bad in the afternoon. But once I started pawing through her clothes and picked this cutie I absolutely could not resist taking pictures.

We ended up playing on the floor, showing off our outfit to Sassy and thinking about the paparazzi frenzy that would surely ensue if we dared to venture into public. Most likely, a fashion agent would stop and say, "I do declare, that is the cutest baby I have ever seen!" Which by the way, a vintage Southern lady said to me not too long ago...word for word. Extreme Paula Deen accent and all. Seriously. I almost died.

So really, on the the point of this post...I just got so distracted. Ella's favorite things. Simple really. I am sure her expensive tastes will abound as she gets older. In fact, there are a couple of kid-sized Coach and Louis V. purses, still in their decadent bags, just waiting to be held by sweet little hands! But for now, it's anything crinkly and soda bottles. Oh and her feet. Home from the grocery today, these things were magically combined and E played happily for 45 minutes.

Whoa momma!! Crinkles, bottles and toes oh my!

Yep, it's gotta be the crinkles.

Nope, wait...the bottle!

Yeah! Give me the bottle!

Ooop...wait...the piggies...I forgot about the pink little piggies.

Well, maybe I can play with both.

I just cannot get enough of these toes!! I say it all the time and I'm sure everyone around me is ready to hit me over the head to stop the repeating. But of all the amazing parts that are created when a baby is made, I am in love with the piggies. I kiss 'em all the time.

On a side note...like the drool??? Its' shadow is cast on her shirt. Awesome.


Seriously Miss E, you melt my heart.

Even with the crazy hair that somehow manages to always sneak out of your bows.

Walk the Line

I swear since the day this child was born, she has been trying to walk. At only a few weeks old, E was always trying to climb up and over your shoulder. By 2 months, she was completely able to stand on her own with some help. By 4 months, she could stand up while propped against something. Not too long ago, she started putting one foot in front of the other and "walking" with help. Miss E is getting pretty good at it. Mind you, the child refuses to roll over, but sits up and walks. Don't know why since the muscles required to sit up and walk are developed by rolling over. Guess she doesn't feel like she has the time to mess with insignificant rolling over, this baby has places to go!!

Put your little foot, put your little foot, put your little foot right here...

It's Gonna Be a Juicy Summer

Of all the things that are available to entertain your little one, it's the free things that make the biggest impression. Boxes, wrapping paper, plastic cups, these are a few of her favorite things. Today while I was getting ready, I set Miss E on the bathroom counter and felt too lazy to walk all the way back to her nursery to get some toys. So I looked around the counter and did a quick scan and check...what could she play with that she couldn't choke on, didn't have weird chemicals, wouldn't leave marks on her face (as in eyeshadow and liner) and might entertain her for more than two seconds?? Well, Walgreens brand Cotton Rounds, Mandi!! Now I know you aren't suppossed to let babies play with plastic bags, but never fear, I was right by her side.

This was right before she threw the bag on the floor....Harumph, I am sooo done with this mother.

Once I was all made up for the day, I ran into E's room happily shouting, "Today is a Juicy day!!" This of course means nothing other than a Juicy Couture outfit was to adorn my wee one. So behold, her terry Pineapple Juicy dress. Courtesy of Sassy.

Ahhhh...I love a Juicy summer!!

Happy Father's Day

Daddy was gone last week to South Padre for the Texas Police Olympics to play golf. He goes every year, but this year he got to bring back something special. A little T-shirt and onesie for Miss E. When I was little, my dad traveled and always brought a little something back for my sister and I. It was so special, not only to get your Daddy back, but to get a little souvenier from his trip. I thought it was so sweet of Shaun to think of his baby girl and bring her souveniors from his trip. He even had to get the onesie printed with the Lil Princess picture. He told me this after I was kind of suprised that they would have something so 'family' friendly at South Padre!

We started off Father's Day morning trying out bananas!! Ella loves her cereal so much so I figured it was time to try some other foods. This week is bananas, Daddy's choice. I wasn't expecting much and that's good because baby girl wasn't too impressed. You'd have thought we were giving her turpentine by the look on her little face.

Yuck!!

So then we gave her good old yummy cereal and she ate it up. By herself! Just a couple days ago she was grabbing the spoon and with your hand still on it, pulling it to her mouth. But today, she took the spoon OUT of Daddy's hands and put it in her own mouth!! She is clearly ready for some food!! Hamburgers and steak here we come!

There are two videos at the end of today's post of her eating...she just cracks me up!

Then it was on to some fun time with Daddy.

Where's Daddy??

There he is!

Peek-a-boo!!

And then we had dinner with the fam. And I got some oh-so-sweet shots of Daddy with his baby girl. Wrapped around his finger much???

Such a cheese!

Daddy, E and Poppy

Look at that silly face!

Look at that hand! She looks like a little thug...Hey yo Poppy, that was a funny joke, homie...
Can I get some milk up in here??

Smiley faces

These bananas are freakin disgusting!! How could you Daddy??

Yeeeesss..this is sooo much better!

Little Miss E

Our little model poses for the camera in her sweet outfit form Sassy.

Look up

Look down

Off to the side

Ella is showing serious interest in cups these days. Mainly she just holds onto them and throws them on the ground for Mommy to pick up. But today, she actually brought it to her mouth a few times!

Oooohhh...cup!!

Closer, closer




Is it this side that goes in my chomper??






Noooo...it's this side!!!




Aaaannnd...DONE.

Big Girl Eating

Remember how I was so excited about all the possibilities now that Ella can sit up? Well this was one of the reasons...high chairs at restaurants!! I always feel so bad for her having to sit in her car seat so we can eat. So Shaun and I ventured out to Maudie's for breakfast, brought Ella's super cute high chair cover and got ready to chow down.

Miss E wouldn't take her eyes off her Daddy

Ok Mommy, guess I'll give you a smile since you keep whistling at me

This....is a DIVA in training. A diva with food on her sweet little face, but nonetheless, a diva.

Ella has started trying to feed herself. She just loves to eat big girl food! She grabs the spoon and pulls it to her mouth.

Eating her first big girl meal in her big girl seat.

All was going well at Maudies. Miss E had finished eating her delicious cereal, Mommy was enjoying her scrumptious, carb loaded pancakes, when BAM!! I saw the look. I knew it instantly. "Shaun, babe...I think....I think...yep, definitely. She's pooping." She seemed to be fine so I thought I'd finish my meal then change her in the bathroom. No, nope, that was not in the cards. The smell began to creep. Once Shaun noticed it, I realized that it would soon drift to other guest's tables and mix in with their breakfast tacos and coffee.

I immediately pictured people complaining to their waiter of their food tasting just slightly off, not quite sure why, just off. Table after table would notice and Shaun and I would be forced to quietly, inconspicuously sneak out the side door, stinky baby in tow, pretending our food was fine and we have no idea what's going on.

So off to the bathroom we go. As I pick Miss E up, I realize the poop has come out the top front of her diaper. And now it's on me. Greeeeeaaaat. In the bathroom I lay her on the change table and here come the wails. Just loud, sad wails. No reason really. E just likes to cry when I change her at a public restroom. By this point the poo has spread down her legs and up to her chest. Since she is wearing a onesie, I am forced to pull the soiled clothing over her head. Yeah, exactly what your thinking...she now has poop on her hands, arms and hair.

I frantically grab TP because I know I don't have near enough wipes for this extreme situation. Screaming gets worse, poop is getting everywhere. Our waitress pops in behind me, asking if everything is ok. I later find out that when a mom with two girls comes in after me, as the door opened, all you could hear in the restaurant is screaming. My daughter screaming. I tell her I'm fine, but my daughter has poo stuck all in her belly button.

So I do all I can. Clean her up as much as possible, stick her in a clean onesie, call Shaun from the stall and say, "Grab the check, we gotta go." Click.

All the drama wore baby girl out and she fell asleep, covered in poo, in her car seat on the way home. Daddy gives her a bath and she went right down for a nap. Yes, it was quite a memorable morning. Not just for the excitement of watching your infant turn into a baby girl, as she tries to feed herself cereal in her high chair. Once again, poo has made the day.