Cake in the Shower for Big Bro

When we found out we were expecting, I certainly didn't expect a baby shower because this isn't our first baby.  I was so surprised and excited when my amazing sister-in-law called to say that she felt like we needed to be showered, especially with everything going on with Ty's health!  So this past Sunday afternoon we headed to Chattanooga for a fun afternoon at Sarah's house!

This is me and my lovely sister-in-law.  I assure you, she is the hostess with the mostest!  Sister knows how to throw a shower!  Cutest decorations, cake, delicious food, and fun!

 

This was Ava Grace's first baby shower experience.  On the way there, Mom and I were explaining what a baby shower was.  Ava Grace, more than a little confused, asked, "So, we are going to eat cake IN the shower?"  It was too funny.  She caught on pretty quick that "shower" was a lot like "party" and that worked for her!  The best part for both of my sweet girls was undoubtedly getting to play with their two best cousins who happen to correspond, more or less, in age!  The littles were wound up and rip-roaring wild and the bigs enjoyed a sleep over the night before the shower and a lot of fun play time!  We even got to play with Brady, my girls' cousin-in-law... he's such a little charmer and right there in age between Kenslee and Ava Grace!

I didn't take many pictures and as I sit here to blog realize I have no pictures of the cake, food, cousins, guests... just lots of me and gifts! I guess I was just having too good of a time to be behind a camera!  I'm so thankful my mom was able to take the pictures that she did with my camera and I know my sister-in-law took several that she will share later, thank goodness.

It was a wonderful shower.  We are so excited about each tiny little outfit, the baby gear and necessities that we were given, and we were down right blown away at the more than $400 in gas cards (above) that everyone pooled together to help us when we are back and forth to Vanderbilt so much!  What a blessing.  The best of the shower, however, was most certainly getting to spend time with family and friends that I do not get to see often enough.  I'm so grateful that each of you took time out of your busy schedule to come and to so generously shower us with things for baby Ty.  You'll never know how special that was!

On a bittersweet note, that was my last trip back home until after Ty is here!  So all you family and friends that I already miss better be thinking about a trip to Nashville to see us!  I have clearance to take Ava Grace to Cincinnati for one more laser surgery on her birthmark coming up and after that I am no longer allowed to travel.  My door is always open though - so come on up y'all!

Phone Photo Unload

My phone is full of pictures and I try to load them to the computer and clear them off the phone on a pretty regular basis.  The key word there is "try."  It never actually happens.  I usually only manage to do it every 3 or 4 months.  Today, I did just that.  So, here are a few of my favorite phone photos from this summer...

Grandmommy and Ava Grace picking flowers.

The pool!

You know I had tons of pool pictures.

I'm only sharing a few, but had to share this one of our sweet neighbor and friend, Kassidy!  Both our girls love her and think she is the coolest.... because, well, she is!  Have I mentioned today that we have the best neighbors ever?  Ever. 

This picture is posted as proof that I exist.  It's a running joke at our house because I am always the one taking the picture and thus never in them!  

These two have gotten crazy close over the summer.  Chris is just plain and simply the best. daddy. ever.

If one paci is good, two is better, right?

Playing at the park with Papaw.

Ava Grace is a little dare devil!  She loves to slide and swing!!

This was the summer of the scooter for Lily!  This thing went everywhere with use!

Okay, one more pool picture!  This water bug is all about "wimming."  She even jumped off the diving board at Grandmommy and Papaws!

Too cool for school...

LOVES Mommy's glasses!

Chris and Lily at her favorite place...

the ZOO of course!

Fun with Daddy at the gym!

Sister can put away some milk!

The best view is from daddy's shoulders!

Okay, a couple more pool pictures.

They are just too darn cute!

Future golfer?

Ava Grace loves to go to the golf course and ride in the golf cart and "help" Daddy golf.  Last time we went, she insisted on bringing her own clubs and playing alongside Chris.  It was too cute and she was so proud of herself!

Fishing at the park.

Painting

2nd day of 4th grade!  I forgot to take a picture when we picked her up on her first day... ooops!  She is getting so big and grown up... I STILL can't believe she's a fourth grader.  Every time I say it sounds weird!

Lauren and Courtney's new addition, Connor!

Me and Connor

Courtney and Connor!

He is the CUTEST little thing!  I was blown away at how tiny he was.  I swear I don't remember Ava Grace being that small.  Too. Too. Sweet.

Ava Grace's new, most-favorite-in-all-the-world thing to do is play "chi-chen" (kitchen).  We moved Lily's play kitchen to the loft and Ava Grace has played with it every single day.  She takes me to the bottom of the stairs every single morning and asks to go up and play kitchen.  This morning I snapped this picture of her serving me a breakfast of hot dogs, chicken and a very large carrot.  Yummy.

Dinner and a movie!

This little plastic chair and table, that we got for the deck, have been loved and used all summer!  Inside AND out!

Happy Easter Weekend...

This weekend I headed down to Chattanooga to spend some time with my family.

First stop... Redbud Farm.

My sister and brother-in-law now call this beautiful farm home.  My mom and I headed over there to do some yard work and play!

My mom and sister did most all of the work... Ava Grace and I did a lot of the playing.  We climbed trees, picked flowers, threw rocks in the creek and had a great time just being outside.

Ava Grace absolutely loves outside. 

We walked out to see Malcolm who was working in the field splitting wood from some trees he had recently cut down.

We took a walk to the horse pasture and discovered lots of things along the way. 

This is Sky, one of the four horses that my sister owns. 

Ava Grace wanted to pet the horses so bad, but was a little afraid to do so.  After a while, she got up the nerve to touch them.  

Easter Sunday we headed back to the farm!  Bentlee and Kenslee were in coordinating outfits, as always, and looked so adorable!

They brought an outfit for Ava Grace that coordinated as well!  We sure do love all of our girls and missed Lily terribly!! 

After a wonderful lunch of traditional Easter food, we headed outside to look for eggs!  I think we had about 75 hidden, just for the 3 girls! The eggs were stuffed with candy and also dollar and half-dollar coins! 

The girls had a great time hunting eggs and the weather held!  It didn't start raining until a few minutes after we all went back inside! 

This was Ava Grace's first egg hunt and she got 16 eggs in her basket! 

Thank God for little girls! 

Somehow a few of our family members escaped the camera!  I did snag a quick family shot though. 

...and a picture of my sister and I!

It was a happy Easter and this year we were more aware than ever of the reason we celebrate and the blessings that God is bringing as he works in our lives.

More Christmas...

I am playing catch up (as usual)!

 Christmas wore us all out, but it sure was fun!

 We kicked off the season and the celebrating here!

Chris' family goes to Gatlinburg every year in December!  This year I suggested we get a chalet instead of hotel and we found this beautiful place up int he mountains!  It was a great 3 story cabin with a king suit for each couple!  It was great!

The only down side was the rather treacherous drive up the mountain to get to it and it was a bit of a drive down to Gatlinburg!  I think next year we'll do a chalet again, but something closer to town!

The best part of Gatlinburg is always the time spent together!  Plus everything is decked out for Christmas and it is a great way to start the Christmas season!

 This year Jessica is expecting (much like me last year) and is too close to her due date to travel on Christmas!  Sooo... we celebrated with her there in Gatlinburg!

Ava Grace got her first taste of opening gifts and she liked it!

 Lily, a seasoned pro, liked it too!  ;-)

 The girls both got such fun and thoughtful gifts from Jessica and John!

I think the winner for Lily was this UT mascot stuffed animal that folds in on itself and becomes an orange ball!  She has turned into the biggest UT fan in the family!  You know I am loving that!  She asked for UT stuff for Christmas and tried to steal the UT gift at the dirty Santa at our family gathering!  She says she pulls for Tennessee because that is where she is from!  Believe it or not, we are even converting Chris to pull for Big Orange!!

After Gatlinburg, Christmas seemed to rush at us all at once!  The weeks between Gatlinburg and Christmas flew by in a flurry of shopping, decorating, holiday parties, and fun!

Ava Grace caught on quick to the unwrapping business! Although the first box or two of the season were all about the paper and bow, by her second round she had figured out that good things were in those boxes too!!

Lily enjoyed helping her get her paper started and speeding her along when needed!

I sure do love these girls!

Christmas in Chattanooga this year turned a little from tradition!  We had Lily before Christmas instead of after this year, so the family adjusted and we celebrated on the 23rd and 24th!  Kenslee and my SIL above enjoyed the musical book that Grandmommy got for both little girls. 

Ava Grace also got her first Bitty Baby!  She loves her baby.  Just today she held her up against her and patted her back and kissed her head.  It was so sweet I almost got a tear in my eye!!

The big girls hand fun unwrapping a big box each full of individually wrapped gifts from Grandmommy and Papaw!  At the bottom of the box full of little gifts was the biggest surprise... a $50 gift card to American Girl!  The girls immediately climbed up in Grandmommys lap with the computer and started shopping!!

Although Ava Grace got the hang of opening gifts, she didn't quite understand that ALL of the gifts weren't for her.  Soo... she helped.... everyone.  :-) 

I am almost done with Christmas pictures!  Just have Christmas morning left and then we'll catch up on Ava Grace's birthday!  This birthday right next to Christmas thing is a challenge!