Memorial Day Weekend

Gramma and Aunt Kimie came into town this past weekend to visit. We took a "girls' road trip" to Birmingham to visit our friends, Basim, Pam and Chase Ajlouny. Lainie and Daddy stayed home while our friend Bennie came to visit with them. While in Birmingham, we had such a great time visiting, eating and shopping with the Ajlouny family! They spoiled us rotten while we were there. Lainie enjoyed spending time with Gramma and Aunt Kimie on Sunday when we returned. She loves both of them so much!

Lainie and her Aunt Kimie


Lainie, Gramma and Aunt Kimie


Gramma and Aunt Kimie left Monday morning to head home, and we headed over to the Elam's house to celebrate Memorial Day. They cooked out and everyone went swimming in their pool. Lainie still isn't quite sure what to think about swimming. She stood in the baby pool with Kade, Reagan, and Maddie Grace, but was hesitant to do much more than that. When Daddy took her to the big pool, she just wrapped her arms around his neck and kept her head on his shoulder! Looks like it might take a while to get her to really swim. :)

Eating a little something before the big swim

All the kiddos swimming in the baby pool

Hanging on for dear life!

I think she prefers a big, bubbly bath over swimming anyday!

Sweet Lainie Bug

Justin and I keep some books in our room for Lainie so she can read while we are getting ready in the morning. The other morning, I was getting ready and I looked into our room and found Lainie reading books to Baby and Lambie. Of course, I had to get a picture because it was so sweet. She is such a "little mama!"



We just love this little girl more than words can express. She is such a blessing!

Lainie's Last Day of Mother's Day Out

Lainie had such a great year this year at Mother's Day Out. She learned so much and LOVED her teachers. I don't know what she would have done without Mrs. Sylvia. She would cry whenever she would leave the room, so Lainie was spoiled quite often and taken around school to do things. She even attended the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon with Mrs. Sylvia when she was supposed to be in her classroom. :) She was so well taken care of and we had such a good experience this year. I can only hope for a great year next year with her 2-year old classroom. Here are some pictures of her last day of school with her teachers. She had a Balloons, Bubbles and Ice Cream party before she left!

Lainie with Mrs. Sylvia and Mrs. Laurie


Lainie loved Mrs. Sylvia (who she calls Sassy!) and Mrs. Sylvia loved Lainie Bug!

A Wonderful Mother's Day Weekend!

I had such a wonderful Mother's Day this year! Calie, Jamie, Paige and I decided earlier this year that we wanted to take a "Girls Vacation" and decided to do it on Mother's Day weekend. We booked a package called "Pretty in Pink" at the Don Cesar Resort in St. Petersburg, FL. We left last Thursday and returned on Mother's Day. We had such a wonderful time. While we were there, we were treated to a 50-minute massage, breakfast each morning, and had drinks (vigin for me, of course!) and lunch by the pool or on the beach each day. The weather was awesome!! We had such an amazing time.

When I got home, Justin and Lainie had made me the cutest handpainted plate and mug for Mother's Day. Justin put Lainie's footprint on the plate and wrote Mommy loves LaLa around the rim of it. Lainie painted the mug herself! Both are absolutely precious and something I will always cherish. They also got cards for me and a cookie cake....YUM!! I truly am so blessed with a wonderful family and very special friends.

Here are a few pics from the vacation....

Our resort


Hanging out on the beach


Having dinner on Friday night


In our hotel lobby after dinner

Eating is Exhausting

Last weekend, we sat Lainie in her booster seat to eat lunch. Justin was downstairs with her, so I went upstairs to get some cleaning done. When I came downstairs, this is how I found her! Poor thing!

Fun with Kade and Jake

Our good friends, Calie and Heath, have two little boys who Lainie absolutely loves. Kade is almost 3 and Jake is 4 months old. Lainie always talks about Kade and loves to have him come play with her, but she also loves Baby Jake. Lainie is definitely a nurturer these days and always wants to help take care of the babies. Baby Jake came to stay with us one day, and Lainie was such a big helper. She wanted to read her Mickey Mouse books to him, rock him, talk to him, pat his head, etc. She is definitely going to be a great big sister when Emmie gets here! :)

Kade and Lainie getting clean in a big, bubbly bath!


They loved coloring with tub crayons!


Lainie taking great care of Baby Jake. She loved talking to him.


Lainie showing Jake how to "Rock-Rock"

Muffins with Mom

Lainie and I had such a great time at Muffins with Mom. I went and ate breakfast with her, and then she gave me the cutest little card for Mother's Day. They used her handprint to create a little flower coming out of a flower pot and put that on the front of the card. I love it! Here are a few pictures of us before we left for school.