Where Did May Go?

I cannot believe it will be JUNE tomorrow! Can y'all?! I feel like May just flew by. And all other months for that matter, but lately time seems to be speeding up. So here's a little re-cap of some of the fun we had in may.

 

First off, a picture of my patriotic princess on memorial day. I just love the dress she wore. I've been stocking up on festive outfits for this summer. We love our red white and blue.

 

 

We've spent almost every evening outside. We run around, read the mail, play with chalk, and visit with neighbors.

 

 

We've had lots of fun with friends. How cute are these two?! Most of the kiddos in our small group are older, but Emma Claire and miss Gracie are pretty close in age. They love each other.

 

 

Speaking of small group, Emma Claire found a flower costume in the middle of our discussion on evening. So you know I put her in it. She was not amused. But she looked adorable.

 

 

We've been to lots of play dates with friends.

 

 

Inviting boys over already ;-)

 

We grilled out last week and it was wonderful. LOVE summertime.

 

On memorial day EC and I went over to friends house for a cookout. After dinner we headed outside to roast smores. Let me tell you, needing a jacket outside on memorial day is a foreign concept to me!

 

Emma Claire wanted to try out ALL of the chairs by the fire.

 

 

 First smore! Yes, it was blue. ;-) We had red, white, and blue marshmellows.

 

 Love that smile.

 

Poor Dixie. Such a trooper.

 

 

We have actually had several cool days. Long pants and jackets in MAY?! So strange!

 

Family walk.

 

Her park hair is the best.

 

She loves me, I promise.

 

We have an Auntie Annies pretzles in our Wal-Mart. I just want to kiss the person who thought of this idea. Best. Ever.

 

Momma's girl.

 

I took this a few days ago before leaving for North Carolina. She is just looking so BIG these days to me.

Meeting Savannah Jane

 

 Tuesday morning the hubs, EC, and I loaded up the car and hit the road to visit the amazing Allie and her growing family. I am so thankful that we are only six hours from them. When she told me she was pregnant with her second I'm pretty sure my response was "I'll be there when you have the baby!" ha! While I wasn't there for the birth I was so excited we got to go visit on the day they headed home from the hospital.

 

 

Emma Claire did great in the car and was such a trooper. We took one pit stop on the way there to Cracker Barrel so that the hubs and I could get some sweet tea and a book on tap. Sadly no food for us. I packed our lunches and didn't want them to go to waste. However, Emma Claire did make it out of the store with a new stuffed friend. And of course we spent some time rocking before we got back in the car.

 

 

We made it to North Carolina in pretty good time and I couldn't wait to get my hands on miss Savannah Jane.

 

 

She is SUCH a doll baby, and a little peanut. I just fell in love with her instantly.

 

 

As for Emma Claire and Raleigh Grace, they picked up playing together like they were together yesterday. Didn't even skip a beat.

 

After visiting for a bit we headed to the rock store for some good ole fashioned barbeque.

 

 

Both of these girls are just smitten with Savannah Jane.

 

All SEVEN of us! Oh and this was Savannah Jane's first outing!

 

These two keep us laughing, that's for sure.

 

 

Now my baby girl was in LOVE with Savannah Jane. She wanted to kiss her, hold her hand, hold her, share with her, and was always looking for her if she went out of her eyesight. She cracked me up.

 

And look at those scrunchy baby legs! Are they not the cutest?! And her little face!

 

On Wednesday SJ had her first doctor's appointment so the hubs, EC, and I hit up some stores and did some shopping while Allie and the fam were busy. I found some great deals at a few consignment shops for EC, and found a few dresses for this summer for myself at TJmaxx. Apparently North Carolina TJmaxx > Virginia TJmaxx.

 

Once Allie, her husband, and the girls were done at the doctor's office we met up and headed to lunch. Emma Claire and Raleigh Grace held hands as we walked to the restaurant. Is that not the CUTEST?!

 

Oh Emma Claire, you are too much. Look at that popped foot.

 

And one more of the reason for our trip. This sweet baby is just beautiful. I was able to squeeze in a newborn shoot on Wednesday afternoon. I'm about to edit them as soon as I finish this post! Can't wait to share!

 

Even though it was a whirlwind trip I am SO glad we went down there. We definitely had fun and made memories. Now it's time to plan my next trip!

 

We got home last night around 4am and thankfully Emma Claire slept in until almost 10am today so we were able to get some rest! And she's napping as I type so I'm getting to blog/edit pictures/AND catch up on Bachelorette! Perfect.

 

Chit Chat with EC

Almost right as we hit the magical 18 month mark Emma Claire's speech exploded. She talks constantly now and let me tell you, girlfriend has a lot to say! It's been fun hearing her say new words each day. My favorite word she says right now is "honey". She picked it up a few weeks ago when I was looking for the hubs and calling out "honey?" throughout the house. She started following me and saying "Huh-neeeee". It's adorable. She even calls him that on her own sometimes. Or if she can't find him she will call out "honey?".

 

She is still signing and will say and sign certain words, some words she just signs, and some words she doesn't sign but speaks them. She is also quite the little mockingbird right now. She will attempt to say pretty much any word we ask her to. Language development in young children is so fascinating to me. I started keeping a list of her "bigger" words she has been saying recently. Some "Emma Claire anecdotals", if you will ;-) I can't help it. It's the teacher in me.

 

Emma Claire New Words 18 Months

 

- Honey {Video HERE}

- Flower

- Happy

- Open

- Apple

- Outside

- Shy

- Chicken

- Slide

- Cracker

- Ribbit Ribbit {hilarious}

- Thank you {followed by welcome}

- Other

- Doctor

- Pizza "pibba"

- Popsicle

- Time

 

And in case you need more proof that our little peanut has a BIG personality, here are some funny pictures from our Costco trip this morning. She just cracks us up constantly.

Whenever we are out Emma Claire waves and says "hi!" to everyone. She will also say "bye bye" whenever people pass us and don't acknowledge her. I just love watching her grow and develop each day.

 

 

Sunday

On Sunday we got to church extra early. So early in fact the nursery wasn't even open yet. I wanted to snap a few pictures of Emma Claire but couldn't find my phone. Lucky for me I had my big camera with me so I snapped a few of EC in her cute police officer smocked dress. It's one of my favorites.

 

 

 

Leaving church and holding Daddy's hand. She looks so big to me here.

 

After church Emma Claire enjoyed a little snack and watched Sesame Street. I loved how she propped up her little foot on her leg.

 

 

Love her.

 

She is just SO animated. I love all of her faces.