Fourth of July and some extra...

Fourth of July was so much fun this year! We had a blast celebrating our freedom and country in which we live with family and friends! Happy birthday America!

We started off at Chase's great grandfather's house, or Pappaw as we call him. He has a cookout every year with an array of various homemade ice creams for dessert! (My favorite part!) I had strawberry and it was divine! Chase got his favorite, banana, and Augusta ended up with chocolate--something for everyone! And that wasn't even close to all the kinds! The meat that was grilled was pretty yummy too! 

We can home for a little (hopefully) nap time, didn't happen for anyone but Chase! But after about an hour at home, we headed to the grove for kiddie activities! Augusta got to play in bounce houses, enjoy the petting zoo, dance in a bubble machine, and enjoy a train ride! She even got her face painted for the first time--she got an American flag. I think her favorite part though was running around with her friends Maddie and Turner! 

Next we went to dinner with all our friends. It was yummy but a little challenging since it was close to 7 and Augusta was running on 30 min of nap time! But we made it and headed to the baseball stadium. 

Fireworks were great inside the baseball stadium. Augusta bought a glow necklace to wear for the show. The fireworks went off as American pride/firework themed music played. It was great! Even better was Calla slept through the whole thing! Was worried she'd be scared but she was a champ. Augusta watched from her Daddy's lap and loved it. She's still talking about it days later! It was a great day and we had a blast celebrating with family and friends! 

The next day we headed to the Memphis zoo! This was Calla's first trip, and she was an angel the entire time--can't say she really saw too many animals, but she loved being out and strolling.

We went with some friends so that was fun for us and Augusta! She loved seeing all the animals. Her favorite was the gorilla. She also seemed to enjoy looking at the snakes in the herpetarium. The polar bear swimming was another favorite! 

When we finally left, we were exhausted! It didn't take long for the girls to pass out, and Chase and I were wishing we were close behind. Too bad the zoo is so far from home! Even though it was tiring, it was the best day. Weather was beautiful and we had tons of fun! Couldn't ask for a better experience! 

3 months old

Cannot believe another month with my sweet angel baby Calla has flown by! And it really has flown. I think the not being in school is making the time pass more quickly! But I'm so enjoying all the time I'm getting with my girls so I'm not complaining!

Calla has gotten so big over the last month! She now weighs about 12 1/2 pounds! She wanting to scoot. Can roll from her back to her side (almost stomach if she could just get that arm free!) and she can rotate herself around 360 degrees! She's growing way too fast! 

She's also getting better in the car, yay!! She still does like being forced in there when she's been in there for the majority of the day--she's not an on-the-go kinda girl. But still, we'll take any improvement on tolerance. 

Calla took a bottle for the first time this month. She did great with it! I'm relieved since she'll have to do that once I head back to school! She also gotten much more vocal. We're still getting "ah", but also some "ha" , "ugh", and some "goo"! Love watching the speech develop! 

Calla is also a super wiggle worm! She loves to move those arms and legs! They are flailing around all the time! It's just like she wants to be in motion! Maybe she wants to be keeping up with big sissy! 

Calla still sporadically takes a paci. Mostly you have to hold it in for her, but she does like it. She's also been caught sucking her thumb a few times, though nothing is consistent on that front. 

Calla went in the pool for the first time this month too! She really enjoyed it. That was until big sissy splashed her in the face. She loves water, just not in her eyes! 

She's also a hiccup queen! She had the hiccups so much! At least twice a day most days! I also says hiccups mean you're growing. Well I hope my baby isn't growing that fast! Please stay little for a bit Miss Calla! 

Things Calka enjoys: being held--All.The.Time! (But we wouldn't have it any other way--love my spoiled girl). She loves her play mat and her swing. She likes laying and having something to kick/push off of--she does this a lot to her daddy. She also likes seeing her family and smiling at them! She also loves her hands! Much like her big sister before her, she is a hand eater! So if you see my baby gnawing her hand, no she's probably not hungry, this is just her favorite toy! 

Things she's not that into: putting lotion on--not a huge fan, and I don't even put it straight on her so it's not super cold, maybe it's the sliminess. I'll still include the car seat because she's not totally cool on it just yet--but it is getting better! 

We love you, Calla Jane! You are an amazing baby! We love watching you grow and change--every little thing is such an accimplishment! We thank God for choosing us to be your parents and letting us take this journey with you! 

Alyssa's and Brad's Couples Shower

This past week my sister spent the entire week with us! We had a great find filled with play, laughs, and of course wedding prep. Cannot believe it's like 3 weeks till she's married! So ready!

Saturday we had a couples shower for her and Brad, just something small so some friends from down here could have a chance to celebrate with them. 

We had a picnic in our front yard. Chase and I prepared all the food. Menu was tenderloin sliders, roasted broccoli and tomato salad, and baked potatoes. For dessert, Chase's mom brought her banana pudding that everyone raves over! And again it did not disappoint. 

Mom helped me with all the decorations. She did all the flower and even brought up some shabby chic doors for a backdrop. She also made the cornhole bean bags. Alyssa and I helped her with the painting of the cornhole boards. 

In lieu of a guest book, I had guests fill out showelibs. Much like madlibs but just a short shower related story I typed up and printed. These are being bound into a book for the couple to read later on! I think it's a fun little keepsake! :)

Being outside, kids has plenty if space to run and we even brought Augusta's slide around for them to play on. Chase and his dad even made cornhole boards, which we had fun playing with too! 

After dinner we moved inside and opened the gifts. They got lots of great things that they needed--from place settings to towels! It was a fun filled night of celebration. It was lots of work, but so worth it! Afterwards though, Chase and I were both dead on our feet! But we wouldn't of traded it for anything. The night was amazing and we loved cekebrating Alyssa and Brad! I hope God continues to bless this couple as they move forward in their journey together. 

Summer fun...so far!

Summer 2014 is off to a running start and we are thoroughly enjoying it! We girls are so glad to have our boy finally off with us! We've had about 2 full weeks of summer and it's been active so far!

Chase had baseball camp and baseball games last week. They've also started the summer weightlifting regime so there's that. But it's been fun. The girls and I have even caught a game! 

Augusta's summer tumble class started last week. I'm excited to be able to go watch since I had to miss last time! 

We've also had fun watching Olemiss play their way through a regional, to a super regional, and now on to Omaha for the College World Series! We had a baseball coaches fish fry during the super regional and it was a blast! When it was over Augusta was crying for her friends to stay! She's such a sweetums! 

The girls and I also visited my mom's family at our bi-annual family reunion. The summer reunion is always at Tishomingo State Park, but this year they moved it back to the lodge. It's a neat place to visit because it's where all the reunions were when I was small. It's also where my parents got married. It was great to see everyone, hopefully we won't have a schedule conflict and will make it back for Christmas!

Also, these exciting things have happened! Chase got Augusta a new swimming pool and she's had a blast swimming and sliding in it! She's loved planting and picking strawberries with her Gammie. We've also visited the park and Augusta learned how to swing on a big girl swing--she's growing too fast! 

We also planted a garden...and by we of course I mean Chase! ;) Can't wait for our plants to start producing--especially the tomatoes! 

That's about it so far--coming up we have our shower for Alyssa and Brad, so that'll be an exciting time to celebrate them! Wedding is a month away--so excited! More summer fun to come! 

Augusta update!

So now that Calla is bringing you her monthly updates, I feel like I still need to post on all the changes that are going on with Augusta since there are so many right now and I don't want to forget anything!!

Last stats I've posted for her I'm sure we're around her 2 year birthday. Well now my big girl is 2 1/2!! Lots have changed in the past 6 months! She's now 31 1/2 pounds and 38 inches!  

She's almost completely potty trained too--I would say completely but we still have on average one accident a day and aren't trained through the night. Also this child is into wearing her diapers! She throws a fit when she has to wear panties most of the time. But as long as she's staying dry we'll use these diapers until we run out. 

She also enjoys her tumbling class, playing at the park, playing with her cousin Maddie. She likes dress up and pretend play with her lalaloopsy dolls and Mickey Mouse figures. She likes her games on the iPad, listening and dancing to music, and watching movies.  She also likes eating meals picnic style on a blanket in the floor. And cuddling with her family! :) 

She's the best big sister! She loves kissing Calla and being right in her face! Ha! She likes to comfort her when she's upset and try to give her her paci and toys. But in true big sister fashion, she also likes to aggravate Calla by getting a little too close or hugging a little too tightly. But her love and protectiveness of her little sister are evident! 

Not much has changed on the eating front. She is still super picky--loves pizza, chicken tenders/nuggets, Mac and cheese, and bacon. Her favorite cereal is Special K red berries. She loves chocolate milk and cranapple juice. She also loves lemonade and chick-fil-a milkshakes. She loves get fruits, especially strawberries, blueberries, and bananas. 

She's getting more opinionated too. So with that comes more dislikes--like being told no! She's also super sensitive to stinky smells--she'll gag. She also gags on textures of foods she doesn't like. 

Love this sweet girl and the little last she's becoming. She's truly a joy and hearing what's on her heart and mind are some of my greatest pleasures! 

Here's a run-down of a few favorites:

TV show: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Lalaloopsy

Movie: tangled (she calls it tangled up) and Barbie as Rapunzel

Restaurant: Newks (for pink lemonade)

Clothes: Minnie Mouse pjs and purple mickey shirt 

Toys: mini lalaloopsy dolls

Activity: playing with play dough

Outside activity: blowing bubbles and swimming

Food: fried chicken tenders

Drink: chocolate milk and sweet tea

Store: wal-mart

Book: the very hungry caterpillar and search and find books (umizoomi and mickey)