Spring fever!

Last Sunday was beautiful, so after church we took Ali back up to our church to play on the playground and she loved it! Next year, she will go to "school" there, so I was excited to get her to play on the same playground she will be spending a lot of time on for years to come! (just like her mama did - although it wasn't this nice back then!) Here are a few pictures of Ali taking over the playground! :) This was her favorite part - she loved looking out at us from the window!

Ali also LOVES to swing on the swing! (And getting her out is always REALLY fun too for us! :))

I don't know if all kids are like this (since we only have one so far!) but Ali LOVES being outside. It's crazy to me how much she loves it - I mean, she would be out there 24 hours a day if she had a choice. (Maybe she gets it from her brother, Baxter who pretty much spends 24 hours outside a day!) Every time we walk past the door she tries as hard as she can go get out the door - and, if I ever go out and come back in without letting her go out - she is not a happy camper! Very unlike her Mama, who would prefer to be inside most of the time - except for this beautiful tease of Spring weather that makes everyone want to be outside! Sometimes, when I am cooking dinner - she tries to sneak out and I watch her from my kitchen window! It is hilarious! I have to keep my eye on this little one! It sure will be fun when she can run outside and play by herself as I cook (although I don't really want to say that b/c I don't want her to grow up any more! She's still my little baby!) - but until then, Ali and I are trying to find a happy medium to give her plenty of time outside but also to give her mama some time to lay down on the couch. I am looking forward to my second trimester so hopefully I will have a lot more energy to spend time outside in the beautiful sun to play with my energetic princess!

Little reasons I love my life as a mom

There are so many little moments in my day that I wish I could press pause - or maybe just rewind and repeat - over and over. Pretty much the funniest person in my world is my (almost) 16 month old daughter. And she knows she's funny too! There are so many little things I wish could put on here - but they just can't be captured in a pictures. It's the little things like when I turn up a song on Q100 on the radio, only to turn around in my car and see Ali with her arms in the air, moving up and down dancing. She's a regular dance machine - whenever she hears music! And, that huge smile she gets on her face when she catches me watching her just melts my heart. It's also the sound of her voice when I see her pick up a phone - any phone - and start saying "heh - Whoa". There was one day I went to the doctor and had to wait forever and was in the worst mood until I saw I had a voicemail and checked it only to hear Ali's voice on the other end just saying "heh-whoa? heh-whoa?" about 20 times. I am not sure I will ever delete that message!

There are so many things I treasure about being Ali's mom. From the kisses she blows us to her real kisses or the moments we roll on the floor as I tickle her and she laughs so hard I never want to stop to the times she just wants me to hold her and sit together and read. Too many to mention for fear of boring anyone who may read this (if anyone even does???). It's hard not to start off each day in a great mood - every morning, I am greeted by a little girl who makes me feel so special when she gets so excited to see me at 7:30 in the morning. Who else would start jumping up and down and get an ear to ear grin at the frightening sight of me that early in the morning? :) There is nothing better in the world (in my opinion) that this - and I feel so blessed that we have so much to look forward to in this coming year (and year after that and after that, etc etc). The Lord has blessed our little family immensely!

And then there were four....

Ali has some news to share......

Cake & Ice Cream!

Yesterday, we went to Ali's friend, May Elizabeth's birthday party at Jump-its. I was not sure that Ali would actually get on the jumping machines - but she did, (with a little help of new friends and her mom and dad - especially Ryan!) and she loved it!

On this jumper - you had to climb all the way up on one side (and it was steep!) so you could slide down the other side. It was way too steep for Ali to get up so I went down with her once and so did Ryan. Here are some pictures of her attempting to get up - although, as soon as she got to the first stepping "stone" and slipped back down -she would clap. I guess she considered that sliding! Watching for friends to come down the slide (and making sure we are not in the way!)
Ali clapping for her friends.
This melts my heart. This is what Ali does when she says "yaaaaaaaay!" - it's so cute!
Our turn! (at the top of the slide)
Ali and her daddy getting ready to go down the big slide!

Here they go!
Getting brave towards the end and climbing through the tunnels!
Ali climbing through the tunnel with some older friends looking out for her. (Mary Cobb McGee and Zoey Parker)

Happy birthday May Elizabeth!

Finding Nemo

Yesterday, we took a Patrick family trip to the Georgia Aquarium for the day and had a great time! Honestly, I was a little nervous if Ali would even enjoy it or be too overwhelmed - but she absolutely LOVED it and was such a great little girl. She, of course, wanted to walk around the whole time and lead us to the different areas - but we had such a fun day admiring all of the fish!! We even ended the day last night watching Finding Nemo to cap off our fun day! We hope to go back again soon!

Waiting in line... Being patient, despite the crowd!
Ali pointing at all of the fish right when we went through the entrance - she was already amazed at her first glimpse!
The tunnel of water! (Ali loved this part!)

Ali with her daddy in the tunnel surrounded by fish!

In awe!

This was probably Ali's favorite spot of the entire aquarium. We got to stand right by the glass window where the sea lions were. She was in the perfect spot b/c they kept doing laps and coming right up to the window where we were - and they were right at the perfect level where she could see them! Honestly, the first time they came swimming fast up to the window - it made me jump a little - but she LOVED it and was cracking up laughing saying "weeeee" everytime they went by! It was so much fun.

Getting a little worn out - but still admiring the fish!

In the gift shop - as we left the Aquarium. Ali could not decide which Beluga Whale to get - but they both made for good pillows for this sleepyhead in the meantime!
Passed out on the ride home - so sleepy that the fell asleep in the middle of a snack! (with her hand in the snack container!)
What a fun day!

My little Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day! Here are some pictures of Al Valentine's morning - dressed for the day but still in her cute slippers! Ali with her Valentine

Just some pictures of Ali

Here are just some recent candid shots of Miss Ali.

Feeding her daddy (she loves to feed us):

No, I have not just been eating chocolate....

Playing with her favorite car.....

Learning to finger paint!
Playing ball with Baxter before time to go to bed
Time to go to bed!
Ali LOVES to brush her teeth - seriously. If she sees her toothbrush, she desperately tries to get it or to get us to give it to her so she can brush her teeth. I hope that continues...
What is this??