Thankful for Hand-me-downs

On Saturday, we headed out to Kennesaw to have lunch with my brother, sis-in-law, and nieces. It's hard to get together often with everyone's busy schedules, and my brother and hubby both travel a lot for their jobs... throw kids and Blakely in the mix and it's definitely a challenge to see each other as much as we'd like to! But, when we do it's always a great time.

My mom got the girls new outfits from a cute little boutique in Columbia, SC. Here's Lily sporting her new smocked dress and ruffled pants. She's so cute I could eat her.

 

Once Gray woke up from her nap, we went down to their neighborhood pool for ice cream social. Afterwards, we took the girls over to the playground. It was around 90 outside and humid as anything. We were there maybe 2 minutes, and Gray starts walking off to the car by herself and says "It's hot, let's go home".

Smartest 2 year old ever.

Uncle Hubs and Lily walking back. She was into his glasses.

Hi Aunt Ash!

While we were there, they loaded us up with baby gear. It's so helpful to have people like this in your life. Having a baby and preparing for one is a big challenge, and I love help when I can get it! I'm definitely not one of those people that has to have new everything. They gave us hooded bath towels, crib toys, a bath tub, a humidifier, a breastfeeding pillow, and Gray's old crib. Gray is now in her big girl princess bed. I'm so grateful for family!

Hubs put the crib together when we got home that night. :) It's official now.....

He surprised me while I was sleeping Saturday night and also whipped together baby girl's dresser. I was shocked to see it all put together, and surprised I didn't wake up to any of the noise, ha. Heavy sleeper for sure.

And the hardware should arrive today!  

Random Thoughts

OK, I have to post on this today because I sat down last night to watch the Bachelor and was annoyed, as usual.  Am I the only person in America that thinks these shows are CHEEEEEEEEEEEEESE fest?  Not to mention make the contestants look ridiculous in their quest for a man?  Seriously, the Bachelor completely devalues women and makes them look like pieces of meat in my opinion.  Is this seriously 2013 or 1840? I can hardly watch this show anyways without feeling embarrassed for everyone on it.  It's ridiculous. Have I said that?  Could you in real life go on a date with a guy you knew was dating about 30 other women, and you knew all of those women?  Um, no.

Nonetheless, the hubs and I will tune into these shows sometimes for comedic relief.  We will make bets during any given episode like *how long before the bachelor is seen shirtless, staring into outer space? *how many times will they jump off something into water? *how many times will they sit by a fire? *how many times will the words "this is real" and "i'm falling" be used? *how long before they dance before a live band?  etc.  The show is now so predictable and filled with unrealistic fluff that I don't know how anyone could take it seriously! That's just my two cents.  End rant.

In other news, the hubs had dinner with Jake Gyllenhaal last night. Ok, not with him per se, but at the table next to him.  They were at Optimist Restaurant here in Atlanta, which is apparently the place to be.  His boss snapped these pics of the actor with his blackberry, which explains the grainy image.  Pretty cool though, right?

And today is my niece Grayson's 2nd birthday! I cannot believe she is 2, I remember the day she came into this world, all blue eyed with a head full of dark hair.  I love her so! Her party was over the weekend.  It was an Elmo party, would you really expect anything less? We love you Gray-Gray!

cute cute cuuuuute Gray Gray

blowing out the candle

Elmo cupcakes made by my sis-in-law's-sister, follow that?

with Aunt Ash

I'm so excited!

with her dollhouse we got her

And today is ALSO my nephew Houston's birthday! Happy birthday buddy! We love you, too. Hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday!

Christmas in Atlanta

After Christmas weekend, my parents came to Atlanta to do Christmas with our side of the family, and to see my sweet nieces Grayson and Lily.  We don't all get to be together that often, so it is always treasured  when we do.  

And now it's time for a Grayson photo shoot in the hubs' office.  She's quite the ham.

I seriously told her to strike a pose, and this is what she does... 

her daddy walked by...

and now she is over it...

peeking outside at Blakely, aka "bwakey woof woof"

sweet sweet Lily pie, 6 months old

let's eat... on daddy's lap... and Lily is saying "hey, over here, Dad!"

my cute parents, married 31 years  

Gray and Rachael saying hello to Blakely

Gray kept saying "it's a doggy, hi bwakey"

On to present time, Gray opened everyone's presents for them...

Here ya go, Papa, it's some sauce

I got the girls matching fur vests and coats from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child

snow leopard Lil

What did you get, mommy?

I made Rachael silhouettes of the girls and framed them in Pottery Barn's gallery frames.  They turned out pretty darn cute if I say so myself! 

Rach- "Who is this little girl?"   Gray- "It's Grayson!" 

I made the silhouettes for my mom, too.  Some close ups before I wrapped them... 

Grayson

Lily

If you have Photoshop CS, I used the vector tool.  Pretty simple if you know how to work CS.  I had my brother send me profile shots of the girls from his phone one day.  We are so sneaky.

Back to present opening....bows are for your hair Aunt Ashee

She got a doll baby 

Showing Papa how said doll works 

And tickle monster/ trying to get a decent picture time with Aunt Ashley... and this is how that turned out... squirming goose

note to self... put camera on continuous shutter speed with Gray Gray....

and finally one decent picture.. mommy had promised her princess stories to get her to sit still

Lily did a better job with her photo op with Aunt Ash... haha 

After the present party at our house, we went over to my brother's a few days later to watch the Outback Bowl.  The game otherwise known as the campaign launch of Clowney for Heisman.  Go Gamecocks! 

Playroom Mural

This past weekend I spent some time at my brother and sister-in-law's house doing a huge mural for my niece Grayson and my niece Lily.   My SIL was brave enough to just let me do whatever because she trusted me.  Ha ha no pressure!  I'm so glad she liked it and the girls like it, too. :)  Grayson kept pointing and saying "bu by", which in Gray world is butterfly.  She also said things like "ohhh", "fowers", and "la-bug". Lily isn't quite saying anything yet (y'all she was just born, give her at least to September), but I think she likes it, too.  Here's a few quick pics I snapped on my phone (did I mention I don't have a camera? hint hint hubs- who I am pretty sure never reads this blog!).

I hope the girls enjoy it for many years to come and know that their Aunt Ash loves them so much!  =)