Night, night mama

Sometimes you just want to hold on and not let go... Babyhood is ending so quickly (my friend April says you can call them "a baby" until they're 2, lol) and while I love each new stage, the baby in them is what melts my heart. Leila still rubs her hair when she is tired like she did as a baby and still smack on her paci while sleeping like she did when she was a baby, and I love that!

Tonight she did a "big girl" thing and didn't even know it. When I put her to bed, I said "Night, night sweetheart" like I always do but tonight she said back, "Night, night mama." That melts my heart to for a different reason, that she is growing up. Thank goodness Patrick is out of town or he would make so much fun of me for getting teary-eyed over something like that, lol.

Here are some of her 18-month portraits, and compare these to her 6-month portraits. Is that the same girl??

Spring Break

We had a crazy week. You know it is Spring Break done right when it involves vomit. We went to the Children's Museum, the Zoo, Galveston, the library, the park, and Patrick and I went to the Rodeo. I always try to plan activities for us, but life with this 1 year-old is never dull. We play tea party, a lot, and it usually results in big wet messes. At the zoo, all of her friends sat nicely in their strollers for lunch while my daughter ran around with her sandwich exploring while I followed her.

Saturday - Kayak exhibition, met my family in Galveston
Monday - met Cassie & Avery at the Children's Museum
Tuesday - Erica & Grant came over to play, Patrick & I saw Keith Urban at the Rodeo
Wednesday - met Sarah & Ryan, Jennifer & Kylie, Jill & Cannon at the zoo
Thursday - Went to Story time twice at the library, then went to the park, then she got sick and threw up all over both of us (but felt better afterward, until it happened again)
Friday - Recovered from yesterday, introduced water color paints

Last weekend Patrick bought a kayak and I hope to take it out tomorrow if the thunderstorms stay away. I have some pictures from last weekend when we tried them out. We are only 2 miles from Galveston bay and surrounded by lakes so there are a lot of places to go.

Leila liked the yellow one, but daddy bought green
Patrick tried out all the different models in the lake next to our house (um, that is not our house in the background, lol)

We met my family for dinner at Guido's on the Seawall in Galveston

Leila and Avery both like the ball pit at the Children's museum. Pacifiers keep things from entering their mouths! Last time we went to the museum, she came down with a 102 fever.

Who is that girl looking at me?? I like her top.

First time on a tricycle and loved it even if she couldn't pedal.

At the zoo with Ryan (top), Cannon and Kylie

Enjoying this short-lived gorgeous weather at her grandparent's house with Belle

She is either deep in thought over her artwork or I caught her doing something

Leila piled the chair with books to read at the library then sat on top of them


This is her illness recovery look.. Favorite Elmo shirt, dark glasses, new flower bow from mommy... she felt better by the afternoon

Rodeo, Part II

Leila and I went to the Livestock show with her Granmary on Thursday. The princess was thrilled to wear her boots again. It turned out to be a beautiful day and she had a lot of fun. We went to the petting zoo and she found deer, pigs, goats, and even saw a wallaby (what is that doing at the Rodeo?) We toured the exhibits of chicks, rabbits, cows, pigs, and sheep.

Leila rode a pony and seemed to enjoy it. We tried fried oreos (which are good--didn't get a chance to try fried key lime pie or fried cheesecake.) We ended the morning with lunch at the director's club where she charmed the Rodeo staff and volunteers. Her dude treated us to a delicious lunch of which she took about 3 bites.

Petting a goat--he is just her size

Leila did great on the pony

Looking at the chicken exhibit

Outside the Director's Club--Leila does not even know she is VIP

This was Leila as we left the parking lot