Ainsley is 6!!!

That is a really hard reality to grasp!  Maybe that is why it has taken me almost two weeks to write this post.  My baby Ainsley is really 6 years old! We had her party on her birthday and she was so overjoyed.  We kept it pretty low key with a few of her friends and family at a little park.  She wanted a Powerpuff Girls cake, she really makes it easy on me!  

Watching her grow and learn the past six years has been such a joy!  She has always has the sweetest most giving heart.  She lights up a room the moment she enters and always thinks of other people before herself.  We are so blessed to call her our own and I couldn't be more proud of the little lady she has become!  I have to make sure I soak this time up, before I know it she will be 16!

Oh Hey Real World, I'm back! Vacation Recap and a Photo dump

Last week we took our yearly trip to Topsail Island, NC.  It was wonderful and as it always is, went too fast!  The week was filled with lots of beach time, family, food, beer, bloody mary's, and fun!  We were so sad to have to leave!

Here are a ton some pictures from our trip:

Don't let her face fool you, Harper really loved the beach. 

Ainsley had a few wipe outs, but never hesitated to jump right back in!

After several handfuls of sand, she finally decided she didn't like it.

This is my happy place!  I miss this view already!

Dinah got to stay with us for a night and absolutely loved it!

Now I guess it's back to reality (wah wah)!  We started home school yesterday and it went surprisingly well!  I have had my hesitations but so far everything is going pretty smoothly!  

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Oh and Pin It & Spin It will be back tomorrow! Yay!

Weekend Recap

Yeah yeah, I know, it's Wednesday! A little late for a weekend recap, but this weekend was too good to go undocumented!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, our plans to see the fireworks were postponed until Friday.  Ainsley stayed with her Nana on Wednesday night, so Scott, Harper, and I started the fourth off with a lazy morning in bed.  It was amazing!

Later in the day, after some much needed work done around the house, we had Scott's mom and sister/my bestie, over for some steaks on the grill and a little (and I mean liiitle) swim in the pool (it was freezing).  Steaks, cold beer, cheesecake, and sparklers, I can't think of a better way to have spent the holiday!

So I have this crazy fear of sparklers so I make Ainsley shield her hand with a cup! I'm lame, I know!

Friday was the big day for fireworks.  We/Ainsley look forward to this day all year.  We always go with my in-laws down to the park on the lake where they have food stands (ahh the grilled corn), live music, and bouncy houses.  This year, Ainsley got to really enjoy the bouncy houses and she and Scott spent most of the daylight there.  I stayed with Harper and Scott's sisters and took too many pictures!

Harper's first selfie

My camera gets a little wonky as soon as the sun isn't blazing bright!

Harper did great with the fireworks as long as I held her.  She also stayed awake THE ENTIRE time and we didn't get home until 11!

Hope you had a great weekend!

10 Things you probably don't care to know

So I just realized that in two short months, this little blog o'mine will be one year old! I also realized that ,while I share too many lots of pictures, I haven't really shared much about myself!

 I thought I would share 10 things about myself that you may or may not know! (Contain your excitement!)

>> I am a southpaw 

>> I have a birthmark on my neck that looks like a hickey. I have been asked my entire life (yes, even in elementary school!) if it was, NO it's not!

>> I can usually listen to a song about two times through and know 95% of the words to that song.  It's a really useful skill to have I tell ya!

>> I met my husband when I was 17 and he was 20

>> I am pursuing my BA in Interior Design

>> I sometimes wish I would have pursued Clothing Design

>> Scott says that I am the weirdest person he knows

>> I could listen to Motown all day every day

>> My thumbs are completely different, weird I know!

>> I have 4 tattoos, and yes, I regret them!

I know you are SO happy you wasted five minutes of your day to learn more about me!

On another note, Pin It and Spin It is back tomorrow AND it's a link up!  So, go try something, anything from Pinterest, write a post about it and link up!

Our Weekend in Pictures

We had a great weekend (minus a few bumps on Sunday, but the day ended well so that's all that matters)!  

Friday and Saturday were spent at the pool! I took the girls by myself Saturday, and let's just say I won't be doing that again!  Talk about one paranoid Mama!

This bathing suit makes me laugh!

Our little Fish, she could stay in the water all day!

This one on the other hand, seemed to prefer the shade and her toys! (See how this could get difficult for one person to monitor!)

We also took a much needed trip to the Farmer's Market.  I have been making pretty much all of Harper's food, I have ended up buying a few jars for when I am in a pinch.  So, I am constantly in need of fresh fruits and veggies, and what better place to get them and support our local farmers! Plus, it's always fun to just get out and walk around! 

The colors were so vibrant!

So that was our weekend summed up in a few pictures!  I hope you all had an awesome weekend as well!

P.S.:  Pin it and Spin it will be back next Tuesday PLUS it will be a link up.  SO if you have tried anything you have pinned on Pinterest (it could be a craft, recipe, outfit) write a post and link up!

Linking up with Sami for Weekend Shenanigans!

6 months >> Halfway to too big!

I know I say it every month, but I can't believe 6 months has already passed!

It's a strange thing, I remember when Ainsley was this age I was encouraging her to crawl and walk and talk.  But the second go 'round, I am just trying to soak up every minute of delicious baby rolls, snugs, nursing, everything, and unfortunately it is slipping through my fingers WAY TOO FAST!  I just wish I could pause time for a bit to make sure I enjoy every last detail of both of my girls at this stage in their lives! SO, until that time machine is invented, I will try to capture as much as I can!

What's new with the Harpster:

>>All of that jumping you do (and boy do you do a lot) has slowed your weight gain.  You clocked in at a whopping 16.2 lbs! Not to shabby Missy! You landed in the 55%.

>>Your weight gain may have slowed but that doesn't mean you stopped growing!  You measured 26.75" long and landed in the 90% for length.  

>>You are wearing 6, 6-9, and some 6-12 month clothing

>>We have explored several different foods and you seem to have come to the conclusion that you like...food. Spaghetti, chicken noodle soup, broccoli, peas (not pureed, only when you can pick them up yourself), mashed potatoes, and yogurt are a few of the new foods you have enjoyed.

>>You still love to jump and bounce

>>Getting much better at sitting and you roll like a champ!

>>You can balance on your hands and knees but end up in a face plant as you try to lunge forward.

>>You have two adorable, sharp little teeth and working on a few more 

>>Oh and you are a thumb sucker! I don't care what anyone says, I think it's one of the cutest things ever!

Some more fun pictures from the last month:

Oh, and THIS is happening:

In the {Diaper} Bag

I've seen a lot of bloggers who have done a "What's in my Purse" and I love reading them!  So, I thought I would do a version with my diaper bag.  

To be completely honest, I don't always carry my diaper bag.  My pocketbook is large enough to hold a few diapers and wipes, so if I'm just running out for a quick trip I skip the diaper bag! 

Don't get me wrong, I love my diaper bag but with two kids it's much easier to leave it sometimes. 

When I do carry my diaper bag I make sure that it is stocked with these items:

~An extra outfit-for obvious reasons, babies are messy little things!

~A sweater- this doesn't get much use, but for those cold restaurants it comes in handy

~An extra pair of socks-for the cold restaurant

~Diapers, wipes and cream-I put these in a little pouch so everything is together and I don't have to dig around!

~Lotion and bath wash- because well, you never know!

~Boogie wipes- these are wonderful!  They smell like grape and get rid of the sticky boogers without having to rub their little noses raw!

~Paci wipes-Harper doesn't really care for her paci like Ainsley did (a thumb is more her style) but these are great when they start playing the "lets throw everything on the disgusting floor then scream because she remembered she reeeally wanted it" game. It's also great for shopping carts!

~Toys- these are interchangeable and the amounts vary depending on where we are going.

~First aid kit- A 5 year old is an accident waiting to happen!

~Beauty emergency kit- floss, deodorant, earring backs, stain remover wipes, etc.

~A light blanket- NC weather can be tricky

~Security Blanket- I will say, it took me a while to get on the Aden and Anais blanket boat but there is something about this blanket that Harper LOVES.  She has one in her crib and one that travels with us!

There are a few things that I generally carry but aren't in this picture like snacks (crackers, puffs) and some sort of coloring page for Ainsley to play with.

So, that's what is in my diaper bag!  It may seem like a lot because it is, which is why I only carry it if I know I will be out of the house for an extended period of time!

Linking up with Kristin for Baby talk!

5 Months, Oh My!

Sheesh!  I cannot believe I am writing your 5 month update!

What's new in Harper news:

You are still my chunky monkey! (and I love it!)

Your legs never, and I mean NEVER, stop moving!

With that said, YOU never stop moving!

You had a to take a visit to the good ole' Doc to get a vaccine and you didn't even flinch!

You still love the jumperoo

You want to crawl so badly but can't seem to get your legs and arms to work together

You are the happiest baby in town!

You hate, with a capital H, peas! (no hard feelings, so do I!)

You really liked avocado, you healthy girl you!

You are still trying to master the upright sit, but you much prefer your attempt at crawling.

   Here are a few of my favs from this photo shoot!:

Those eyes, they get me every time!

Rawr!

Oh how I wish this picture was clear!