It's From Paris

Her dress, that is...



It's not everyday I get to say her outfit is from Paris. Todd and I found this dress in Paris, but not in a fancy boutique on the swanky Champs Elysees. No, we bought it from a street vendor. Across from the Eiffel Tower, down the steps to the Seine River was a market. It reminded us of Mallory Square in Key West. Just a bunch of tents set up with eclectic people selling their goods.

I saw these dresses hanging up and made a beeline to them. There were no more than 10 dresses hanging up. Each one was different in color and different in its smocked design, but each one looked like it would have fit Bridget like a glove.

The pink and white one caught my eye first. It was so girly and so Bridget. But Todd said she had too many dresses that looked just like that. He said the yellow and red one was different. Good choice, Todd!

We wore it today for the first time. After I put it on her, she proudly ran to Todd to show him. She must have felt the need to show it off because at church she wanted nothing to do with sitting still. She ran in and out of our pew several times giggling and twirling and drawing quite a bit of attention.

She kept it on until it was time to change into her bathing suit for a dip in the baby pool. Can't wait to wear it again!




Found this ancient camera while doing some closet decluttering today-it's the perfect new toy!

Our Driveway

Our driveway is the place to be. No matter how hot its gotten in these past few weeks...no matter if it's a little drizzly and gloomy...no matter how humid and sticky it feels.

We set up beach chairs and start pulling everything out of the garage. She likes her toys...sidewalk chalk, bubbles, balls. But she also likes the non-toys...the empty milk jugs in the recycle bin and the old towels we use for washing cars. We play and play and play until Todd comes home from work and then head inside for dinner. If we're lucky we'll all head back out after dinner for a walk and to play some more.

She waves at all the neighbors and dogs that pass by the house and she loves to test us by stepping into the street so we can chase her back into the driveway. She laughs at me when I shoo a bug away and always gets right back up after taking a fall.



Smarty Pants made herself a little cup holder!



Her favorite face!



Wanting to be just like Mommy



Discovering a new way to ride on this toy



Tonight she helped with dinner and then had a popcicle in her bubble bath (thanks to Jenni for the brilliant idea)!




Awww, poor Harley never gets to do anything fun!



We do it all everyday and we'll happily do it again tomorrow!

My Wish

Everytime we have a 3 day weekend I tell Todd that that extra day makes all the difference in the world. If only every weekend gave us just one extra day to relax and play...I think if I had a wish, that's what I would wish for-3 day weekends all year round.

We've seen grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins...

Pajama party with her twin cousins, Emma and Claire


Eaten ice cream cones in the driveway...



Played Dress Up...



Been silly...



Helped Daddy with some yardwork...



And had a little more ice cream...


The best part is that tonight is Sunday and that means we still have one more day to go!

Bad Mood Bridgie

Today, like most days, Bridget fell asleep on our ride home in the afternoon. Then, she even snoozed a little longer on the couch so I could read the Us Magzine that came in the mail...and then she woke up in a very, very bad mood. Nothing made her happy, everything made her cry. She was my little Grumposauraus this afternoon, but that's okay. We all have bad days-even sweet babies.

All was quiet and peaceful...



And then she woke up...



Poor baby! Tomorrow will be better!

Bridget's New Bikini

One afternoon last week I made a trip to the baby consignment store to see what hidden treasures I could find. I found it. A red and white polka dot bikini in her size and in perfect condition. And it was $4. And we already have matching sunglasses. Such a little thing that made my day so great!

My last day of work for the school year is only about 2 1/2 weeks away. Today was a sneak peek of what I'll get to do everyday for the next 2 1/2 months...

A Big Girl Now

Todd and Bridget did a perfect job of making Mother's Day weekend all about me! Whatever I wanted to do was fine by them. I wanted to take Bridget to the zoo before the summer heat got too intense (Oops too late, it's here!), so Saturday we headed down to Jungle Larry's. And even though I've lived here almost 20 years, it was also my first trip to Jungle Larry's.

It was HOT, but we had a great time. Bridget liked the animals, but for no more than a quick glance. She smiled and waved at the leopards and monkeys, but was happiest climbing on the rocks and playing with the gravel on the ground. We wore her out, she got good and dirty and sweaty and then fell fast asleep for the ride home.


The Boat Cruise



She didn't know quite what to think when the boat started moving!







Her supermodel walk


Our camera has gotten more use in the past 19 months since Bridget arrived than it did in all the 3 years we had it before she was born. It's been hanging in there, but giving us some problems for awhile. I thought we would be waiting until my birthday in July to buy a new one, but Todd surprised me with it for Mother's Day. He said he wanted to buy it himself and give it to me all wrapped up, but being the smart husband that he is...we went together and shopped for it so I could pick it out:) It's smaller, quicker, sharper and I can't wait to figure it all out!

We went for a late swim on Sunday afternoon where Bridget swam all by herself in her tube suit. It's kind of a goofy looking thing that covers up her bathing suit (which I hate, of course!), but it works so well. She can swim and twirl and jump off from the steps all by herself when she's wearing it.

All weekend Bridget showed us what a big girl she is becoming. Those baby things are slowly fading away. It's bittersweet because her baby months went by so fast, but watching her turn into a little girl is amazing. I couldn't have dreamed up a more perfect daughter!




Dipping her nuggets in ketchup



No need for a sippy cup for me, Mom!



Reading her blog:)



Trying on Mommy's flip flops-they're on the wrong feet, but she got her tiny toes right in-between those straps!

Party Animal

Well, our first weekend of May turned out to be just as busy as all those weekends in April...

Saturday started with an early morning meeting with our home builder and then some errands. One of those errands was to Old Navy. We were there for all of 20 minutes and two things happened that shouldn't have.

1) I managed to spend about $100 in the short time we there, even though the only reason we went was to return something.

2) I snuck away to try on a few things on and when I came back Bridget was out of her stroller in the men's department half-undressed. Todd says, "She soaking wet, she's soaking wet-she's soaked!" Bridget learned how to take apart her sippy cup and pour her water all over herself. Therefore, I was "forced" to buy her a new outfit right then and there to change her into.

We got in a little driveway hose time in the afternoon before my parents annual Kentucky Derby Party. Bridget can be unpredictable with crowds-she either loves them or hates them. And whenever she is at my parents house she seems to want her grandma (my mom) all to herself and when she doesn't get her she can be a little whiny and clingy.

Ha! She didn't want ANYONE to hold her down at the party. She mingled with everyone. She showed off by doing silly and cute things. She cheered on the horses as they raced. She melted everyone with her gorgeous blue eyes. And she snuck over to the dessert table many, many times. The usual comments followed her, "Boy, is she busy!" (I know.)..."Is she always this busy?" (Yes.) "Does she nap?" (Sometimes.)

We stayed late into the night as we always do and Bridget stayed awake for every second of it!


Testing out the new suit, new shades and the new sprinkler...




Just doing our part to keep the Earth green!




Eating her 10th snickerdoodle of the day



Bringing Grandpa his cigar