Like Father, Like Daughter

Recently, David's mother gave me his one-year portrait outfit so that I could take some pictures of Bailey in it. After weeks of rain, we finally found a pretty day to go out and take some pics. Of course, Raggedy Ann and another baby had to come along too! What you can't see very well in these pictures, is the fact that Bailey (being 18 months now, instead of 12) was too long for the outfit, so I couldn't even snap the bottom closed.

Here's Daddy at 12 months old! Happy little guy, isn't he?

Here's Bailey at 18 months old

FINALLY- Playhouses for Sale

So I have been a very busy bee lately! A few months ago, my friend Holly and I made a cardtable playhouse that many of you commented on. I really enjoyed making it and decided that I would make some more and sell them this Christmas. So- here they are! I have 5 designs to choose from- for girls AND boys. Please check out my website and tell ALL your friends. Thanks!

http://hollyshouseplayhouses.blogspot.com/

Our Trip to the Zoo

This morning we took advantage of the beautiful fall weather and went to the Cypress Park Zoo near our house. Bailey had a BLAST! She loved seeing all the "ammals" (mostly animals native to this area) and making their animal noises. Bailey especially liked the raccoon, who proceeded to splash us with water; the wolves which Bailey thought were puppies; and the ducks that followed her wherever she went. But her very favorite animal of all was the huge, ugly warthog who was snoring. Go figure!

Bailey at the dove cage. Tweet! Tweet!

Look, it's a pony!

The goat was very interested in Bailey!

My little dear and the deer

She does too!

Home Sweet Home- Remodeling Part 1

So we've lived in this Money Pit, I mean wonderful home, for about a year and a half now. If you know us well, you know what we've gone through with this house. It's been a chore! And having a baby right after moving in did not speed up the process either! But we've worked (yes, we've done almost ALL of the work ourselves!) and we've survived. Here are some before and after pics of some rooms. More to come later!

**You will have to forgive me because I played with the formatting on this post TONS of times and it never would do what I wanted it too. I know it looks stupid!**

Guest Bedroom- Major remodeling tasks included:

• Textured walls, Painted walls, ceiling, window/door trim, crown molding, baseboards
• Installed window/door trim, baseboards, crown molding, and quarter round
• Ripped up carpet and laid hardwood flooring
• Patched holes in walls
• Installed routed windowsill and window blinds
• Installed ceiling fan
• Replaced bedroom and closet doors
• Removed shelving along ceiling walls

• BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

Master Bedroom-

• Textured walls
• Painted walls, ceiling, window/door trim, crown molding, baseboards
• Installed window/door trim, baseboards, crown molding, and quarter round
• Ripped up carpet and laid hardwood flooring
• Patched holes in walls
• Installed routed windowsill and window blinds
• Ripped out old closet shelving and added new bars and shelves
• Installed ceiling fan
• Replaced bedroom and closet doors
• Removed bathroom pocket door and replaced with new wider door
• Handmade drapes and bed pillows

Unfortunately we do not have a BEFORE picture for the master bedroom, but I will give you a mental picture. Like all of the other rooms in the house, there were holes all in the walls and gum in the carpeted floor. The room was painted an irredescent purple that glittered from certain angles (David says it looked like a bass boat!)

AFTER

AFTER

Kitchen- If the kitchen had not already been somewhat remodeled, this house would have totally been a no-go!

• Painted walls, ceiling, window/door trim, crown molding
• Repaired water leak under kitchen sink
• Replaced kitchen sink faucet
• Repaired attic water leak and patched ceiling
• Installed cabinet knobs and drawer pulls

BEFORE

The pictures don't do this room justice, but it was a lovely shade of orange!

BEFORE

AFTER

Playtime at the Park

Fun day at the Old Brownlee Park- Bailey absolutely loved it! Playground and Splash park in one!

Watch out world, here I come!

Splish, Splash!



Mommy said it's time to go, but Bailey has another idea!

Ain't no lie, Passy- Bye, Bye, Bye!

After a year and 4 months, we finally laid our beloved friend, Passy, to rest a few weeks ago. Passy has been a loyal companion and we would like to celebrate his time with us with these pictures!

1 week old- notice how big the passy is compared to her face!

3 months- Just chillin with my friend, Passy

7 months

13 months

14 months- Last picture of Passy on record!

I was so proud of Bailey! She only cried for a few times and now she's great! Of course, I still have a bag of pacifiers in my cabinet and have found it too hard to part with them yet... Who's doing better with this, Bailey or Mom???

Family Vacay 2009

Last week we went with our friends The Stones to their condo in Orange Beach, AL. We had a super time and it was a much-needed vacation for all. Bailey wasn't too fond of the sand to begin with, but she had a great time swimming in the "poo" (pool- like I would really let my child swim in poo!). She also had a great time playing with Caroline and Madison. We brought a babysitter with us- Miss Pammie- and she was awesome!!! We had a blast- beach, pool, good food, FloroBama, music, etc. One night (not documented on film) the "grown-ups" (yeah right!) went to a concert with Willie Nelson (who is so old he talked his way through all the songs), John Mellencamp (actually wonderful in concert), and Bob Dylan (we played games trying to guess what he was singing...still no clue). After the concert, we went and rode go-carts and bumper boats (which left us all soaked to the bone). It was a great time! Here are some of our favorite shots!

Bailey's 1st dip in the ocean

Admiring the waves

the best we could do for a family shot

going for a walk

The girls with Pammie

The gang

Our beautiful beach babe!