Playing outside is fun, especially with a water table!

It turns out living in the south while raising a toddler is quite nice. Mak adores playing outside and getting some fresh air can really flip her mood when she is starting to get restless inside the boring 'ol house.

I love that we can be out the door in a minute and (usually) don't have to worry about bundling up.

We are trying to soak up all this nice weather before the rainy, super hot season gets here. Yikes, I don't even want to talk about it. I'm not a heat-lovin' lady. I am more of a slightly-overcast-with a breeze-73ish degrees-lovin' lady.

Oh thanks for the bug, Makaela. 

She hands me all the yuckies she finds. I guess I should be happy she doesn't eat them or hide them in her diaper or something. 

For the first couple weeks of our outdoor adventures, Mak was not digging the grass. She would go to the edge of the patio and back off. This was actually great because the grass is a hot mess, full of fire ants and other crap I'm sure. But then it happened. One day we went over to a friends house, and their slightly older daughter zipped all around the backyard. Ever since then Mak has been open to exploring the grass. She still tends to stick to the patio, but occasionally the dare devil in her comes out and runs across the grass to the fence.

Aside from riding Turtle, Turtle, Turtle (that's his first name, in case you were wondering) around and "vroom vroom"ing toward the dogs she is looooooving her water table that she got with some b-day cash money. 

It's tons of fun to splash in and is a great height so she can easily reach in and grab out whatever goodies she has tossed in that day.

It is also the perfect height for Ginger to grab a quick swig of water at her leisure. But then Miss Sassy Pants gives her THE LOOK.  The look that says "I am NOT sharing with that dog."

She is going to be one of those 2 year olds that rolls her eyes, I just know it. 

Looking forward to busting out the kiddie pool for the even hotter weather, especially because a certain little lady has some adorable swimsuits to model!!! 

Learning to use a spoon

Someone is learning to use a spoon....and it is hilarious.

Baths are non-negotiable after these fun practice sessions.

Baths for baby and canine.

But not together in the tub. Eww.

Makaela's One Year Professional Photos

We got Makaela's one year photos done about a week before her birthday and again used Nicole Davis. We couldn't be happier with how the photos turned out.

Zach was visiting at the time and even got to play assistant to the photographer which was pretty cool. It was great having him there because Makaela was much more entertained by him than me :)

But I have to mention that the morning at home started out ROUGH. Makaela was a pistol and I could not handle it. She screamed her way through the morning and put up a fight about everything. I almost cancelled the photo session because I was mentally broken and exhausted by her tantrums. I'm pretty sure Zach thought me and Makaela were both certifiably cray-cray.

But what do you know, we survived, made it to the photo shoot location and Mak was a DOLL. The instant she got out of the car and had a few bites of yogurt she turned on the charm 100%. What a relief. 

Note to self, next time the kid is having a tantrum pull out the camera to calm her. Sheesh, talk about a diva baby. 

I love that she is making a different face in every photo. I love how utterly happy she is in each moment. I love that she is pointing and fascinated by the helicopters that were flying above. I love that her big toes are hanging out of her shoes. I love that I can't pick a favorite.

Do you have a favorite? Any ideas for funny captions? 

Auntie Shanerz visits 'bama!!!

Last weekend Shana came to visit. We were SO excited to see her (We'd been counting down for months) and it was extra special that she was here for Mak's party!!

She was such a trooper and flew in after being out of town for workt the whole week. We greeted her at the one-gate airport with rain, a large off-white SUV like everyone else and smiles...and then we made a quick stop at Walgreen's to pick up photos...

Oh hey hot mess baby...

After that we hightailed it over to Chili's where we had the BEST TIME. I mean, how do you not have a blast at Chili's? It is delicious. 

Makaela enjoyed sorting through the sugar, slurping a fruit pouch and showing Shana just how quick yogurt melts dissolve in one's mouth. 

We laughed a ton and giggled awkwardly as Mak stared down some fellow diners until they smiled back at her. 

Shana was bombarded greeted by Rocky and Ginger the second she walked through the door. Um why did I not get any photos of them with Auntie Shanerz?! Oh right, maybe because Rocky was too busy licking Ginger's ear and humping her all day. Hmm. 

Girl chat continued as we gave Mak a bath. We tried not to laugh as she did some deep squats and attempted to escape from the tub by flinging one leg up and out. She was full of sillies and just loved putting on a show practicing her "uh-oh" (which she mastered the next day). Shana witnessed a milestone, yessssssssssssss.  

And then Mak transformed into a mini-Tim. Shana was so right, that face in the picture below is a spitting image of Tim's baseball picture circa 1995. 

After putting the nugget to bed we got down to BIZNAS. Shana chopped up some awesome streamers for Mak's party while I shaped a tissue paper ball. We party prepped our little hearts out all night, and by all night I mean until my 9-ish bedtime ;-)

I wouldn't have survived the next morning of party preparations with out Chjanea! A true friend coats everything in sprinkles, and that is precisely what she did. Between the cupcakes from Gigi's we had for breakfast and sampling everything frosting and sprinkle covered we were living high on sugar. Shana's taste buds may or may not have been shocked into inflammation during her hiatus from Shent ;-)

Later that night we ditched the bambino (and Tim) and went out for sushi. We were like two hicks who ain't never had no raw fishes before. Using chopsticks upside down, dropping bites, flinging utensils...you name it, we did it. It was glorious. 

Sunday our lady love adventures continued with several more trips to Mcdonald's and some shopping. Auntie Shanerz treated Mak to some ADORABLE blue hair clips (made of sleeping bag, right? haha) and a fun Nemo bath toy. Lucky girrrrrrrrrrl.

When we got home we played games and realized how similar Mak is to a cat. Shana has a Friskies app on her IPad that her cats love to play and what do ya know, Mak ALSO loved it. Hahaha. Animal/baby comparisons are so spot on, I'm telling you!

It was SUCH a great weekend and it went by way too fast. Blah. Please stay forever next timmmmme Shana! We can airdrop all day e'ry day. It would be a dream. Thank you so very, very much for all of the wonderful photos and videos you captured, for traveling cross country to spend time with us, for the sweet gifts, for putting up with my constant nose blowing and for being so easy breezy!! You are a GEM. Loverz ya!!!

First Birthday Party!

On Saturday, March 29th (Mak's due date last year!) we hosted Makaela's Birthday Party! It was full of sprinkles, streamers and sweets. Auntie Shanerz came to visit and was an enormous help, seriously the party would not have happened without her.

The cupcakes and smash cake are Funfetti, of course. But guys, my mom-brain almost messed them up. I was mixing up the batter and glanced at the box to see the ingredients and thought to myself hmmm I don't know if I added water, so I poured in the full amount listed and my mixer started splashing water alllllll over. Maybe I had already added it? Or maybe the timing of when I added it caused the splash? I honestly don't know but the cakes were a hit....phew!

I wanted lots of color and just a playful, homemade vibe and I think we achieved that!

Ummm...all of the decorations may or may not still be up...Moving on...I printed the Instagram photos from Walgreens - they can do them in an hour...super convenient!

We were so happy to be able to celebrate the big day with friends. Makaela had a blast, working the crowd in her birthday crown and tutu.

The first portion of the party was spent socializing and snacking. The weather was a little meh, so we stayed inside but it really wasn't a big deal.

All of the kids got along - no tantrums! If that isn't a successful (lucky) party, I don't know what is! The kiddos were especially digging the sensory bottles. At one point they each had one in hand, haha. It's the little things...

After some serious play time we needed to refuel with sugar, and what better way to do that than to eat everything coated in sprinkles!!!! Haha. 

I wasn't sure how receptive Mak would be to the smash cake. I had a feeling she wouldn't be shy about it, but I certainly didn't expect her to practically FINISH OFF THE WHOLE CAKE. She just went for it like a champ and dove right in. Fistfuls of cake!

I love how she looked around the room as we were singing to her and I love how she ate the cake like it was no big deal. I swear cake isn't on the normal dinner menu around here, but mmm wouldn't that be nice.

After the cake smashing, sprinkle eating and birthday song singing, we decided to hand out goodie bags (filled with a light-up ball, a book and goldfish crackers!) and let the little lady open her presents. 

Holy guacamole was she EXCITED. It was adorably, funny! I'm not kidding, she walked around and showed off everything - from the cards, to the toys, books and clothes. The girl already likes clothes, uh oh. 

Look at what I got guys, isn't it cool?

Oh and don't forget to check all this out...

Thank you to everyone who wished Mak a happy birthday, brought gifts and sent gifts. You all are so thoughtful and it was a wonderful day that we'll never forget!! Alright, I SUPPOSE Mak might not remember it, but I can promise that in the moment she was filled with joy and her smiles are images in my brain I will treasure always.