DANCING QUEEN!!

Bella has become OBSESSED with "So you think you can dance" I have to admit that its one of my favorites too, but she is really into Salsa and the Samba. The child loves to shake her booty! Anything Beyonce' sings, Bella sings. Esp. single ladies. She was def. born with rhythm. I caught her dancing to the Samba and quickly ran up stairs to get my phone when she stopped. Even on "Q" she shook it! Too funny.

Growing Up so Fast!

Can hardly believe my little girl is almost 3! Each day is a new adventure full of questions, questions, questions! Lord, my child is very inquisitive! She is either 100% a sweet angel, full of "i love you, mommy" or 100% ATTITUDE.. "I DO IT MYSELF" I never know which day it will be! I have to say this year has been very trying at times, but I honestly love watching her grow up. I enjoy that we can do so much together now! Things she loves: dancing, painting, reading, wearing high heels, makeup, dress up, barbies, babies, bubbles, puzzles, CADIE COLLINS, horses, GOING FISHING, picking flowers and CAKE! Her favorite foods are: Salad,oatmeal, yogurt with fresh fruit, bananas, noodles, Salsa, peppers...
I've been very blessed with not one, but 2 amazing grandmothers that can sow! LORD between my mom and Mrs. Lynn, Bella does not lack for anything! Always fit to a T and as she would say.. "NO BOW, NO GO!" Below are a few photos of my angel.

NEWWWWW YOOOORK!

Bella and I went to see Moddy (Steph) in NYC in Aug for a very long weekend. It also happened to be one of my closets friends, Robyn's wedding. I was super excited to take Bella back since she was older, to visit Steph and all my friends and to get to go to Robyn's wedding at the Plaza! The wedding was breath-takingly beautiful as were the bride and groom! I couldn't have been happier! It was a wonderful wedding weekend!
Bella spent a lot of time with my girlies... Steph,Lauren, Carly, Claire and Mr. Kim ;) She showed out a few times but all in all we had a great time. She got to see her first Broadway show "Pinkalicious", we made pottery at FAO, saw a Barbie runway show at FAO, designed a BLACK (YES BLACK BARBIE AFTER HER MOTHER)played in the Park and visted Brooklyn. IT ALL WAS FUN! Steph was a super trooper to have us both there and did an amazing job of taking care of B while I was busy with wedding details. Always.. Always a place in my heart. I hope Bella will one day know just how amazing this city is. MOST OF MY GOOD PICTURES ARE ON FACEBOOK. THESE ARE THE ONES FROM MY iPHONE. STEPH TOOK ALL THE GOOD ONES WITH HER ACTUAL CAMERA.

Elmo Live with Jacey Woods!

I had the opportunity of taking Bella and her best friend Jacey Woods to see Elmo live! We lucked up and got front row seats! The girls were great and loved every minuet of it! Jacey spent the night and after a super fun night the girls crashed hard! We always love having her around. She is such a sweet child!

A date with the Holloways!

I had the privilege of keeping Crew and Carrington about a month ago to let Ryan and Jenny have a much needed date night! Jenny is constantly going and if you know her, you know she is the ultimate SUPERMOM-SUPER EVERYTHING! Ryan isn't too shabby himself! He is a go getter too! ha ha.. SO! Cadie, Bella and I went for a FUN night at the Holloway's! Those 3 were soo funny, constantly playing and copying each others' every move! From dancing to Tot's American Idol at bedtime, we had a blast! Bella did NOT want to leave and cried the whole way home! She still is asking, "we see Carrington and Cuw?" I love it! Thanks Jen and Ryan for letting us have a wonderful night! we love you!

Charlie Stole My Blankie!!

Bella LOVES playing "are you asleep" with everyone!However today, Charlie decided he needed a little attention of his own! ;)

My Money Adam!

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FOR YOU KRISTIN

Bella has gone to visit her daddy for a week, yes I said a week! It has been a LONG one at that. I have to admit a night or two is nice once in a while to catch up on sleep, run errands or even RETURN to the real world. However, after that I am in serious sadness without my Bella.
Last week when Zack and I met in Birmingham to exchange child (insert pout) we got to visit with my special friend Kristin and her family for the night. The Ferguson's are always so kind to let Bella and I stay the night before meeting Zack. It's perfect for me because I not only get to break up Bella's ridiculously long car ride, but I also get to see Kristin. Kristin is in graduate school at Auburn and we NEVER get to visit! UGH! I really had a great time seeing her and Bella just adores her. Bella also seems to have a small crush on Kristin's younger brother Jarred! I mean the child doesn't leave his side! ;) Seems to give Kristin and I A LOT of time to play catch up, so I'm very grateful to sweet Jarred and his new found babysitting skills! Thanks to Kristin, Jarred and Mrs. Bethany for all they do for us in the "exchange" process. Just another set of people that seem to make my world go round! ;)
Did I mention how excited I was to see Bella tomorrow?? I feel like a kid at Christmas all over again!

Happy Birthday Aunt Noe!

Today we celebrated my Aunt Noe's Birthday at Oby's in Starkville after church. It is always good to see my Aunt and Uncle. They are two very special people that do so much for our family! Aunt Noe always takes great pictures and I love these two! My favorite child.. and my favorite puppy! haha.
Thanks Aunt Noe.. happy happy birthday! We love you.

Queen Megan and her Escort Adam!

This weekend we came home so I could get my taxes done. It also happened to be Adam's fraternity (Kappa Sig), Charity Bowl Classic. Megan was picked to represent Tri Delta and Adam was her escort. We went to Starkville Saturday night to see them both.. Little did we know that Megan would turn out to be Queen of the Charity Bowl! We were so excited! Bella had such a good time with everyone! She pretty much stole the show! She thought Megan was "cinderella" and just ooo'd and ahh'd over her pretty dress and crown! It was cute to she her attempt to put "Cinderella's" slipper on! She thought Megan's shoes were so pretty! ;) that girl and her shoes! I guess she gets it honestly! What can I say!
She also has finally figured out that if she would just let her uncle Adam love her the life would be grand! After many times being scared of Adam she finally won't leave his side! I mean wherever Adam is.. Bella is! It's really cute! She just loves him now and as you can see from the pictures, he does do!

Atlanta Visit with Daddy!

This past weekend Bella and I went to Atlanta to meet Zack for the day. We went to the Atlanta Children's Museum and the Aquarium! We had a really good time and Bella got to see her daddy! The Children's Museum was really cute and a perfect age for Bella! She had so much to get into there! She LOVED the sand! Zack and I didn't think we would ever get her away from there! She also loved the trucks and going fishing! It was a really cute place and perfect for Zack to see her in full action! We then went to the Aquarium where Bella kept yelling "COME ON DADDY ITS NEMO" everywhere we went! It was so funny! She even would take my camera up to the glass and say "SAY CHEESE FISHIES".. she was pretty cute, but all over the place and it was packed! I definitely recommend going NOT on a weekend! We also got to see a lot of mine and Zack's friends.. Patrick Thompson, Preston Rienhiemer and Lindsey and Steven Pond (formally Lindsey Swedenburg). It was a lot of fun and Bella is still asking about Nemo and Daddy! Anytime she gets to see Zack turns out to be a success! She really does love her daddy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

What better way to spend Valentine's Day then with the people you love the most! I was lucky enough this year to spend Valentine's Day with Bella and BOTH my brothers! Adam and Drew both came up for the weekend to see Bella and I. We had such a great time seeing them both! We spent the entire day (literally 4 hours) at Gatti Town playing endless hours of sibling rivalry at skeet ball, Dance Revolution, Bowling and target shooting! Bella's three favorite things were the carousel, bowling and skeet ball! We couldn't get her OFF the carousel.. which is really funny because usually she WON'T get on! This time she kept saying "one more time" EVERY TIME! Adam and I both were about DONE with the carousel! ;) We had so much fun that Bella was asleep by 7 that night and slept through our entire meal! Sunday we ate at Keefer's and Drew was kind enough to help me go to Wal-Mart! I mean that is an adventure in itself! I can't seem to get out of there under a $100 or less than $20 worth of us less products and food that Bella tends to add to the cart! Needless to say it was a wonderful weekend! I love my brothers! Thanks guys for coming to see us!

Twinkle Twinkle..

Two things my mom and Bella have in common.. 1. Their obsession of coloring 2. their love to sing! 2 nights ago I caught Bella handing my mom a crayon and asking her to sing Twinkle Twinkle.. probably the cutest thing! Bella just loves her Nanu! ;)

Tonsilis, Adenoids, Tubes.. OH MY!!

Last Thursday Bella had her tonsils and adenoids removed and her ear tubes replaced. After many months of chronic upper resp. infections and sleepless nights; Dr. Lee decided it was time to fix it. Bella hasn't slept through the night "soundly" since she was born. She sounded like an 85 year old man snoring! It was pretty terrible. Bless her heart too, she just couldn't stay well. I thought for a while it was the whole "starting school, being around kids deal" and I was wrong. Her adenoids and tonsils needed to be removed! They were causing her so much problems instead of fighting off infection! The surgery went well, the recovery on the other hand is a different story. The first day in the hospital she was amazing! Bouncing off the walls, watching all her favorite movies and coloring. By day 2 we were in trouble! From high fever to dehydration, Bella had a time. Poor thing has been in so much pain! There is nothing like seeing her child hurt and not being able to fix it! Thank heavens for my mom!! She came down for the week and took care of us BOTH! :) I honestly don't know what I would have done without her!
Thanks to The Benson's, Claire, Brooks, Cadie and everyone else who helped me out during the week and for all the goodies you got Bella! Here's to a better week for Bella!!