Happy Birthday BELLA!

Today is Bella's birthday -- she is THREE years old!

I can not believe that Bella is three years old.  It seems so long ago that Whitney Duncan & I visited "Love At First Sight" and found Bella.  Todd was out of town when I found her, but we decided that I could go ahead and purchase her...I made a wonderful choice and am a GREAT dog picker!  Bella is SO sweet, but also protective of her mommy & brother.  We were told that we wouldn't want Bella after having a baby, but we still LOVE her just as much and she has such a place in our family!

This is the picture that I texted Todd saying that I found a puppy and wanted to keep her...

Bella with her favorite toy that is still around (some legs and both antennas are missing though)...

And now Bella this morning, having a birthday treat

Wedding sneak peak, more details to come

I don't have the energy to blog about the wedding tonight, but wanted to share this photo I found on the Internet courtesy of the circling helicopter...it is kind of a "find Waldo" kind of picture, but Todd & I are in the lower left corner (Todd in the black suit & I am in the grey strapless dress).  I hear that there are better pictures of us that are closer, and of us looking up at the helicopter (my guess it that it is the moment that we are all looking up & I am suggesting that we all send up an unfriendly sign to the helicopter)...but once we were under the tent for the wedding ceremony we couldn't hear the noise of the helicopter, so it was all okay.

BIG week to catch up on...

So I have a lot of catching up to do...last Wednesday we headed down to GA to spend a couple nights with Mom & Dad.  We wanted to get Anders adjusted and settled before leaving him for TWO NIGHTS with his Grammie and Papa.  I did not think that I would leave Anders already, especially since I am still nursing.  But Todd & I were invited to Carrie Underwood's wedding, and we couldn't say no to that!  Lucky for us, Carrie decided to have her wedding in Greensboro, GA -- just an hour and a half away from Mom & Dad.  So it was a very convenient location, and only two nights away made for a reasonable, first time away from our sweet baby boy.  Anders did WONDERFULLY while we were gone.  He ate meals great and went to sleep easily both at naps and bedtime!  He had fun playing and getting TONS of attention from Grammie, Papa, Aunt Katie, Uncle Chip, Uncle Michael, Aunt Julie & Haley.  

Before we left for the wedding Todd & I had a fun afternoon swimming with everyone (Anders is naked because I had just taken off his swimsuit to take him into the house for a bath)...

Playing before bedtime...

Anders is SUCH a good eater!

In case you guys are wondering why Anders is such a heathy-big boy -- I am here to tell you that he is a good eater.  It took him a little while to get used to eating finger foods, but now he is a pro and usually eats quite well!  It is not rare for him to eat an entire grilled cheese along with two types of veggies and a fruit.  The other morning he ate a whole banana and scrambled eggs (sometimes he likes banana, and sometimes he just throws it on the floor).  Another morning he ate a carton of yogurt, and was very upset that he wasn't getting another one!  He loves yellow squash and will chose it over anything else sitting in front of him and usually eats his veggies very well.  

This is a picture I just got from Beth from last week when we went to lunch after going to church.  We went to Calypso Cafe, (a favorite of mine, but Todd doesn't like -- so perfect place to go with girlfriends) and I got Anders the kids meal.  He ate the sweet potatoes, black beans and fruit very well.  Anders shared the rice with Paisley!

Happy 4th of July!

Today is Anders' FIRST 4th of July!  

We are headed over to our neighbors house for a party and plan to watch the fireworks from their screened-in back porch.  Our neighborhood sets off fireworks, and then we also have a great view of fireworks from somewhere else (maybe Old Hickory Lake?).  Anyways, I thought it would be SO cute to take Anders' picture with the American flag and noticed my neighbors next door had small flags in their yard.  So this evening I went outside to "borrow" one of their flags (at Pat & Lloyd's) but their sprinklers were on and I didn't want to get wet.  I looked to the house on the other side of me and saw two big, beautiful flags (at Mike & Steve's) -- and thought PERFECT!  I knocked on their door to ask permission to take one of their flags for a photo shoot, but no one answered so I just took it.  I set Anders down in the grass and was pushing the flag into the ground and SNAP, I broke the flag in half!  I guess that is what I get for stealing!  So I ended up getting a wet, smaller flag from Lloyd.   All that effort and sacrificing a flag for these pictures (maybe not worth it all)...

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Guitars and gear

Anders LOVES his Daddy, and I think he already wants to grow up and be just like him!  For awhile now Anders has loved playing with the guitar, but now he loves playing with Todd's gear too.  

Also I have to mention that this week Anders was VERY clingy with Todd.  Anders reached for Todd and clung to him whenever I tried to take him away.  One time he even pushed my face away and tightly wrapped his arms around Todd -- which slightly broke my heart, but also made me laugh.  I LOVE seeing Anders and Todd together, and I am so thankful that Todd is such a great father!

Last attempt to get Anders & Paisley together

So getting our two babies to sit still, look at the camera, and be happy was IMPOSSIBLE, and unfortunately never happened.  But here was our last minute, final attempt before running out the door to take Beth and Paisley to the airport...

It was sad to see them leave and WE MISS THEM -- wish they'd move back to Nashville!