When I grow up...

Maybe I'll be a CHEF!What can I cook for you today?

I can stir up anything with this whisk!

It's important to evenly distribute the batter into all the cups

Ready for the oven!

I think I will make an excellent baker!

My Mommy the Runner

My Mommy is training for a half-marathon and I'm so proud of her. She has run in a couple of 5k races where Daddy and I have gone to cheer her on. She could use the support! I didn't really want to have my picture taken with her, even though she wasn't sweaty yet as this was before the race even started (reference the previous post where I don't want my picture taken lately)

Go, Mommy, go- the finish line is in sight!

Wow- what a great time!

Some other Mommy friends that she ran with (Mommy and Amanda have known each other since Joel and I were a couple of months old!)

After the race, we found a petting zoo, but I wasn't too fond of touching the animals. This camel really wanted to nibble on me!

Hittin' the Beach

So, while in Myrtle Beach for Memphis' birthday, we had to visit the ocean. I have acquired a few sand toys so I was ready to use them!

I'm going through a no-picture phase where I'm not always keen on smiling for the camera. So, I was telling Mommy to stop here:

The water was a little intimidating at first so I felt safer in Mommy's arms.

A crazy thing happened- Mommy remembered my swim diaper, hat and float, but somehow forgot an important part- my swim suit! You can barely tell, right?

I spent the majority of the time building things in the sand with Daddy.

First, you scoop the sand into the castle mold..

..and then, viola, you have an entire castle arrangement!

With Daddy's help, I was brave enough to walk into the water, but I had the most fun jumping the waves in Daddy's arms!

Don't you love the ocean breeze through your hair?

We had fun & look forward to going back when it's not so HOT!

Later that night, Grand Daddy and I were acting like birdies- the mommy bird is feeding the baby bird (or we were also re-enacting the scene from Lady and the Tramp!)

Memphis and I were also good about sharing our food with each other:

Happy 1st birthday to Memphis!!

(Mommy and I let Cousin Memphis write this one from her point of view- enjoy!)

Cheese! It's my 1st birthday and I have 4 teeth!

Here's my old infant car seat base since I get to move into a big girl car seat. It makes a great toy!

Welcome to my party!

Uncle Nakia got some close-up time with our cousin Cody

And, then I got some close-up time with my very own cake!

Cousin Eleanor preferred her hands to shovel in the cake since the fork was too slow

Here's my Daddy Andre and cousin Eleanor watching my Mommy help me open presents

Thanks, Mommy Heidi, for sharing some of my new toys with Eleanor! (Now, make sure to check her bag before she leaves..)

Yes, Eleanor, that is Dora and I'll let you borrow her for the night...

...especially since you are sweet to take her for a swing!

You are looking very comfortable with that Dora doll..

..uh, oh, Great-Grandma Allen, stop that Dora doll!!

It looks like she finally let her go- Thanks Aunt Sarah & Uncle Nakia for bringing cousin Eleanor to my birthday party. We had a blast!

Fun in the Sun

During the hot summer, there is nothing better than cooling off in a nice water sprinkler. Since I'm not crazy about water on my head yet, this nice light sprinkle is just my style. Thanks to Daddy's co-worker, Miss Pansy, who gave this to us.

Stepping into the middle was fun because the water didn't get you in there!

Sometimes the water tickles you

"I'll run and run as fast I can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man" (Currently, this is Eleanor's obsession- finding a gingerbread man, which is not easy in July!)

Again, I give Mommy a hard time with the video, but I have fun trying to catch the water:



Giggling with delight:

Birthday parties everywhere!

The past 2 weekends have been busy with birthday parties. I am a lucky girl to have such wonderful friends!

Here is my friend, Kaitlyn, and I at Lily's 2nd birthday party (notice my new haircut with bangs!):

Next, we celebrated our hairdresser and friend, Shannon's daughter, Jasmine's 1st birthday- don't worry she was happy, I think she just didn't like wearing the hat.

In her pool, I had a blast throwing balls out so that my Mommy and Daddy could chase after them.

Sweet Emma turned 4 and her Daddy made an impressive castle cake. I really wanted to play with the princesses that went with it, but it was her party.

The most important one of all is my cousin Memphis, who turned one last Friday! I went to the beach to celebrate with her and Mommy will post those pictures later!

Peaches for me, peaches for you..

After our long road trip, there is nothing sweeter than coming home to South Carolina peaches. We had a blast picking some with our friends from the mommy group. I thought that I should be one big peach here:

Check out how much more we need to fill up our box!

These trees are just my size- perfect for picking all by myself! I prefer the little baby ones.

Check out our peaches! It's me with Emma, Bela (they are sisters) and Sarah (L to R), who was a BIG help in filling up the rest of our box after she finished hers.

4th of July fun

Well, we are into July now finally and the weather here has been better than expected. The 4th of July was especially beautiful as we spent the day out at Cousin Robert's house, swimming and eating. Mommy doesn't have any pictures of this, but ask Daddy and maybe he'll post the ones he took with his new iPhone :)

On July 5th, we went to my friend Emma's house for a great dinner and playtime. My photographer friend, Dustin, was also there with his family, including daughter Maia who is close in age to me. We had a blast feeding the cows and chasing the chickens.

Here's a video of me wanting a video: