My little monkey

See the red box in the picture below? Yep, that's where I found Lexie the other day (keep in mind she was on the outside of the steps). Lexie's been going up and down the stairs by herself since about Christmastime of last year. Her playroom is upstairs and she is constantly going up and down the steps. However there is one rule - she's not to play on the steps. Either she needs to go straight upstairs or come straight down.
As I was unloading the dishwasher, I heard her flipping her hands through the spindles. I called her name and told her not to play on the steps. She said, "Mommy look at me." I walk over to the steps to scold her but I didn't see her. I walked around to the foyer and found her halfway up the steps. . . . on the outside!!! Needless to say seeing the horrified/terrified look on my face, that was punishment enough for Lexie. She was upset after I "rescued" her to the ground.
I kept thinking what if she fell? She would have fallen directly on top of the foyer glass table. Ugh! I was so rattled for the rest of the day. The child keeps me on my toes and my blood pressure at an all time high!

For the Love of Shoes. . . .

To say I love shoes is quite an understatement. Obsession might be a better adjective. I've always had a love for shoes. My parents will even vouch to say that my obsession for shoes started about the time I could talk/walk (12 mo). When I have play money, rather than going to the spa, getting mani/pedi's, shopping for clothes, or buying things for the house, I usually splurge on a pair of new shoes even if I don't plan to wear them on a daily basis. Crazy, I know. I'm the person who buys shoes and then tries to find outfits to match the shoes. Yes, it's backwards. In some ways, shoes are like little pieces of art. I don't wear heels as much as I used to or would like to (heels+chasing a 2 year old = disaster) but I still drool when I see a gorgeous pair of "clackers."

As I was getting ready the other day, Lexie made herself at home in my closet as she usually does. But most of the time she goes straight for the jewelry. This time she found a new love. . . .shoes! I became nearly giddy at the thought of her loving shoes just as much as I do. And boy does she have good taste. She bypassed all of my "summer casual" shoes (flip flops/sandals) and ballet flats and onto the higher end shoes that I have displayed on lower shelves.

Lexie had so much fun presenting me with a fashion show. I loved watching how excited she got while trying on the different pairs. I know this sounds silly probably to a non shoe fanatic but it was truly a special mommy/daughter moment! :) So fun!

***Sorry the pics aren't great. They are from my phone. I was afraid if I ran and got my camera, I would have ruined the moment.

***In the pictures below, the reason that she isn't looking at me is because she is too busy looking at herself in our giant bathroom mirror. She kept saying "so pit-ee." I'm not sure if she is talking about the shoes or herself. . .

Nine West
BCBG
Via Spiga

Michael Kors

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Stuart Weitzman

Valentino

And the grand finale and my FAVORITE shoe designer, Jimmy Choo.
***Though I L-O-V-E Jimmy Choo, these shoes are especially special. I said my vows to Dave while wearing these shoes.

She knows how fabulous Jimmy Choo is. . . . .

Off to conquer the world one pair of Jimmy Choo's at a time!

Mother of the Year Award. . . . .

Oh my sweet, devilish, knew what she was doing daughter locked me out of the house last week. I had run to the mail box to drop a letter in the mail. Literally 30 seconds later, I came back to the same door I left to find it locked. . . .Lexie had locked the deadbolt - I knew she could reach it but she has never toyed with it before until the day I leave the house for 30 seconds with no keys nor cell phone.
Thank the Lord that. . . . .

• I was decently dressed and even had flip flops on. I have been known to run to the mail box in my pj's (not anymore).


• I ran next door to my neighbor, Michael's house. I was thrilled that he was home and that I could use his phone to call Dave.


• Dave was in fact in town!!! He is on the road so much that it was a Godsend that this happened while Dave was here even though he had to cancel of ton of meetings. . . .


• Lexie was completely fine. I was way more traumatized than her. I was running around the yard like a crazy person trying to see her and get her attention. I saw that she was in her chair casually enjoying watching Cinderella. I rang the front door bell and she actually came and unlocked that door (but we have a latch on the top that she couldn't reach). I tried to tell her to go to the other door and unlock it. Her response, "yeah, sure, ok." Then she met me at the other door but just stood there. . . .


• So happy that I had nothing in the oven or on the stove!! Even though Dave was in town, it still took him about 30 minutes to come home.


• When Dave got home and unlocked the door, it was like nothing ever happened. Lexie runs up to me and says, "hi mommy." Of course I was hysterical at that point at the thought of what could have happened. Lesson learned. We now have another form of getting into the house in case this happens again and Dave is out of town.

So I think I should get an award of the Mother of the Year (*sarcastic tone*) due to the fact of underestimating my two year old! She won that day!!

The Princess Stage. . . .

My child has officially entered the girly princess stage to the fullest. Lexie is obsessed with dresses, shoes, bows, jewelry (earrings especially), tiaras, wands, and make-up (her princess lip gloss).

Lexie demands to get dressed once she wakes up and only will let me put a dress on her unless we are going to play (which is MMO). She will shower herself with all the bead necklaces that can possibly go around her neck (almost looking like a girly Mr. T) along with bracelets around her wrists. I got her some costume/dress up earrings and she constantly wants to wear them with everything at anytime of day even before she goes to bed. My friend Steph gave the girls dress up high heels at the beach which Lexie still loves to "click clack" around the house in.

At least once a day, we have to watch a "princess" movie. Her favorite is Cinderella (which is my favorite Disney "princess" movie too).

Lexie's friend Zarin gave her plastic Disney princess figurines (not pictured) that Lexie loves to sit next to her while she watches her movie of choice.

This is such a cute stage. The princess also enjoys watching me put make up on in the mornings. Besides pucking her lips up for some lip gloss, wanting hot rollers in her hair like mommy, she also holds out her wrists for a squirt of perfume. I guess it's never too early to learn how to be a lady. . . .

Lexie's FAVORITE movies. Mainly Cinderella - which she L-O-V-E-S!

One of Lexie's favorite things to watch. A sing-a-long Princess tea party. There are songs from all the different Disney movies.

The "must read" books before bedtime every night.

The Belle of the Ball. . . . .

Flower girl, Lexie

My cousin Meredith got married last weekend in Jackson, MS. It was such a sweet wedding. It was so much to be able to see my 88 year old G'ma along with all my cousins, Aunts, & Uncles.
I was honored that Meredith wanted Lexie to be a part of her and Evan's special day. I was thrilled at the thought of Lexie being her flower girl yet a little worried how she would do walking down the isle by herself. Lexie actually did great. She was sprinkling the rose petals in a very precise circle down the isle. Though Dave and I grabbed her & left the ceremony when she wanted to run up and down the isle. . . .
Lexie had a ball at the reception. The very stunning bride Meredith and Evan had some type of banjo/line dancing live band (not sure what to call them). But it was so unique and fun to see everyone join in the festivities and line dancing. At one point, everyone on the dance floor was in one big circle. Once the music ended, Lexie runs into the middle of the circle, clapped her hands yelling, "Yay, yay, yay! Again!" Then she bowed. Everyone got a real kick out of her performance. It was so cute. If only I had my flip video at that certain time. . . . .
She enjoyed dancing so much that she got awful blisters from her shoes and she didn't once complain about them. We ended up having to drag her away from the reception. She would have danced the night away if we would have let her.
I was running around taking pics (with my Dad's camera), so I don't have really any good ones yet.
Thanks Meredith and Evan for letting our little munchkin be a part of your day! She (along with Dave and me) had a wonderful time!

Cousins! Amy Claire, Hilary, the bride to be Meredith, and me
My fabulous and spunky G'ma with her 4 granddaughters. Lexie refused to get in the pic :(

Meredith and my Aunt Melinda

Miss priss wearing a new dress that SuSu made for the Bridesmaid luncheon

Giving sweet kisses to Daddy

Trying to cool off

Sharing her biscuit with Papa. We took her flower girl dress (aka princess dress) off due to how hot it was making Lexie due to all the tulle.

Below is a pic of Lexie dancing before dinner at the reception. I love how she bows at the end of her dance.

Mommies pampered!

These six mommies (pictured below) were able to enjoy nothing but relaxation at the Ritz Carlton on Lake Oconee. We all were in absolute heaven. We all love our jobs as being a Mom but we also need a breather every once in a while; a charged battery. We were able to sit by the pool and not have a single worry in mind. We didn't have to change diapers, listen to tantrums, cook/clean, feed/bathe the children. There were no little ones tugging at your legs demanding something from you. It was nothing but pure peacefulness knowing that there was no schedule to go by except for dinner reservations later that evening. We could actually sit in the lounge chairs by the pool with our fruity cocktail in hand and read more than a couple pages of a book before being interrupted. Though it was a short get away, it was perfect and very much needed! Thanks to Mandy's hubby, Neil, for making the reservation! Extremely thoughtful!!

The infamous cotton candy. . . . . .with the b'day girl, Mags!

Mommy/Daughter Trip to Destin

For the past couple of years while Dave goes on his annual fishing trip to Alaska, I end up doing something with my girlfriends and our daughters. We usually end up going to a beach of some sort. We ended up back in Destin at my parent's condo this year. Though last year it was 3 moms, 1 sitter, and three 1 year olds. This year the crowd has expanded. There were 3 moms, 2 sitters, three 2 year olds, a 9 month old, and a 2 month old - yes, you read it right, FIVE KIDS UNDER 2 YEARS OLD! It was a little cramped considering my parent's condo is only a 3 bed/3.5 bath. But it all worked out fine. Thanks to Sommer and Jennifer (our sitters). I don't think we could have survived without their help. Another fun mommy/little people beach trip!

Cheers!

Dinner time!

The "Clackers" - the girls loved their high heels. . . .

Miss Jennifer reading the girls a bedtime story.

Going on a "treasure" hunt

Lexie and Z being sweet

Lexie and Taylor battling the waves together.

The girls were all enamored with their new princess lip gloss

Since we couldn't see Daddy on his b'day, we made him a sign!

Whooville!

How do you entertain three very energetic 2 year olds when it storms at the beach? Throw them in the tub for a tea party in bubbles. . .

Or have a tea party under the table.

Mommies night out! We actually got to go out child-less two nights while we were there. It was much needed!

My little Sous Chef

Lexie loves to "cook" in her kitchen. I enjoy having my little sous chef help me bake in the kitchen. I had planned to make these cupcakes at the beach but completely forgot about it. So we baked some post fourth of July sweets.

Ingredients
Lexie stirring the eggs into the batter

Looking what to do next

Pouring some sprinkles on top of the batter (not really).

"Ok, what next?"

Anxiously awaiting for the cupcakes to bake

And voila. Here are Lexie's masterpieces! They tasted just as good as her cute creations.

4th of July in Destin

Our fourth annual 4th of July in Destin was another hit! We spent two weeks of wonderful bliss playing in what I think of is the world's prettiest white sand. There was nothing but constant running and playing chase with our two year old. Lexie really enjoys the sand and water - which made our trip even that much more special. Not to mention that SuSu and Papa were there. Lexie was in heaven!

Daddy filling the bucket with water
Giving more orders. . . ..

Going to the pool with Daddy

Eating one of about 100 Popsicles
Taking a bubble bath

Daddy captured the picture when Lexie first woke up from her nap. LOVE IT!

Being silly on the sand

Love this pic of SuSu and sweet pea

Lexie loves her Papa! Sweet kisses.

Some of Lexie's favorite people!!!