His & Her Lego's

Why didn't we think of this earlier?  Mommy and I invested in His & Her Lego's for our little treasures. You would have thought we gave them gold.  Bella loved building with her Baby on her new Lego table.   Daddy couldn't help but spell the family name.

Brother?  He wanted his own board to work with.  He designed himself a ranch with a house, jeep, four wheeler, jet ski on a lake and a helicopter with a landing pad.  This kid better be the next Buffet - I'm thinking Warren, not Jimmy.

Cowgirl Church

You would think Baby Bella is a member of one of the sprouting Cowboy Churches in the Nashville area.  Not really.  She has just decided to wear her boots to church two Sundays in a row.

I once asked a friend of mine why he was wearing boots.  He replied, "better to be wearing my boots than to be carried out with my boots."   Makes sense to me and apparently to Bell too.

Bella & Big Bird

You just can't pass up an opportunity to ride with Big Bird.

Shopping - She Gets

Bella found some summer PJ's she liked and without prodding took them over to the mirror to hold them up.   As you would expect, her shopping mentor can be seen in the mirror offering up her proud smile of approval.

Earlier in the day, that same mentor sent a torturing text picture to her Dad to boast about her discovery of Oreo Ice Cream Sandwiches at Stake n Shake.  Nothing says "nanana boo, boo" like this  photo.  Sorry, Papa.  It was all her.

Old Time Religion

Growing up in a Pentecostal church, we learned to make good use of the verse "make a joyful noise unto the Lord."  Even those of us without musical talent were encouraged to sing, play and make a joyful noise.

Friday night is usually Daddy and the kids.  More often than not, that means Pizza, Gaither DVD, singing and dancing.

Tonight, Bella decided she wanted to play as well as sing. Babbie Mason broke out with some old camp meeting songs and Bella started in with her tambourine.  Soon after, Jeff Easter was featured with his Harmonica.  No sooner had he started than Bella disappeared into her closet and emerged with her very own harmonica

Yes, Lord.  Give her some of that Old Time Religion.  It seems to come natural to Baby Bella.

Read to Daddy

Bella grabbed the book and turned it towards me, flipped the page and began reading - just we do for her.  "4,5,6" she says.  "For the Bible tells me so."

So cute.  Mixing her numbers and he favorite song, she read the book to me.

Tea for Two

At the tender age of one year old, Bella started putting sweetener in my tea and insisting on a drink herself.  It seems things haven't changed.  Bella is still in charge of my iced tea and helping herself to the finished product.

I guess I'll have to learn to do it myself when she grows up, but by then I might not have the memory capacity.  Hmm.  The circle of life is a curious thing.

As Mark Lowry says, "with the age of parents increasing, by the time the babies are out of diapers the parents are in them."

Got Pole, Will Fish

Baby Bella trying her skill and patience at fishing.   50% focus and 50% help from big brother - she caught a fish.  It was immediately followed by the "I caught a fish, happy dance."

What she lacked in skill she more than made up for in patience, determination and focus.  I'm thinking this girl has a real good shot at most things in life given that combination.

K.I.S.S.

Lots of love going around...

Those Boots are Made...

...for strutting.

Baby Bella strutting her boots and a sweater Grandma bought her.  I would love to say we dressed Bella but the truth is she told what she was wearing.

It started with "I have to wear sweater."  I wasn't sure what she was talking about but took me right to her new sweater.  Some days you just have to be happy that she agrees to wear cloths at all.  In the end, she looked amazing.

I love Bella stories that have a happy ending.

Cousin Lani turns 2

Bella and family were thrilled to help precious Lani celebrate her second birthday.  The cold and wind couldn't dampen the celebratory mood and the kids lust for cake, swings, slides and bubbles.

Let the record show that Leilani was successful at blowing out her candles!

Lani Turns 2 - Bad Advice

Why is Papa doing his mischievous laugh while Mary  looks on with concern?  He has just walked up and down the row of swings and told the kids to swing as high as they can and then jump out.  Luckily, no one did.

Lani Turns 2 - Sliding

Bella enjoyed the tube slide - on her back side, on her stomach and backwards.  Mommy decided to get one last kiss in case Bella injured herself on the slide.

We are still looking for this careful little girl to develop but we continue to see Bella's inner dare devil being revealed.  I think it has something to do with the idolization of her big brother.

Either way, I wouldn't give anything for the smile she gives when she does something for the first time and sees the absolute terror on my face.