Watch out Broadway ....

Presenting Catherine Ellis Cain .... the next biggest star to hit the stage!

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

Oh Glorious Day!

Wasn't this past week and weekend gorgeous? It was just what we needed as a reprieve from the unusual snowy weather we've had the first part of this year! I think we've made great strides in catching up on our vitamin D.

We've had a great weekend, spending much of it outside and it's always so amazing to see the transformations our mental states under take with a bit of fresh air and sunshine - they both are good for the soul!

We had a play date with our good friends the Farrells and their little one, Wyatt (also known as "Cyatt" to CE). We cooked out and played - always so much fun! Thanks for coming over Farrells! I was only able to capture a few shots - we were too busy playing to take photos - so here are a few:

HUH? These two are super cute together!

Taking a break from cooking to share some cookies (graham crackers)

One of the few moments Catherine Ellis shared without being prompted ....

On the move with cookies ......

Going in for a hug :)

Today (Sunday) after church, lunch and naps we finally ventured to Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham. All I can say is WOW! We've been missing out - this park has been open since late fall - but we plan to go as much as possible now. It's so hard to believe that this beautiful oasis was once a mud pit of sorts and where the Crawfish Festival was held for many years. I'm so glad the progressive leaders of Birmingham have turned this area into a fabulous green space - you have to see it to understand just how awesome it is!

Downtown Railroad Park

Lots of water ... streams and a lake

A glimpse from the walking track

We stayed as long as we could ... glorious day!

We were there with literally hundreds of people - so if you live in Birmingham, this is just one more reason you need to get downtown!!

Trying out the rope wall ....

A little assistance from Daddy

Loving the slide

Making friends ... I'm quite charming as you might imagine

Peep Pie Mama

Climbing and sliding all by myself ... hard to believe!

Walking with Daddy ... lots of things to take in

Climbing the rock climb ... look at the background ... the view is gorgeous!

The lake in the middle of the park

Loving on my Daddy

We met lots and lots of puppies

Pure bliss

Running from Daddy

Glorious ...

No park visit is complete without a swing ride

Quenching our thirst with Sonic ... oh yeah! Again, check out the backdrop of the city.

Happy Birthday Catherine Ellis & Emma!

Today Catherine Ellis is 22 months old - can not believe I'm typing that and that two is a mere two months away. Time keeps getting faster and faster! But, believe me, we are feeling some of the wrath of what the 'terrible twos' might be like. It's really not that terrible, but the fits this sweet, precious, charming child can pitch are almost unbelievable sometimes. We find ourselves staring at her in awe at the melt-down capacity she has ..... again, no idea where she gets this (David is whispering Megann .....).

Happy 22 Months Catherine Ellis & Happy Birthday Miss Emma!

Another sweet birthday we are celebrating today is Emma's! She is 9 years old - wow!! I can't believe that 9 years ago I was driving back from California desperate for Southern culture and a puppy - and what do you know? Emma was born. She has hands-down been the best companion that a girl could ask for. I've not been alone in 9 years thanks to her (and David who wasn't far behind her!).

So - 22 fabulous, wonderful and awe-inspiring things Catherine Ellis is up to:

• singing - you are singing all sorts of songs now and it's so entertaining - you get some of the words right and even if you don't - you sing loud and confidently - that's our girl!
• you can use a spoon with ease - the fork you've not mastered, but there is plenty of time.
• you no longer drink out of bottles. We spoiled you by continuing to let you have a bottle of milk at bedtime up until last month and we left the one bottle we hadn't packed up and shipped off at your Gran and Pop's and that made it super easy - we had no other choice! And guess what, you didn't skip a beat and did just fine.
• you still LOVE the pappie - I wonder sometimes if we will ever gain the courage to help you let go of it - until April, we'll keep living in pappie land with you!
  
• You can talk - full sentences, commands, you name it. You are a walking, talking, in-charge toddler. You are the most verbal child in your class. It comes honest sweet child.
• music - if there is one thing your Daddy prides himself in it's music. You have the same love of music as your father - good music too, not that soft rock crap that Mommy listens too - you love good ole' rock-n-roll and your Daddy couldn't be more proud.
• you want to do EVERYTHING by yourself - you are super independent and act as if Mommy and Daddy are a nuisance most days. We're just in the way! You want to put your shoes on, dress yourself, drive yourself to school (yes, you are convinced you can drive). You name it, you think you can do it. At 2 we are convinced you are doing to ask to move out and leave us with an empty nest .... who needs parents after all.
• church is a favorite. You love going to see baby Jesus and now you hardly tolerate the nursery because you want to go to big church and 'see baby Jesus'.
• you LOVE babies - you are so sweet, nurturing, gentle and kind. The infants in the classroom next door to you adore you and you adore them. It's the sweetest thing and we hope you'll continue to act just the same with baby sister!
• You are noticing that Mommy has a larger tummy than normal - however the concept that your sister lives inside that tummy is lost on you - which is just fine.
  
• Coloring - you love to color. Coloring means marking with anything that writes -and it's not always on paper, but so far we've not ruined any walls. Fingers crossed.
• you weighed for the first time on the big girl scale (standing digital scale) at the doctor's office last month - at first you were a bit shy, but then jumped right on and weighed in at 27 lbs!
• potty training at school is still going well. You are dry through-out the day now and they've said you are officially ready for pull-ups. At least a few nights a week you go through the night without wetting your diaper - what a big girl! We're not as good about the potty training at home, but you are good about telling us (most of the time) when you need to go.
• you recognize people and 'know' them without having to see their faces. If we talk about Coco - you know that Coco is your Godmother and you light up! It's so fun to see the connections that you've made in your young life come to life.
• Bedtime is 7:30/8:00 p.m. and wake up time varies from 7:00-8:30 a.m. depending on the day of the week
• you have a fabulous memory - if we turn a different way from our usual way home - you notice and point it out to Mommy that we're going the wrong way. You know landmarks - like the Puppy Dog sign on 1st Avenue or the street that we turn onto to go to school/work leaving Daddy - every day you say bye bye Daddy when we turn because you know he's staying on the road and we're leaving.
  
• Dance parties are a new favorite past time - you and Daddy can cut a rug together!
• you can blow your nose -or at least attempt to .... one day this will be huge- no more suction.
• you can finally take medicine when you are sick - you had micoplasma last week and we got to give you some medicine (over-the-counter) for your cough - it made a world of difference.
  
• you have started helping walk Cain and Emma - by holding the leash and letting them pull your stroller - it's comical to watch and of course we're right there with you!
• you like for everything to be in it's place ... if you see shoes, you insist we either put them on or put them away in the closet where they belong. This delights your Mommy more than words sweet child!
• you can work a room! You are often the social butterfly of the crowd - at a recent cookout with friends - there were 3 other children ranging in age from 6 months to 4 years - you were instant best friends with them and commanded the room - they loved you, you loved them, and at the end of the night you said goodbye with sweet hugs and kisses for all. You would have thought you'd known them for years.
• we're cherishing every moment we have with you! In just a few months our time as a family of 3 will come to an end and we'll have a sweet sister joining our lives. While we are super excited, it's bittersweet, so we're soaking you up as much as we can.

This is the day which the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24