WE NEED A TOUR BUS

Last week we hit the road for Elle's first trip out of town and for her to meet some of her extended family. Kenny's parents were just itching to get her there. My father-in-law had never even held Elle. They came up for the birth but since she was in the NICU they left after a couple of days and only Kenny and I were allowed to hold her then. Luckily that was remedied this weekend!

Elle and her Grandpa

We stopped in Hattiesburg because there was no way we were dumb enough to keep a five month old in a car for 8-10 hours. So Elle got her first sink bath. We decided not to bring her little bath seat so this was the first of many sink baths.

My mom's kitchen looks so yellow in this picture.

She is redoing it right now. It is about to get repainted.

Then it was onto Fairhope. Kenny and I talked about it so much this weekend. We are so happy his parents retired in such a nice town. It is close to the beach, there are cute little shops and restaurants and time seems to slow down when we are there.

Kenny's Aunt Sandy came in town from Georgia to celebrate her birthday with everyone and also to meet her great niece. We had gone to the yacht club for drinks when she arrived into town to meet us. I love this picture even though for a baby who smiles ALL THE TIME Elle always looks so serious in pictures. I decided to put a little nautical dress on her. And it was H-O-T. So ignore the glisten on all of us.

Great Aunt Sandy

We walked around downtown Fairhope and shopped and ate lunch. It was a lot of fun and then it was back to the house to cook out and more family to come over for Elle's debut.

Elle's Great Aunt Lilidale could not wait to get her hands on Elle!

Some of the ladies in the family.

On Sunday, Kenny's parents were nice enough to watch Elle and let Kenny have a little time together. We talked about going over to Orange Beach but ended up going to the pool in their neighborhood for a few hours. Then we went and ate lunch at a place on the water called Fly Creek Cafe. This was our view and it was heavenly.

After lunch we went and got Elle ready to go for her first swim.

All ready to go.

She loved it! But it wore her out. You can see how sleepy her eyes were getting in these pictures.

The next day it was back on the road and then we stopped in Hattiesburg again for a little more time with CC (my mom) and then back to Memphis. We were so glad to be home but arrived home to find that we did not have any power. Yuck! Luckily it came back on today. So here I am blogging for you!

WEIGHT WATCHERS WEDNESDAY

Alrighty! Sorry for my weight watchers absence last week. We will just pick up where I left off.

So since last Weight Watchers Wednesday I lost...

2.5 lbs

So 3.5 lbs to go until pre-pregnancy weight!

17.5 lbs to go to reach my goal weight!

YAY!!!

And I am so going to make this. I saw it on Gina's Skinny Taste. It's pretty.

Red, White and Blueberry Trifle
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 14 • Serving Size: 1 cup • Old Points: 3 pts • Points+: 4 pts
Calories: 169.1 • Fat: 0.4 g • Protein: 2.5 g • Carb: 38 g • Fiber: 3.0 g • Sugar: 16.5 g
Sodium: 102.8 mg


Ingredients:

• 10 oz angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes*
• 2 pints strawberries, sliced
• 2 pints blueberries

For the cream filling:

• 6 tbsp fat-free sweetened condensed milk (I used Borden Eagle)
• 1 1/2 cups cold water
• 1 package sugar-free white chocolate instant pudding mix
• 12 oz fat-free frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions:

Whisk the condensed milk and water in a bowl. Whisk in the pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set; fold in the whipped topping.

Arrange half of the cake in the bottom of a 14-cup trifle dish. Sprinkle evenly with a layer of blueberries. Spread half of the cream mixture over the blueberries and gently spread (I piped it using a plastic bag and cut the corner off). Top with a layer of strawberries. Layer the remaining cake cubes on top of the strawberries, then addmore blueberries and top with the remaining cream mixture. Finish with the remaining strawberries and blueberries, arranging them in a pretty pattern. Cover and refrigerate at least one 1 hour.

*I only used 10 oz of a 16 oz cake.

WEEKEND RECAP AND FATHER'S DAY

Kenny spent the weekend white water rafting in West Virginia.

Kenny headed to West Virginia for a guys rafting trip. He went on this trip last year and almost died. This time they were going to be doing a Class 6 so I was really nervous and needed distractions to keep my mind off it. Luckily my sister was moving into a new apartment closer to her new job and my mom was in town.

On Friday since my sister was working my mom and I ran errands, got pedicures and hit up Toys R'Us. Elle needed some toys since she did not have any.Then we went over to my sister's house to help her unpack.Elle had fun rolling around on the floor.

HAPPY 1ST FATHER'S DAY KENNY!!

Sunday,after he survived the trip, Kenny spent most of his day driving home but arrived just in time for me to cook a huge meal of his favorites. Shake and Bake pork chops, green bean casserole, homemade macaroni and cheese (recipe that I made up, coming soon) and then Better Than You Know What Chocolate cake. This was my first time to try that cake but I always heard about it and Kenny loves anything chocolate.

I also surprised him with having Sirius radio installed in his car because we had not replaced it since he got his new car and then I also framed a picture that we both love from Elle's newborn photo shoot. And finally he carries single keys around all the time and it drives everyone crazy so I had a key chain made with a tiny little picture on it from a seller on Etsy. It is so cute and sweet and small enough that it is not to gooby.

Anyway, it was so nice that we were able to celebrate Father's Day with Kenny. He such a fantastic daddy to Elle and she absolutely adores him.

TONYS

I love to watch the Tonys. I try my best to watch every year so I can see what new shows I am interested in. I love seeing all the different performances. It always gives me goosebumps. I know that is totally nerdy.

The musical that really caught my eye this year is The Book of Mormon
The music was really catchy. I was texting with my old coworker that I always talked theatre with and she let me know that I could download the soundtrack on Amazon for $1.99. I was ridiculously excited about this. I have already bought and downloaded the soundtrack and burned a cd. Can't wait to listen to it all!

Another play that I thought looked good was Sister Act. Based on the movie of course.

And how great was Neil Patrick Harris. I was cracking up during his number with Hugh Jackman.

Elle was hanging out with me watching the award show before she went to take her bath. I would love for her to love theatre as much as I do. I can dream right.

WEEKEND UPDATE

Kenny and I were so excited to head out town to spend time with our friends Joe and Tracy at their river house. They have a pontoon boat and it is so incredibly relaxing just to go out on the water and hang out in the sun.

We could not have asked for better weather! It was partly cloudy which gave us a little shade every now and then.

Joe wanted to make this drink called Five Alive to take on the boat. He said he grew up drinking this as a kid. I had never heard of it. It's a fruit juice concentrate and you mix it with rum. It is delicious and very refreshing when it is hot outside.
They also had this really neat raft that you can anchor off of the boat and it collect water in the middle of it so you stay cool. It was so fun. We met up with some people and hung out all day.


The boys ended up getting kind of silly towards the end of the day. So we headed home to grill out and watch movies. Then of course head to bed early. The sun and water will really take it out of you.

On Sunday, we headed home to see Elle and Kenny went to the PGA golf tournament for a little bit! It was such a great weekend!!

WEIGHT WATCHERS WEDNESDAY

Let's just get this over with because I was a bad weight watcher this past weekend. However, I didn't gain. I just didn't lose either.

So since last Weight Watchers Wednesday I stayed the same. (Better than nothing)
0 lbs

So 6 lbs to go until pre-pregnancy weight!

20 lbs to go to reach my goal weight!

Looking forward to results next week! Sorry this post isn't more exciting. So here is a really cute pic of Elle and Kenny I took yesterday. I had to go water the plants so I set her in her Bumbo in the office to spend time with her Daddy.

WHAT COLOR ARE YOUR THUMBS?

Green? Mine are black. I DETEST yard work. I get no pleasure out of it. Cooking, food, yes. Planting,outdoors,flowers, no. My mom however does enjoy it a great deal. She has been itching to get her hands on our yard since we moved in. So she offered to re-landscape when were on our cruise while she watched Elle. We'd foot the bill she'd do all the hard labor. Of course we said yes.

We yanked up all of our bushes. Remember these before pics?




Drumroll please!
AFTER:




She even restaged our little front door stoop. I am still waiting on some of the flowers in my pots to bloom.


Kenny are so pleased and are so thankful for her hard work. In return I am working really hard at keeping everything alive. I go out every other day and water the plants and then on the other days I am attacking any grass that is trying to grow back or any sneaky weeds. And in 100 degree weather. That is plenty of "yardwork" for me!!

P.S. Our bushes sat at the end of our driveway for at least a month and a half waiting on the City of Memphis to come haul them away. Kenny had to make countless calls. Monday morning this is what it took to get it accomplished. So funny!!

WEEKEND RECAP

We had a fabulous weekend spent with friends and getting some individual grown up time to. On Friday night we were supposed to meet up with our friends Lauren and Michael and their little girl Shelton. But Shelton was tired so just Michael came. We all ate at Las Delicias and it was delicias. Sorry, couldn't resist.After we left the restaurant Kenny and I headed to a new little Mexican ice cream shop on Summer Avenue called La Michocana. I had heard about all their homemade fruit paletas. I got the chile mango and then bought a strawberry one to take home. The chile mango was okay but the strawberry one was amazing and because of that I will be going back. Kenny got some pine nut ice cream which was really good also.

On Saturday, I met up with some girlfriends to have lunch and then we went to see Bridesmaids. Yall! That movie was so funny. I laughed so hard I cried several times. I was so thankful Kenny stayed home with Elle so I could have a break and some girl time.

That afternoon/evening we loaded up Elle in the stroller and hit up the Greenline which is an awesome walking/biking/running trail. We walked it down to the High Point Terrace area and stopped in for dinner and some drinks. Then went to Cheffies for some gelato. Yes! I ate my way through this weekend and as of yesterday started officially counting points again ha!

We walked home in the sunset, bathed Elle, bottle and put her to bed. It really was the perfect night. I told Kenny these were the kinds of nights I envisioned when I thought about us having a family. SO nice

On Sunday, Kenny had an early tee time with three of his friends. After they were done playing we went to see Michael and Lauren's new house and then grabbed some lunch!

And because all my pictures were of food today here is one of sweet little Elle. Who has managed to grow out of all of her 3 month clothes in one day but is still is a little small for the 6 month sizes. So we are making do.

RATTLE RATTLE

Elle has definitely discovered her hands. Right now she is just sucking on them and sort of batting at things. I cannot wait until she really starts grabbing things and understanding everything those little fingers can do. In the meantime I am placing different toys in her hands right now.

One of Elle and my favorite rattles is this one. It was mine when I was a little baby and was given to me by my aunt and uncle. It has a jingle bell in it and I like that it is sentimental. I think it is sweet.One of my mom's best friends, Susan, is an artist who makes beautiful jewelry and she gifted to me this bracelet. It is called a rattle bracelet and is gorgeous but also so clever. The idea is you can wear it and then also take it off in situations like church and let the baby play with it like a rattle. Here is her website Susan Carruth Jewelry.I love the little blocks with Elle's name spelled out. I know it will be a piece that I can pass down to her for her children and also get so much enjoyment out of wearing.

TAKING THE PLUNGE

So the more and more I think about it, the more I am convinced. I think I am going to make Elle's baby food. I never thought I would be one of those moms. But it seems really easy and to me the benefits are huge. Plus I like food and to cook so this would just be something fun to do.

My two main reasons for wanting to make my own baby food:

- The food is more nutritious. The vitamins and nutrients remain in the food.

- It is cheaper. Considering we had to go the formula route pretty early on, it would be aweseome to save a little in this new phase.

Only problem. I really really want this baby food maker. It practically does it all for you. It steams, blends, defrosts and reheats. I am SOLD! The price tag is a little steep though and my birthday isn't for a few months. And I mean really. A baby food maker for my birthday. That is just sad.

Anyone have any experience with this fine piece of machinery. Or know one that works just as well for cheaper? I would love any and all opinions!

WEIGHT WATCHERS WEDNESDAY

So my hiney is a little sore... FROM FALLING OFF THE WAGON. So post cruise I have not climbed back on the Weight Watchers wagon very well. This tends to be my MO. When I am motivated, I am motivated. And when I get unmotivated and stop watching what I eat then it is hard for me to get going again.

So since last Weight Watchers Wednesday I have gained
1 lbs

So 6 lbs to go until pre-pregnancy weight!!!!!! Ugg this is so frustrating for me!!!

20 lbs to go to reach my goal weight!

Hopefully next week will be better.