Summer is here!

Laura Beth went to her first "friend" birthday party. Our neighbors had a birthday party for the daughter, Joanna, who turned 4 years old last Saturday. Laura Beth loved swinging with her daddy, blowing bubbles, and finding a new beverage that she LOVES. This is Laura Beth drinking her first Capri Sun. We never keep those in the house, so she never drank one. She took to the straw pretty quick.

The drink was gone so fast and of course she wanted another one. ha!

She also ate REAL Cheetos for the first time at this party. We've been giving her the "healthy" Gerber cheetos. I never bought the REAL ones. Ha! Of course, she liked the REAL ones better. ORANGE hands and sticky shirt from the Capri Sun was how we left the party. ha! So fun!

We started taking Laura Beth to the swimming pool last week. I want her to "get used" to the pool so that her and her daddy can swim this summer in Texas. Cindy McRight was nice enough to offer her secluded pool so that other children jumping in and splashing in the pool wouldn't be too scary for Laura Beth. The first day Laura Beth was so nervous. I could feel her body tense up at just SEEING the pool. She allowed me to hold her and walk around in it but not for very long. She didn't scream, but she was not caring for the pool AT ALL. We went again a couple days later. She did better, but she still wasn't totally happy about being in the pool. However after the second time at the pool Laura Beth said, "Poo" for "pool." Now every lake, swimming pool, or other large body of water, Laura Beth calls them "poo." It's really cute.

We move to Texas in a week (June 10th is when we are driving out). Our last week here in Greenville has been fast and fun with vacation bible school. I'll post pictures soon. Laura Beth is also learning to ride rocking horses by herself...video to come soon. :)

Proof that Laura Beth walks and more...

I am finally posting these pictures of Baby Zane. Laura Beth checking out her new cousin.

Mammy and Bampa enjoying their newest Grandchild. Finally, a BOY!Mammy's 3 grandchildren.
Playing with Uncle Aaron, who would have thought this container would be so fun.

Laura Beth brushing her teeth and relaxing with Daddy. They "relax" every night. So sweet.
Laura Beth checking out Zane.
Coloring with Hannah Claire.

Their artwork. So beautiful. ha!

Ok... Laura Beth finally walks.. She's been walking for about a week and half. We finally got proof. At Laura and Aaron's today, she just took off on multiple occasions. Hope you enjoy the proof.. ha!

Mrs. Independent.. Thats what we are starting to call her.

Here is a video of us trying to "force" her to walk the day before..

She wasn't going to walk no matter what. ha! We knew that she could walk, because we had seen her do it multiple times this week, but she wouldn't do it when we wanted her to. Here's how it went.

Outside!

We hope you enjoy this video of Laura Beth enjoying being outside. We found the bird's nest with Baby Birds in a tree in our front yard. Then, Laura Beth was fascinated with Jack's teeth, mouth, and collar. He is so sweet to let her put her hand in his mouth and play with him. We are all going to miss him so much! We only have 2 weeks left to enjoy him. Sad.

Welcome to the world, Zane!

This morning, Steve's sister, Laura, had a baby boy. Zane Bradley Smith is here! In this picture he is red because Zane's big sister, Hannah Claire, just gave him a bath. So sweet.

He looks exactly like Aaron's baby pictures. Congrats Laura and Aaron! Thanks for a cute Nephew! We love you!

First Steps and Walking

Laura Beth took her first steps this past weekend. She is officially a "late walker" because she is 15 months. However, she isn't "officially" walking on her own yet. She simply took a few steps between me and Steve. We were playing one night trying to get Laura Beth to let go and walk. She stepped about 2 or 3 steps between me and Steve. We were so excited! Steve's face was priceless...it looked just the same as when he heard Laura Beth's voice when she was cooing for the first time.

After that experience of her first steps, we decided that she can now walk holding one hand into church, around the house, outside, etc. She does so well with the one-hand walk. I need to get a picture or video for you to see it. She looks so much bigger!

Laura Beth never stops anymore. She won't sit in your lap for very long. She won't stay at one toy or place very long. HOWEVER, the other night she was soooo tired. It was 7:30 pm or so. I come around the corner and she is watching her "movie" (Baby Einstein) and FIGHTING sleep. It was so funny and cute. Enjoy. (NOTE the empty shelves...we're packin' it all up)

Then, last night at church, the youth gave Steve a surprise going away party. Teresa's girls have been coming with me the past few weeks to church. Her youngest got this balloon at the party. We had stopped to fill up the van gas. This is what I found them doing. So cute! Laura Beth will really miss these girls.

McCarty for Mother's Day!

Since we will officially be "Texans" in 4 and a half weeks, my friend Kerri (Music minister's wife) wanted to do something "Mississippish." We went to McCarty's Pottery in Merigold, MS. We also ate at the "Gallery"(McCarty's restaurant)...which has fantastic food and atmosphere. Yum, I can still remember those merigold tomatos! Anyway, here are some pictures of the gardens at McCarty. We later went to Peter's pottery in Mount Bayou, which is where my Mother's Day present came from. I love my new salt and pepper shakers!

Steve made "Mother's Day" into a whole weekend! He was "Super Husband and Father" all weekend. I got a sweet card from Steve and a sweet card from Laura Beth on Sunday. This picture is of us right after church. Laura Beth is obviously sleepy in this picture. Must have played too hard in Sunday School.

Yep... she was tired. This is her about 5 minutes after the previous pictures was taken. ha!

Garage Sale and Hello Kitty Party

We are officially moving in 5 and a half weeks. SOOOO, naturally we need to get rid of some STUFF if we're "downsizing." This picture is Laura Beth in the van with ALOT of other stuff for the garage sale. We had to take it to a friends house to sell it at a neighborhood sale. We made alot of money off all of this stuff. Laura Beth is just confused about WHY it is in the van.

The kids got into the "stickers," which were price tags. Oh baby, you are worth more than 25 cents!

Laura Beth is teething so much. She has 2 upper molars coming in and some canines. Poor thing.

Anyone need a sad looking homeless child? HA! jk... It's a cute little boy who screams like a chinese monkey. COME ON, he's only 50 cents. Look at those eyes. You know you want to take him with you.OK OK, Who wants Twin boys? Two for the price of one? :)

Our friends Kerri and Matt agreed to help us out and let us take our stuff to their house to sell. THEN, my mom ended up "managing" our stuff because we headed to Hannah Claire's Birthday party!

It was a "Hello Kitty" party.

Too Cool! Laura Beth wore her sunglasses for 15 seconds off and on throughout the day. She would take them off to look at them, then want them BACK ON so she could take them off again.

On the way home, Laura Beth was reading this book. This page of the book has a dad and baby at bath time. So naturally, there are bubbles on the page. Laura Beth loves bubbles. She reminds me of the Shrimp on Nemo when she sees them, saying "bubbles, bubbles, bubbles" over and over again. Listen close. She says, "bubbles" when she sees this page. She has never said bubbles without seeing REAL bubbles in the air before this time.