My bags are packed I'm ready to go...

Ashlyns first plane ride - going to North Carolina

Trying to grab Eli's hand in the car

Adley and Aidan - so grown up!

Ashlyn learning to share toys and play with blocks

We went to breakfast on top of a huge mountain (don't worry I sanitized the table)

Beautiful view from breakfast - Pisgah Mtn.

Looking Glass falls (on the way down from breakfast) so pretty

We stopped at a Trout farm to feed the fish - Adley and Aidan loved it

Kind of gross looking but that is tons of trout - all the different sizes were in separate places

My sweet Ashlyn standing up to everything, she now balances in the middle of the floor on her own - should be walking soon!

We all took a boat tour at Lake Lure - they had tons of beautiful lake houses that were HUGE

This part of the lake is where they filmed Dirty Dancing - where they were practicing the lifts in the water.

One of the many huge houses on the lake - they have there sand brought in from the Florida Keys every summer.... must be nice huh!!

Grandpa Bird and Ashlyn resting while we shopped

I had a sty in my eye almost the whole trip and wore my glasses, while getting my eyes checked I tried a pair on Ashlyn, she didn't seem to mind

Grandpa Bird celebrated his birthday the day before we came home

Eli and Ashlyn - so cute

me and Ashlyn with Melanie and Eli before we left to come home

Me and Ashlyn at the Dallas Airport on our lay over -she was such a good traveler

We are home - Ashlyn played in my suit case while I unpacked! We had an awesome time and are so grateful to have spent so much time with Melanie and her family! Thanks dad for inviting us to join you on your trip! We were also able to go to a baseball game and that was tons of fun.

Fun Pictures

Blake was teaching Ashlyn what stairs were like (not sure it was a great idea but oh well!)

Peek A Boo!

Ashlyn is all about Formula in a bottle, she even holds it herself. I weaned her due to excessive biting while nursing! She still nurses at bed time and first thing in the morning!

All I can say is I tried to get the whole rainbow but it looks like I missed some in the middle. there is a light 2nd rainbow (not sure if you can tell)

I'm a big girl now...

I know all moms think this about there kids, but I do have to say that I have one of the most happy babies and I am grateful for her daily! She is such a light in my life and makes my days better with her happy disposition. I'm sad to watch her grow up even though it's fun to see her doing new things! She is independent but still loves help from mommy and daddy at times, she is an investigator and loves to check everything out - we were playing a game the other night with my parents and she stood up to the table and found the cookies, she had her hand on one but I of course moved it quickly... she is so curious about new things in the house and seems to pay good attention to little kids. We got her a new little umbrella stroller to take to North Carolina instead of hauling the huge one and she just loves it, I swear she would sit in that or her car seat for hours and be fine. She loves to walk around the house with a little push toy and in these pictures she's trying out Aunt Robins scooter that she can also push around... we've spent lots of time at Blake's brothers helping them move and clean both houses up and Ashlyn has been an angel!! I plan on getting meals ready for Blake and doing house work before I take off for a week and leave Blake to relax and watch all of his action packed movies he's recorded on the DVR. Have I mentioned what a wonderful husband I have? Just in case you were wondering he's pretty much incredible and I'm so blessed to spend eternity with him! now time for a nap as I have been cleaning and packing boxes the past couple days and I'm exhausted!

Bathing Beauty

Ashlyn just loves taking baths and especially loves watching the tub fill with water now that she stands up to everything

Ashlyn thinks she is SO cute in her robe, well actually I'm the one who thinks she is so cute in her robe - it has matching slippers but they don't stay on very well! Her 3rd tooth appeared about a week ago and the other top 3 look like they are on the way also. Growing up is tough!! It looks like she has a top tooth in the robe pictures and she does but it hasn't come in very far, that's just a shiny glare!

I've been tagged....

My Friend Katie Green in San Francisco tagged me and so here it goes...

7 Random facts about myself


1) I absolutely LOVE Dr. Pepper (bad I know)

2) I am terrified of small spaces and sometimes get anxious on elevators & dread long plane rides

3) I don't like watching action movies and prefer a romantic comedy (Yes -I'm boring) but I usually end up being sucked in to the suspense without realizing it...

4) The 2.5 years it took me to get pregnant seem like nothing now that Ashlyn has been in our lives for 8 months, being a mom is so much more rewarding than I ever thought possible!

5) I'm a reality show junkie and could be entertained for hours

6) I actually enjoy going to the dentist and love the feeling of clean teeth

7) I enjoy making albums online at mypublisher.com rather than doing regular expensive scrapbooking with all the mess, besides it's SO much faster...

**So now I TAG Marlo Greer, Kristi Harris, Robin Powell and Jessamyn Rundio

Baby Blessing

My niece Kensington was blessed this morning and her daddy did a great job! We took some family pictures afterwards.

"Splash" Time

Ashlyn loves the bath and will eat toys or wash cloths, and tries to eat the drain - yum

She has mastered going between furniture with a few steps

This past week we had a nice evening rain with an awesome sunset - had to share it!