Happy Birthday, Maddux!

Maddux celebrated his 9th birthday March 25th. To comemmorate the special day my parents came up for a visit and brought Sandy and Spark-e for a playdate with the birthday boy. Buddy the Corgi (my neighbor's dog) also joined in the festivities. The doggies played and ate vanilla cupcakes. We sang to Maddux and he got several new toys and his favorite treats (chicken tenders and Bullwrinkles chewies). Maddux's birthday is always a special day to me, but this year even more so considering we almost lost him back in October when he was attacked by another dog. Maddux, I know you feel like you've taken a backseat since Emery's arrival, but you'll always be my first born! I love you very much!
**Notice the little hand taking a swipe at the cupcake.**

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Fun with cuz at the Publix in Vinings. Well, Emery was having fun.....Hayes looks mortified to be seen in public with crazy Emery.
I think this pretty much sums up the personalities of Hayes and Emery.

Emery Catherine is 9 Months Old

Emery celebrated her nine month birthday on 3/16/2010. She went to the pediatrician's for her nine month checkup and weighed in at 21 lbs, 5 oz and 28.5" long. She continues to be a chunker....87th% for weight and 82nd% for height. Her melon clocked in at an impressive 97th%. Must be full of brains! Ben and I are so thankful for our big, healthy baby girl.

Mommy's Little Helper

Neighborhood Chilli Cookoff

Our super fun neighborhood held its first annual chilli cookoff Saturday evening. What a great turnout! We had 11 entries (all of which were delicious) and at least 30 attendees. I totally copied my sister and Brian in organizing the event, which worked out perfectly. Everything went off without a hitch. A big thanks to Nate and Stephanie Manning for hosting the party at their house.
The hosts with the most!

Neighborhood gals beginning to taste test.

Ashley and Jordan (Ashley and her hubby, Chris, placed 2nd!)

St. Paddy's themed desserts and decorations.

Love the Guinness in the vase.

Playdate with Sterling Ragsdale

My good friend, Ashley Ragsdale, gave birth to a precious little baby girl six weeks after Emery's arrival. Ashley and I were so excited to both have girls so close in age. We know that they will grow up to be BFFs. We got the girls together for a playdate on Friday, despite the awful storm. Ashley hosted us at her house so Sterling's big brothers, Duke and Smith Jackson, could join the fun.
Emery admires Sterling's super cute footwear.

Ashley and Sterling Ragsdale

Thanks, Ash! Next time we can play at my house.

Giddyup!

Emery and I had such a fun weekend in Atlanta celebrating the 2nd birthday of Miss Avery Calvert! Avery's parents (my good friends, Clint and Sarah) really went above and beyond to make sure all of Avery's guests had an unforgettable experience. And Mother Nature cooperated beautifully. Avery loves animals and her party had a cowboy/cowgirl theme. In addition to pony rides, several little bunnies also made the trek to the Calvert home. Avery's gift from her parents is a fabulous swingset/slide combo which provided hours of entertainment for the little ones waiting for their turn on the ponies. Alison and I made sure Hayes and Emery were decked out in the finest western gear Horsetown had to offer for babies. If I do say so myself, they were pretty cute! Thanks, Clint and Sarah! Happy birthday, Avery!
Maggie and Wade diggin' in to the yummy pizza and fruit salad lunch.

Emery swinging with the help of Grandpa (that's right....my parents crashed the party for a bit because they wanted to see their grandbabies' first experience with horses).

The birthday girl!

The adorable table setting (before the kiddos invaded)

Cowboy Hayes!

Emery and her favorite pony

Emmy liked petting the ponies but I wouldn't say she had a blast riding them.

Hayes and Alison

Rear view of Emery's super cute cowgirl outfit.

My precious little cowgirl!