Thomas the Tank Engine

Saturday morning my mom and I loaded up the car with Emery and headed north to Bryson City, NC, to see Thomas the Tank Engine up close and personal. We even got to take Emery on her very first train ride! Although we had fun watching Emery take in as much Thomas as she could handle, the weather was miserable. 100 degrees and 99% humidity. Wow. Emery didn't seem too bothered by the heat, but my mom and I were dying. I'm hot just looking back at the pictures.
Emery sees Thomas for the first time. She was in shock!

Lots of Thomas items available for purchase. This store was air conditioned, so we spent quite a bit time in there while waiting for our train departure. This resulted in spending more money than I had planned, but it was worth it to get out of the heat!

A tented area with bubbles, sand tables, tattoo stands and Lego play sets was still scorching hot, but at least we were in the shade.

Lego Thomas

Emery got a Rosie tattoo. Emery loves Rosie because she's pink.

Waiting to board our train

All aboard! The train cars were open air....no AC. Boo!

Emery got excited when she heard the theme song from Thomas and Friends

Clapping along

Emery is a Junior Engineer!

Emery's First Haircut

After months of trying to push through this stringy hair phase, I finally came to the conclusion that Emery's hair was never going to even out without the help of some scissors. So, last week I made an appointment for her very first haircut at Jelly Beans. Emery was great throughout the entire process! And her hair looks really cute. I am so relieved that the stylist did not cut much and even introduced me to the world's smallest hair rubber bands. I never knew these existed. Now, Emery can sport a little pig tail on the top of her head. I think it's adorable, but Ben thinks she looks like she has a periscope attached to her melon. Oh well. What do guys know?
Walking into the salon. I kept telling Emery she was going to get a haircut, but I don't think she really knew what that meant.

The only time Emery seemed a little apprehensive was during the shampoo. She wasn't too sure about this, although she did like that the stylist used "princess bubbles" to wash her hair.

Removing the redneck child mullet....

Sassy girl!

Yay! Her hair is no longer in her eyes 24/7. Emery will not keep a clip in her hair for more than five minutes, so my attempts to keep her bangs out of her peepers was pointless. But thanks to the trim and these little rubber bands, she can see!

Blow dryer

A sweet little bob with a periscope.....precious!

Emery got to choose a hair clip (neon green cat) and a bracelet for being such a good girl.

Baby's first haircuts at Jelly Beans are only a penny. This kids' salon is super cute. Emery paid all by herself (she "fed" the piggy). AND, she got a balloon to match her dress. Emery did not want to leave Jelly Beans.

The certificate and lock of hair to commemorate this milestone. So sweet.

Princess Camp

Emery and I experienced a major milestone yesterday: she attended her first ever music class (Princess Camp!) that is not a mommy-and-me class. The Princess Camp is for little girls ages 2-4 and it's 90 minutes every Tuesday in July. It's a Kindermusik program, so I knew Emery would love the class. We've been attending Kindermusik for a year now and it's a great way to bond with your child and see how much babies love music! Anyways, my worries were unfounded. Emery didn't cry or ask for "mommy" once. What a relief! She had a blast and can't wait to go back next week.

Hanging up her backpack like a big girl....this is when I started to tear up.

Coloring the Enchanted Forest as part of the icebreaker. This is when I snuck out...

And this is what I returned to! Emery and her new friends prancing around in princess hats and skirts!

Ending the class with a stamp, which is Emery's most favorite part of Kindermusik.

God Bless America!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day! We certainly did, although it was very low-key. Ben, Emery and I spent the afternoon at the pool enjoying the Thornblade cookout, followed by naps (Emery and Ben) at home and then sparklers in the driveway after bath time. Emery wore her festive Fourth pajamas...an enormous Maltese tee shirt with red, white and blue fireworks. Emmy saw these shirts at Wal-Mart and loved them because of the Maddux resemblance. Adorable, but the smallest size available is a women's extra small. No kiddie sizes. Oh well, I guess she can wear it every Fourth for the next fifteen years! The sparklers were a big hit. I actually thought Emery may be a little fearful of them (silly me), but of course she was not the least bit timid around them. She insisted on double fisting and cried when the last sparkler was extinguished. Hopefully I can find more soon.

Emery's Elmo Extravaganza (Brithday Celebration, Part 2)

Emery's birthday party was held at Herdklotz Park (Emery's favorite playground) Saturday evening. We had pizza, fruit salad and chocolate chip Elmo cake. Emery and her friends had a great time playing on all the spectacular playground equipment in between eating....and then Elmo himself showed up! Emery hugged and danced with her idol.....so precious. Happy birthday, baby girl!

Emery and her boyfriend, Davis, along with Bobbie Ann and Reggie

Some of the guests enjoying the food

Elmo sighting!

Emery and Harper dancing with their favorite Muppet

Family picture attempts

We really struggle with family pictures

Cake time! Emery is STILL making us light a candle and sing to her about ten times per day.

Yum!

Emery's Birthday Celebration, Part 1

What better way to celebrate my baby girl turning two than by treating her girlfriends to their first pedicures!?!?! Emery turned two Thursday, June 16th. I made appointments several weeks ago with the nice man who owns Lovely Nails on The Parkway for these precious little girls to all come in together and get their toenails painted on Emery's birthday. Honestly, I was a little nervous as to how this would unfold, but the girls were perfect little angels! Emery was so well behaved that she ended up getting a manicure as well. I am thrilled. I hope to make this a regular event with my baby girl. After nails, we headed to Chick fil A for lunch and play time. Emery ended the day by playing in the downtown fountain with Harper and Phinley while dancing to the band playing at Rhythm on the River. Emery, I hope you enjoyed your birthday as much as I did! What a wonderful day.

Phinley, Harper, Emery and Sterling....how cute are these princesses in their tutus?

Phinley and Harper being the perfect little customers

Phinley, Harper, Sterling and Emery. The other ladies in the salon were VERY sweet and did not mind their relaxing manicures/pedicures being interrupted by our little girls.

Emery chose a hot pink polish for her nails and toes and then her nail technician embellished them with white polka dots. Adorable!

Harper chose a pretty light pink color and Phinley opted for frog green. Hilarious.

Emery's toe separators made me laugh

Sassy!

The end result

Still behaving at the drying station....

Checking out the goody bags my mother-in-law helped me make for each of the girls. Inside each bag is a tube of lotion, a lip gloss, glittery nail clippers and nail polish. Thanks Phinley, Harper and Sterling for joining us and helping Emery celebrate! Phinley and her mommy, Debbie, came all the way from Florida to spend this special occasion with us. We're so honored!

Our new niece!

My sister delivered her baby girl on Tuesday, June 7th at 1:09 pm. Emery and I drove down to Atlanta that morning so that we could be at Northside Hospital with the rest of our family when Kelsey Claire Stephens made her debut. What a wonderful day! Kelsey weighed in at 6 lbs, 4 oz and 20.25" long. She looks almost exactly like Hayes as a newborn. Alison and Kelsey are both at home and doing fabulously! Hayes is adjusting well to having a sister and daddy Brian is smitten with his little princess. Hayes and Emery practiced with Emery's baby dolls while in the waiting room

There she is!

Brian, Hayes, Dad, Nanny and Mom (in all their pink splendor) see baby Kelsey for the first time

Emery is fascinated with Kelsey. I've never seen her so still as when she was allowed to "hold" Kelsey. Five days later she is still asking "where baby Kelsey?" I guess she's hoping for a brother or sister soon!

Hayes was much more nonchalant about Kelsey. However, now that Kelsey is home, Hayes is a big help! He enjoys pushing Kelsey in her swing. Yikes!