First FAMILY Vacation

This past week we went to South Padre with Chris, Amy, and Finley! It was so much fun! It was quite the drive but thank goodness for portable dvd players. We bought one just for the trip because Macie has recently taken an interest in tv and Baby Einstein. Wow, it was a life saver especially on the over 9 hour drive home. Macie did great.

We went to Austin first and stayed the night and then Wednesday we headed to South Padre. Macie and Finley had a blast. These two little cousins don't get to see one another enough. However, there was no being shy. They immediately began playing. Once we got to Padre, Macie and Finley began exploring the condo. We heard doors slamming, giggling, and we knew those two were up to no good. We went to the beach each day. I experienced pure joy when I watched Macie bend down to touch the sand. She was so interested. Zack and I didn't know if she would be scared of the water but she ran right in. Macie and Finley built sand castles, found a sand crab, and played in the water. Along with Daddy's help, Macie and Finley also fed the seagulls. We saw dolphins from our balcony. Zack and Chris also saw some when they went a little ways out into the water. Each morning Macie and Finley seemed to wake within minutes of one another. Macie would start yelling, "Momma!" Then Finley chimed in. We would get Macie up and open Finley's door next. She would giggle with excitement. Once Finely woke from a nap and before we even heard him, Macie stopped and got super excited. He made another noise and she was running and screaming to his room. They then shared a bag of Smores Goldfish....too much before dinner. They were all over Finley's pack-n-play. They hung out in there and Macie would watch his Baby Einstein musical toy and say, "Movie." Finley would refer to Macie as "Baby" since that is what he says when he looks at her picture at home. Macie also learned the word "MINE" while hanging out with Finley. She made sure he didn't touch her things. So now we are really working on sharing and being "NICE" (another one of her words). There are so many more stories about these two little cousins. I wish I could share them all. I do hope we get to do more of these family trips as they grow. (The last video is of Macie sort of singing the ABC's...listen closely but that is what she is trying to sing. She only knows the first 3 letters)! WOW, I love her and love this stage of her life even though she is having to go to time-out and sometimes likes to hit when she doesn't get her way.

Shoes

All was quiet so Zack and I figured Macie was up to no good...probably playing on the computer! Anyway, I found her in our room trying to put on her new shoes which by the way is a tough task when the strap gets in the way. (I had to get her new sandals for the remaining part of summer because her toes were hanging over). She worked on it forever and wouldn't let me help her. I got a quick video of her trying to push that foot inside her shoe. She does take after me in one way....we both lack patience and get frustrated quickly!

Corn on the Cob

Zack fixed grilled chicken out and along with that we had corn on the cob! It was delicious. Zack cuts Macie's off the cob but then she was eyeing mine. Zack gave her some and she loved it. She kept saying, "MMM!" She makes us laugh!

BUBBLES

Some sweet kids gave Macie a bubble toy when we moved to Keller. I finally let her try it out the other day and she loved it. She had to figure out how it worked but once she did bubbles were everywhere. Oh, I had her try this outfit on that I got her last year. It finally fits and I think it is super cute! How many times have I said I love buying her clothes. Anyway, she will get to wear it a little more once it cools off to maybe 90 or 80...this 100 degree heat is a killer!

Macie had about a 45 minute bubble bath the other day. I don't know why I haven't filled the bath with bubbles before but she LOVED it! Well, she loved bubbles except for when she tried to taste them...not so good! She kept saying, "Bubbles! Bubbles!"

You saw the pudding video but here is one of the pictures. So good!!!!

Say, "CHOCOLATE PUDDING!"

Macie wanted to get the doll down off her shelf that Jerry and Ann, our old neighbors, gave her. She was being very careful but loved touching this sweet baby. We miss Jerry and Ann so much!

Tate came over for a visit a couple of weeks ago. They held hands as we walked to the restuarant. It was super sweet! I hope they grow up to be great friends!

Rooster and Pudding Videos

This first video is of Macie after eating chocolate pudding. I told her she had a surprise and this is what she got. She said, "ise." She is getting better and better with a spoon but when she is frustrated she just uses her hands. Who can blame her when there is chocolate around!

The second video is of Macie saying something like "Cock-a-doodle-do" when I asked her what a rooster says. She just started saying it today. We read several books that have roosters so I say it each time. So I haved asked her all day about a rooster because it makes me laugh.

Macie's Newest Dog Relative

Grammy and Papaw came down to get a Macie fix because they haven't seen her in a month. They brought with them their new dog they actually bought here in Keller. Rosy is a great dog and we are excited they have a dog to spoil and keep them company. Rosy did great with Macie. I think Macie thought she was a horse because she tried to sit on her. Rosy is bigger than Macie's play horse. Macie had a great time playing with Rosy. Last night she was running back and forth with her stroller and Rosy was following her. She would scream with delight.

19 Months

When Macie woke from her nap she saw her visitor.

Macie was walking Rosy around on the leash.

TICKLE ME, Grammy!

Papaw, Macie, and Rosy

Papaw rigged up the wagon so Rosy could walk Macie! Macie liked it more than Rosy, I think!

Macie loves her "bawoon!" Yes, I know they say not to give little ones balloons but I watch her while she plays with it. Macie would pull it down and Grammy acted like she was scared. This made Macie laugh hysterically.

"Rosy, come and get it!"

Cabela's

Being that it was so hot this past weekend, we decide to go to Cabela's. It is just one exit up from our exit off of 35. It was really fun to watch Macie point at all the deer and other animals all around. I guess it was sort of like a zoo except these animals were stuffed! I think Zack thought I was crazy to get out the camera but I wasn't the only mom taking pictures and he should know well enough by now to know I am the crazy picture taking mom!! I can't stop myself!

We spotted a baby crane on the roof! Macie was so fascinated with it. She and the neighbor kids were watching it until it flew off. It stayed on both of our rooms for a long time! She is very interested in any animal or bug that she sees. I tried to get her to touch a grasshopper but she chickened out, I think, because she knew I wouldn't do it.

Macie and Blake at Target last week!

Macie now wants to ride in this shopping cart all the time. It is a little embarrassing to be pushing this thing around when I am really just looking around and she is the only one in it!

Final Days of Macie's 18 month

TUTU!

Macie can say tutu so we tried it back on and it still looks cute! She wore it around for quiet awhile. Right when I put it on her I said to go look in the mirror and she did. She also twirled slowly around. ALL GIRL!!!

My new favorite outfit! I love dressing this girl up! Last summer we got several great deals on clothes for Macie so I have loved putting her in them. I just got some great deals for next summer too!

Where is Heaven?

Macie was so happy to see her Meme and cousin, Lindsay Leigh! She said Meme over and over and over and over! That isn't an exaggeration. We had such a wonderful time visiting, shopping, and just being together. I love family time!
Macie warmed up to Lindsay Leigh and loved that she would throw her in the air and push her around in the shopping cart! We are very proud of Lindsay Leigh for doing so well her first year of college. It is hard to believe she is about to be 20 and a sophomore in college. She is beautiful on the inside as well as the out!

YOGURT!

That spoon is harder to use than you would think! Macie will just keep working on it until she gets it! I don't think she cared as long as she could eat her yogurt!

Macie and Blake showed Meme how good they were at swimming.

Macie is trying on Nonnie's glasses and Blake isn't far behind waiting on his turn.