Day Trip- Natchez

This morning we were having breakfast at Cracker Barrel and discussing what we could do this afternoon. Kris said that he would like to drive over and see the floodwaters on the Mississippi, that left us with Vicksburg or Natchez. My dad was born in Natchez and lived there until he was about 8 or 9 and my parents took us there a few times for the Spring Pilgrimage when we were young. Of course, my love of history, and especially historic homes & buildings, has always held a special place in my heart so Natchez is an easy place for me to visit. So we ran home, loaded the diaper bag and set off. It was a solid 2 hour drive but it went by quickly. The children did great but were realllllly ready to get out by the time we got there! Our first stop was to view the floodwaters raging downstream...


There was a nice overlook bridge that ran for quite a distance along the hilltop. Then we decided that we would try one of the home tours. Fort Rosalie was just down the street and it is special to me because my grandmother attended "Circle Meetings" in the parlor when they lived in town. Brantley was not impressed so Kris stayed with her in the back of the group during the tour and I carried Emery. Sweet, sweet Emery who did not make a peep even though she did make a messy diaper at some point inside the house. We won't be trying anything like that again for a while! But I do look forward to bringing them back for the Pilgrimage and hopefully with my parents in tow! We topped it off with dinner at Fat Mama's Tamales which was soooooo good and then headed home. It was a fun, impromptu day which are the best kind to me!

Brantley, Me, and Emery on the front steps of Rosalie

Beautiful Rosalie

Post diaper change reunion...

Plenty of space to run before climbing back into the car for the 2 hour ride home

Mommy & Me- Just Movin' Graduation

Today was Brantley's graduation from our Mommy & Me Just Movin' class. It is the intermediate class between the 'First Year' and 'Toddler' classes. We started this class at the beginning of the year and it is one that has been full of changes for the Powell ladies. I was pregnant when we started in January, Emery was born in March and Brantley went to class for the 6 week session following with her best buddy, Andrew, and his mom (a kindness I will never forget), and finally, Brantley & I returned to class together for the final session with a new addition! It has been a great and incredibly fast 5 months. We will be on break for the summer and start the Toddlers class in September. Not sure where the time is going...graduation indeed.

Let's Hit the Showers

Brantley has recently become fascinated with the shower. Or rather with getting INTO the shower and sliding the door open and closed. It is sooooo funny! Until she gets tall enough to turn it on...

Emery Rose is Two Months Old!

Emery is two months old today! And she is growing and growing! She is still a great eater- every 2-3 hours, and sleeper- going to bed around 6:30pm and sleeping until 2am or 3am. She is truly my right arm and assists me in taking Brantley to school, Mommy & Me class, playdates, lunches, etc. Emery is basically just a little ball of sunshine that has lit up every life in the Powell House. And she has THE sweetest smile I've ever seen.
She had her two month check up today weighing in at 10.3lbs and measuring 22 3/4inches. She received the dreaded (by me) 3 shots and 1 oral vaccine but the tears were minimal, lasting only about 30 seconds afterwards. She is in excellent health!



And I included this picture because Kris said "And Emery looks straight out of the 1850's". It was so funny and I never want to forget it.

Mommy & Me- Family Night

We had our Family Night for Brantley's Mommy & Me Class tonight! This is our last session before we go on summer break. Brantley is currently in the Mommy & Me Just Movin' class and will graduate at the end of this month and then start the Toddlers' class in the fall. It was a great night with friends, family, and food! GrandPattie, Daddy, and Emery(who slept in her stroller the entire time) were in attendance to share in fun!

Sweet Girl ready for her big night...

Free dance!

Daddy's turn

"That was fun!"

D-I-N-O-S-A-U-R

And our dear friends who share each step with us!

City Park, NOLA

Our plan for this day was to head to New Orleans, meet up with some friends, and take Brantley & Emery to the Audubon Zoo. Well, things got a little derailed so we ended up meeting our friends at their house (where there were waaaay too many presents for the girls and a pair of rabbit ears for Brantley from their morning grocery shopping), going to a late lunch where I was pleasantly surprised to get my turtle soup, and taking the children to Storyland at City Park. Blessings in disguise, right? Kris nor I had never been to City Park (although it was one of the venues that I had looked at when planning our nuptials) but our friends are frequent visitors so they thought it would be a good outing for the time we had. Brantley didn't have a nap all day but was a real trooper and I think she enjoyed herself. Emery on the other hand, slept the entire day. THE. ENTIRE. DAY. She slept on the way down, woke up when we got to our friends' house for a diaper change & to eat, slept through lunch, slept through the park, awake for diaper change & to eat, and then slept on the way home. And yes, she slept just fine that night too!



Carousel Ride (our friends videoed part of this but I couldn't get it to post on here)...





She was NOT happy when it was time to get off...



Daddy and Brantley with the alligator from Peter Pan...


Dancing a jig with the 3 little pigs...



The cow that jumped over the moon...


Hugging naughty Peter Rabbit...

We're Back!

Today was our first class back at Mommy & Me since Emery was born! Well, my first class back...Brantley was able to stick to her Monday routine thanks to a very great friend. Andrew and his chauffeur picked Brantley up every Monday for 5 weeks! This gave me some very, very special time alone with Emery and kept Brantley in touch with her friends. Talk about the things that are truly priceless in life...
Our first class back, as a unit of 3, was also the Easter Egg Hunt & Party! Emery is 6 weeks old and Brantley is 17 months. This was a lot different than last year when the majority of the class were propped up on blankets... They still don't grasp the "hunt" aspect, one egg was perfectly sufficient, but they all looked precious and had a great time!



This was my favorite sequence!





Taking the party outside...