Branson

On Saturday we went to Branson, MO for the day.  It was a great day for a drive and a great day to push Elle around in her stroller.  First we went to the outlet malls.  Elle didn't really know what to think about her stroller....  We have taken her to the mall in Fayetteville a couple of time in the stroller and she seemed to like it but she wasn't so sure about it on Saturday.  Corey had the idea to take the car seat out of the stroller and let her face forward ( which she is technically too small to do) and then she was just great.  I guess she just wanted to see what was going on! Here is a picture of her about to go shopping with mom and dad!

Unfortunately we got to Branson a little bit later than anticipated so the outlet malls were all that we had time to do on Saturday.  We'll have to go back real soon!

So I bought this diaper cover on Etsy for Elle's 3 month photo shoot that we had the other day.  Well, we didn't have as many wardrobe changes as I anticipated so she didn't get her picture taken in it :( 

So I decided to play photographer myself.  

Oh and my friend Ginger put the zebra ruffle on the diaper cover.  Imagine that :)

Thanks for checking in with us!  Goodnight!

Back to Work

Monday was my first day back to work.  It was bitter sweet because I had been looking forward to seeing the kids I work with and getting more into a routine but I missed Elle.  She is staying with Ms. Kim on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays while I'm at work.  Kim is a mother of four who loves babies and has an extensive background with childcare.  Elle is the only baby she is watching so I feel really blessed.  Elle seems really happy with Ms. Kim so it makes this process a lot easier.  We also did a few practice runs before this Monday so that Ms. Kim and Elle could get to know each other better so that helped too! This is what I saw when I picked her up on Monday:

Elle and Ms. Kim

Monday was also Derby's 4th birthday!  For those of you who may have thought we've forgotten about our little Derby dog... Derby went to Camp Bow Wow on Saturday (which he loves) and he got a special treat on Monday to celebrate his special day!

Elle celebrated too!

A pupcake from BigWag Bakery.

Yum!!!

Elle is getting more and more alert.  She is scooting upwards when she lays on her back, cooing like crazy, and is really starting to observe her toys and books.  

We couldn't possibly LOVE this baby girl any more!

Thanks for checking in with us!

Welcoming baby Emma!

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of helping host a baby shower for my sorority sister and friend Jill.  She is expecting baby Emma around April 4th.  We had a lot of fun planning this shower! Elle and I are looking so forward to meeting baby Emma!  They will be a little over 3 months apart!  We look forward to future play dates together!

One of the hostesses, Elizabeth, made this.  She is so talented!

Here is the momma-to-be

I ordered this cake from Rick's in Fayetteville.  I pretty much copied it from a friend of mine's website:

 Katie Grace Designs-http://www.katiegracedesign.com

She is a party planner and specializes in kid birthday parties and showers.  She is also VERY talented!

Here is a picture of the favor table.  Our friend Jamie made chocolate covered pretzels for everyone!

I'm so sad I didn't get a picture of the drink station.  It was pink punch in martini glasses with frozen grapes for a garnish.  It was super cute.  My friend Bethany made all the food and drinks.  Another talented friend!

All the Tri Deltas in attendance!  Oh, and one future Delta :)  I had asked Corey to take Elle for a car ride because she was a little fussy and that always seems to calm her so Elle didn't make this shot.   I later found out that she and daddy went to a boat show at the convention center.  They met our friends Ginger and Conrad with their sons Corbin and Eli.  So, Elle ended up having a Daddy date :)

Then she came back to join the party.  This is Crystal with her 11 month old baby girl, Elizabeth. 

 Another friend of Elle's :)

After the party ends, Elle and mommy spend some much needed quality time together.

Is Anybody Out There?

Sorry for the delay in posts.  My computer crashed and we had to buy another one.  My old Dell laptop was a graduation gift when I graduated with my undergrad in 2003.  I think we got our money's worth out of it!  Since I've last posted a lot has been going on.  This is a Tummy Time mat that my friend Melissa gave us.  She really likes it.  Doesn't she look like a big girl!

Thanks for the cute leggings "Aunt" Ginger!

Elle got her 2 month shots ( a little late) and she had a little temperature afterwards :( 

BROKE MY HEART!

Sitting in her Bumbo seat!  I can't believe how big she looks here!

We went to Mountain Home to celebrate uncle Travis' birthday.  Here is Elle with Mimi!

Mimi, Elle, and Anna

Cousins: Anna, Eston, and Elle

This is my good friend Allyson.  She is a speech therapist and lives in Florida.  This was her 

first time to meet Elle.  I miss her so much!  I'm trying to convince her to move back to Arkansas!

Elle and "Aunt" Kimber.  Kimber is also a good friend and speech therapist and one of the 

sweetest people in the world!

Thanks for checking in with us!

I'm 2 months old!

Oh my, where has the time gone.  I can't believe that Elle is 2 months old! She is really cooing and making a lot of vocalizations these days.  She smiles a lot especially when Corey or I walk out of her sight range and then we return.  It's the sweetest thing ever! She is starting to pull up with her arms during tummy time.  SLOW down Elle!  Don't grow up too fast please!

I'm 2 months old!

Elle with her bear.

Tummy time!

 Here comes Derby.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from the Balentine's :)

Thanks for the outfit Momo and thanks for the hat Mimi!

Thanks Ginger for making the cute shirt and leggings!  We LOVE them!

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's day!  We did!   Corey got us some pretty pink roses and took us to dinner. Elle had her first Valentine's celebration tonight at Fish City Grill.  It was kid friendly and it was yummy! Oh how our celebrations have changed but we wouldn't have it any other way!

Snowed in Take Two!

We only thought we had seen a lot of snow!  We've broken records here with 22 inches of snow this time!  It has made it really hard for people to get around but it hasn't effected Elle and I because we've been staying indoors away from this COLD weather anyway.  It was -6 degrees here this morning!?!  Now Derby is really confused!

"I'm not going out there!"

This was taken from the inside of our house.  The snow is all the way up to the window pane!

"Come on mom, let me go play in the snow."

So I was taking pictures of Elle on the chair in her nursery and...

In comes Derby running out of nowhere.  He jumped on the chair and posed for the camera.  It was as if he was saying I want my picture taken too!  It was pretty funny!

While we were covered in snow in Northwest Arkansas, Corey was:

in Puerto Rico!  It's a hard job but somebody has to do it :) His company had their yearly meeting there and they could not have timed it better (for Corey anyway).  He came home last night and he could not believe all the snow we had gotten! I'm just glad he was able to get home without any problems.

Snowed in!

Isn't this weather crazy!?  I believe there is approximately 9 inches of snow in spots here in Rogers.  We took Elle to the doctor yesterday.  It's pretty bad when you look forward to going to the doctor just to get out of the house!  Elle's new stats:  weight 10 lb. 6 oz. and 22 inches long.  She is a growing girl!  She had a small cold/congestion when we went to the doctor (b/c daddy has had one:)  so we decided to put off her shots until next week.  They want to give her 4 shots and 1 oral vaccination next week! :( I think that will be harder on me than it will her!

View from outside our front door on Friday.  We've had 2-3 more inches since then!

Derby trying to go potty in this craziness.

Finally he has figured out that is easier to just go under the deck!

Quit taking pictures of me!

Thanks for this shirt Mimi!