I just wanna' be fashion.

I was coming out of the bathroom yesterday (yes, mom's have to go too) and Carter was approaching me. As she got a little closer I saw her big grin first and then as my eyes traveled downward I saw she was holding a large hand full of lovely blonde hair in her fist. It took a moment for me to put two and two together, my first thought was, "Why is your hair in your hand? It's supposed to be attached to your head..." Which led to my next thought, "Oh my GOSH...you CUT your hair!!!!"

I'd love to report that I handled the whole thing with grace and dignity, but I come from a long line of over reactors. I came up with my best "What in the world have you done to your beautiful hair!!??" reaction. She calmly stood there with the same big grin on her face. I called my mom and dramatically asked, "What do I do???" She calmly stood their with the same big grin. When I finally got around to asking her what in the world possessed her to go sawing on her hair she replied, "I just wanna' be fashion." From that moment on I found the whole thing hilarious.

At some point my sister pointed out she must have gotten the idea from some where. So, when I asked her she said she got it from the show where the girl walks out and everyone is surprised. This meant nothing to me until she mentioned that it comes on before A Baby Story (which is her new fave ever since I got pregnant). Suddenly it all made sense. While making lunch I turned on the TV so she could watch A Baby Story. It wasn't on yet so instead she caught the tail end of What Not to Wear...you know the part where they give the girl a brand new "fashion" do?? Yeah, that part. When I explained to her that her hair was going to have to be short now she started to cry. "I just wanted to be a rock star," she said, "I had a dream about it." I mean seriously, you cannot make this stuff up!

So, today off we went, to our favorite local salon in search of a fix...

It went better than expected...

And, as an added bonus, we have been praying for a little girl named Kate who is battling cancer and so Carter was very excited to be able to share her hair with another little girl by donating it to Locks of Love...

She was patient and still as the lovely Maggie worked her magic...

and finally VOILA...

Such a happy accident, because I am in LOVE with this chicks hair!!!

Such a grown up do to kick off being 4...

I couldn't stop snapping pictures...

Seriously, if she had been a piece of candy I would have eaten her up!

"Okay Mom...enough with the pictures already!!!"

Carter, I can't get enough of you! You are looking like quite the little Fashion Rock Star...thank you for making my world a brighter place. I love you. Mom

Bella Donne

I shared recently that my sister is now open for business is San Antonio. Partnering with her best friend Cayce they have created an amazing space in Bella Bridesmaid. A very talented photographer Kristin Radicke, of Urth Studio, captured their grand opening and you can check it out on her blog. What an accomplishment for these two Bella Donne's...



Kimmi, I'm so proud of you...it's like I'm your second mom or something! I love you!

It's a..........

Girl!! Poor Nate, he's so outnumbered! If he's disappointed that we're not adding a boy to the family you would never know it...the only one having to adjust to the idea is Carter, she was pretty convinced it was a brother in there! My first reaction was "Hey babe, it will be way cheaper!" To which he replied, "TWO weddings, how is that cheap!!" So, apparently I think short term and he thinks long term, together we make a great team. So, introducing our newest little munchkin', isn't SHE a cutie...

the proof she is a she...

my, what a cute foot you have...

and your brain...well, by the looks of it you are going to be very smart...


Such a girly little cantalope...



We are thankful and thrilled! And, in other news Nate says now that it is looking like he is in the minority in a BIG way he may have to start a blog himself..."Nate and the Girls"!

Off You Go

Today we sent one grown up little girl off into the world. Ok, ok, so she is really just off to Pre-School for a few hours three days a week, but it still feels like a major milestone around here. She was beyond excited and I was loving every minute of it...

Sometimes I feel like she went from a toddler to a kid overnight. These days it is beyond obvious she is growing up...

The excitement of the morning was that much greater because of the "big kid" seat she is now riding in, I never knew a car seat could make someone so happy...

We hopped in the car and the Dixie Chicks were serenading us with "Ready to Run". How appropriate, I feel like she is ready to run right into this new experience. Just ignore my really awful voice...



And then we were there...

She marched right in, hung her things, grabbed her name tag, found a friend...

...and with a quick kiss and a hug I was out the door...minus my munchkin'. I walked to the car, looked back at the pictures we had just taken, and then completely surprised myself by having a nice good cry. That one caught me off guard.


It's just that lately things seem to be happening so fast, namely a certain someone changing and growing before my very eyes. Deep down in my heart I don't want her to stay small. I find beauty in the fact that she is developing into such an amazing little person...but it is still hard to let go. To realize that she is no longer a baby, no longer a toddler, we have finished a phase so to speak.

I actually try hard not to say things like, "You'll always be my baby girl..." I know she won't. She'll keep growing, changing, and making her mark on this great big world. What a gift to be a part of that process...in this journey I have found my purpose.

I know in just a few short months we'll be starting over again with a new little life and there is something exciting, scary, and amazing in that. But, for now, my ride to the grocery store after dropping her off is just a little too quiet...Running in to get a gallon of milk is just a little too easy...And, to be honest, my milk and I are not quite sure what to do with ourselves...

I'm sure it won't take long to figure out a few things to keep us occupied...but I can't wait to pick up my little amigo!

P.S. Carter drew this before she left this morning...all the elements were explained to me by her, pretty funny!

Monday Carter Edition #41~Pre-School here I come!

Monday Carter's daddy was home from work today and isn't it amazing what a treat that is! It means the weekend is one day longer and that her momma gets to sleep in THREE days in a row as opposed to just two (I really did marry Prince Charming). After hanging around just long enough to watch our favorite golfer finish up his round (aka Tiger Wood y'all) we headed over to civilization to do a little "school" shopping. Granted Carter is only starting Pre-School tomorrow but she is boiling over with excitement. She needed a couple of pairs of jeans for her long, lean and lovely legs which grow faster than a weed so starting school seemed like a good excuse to go shopping!

Thanks to a pair of jeans passed down from our good friends Elli and Ava I was clued in to a little secret. I'll share in case there are any other mom's of string bean toddler girls out there who can't find a pair of pants that fit to save their life!! Arizona Jean Co. (carried at JC Penney) just so happens to start making a slim style jean starting with size 4T...music to my ears! They fit great and Carter is officially stylin' and profilin' instead of a saggy bottom britches girl! We had so much fun in the dressing room. I had picked out her jeans and she had picked out a few items that were a little more "glitzy", as in glittery sweat pants to be exact. She tried things on and modeled them for a very enthusiastic audience of one, her daddy. Sometimes she is too cute for her own good.

Of course a trip to the "main land" isn't complete without a pass through Target. We made a few purchases but the big one for Monday Carter was a new high back booster. She was looking quite grown up on the way home in her new big kid seat!!

I can't believe she is off to Pre-School tomorrow...suddenly she is feeling a little bigger than I'm ready for. I told her just yesterday, "Can you please stop growing up so fast?" And she came right back with "Mommy I can't! But, don't worry, I'll always be Carter!" So true, so true. You will always be my Carter no matter how big you get sweet girl...I'm so proud of how far you have come in these first four years. I love you.

Horton Hears WHOSE Birthday it is...

Ok, first things first, how in the heck is it possible that my baby is FOUR!!?? I reserve the right to be completely emotional and sentimental as I reflect on this on her actual birthday in a little over a week, but for now I'll stick to re-capping her fun filled part-ay!

This was the first year Carter had actually requested a theme for her party. Hey chick, you just say the word and a Horton party it is! Invites first (Horton on the front, info on the back)...


Once those were off and in the mail we made cute little party favors, sticker books (with a sheet of Horton stickers) for all of her little guests...


We have always had her parties here at our home, but this year we opted for The Bounce House. Full of inflatable fun, and I might add, a lot less stressful! It was so easy to just show up, do a little decorating, PaRtY, and then call it a day!

When it comes to putting a party together I am sometimes a little bummed that we don't have a cute little bakery to get a cake or cupcakes from. But, sometimes limited resources call for creativity and I have to share a nifty little trick. My mom shared with me that if you go pick out paint chips in the icing colors you are dreaming up most places can match them! So, Safeway actually whipped out the green on green polka-dotted cake I had envisioned with flying colors...who knew?? Carter helped me make the topper, Horton sitting on a colorful clover field...
Once things were in place it was time to let the fun begin! Everyone had a great time bouncing, climbing, and sliding (the jury is still out on exactly who had more fun, the kids or the adults)...

All that playing can be tiring, but snacks seem to help...

And friends are what parties are all about (side note: C's cute #4 tee is from one of my new favorite sites Resa Designs, her stuff is adorable and the customer service is top notch)...


After all that bouncing pizza was just what the doctor ordered...


Followed quickly by cake, that's every ones favorite part right?? Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you...


Happy Birthday Dear Carter, make a wish...


And for those who like a good baby bump shot, here's one as I was cutting the cake...


Opening all the loot, kinda' like Christmas...
WOW, what a day! 4 years old (well, almost) and such a little lady...

You may have been the one opening presents, but to us, the real gift is you...

Happy Party Day sweet girl! We love you, and that adorable little grin!

Mango Tango

Carter is a little less than two weeks away from officially turning four, but we had a birthday bash for her earlier today. It was a Horton Hears a Who themed extravaganza. I'll share all the fun soon, but right now I'm almost too pooped to post...almost but not quite! So, something short and sweet. I've purposefully avoided posting the official "belly bump" size the last couple of weeks because it was an onion and a sweet potato. The pictures were ugly and gross and I didn't like them, so it conveniently slipped my mind. But, we're back to fun fruits this week and apparently our little babe is about the size of a Mango...

In case that isn't illustration enough, here is the view from the outside (and that's one happy big sister)...

Coming up Thursday the BIG 20 week ultrasound, where we will hopefully be finding out if it is a brother or sister in there. We're going to have to let Carter down gently if it's a girl, she is DEAD set that we're having a "baby brother"!