Spring Family Visits!

Over the course of the last few months we have been blessed to spend time with our families...both near and far! Way back in March we went up to Greenbriar to my grandparents 'friends and family' day at their church and got some precious pictures of Mayzie in 'the dress'. We wanted to make sure to get a good picture of Mayze, Dad, Granny and I while she was still able to fit into it. My grandmother had the dress made by an 80 year old lady before my Dad was born. Since then my Aunt Jenny, Uncle Todd, me, my sister Katie, cousins: Jeffrey, Jordan, Annie and Jacob have ALL worn it home from the hospital. I was so blessed that Mayzie was able to do the same and we got some great pictures!!

A little more recently we were SO excited to get to see Uncle Evan,( and Pops and Kelsey too of course)! We met them halfway at our FAVORITE bbq place, Big Bob Gibsons. We were sad GJ couldn't make it because she was feeling bad but appreciated her thinking of Mayzie. Evan and Kelsey got Mayzie a precious little camo lovey (Evan is in the army...so the camo was so stinkin' cute!) with 'Mayzie Moo' written on it...a sweet nickname they gave her! She loves it so much and loved seeing everyone!!! We loved getting to spend some time with Evan and can't wait till he's home for a few weeks in May!! We are SO proud of him and ask that you please keep him in your prayers when he's deployed in June. I have always been thankful for our military but now it is so much more real to me and I am amazed at the sacrifices these men and women make for our freedom. Thank YOU Uncle Evan!!! We love you!!

A week or so later we were so excited that GJ, Granbertha, Uncle Rob, Aunt Sharon, Will and Rebekah came and visited!!! Unfortunately my camera decided to be RIDICULOUS and I only got one picture...but we had a GREAT time! I sure do wish they could have stayed longer! We really enjoyed catching up with everyone and Mayzie loved seeing all of you (she told me so herself! :) )

Owen's Uncle Bill and Aunt Carol live in Indiana so when they are on their way down to visit their kiddo's and sweet Grandbaby Lucas they will stop by and see Mayzie. Mayzie ALWAYS loves it when they come to visit because they bring her SO many sweet gifts!!! (Not that she's spoiled or anything...yeah right!) She just loved playing on the floor with Aunt Carol and cuddling with Uncle Bill (which she NEVER does with us!) It was a great little visit and we're looking forward to seeing them again soon!!

Our sweet baby girl is growing up fast...nine months TOMORROW! We are SO blessed to have so many family members that surround us and love our Mayzie so much!

Beach Bums!

In February Owen and I decided we wanted to go on a little trip so we thought we'd go to Chattanooga...booked it and everything. Then we started thinking we wanted something a little more familiar so we changed our minds and thought we'd go to Gatlinburg. During this time we were getting snow days like crazy so after being stuck inside for weeks we knew where we wanted to go...ha! We cruised on down to Destin (a little anxious about how she would do since it was a LONG drive) but it was GREAT!! We at breakfast with GJ and Pops in Birmingham and then we ended up stopping half way at a park and eating a picnic lunch! We stayed at a great little place right near the beach (thanks Castles!) that was wonderful!! Our first day there we rented some bikes and biked down to Seaside. Mayzie did so well and we all had so much fun. Later that afternoon our Mayzie went to the beach for the first time! It was a little cold so she didn't make it into the water but she had fun watching all the waves and touching the sand!

The beach didn't last too long since it was a little chilly. Luckily our condo had a heated pool...another first for our Mayzie McClain! Boy did she love that water!!! She cried and cried when we had to get her out! Her little float was just perfect. That night we went to Stinky's (another fabulous recommendation from the Castles!). It was delicious and I got my seafood fix for sure!!

The next day we tried the beach again...still a little cold! Spent a little more time in the pool and took a nap!! That night we met up with some good friends of ours, Justin and Kayla and their sweet girls, Kendall and Addison. We met at the Old Bay Steamer...yum!!! I think I could eat my weight in crab legs and shrimp...and we did. Ha! We had a fabulous fabulous time and can't wait till we can go back to the beach again soon!!

6 month pictures

I'm doing my best to catch up on my blogging...the fact that our baby girl will be 9 months this month and I'm blogging about her 6 month pictures explains how behind I really am...regardless here goes!

We were very anxious to meet our photographer, Kim. I was concerned how Mayzie would do since she hadn't had a good nap but she was SUCH a trooper! Kim was absolutely AMAZING!! We had seen her work from SEVERAL of our friends and I never failed to be impressed! She had such a positive energy the WHOLE time so Mayzie couldn't stop smiling! We had so much fun! Here's some of my favorites:

I grew up looking at 'panels' of Katie and I in my parents' bedroom. I was determined to do the same with my babies. And for those of you who don't know what a panel is (my sweet friend Sarah says it's a 'Tennessee thing) its a frame with spots for a newborn, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month and 1 year pictures. So why am I explaining this?? We decided to use this chair for all those pictures. It was Owen's mom's chair growing up and I LOVE it. I also decided that for each picture she would wear a white dress. The one she happens to be wearing was also Janie's! We just loved her little foot hanging off...don't worry, I was RIGHT next to her the whole time :)

I absolutely loved this one!!!

My sweet baby girl!

My favorites :) Such a precious picture!

I love these two. Especially the one on the floor! That is her daddy's sweet smile and I love it! I was so excited about her wearing the dress I made her too!

Our sweet family of three!

Near the end of our session Kim told me to go get all of her hats! I think they turned out so stinkin cute! These are some of my favorites!

This one is my favorite...I don't know what it is about it but I absolutely LOVE it!!

We knew it was time to stop when we saw these faces! :) We had such a great time and can't wait for our next session with Kim!!