My Baby, She’s a Changin’

I hesitate to even write this post.  Maybe because it means that it is true.  Maybe I am in denial.  But my baby is growing up, y’all.  She is the age Ella was when I had her.  Crazy! 

The last month Audrey has been VERY interested in the potty.  The last few days she has told me “Potty” each time she is peeing in her diaper.  The other day she stood up in the tub, while peeing, and yelled “Potty!”  Jonathan asked me what I was going to do about that, and I told him to put her back in the tub;)  Can it be potty training time again…already?!  Nooooo!  I am thinking we may have boot camp in a few weeks…ugh.

Taking a look at the following pictures, I am thinking she all but yelling at me to potty train her.  And I am all but ignoring it…just sayin.

Here she is changing the baby’s diaper!

And look whose joined the table!  Both girls made switches…Ella in a big chair and Audrey in the toddler chair.  They were both pleased with the change…and the pizza!

A Evening with a Princess

Infatuation with princesses has certainly not waned one bit in the Basford abode.  Our favorite princess is the brunette heroin from Beauty and Beast, Belle.  When I heard Beauty and the Beast’s national tour was stopping in Gainesville for three days, I may have jumped for joy!  As part of Christmas, New Years, and every other holiday for the next year, we took our little princess to see a princess.  And, folks, the night was worth every arm and leg we had to give to pay for it!  It was simply an unforgettable evening.  They had perhaps one of the most beautiful stages I have ever seen in a show (and we Basfords love our musicals)! 

The unforgettable moment of the evening came when Belle, dressed in her famous yellow dress, finally danced with Beast.  It was the moment Ella couldn’t stop asking for, and it was finally here!  I wish I could describe the look on her precious face – lips pursed together in an “I’m trying to contain myself” smile, hands clasped together, sitting up straight as an arrow, eyes as wide as the moon – she was mesmerized.  And I was mesmerized by nothing but her.  I cried.  Ella began frantically clapping a full ten seconds before the song ended. 

During intermission, Ella asked for my phone.  She immediately opened the picture window and began taking pictures of the curtain.  We like’ta died laughing!  She is certainly my daughter!!!

So thankful for a beautiful evening with our little princess.

Tea for Three

Little Hostess with the Mostest

A Baby and her Baby

Our laundry area is in the garage.  I almost always have a certain little pitter patter following me into the garage and around the corner as I wash and dry and hang our mountains of laundry.  I thought it was quite odd that Audrey wasn’t under me, and I came around the corner to see this:

A Baby and her baby.  Audrey got this little bottle in her stocking.  I paid a few dollars too many for it, but I couldn’t resist the disappearing milk.  Those bottles hold fond memories of me and my own baby dolls!  At this age, Ella nursed her babies as we had just had Audrey and never used bottles.  But this was so stinking cute! (And yes, that is a Gator bow and pig pajamas.  Lordy.)

Meee!  Audrey loves to point to herself and say “Meee” instead of “Audrey.”  Stinker!

Twenty Eleven

New Years Eve/Day has always marked significant events in the life of the Basfords.  Each year, for as long as I can remember, we have celebrated New Years with the others.  Back in 2005, New Years marked the news of a brand new baby on the way for Adam and Laura.  Two years later, the same day marked the news of Ella Claire’s budding growth within my belly.  It’s just a special day!  So we celebrate it together every year with black eyed peas, ham, and collard greens.  And where there were 4, there are 9…whoa!

This year was the year of the trampoline.  It is so amazing to see how God crafts each child so differently!  Ella at Audrey’s age wouldn’t have touched the trampoline with a ten foot pole.  She is a lot like her mama and likes the safer side of life.  Audrey, not so much.  Homegirl was so happy to be thrown to and fro, laughing the entire time.  So different and so precious!

Uncle Adam: Bounce Master

New Year Babies

Daddy got in on the action too!

Easy Baking

Ella was so eager to try out her very own Easy Bake Oven after Christmas.  I have such fond memories of whipping up those two-bite cakes for my daddy.  The heart-shaped cake pan was well used in my house!  That little oven sure has changed over the years.  But, Jonathan loved his lightbulbed cake as much as my own daddy did!

we’re all stars

What does the bachelor brother give everyone for Christmas this year…Converse shoes!  And they are cute as a button.  Nothing says love to me like a matching family ;)

Thanks for our new kicks Uncle Seth!

E . L . L . A

It is amazing to see a child learn and grow, especially when it is your very own.  As I watch the girls develop, it amazes me how fast they learn a new skill when they are ready.  Just three short weeks ago, Ella decided she was ready to dabble into writing.  All on her own she began writing H and A and E on her super fun Aquadoodle mat.  The trouble with that…it disappears!!  I couldn’t get a picture!  Finally I had her sit down with some letters to see if she could write her name…and she did it!  Just like that!  I guess somebody was ready!  So proud of my big girl!

She’s a genius.  She gets it from her Mama.

Christmas 2010 [number three]

I love traditions, and the Basfords love to fill me up on it!  Every year we wake up to buttermilk biscuits and sawmill gravy and every year we have Christmas pajamas to wear.  Usually those pajamas come from Old Navy, but this year was different.  This year was the year of the monogram!  Let’s all stand and sing Hallelujah because I know of a certain mother-in-law who just got her own beloved monogramming machine.  I think I just shouted amen!  We LOVE that thing, so pajamas this year were monogrammed.  And let me know tell you, all the men were just thrilled ;)  But they humored us anyway!

My boys excited!

Audrey cheesing with her cute monogrammed shirt and wild child hair!

Look at those beautiful knives!  These were prayed for by many!!

And what is Christmas morning without a little shooting practice?

Strutting his stuff…gun in the holster, monogrammed shirt, and brand new converse shoes…haha!

Somebody was lovin’ on Uncle Seth!

Westin is such a cutie!  I could eat him with a spoon!

They all look so happy on the couch!

Audrey has decided she dislikes any wet diaper and wanted hers changed RIGHT THEN!  That would be in the middle of the floor during the family gift exchange!

Adam.  It’s always something at Christmas!

One tired and blessed family!