Leighton's 2nd Birthday!!

Since Leighton's actual 2nd birthday weekend fell the same weekend as Megan's wedding, we moved her party to the next weekend, July 31.  We had originally planned to have her party at the Sportsplex's sprinkler park, but a few weeks prior they had a health scare.  It seemed that wasn't a very good/safe choice anymore, so we moved her party to Jubilee Farm w/ a petting zoo, pony rides, and a hay ride around a lake.  The farm had pigs, llamas, sheep, ponies, and puppies.  It was a great decision, because everyone had a blast!  Leighton was beside herself getting to ride the pony that she asked to ride it again and again.  She even rode it all by herself, without us holding onto her.  We were so proud of her for being so brave!  And even though it was the middle of summer, the heat wasn't too bad.  There was a short and light rain shower while we went on the hay ride, but it was just enough to cool everything down.  We couldn't have asked for better weather or a more fun party!  I can't believe our baby is 2!!

Megan's Wedding/29 Weeks!!

My cousin Megan got married on July 23, which fell during my 29th week of pregnancy. Leighton was asked to be a flower girl in her wedding, so we were extra excited about being there! We were a little nervous about how she would do since she's typically very shy, but she did so good! I held her hand as we walked all the way down the aisle. She did almost have a meltdown on the very front row when we were walking around to our seat, but I scooped her up just in time. Poor thing was so tired with no nap. She fell right to sleep once the wedding started! Like I said, I was 29 weeks pregnant, which made me a little nervous to be traveling, since that's the week that I had Leighton. I had a dr's appt a couple of days before the trip, and the dr said that everything looked good and that I should be ok to travel. Besides my ankles swelling really badly by the end of the trip, it was all worth it. Megan looked beautiful and Leighton was as cute as ever!

24 Month Bear Pics!

Leighton is 2 years old now and this is her LAST bear picture!!!  I can't believe my baby girl is such a big girl now!  She's such a silly girl too!

Big Girl Bed!

We finally took the front rails off Leighton's crib and turned it into a toddler bed. What a big girl!! She did so well, transitioning to it. She did sleep a little funny at nap time though. :)

4th of July

We finally got to go to a fireworks show, and it was even better because we got to spend it with lots of friends.  Opelika HS, which is just a couple of miles from our house, held the city's annual fireworks show.  Leighton had a blast playing with the other kids and even did really well during the show.  Jonathan did give her "ear muffs," but she did great.

Saying Goodbye to my Grandmother

After just a relatively short time from moving out of her house, Grandmother passed away on June 22, 2011.  Even though it's heartbreaking to lose her, I know that she's in a much better place.  She's finally reunited with my Granddaddy, her brother, sister, parents, and many cousins.  I'm so thankful that we moved back to Alabama in her final year, so that I could see her a little more often.  She meant so much to me my entire life.  She and Granddaddy provided so much opportunity for their family, and especially for me.  I lived with them several different times, and although the circumstance in which I was brought to do so were hard, I am so glad that I had that time with them.  It created an even deeper bond that was more than just grandparent/granddaughter.  I felt like I was their child too.

Even though she had her quirks (and who doesn't?), she had so many great attributes to pass on to me.  She loved her husband so dearly and set such a great example of how to love, honor, and respect your spouse.  She was so very proud of Granddaddy and I never heard her speak one negative thing about him.  She also loved God.  She hardly missed a Sunday or Wednesday at church.  She was very involved, volunteering for positions in her Sunday School class and serving supper on Wednesday nights, among other things.  She was also very proud of her family and heritage.  She spoke so frequently about them and her ancestry that everyone in our family now has such a strong appreciation for it.  We love to hear stories of our family's past and to know as much as we can about where we came from.  She was also very active.  She had lots of hobbies, but her favorite was definitely golf.  She played most every Tuesday, for as long as I can remember. She played in countless tournaments, was published in the paper so many times for winning, and even had two holes in one!!  And, although some might not see it as a positive, depending on how you look at it, I loved her cleanliness.  I definitely inherited that trait!  And Jonathan says I sometimes take it too far. lol  I can't help that I think everything has its place, and everything should be in its place!

Along the lines of being proud of her family, she was always taking pictures.  I am so very appreciative of the albums she dedicated so much of her time to for all the grandkids.  We each were given several very large albums of pictures taken throughout our entire childhood.  Thus starting a new tradition.  As kids, the cousins would line up in age order everytime we were all in town together.  It's been fun seeing the changes as we've grown older.  Take for example these...

She would have been so happy to see the new generation of cousin line-up pictures that were taken the day of her funeral. 

I miss her so much already, but one day I know that I will be reunited in Heaven with her.  I love you Grandmother!

23 Month Bear Pic

Only 1 more month to go... this is crazy!