Happenings

We all traveled to Richmond on Saturday for a weekend at Mimi and Papa's. They so graciously watched Alley so Andy and I could go out on a date. We had a wonderful day of playing and exploring. John and his girlfriend, Marion, came in town for a visit - it was fun getting to spend some time with them! Alley was in rare form around them, which was fun to watch! Speaking of Alley, she is changing so much and so fast these days!! I am amazed every day by the things she does and the things she tries to say. She is really comprehending way more then I thought she would at this age!
Fun little story about Alley - yesterday all three of us were in our room putting our stuff away from the weekend and we threw our laundry on the floor. Alley went over, picked it up and took the laundry basket top off, and put our clothes in it...as well as Andy's shoes!!!! I was completely shocked...we haven't made her do that...ever...again, she amazes me everyday!
I've added a few pictures from this weekend, as well as the visit Alley and I took today to see Andy at work.

Alley playing with the Jack-in-the-box for the first time - it was funny to watch how quick her reactions were! She would immediately push him back into the box. So funny:)

Our resident Darth Vader - She's wearing my mom's down vest...when she walked, it barely skimmed the ground - she looked like she was floating:)

Today at Andy's office - she found her new love...tackling giant medicine balls...

She was obsessed with the free weights...she's going to be one buff girl! (sorry the picture is so bad - I just couldn't pass up posting this one!)

Back to beating the medicine ball - she thought it was hilarious that when she would hit the ball, it would bounce a little - ah, to find joy in the little things like her...

Fun outdoors...

Alley has a new found love...the outdoors. She is obsessed with being outside, so we took advantage of the warm(er!) weather we had the other day and played outside as much as possible. She enjoyed walking around the neighborhood (god forbid I hinder her freedom by putting her in the stroller!!) and discovering all the "nature" in our yard. She loved it! Praise Jesus for the warm weather coming again this weekend! Is it spring yet??!

Ready for her walk...but we did leave the stroller behind..whew that was a struggle!

Investigating the leaf

Looking mischievous...

Playing hide-and-seek in the playroom after our excursion outside

And this picture was just too cute to pass up. Alley has started crawling under our side tables...sad part - she keeps getting stuck..if only she would learn;)

Sick week

It's been a rough week at the McPherson household. It started last week when Alley began waking up all night long and was extremely fussy during the days. We just chalked it up to the mouthful of teeth trying to break through all at once. Finally Sunday afternoon I had had enough and since she woke up from her nap with flushed cheeks, I decided to check her temperature...102. Yikes! I had a bad mom moment! We got a doctor appointment for the next morning and Andy and I traded off staying home from work. The doctor said it was just drainage and she'd be fine (yeah right, she should come and stay with Alley over night!!). Needless to say, it seem to just get worse and her temperature didn't go down. I finally got an appointment Wednesday with the nurse (whom I LOVE and is Alley's advocate!!) and we charged on in. Final verdict...Ear infection (and she has tubes!!!!!!), RSV symptoms and off to the hospital for x-rays to make sure it's not pneumonia...yikes...we spent all morning at the hospital but were rewarded with the news of a negative on pneumonia! Praise Jesus:) So, the poor little monkey is on steroids, ear infection meds, breathing treatments every 4 hours (yes, I do have to wake her up during the night...ugh!) and benadryl because her drainage is so bad she's throwing it all up (I know, too much info...sorry). Anyway, today was much better ...Mimi came over to watch Alley today so Andy and I could go to work - yeah, thanks Mimi!! Alley LOVED having mimi visit and play (mimi took her outside to play - she is now Alley's favorite!). Here are some adorable pictures from their travels:)


So they didn't get too far...but they sure did have some fun! Let's pray for a good day tomorrow back in daycare...yikes!

Weekend

We are still being extremely lazy and haven't gotten our camera fixed...maybe I'm hoping that if I wait for a few days then try and turn it on it'll work...nope, not this time...I'll give it a few more days...
This weekend we had HSC's football banquet at The Commonwealth Club in Richmond. Andy and I had our wedding reception there and it was so great to go back and revisit the memories! So we left Alley in the capable hands of Mimi and went off to enjoy a night of festivities. We, being old people now :) , didn't last the whole banquet and ended up coming home early (I mean early...like 8:30pm!!)...sigh. It was nice though to dress up and act like adults, then come home and throw on sweats again (my favorite outfit!!). Here are some pictures of the night (using Mimi's camera, of course).

A photo-op

Alley chowing down on delicious food:)

Alley's favorite seat at Mimi and Papa's house

Pictures

My parents came into town for the weekend and graciously brought their camera to take some photos of Alley (since we still haven't gotten our camera fixed - I am so bad!). Here Alley is showing of her new skills...somersaulting and "riding horsey" (she actually will go up to Andy and push him down so she can get on his back! It's too funny!).

Alley in her "beginning" mode

1, 2, 3 flip...

Going for a ride:)

So fun:)!

On another note...Alley's teeth are finally breaking through. She pretty much gained 4 more teeth in a matter of 5 days...yikes! Plus, her molars are all extremely swollen and bright red...oh it's so much fun in this household right now!! ;)

A new side of Alley...

This morning, when I dropped Alley off at daycare, I was afforded the opportunity to see this new side of her emerging. Normally when Alley is dropped off for daycare she clings to our legs the moment we put her down and we get a flood of tears upon our departure. Today, I placed her in the center of the room, bracing myself for what was to come as I busied myself with filling out her chart. After a few moments I noticed no one was clinging to my leg or whining for me to pick her up...I looked up and saw Alley had left my side (a miracle!) and had made her way over to a new baby who was still in her car carrier. (What I witnessed next just melted my heart!) She started rocking the carrier and staring at the baby. They just watched each other as Alley gently (Yes I said gently!!! Amazing!) rocked the seat back and forth. I couldn't stop watching her, it was so adorable! Even more amazing...I went over and said good-bye and she looked up at me and then turned back to rocking the baby while I walked out...no tears...no clinging...my baby is growing up...

Portraits

Today the cousins had their portraits taken at a nearby studio in Richmond. After a fun filled morning of cake and excitement (we celebrated Owen's first birthday this morning!! Happy birthday love!!), we all tried to take naps before the late afternoon photos. Mom was gracious enough to stay after the photo shoot to order the pictures, and here are the ones we selected! Sorry for the fuzzy pictures - the scanner is to blame:)Does anyone else out there think this is Andy in a dress??????

Increbily precious!!!! Look at how lovingly CS is holding Alley - and no one asked her to do it!

The cousin-twins...love it!! What's in the air???

All three together with the queen bee...Aren't they adorable in their outfits...Thanks Candi for the most darling outfits!!

What a wonderful dday in Richmond! Thanks you guys for making it so memorable!