Baby Girl get's Lime Wash!

Time to Lime Wash....

I keep wanting to say Acid Wash and then the vision of Jonathan Taylor Thomas circa 1991 wearing acid wash jeans pops into my head.

Don't worry we are not getting Baby Girl acid washed jeans, we are getting her a lime washed fireplace.  We have a 3' W x 2.5' D rust red brick chimney that runs up the main focal wall when you walk into nursery, I absolutely love having the architectural detail but we don't love the color of the brick.  The back of our home was added in the early 80's so the brick new, perfectly shaped, and thin mortar-  and it does nothing for us.  Unfortunately it's not the gorgeous 1889 brick from when our home was born- you know the hand formed ones where no 2 bricks look the same.......oh NOW WE ARE TALKING!  Pair that with the thick, chuncky, uneven mortar.....oh baby!!! 

This brick makes me melt........ 

But since we don't have that lovely character in our brick, it will look more like the ones below when we finish.  Still very pretty and will be just the right amount of Shabby Chic in my little angel's room.  We are also putting in dark Cherry hardwood floors in Baby Girl's room and Austin's room to match the rest of the house.  I think those two contrasting tones and textures will pair really nicely!

I will upload before and after pictures.  Photography might be the only role I play in this home project since the phrase "lime wash" doesn't sound pregnancy friendly unless it is one of the steps in a facial.

So thankful!

We packed lots of family and food into this Thanksgiving holiday.  We were so thrilled to actually leave town by 8:30 on Thanksgiving morning with a packed car, full tank, and fed baby!  I know the days of leaving on schedule are numbered, since I still can't wrap my mind around how I plan to make it to work on time with 2 kids going to 2 different places every morning (Austin to school and baby girl to Grammy's).

We went to Steve and Sue's first to have lunch with them, Kellen, Becky, Julia, and Sue's mama!  Zach and I loved spending some time with Jules and enjoying her adorable personality....she will repeat everything you say which can get dangerous with the 2 brothers around telling her to "say this".  It was a great day with family and Julia Claire and Austin played for hours!  Their favorite things at G-Pa's were the golf cart rides around the property and racing tricycles all over the driveway.

I take my tractor time very seriously! 

Julia Claire Racing the Jex boys!  It was hilarious!

 Then we continued onto my grandparents home in Texas just in time for dinner.  We spent a few days relaxing at the lake, feeding the ducks, spending some much needed time with family, and shopping/dining in town.
We had lunch at the most awesome little cafe in Athens, Winnie and Talulah's.  It had an adorable cafe/coffee shop tucked right in the middle of a vintage "everything" shop.  They sold everything from antiques, to jewelry/clothing/purses, to fine linens, to old iron cribs.  They seriously had everything and most of the store was staged as beautiful shabby chic rooms and I was dying to get my hands on everything for Baby Girl's Nursery.....I did manage to walk away with a sweet pair of white feather angel wings that I just couldn't resist.  I am going to mat and frame them in our little angel's nursery!

One morning we ate breakfast on the dock and watched the ducks and birds.  I really think he could have stayed out there talking to them all day.

Austin loved watching the birds flying overhead and the ducks on the lake and every time we went outside he would wave towards the lake at the ducks.

Saturday we headed to Grandma Marilyn's for another plate of turkey and a whole lot of love.  She couldn't get enough of Austin's sweet cheeks and he was such a little ham.  Austin is totally in love with the outdoors and my dad is the best papa in the world.  He would take Austin on long walks through the leaves, golf cart rides, and explore the porches of Grandma's house for hours!

I think he was showing off for Grandma with all of his words, songs, games, and new tricks.  One word and motion he perfected while we watched the Ole Miss game was TOUCHDOWN!!!  He would throw his hands in the air and he got a lot of practice there towards the end of the game as the Rebels rolled over those dawgs.  Go Rebs!

TOUCHDOWN REBELS!

Just chilling on Daddy during the big game!

Every time we walked into a new home, Austin would wear his "thankful for my baby sister" t-shirt and surprise everyone with the news.  I think there was a tie for best reaction between Sue and Grandma Marilyn.  Both screamed with excitement.  Everyone was so thrilled and my mom's side of the family informed me they all knew since it was family tradition on that entire side to have a boy first followed by a girl.

Sunday it was back to Natchez and I have never been so happy to sleep in our bed and have Austin in his...IN ANOTHER ROOM.  I really don't understand how people get any rest when their kids sleep in the same room or heaven forbid in the same bed as them.  By the end of the weekend I was totally worn out from having Austin in our room.

BABY GIRL!

We have known for 2 weeks but we finally told the family in person over thanksgiving and shouted from the mountaintops.... it's a girl! We are beyond thrilled that Austin is getting a little sister in Austin and we already have him saying "BAY-BEE SIS-SER"

"Baaaaaaaaa" Races 2012

I would be remiss if I didn't blog about one of the biggest weekends in Natchez- Balloon Races.  I have been so busy I totally forgot to share pictures but I am glad I waited because the funniest part has transpired since that weekend.  Austin has become TOTALLY obsessed and infatuated with hot air balloons.  Or as he refers to the "Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" (he holds the 'a' for at least 3 seconds) since he hasn't quite figured out the "loons" symbol.  We have 4 framed balloon race artwork pieces in the hallway downstairs from the recent years we attended.  He frequently stops and points at the artwork and says "Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" with his mouth hanging wide open like the beauty has astonished him each and every time.  He stops and points every time he sees a balloon on a shirt, poster, flag, etc. 

I am so glad that Natchez has the annual Balloon Race tradition for him to grow up enjoying- it has already made a special impact on this little guy.

Warning- if you aren't into picture books, stop here......here comes and huge photo dump from the fun filled weekend.  Too many great ones not to share.

 

ENJOY!!  And come experience it for yourself one of these years! 

 

Friday night Fireworks over the river!  When Austin learned to say "OH WOW" and "POP"

 

 



Staying up late in my Jammies with all of my favorite people!

 



 

Dad and I woke up early to help our friend and pilot, Ken, crew the balloon.  They get to the pilots briefing well before sunrise and like to take off around 6:30am.  Our good friend Matt was staying downtown with us for the weekend and came with us- everyone had a blast.  Here is Austin with Papa saying "ohhhh WOW"

 

 

That is Ken's balloon up up and away!

 

 

Okay so the whole point to the balloon race is for all balloons to drop 3 bean bags on the "target" which is announced every morning.  It is an art to navigate the balloons through the wind conditions at different altitudes from the launch point to the target.  Here are some pictures of the balloons coming really low to drop the bean bags.  It was beautiful!

 

Austin and his good friend Molly hanging out and talking strategy at the target.

 

 

Then we came home to have breakfast {breakfast casserole, muffins, and enough Donut Shop donuts to feed a small country...yummmmm} with family and friends.  I pinch myself and days like this when our house is busy with our family and friends hanging out and watching our sweet kids take it all in!

 

 

Austin getting a morning "ride" on G- Pa's Harley.  Bad to the bone!

 Celebrating G-Pa's birthday!

 

Lunch on the bluff with the family

 Austin learns how to dip his fries in ketchup- hilarious!

 

Playing bubbles with cousin Jules!  Precious little people making precious memories!

 

My favorite picture of the weekend.  Austin was using Uncle Kel's sponsor badge as a telephone.  It was hilarious!

 

Austin loved the cars so much we gave the Carnie a million tickets and told him to keep him on it until the tickets ran out.  Austin rode every car including the pink Barbie jeep.

Enjoying the beautiful weather and the Pat Green concert to end the weekend.  Life doesn't get much better than Balloon Race weekend in Natchez!