The Turning Point

As you know, Livee is a little squirt. So little, as a matter of fact, that she still does not meet the full 20 pounds required for this seat.

BEFORE you gasp in horror...At her 15 month checkup she was 19 1/2 lbs, and since that was a full month ago she probably is at 20 lbs by now.

Anyhow, we decided to keep her rear-facing for as long as possible when she went for her 12 month checkup. She was still using Hayden's toddler seat and I knew I didn't want to buy another one like it. I wanted to buy the pretty one you see here because it is softer and cuter. :) The only problem was it was only forward-facing and only for a 20 lb child. You get the point.

In the middle of waiting, though, was our trip to Gatlinburg. Livee isn't the greatest rider anyway, but I could tell on the way there that it was getting to her. While we were riding around Gatlinburg she was fine because my dad and Dave were in the back to entertain her, but once we started for home it was back to cranky Livee. It was slow going anyway and somewhere between an hour and two hours from home Livee started screaming and then she puked. Yuck. We immediately found a Wal-Mart (they're everywhere, ya know?) and I went in with Hayden to buy a new seat. I was NOT riding home smelling puke the whole way. I left Dave with clean-up duty. I got back out to the parking lot to find Dave wiping down the seat underneath hers. That's right, the puke had gone EVERYWHERE. I was immediately thankful that I chose to go inside. Poor Dave. We left the old seat beside a dumpster and hit the road with Livee turned around. She loves it. She says "wheeeeee" every time we go down a hill. Bless her heart.

P.S. The picture is right after we turned her around. That's right, even after puking the "beauty queen" said cheese to have her picture made.

Gatlinburg '10

In October, we took our bi-annual trip to Gatlinburg. My parents are always there that time of year and this year, 2 of my great aunts and one of their daughters came to camp also. We stayed at a hotel just across the creek from the campground. Hopefully by the next time we go we will have a pop-up so we can camp. It only takes us about 4 1/2 hours, but I've discovered that having 2 children actually DOES lengthen driving time, especially when the 1 year old does not ride well (she was also still turned around backwards for part of the trip, but that's a whole other story).

Since we weren't really in a hurry, we stopped on the way at the Mayfield Dairy plant in Tennessee on Monday. We needed to give the kids a break and figured lunch and ice cream was a great choice. They also have a FREE 30 minute tour. Hayden LOVED it. He thought all of the machinery was so neat! He even pointed out the yellow containers at the grocery store the other day.

Hayden is a great photographer! Not sure why I look like the leaning tower of Pisa, though.

Hayden with one of "the cows".

During lunch at the diner across the street. Really good food!

During lunch :)

I can't even remember what we did all week, except for some of the highlights. Monday night we went to the pizza place to eat (our favorite). Tuesday I think we went back up to Gatlinburg and walked around. Dave and Hayden went to the car museum, which they both LOVED while the rest of us just shopped and looked around a bit. Wednesday we went to Dollywood with our free media tickets (there are some perks to Dave's job) and enjoyed that a lot. It is a nice little theme park. Thursday we drove up to the artsy area and looked at one of the shops that we like the best and then went to eat at a fantastic place for dinner that I can't remember the name of right now. I do remember that it is at the top of the mountain, literally. You can't go any further. Gorgeous view, although a little creepy because it is haunted. :) Friday we stopped by the Old Mill area in Pigeon Forge to walk around and eat lunch before heading home. In the middle of all that we still managed to find time to have a campfire one night and make smores. It was a fantastic week and we always enjoy our time with Grammie and Deeda!

Finally remembered to get a picture of the 4 of us on the day we were leaving!

Piggies

Halloween Pics!

She had to go up the steps, of course.

Uncle Charlie came to help us trick or treat since Dave had to work. Yes, I am a redneck fat or pregnant woman. I thought it was a fitting costume. But look - isn't Livee the cutest butterfly you have ever seen????

Hayden wanted to take the picture, but didn't understand that we wanted a picture with him in it. He got over pouting pretty soon though. He was a zombie, by the way.

This was for Villa Rica's trick or treat downtown on Saturday. They are so cute!

Go Bama!