Random Things

Our Lil Gangsta Rapper!

Ainsley has recently learned to say I love you. Of course, it doesn't always sound like I love you, but it is the sweetest thing in the world when she says it.

Here's a video of her at dinner tonight...starting with "A yum ya mommy." It's kind of long, but enjoy.

Ainsley is also finally growing some hair. We can put a little Pebbles pony tail in her hair. I think she actually looks like Cindy Loo Whoo.

These pictures are especially for you Auntie Keek...you know why. Hehehe :)

Sorry, random post, but thought you'd just enjoy the pics and video.

Playdate!

Clif and Ainsley went on their first official playdate this past week. Clif has a fraternity brother that stays home with his 2 year old daughter. The two of them took the girls to meet a couple of other mothers and their kids at the Maymount Zoo. Here are some pics from their little outing.

Afterwards Clif and Ainsley came and rescued me from work for a quick lunch.

This weekend has been pretty low-key...which is exactly what we needed after a very busy few months. Yesterday we went to the birthday party of some friend's one year old. Ainsley had fun playing with the other kids and seeing their puppies. Ainsley also unwrapped the present right as we were walking out the door. If you invite us to anything, pretty much just expect us to be late.

Next weekend Grandma is coming to visit and she is going to run the Monument 10K with me. I use the term "run" loosely. I have not been running consistently and ever since I had Ainsley my knees have just not been the same. I'm pretty sure someone switched my knees out with those of an 80 year old woman while I wasn't looking. So, I have a feeling that I will be doing a lot of walking.

St. Patty's Day Celebration

Last weekend we were supposed to go to Shamrock the Block for a St. Patty's Day celebration. However, it rained all weekend long and the festival was postponed. So we made our own fun at our house.

Friday night we all went out to dinner at a local Italian restaurant to celebrate Cam and Amanda's engagement. Ainsley got her standard spaghetti with meatballs, but ended up eating my tortellini with vodka sauce. We had some friends over that night and Clif built a fire on the deck under our canopy to protect it from the rain.

Saturday we all dressed in our green as if we were going to the festival and went to a local bar instead. It has a separate non smoking room where Ainsley could play and not be bothered with the bar crowd.

On Sunday we had to say goodbye to all of our guests and Ainsley had a birthday party to go to. Our friends' little girl turned 3 and they had a party at one of those moon bounce places. Unfortunately, I forgot the camera and this was the only picture Clif took when he showed up.

Ainsley loved this place. She was a bit small to go in by herself, so I had to follow her around every where. So we bounced, and climbed, and slid until we were worn out. Needless to say, I was pretty sore earlier this week.

Actual St. Patty's Day was not super exciting. It was rainy so Clif and Ainsley didn't do much and I had to work. I did attempt to make Shamrock Shakes since apparently McDonald's does not make them anymore. They were OK. I couldn't find straight up mint extract, so I got peppermint extract and it was a little overpowering. They were very pretty though.

Well, I really just wanted to show all the pictures from this weekend. I'll post later this week about Ainsley and Daddy's first play date.

Full House

Happy St. Patty's Day friends!! Hope everyone is wearing their green today.

I wanted to post because I didn't get a chance to at the end of last week or over the weekend. I'm doing this from work (shhhh) so I don't have pics right now, but I will post pictures from the weekend later this week.

This past weekend the White house was a FULL HOUSE. We had a bunch of visitors and poor Ainsley just doesn't understand where everyone went. She absolutely loved having all of her aunts and uncles around. The kid loves attention, and attention for Miss Ainsley was in no short supply this past weekend.

We had invited Cam and Amanda back down this year for a local festival called Shamrock the Block. We also had talked to Carolyn and Mike about the same festival. Well, then Cameron decided to propose to his girlfriend - Amanda. So this brought all the White's down for a celebration. Plus, follow me here, Amanda's parents (Mike and Glenda) are best friends with Kip and Denise. They go to the beach every year together, the kids went to high school together, so it makes the engagement even more exciting. Amanda's parents and her sister came and surprised Amanda as well. So it was really just a big party all weekend. It was really nice having everyone around. Too bad my house is not big enough to hold them all. Some had to stay in hotel rooms. Also, too bad it rained ALL WEEKEND!!! and the festival was cancelled. But, we still had fun.

Ainsley seems to have finally learned every one's names, so that's exciting for everyone. She still has a problem with the hard "C" sound. It's really unfortunate for her that her aunt's and uncle's names are Cameron, Caitlyn and Carolyn. So we have elected to go with nicknames until Ainsley can speak a little more clearly. So Cameron becomes Tam, Caitlyn (or Keek) becomes Theet, and Carolyn is DeeDee. But she's finally able to tell everyone apart and say all their names. People really get their feelings hurt when that's not the case, and I guess I understand. Everyone loves her so much and just wants to be a huge part of her life. She also learned Amanda (Danda), Oliver (ODo), Mike (Miye), Glenda (Denny), Tara (Taya) and Sarah (Sasha). Then of course she's known Nanny and Popa for a very long time. (Yes, these are all the people that were visiting this weekend - two Mike's actually - So when I say full house, I mean full house).

Ok, I really need to get back to work now. Pictures will come later this week.

Sweet Sunday

Clif spent most of the day today reorganizing the television components into our new TV stand. Yes, it took most of the day. So Ainsley and I did a lot together - just the two of us...none of it involved cleaning my house even though it desperately needs it. Oh well, the mess will still be there tomorrow, and probably all week. It was nice to spend so much time with her one on one since I don't get to very often. Clif gets to spend the whole work week with her now, and I must admit I am a little jealous at times. Normally there's just not enough time to cram everything that I want to do with her into the weekend and evening hours.

I think my favorite part of the day was baking cup cakes. Ainsley is getting old enough now that she can follow some simple instructions and she so desperately wants to help in everything I do. So she got to line the cup cake pans, do a little stirring, and lick a lot of batter off of spoons.

She was so excited when they came out of the oven and she saw the finished product. She kept saying "My tupshake?!"

She was so proud of her accomplishment...it was really fun to watch.

Of course, the most fun part of the baking adventure was tasting the final product...

Here are a couple of other fun pics from the week. Enjoy.

Daddy Day Care - Week One Down

This past week was the first week that Clif was home with Ainsley all week playing Mr. Mom. I think things went pretty well. A few times she didn't nap so well...but who are we talking about here, it's an accomplishment when she does nap at all. I think Clif is really enjoying his time with Ainsley, and I think Ainsley is getting a little more attached to her daddy. She definitely asks about him when he leaves the room and she cries when he goes into the bathroom. It is tough for Clif to get much job searching done with the bug at home. We hate to just put her in front of the TV...although, if you put Abby Cadabby and Elmo on repeat, she'd probably sit all day...but Clif also needs a job, so it's a tough call to make.

Luckily they had a few nice days outside and Clif was able to get her out of the house and to the park or for a walk. However, seeing as it is snowing here right now, I don't know if that luck will continue for him.

Friday Clif took Ainsley for a milk shake.

Then that night Ainsley had her very own corn on the cob for the first time. She really loved it.

We had a pretty quite couple of days this weekend. Clif's parents came to visit and they watched Ainsley Saturday night so Clif and I could go to dinner. It was nice to get out, but I never really like to leave Ainsley on the weekends. I feel like it's really the only time I get to spend with her...the weeks are just too hectic.

Well, not a very exciting post...nothing very exciting going on. I'll talk to you all again next week.