Bubble Palooza!

Whoever the genius was that invented the toddler size bubble blower with trigger and dipping tray…Bless your soul!!!  This afternoon, three little loves enjoyed themselves more than I could have imagined!  On this last day of my maternity leave, these smiles were the perfect way to end my week! 

Charlie was ALL ABOUT some bubbles!  He thought the harder you dipped the wand in the bubbles, the more they would blow!  His giggles were priceless and all the energy he exerted jumping up and down and all around blowing these bubbles should (hopefully) help him sleep like a babe tonight! 

 

He was even kind enough to include his baby brother in on the fun! 

Wylie was meticulous as usual!  She was so overly concerned about dirt getting in her bubble tray she couldn’t even focus (for a LONG while) on the pleasure of blowing the bubbles.  Finally, she let loose and enjoyed herself!  She was still very conscious of her container and was on high guard for any dirt that might try to sneak its way into her try!

  

Her new found happiness with the bubble blower and Charlie already deep devotion to them, quickly led to a Bubble War between the 2!  

 

My little love Bess rose above all the bubble commotion to enjoy her bubbles all to herself!  Initially, we had to overcome the issue that the bubble machine was in fact NOT a personal fan although it could double for this!  Before you knew it though, Bess was a bubble blowing fool too! 

Being the little priss in training that this one is, she quickly realized her Dora glasses would add such a statement to this our outdoor fun!   However, the bubble and Bess lasted 2.2 seconds and the joy of a swing took over!  (Note that Bess is screaming from joy while being pushed!!  Love it!)

Mom Tip:  Invest in bubble blowers ASAP.  Should have opened these up ages ago!!!  Who knew?!

Going To The Chapel…

Look who else was so excited (and a little obsessed)  about the Royal Wedding and decided to rise for this special occasion!  

I love that one day, when Ben understands even part of what this hoopla of a wedding was about, that I can say to him…  You rose just in time and saw it all!  The drive to the Abbey, the wedding, the excitement over the dress and the vows! 

What a memory we made this morning!

The Quilt

Many years ago, someone I have never met (but wished I had), worked her fingers to the bone piecing together a work of art that has (so far) lasted the test of time.  Many years later,I would discover that work of art in my Mamaw’s linen closet and learn that my great grandmother pieced each scrap of fabric she could find together with potato sacks to create one of my most loved possessions.  

I refer to it as my “Mamaw Blanket”.  And it has clearly seen better days.  There are tattered edges, rips in the fabric where you toes slip out during the night and pieces hanging on for dear life by tiny stitches.  But never in this world, has there been a blanket more soft and more treasured. 

This “blanket”, although very large, has been a part of so many memories.  It traveled to Raleigh for a short stay at Meredith, it joined me at USC where my sister and I cuddled under it watching mindless Lifetime movies on Oceola Dr, and then , after I was married, it joined me (and Bubba) in bed despite the fact that we had wonderful down comforters.  While all of these places are secretly written on this quilt, for the past few years, this quilt has had a new resting place.  The Baby Nursery. 

It doesn’t match any decor.  It is not made from hand spun Egyptian cotton.  And at times it looks a bit out of place.  But the number of nights I have cuddled up under it holding a little love to my chest are countless.   Particularly Bess and Ben.  It has never mattered the season, the blanket has always been so soft and had the perfect chill to it in the middle of the night.  It is one of my  favorite nursery accessories.

Everytime I look at that quilt, I think of my Mamaw and my babies.  I know Mamaw’s mother, my great grandmother, probably wasn’t thinking about her great granddaughter that would be cuddling  a sweet smelling baby underneath it one day when she was stitching her fingers away!  But how thankful am I for this quilt and the memories it holds for me. 

One of these days, I hope my 4 little loves will talk about how crazy in love I was over this blanket.  I hope they all want it for their home because they remember the many times we snuggled up in it! 

It may appear to be a worthless blanket full of rips and tears but that is what makes it full of memories and love! 

Collage O’ Easter!

Only because I am more than slightly obsessed with taking pictures of my kids is this post a collage!  I know I need to get a grip on my camera clicking finger but I am suffering with an addiction to photo taking! 

Therefore, we have a photo collage to commemorate The Bailey Bunch Easter 2011! 

Scenes from the morning including Charlie in his newest piece of tacky apparel- a new Spiderman T-Shirt!  WAHOO!  Wylie looking slightly like Elton John in her new Barbie sunglasses.  Bess sporting her Dora glasses and drinking from her new Princess cup and Brother Ben chillin in the bouncy seat just soaking it all in!

Then after bathing, brushing and mentally preparing these little loves, we headed to the porch for good ol’ fashion fun!  An Easter Photo Shoot with 3 toddlers!  What could be more fun?!

After a delicious meal with family, the Bailey Bunch headed outside for Aunt Amy’s Easter Egg Extravaganza.  There were a few tears shed, a few moments of unhappy egg hunters and a newly discovered pink hat that made this momma and daddy realize “Quiet Time” at the Bailey house was a MUST! 

But most of all, it was a wonderful Sunday spent with family remembering such an important time of the year! 

Happy Easter!

Smiles from one of the many Little Peeps at this house! 

Happy Easter Everybody!

Water War!

It all started rather simply.  Before the highly anticipated Easter Egg hunt, one of the little loves found  a mud puddle and ended up covered from head to toe (literally) in muddy water, clothes and all!  Therefore, we were forced to step back and punt and resorted to Easter Egg hunting in the country in our Superhero undies and camo shoes!! 

But why not have all the fun you can have when you are in the country in nothing but your undies?!   

So before we knew it, Dear Ol’ Dad and Charlie were having a water war in the backyard!  What could be more fun for a little boy and his partner in crime?!

 

I am not really sure who had more fun.  Father or son?  Regardless, it definitely occupied this active 3 year old for a good bit.  Yes, it created a mess and yes it probably was unnecessary but… it put smiles on the face of a little boy (and a big boy!) and made the both of them giggle from their bellies.  Who can resist that?  

I love seeing these two buddies horse around!  Even if it is in Spiderman Undies… that is what getting to play out in the country is for!

Happy 2 Month Birthday Baby Boy!

Hard to believe that the Bailey Bunch has been loving on Sweet Brother Ben for 2 months already!!!  I can only wonder what this little babe must be thinking while he stares at all the craziness going on around this house!!   Somehow though, through all the insanity here, we are still seeing our little one doze away in the midst of it all!  How he does it?  I have no idea!!

Sadly I can not report that our little love is sleeping through the night!  He is on a very predictable night schedule though!  I believe I should have seen it from birth because 3 am and Ben have gone hand in hand.  3 am is when I finally decided to make our way to the hospital because the contractions were pretty rough.  3 am is when I would religiously have to get up to potty while I was pregnant.  3 am in now Ben’s favorite time to rise for a party with momma!  And, while I do so love some cuddle time with my little one, I also love some shut eye!  Hopefully soon we will make it through the night!! 

 

Ben is so very loved by his siblings.  Wylie is very in tune with Ben’s needs and it is really like having a built in babysitter at times.  She is ALWAYS on pappy patrol and will never let a minute go by that Ben is not covered up with a blanket!  She seriously must give him about a 1,000 kisses while he is being fed.  She has such a big heart for him! 

 

 

Bess is having a slight complex.  She is struggling to understand that some things in this house are not hers but Ben’s.  She just walks around asking “Ats Mine” (That’s mine?) waiting for one of us to say, “Yes, Bess, that is yours.”  Bless her heart, she just wants to have her own things and not have to share them!!!  Better change that attitude seeing as how sharing is priority Number One with 4 kids in this house!! 

  

Charlie…well, I am sure he loves his brother and he does stop every hour or two to kiss him but really he is too busy!  He is on the scooter, playing pirate, acting like a Power Ranger, hiding his airplanes and army men… you name it!  He keeps telling me this summer Ben is going to play trains with him.  We shall just see about that!  I know one day soon, these two little men will be inseparable!

 

I am so thankful for a healthy and happy baby!  Ben continues to be long and lean.  He is working on getting some cheeks on him but it appears he might be slender like his brother!  He is a wonderful cuddler and so in love with his pappy!!  I love this little man more and more each and every day! 

Happy 2 months Ben!