Bella's Adventures with Poppi & Nana

Despite the fact that we live in a faraway land, we have recently been blessed by special visits from both Georgia and Texas.  And these visits came in the best form possible... grandparents!  

First came Poppi!

 He's a captivating storyteller.

 And he's not too bad at this feeding thing either!

Yes, it's decided!  Bella loves her Poppi!

And next came Nana!

 Nana excels at the playground.

And this former history teacher ran circles around the The National History Museum.

She can even throw balls, too!

But perhaps the best memory from Nana's trip was taking Bella on her first ever Merry-Go-Round!  After the first three ups and downs, Bella made the executive decision that carousels rock and exclaimed "WEEEeeeeee!!!" for the remainder of the ride.  Oh happy day.

Speaking of happy days, one major bonus of having Nana in town was that Mike and I got to enjoy our first vacation alone (since Bella arrived) to a nearby B&B for some much needed R&R.  We stayed at the Brampton Inn in Chestertown, MD (Highly recommend it to any of you local couples looking for a weekend getaway!).  We also managed to discover the best crab bisque we've ever eaten at the Lemon Leaf Cafe.

But mostly, our days started out like this...

And ended like this...

Hooray for the gift of AWESOME grandparents!  We love y'all...especially the two that we missed seeing this time around!!!

Happy Thanksgiving from Atlanta!

The suspense was building around 11 am yesterday morning.  Could a Father/Daughter-in-law combo really pull of Thanksgiving together??

 

Ta-da!  We present to you the turkey, stuffing, gravy, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, fresh salad, green been bundles, and homemade rolls.  YUM!                            

Bella loved eating the turkey on her mat.  Well actually, she really loved the sugar-infused sweet potatoes.

And later, she loved feeding the swan in Poppi's pond... despite suffering from a food coma (hence the 5 mile stare).

 Bella loves Poppi.

And Bella loves Gigi.

 And Gigi really loves Bella.  Well, we all kind of feel that way about Bella.

Well, except for maybe Joey.  Just kidding!

Uncle Joey is awesome with this girl.

I hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! We sure were not lacking in things to be thankful for.  God has surely given in abundance!

Now back to DC and on to some Christmas decorating...  

Anniversary Tea for Two!

Yesterday, Mike and I celebrated TWO years of marriage.  Yay!  We made it!  As my mom and a few others said, "It's only been two years?"  I know.  A lot has happened to us in two years.  

All the more reason to celebrate!

Mike began the day by waking me up with Georgia and Texas biscuits served on a "WE are special today" red plate.  Ha!  Georgia suffered from some Texas pride before I took this picture. :)

Bella celebrated by asking for "more" cheerios.  She's getting really good at her sign language.  But she kind of asks for more of everything.  More food, more toys, more of me, etc.  I think I've created a monster.

After breakfast, she proceeded to perform a knife show for us in the dishwasher.  Come to find out you don't get to take a break from parenting on your anniversary.

Then, Mike was all romantic and left me this note as he rushed to his busy Monday.  Tea for two?!  At the Mayflower?! Yes, please!

A tea party anniversary, complete with champagne!  Mike really has come so far in only two years. I think mountains are in our future for next year. (Sorry, even the fanciest of waiters always take fuzzy pictures.)

But may I just point out that Mike loved the clotted cream?

Mike brought pictures from the last two years to our tea, and we had so much fun going over all the Lord has done in such a short time.  It's such a great thing to step back and take a look at the big picture in a marriage.  Remembering God's specific faithfulness to us left us encouraged and looking forward to the years ahead.

But then, our coach turned in to a pumpkin.

Or perhaps I should say that our child turned in to a gremlin.  A special thanks to our dear friend Jennifer for helping us celebrate!

It's been a wonderful two years full of love and trials and joy and new life!  So much of our conversation these past few days has revolved around all the friends and family that made our wedding and these last two years of marriage and parenting a real success.  We are so thankful and truly indebted to you all.  

Let the fun continue!

Oh wait!  Just one more very important thing about today.  A special Happy Birthday to my mother in law, Gigi!

I love celebrating you right around our anniversary because you gave me such a wonderful husband in your son.  So thankful for your life and how it blesses our marriage.  Happy Birthday!!

Pink Eye Plague & Friday Dance Moves

Hello out there.  It's Friday, and it feels like 115 degrees outside.  Oh, and we have the worst air quality in the country today.  Neat-o.  Sounds like it's time to sit in the A/C and catch up on the ol' blogosphere.

So, we got back from our second vacation in the Virginia mountains earlier this week.  Good times, but no pictures.  Sorry.  We decided if we couldn't surpass the recent beach shots, then we weren't even going to try with the mountains.  Plus, sometimes you just need a vacation from your camera.

Anyways, while Bella gets the gold star for best behaved baby while on vacation, she did return home congested and coughing.  And on Thursday, the pink eye plague ventured into our home.  Ahhhh!  It's been a while since I last experienced it, but that gunky, crusty, goo grossness is hard to miss.  Mike wanted me to post a picture of her eyes, but I thought it best not to.  I suspect that only parents handle their own baby's gunk well... or think it's even remotely cute for that matter.  If you must know, then she looks a little something like this...

... but with gunky goo grossness instead of sand in her eyes.

So let's change topics, shall we?

How about we keep talking about our recent beach vacation?  Yes, that's a much better topic!  Now, I could tell you a memory in story or song.  But how about I tell you in dance?

Okay, so when we weren't on the beach, we engaged in some Wii fun.  Mike and I don't have a Wii at home, so I was a little addicted.  You will probably be able to tell by the way I completely neglect my crying child in this video and sic Nana to the rescue.

As Nana says, it's unfortunate what is happening to my rear in this video.  Thanks, hubby.

A helpful viewing tidbit: If you want to laugh, you will watch the first half of this video.  If you want to fall out of your chair laughing, then you will watch the whole video.

Enjoy!

Davis Family Vacation & Sand Eating Contests

We're back!  And we returned with some great memories...

...happy faces...

...and one stomach full of sand (I promised you pictures of ruffled bathing suits and sand in the mouth, and boy, can I deliver on this one!).

The original Davises, plus a Bella and a few hats.

"Sisters!  Sisters!  There were never such ridiculous sisters."  That one there in the middle is officially declared the "hostess with the mostest"!  Thanks for planning a great Panama City beach vacation for all our families, Michelle!

And here's those manly, good lookin' men we married.  They swim with sharks and tackle them with their bare hands.

They also break kayak paddles in two.

And here are our beautiful babes sportin' their shades.  Note that one child's swimsuit is on backwards.  I can hardly dress myself, much less a child.

More sand!  We waited for the grimace, but she loved eating sand by the handful.

Now this one and the sand... not so much.  But oh my, she's cute in that pink tutu!

The Martin Family!

There, that's much better.

Nana and Bella are best buds at the beach.

And this is what one day on the beach will do to ya.

Here's to a great family vacation!  There are more pictures and videos that I'll post in the coming days (including some professional shots that are knock your socks off good!).  

See you Davis ladies and your families next year!  Oh, where shall we go next time!?

A Father's Day Wish, Round 2

It's time for our next honoree of the weekend... Papa!

That's my dad down there.

He sure does know how to hold his girls in his lap.  This was always my favorite place in the house... Daddy's lap.  It's the safest place in the world.  And that's a fact.

Remember this special moment, Dad?  I love the picture of a daddy handing off his daughter to her husband.  At that moment, a lot of faith must go in to entrusting another man with the girl you once held securely in your lap.  Bella has given us a whole new perspective on this front.

Dad, you truly stand out in the crowd of fathers.  In fact, you could and probably should write a book on how to raise girls.  

From the creative ways you told me you loved me by sneaking "I love you" in to any moment you could.  

To your deliberate telling and display of God's grace.  

To your humble servant's heart and the sacrifices you'd make just to see us smile.  

To the way you loved mom.  

To our bedtime prayers and stories told in your fun voices.  

To jubee bugs.  

To Father Daughter dates in costume. 

To our first dozen roses.

These memories only scratch the surface.  

Of all the dad's in the world, I still think you're the best.

I love you. Happy Father's Day.

A Father's Day Wish, Round 1

We've got a couple rounds of Father's Day wishes coming down the shoot, so get ready for pictures of some good lookin' men.

Our first honoree for Father's Day 2011 is... Poppi!

Poppi popped in to town last week, and so we met up for a special breakfast date at the ever so popular Old Ebbitt Grill.  

Poppi loves Bella kisses and coffee, and Bella loves Poppi's lap and spoons.

What a fine lookin' bunch!  Thanks for being such a great father to Mike.  We are all blessed to be loved and supported by you.  Have a great Father's Day, and know you are loved!