10 Month Old Pics

I never got around to doing the formal 10 month old pictures with bullet points on her latest achievements. But I did get a lot of candid shots last month of her just being her sweet, active self. I love this batch below. It was right after a nap and just some sweet moments with Ollie (her fav toy) and of course Bridget Bojangles. Enjoy!

Motivational Monday

My Loulie Bug is 11 months old today--I can't believe it. She is becoming a more independent, sweet little girl every day. While wanting to celebrate this time and enjoy this last month of babyhood, it also brings some ultimatums for mom here. I now have one month to get my house in order and (dum da dum) lose those last 3 pounds of baby weight that just keep hanging on. It is said that if a woman does not lose her baby weight by the time the child is a year, then it is there forever. Yikes--pressure is on.

A lot of people think of January 1 as a new start but I also like to the start of a new school year (Sept 1st) as a step off point. Fall is my favorite season, so I would love to begin it lighter, more organized and ready to take on the care of a t-t-t-t-toddler. (I can hardly say it. Oh, my baby is growing too fast.)

I 've asked Bert to help keep me accountable on the house. We are going to have a major purge, possibly a garage sale and some fierce closet organization to get our house sale ready and finally be able to host friends. We never have anyone over and would like to start. Anyhow, enough on that--I have to go get the guest room clean--it is on my agenda for today.

I'll post LB's 11 month (and 10, oops) pictures later today.

Qui Qui

I absolutely love historical fiction novels. I just love how they take you to a completely different time and place, yet you feel like the story actually happened because of the events around it. I just finished on of my new favorites...

The story revolves around a girl struggling to support her family through the one thing she loves--dance. You know it got me hooked there. I just love the insight the author gives to the times, the way of life for these dancers and the story behind what might have shaped Degas's vision for his pastels. I have been to the MET several times and each visit spent a significant amount of time standing in front of these works of art, one of my favorites being the bronze statue of the dancer. This book just brought them to life. I loved falling into a background story of romance, struggle, heartbreak and my favorite--love of art.

Anyone that knows me knows that when I read something, I almost fall into the pages for the duration of the book and a few days after. Which explains why I am utterly obsessed with Paris right now, would get on a plane if I could and keep having my thoughts with a Parisian accent. (Does anyone else do that?--Think in the accent of the book they are reading at the time. Made life really interesting when I was reading The Help and answered Bert "Yessa Mista Dasher" a time or two.) Anyhow, this new obsession with Paris brings me to my next new find...

This is the new patisserie downtown located next door to Rue de Jean (our favorite restaurant). It is beautiful and quaint and smells divine. Loulie and I went in there on Saturday and you are just blown over by the scent of fresh baked pastries and brioche and croissants. We did not taste anything but just took in the smell, which was enough. A tiny woman with a lovely French accent runs it--she embodies everything French. She is tiny and quirky and describes her creations with such gusto you feel like you were in the kitchen making it with her.

Bottom line, I want to go to Paris and until I can, I will be stopping by to see mademoiselle after each trip to the children's museum.

Announcing...

Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Toler

My little sister got hitched!!! A week ago, we were celebrating the union of Meredith and Bruce. I couldn't be happier for the two of them. Marriage is one of God's greatest blessings and waking up to your best friend each day makes life just a little easier. I must admit that after a fabulous weekend filled with family, friends and constant entertainment; I have been a little melancholy. It all went by so fast and I wish everyone did not have to leave town so soon. But for now, we have pictures and I'm looking forward to the bride returning from her honeymoon so we can go over the details of each night. :)

I'll probably have several more posts on this but for now, here are a few pictures...

Right Before the Kick Off Party Thursday Night at Beth & Mile's House

(You can't tell from the picture, but their house is AMAZING!!!)

Loulie ready for the Bellini & Bikini Bridesmaid Luncheon

Meredith & the Hostesses

(My Aunts & Mother's Best Friends from College--really special to have them all there)

Not only was the view incredible but the food was delicious and as always the flowers were amazing! All these women have known Mere her entire life.

The Happy Couple Rehearsing

(seriously, this was not staged. Is he not the tallest person you have ever seen?)

There are far too m any photos to include them all. It was an incredible evening that I hope Meredith and Bruce will always looks back on. Now, I have to start planning the next event--always need something to look forward to.

Another good reason to stay married...

There's cute...and then there's Loulie Dasher.

These are the kind of thoughts that run through my completely biased mind at least three times a day. I know everyone feels this way about their child and that motherhood takes you to a level of insanity where everything that little person does is absolutely wonderful and perfect and genius.

I know all this and yet 10 times a day I act like she is the first person to ever learn how to hold a cup or laugh at Bridget or throw a tantrum in Target. But if I voiced all these things everywhere I went, I would become that nightmare mother that I promised myself I would never be. You know the one--the mother that goes on and on with ridiculously long, detailed stories about her child that only she finds amusing. Which brings me to my point...thank goodness for Bert!

He finds all my stupid, ridiculous, detailed tangents about Loulie as hilarious, entertaining and endearing as I do. Of course our relationship goes much deeper than parenting together but it is such an awesome gift to get to share Loulie together. And for that matter Bridget. It's nice to have someone that thinks the ordinary is a extrodinary as I do. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have Bert to share these things with--guess I'd be staining the check out boy at Publix and having people run when they saw me coming. :)

To Live By...

I heard a quote today that I liked....

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the ground in the morning, Satan shudders and says, "Oh shit, she's awake."

Lord, please grant me the energy, the knowledge and a listening/discerning ear to live out these somewhat silly words.

"SAND"wiches

So it is Tuesday night and the week is already flying by. We are just settling back in after a fun and relaxing family trip to Pawley's. It was four years ago this weekend when after six months of dating Bert popped the question and I said yes. Since then it has been a whirlwind of home repairs, job changes, pregnancy and ice machines---leaving us with very little time for vacation. Which would explain why in four years, this was my first official weeklong Dasher family vacation at Pawley's. Not only was it my first vacay, it was Loulie's and her first beach trip!!!

What can I say?--we had a ball! Weesie and Papa so graciously surrendered the "master" bedroom to Loulie which allowed us every morning to open the blinds to sunshine and the ocean. Ahhh Heaven! Loulie quickly took note of her place in the scenario and like a true drama queen, she learned to work the crowd. I'm not sure she had a moment where at least three people were not entertaining her. Between bike rides and walks and playing on the beach, she had a ball. The fun was not all left to the youth either. With helping hands, Bert and I were able to relax, go on a date and spend some much needed time with Bridget Bojangles. All four of us were spoiled and Weesie is to blame. I'm so thankful for time with family, a chance for Bert to relax during his busiest time of year and the greatest blessing of my sweet girls. Watching the pure joy of Bridget swimming in the waves and of Loulie figuring out the sand and the sea for the first time are priceless images that could only be enjoyed in the slow pace that coastal life forces upon you. It was a great week of rest that will help get us through the rest of a busy summer.

I close with some images from the week....