Brad was off for Columbus Day today, so we took Mary Ella to the State Fair. It was interesting...great place to people watch, but I'll just say I wouldn't want to be there at night. She loved the sights and especially the animals and cotton candy.
First taste of cotton candy
Watching Circus Maximus
And first ICEE
Sweet baby chic
Last night in crib
Last morning
This day was bittersweet. We took Mary Ella's crib down and put Rhett's up all in the same day...and not because he is using hers. We just happened to put his together that very day, and we went to Arkansas the next day and took the crib back to the Marvins. We came home with Anna's full size bed (she got a new one). So when we got back I had 2 rooms to work on!
First night in big girl bed
How sweet is that? It looks like she is smiling in her sleep!
All made up and looking pretty
Some silly pics before bedtime...
She has done really well! She went down the very first night with no problems. We still do our usual bedtime routine, but read books in bed instead of her chair. We pile pillows around her, and I check and make sure they are still in place before I go to bed. She woke up in the middle of the night a couple nights in the beginning, but now I think she is sleeping better than ever. She wakes up a happy girl every morning, and I love going in and snuggling in her bed for a while. She did fall out one night, but when I got in there she was laying on one of the pillows. So, I'm hoping if she does fall it means the pillows have gone before her and will be there to cushion the fall. Naptime has been humorous. We haven't used the monitor since we moved in January. There was no need for it in the apartment because it was tiny, and we could hear everything. And we can hear her from our room in our house, so I've just been saving it for Rhett. But after a few incidents at naptime I decided to put it in there so I could see what the heck she was doing...once she took off her diaper and peed in her bed, she broke a picture frame in her bed and cut her finger, she came out buck naked after awhile and said, "I wake up." (She can open her door now and also interrupted my bath with "I wake up.") So, I set the monitor up and started watching. It only took a couple days of me going in and telling her to lay down...she knows I can see her now...and it is all good. I'm hoping she will still think I can see her when I move it to Rhett's room. So...we have gotten rid of paci, potty trained, and moved to a big girl bed all in a matter of a few months (all things I wanted to accomplish before Rhett's arrival). It seems like LOTS of change for such a little girl, but she has truly proved to be a BIG girl and has handled everything so well! I am so proud of her! One thing that did make me sad that I will never forget: as Brad and I were moving her crib out of her room, she followed us through the house, out the front door, and to the car saying "My bed! My bed!" Poor baby! I think she got over it quickly though...just refer to the crazy pictures above. ;)
The white paint in the garage was calling my name, so yesterday we painted pumpkins! 
I thought mine turned out cute enough to enjoy inside for a while...it may be too early to put them outside in Mississippi if I want them to last until Halloween.
Mary Ella had so much fun! She LOVES painting! But she did not get to use the permanent white paint...Crayola washable all the way! 
Oops, my paint dripped!
Oops, I'm painting my leg!
Very serious
ME's finished product on the mantel...so fun!
I cannot believe it is October, and then comes November and Rhett! Time is flying, and it finally feels like fall. We had beautiful weather here and enjoyed every minute of it! Friday night we took Mary Ella to see The Lion King in 3D. We had to choose a quick place to eat to make it to the movie in time, so we went to Backyard Burger. As you can see, ME really enjoyed her cheeseburger!
I was pretty nervous about the movie. Knew she would love it, but not so sure about the 3D part. Well, she loved it all! She was clapping and saying, "yay!" and naming the animals...she kept her glasses on almost the entire movie. Didn't scare her in the least, and now she talks about watching the big TV and wearing glasses. She says, "I wear glasses and the tv come." I guess she really felt like it was coming at her! ;)
Saturday morning ME and I met Kristy and Miles and Sara, Addy, and Emma Vaughan at Chapel of the Cross for A Day in the Country. It's an outdoor event every year in Madison at the beginning of fall. They have music, food, crafts, and lots of fun activities for the kids. ME's favorite part was riding the heesies (horsies).
Miles and Addison at the petting zoo.
She loved loving on the animals!
Loving the horsie's hiney
Fuzzy bunny
Baby goat
Riding and saying "choo choo"
She was very brave and got right in the bouncy house with her friends! I love Addy's hair in this picture!
Brad stayed home to paint some furniture for Rhett's room. We got home just in time for lunch, nap, and the best part...the second half of the Hog game! Brad was supposed to wait on me to watch it, but he said I didn't want to see the first half anyway. We were down 35-17 at halftime, but came back to beat the Aggies 42-38! So I got to see all the good stuff anyway! Go Hogs! Wished we had been there for that one! Brad and I were planning on spending the weekend away in Dallas as our last little getaway before the baby comes. But I have been having a few contractions here and there, so Dr. Cole said no more travel. I probably need to stay home anyway...have lots to do! But I'm hoping to have Rhett's room ready after this week. We have the bed set up, and the bedding came last week. LOVE it! The curtains are hung, furniture is painted, and Brad is currently driving to Monroe to meet my brother halfway to get the dresser for his room. My mom is coming this week to help with the finishing touches and baby prep. So excited! Anyway...
After nap and helping Daddy paint, ME helped me make some German chocolate cake balls. Red velvet are still my favorite, but these are yummy and cute too with Halloween sprinkles!
She mostly ate the sprinkles!
Enjoying her "sweet treat"...notice the white paint on her belly ;)
