A Birthday Party in Charlotte

Yesterday, we ventured to Charlotte to help Cousin Alaina celebrate her first birthday. With the three-hour car ride, it was nice to have my parents along for some normal conversation.  Don't get me wrong...we still had lots of questions from the little people, but it was nice to have some moments of clarity in the car.

Here's sweet little Alaina.  Who needs presents when you can put cups-turned-trash into your mouth?

I found matching dresses for Alaina and Madison.  The girls looked so cute, and I know Madison was so proud to have a matching dress to her baby cousin.

Luke lived up to his reputation and was very hungry upon arrival.  He dug into the fruit salad.

The Crew!  We wanted a nice picture for Daddy  :)

Grandma and Grandpa bought Alaina this nice ride.  There's a picture we need:  Madison and Alaina in a car together...hmmm.  I'm not sure if I'll be ready for that in another 10 years or so.

Still eating

Grandpa and Grandma with four of the five grandkids...we need to photoshop Wes in.

Alex's turn...definitely not ready for him to be behind the wheel!

Presents...Madison has been talking about/dreaming about this for at least six months.  She came to me a LONG time ago (well before we moved) and said she wanted to get Alaina a Bitty Baby from the American Girl Store.  Now, if you don't know, Madison's beloved doll, Hannah, is a Bitty Baby, given to her by my college roommate, Jenn for Christmas at six months old.  Madison loves Hannah so much she wanted Alaina to have a doll just like her.  So, on our trip back from Maryland when we stopped at the American Girl Store, we purchased a Bitty Baby for Alaina.  Madison's has brown hair (as does she), and we bought one with blonde hair for Alaina.  The outfit she bought for Hannah that day was a matching outfit to what Alaina's Bitty Baby is wearing.  Madison was so delighted she sat with the box next to her the rest of the drive home from Washington D.C. (five hours).  She wrapped it the second we walked into the house, on her own, and it's been sitting here ready for Alaina.  I hope she enjoys her doll as much as Madison has loved hers.