Gotta start April off right, and the Easter Bunny sure knows how to do that! Mr. Bunny
hopped right in, left two awesome baskets, chomped a few carrots to refuel, and was gone before I even woke up, which is saying something because, if I haven't mentioned it already, I get up at the butt crack of dawn now. I got a new ballet leotard, and Emma got one to 
match, as well as the Bitty Baby blender, crayons, nail polish, a castle, lots of candy, and much more. Peeps were definitely the candy highlight, in my opinion! Ethan got a few little toys, a new baseball cap, and cute little shoes. We got to enjoy the morning at home with all of our new
goodies before putting on our Easter best and heading to Great Aunt Marsha's house to celebrate with the whole fam. Of course, Mom made sure to get some really good pictures of Ethan and me before heading into the chaos since it was 
Ethan's first Easter, don'tcha know. I upheld my sisterly duties and made sure to catch him before he fell off the bench and onto the floor; I'm just good like that. We loaded up the cookies that I helped bake the day before, as well as the ham and some side dishes, and spent the rest of the day with the people we love most. My Great Grandma even came all the way from West Virginia to meet Ethan! She is a really good Great Grandma! I mean, what other Great Grandma brings you a singing hen that poops eggs!? Awesome! By the way, Great Grandma, I love that hen; I've even got the song she sings memorized! "Whoop, there it is..." We gave Harper her Elmo-packed Easter basket from us, and I think she was fairly excited; she thinks Elmo is the greatest thing in the whole world. I got some awesome Easter goodies myself from Grandma, Great Grandma,
Aunt Steph, Mrs. Sharon, and Great Aunt Marsha. Ethan was a bit overwhelmed with the crowd, so Mom held him most of the day while I ran around with Harper, Cameron, and Haley. Cameron hid eggs for Harper and me, and while Harper was content on finding a few here and there, Cameron led me around the whole yard, and I quickly collected the rest. The 
best part about an Easter egg hunt are the surprises inside, and our eggs did not disappoint; we got candy and confetti and stickers and money; the money went a bit underappreciated though and ended up in the grass in lieu of peanut butter eggs. Cameron showed us how boys open Easter eggs, with a baseball bat. We had amazing food and even better desserts, followed by 
Fancy Nancy matching pjs - thanks you, Ms. Sharon and Mr. Carl - and story time with Ms. Sharon. Harper and I made sure to give Ethan a little attention too; however, when I am around, he only has eyes for me. Harper is sure to become one of his favorite people though. It was one heck of an Easter, and I was so exhausted that I shockingly allowed myself to fall asleep on the ride home. Any holiday in which presents magically appear in your living room and you get to eat tons of desserts and you get to run around with your cousins is a good holiday in my book. I just can't wait until baby brother can join in on the chaos. 
Speaking of April parties, lucky Ethan got to join Mom and lots of other ladies at the Sip and See Shower that Mom helped host in honor of little Malcolm Thrower. Don't worry about me, I've gotten several Mommy/daughter days lately, and I am always, always, always down for a Daddy/Livie day. Ethan enjoyed the company of lots of lovely, beautiful ladies and tiny, adorable babies, and I think that Ms. Lisa really enjoyed the day for baby Malcolm as well. Mom did bring me home a cupcake, so I know that at least the desserts were scrumptious, as I am sure the rest was! Malcolm is a sweet, easygoing, handsome little man, and we are just so thrilled for Ms. Lisa and the whole Thrower crew.
Parties are most definitely not the only way to have a good time around these parts. April provided loads of fun, like:
Art Class at Cool Bees Art Studio with Grayson, Parker, Lucas, Juliet, and, of course, Ethan - I call my paintings The Dark Mix of Every Color on the Palette or, in my mind, The Teddy Bears.
Circus Day at School - I was an old-time tight rope walker, people, not an Oriental doll; get it right! It's all about the parasol. Who cares what I was anyways; they had a bounce house and hula hoops, which is my kind of circus. We tried to get Ethan to be a clown, but he wasn't totally down. I did find out that I am quite the alligator jumper! Then Mom had to man the most exciting game on the floor for 20 minutes, Drop the Ball in the Hole; no, really, that was the extent of the game. It doesn't take much when you are in preschool...
I was a good student like always, and I made my clown over Spring Break to help decorate for Circus Day while Ethan oversaw the whole project. I really like school, and my current aspiration is to become a doctor, sometimes a vet, sometimes just a doctor, and I have already proclaimed that "I will go to two colleges for many years" to do so. My other main aspiration, which is probably even higher on my list than the whole doctor bit, is to become a princess; a few vacations to Europe, and I should be able to nail that one down.
We got to attend lots of fun kid events in the 
community, including a Puppet Show Day with my brother at the library, Deputy for a Day with the Forsyth police, and the Humane Society's How to Pet a Dog seminar with my favorite peeps. I learned three steps: 1. Ask the owner. 2. Hold out your hand to let the doggy smell you. 3. Pet gently under the neck. One of the dogs I got to pet was huge! I had a blast over Spring Break, but I think the week off just made Mommy even more nervous about this summer!
A Friday Night Cookout with the Loiseaus - Now that we have our new, big, outdoor table, we can entertain a bit more; therefore, we had the Loiseaus over one evening to break it in. Mom and Dad cooked some yummy food, which Parker, Grayson, and I thoroughly enjoyed; however, I am pretty sure we enjoyed the bubble machine, the secrets at the dinner table, the group bath, the crazy towels, and the incredibly late-night movie even more. Parker has definitely become my best girlfriend, and I totally love Grayson too!
Sweetwater 420 5k and Festival - This was our third annual Sweetwater Fest and Mom's first post-Ethan race. She did even 
better than she expected, for she was able to run 3 out of the 3.1 miles straight; her goal was to run at least 2. I got to stroll along with Daddy, since there ain't nothing better than strolling with the old man, after donning a moustache and bow tie for preliminary pictures. Aunt Steph, Uncle Ian,
and Harper True entertained and watched Ethan while we ran; then we met up with Aunt Steph, Uncle Ian, Harper, Ms. Sharon, Ms. Lisa, Roe, Malcolm, Ms. Heather, Mr. Dirk, Avery, Mr. Joe, and Ms. Jeanna down at the festival. The music, crazy popsicles, and playground were definitely the highlights! I think Ethan even enjoyed this outing. He did, however, refuse to eat the entire time we were out, which had Mommy a bit worried. He is so 
opinionated when it comes to dining! I really loved dancing the day away with my girl Harper True, whose two favorite things in the world are dancing and books! On a side note, Harper is getting quite talkative and hilarious. During a quick coffee break with Mommy, Aunt Steph, and Ms. Sharon, Harper was told not to kick the table because she was spilling everyone's coffee. Well, she looked right at her Oma, Ms. Sharon, and kept kicking the table while shouting "No!"; then Oma offered her a bite of biscuit, and she broke off 
mid-no to sweetly say, "Okay". Oh, she and I are going to get into some serious trouble in the future; you can just call us Sass One and Sass Two. I even got her to climb the huge bridge on the playground when no one was looking; unfortunately, we both got stuck and had to call for help halfway through our adventure. Sweetwater is definitely our favorite race and 
festival of the year, and since Ethan stayed awake for most of it, I'm pretty sure he has the same sentiment! Oh, and by the way, we waited in line so that Aunt Steph could take a family picture of us in front of the Sweetwater truck, and then Aunt Steph cut out the Sweetwater part, which makes Daddy's finger point up to the sign very awkward; way to go, Aunt Steph!
By the way, Mommy followed up the Sweetwater 5K with 4 more races in 4 consecutive weekends, including the Boulder Dash with Ms. Joanne and the Stache Dash and I Love East Cobb Thrower Fake 5K, both with Daddy! Run, parents, run!
Fish Store Fun - Daddy and I are still making our weekly trip to the fish store, and I have made a new friend, Matt. He picks me up and swings me around every time we go in, and he even lets me help around the store. During one visit, I got to help introduce a very old, very big Clown Fish to his new tank. Unfortunately, we still haven't gotten the all clear for new fish, so we are just sticking to fun, new corals for now.
Park Days - They are always awesome, and a picnic with friends makes the day even better!
Avenue Shenanigans - If I consent to walk around The Avenues shopping center with Mommy and be reasonably good, I get to go wild on the center green afterwards. Who needs anything more than a grassy rectangle and a fountain!?
Lunch with Daddy - If he won't come to us during the week before I go to bed, then we will go to him! I miss my Daddy when he is gone, and every day I ask, "Is Daddy coming home tonight?" I usually sulk for a moment or two when I am told that he is out of town or will be late, but I changed it up a bit one day and continued my questioning with, "So, is he going to sleep somewhere else tonight?", to which Mommy answered, "Yes", and I continued, "But Mommy, families stay together and don't go to work!" Sound reasoning if you ask me. That Daddy, he sure is one hardworking man! His hardwork definitely paid off in May; just wait until you read about it!Ballet with Baby Emma - Ms. Hannah, my ballet teacher, was totally impressed with mine and baby Emma's matching ballerina outfits. Ethan likes ballet days too because he gets to see Ms. Joanne, Parker, and Grayson, and they get to see his baby toes. Ms. Joanne is totally using Ethan to abate her new baby woes, and Ethan loves it.
I love my baby Emma, but Little Piggy is still my best friend; although, if he goes for a ride, he now has to stay in the car because I keep leaving him places. I mean, he is called Little Piggy for a reason; he is just too tiny to keep up with. As much as I love Little Piggy, I love Ethan even more, and I am nice enough to let him hold Little Piggy whenever he wants. Mom does her best to keep Little Piggy out of his mouth though; pigs are just dirty in general, but they are still definitely my favorite animal and a bit of an obsession! I get me a new big in any form whenever I can.Speaking of favorites, outside is always better than in! I constantly want to be outside, unless I hear thunder, for I am terrified of thunder! Our backyard has become
my haven of the imagination, and I am always thinking of new games, ways to get dirty, and pretend scenarios. I am also getting pretty good at riding my scooter and my bike, with the training wheels, of course, on the front sidewalk. Daddy did let go while I was speeding down the hill, and I almost 
hit a parked car, but that didn't deter me. Like I told Daddy, "When I am six, I can ride my bike all by myself". Hopefully, I will get it down before I am six. On the topic of backyards, Grandma has a pretty neat backyard too, and I got to explore all afternoon while Daddy helped her plant flowers, the flowers that I helped Grandma pick out from Home Depot in the pounding sun. Ethan is lucky he has a bit of shade wherever we go because this is already shaping up to be a brutal summer, which is no bueno for me because I sweat like a boy. I also helped Daddy drive to Home Depot.
Don't worry, it was just across the parking lot; I gotta start practicing at some point because I just know that the front of the car has got to be way more fun than the back of the car! I randomly shared that exact hypothesis with Mommy from the boring back seat one day; she was totally confused for a minute because out of the blue, I asked, "So, is it more fun up there?". "Up 
where?" I just know Mom is partying like a rock star up there without me. Anyways, poor Ethan was sick the day that we spent at Grandma's, so he stayed inside with Mommy and tried to take a nap on Grandma's bed. He didn't want to be left alone while he was feeling so yucky though. Neither of us does really well when nap is skipped; although, I can manage it, especially if I can sneak in a quick car snooze.
The only bad thing about being outside is the bugs! I hate bugs, especially ants and spiders! I have become quite the professional spider web exterminator, and
I make it my mission wherever I go to eradicate any and all yucky webs. The ant, however, is another 
issue; it seems that they got me instead. I wound up with several big ant bites, and, unfortunately, I seem to have a bad reaction to ant bites. My whole hand swelled up, and I ended up at the doctor's office. Thankfully, Ethan was there for moral support and a bit of bubble blowing distraction. I was very brave while the doctor checked out my hand, and Mommy was told for what signs to watch before I got my sticker and got the heck out of there. It took, literally, 5 or so weeks for my hand to finally look all better, and I am steering clear of those tiny, mean ants.Continuing with all of the April fun, we don't even need to leave the house to have a good time. Ethan and I can have fun...
sporting an 80's sweatband around the house.
enjoying a little 'Let's Try and Eat Livie's Face" on the play mat; I let him do whatever he wants, and then I just say, "It's okay, Mom; he can do that 'cause he is just a baby."
spreading the word about our party in the crib...
or just napping in said crib.
bouncing in the bouncer, which is still his absolute favorite place...
and then bouncing some more. Just look at that smiley, sweet face. He is such a happy, little guy. Everytime he smiles me, I just have to announce it and add an "Awwww!" (I couldn't pick just one of these.)
sharing a sibling secret.
getting distracted by a little boob tube.
introducing Ethan to some new pals on the exersaucer. I make sure that each pal gets equal amounts of face time and that Emma gets her exersaucer time as well. Those ears, you just gotta love them; Daddy calls Ethan his little elf.
doing the laundry. I think laundry is a fantastic game - run to Mom's bedroom, grab the dirty clothes, run to the washer, get 'em all in. I mean, whoever invented the game of laundry is a genius! I can't figure out why Mom isn't as into doing the laundry. Par-ty Poop-er! By the way, that little stool that was Mom's when she was little gets drug all over this house every day!
giving Ethan a lift. That's right; I am super strong! I am also super brave as I so eloquently explained while watching Sleeping Beauty, which is an incredibly dark film for those of you who haven't seen it in awhile. During the dragon scene, I jumped up on the couch and exclaimed, "I'm a brave girl! I'm not scared of anything! I'm not scared of a witch; I'm not scared of a dragon! See Mommy, I told ya, I am not afraid of anything, I told ya. I'm almost brave like a pirate princess!" I caught Mommy smirking as she recorded my exact words on a post-it note, but, lady, my bravery is no laughing matter!
hanging with Dad. "Play with me now, Mr. Dad!" or "Dad, wanna play with me?" are phrases that I am constantly saying when he is home.
hanging with Aunt Mal.
just hanging the two of us, my little bro and me. We can play together or just play right next to each other, as long as we are near one another, I am happy.
keeping the little bro healthy. Doc McStuffins ain't got anything on me.
doing Elvis impersonations.
watching Ethan grow up so fast and learn all kinds of new tricks. He is getting really good at holding up his head, which is making tummy time a little more bearable for him...and for us. I am always willing to provide him with a little incentive. However, he hasn't quite gotten the hang of sitting up, and I don't always save him from the tip over.
Here is your Ethan update for the month of April:
Like I said, Ethan is becoming a pro at holding up his head. He is interested in anything and everything that you put in his hands, and, of course, each item must pass his taste test. His absolute favorite toy during the month of April was his colorful ball, probably because he can easily hold it, but since then, the ball 
has been eclipsed by his vibrating froggy and Tigger. None of these items can hold a candle to his thumb though, for it still reigns supreme. To say that he is definitely a thumb-sucker is an incredible understatement! He has his thumb in his mouth so much that Mom has a hard time tearing it away just to cut the nails on that hand. He has the sweetest little face and toes
and eyes and the most perfect baby profile, which Mommy never wants to forget. 
She is content to just hold him and stare at his little face and profile forever. He really is just a sweet baby in general. He rarely cries, and he just goes with 
the flow wherever we go, which is good because I like to go, go, go; although, he isn't the biggest fan of large crowds, which still overwhelm him a bit. His laugh is infectious; so far, he has laughed at Mommy saying, "Neigh and Roar!", as well as to "The Wheels on the Bus" song and to being lifted high in the air. He doesn't laugh often, but when he does, he definitely draws a crowd around our house. He is growing so fast and busting out of onesies left and right. By the time Mommy had 
brought down all of his 6-month clothes and gotten them washed, Ethan had already grown out of several items. By the end of May, he was in 9-month clothes, and he isn't even 5 months old yet! He is really long, but I was much chunkier. At 4 months old, Daddy finally convinced Mom to let Ethan sleep in his own room at night - Mom was fine with sticking ME in there at exactly 12 weeks but not him! Sheesh! She was a little more hesitant this time around, 
and apparently, Ethan wasn't ready to go either because two days after he made it into his own room, he got a really bad cold and back down he came. Dad is convinced that this is Ethan's master plan to get Daddy out of the bedroom instead of him. I'd let him sleep in my room forever 
if he wanted because he is my best friend. I adore my baby brother! I do ignore him sometimes, but most of the time, I am right in his face kissing him or talking to him or cooing at him or showing him one of our 
toys or letting him grab my hair so that I can scream for Mommy to "Help me!". There is never a dull moment with a baby brother. I tell him all the time that "I really, really love you, Ethan" because I really, really do. The only time I seem to get jealous is when someone comes over and only talks to him, but I just run right over and join in on the conversation. Mom tries to warn me that he will drive me crazy when he starts touching my toys and following me around, but he will only do it because I am so cool. I'm not worried though; like I told him, "Ethan, you can drive me crazy when you get older because I always love you". Mom wishes she could videotape us 24/7 to catch every sweet word, precious moment, and hug from me, as well as his every huge smile and coo towards me. These are the best moments in life. 
Rolling on into May:
If you think April was busy, you ain't seen nothin' yet! May really brings on the insanity; the more insane the month, the happier I am, and Ethan just goes along for the ride.
The month of May included several very important birthdays. Aunt Mallory turned 26, which makes her an old lady in my book. Happy Birthday, Aunt Mal; we love you!
Ms. Teri, one of my favorite ladies, had her 30th birthday, for which Mom and Dad got to experience a dueling piano bar to help Ms. Teri celebrate. Apparently, it was loads of fun! Happy Birthday, Ms. Teri!.jpg)
Daddy's birthday is at the beginning of May, and we made sure to keep the celebration going for as long as possible. Mommy posted celebration options, from which Dad chose the Cinco de Mayo Stache Dash 5k and Festival, on the kitchen cabinets, and we even posted a big birthday countdown. Grandma headed up on Friday night so that Mom could take Dad out to a really nice and incredibly delicious dinner at Little Alley on Canton Street. Then Grandma stayed for most of Saturday so that Dad and Mom could go run the 5k, hang out at the festival, and grab a quick
lunch. On 
Tuesday, Dad's actual birthday, we cooked him a special dinner, and I decorated his favorite mint chocolate chip cake from Baskin Robbins. I love mint chocolate chip ice cream cake, and Daddy does too! Two peas in a pod... Ethan wasn't quite as excited about the cake and dinner celebration though. All in all, Daddy turned 34 several times in one week, and I think he thoroughly enjoyed each and every moment. Happy Birthday to the best, most awesome, most fun, most loving Daddy in the whole world!
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We also celebrated Grandma's birthday at the end of May. We kept it small this year since just 
getting the Aunts, their families, and us together is no longer a small gathering. Grandma's best friend, Regina, came in to help her party like a rock star. The get-together was loads of fun added on to an already crazy Memorial Day weekend. I got to boss Harper around - "Harper, follow me; Harper, sit here; Harper, dance; Harper, come outside; Harper, try this; Harper, look at my brother". The last one doesn't need any prompting
though, for Harper is absolutely enthralled with Ethan, or Eaton as she calls him. She is always asking, "What's that?" about Ethan or "Where's the baby?" complete with very exagerrated hand gestures. She loves to bounce him in his seat and somewhat gently touch his 
head or throw a stuffed animal at him to make sure that he isn't missing out on the fun. Ethan just watches her like crazy. Harper is hilarious these days; she is into everything, just like I used to be! I think that they had to dry her shirt multiple times in just the few short hours we were at Grandma's because she kept dumping full bottles of water and bubbles all over herself. I just love my Harper True! I don't think she even knows how to frown, unless she is telling her Mommy, "No!" or being told no herself. We made Grandma's day too! What's a birthday without a few grandkids to wreck your house!? We love you, Grandma! Happy, Happy Birthday to my best pal!
Speaking of get-togethers, I think May is the pinnacle of get-together fun, for we were always getting together with someone or many someones during the month of May! Here is your quick get-together rundown:
Mommy, Ethan, and I kept Ms. Joanne, Parker, and Grayson company one Monday night when
the Daddies were out of town. We always have a blast, and I think it is even nice for the moms since Grayson, Parker, and I play so well together! There is 
rarely a need for parental intervention when it is the three of us. Grayson and I can even hang just the two of us; Parker loves to watch a movie as the night winds down, but after about 10 minutes, Grayson and I are literally bouncing off of the couches and off we run back to the playroom. I am not a girl who likes to sit 
quietly; I am more like one of the boys in that regard. Grayson plays along well though; he is even down for a little heels and tiara time; I mean, he does tend to hang with Parker and me most of the time, so he is bombarded with princesses and babies. Ethan always has a good time too since Ms. Joanne is totally his girlfriend. He lights up whenever he sees her, and he is always more than willing to snuggle in her arms. He just flirts with her and smiles at her. Ms. Joanne just can't get enough. The Loiseaus can even make days without Daddy super fun. 
I get to see Parker and Grayson all the time. We go to Catch Air together, where Ethan will party and look at all 
of the action until he literally passes out sitting up in Mom's arms. Sleeping pictures are always the cutest. We hang at the park together. We see each other at ballet. We go out to dinner together with the dads in tow; the best place to go on Friday nights is Cinco's because we get to play outside in the square with all of the other families after we eat and then hit up the gelato shop. Mom and Ms. Joanne prefer to do the baby smush though. Love us some Loiseaus!
We are still breaking in our new, outdoor table, and to do so, we had Ms. Alisha, Mr. DJ, and
Ms. Laura over with the kiddos one Friday night. I really love summer Friday nights! Madden, Tyler, Lyla, Ella, and I shared Lightening McQueen before Madden and I had an all-out water fight. It was awesome! We topped the night off with lollipops and a movie; pseudo-sleepovers have become one of my favorite pastimes. In the end, a lollipop stick in an empty champagne glass pretty much sums up Friday night fun for both the adults and kids these days.
Our Godfather, James, has also come by several times to try out the new outside digs. It doesn't take much to entice Mr. James, just his two adorable godchildren, one of whom absolutely adores him and one of whom, like Opie, is still warming up to him, and a home cooked meal.
Mr. Joe Guy has found Mrs. Right Girl, Jeanna, and we got to attend a Couples' Low Country Boil Shower at the Germanys' house in honor of the happy couple. I think Jeanna and her friends were a little overwhelmed 
with the number of kiddos in attendance; Mom and Dad are part of one procreating group, for sure! We had so much fun though, and I think that Joe, Jeanna, and their families did as well. I mean, how can you not have a great time when you receive a random orange suitcase from the Throwers!? I was beyond excited to see Mr. Justin, for I asked about him all day leading up to the shower. He and I made sure to rid the party of all spiders and 
spider webs, and I tried to invite him to be my date to Grandma's house the next day, but it seems he already had plans. Ms. Teri, always gotta be 
gettin' in my way! Hadley Bickers sported the newest in fashion, a bug net hat, and when the play camera came out, all the little girls lined up for a picture. Yep, we all definitely know how to pose for a camera. The other highlight for all 
of the girls was Ethan. He got so much attention; Mommy couldn't leave him anywhere that a little girl wasn't trying to rock him or hug him or stare at him; although, I think McKenzie just wanted his chair for her teddy bear. I have a strange feeling that Ethan is going 
to be very comfortable around the ladies when he gets older, for he is going to get plenty of practice in this group and the Cumming group, not to mention our girl-heavy family! While the adults reminisced on the old days and discussed how times have changed as family volumes have increased, Roe Thrower and I ran in and out of the house all night long and played perfectly on our own until the rents decided that the tiny babies could hang no longer. It was a lovely shower, Mrs. Teri and Mr. Justin; well done! Congrats, Mr. Joe and Mrs. Jeanne; Mommy and Daddy cannot wait for the big day in June!
Speaking of Roe Thrower, he has got the greatest backyard ever! Mommy has been all about some races lately, so she put out a feeler on Facebook for 5k's in the area, and she received a message from Mr. Monroe stating that his neighborhood was having a big 5k in May. Well, for 2 weeks, Mommy made plans with Ms. Lisa for race day and got herself all ready for another good run, but when she asked Daddy about registration just 2 days 
before the race, she found out that it was all a well-concocted scheme! Mr. Monroe was just trying to lure Mommy and Daddy over to hang out! After many texts, Mommy was promised a t-shirt and a beer for her attendance on race day, so we made it over to Marietta 
for the 1st annual I Love East Cobb Thrower Fake 5k, and it was an awesome race. Ms. Lisa took on all four of us kiddos, because she is crazy like that, while Mom, Dad, and Mr. Monroe ran a 5k, conveniently marked with the cones borrowed from Roe. It was a very difficult and hilly course that ended right at the Throwers' driveway. Ms. Lisa was the swag bag giveaway lady, and it was the best race swag bag of any race Mom and 
Dad have ever run. Afterwards, we all had a nice Saturday afternoon basking in the sun while enjoying the Throwers' awesome yard. PGo the Pug was kind enough to babysit Ethan in the shade for us. It'll be even better when Ethan and Malcolm can run around with us. Thanks for one heck of an event, Throwers! We'll be there next year with even more runners for your crazy 5k!
I am an event kind of girl, and the month of May included the charity event Tea to See for Prevent Blindness Georgia; Daddy sits on their board, so Mommy helped throw the Mother's Day Tea to See event. I was 
excited for a girls' day with Mom and Grandma, and I was also excited to go to a real tea party; however, the tea party was B-O-R-I-N-G! It was so boring, and the food was so grown-up and fancy that I resorted to eating the lettuce garnish and making letters on the table with the fruit skewers. I was by far the youngest one there, and I had to sit nicely for two hours, which I did so well that Mom and Grandma took me to Canton Street for a big cupcake afterwards. I did get to help with the silent raffle, but I didn't even win anything. Boo! Next year, I think that I should help throw the event and show these ladies how to throw a real tea party! 
Aside from the Mother's Day Tea to See event, we helped make Mommy's Mother's Day the best yet. The night before, Daddy got Mommy her favorite champagne and let Mommy pick a girly 
movie, The Vow, to watch. Then we let her sleep in the next morning before she headed out to lunch with Grandma, Aunt Mal, and Aunt Stephanie. Ms. Joanne met them all for mimosas after lunch followed by a Mother's Day massage. While she was gone, Daddy helped me make her a hot air balloon, which I presented to her, along with new running shoes. That evening, we made Mommy her favorite dinner, lobster spaghetti. Mommy said that it was the perfect day from the two most perfect kiddos and super amazing husband in the world. We do what we can.
Then I had Mommy as a guest in my class for Muffins for Mom. Ethan got to come too; even though, he wasn't really supposed to. I don't know what they expect us to do with him. I showed him off, like always, but I was also very protective; I would only let my best friend in class, Cole, touch him; I chased the rest of the kids off and told them that "he is my baby!" Mommy enjoyed her breakfast, but she enjoyed the bag with my footprints and the card I made for her even more. I am such a good daughter!
our final performance of the season in June. We even had a special picture day in our costumes. Before pictures, Parker and I decided that it was time for a little lobby freestyle. Then we were whisked away from the moms to a private room to smile our hearts out. Once back in the lobby, the photographer stuck her head out into the crowd and asked Mom, "Is that your little girl? She was by far one of my best subjects today; she immediately came in and said, 'My name is Olivia Lee Kendig, and you can take my picture. Cheese!'" Why is Mommy not surprised!? She created this monster. Before leaving, Parker and I made sure to christen our costumes in the water fountain; we shall see if this beautiful, itchy outfit makes it to June in one piece. As my teacher Ms. Hannah says, "The itchier the costume, the more beautiful it is." I'll go with it. I think I've got the routine down, and I am ready once more for the big stage!
and all good things must come to an end, and just like with ballet, during the month of May, I had to bid adieu to preschool for the year. Just look above at how tall and grown up I got from the first day of school to the last day of school. It was bittersweet, for I will really miss Ms. Cindy and Ms. Kila, but I am also 
excited to go to 'big girl school' with Parker in the fall; that is how they are selling it to me. Mom and Dad want to see how I thrive in a Montessori program. Like always, I put on quite the show during the preschool graduation performance, and like always, Mom had several people ask, "Is that your little girl?" Performance art is in my blood! Unlike the very first performance at Thanksgiving, my classmates were right there with me when it came to the singing and dancing this time. 
My best friend in the class, Cole, even gave me a run for my money during a 
couple of songs. Cole is a sweetheart, and he apparently talks about me even more than I talk about him. Going back to the aforementioned $25 masterpiece that Mom bought at the school art show, Cole's mommy also got to purchase a piece of his artwork for the low, low price of $25; however, she was a little taken aback when she saw that his artwork was very pink because "Olivia chose pink". You're welcome, Ms. Smith; I just knew you wanted to hang a pink masterpiece created 
by your son in your home. I'm a trendsetter. Anyways, back to graduation, Ethan wasn't as excited about my performance and decided to cry through most of it, but that is only because 
he wanted his big sister, for when I was dismissed to sit with the fam, he was immediately content. He even gave me a big kiss to prove it. Unfortunately, Mom had to hand of the camcorder and watch most of my performance from the back of the sanctuary. Ethan wasn't excited about my class party either! What is not to like 
about tents, face painting, a 
chocolate fountain, water guns, and treats!? Final progress reports were handed out, and I passed every skill with flying colors, except for cutting one-handed with scissors and hopping on one foot. I blame the scissors on Mom because she refuses to give me anything sharp. I didn't even know scissors really cut until a couple of months ago; I thought you just pretended to cut with them like I do with the pretend scissors in my doctor's kit. As far as the hopping on one foot, give me a break; coordination isn't my strong suit, and anyways, name one desirable career that requires you to jump up and down on one foot. Sheesh! I have practiced both skills nonstop since then, on my own accord, and I am pleased to announce that I have now 
mastered the fine arts of cutting and hopping. As a remembrance of the year, I was delighted to get my yearbook, and it kept me busy for hours; I think I've gone through the whole thing naming all of my friends, and myself, 
at least 100 times already. I also love the binder containing highlights from the year that Ms. Kila made for me and the binder of every piece of artwork I created during my first year, which Mom made. Cumming First United Methodist Church, I will miss you and all the fun that I had during my first year of school.
pool opened! 
I am so excited! I love the pool! I jumped right in, and by the second day, I was going down the waterslide all by myself with no one catching me at the bottom. Swim lessons start in June, and I really can't wait until I can swim without my floaties. Ethan seemed to enjoy the water as well. Like usual, he was very go with the flow, and he spent the entire time in the water without making a peep. He did realize after a bit that he could kick his legs and splash the water, just like he loves to do in the bathtub. The bath also prepared me for the pool, and after all my winter practice, I can stick my head totally under water and open my eyes when I swim. I can stay down for quite some time too! I swim just like a fishy!
Speaking of fishys, the quarantine on our fish tank has been lifted! Meet Dory, Kwazi, Hello Kitty, and Gobi, who is Mom's fish. The tank is looking good, and along with some new corals, we are now back up to 7 fish friends. Ethan is absolutely enthralled with the fish tank. Most nights, he stares at it intently the whole time we are eating dinner; the tank also comes in handy when he is a bit grumpy, for it can calm him down in an instant. I think Lemon is his favorite.
A few tidbits about me:I am becoming quite the master gardener, with Daddy's help. Our garden is coming along very nicely this year, and I must tell you, "Our strawberries are sooooo much [yummier] than the strawberries from the store!" Trust me, I know since I have picked and eaten all of them thus far.
I am following in Mom's footsteps, and my new passion is picture taking. Any time Mom
takes a picture, I immediately run, get my camera, and take the same picture for my "collection". I really love to take pictures of everything around the house, and I usually say that I am taking the pictures for Grandma. I spent days taking pictures to show her for her birthday, and I am actually pretty good at it; Mom has even started letting me take a few pictures here and there with her camera, like the ones below. Opie is right up there with Ethan, and my parents' thighs, as my most worthy subjects.
Ethan has been stealing some of my digital spotlight lately, so whenever Mom gets the camera out, I make sure to do something that will catch her attention.
I am quite the adept shopper, and I now get to walk next to Mom when we are in Publix and help her pick out all of our items and put them in the cart. It's pretty much the only way that summer shopping will work with a baby brother who refuses to hang in the Baby Bjorn. It doesn't always go without a hitch though because my abundance of energy typically spills over into the aisles. Olives, popcorn chicken, lots of fruit, and cereal bars are always on my list. I do, however, wish Publix would get with the program and offer little carts like Whole Foods.
I talk so much that there aren't even enough words in the English language for which to constitute my constant conversation, so I have taken to making up words all of the time. I'll have a complete conversation with my made-up words, whether someone is listening or not, and then laugh hysterically. I really crack myself up! I am S-A-S-S-Y too!Olivia quote of the month, and there are many things that come out of my mouth that make Mom and Dad laugh hysterically and/or stop and say, "What in the world?":
"Mom, my butt itches!" "Well then, scratch it." "No! I don't want my hand to stink!" "I didn't know it was that deep of an itch..."
Ethan is getting so big and so old that I can hardly believe that he was in Mom's tummy just 4 months ago. That's right, he is 4 months already, and it has just flown
by! The 4-
month home photo shoot was all Ethan since I was at school on his 4-month birthday, but it's just not the same without me, so I'll be making my way back into the 5-month photos. Can you believe how big he is!? Mom is bound and determined to get some cute basket and rocking chair pictures each month, but Ethan is always happiest when lying on his back, playing with a friendly face above. He is just so stinking cute and sweet!
Unfortunately, turning 4 months old called for 4-month doctor's visit with vaccines, which he handled much more eloquently this time, probably because I was there to soothe him. He again met every
milestone with ease, and his head control impressed Dr. Eaton greatly. He cooed and smiled at the doctor and the 
nurse, and they instantly fell for his charm. Our big boy came in at 14.2 lbs., 50%, and 25.5 inches long, 75%; he is tall and skinny. I stayed right next to him during the dreaded shots, and I think that he was happy that I was there since he didn't cry even half as bad this time. I plan on being there for his second round of 4-month shots too; we do, unfortunately, have a second round since Mom has decided to break his shots up, but he is super brave.As a 4-month-old, Ethan has changed so much and accomplished so much since he was that tiny,
little baby in the Moses basket. This month, he made it back into his room at night for good, and it didn't faze him in the least. He is actually an awesome sleeper who typically 
goes from 8 p.m. - 8:30 a.m. now, which puts Mommy in a much better mood these days. That being said, he isn't the greatest napper. At his age, I was insistent on taking 3 solid naps during the day; with Ethan, we get a cat nap in the morning and 1 good nap in the afternoon. He will do everything in his power to stay awake when we are out and about, but at home, as soon as the 
clock strikes 7:30, you can bet he will fall asleep wherever he sits or lies until Mom gives him that last bottle at 8. When he wakes in the morning, he is always super excited to see me, and I get the biggest smiles and all kinds of good morning noises. During the month of May, big boy Ethan also switched over to the bottle, which totally threw my world into a tizzy and caused me to have a plethora of questions, but he didn't mind at all. He is a really fussy eater in general though! 
I used to suck down my bottle in 10 minutes flat, but Ethan likes to eat on and off for the entire hour that the bottle is good, and he insists that it be piping hot at all times, 
which means he wants it warmed up at least once during that hour. He is a bit of a pain in that regard, and if he doesn't really want it, he will let you know...loudly! We tried to give him his first sip of juice, prune juice, this month, and he wasn't exactly thrilled. He kept taking tiny sips, and then his whole body would shake. It was pretty funny. He began rolling over at the beginning of May, which is apparently 
quite a 
milestone. On Dad's actual birthday, Ethan rolled from his front to his back, and then the next day, he rolled from his back to his front. By the following day, he had it down pat; he catches on quickly. I rolled over once and then waited over a month to do it again. The first time that he rolled from his back to his front, Mom began clapping for him, so I immediately dropped to the floor, began rolling around, and 
demanded that Mom look at me. I will not be overshadowed by all of this rolling over. I do understand the importance of positive reinforcement, so when Ethan first pressed the noise button on his 
exersaucer all by himself, I gave him a full-on "Yay for Ethan!" cheer with an accompanying dance routine. He is really starting to enjoy the exersaucer; he can now reach the ground in it and turn himself around so as to see 
all of the different toys. He is determined to eat the dragon with great exuberance. In fact, he is determined to eat pretty much anything that comes within arm's reach, including, but not 
limited to, his Tigger, any rattle, any burp cloth or blanket, his favorite frog, Mom's hand, any part of me, and his hands, which must taste especially yummy, for they are almost always in his mouth. Ethan has started sitting up with the help of his Bumbo chair or the Boppy pillow or my helpful hands, and he can stand with Mom's help; his legs are really, really strong, probably because he moves them constantly. We tried to get him to wear shoes for the first time, but with those crazy legs, he just couldn't keep them 
on. Along with sitting and standing, Ethan has gotten very 
proficient when it comes to tummy time, and he loves the laughing monkey toy, which was one of my first favorites as well. The 'Ooooh' face must be a mandatory look for all babies. Well, I think you are thoroughly caught up in the world of Ethan, and like I've said before, he is awesome! He just kind of goes with the flow most of the time, and as Dad says, if I would have been as easy as Ethan when I was a baby, I would have several more siblings by now. Probably good for the sake of my indulgences that I was a bit more difficult.
take my babysitting job very seriously most of the time - 
or helping him - there is no falling over on my patrol - or just hanging out with him. I am even content to lay and watch him sleep. There are times when I slip a little on the job and just want to lounge around, but I'm still there for him. The hair pulling is getting a bit out of control though. At times, I am even convinced that he is my child, for I told Mom the other day, "When I get older, Ethan is going to be my child." Why take the chance at having a bad one when I can just claim the good one we already got. 
