Friday Flashback

How can it be? Our babies are growing up. It hit me hard a few weeks ago....and of all places, in the children's department at Dillards!

My mom pointed out that we could no longer shop for Hannah Reece in the baby department. Stop right there. Tears gathered at the corners of my eyes. I know...pitiful, but it's true! Now missy sis wears a 3T which happens to be found in the "big girl" department, home to Hannah Montana t-shirts and psychadelic-colored mini-skirts...much to my my darling daughter's delight (and to her momma's dismay!)

She's developed quite the strong opinion about fashion, and wholeheartedly prefers to pick out her own clothes. Dress shopping with Nana was no exception! Most of her choices included dresses that were pink, sparkly, striped with loud colors, endowed with ruffles, or...did I mention PINK?

Gone are the days of Wal-Mart style shopping-where I strip her down in the aisle to do a quick try-on. Not for this little fashionista. Hannah Reece insisted on trying her dresses on in the "bathroom" (dressing room). First was the spin test, and of course she had to spin in front of EVERY bless-ed mirror in that dressing room. Because you never know, some mirrors lie, right!? Next, was the bounce test, which included vigorous jumping to test the buoyancy of the ruffles. Then, she'd turn around, close the door to the dressing room and move on to the next. Letting us know that she needed some "pwivacy."

Thankfully we all agreed and settled on the one with the rainbow butterflies. She said it "matched" her butterfly sandals and was as happy as a clam. The next day, after breakfast, she turned around, looked at my mom and said "Nana, let's go to the store and try on dresses today!"

Graham is growing like a weed. At age 5 1/2 he's almost in the big boy sizes for shoes. One of his favorite pasttimes is reenacting scenes from Star Wars with his lego collection. He recently informed me that for his birthday (which is still 7 months away, mind you!) he'd like to have a Star Wars party. Graham also has become quite the wordsmith....he enjoys using big words expressively-and most of the time, appropriately-even if they are laden with 5-year-old attitude! He seems thrilled to be back in Florida right now. He really misses his buddies and his cousins while we're away. Playing and going to VBS with them this week has been good medicine for his sweet little heart.

Speaking of sweet hearts...I came across this photo in my dad's computer on this day last year....my how they've grown!