Nerd Alert!

One of our favorite places to go in Durham is the Museum of Life and Science. It has a fun kid's play area and a ton of activities (mostly for older kids). There is still plenty of stuff for Mia to do though. Outside it has animals and an awesome dinosaur exhibit. Mia loves playing in the play kitchen and we both love the butterfly conservatory. It's nice to have a place she can run around and have fun that I don't have to clean up afterwards!!

Mia is channeling her Grandma DeeDee for the perfect quilt pattern at the quilting exhibit.

I think I've posted this before but I can't help showing it again. She loves tunnels!

Mia and her new friend Becka. I could squeeze those cheeks forever!

Mia showing her stair skills

Making her dad proud with this weird animal and the giant toothbrush.

Carolina Girl

We are loving North Carolina. My family in Spartanburg, SC is only 3 hours away and Dave's sister and her family live down the street! We are so lucky to finally live near family. Mia LOVES having her cousins, Ben and Annika, nearby and her favorite person, Aunt Pam. Yes, Mia has quite a few aunts but I hate to say she just can't get enough of Pam. Don't get offended please, she chooses her over me even.

Mia can't get enough of this tunnel I bought her at IKEA.

First haircut and it is too cute! Of course she wants Aunt Pam.

She was pretty good for her first haircut. Annika is helping out!

We love our neighborhood! This is us at a neighborhood party. I hope Pam doesn't mind this picture. I think it is too cute. Except for me. I have to learn how to crop or something.

My brown eyed girl!

Booty Pickin Fun!!

Don't be offended people, Mia calls blueberries booties. It's hilarious and I need to download some video of her saying it because she rolls the "b" and it is the funniest thing you've ever heard. We have a blueberry patch very close to our house and we had a fun morning of picking deliciously ripe berries. Mia ate some berries off the bushes but mostly ate dirt. She was very patient with me as I picked and picked and picked. I wanted to get enough to freeze and considering she HATES grass she found ways to entertain herself. We froze some but still ate them all quickly anyway. She would eat them all day if I let her. I learned the hard way that too many blueberries in a toddler is not a good thing!

Graduation

Yes, Dave graduated in May but I am just now posting pictures. Pathetic. We had so much fun with family in town for Dave's big day. We started the day with an awards ceremony where Dave was recognized as class treasurer and tied with 2 others for highest board scores on Part II written. Then we headed home for a big bbq bash/birthday party for Dave. We played a game (I stole the idea from my friend Kimmy!!) with trivia questions about Dave and then headed off to graduation. We ended the day at Lynn's Paradise Cafe and ate until we popped. Thanks to all our family for coming out and celebrating with us. Also thanks to all our Louisville family (that's what friends become in dental school!) for going through the last 4 years with us. We miss you every single day.

Amazing quilt my mom made for Dave!

Yep he's gonna kill me!

Some of our Louisville Family!!

U of L dental nerds for life baby!!

Dave, Mia, his parents, and two of his sisters.

Dave and the Chapman clan!

And We're Back!

I have a million things to post about and hang on to your boots there are a lot of pictures to come. Here are a few to tide you over until I get this blog back under control!!

Boring Update!

So no pictures in this post. Boring I know. Just wanted to update that we are in our rental in NC and love it. We went swimming last night at the neighborhood pool and had a blast. Mia is walking and talking like you wouldn't believe. She says so many words. The only word she says that doesn't make any sense is she calls trees, plants, and flowers bows. Not sure what that is about. When she does something she knows she shouldn't she says NO! Some of her newer words are bite, Annka (her cousin Annika), cacker (cracker), and two. She still beats on Roxy but is getting better. She is still skinny and sassy. Getting settled has been rough but we are almost there! Pictures will follow soon.

Party Girl!

Mia had her first birthday party Saturday and had a blast!  Dave and Mia's birthdays are so close we had a party for them both.  I have to admit I had a great time getting ready for the party.  I made her a tutu (thanks for the idea Lacey), a banner (thanks for the help Michelle H.), and a cupcake birthday cake.  I had more fun than she did, I'm sure.  We had kids everywhere and ate until we popped!  Who doesn't love chicken nuggets, smiley potatoes (if you don't know about these ask me, they are delish!), a ton of candy, and birthday cake?!?!  We ended the night by watching the Kentucky Derby together.  We are so blessed to have such amazing friends here.  Thanks to everyone who came and made her day so special.  Even though Mia had no clue what was going on she can look back at these pictures and know how much we LOVED her first year of life!

They grow up so fast!!