Bella And The Beach!

I was so thankful for my family this Thanksgiving. We had the wonderful opportunity to go to Navarre Beach, Florida and spend a week at a GORGEOUS beach home that belonged to a family friend. It was Bella's first trip to the beach and the first trip to the beach in a long time for Tramell and I. We had a BLAST with my mom, my brother, my sister in law and all of her cousins. Wonderful food that Joseph cooked (omg he should be a chef.), wonderful times on the beach with everyone, and quality time with my daughter and my fiance. I couldn't have been more thankful for the people in my life and the year that had passed before me.

Bella dipped her feet in the water but wasn't too happy about it, being as the water was cold. She loved the sound of the ocean, and slept like a champ the entire time we were there. Oh, only if I could get her to take two good naps a day back in Atlanta ! She has honed her talking skills and doesn't stop now. We absolutely love it. We had full days at the beach, waking up at about 6:45 every morning and relaxing. If the world was so easy that we could own a gorgeous beach home, cook for our family members, and just be beach bums. Oh, the life of Floridians. :) Tramell and I hope to be a Floridian family one day. I feel that I grew closer to everyone that went on this vacation. I gained a new appreciation for my family, for my daughter's bright smile, and for my wonderful fiance. Things get hard with all three of the listed at times, but everything that you go through with them is worth every second at the end of the day.

We are Bella and The City but for one week we were Bella and The Beach!

Goodbye Beach! We hope to see you soon!

Bella and her Birthday.

Happy Birthday, Bella!

Today you are 3 months old. It feels like time has flown by! You are SO fun and have brought so much joy to mine and your father's lives. You truly are my biggest and best blessing. Although right now you are crying yourself to sleep in your crib (you are currently on a napping strike, as Marni calls it.) you laugh, smile and coo all day long. You are SUCH a happy baby. Lately you have been talking in full conversation to myself, your Daddy and your Queenie. No one else gets much conversation :). You are learning to sit up on your own and doing such a great job! You're also doing a great job with baby cereal (I'm SO proud of you for that.) Hopefully more solid foods in the near future ! Well, we're off for our first beach visit together in the next few days and we will make tons of memories together there !

I love you and Happy Birthday,

Your Mommy

Bella's Words.

Bella has finally realized that she can make noises other than screaming and crying. She now communicates very openly and clearly. She has also begun communicating with her toys.

Pay attention to the "word" that comes out around the 50 second mark ! She uses her tongue to say a "word" ! So smart.

Loss

My Aunt Lynn passed away this morning. She had a brain tumor, and had to have a biopsy taken on it, and passed in recovery from the surgery. It's difficult for me because as different as we were, my aunt and I shared so many of the same passions. She was so involved in the rescue of animals and keeping the enviroment healthy. Her heart was always in the right place, though her actions may have been a bit off. She told my mom two days before she died that she loved all of us (my siblings and I) and my mom said "Lynn, they love you too." And she said "But why? I'm the crazy aunt." My mom replied, "That's exactly why they love you." She never judged anyone, and was always behind you whenever you needed her.

Though she made my younger brother Sam and I go stand around trees and protest when we were seven (remember that Sam?), I always had fun with her. There is never a dull moment when a Lay is involved, but especially my aunt Lynn. I hurt for her children. Some didn't spend the time with her in her last months as they should have.

She always made sure she was there if you needed her. She couldn't make it to my baby shower, but she made it a point to come to my home with an antique rocker she had refinished for me and when Bella was born, she came to the hospital with a GORGEOUS Feltman Brothers dress for her.

She loved all of us, unconditionally. And she will so greatly be missed.

I love you Aunt Lynn.

Bella's Fairy Wings.