The Julianna Chronicles: March 2010

Julianna, Mimi, and I went to the incredibly lovely Botanical Gardens for their Easter festivities. They had Peter Rabbit, horse-pulled wagon rides, crafts, etc. The gardens are already VERY beautiful for being March, and the weather was amazing. It started off a bit cool, but by the afternoon Julianna had shucked her sweater and was running around bare-armed. We just had the GREATEST day! I, of course, took millions of pictures.

We had to wait in line twice to visit with Peter Rabbit because Jules chickened out of sitting on his lap the first time. I was sure she would back out again the second time around, but she surprised me! She was beyond darling!

Playing hopscotch. We kept coming back to this game over and over again. She loved it!

Our first pass at Peter Rabbit.

This is as close as she would get the first time around.

Second time around. On his lap, but looking pretty nervous...

There's a smile!

Smelling the hyacinth. Mmmmm!

Reading the historical facts about the garden. Hee!

Proof that I exist! Sometimes I wonder if Julianna will one day look back through all the thousands of pictures I have taken and wonder if I was even present or if she just had some photographer following her around. I'm sure a lot of moms feel like that.

Getting ready to go on the wagon ride. Julianna LOVED this! Can you tell she's excited?

More hopscotch!

This fountain starts and stops without warning, and if you get caught walking through at either time, you WILL get wet! Well, of course, the kids LOVE it! Mimi and Julianna taking their chances! It really was a little cold for getting soaked today. Luckily, they didn't get too wet.

So cute.

Getting brave and running through on her own.

Had a great week! My kid is just getting cuter, funnier, sweeter every day! From my experience, that is not something easily said about a 3 year old. She is just so much fun to be around. She makes friends everywhere we go. Just yesterday, I was introducing myself to a lady in J's little library group. When I introduced Julianna, she said, "Oh, I know Julianna. When you guys walk in all the kids start saying 'Julianna's here! Julianna's here!'" It is true, but really nice to hear! Does this mama's heart good.

The weather was AMAZING for most of the week and we spent tons of time outside. We got to spend time with Weezie and baby John on the most glorious of days. We went to the playground and then to the lake to feed the ducks and turtles! Julianna had the greatest time. We also had our usual playdate. The girls actually stripped down completely naked and tried to go into the frigid pool. They barely got more than a toe in! Mostly they just threw a bunch of toys in the pool that we then had to fish out. They had an absolute blast though! And on top of all that, we went to the library and Mimi and Poppy's each twice.

I have a couple stories and a ton of pics.

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While Julianna was at Ryan's on Sunday, I put several new pictures in frames and hung them. When Julianna got home I showed them to her. She just beamed and said, "Mama, I'm so proud!" It was precious.

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Today in the car Julianna was being super cute and sweet.

Me: Julianna, I just love you SOOOO much!
Julianna: Mama, I just love Mimi SOOOO much!

That little rascal! She really emphasized Mimi too! What a teaser!

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I was talking to Julianna about when I was pregnant with her and she was "inside my tummy". After a bit she asked "How did I get into your tummy?". I hemmed and hawed and said something about how she started out really tiny like a piece of rice and grew and grew until she was ready to come out. To which she replied. "Ok, but how did I get into your tummy?" I was completely unprepared to give a birds and bees talk to a 3 year old and promptly changed the subject. I may or may not have even offered her chocolate. Eek!

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Julianna and Baby John. I love this pic. Could John be any cuter?

I can't believe that Louise and I are taking our kids to the playground together! How much our lives have changed in the over 10 years that we have been friends!

The little friend Jules made at the playground. Really it was love at first site for these two! They were just moony over each other. Here he is holding up a little "flower" (weed) for Julianna to smell.

Too cute! Later, when Julianna had mulch in her shoe, this 4 year old little boy sat her down, took off her shoe, and dusted off her foot! What a sweetie.