Your First Fourth

This past weekend, you celebrated your first Fourth of July. This has always been one of Mommy's favorite holidays, as it often coincided with visiting your great-grandmommy for her birthday, which was on July 2nd. It's a holiday that perfectly encompasses everything wonderful about summer: family, fun, food...there's usually a pool, and the fireworks are just the icing on the patriotic cake. Your first Fourth of July weekend was nothing short of star-spangled spectacular.

We kicked off the weekend with an early morning brunch in the Highlands. Mommy's best friend Auntie Emily (I know, it's confusing, there are three Auntie Emilys) was in town from Houston for a wedding. She used to live here because she went to law school at the same place Mommy went to PT school, so we were both feeling particularly nostalgic about this visit. Murphy's was one of her favorite restaurants back then and, luckily for us, they were offering a special Friday brunch because of the Peachtree. I was ridiculously excited to see her (it had been waaaay too long!) and she was even more excited to meet you!

It was so great to catch up with her. We ate some delicious breakfast food, and you got to eat some pears in your high chair! 

You were in such a good mood; it's like you knew we were with someone who is so important to me!

Afterwards, we went for a walk around the Highlands. You slept through most of it.

When we got home, we rested for a bit and then went up to the pool for the neighborhood cookout. You were still pretty wiped out from such a fun morning, so you slept through most of that, too! Later, you watched some soccer with Daddy while I took a nap. Then, we met up with some neighbors at Red Hare for a happy hour. We followed them back to the pool, long after most folks had gone home after the cookout. There were just a few grown-ups left, and only a couple of kids. But there were sparklers!

You were mesmerized. Mesmerized. Our little post-party party got even better when the big kids started dancing with you. You couldn't help but join in! You were kicking your feet and flapping your arms and it was seriously the most adorable thing ever.

We went home (way past your bedtime), and got ready for another day of fun. The next day, we just ran a bunch of errands. I know that doesn't sound too exciting, but for some reason, we had a blast. Maybe because it was your first time sitting in the shopping cart like a big girl!

Later, we played outside in the yard...

...and you got to play with Chelsea.

Your daddy's best friend Chris was in town for work, so we had him over for dinner. He was so excited to meet you! You really liked him. We think because he looked like a bigger version of daddy.

You've now met most of our best friends and family members, which is saying something considering how spread out we all are! We finished up the weekend with a relaxing day Sunday followed by dinner with Daideo. It was such a fun weekend, and it was so great to see a special holiday through your eyes. We were pretty out of it during Christmas, and you were still pretty little around Easter. But now that you're older, holidays are going to be filled with so much more magic and excitement!