Why Are You So FAST?!

We went for a walk today. There's an elementary/pre-school down the street and Raya LOVES to go watch all the kids playing. It's a good activity for her because we end up taking a pretty long walk and there's lots to look at so she's ready for some down time by the time we get home. Today was the first day she introduced me to her newest game: "Run as fast as I can AWAY from Mom" It's a super fun game when its hot and your pregnant. Oh and even more fun when you realize your Almost 15 month old is FAST. What the heck? Like I actually have to RUN after her. OMG! So today's walk turned into sprint training for me, which, did I mention is really fun when its hot and your pregnant. Then, when I get home and upload the pictures from our walk I forget everything :) This kid is lucky she's so cute!

Starting our walk....looking so sweet and innocent

She waves at every plane

Momma look, big kids!

SWEETEST little girl

I'm fast AND I can hide in small places. 

Out with the Girls

We had a Girls Afternoon...Me, Raya and Nana. Went to lunch and then did a little shopping. Oh and a mini modeling session. 

Too Cool

Zoolander Pose

Turning at the end of the runway

Raya Recently

Raya has a Grill! :) She didn't ever really use a pacifier, but this one was a gift from my friend Megan, and Raya found it in her drawer...so she played with it all afternoon. These are too funny!

It's been HOT here! And by hot I mean about 85 with no humidity. I know right? I've become such a baby since I've moved to the beach. This week was the first week we turned the A/C on since last summer. Soooo, we've spent a lot of time in the backyard either in a baby pool or playing with the hose water. Raya doesn't mind the heat at all (as you can see above.) Well except at night. If that kid is hot she's not going to sleep. I don't blame her. It's suppose to be a little cooler this week, so we'll see what we can get into!

Daddy Went Shopping

A couple of weeks ago I asked Gentry to stop by TJ Maxx and get Raya an outfit for the Sparks game. No, I don't get her an outfit for every outing, but their team colors were purple and yellow and she had nothing in either color. Anyways....he comes home with 4 outfits for her, none of which are purple or yellow, but all of which are ADORABLE. He's never gone shopping for Raya, ya know, just him, no one to consult with (and by no one I mean me ;) I was so impressed! This little Puma dress is one of the things he brought home. Its SO CUTE!

I couldn't get a really good picture of it, but if you watch the video you can see it from all angles :)

This her getting soooo excited about being at the park.

Raya Recently

So a couple of mornings ago Raya was playing in the living room and I was cleaning up in the kitchen. I could hear her pushing toys around and knew she was watching cartoons so I had a good 10 minutes to clean up the kitchen. About 2 minutes later it got very quiet, which just about always means she's doing something she shouldn't. I looked in the living room and didn't see her. I walked into the living room and still didn't see her. All the doors are shut, so she couldn't go anywhere...where is she?! A slight panic came over me, I started calling her name, nothing. I walked to the front door and turned around and guess who I found tucked into her toys.

Raya Recently

Had a relaxing, simple weekend. Not much to report...just come cute pictures of a cute baby :)

LOVE this one :)

                                                               outfit from Aunt Jenn

                            When you have a kid...this is what you do on Saturday nights.

                                                             Sunday Stroll

By Land or By Sea

Took Raya to the park yesterday. She was quite excited to be there. Sometimes taking her to the park is easier than letting her wander the backyard because, no matter what I do or say, she LOVES putting all the rocks in her mouth. Seriously, I've tried everything. And of course now its a game because she knows as soon as she pops a rock in her mouth I'm coming after her. She loves being chased, so there's the game. Wonderful.

She has a mouth full of teeth!!! 14 teeth at 14 months

I think she looks like a little girl here. Not so much like a baby anymore. Sweet picture :)

The parks by me are on the beach and so far if she's at the park she's not really interested in the beach part. But this park trip quickly turned into a beach trip. Of course I didn't bring a bathing suit...or a towel...or a change of clothes because I didn't plan on having a wet baby, but we made due.

Red, White and...Oh...its only Tuesday

Raya has a couple Red, White and Blue outfits, so its going to be a week of patrioticness. Thank god for the 12 hours of sleep she got because she was in a great mood. However, when we made a trip to Forever 21 she refused to go in her stroller. Since I was literally running in to do an even exchange I decided just to carry her. By the time I got to the section my dress was in, the beating music got to Raya and she was doing everything in her power to get down. Because the master plan was to hold her while I ran in, and because I never thought of Plan B, Raya had no shoes on. I let her down anyways. Classy. She let out a little squeal of excitement when she realized she was free. It was the first time she'd every ran around a clothing rack and realized she could "sneak" up on me from the other side. Very entertaining for both of us. Since the dress I was looking for was no where to be found I joined in on the mini game of hide and sneak (yes i said sneak) And yes I was totally that annoying person playing with their kid while you tried to shop. I'm sorry. But I promise it was literally for 60 seconds. By the time she rounded the 2nd clothes rack she found a big pillar mirror. She's not in front of a big mirror like that very often, so being able to see herself talk and move was amazing. Watching herself dance was even better. Raya's dancing, like her all out dancing, she does these fast little squats like she's bouncing and she puts her arms in the air...almost like she's raising the roof. Basically she was dropping it like it was hot in front of this mirror. She drew a bit of a crowd.  I was so sad I didn't have a video camera. And at no time did it cross my mind to stop her. Lol. I'm sure some of the people watching were thinking "What kind of dancing does her mom teach her?" The only part of that dance I taught her was the arm part, I swear. It's like when she feels the beat her body can't be stopped. Ahhhh, good times. I've had some fun in 21, and this will definitely make Top 5.
Here's some pics of Patriotic Outfit #1. It's from her Texarkana Grandmaw. Doesn't she look like a little Southern Belle?

She can really smell flowers now. So funny. She sniffs so hard!

When Gentry comes home, you can usually hear him coming from a couple blocks away. Raya has learned that usually the sound of muffled music from a distance means Daddy is not far away. She also knows that if she's outside when he comes down the street he'll stop and pick her up and drive her to the house. This first picture is her hearing him coming. She's pointing down the street.

Sure enough, Daddy stops and picks her up. And buckles her up, of course. No 14 month old of mine is riding in the front seat without a seat belt ;)

And then they pull up...

                                                                  Pure excitement!

Long Beach Pride Weekend

My favorite thing about this weekend was the photo shoot we were so lucky to be a part of. Adam Bouska, the very talented photographer, and the NOH8 Campaign had an open shoot from 3-5 the day before the parade. I so randomly heard about it, and figured it would be packed with people, so I thought it was a slim chance we'd get to do it. I decided to show up about 2:15 and with Gentry and Raya in tow we got in line. Well, I got in line and Gentry let Raya walk around the hotel. The line went surprisingly fast. Meeting Adam was great. He is so very sweet and took time to talk with each "model." I had already brainstormed what I wanted Raya and I to do. I got a little worried he didn't get a good shot cause Raya was super interested in everything but the camera, but 4 weeks later we got the final product and I WAS SO HAPPY!!!

Here are some of my favorite celebrity shots

Jane Lynch from GLEE!!!

Kardashian Sisters

Jay Manuel

Russell Simmons

You can visit the NOH8 campaign at http://www.noh8campaign.com/

The next day Raya, my Mom and I went to the parade. It was great! Everyone that passed Raya gave her beads or blew her kisses. It was so very sweet! AND a couple of the Ladies from the show RuPaul's Drag Races were in the parade. At the last minute I decided I wanted to get a picture with Raya and the girls. We literally chased their car about 2 blocks (because I didn't decide until After they passed us that I wanted a picture) We caught up with them and I handed Ongina the baby. They were all very sweet! And I just happen to hand Raya over as they started a radio interview, so Raya just hung out with them until they were ready to move on.

Raya Recently

Sweet summer dress from Aunt Jennifer

We went to the first ever outdoor WNBA game. It was a good night! And Raya had fun dancing and waving.

PigTails! or PonyPuffs :)

She was totally bald until about 7 months, then had straight hair until about 9 months. Now every couple days I look at her and she has more and more curly hair. Right now its a little blonde puff and very exciting. Although I do actually have to do her hair now before we leave the house which is slowly becoming a bit of a process. With all the mixed and black folks in my life I have no excuse to not know how to do it :) But I couldn't hardly contain my excitement when I realized she has enough for pigtails!