It's Friday!

It's Friday, so here's five things I'm currently loving...

5. This vest from Old Navy for Shelby.
A vest is just perfect for Shelby for two reasons. First of all, it just doesn't get all that cold here on the Gulf Coast. And secondly, getting a coat on and off a squirmy little girl is no easy feat. But a vest? Soo much easier to work with. And, it's super-cute to boot! {Sorry these two pics aren't the best quality--they are from phone.}


4. Book Exchange!
Shelby & I are participating in a book exchange with some friends. I've noticed a lot of people in the blogosphere are getting in on the fun, too! It's kind of like chain mail from back in the day, but Derek thinks it's more like an educational pyramid scheme..ha! It's kind of hard to explain, but we mail a book to just one person...and then Shelby will get lots of books in return. It's a fun & easy way to spread the love of reading to other kiddos. And I l-o-v-e children's books, so this has been super fun for both of us!

3. Mochacino by Essie
2. Excel by Five
Is your community an Excel by Five community? From what I understand, Excel by Five is basically a government funded initiative that targets preschool age children (children from birth to five years of age) to give them a head-start so to be speak so that they won't already be behind before they even start school. But let me just tell you, it is an amazing resource for us! The Biloxi Excel by Five is located just a couple of minutes off base, and it is attached to an elementary school. They have basically converted about six classrooms into Excel by Five rooms. There is a birth-two year old & three-five year old room filled with developmentally appropriate toys/activities, a block room, an art room, etc. They also have a "lending library" where you can check out learning resources for your child, instruments/toys for your child, games, books, big books, and the list goes on! It is just such an awesome place for Shelby, and it's free! I love it! We usually go there once a week for a couple of hours...we both have a lot of fun when we go! Here are a few pics I snapped of Shelby with my mom at Excel by Five when she was here visiting last month...

And here's another pic of Shelby that my friend Jenny snapped while we were at Excel by Five one day..I love her sweet smile and head tilt combo in this one! :)

1. Having Derek back home!
Derek got home on Wednesday night from his month in Jackson, and we are thrilled to have him home and are settling back into life just the three of us. I have to admit that thanks to my mom, this month really flew by for us! Our time with her and then our mini-trip up to Jackson really broke up the month. But regardless, we are so thankful for the three of us to all be at home again.

{these two pics were actually taken during the middle of the month when Derek was able to come home for the weekend..it was the first time these two had laid eyes on one another for 19 days!}