NQC - updated with pictures

We're at the National Quartet Convention (aka Mecca to all Southern Gospel Fans) this week. Wikipedia has a little interesting background info, if you're interested, that is. I rarely get to travel with Davey, especially for big stuff like this, so despite the long days and crazy schedules, it's been pretty fun. They performed 3 times, and the picture above is of them on the big stage. Lailey has been a trooper and has endured staying in her stroller for long periods of time, even to nap.

We have taken turns chasing her around the ginormous exhibition hall just so she can stretch her legs and have a little fun. The other day, while I was taking my turn following her around, she spotted a dog. While I could only see his legs through the crowd of people, I instinctively knew he was a working dog and therefore not to be petted. This makes no sense in the world of a toddler, and within moments she was excitedly proclaiming "Doggie! Doggie! Daaaaaaaaaaawgie!" and beelining straight for him. I grabbed her in time, crouched down, and quietly explained that he was a working dog and we couldn't pet him. I knew in my mind this effort to explain would be futile, and her protesting confirmed that. The dog's owner was in fact visually impaired, but she clearly heard Lailey's cries for the the "DAAAAAAWGIE!!!" She sweetly said, "He's my eyes." And I continued to try to explain to my struggling toddler, in Lailey terms, that we couldn't touch the doggie. Poor kid, I literally had to restrain her and head the other way as the dog led it's owner away into the crowd. After a minute or so when I knew the dog was far enough away, I put her down again. Instantly, she started saying, "Le Doggie?? Le Doggie??" with her hands palms up, which means "Where'd the doggie go?" She walked all over the convention hall calling for him, but he was gone. Thankfully, her short memory won out and she moved on to exploring other things.

Family waiting backstage before performing

So what do we actually DO all week at the NQC? Except for the times when The Akins perform, it's basically a lot of hobnobbing. (Talking with the record company president, Chris White)

We hang out in the exhibition hall at our booth ...

...and talk with fans, other artists, and sometimes make important connections. Okay, I just hang out, not meet and greet so much. And entertain Lailey, which is a pretty important job.

So far, we've heard Davey play two times, once on the big stage and once on a smaller stage. Saturday they will play a third and final time on the main stage again.

Today I got to hear Sarah Palin speak, which was awesome! [never got these pictures] She actually shared her story of coming to know Christ personally, as well as her experience as a mom with a child of special needs and what a blessing he is. Julie and I ALMOST got close enough to meet her, but she had to get whisked away for security reasons I'm sure. At least we got pictures. (well, Julie did!)

Here's Lailey relaxing on my giant hotel bed

My sweet Lailey is now sleeping soundly in her pack 'n' play, and I'm about to crash too. Sometime after we get back I'll put up the pictures. Good night!

Food and Water

Pretty basic for our existence, right? It seems that our days revolve around these two things lately. I didn't realize this until my recent upload of pictures and found that almost every picture was of food or water, and Lailey of course. They are two of Lailey's "loves." Most afternoons we head outside to play with the dog and she beelines to the faucet on the side of the house, proclaiming "wa-too! wa-too!" I turn on the faucet to a slow drip and she plays in it, "splashes" mommy (puts water on my face while I fake giggle), drinks it, and gets herself nice and wet. This is cheap entertainment at it's best, let me tell you. Unfortunately, the $5 pink pool popped earlier in the summer, and according to Davey we don't have a sprinkler anymore. So, this is how we cool off. And I don't care if she or I get really wet because it's just too hot. Later on, I also enjoy the look of horror on Davey's face when he picks her up, not realizing she's been playing in the water, and says, "Ah! She's soaked!" thinking he now has pee all over him.

Then there's the bathtub. I keep bath toys pretty simple because water sitting in damp toys freaks me out, so she plays with rubber duckies (W/O holes) and nesting cups with cool designs cut out in the bottom. The holey cups are nice too because she can't drink and choke on the water, which she is very talented at doing.
Cutting new molars can be rather unfun, but there are benefits. Like new foods. Lailey first learned to say "apple" from the Apple logo on Davey's Macbook. Now she identifies any round, reddish fruit or vegetable as an apple. She loves to eat them too. She was delighted that I just gave her one the other day. I had to cut a chunk out to get her started, but that was all she needed.

If I can't see you, you can't see me!

That's a serious corn-eatin' face

If our child is not a dare devil, I will be shocked. Between Granddaddy, Uncle Nick, and Davey, Lailey gets some serious air-time. She squeals at being involved in crazy aerodynamic stunts, as well as going down HUGE inflatable slides, so she's pretty brave. Here is the latest stunt from her and Daddy.

I included this picture just because I love the piggy-tails!

Reading Girls

This video was taken a couple of weeks ago. I, apparently, was asleep in the other room on the couch and my aunt was entertaining the 3 girl cousins by giving them magazines. Well, this is what took place! Thanks, Christy, for posting this. I LOVE it. Abi is 4, Sadie is 2, and Lailey is 16 months.

Cousins

A few weeks ago my cousin, Jen and her daughter Abigayle came to GA to visit. They came to meet the newest addition to our family, Titus James, who was born on July 20th to my other cousin Christy and her husband, Jason. But we also got to enjoy their visit and spent almost the entire weekend hanging out by the pool at my aunt and uncle's house. Lailey -16 mos., Abi -4 yrs, and Sadie-2 yrs.(Titus' big sister) had a BLAST playing together. We had so much fun watching them interact and enjoy each other. I feel like Lailey just "grew up" over the weekend with her second cousins. Here are the girls sharing a bag of goldfish. ("Feesh" in Lailey language.)
Just a month before Lailey hugely protested getting in a pool float. Now she loves it! What a difference a month makes at this age.

I never could get Lailey and Sadie to both look at me, but they're cute even from behind.

We miss Abigayle and her older brothers Noah and Ethan. We hope you guys all get to come back to GA sometime soon. Love ya!

Cup cup cup cup of of of of....

How to fit all the cups in the cabinet, Davey-style.

Garage Door Mishaps

Yesterday dear husband tells me the garage door only goes up or down a little bit then stops and says it might be the outdoor keypad battery (This doesn't make sense, but I think to myself, "well, I'm not the technical one, so it probably makes sense in electronic world." But I digress...). Today he replaces the battery in said keypad and it does the same thing. This afternoon, I am standing in the kitchen cooking and he shows me the problem. I then ask him, "did you ever check to see if something was in the way of the laser?" Upon hearing this, he ventures into the garage, moves a boogie board, hits the button, and comes back in with a sheepish smile on his face while the garage door closes perfectly. I may not be the technical spouse, but I am DEFINITELY the logical one. :) Love ya honey!

I Love YOU!!!!

Lailey has been much more affectionate lately than she ever has. It's so delightful when she just walks up to me and hugs me or gives me a kiss. She's never been a big snuggler or hugger, so this is just the best thing ever. She has learned to say a new phrase, which you will hear in the video. It warms my heart every time I hear it, and I will never get tired of it, which is good, since she has been saying it ALL day lately.

The hand on the forehead at the end is her adorable attempt at a salute. Apparently it's the same way her Uncle Eli used to do this as well.