What a great weekend! Friday night I joined Victoria and Kara for dinner and a luscious dessert at The Cheesecake Factory. The three of us split the largest most decadent piece of chocolate cake I’ve ever seen. The slice filled an entire huge plate and then was topped with vanilla and coffee ice cream, whipped cream, nuts, a cherry and a side of hot fudge to drizzle over top. Mmmm Mmmm! …and it was SO big we almost didn’t finish it - seriously. Luckily, Victoria dragged Kara and I over the finish line and we cleaned the plate.

Then, Saturday morning Seth and I met up with Bill, Alecia and Maddie to hit another local Church consignment sale. This one was in Smyrna and it’s the one where Seth and I usually find the most cute stuff for Rae. We didn’t do too bad, but our past two visits (last fall and spring) have been more prosperous. We did, however, manage to snag two bouncy seats and some books for Raelyn’s school. I hope they’ll be pleased. So, after our shopping spree we hit IHOP for some breakfast and then Best Buy to ‘test out’ the newest Playstation and X-Box games. Alecia and I helped the babies play together (they held hands!!) while the guys tried out a new football game for Playstation II. After that (and this is THE best part) we walked over to Bruster’s!! The flavor selection left something to be desired (that’s been happening at our Bruster’s a lot lately) but we were somehow able to each choose something we could enjoy. Even Raelyn got her free baby vanilla ice cream cup and ate every last bite. Like mother, like daughter. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Saturday night Seth joined Dave and 13 other guys for a night of Texas Hold ‘Em poker. The buy in was $20 and the top five players took home some amount of cash. Seth… did not. He did have a great time though - beer, guys, poker, a straight flush on his first hand - what more could you ask for?

Today Seth and I did some much needed lawn care and actually got our yard looking pretty spiffy again. It hasn’t looked this nice since before I got pregnant. This afternoon I attended a baby shower for one of my neighbors. She’s having a little girl and is due on May 5 so we’re excited for Raelyn to have a new playmate.

So that’s our weekend update, now here’s the latest on Raelyn: new shoes, walking better. We got her some new shoes at Target yesterday and although I’d like to attribute her improved walking to them in actuality it’s really a result of practice, practice, practice. This week she has really turned a corner. Before she was taking 2-3 steps at a time and now her average is about 5 steps or so. It’s not uncommon for her to go much farther either. Tonight I counted 13 steps in one instance and at another time we actually witnessed her turn herself around while standing. It was quite hilarious - she walked a few steps and then planted one foot and sort of hopped around with the other foot as if turning on a pivot point. I wish I could’ve caught it on tape.

I guess that’s about it! In summary: chocolate cake with girlfriends + shopping and ice cream with good friends + poker with guys + lawn care with dog + baby shower with neighbors + watching Raelyn walk = one great weekend!