cantrell happenings

2009-05-07T04:11:00.000-07:00

bunko girls!!
mom and steph notice Caldwell's monogram on the screen!

My cleveland Bunko group

My lil sis and I

My bunko baby shower hostesses!!!

2009-05-07T04:04:00.000-07:00

Bunko baby shower.....one of Jonathan's lil outfits...can you believe he could fit that! So sweet!

Every southern boy must have smocked clothes.....

Some of my bunko girls!

So cute!

Siskin Fashion event!

2009-05-07T03:54:00.000-07:00

One of my best fiends Michelle Ledford and I at the Cotillion Spring Dinner
one of my heroes and the love of my life

Belly and Me at the Spring Dinner!

My friend Stephanie Lillios and I new Cotillion members!

J and I when we first arrived to the Spring Dinner!

2009-05-07T03:46:00.000-07:00

At Gigi's and Pops for Easter Lunch
Just getting to Easter Lunch at Gigi's and Pops

Egg Hunt at the Counrty Club...hugging her bff Kelianne Winn

Hugging daddy Elmo panties on tow!

2009-05-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

Caroline Easter moring getting into her Easter Basket!
At the Workman Egg Benefit on the farm!

My treat table at my Easter Playdate for our play group!

Caroline and her daddy playing at a local park!

At the Ridgewood Subv. Egg hunt!

2009-05-07T03:21:00.000-07:00

Woa.....its way too early on a Thursday morning for me to be up....Cant help it...my son that is in utero is kicking away and reminding me that in 8 short weeks he will be here...here and up when he wants to. I said last time I was preggers this is God's way of getting your body ready for no sleep. But, the good news is....I feel fantastic! This little guy has been so much easier on me than Caroline Sophia was. So, I'm good to go and stoked about meeting Caldwell MaGee Cantrell.
So the Cantrell Fam is doing wel...BUSY BUSY BUSY!!! Last night my husband came home from a meeting around 9pm he found me laying in our bed with our almost 2 year old....she was rolling around laughing like she is not the least bit tired and I was bawling my eyes out.....I really dont know what wrong with me......I mean seriously what do I have to be sad about....I have a gorgeous little girl, a son on the way, my dream man, I'm about to move into my dream home...its a pretty cool time in my life and I cry all the time. Well, I asked God to show me and He reminded me of my hormones. Pregnancy does crazy things to your body.....so I'll take that . On the other hand I am totally overwhelmed with project (and they are all my own fault). First the new house which is a big deal.....lots of things to pick out as we get closer to the end.....I love it but you want to be certain you are making the right decisions. So, each day I do something that gets me closer to the dream home..ha! I always said I love to entertain and throw parties...well I like to plan one at a time not more than one....well Monday I am in charge of the Junior Aux spring party for 100 women....catering, servers, flowers, linens, entertainment the whole shabang, then I move to my good girlfriend Jess Stone's bridal luncheon on Lookout Mt. at our Club Fairyland......once again the whole shabang....then there is a shower for me at the Thompsons, then a china and tools shower for our friends Courtney and Adam...in charge of the whole thing....then bless heart my child will be two and I only did a family party last year and promised myself I would do a great party this year.....I just dont know if I have the energy??? Will she remember that she got another family party with only a few gifts? Is that so bad of me to put all the other people ahead of my angel? Not sure what I am going to to do? Suggestions anyone?
So my builder Greg Calfee (who is fab by the way) says the house will be fininshed the last week of June...conveinant huh....they same week Caldwell will make his entrance into the world? Yeah...pretty sure the new house will stay empty till I can get my energy back to move it. But, its turing out GORGEOUS and I feel really blessed and cant wait to live there.
April was a fun month with easter egg hunts, the cotillion spring dinner , a fab bunko baby shower and a mother daughter spa trip to ATL with Luanne and Molly and our mamas.....it was a full month....Ive been trying to enjoy my little trips away...they are few and far between when you are nursing a baby.....so I'm taking them all now!
Going to post some pics of the pasts months of events....sorry its been a while bloggers.....facebook gets me sidetracked and I wont event think about going towards twittering.....cant go there Ill get obessesed! love all of you...want to hear from some of you!

2009-04-05T22:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend was one of those gorgeous weekends, gogeous weather...gorgeous everything....You would think after all our events I would be too tired to be blogging so late at night (its 1:12am right now) but for some reason.....prob the Easter candy I have been eating that I need to throw aways....I'm wired!!!! ahhh!!! So Friday night we met our dear friends Becca and Andy Lay at Slice of Roma for Pizza....its so sweet to see our little Caroline and there AJ play together...they had a ball roaming around the restaurant! Caroline kept calling him JJ and kissing him on the lips....boy I may have to nip this one in the bud one day! It was such a nice night that after all the pizza I consumed we headed off to Baskin Robbins where the babies delighted in some yummy cream.....then home...bath and bed for the little angel....and mom and dad too......
Saturday morning we headed off to my parents neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. Last year Caroline was only like 10 months not walking and totally didnt get it...this year was another story...I showed her how to score and egg and welll.....in about 5 seconds she had it down...15 eggs later....she won the contest....pics to come!
Saturday afternoon I headed to Posh nails to have a mani and pedi...this place is great....very very nice for these parts and totally up my alley.....I was able to sit next to Rachel H...another preggers gal..who looks every bit like a rested beautiful woman......you would never know this chick will be having her 4th baby!! I am amazed by her! So we talked babies, and all sorts of fun stuff..it made my pedi even more fun! Then off to target to finishe filling Caroline's Ester basket and prepare for our play group hunt that Caroline and Wells Grisham are hosting this week.....Then it was off to the Hopewell Spring Fling.....Hopewell is J's alma mater....if you can have one for elementary....Caroline had a ball...loved the jumpy things, loved the ring toss..loved it all....it was fun to see her interact with big kids...I swear this kids is a 7 year old in a baby body. After that I had exactly one hour to prepare for a black tie engagement party at Janie and Allen Jones new MANSION and I mean MANSION for our dear friends Dr. Paul and Sheryl Bacon's daughter Laure and her man Chad. The party was so nice and Lauren and Chad are a steller couple...God has a very special plan for both of them. The house however...was INCREDIBLE.....I am from a BIG city with a ALOT of $$ and I have been in some very very very fine homes....but I HAVE NEVER seen what I saw last night...WOA!!!!!! 50,000 sq feet of pure elegance and total jaw dropping detail.....amazing...amazing...amazing....I cant even say anything else about it cause I am still processing it.....I have a great sense of direction and I was LOST in this house......
This morning we headed off to Chatty to go to Rock Point Community Church.....Andy Stanley is doing a series on "Playing God"it has captivated me and changed my life....it was a good one and the worship rocked! We decided to try a new brunch place with Caroline in tow. I had always heard about this little hippy chic place called Areatha Frankensteins on Treemont St in N Chatty....well the food was really good but the service was baaadddd......I think they just have a we will get it to when we want to and you will love it...which is true but not fun with a 22 month old that has things to see and people to meet.
I came home, prepared for a week of meetings for the Egg Hunt, the decorator for the new house, the drapery girl for the new house, did my Ester study homework and helped my friend Jess Stone with some wedding stuff. J took Caroline to the park..I met them there and we played very hard for another hour...grabbed some dinner and headed home for bath and bed. I need to be getting my rest.....but I just somehow feel very overwhelmed and blessed by my life today.......This is a boring blog about my day.....but for me.....in a few mins I get to go up and kiss my baby night night and listen to her breath and then crawl into bed with the most fantastic man I know and carry a new life that will be here soon....God is so incredibly faithful and Good....how can I ask for more? Love to all my fellow bloggers and readers.....remember is the small things that God gives us to remind us of His mercy and favor for our lives.....

2009-04-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

Im not going to say anything about this pic except that I was not involved.....lol

Dad, Daniello and Marizio at our feast in East Harlem...check out my dads face...he is so serious about his food!

J and Salvatore and another guy who LOVE Jonathan....this picture is hysterical to me.....my husband is just a big guy no way around it...and I love every bit of it!

2009-04-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

Dad, Alexandro and J at Il Corso at one of our many great meals....but Coros is always a fave for us!

Lisa Mac and I in the village at Magnolias choosing cupcakes....yummy

J kissing his baby boy....

Mom and Dad trying to choose from a FAB menu at Norma's at the La Meridian hotel for brunch...I highly rec it!!

Mom and Dad our second night in NYC at the King Cole Bar at the St Regis.....

2009-04-05T21:56:00.001-07:00

2009-04-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

New York In the Spring.............

So on a total whim...my fun, adorable, young acting....party me under the table parents offered to take Jonathan and I to NYC for a 5 day trip. We go to NYC a few times a year...a city I love to visit but could probably never live in.. I am amazed by the culuture, the food, the shopping and totally in awe of the price of realesate, the inconviant way to live with a baby and the pressures of having to be designer looking. No thank you I will eat my face off, shop my heart out soak up the culture and come home! Home to a place where I live in a gorgeous mansion compared to what I what I would live in there......stay a few lbs lighter than I would if I lived there ( I'm too much of a foodie and would have no restaint) and Im thrilled to bring home my 30 percent of Gucci shoes I bought at bergdorf and display them in my massive closet (compared to NYC) to wear in a town where most people dont know what Gucci is....I do...and thats all that matters.....But I LOVE A GOOD TRIP to the apple and we are blessed to go often and have some great friends there. This was an extra special trip....because it was a gift from mom and dad....we are financial clients of dad....she makes sure we are doing thingsright so one day we can travel more! But , Dad asked us to go just a few days before the trip. My in laws were chomping at the bit to take Caroline...so off we went! Chattanooga to Cinci to NYC!!! Arriving we were introduced to Victor our drive for the week....dad always travels this way...J and I...well no...we are too cheap....by hey it was fun to crawl into a long black yukon whenever we needed to go somewhere and not spend a penny on cabs. It was fun to pretend you are a rockstar. When we arrived at The St. Regis ( our most fave hotel in nyc....old school nyc glamour....) we were greeted by a staff who knows my father very well...then taken to the 7th floor where we always stay to see our good friend and never failing butler Nestor...a neat guy with a heart to serve and is chalk full of "star stories"..in fact Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne had stayed in our room the week before...which I found sort of gross....isnt he like the "king of darkness"...anyway....it was all better when i was greeted by gorgeous flowers my sweet husband had waiting for me in the room....he never misses thing....then off we went.....shopping, eating, shows, more eating, more shopping and fun with our city friends. Dinner in Queens one night with good Argentina people....dinner in a cool apartment with our fun Brazilian and Italian friends...it was pure joy....or as J kept saying "Im up to my eyeballs in culture...and I love it!" It was a perfect trip with mom and dad full of wonder and excitment....a very cool time in my life as I know I will be down for the count after this baby boy enters the world...cept we are already started planning what we will be doing when we go back in Dec!!! Who wants to go with us????

2009-04-04T13:29:00.000-07:00

we are working on this.....but baby doll gets really upset when we have to leave a party....just like her mama!!

caroline at the kids table with Kensley and Jordyn...she loves hanging with the big girls!

The birthday Boy!!!

Admiring the big girls!!

Exploring Jordyns Room!! So much cool stuff!

Caroline with sweet baby Connor.....it was fun to see her interact with a little boy baby so I could see what it will look like here in a few months. Both of Kendal's boys are precious and I just really enjoyed getting to know each of their personalities. God has blessed me with such precious friends and their children.

Caroline and Mommy at the Park Cities Library for story time.....she loved it and actually sat still for it!

Sweet baby girl at the Dallas Aboretum for the tulips and daffodils~

Harris and Caroline all washed up and in there jammies before bed after a long day in Dallas!

Well its been a fun few weeks! Our little family is feeling the buzz of Spring and I am so excited about it! Its a fun season for us....new baby on the way, new house almost finished and just so much going on and we are enjoying every second of it! Im trying to fit in my "life with one child" events before there are two precious angels under my care. So, on a whim Caroline and I headed to Dallas for a week to hang out with some friends. I have this great friend named Kendal Jenne....she is a Dallas girl...as most of you know I am a Houston girl we never knew each other till we both married into Cleveland Men! So on those homesick days we have those I miss this and that about Texas....the mexican food, the shopping the nice weather in the winter.....you know just that stuff you called home for so long it will always be part of you. Her parents opened there home to Caroline and I and we had a ball. The Hargrave family live in the Park Cities which is known for its parks...there are tons of them and they are gorgeous! We went to one or two different ones a day...it was so nice....its amazing what sort of ammenities to get when you pay those huge big city taxes. We returned from Dallas just in time to attend Jackson Hall's 1st birthday! It was so sweet that kid is a doll....Caroline dressed up for the party and really wanted to do everything the big girls do...its really cute she prefers the older children. She was totally into playing in the bedroom with the big girls room with the door shut...it freaked me out a bit...but I probably need to get used to it.

2009-03-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

SO I totally promise...this child was watching her daddy leave for worked and put his giant boots on to say bye! I was in awe it was the most precious little act.....I keep telling people this is a hard stage because of actual discipline...but omg...such a great one for all the cute things they do...in her cupcake jammies, saying by to daddy early in the morning.....this is a keeper...

all ready for school....loves her lunch box!!

2009-03-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

Playing at the Valentines Day Party!!!

2009-03-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

A few of the babies having their Valentine treat....just look at my little hostess!!!

Valentines Treats!!!

2009-03-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

Mommy and Caroline playing golf in the yard before the play group gets to the party!

2009-03-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

Caroline and Honey before our little Valentines Play Date happened!!! So sweet....she loved her tutu!!

2009-03-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

I love blogs....I'm just really really bad at my own!!! ahhhh!!! I love reading everyone elses...but in the blog world especially when it comes to reading and looking at pictures of babies you have to recipocate. I'm sorry to all my readers! I am going to try to be better about blogging...Last time I blogged was like in January! Sooooo bad!! So Ill catch you up on the past few weeks. The month of February was a pretty good one for us...after Harris Jenne's birthday party when almost all the kids came down with the flu and RSV we finally got past this terrible sickness....I am sooo ready for warmer weather when we can stroll the greenway...swim at the club and dress cooler...Im also ready for a tan. When you are preggers you will do anything to look a bit more like yourself. Sweet baby Caldwell is growing in my tummy and you can see it!! Im really showing now....like pretty big already. Caroline is curious about my growing belly and often lays her head on it and says "baby". She is so amazing! We started her at the Montessori School in Cleveland this past semester and Im so very impressed by all that she is learning. The enviroment is so cool and being a former Montessori baby myself it bring back great memories when I drop her off to her class room. The headmaster is Brigetta....she is a cool German chick....when you hear the name Brigetta you think a cute little white haired lady with a thick German accent...well this Brigetta is a gorgeous, young blond with spunk and a love for teaching children. It is the neatest place and I'm so thankful that we have such an establishment in our town. To drive down an East TN road in your town and your children enters a world where German and Spanish are spoken and learning is truly hands on is a total blessing. The construction of the new house is coming along. Its the biggest project in my life right now other than growing a baby and taking care of a 20 month old and a 33 year old!! lol......It turing our gorgeous and I am soooooooo excited about getting in it...not sure we will be in before baby comes but I am hoping so. Im busy picking counter tops, sconces, stone for the patios....I love this stuff. Its going to take me a few years to decorate it...I have a wonderful decorator helping me and he had introduced me to the world of fine furnishings...ouch!!!! something really specail about really cool old pieces of furniture...I only like old furniture...not much new...weird that old is so much more $$$$
But, we are thrilled about the house, ready for the space and ready to get in!!! The next few months are going to be very very busy.....finishe house, get baby here...get out of old house and get it on on the market or rent it....hopefully fit a beach trip in somewhere!! Jonathan and I are headed to NYC for the second time this year....we are so excited...we love that city and cant wait to check into the St. Regis, unwind.....eat some really good food and enjoy a little time alone before baby number two. We have gotten pretty good at NYC.....we dont do anything touristy....only cool local stuff...we eat at local eats, go to art galleries, auction houses and of courstr I shop and normally grab lunch at Bergdorfs with one of my city girlfriends. We love visiting though I'm always sooooo happy to get home to my sweet town with all my sweet friends and put my shopping bags away and live the good, simple life that J and I adore. I was raised in a large city....moved to a small town...totally love it and can never go back unless God calls us....:)
K now for some pictures.....lets start with baby playgroup pics from Valentines...Caroline and I hosted a Valentine's Day party for our play group it was so precious. I love watching these babies grow..they are so sweet and to see each of their personalities develop is amazing. More to come....

2009-01-25T10:29:00.000-08:00

Ryan and her daddy eating icecream!

Harris Jenne about to blow his candles out...ummm...caroline was sitting in my lap during this picture..she was quite frusterated that he didnt know how to blow the candles out...I had to restrain her from getting bossy!!!

This is one of Caroline's best friends and I adore her too...she and caroline look alot alike but are pretty different...hger mommy is Luanne..one of my dearest friends. I think Caroline and Keliamme will be great friends one day like us....right now they are the same height....but not for long....it will be like Lu and I "Mutt and Jeff"...lu is teeny tiney.....i love it!!

Kendal was not wanting the children to go upstairs during the party and I dont blame her, the first floor was being terrorized....hello she has a four month old too..who wants more to clean? But Caroline insisted and I mean through a good fit until she got her way! Ahhhh it was so frusterating. Jonathan had a meeting in Knoxville during the party so I was on my own! Normally I would not let her get her way....but I had no energy left...so we got to be the "special ones" and go upstairs to Harris's play room. Here she is sitting in one of his cool Ikea bubble seats!

All closed up in a bubble seat!!!

2009-01-25T10:05:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love about having a kids is celebrating the big events with them! Caroline has only been to a few birthday parties in her short 19 month old life....but I always love them! Fom the getting the invite in the mail to, buying that very special present to picking which party bow and outfit we will wear! This past weekend Caroline was invited to Harris Jenne's birtday party. Harris is a cool kid....pretty much Caroline's match....they both have a little temper on them and are both tall for their age. Caroline had a ball at the party. The theme was race cars....and as with everything Kendal does it was perfect...perfect decor...perfect everything! Caroline really ate way too much sugar and I paid for it when she got sit to her tummy at midnight...next time I know that cake, icing and blue bell ice cream does not go well with her little tummy! This is pic if of Caroline and the birthday boy!! Cant even believe that Harris is Two! Our babies in pllay group are growing up fast!

A few of the babies at the Harris's birthday lunch!! Caroline would only sit at the head of the table and kept eating off everyones plate...Im going to have my hands full!

Sweet Caroline....so can we say that I really love to take pictures...this is not a good picture...I was complaining about it and my husband suprised me with my dream Camera....The Nikon d90!! Im pumped the battery is sitting on its charger as I write this...so blogging community...watch out here pretty soon you will see some kickin quality photos appearing to the cantrell blog....

My poor angel baby has had the worst luch with ear infections. Bless her heart...we finally had to give in and get tubes put in...wish I had done it sooner....this is a new kid...she has not been able to hear for so long! when she woke from her nap after her surgery we had a new baby who was saying everything we said! This pic above is of Jonathan and Caroline before the surgery just before she went it...its hard to know your little one has to go under but..praise God it only took 3 min (and $700) wish I was smart enough to be an MD....but none the less we are thankful she is doing great.

Later on after her surgery she woke up and crawled in her toy basket and he she is sucking her baby dolls tiny paci!! so funny!

2009-01-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Last week was Caroline Sophia's first day at the Montessori Kinder International school here in Cleveland for the semester! She loves Montessori and was very proud of her new poodle outfit! this child loves clothes (wonder where she gets that from???) Anyway this child is a total socialite and loves the interaction at school...i love the time to myself to get all my house construction meetings done...hair apt etc......its been great!!!

2009-01-13T12:03:00.000-08:00

Our future and backyard and small lake that will both one day soon be green!!

This is where our party barn is in relation to our new house.. The barn has been a special project of mine!! Its completely constructed out of old wood and tin from barns off of our farms! Really cool huh? Our pool will sit in between the house and barn and I envision many fall dinners, football game wathcing parties and birthday parties in this special barn!!

The Cantrell Party Barn...so very chic Tennessee!!

The back view of our unfinished house!!!

2009-01-13T10:41:00.000-08:00

Well two years ago Jonathan and I decided to start searching for special piece of land to build our dream home on! We have a family farm that I ADORE but I wanted something to start with for the years we have a young family. God brought us to a wonderful tract of land that was right at 98 acres..totally wooded and gorgeous in the back of a beautiful neighborhood in Cleveland called Ridgewood! We jumped on the chance to purchase it and started making plans to build. Well, my husband has been the President of his Grandfathers Paving Company (Caldwell Paving for 13 years now) Our company has been blessed and highly favored! For years J has wanted to try his hand at developing a neighborhood...well...we decided this is where we would start! Its a really long story about how it all came about but we have joined in a partnership with my mom and dad and launched a little developing company....The name of our development is Alders Glen..we have broken the land into 16 lots that range from 1 acre to 10 acres they are estate lots with trees and small lakes and woods all aound you...totally breathtaking! 40 acres are in a natural perserve with walking trails and picnic areas and even a meadow that will have great soft grass for neighborhood easter egg hunts!! Its been a delightful project and we feel excited and blessed to be apart of something really unique! We started our house which our dear friend Greg Calfee is building for us....he is amazing and fast...we started in August and today they are laying hardwood floors and trimming the house!! So once the house is almost done and a few more odds and ends are tied up we will be ready to launch Alders Glen to the public!!!! The picture above is of the side view of our new home!

Frontal view!!

from the street which is called Litchfield Lane!!!

Lithchfield Lane on the way to my house!

The gated entrance to Alders Glen and where residents will pick up their mail, packages and grab their morning coffee!!!

2009-01-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

New Year's Day we went over to my parents to have traditional Black Eyed peas and all the fixins! It was a precious family day and a great start to a new beginning! Here Princess Caroline is at the head table with her New Years lunch!

Pops my dad here with Caroline before lunch...have I mentioned how very thankful I am that my parents left Houston and moved to Cleveland so we could have special days like this one!

New Years Eve...J and I suited up in our sparkles to attend the annual New Years bash out at the Country Club...the band was rockin this year and we had a blast....here is Becca posing with me for a quick pic on the dance floor!!

2009-01-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

K....so we had the most fantastic playgroup with all of Caroline's friends! We have a ball we meet on Thursdays at different people's houses! The hosts provides lunch and the babies play till they are so tired that by the time we get home they take the most glorious three hour nap! So its fun...we have theme parties....Halloween, Christmas...this year one of the mom's Becca....hosted a Wee Little New Years Party on New Year Eve Day...the babies came at 11am and we counted down till noon! It was so cute....hats and and blowers and all!! These are some of the pics of these babies wired up on Sugar...the one above is of my precious Caroline and Brown Harbison....I know it looks as though Caroline is attackign him...but believe me it was the other way around....these two have an affinity for one another! He loves her ! He grabbed her just a min after noon gave her a new years kiss and basically body slammed her.....she wasnt all that happy about it...but its a good story for when they are big!!

This pic cracked me up...we were attempting to get them to pose....but you know that never happens...just look at the setting....brown attacking Corbin, Caroline and her monkey, poor little AHJ the host falling over and baby Jackson looking delerious!!

My child goes to peoples house picks a toy she loves and does not want to share...this was they toy of the day....it caused many problems and tears for all! She WOULD NOT get off of it...eventually I had to pry her off and leave the room so other children could enjoys AJ's new fire engine!! This new baby is coming just in time! WE need to learn to share!

Caroline and Brown sporting their brown New Years outfits!!

Caroline and Ryan sitting pretty!

2008-12-25T13:41:00.000-08:00

I am by no means a photographer and the color on this pic is not even good...but last weekend at the Country Club I took a few really great shots...this was one of them! I love it cause its so pure and sweet! A framer for sure!! What a blessing Caroline has been to our family! Children are a gift!!

2008-12-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

This Christmas was very eventful and too adorable!! Caroline still didnt get what was going on but I know she liked opening gifts and playing with ornaments all month! This morning we got up....woke up very early and was very hungry as you can see from the picture below she was telling us we were a little slow with her usual eggs...screaming and yellign till they were on her plate!! But, after a full belly she was ready to party! My parents and J's parents came over around 11.....I cooked a nice brunch for everyone and then we sat around and watch Caroline open her gifts! Its gives me hope for how much joy is ahead of us! We got get one of those live Elmos...well I think we all got more into it than she did...that thing is amazing....her fave gift...well one I got for sort of a gag gift cause I knew we were going to need it this spring......r u ready for this!!! Her potty!! its pink and simple...she is taken by it!! As I journal in this blog her daddy just brought her down from her nap.....she is already sitting on it again saying, "shushu poopoo" which is what we say when we are changing a diaper! So.... we may be starting potty training earlier than I thought!!!! It has been a beautiful day! I am so thankful for a precious family and a Savior who came for me! Love to all this Christmas!!!!

Trying to get a family pics.....but she was more interested in her new potty ( she is sittign on it!)

Examining Elmo!!

Reading her new Dog book! Caroline Adores Dogs!!

Totoally feaking cause daddy was taking too long to make her eggs.....woa Girl drama? Wonder if I am having another girl????

2008-12-25T13:22:00.000-08:00

My dad, my mom, my sister and my husband at Christmas eve dinner last evening! I love my precious family...its so wonderful to have family near by! WE enjoyed our evening last night with the best food ever...cooked by by for real gourmet chef dad!

Caroline opening one of her gifts from Pops and Honey! A Juicley Couture Dog!!

opening her gift from Pops and Honey....ohhlala...Niemans!!!

My sweet husband and I before dinner!!

Caroline Sophia ready to chow down on her dinner!!

2008-12-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest things about living in a small town is all the great people you get to know pretty well!! Its fun when there isnt all that much to do to dream up things to do! I am apart of this dream team! God has blessed me with the most fantastic group of friend here in a Cleveland...a place I never imagine living my life in....which has now become a place I ADORE and would be devestated to leave!! Incredible huh.....when its God's will he gives you the desires of our hearts! My friend Louise and Kristen Murray Grisham host an annual Christmas playdate for our play group babies, moms and grandmothers! Its precious! Last year they were about 6 months old and just on their bellies!! Well.....lets just say this year was CRAZY!! they were everywhere!! Here are a few pics of Caroline at her party!!

Our moms group!!

Caroline stealing like her 5th thumbprint cookie!!!

Our little family at the Club for the Santa Brunch.....which the Santa part did not go well!!

She is terrified of Santa..Caroline kept saying, "no hoho!!!!) maybe next year...I mean really? who looks like Santa? Bless her heart...he is sort of creepy!!

2008-12-25T13:04:00.000-08:00

Hanigng out by the Christmas Tree...she could never resists it....I cant recall the amount of times I said, " No touch the tree".... this Dec!!
Doll face

We took a four day trip to NYC with a few of your really good friends...the Norton's and the Lambets! It was a total blast filled with great events and fantastic food! Thank God I was feeling good this weekend....I wasnt sure how I was going to do three months preggers....but God was good to me and so was my naseous meds!!!! This pics is out group after dinner at our fave Italian Place in NYC called Il Coroso...we are friends with the owners and the food (being the foodies we are) is uncomparable to any Italian you have ever had!!!

One of my college roomies and I at Il Coroso she and her hubby live in NYC it was great to see them!

The three ladies of NYC!!

2008-12-25T12:54:00.000-08:00

Mommy and Caroline at the club last Sunday for Brunch!! Isnt she a doll....she love to dress up and can say pretty now!

running the hall toward the waffle station!

our sweet friends from Nashville came to Cleveland...they brought there angel McMillian!! She is a doll...Caroline none the less needs to learn to share...each of them took their turns totally freaking out.....it was fun!

Caroline totally modeling my Louis V purse..its her face cause its her size!

Sissy looking at Camden Grace...Kourntey Gravelee McBryar's sweet new angel!!

2008-12-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

I just remember when Caroline's room was pristine...I mean absolutley perfection.....now as she grows we have toys and humidifdiers and all sorts of decoration killers....oh well this too shall pass!!

For Christmas I put a small tree in Caroline's room with these adorable vintage cupcakes!! She loves it so much!!

She woke up from a Sunday afternoon nap to find a tree in our living room....she kept pointing with both fingers and saying Ohhh!!!!

always into somthing!!

trying to sit her in baby carriage!!

2008-11-29T12:26:00.000-08:00

So Im the primary blogger on this site so I can brag and say whatever I want to say right? Well lets start by saying that my husband is the MOST precious man I have ever known. He thinks of others first, gives everything he has and loves to see peoples dreams come true. The neatest thing about watching his life as his wife is watching God open the windows of heaven and bless him with everything he ever desires....its incredible!! He saw me...wanted me....got me.....God's divine grace...he wanted to run the family business...well he not only gets to do that but that excels at the level unamaginable!! Then theres the little thing like this.....he being a good ol Tennesse boy loves Country Music!! I love it to being born and raised in Texas!! He always wanted to got the CMA awards in Nashville...but not just go...go VIP! Well, once again once of his little dreams came true. Some of our very dear friends who own a Chevy Dearlership invited us to go with them VIP (Chevy was the premiere sponsor!) it was amazing!! We met everyone and had a ball!!

This was taken at Phipps Mall in Atlanta...we went to see Santa with some friends of ours...yea didnt go so well..Caroline was terrified!! This is daddy trying to convince her he was nice...it was a nightmare....when I got the pics of her on his lap all you could see were her tonsils!!

Our friends Nathan and Stephanie Chapman (Nate is Taylor Swifts Producer.....STeph is a star song writer!) This was right before the CMA's!!

My cowboy and I after the CMA's

After Chevy Party the night before at Sambuca....heard all sorts of private concerts!!

2008-11-29T12:13:00.000-08:00

One of my best friends got married in Charleston, SC at the Citadel the first weekend in November......I have waited for stephanie culberson to meet "the one" for a very long time....she met him...his name is Andy Strand and he is a stud! Perfect for her...they are living in Germany now and doing great. The wedding was picture perfect...as it should be when you are as flawless as Stephanie...however....it was the beginning of a very sick month for me......for started just before the wedding I found out I was expecting my second child...which was great...but that brought all the symptoms......Jonathan and I had also been invited to the Country Music Awards the next week....so last minute we dediced to take the doll to the wedding in Charleston.....so my thoughts of flying alone with my husband, staying in the gorgeous romantic room that I had booked at the Planters Inn and enjoying a wedding day of dancing turned out a bit different! I knew that I could not leave my baby for four days while at the wedding and then come home to leave her three more....so it had to be the wedding. Jonathan was great! I had so many wedding festivities to attend as a bridesmaid...he hung out with the doll while I prayed for strength every minute as I fought extremem naseau and a baaadddd cold coming on which included a fever of 101 for three days (remember when you are preggers you cant take anything!) But I got through it and we still had fun. We actually used a babysitting service a few nights for Caroline...we loved the sitter so much we offered to move her to Tennessee for a full time nanny position!! Negoriations are still pending!! It was a start of a long week!!

The beautiful bride and I at the reception!

My precious family on King Street looking for a "kid friendly" place to eat our first night!!

Sweet baby girl!! I love those toothers!!

At Jonathan's Rotary Chili cook off!!

2008-11-29T12:04:00.000-08:00

So one of the people I know has wanted to be in love for sooo long is Lauren Murray....a true romantic...a woman I always believed...that whoever did get her would be so lucky! This is a pic at her engagement party with my other friend Becca Lay! Lauren and Phillip Garner will be married just a few days before Christmas at St. Simons Island.....so excited for them!!!

In our town we have an annual Apple Festival...it's always great fun! This year we met up with some friends...well they had this display of playhouses.....lets just say that I could not convince my 16 month old to get out of the loft...it was not a pretty scene...when she throws these fits I always look at her daddy and say "I want a pony!!" which is exactly what I think she is saying!!

Sweet Daddy and Caroline at J Alexanders after church!!

2008-10-09T20:55:00.000-07:00

Jonathan loves Brad Paisley..so do I...I bought him tickets like 6moths ago for this show for his birthday. I bought them early..they were like really expenseive so I was praying the seat were more impressive than the price...well God like totally hooked us up they were no kidding the best seats in the venue...I mean like the very best..I mean like he kept high fiving us and making a big deal over Jonathan the big guy...it was a perfect night in Atlanta with my husband who deserves even more than great concert tickets...none the less God showed us favor again...
At the Paisley Concert in Atlanta!
Caroline and AJ on the Walk for Life..way to early on a Sat morning....but not to early to march for life!
Amber and I at the annual Museum Gala
We hosted a dinner in our party barn for our bankers......was a really cool event..dad cooked the food..it was stellar....

2008-10-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

I love the look on her face...
Mommy...Daddy....Princess...
Loves the sand!!
Before dinner at Florida Fish House..out fave place!!
this child adores her pappy...every morning she would get in her pappy's lap and steal his cereal and frut...notice I make sure she has a bow in her hair even in the morning...I know its crazy..probably wont have the energy to do it with the next baby....

2008-10-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

morning snack before swim time
dinner at bud and Alleys.....
walking with her honey and her gigi
Big Pappy's birthday sundae.....this amazed her look at her face!!!

2008-10-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

This was at our first day in our beach house at Rosemary Beach! We Love Rosemary..there is no other place like it..it's wonderful....Caroline had never been there and loved exploring everything!!
This child loves chairs that are her size...actually it does not have to be a chair..it can be a small step or even the inside of the fridge...here she is at the beach in her personalized beach chair!
Isn't she lovely? At our pool at Rosemary...
You this is the only grandchild when both sets of grandparents have a gift for each night of the trip...this is the night before bed she got a baby doll from pops and gigi that can go in the bath tub...she walk around the next day carring it and saying bay bay....
all ready to go to dinner in Seaside...my little Sea horse...

2008-10-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

My baby and her mommy!
Caroline Loved the sand....
Ok..lets just start by saying dont you think Senator John McCain should use this in his campaign adds.....I do..its priceless....not only did I marry the most precious husband...he is such a great daddy...
Love this pic...this is what they do everyday! She is rotten..daddy plays hard with her!!
our friends Tammy Lambert and Michael Johnson wed in Gulf Shores....it was perfect..we love them!!

2008-10-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

So we had a really busy September...out dear friend got married in Gulf Shores...I had never been there and honestly I never think of the beach when I think of AL...but it rocked....the resort was great and we had the best time as a family.....Caroline did fabulous it was great!
Time with Sissy in the pool in Gulf Shores!!
There was this room in our condo that had bunk beds that we were not using..lets just say I turned my back for a second and she was in that room on top of the bunk...it was crazy...this monkey is fast...so for the rest of the weel she would go in that room and obsess over this bed and hide from me in the corner...really cute....
First time to play in the sand...first time to eat it...didnt mind one bit!!

2008-10-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

In August Caroline started Mothers Day Out...it was a sad day in the fact that she walked into her classroom with her lunch box on her arm...she seems to brandnew to me to be able to do that...on the other hand it was great for me...I know have like six hours to get things done at only $14 a day as opposed to the $60 I was spending for a sitter on errand days! She loves everything about MDO...the goldfish crackers, her nap pad, her friends...the teachers tell me she is the class clown with the strongest will...sounds like fun huh? What can I say she is a delight!!

2008-08-14T14:02:00.005-07:00

2008-08-14T14:02:00.004-07:00

Welcome baby Lia!! We have been anticipating Lia Hammond for so long now...I'm not sure why but for some reason since the moment I heard of her..I prayed for her and could not wait to meet her. Guess maybe God is going to let me be apart of her life some way? She was even greater and more precious than I imagined she would be. Vanessa invited us over to so the girls could play...Lia is a lover baby you know those ones that just crawl in your lap to snuggle....I ate her up!! I think she and Caroline will be great friends....Caroline is four months younger and a foot taller...Lia is a true petite Chinese baby girl! The Hammond's brought Caroline back the most precious sqeak shoes! Now that Caroline is walking she loves to hear each step!!

2008-08-14T14:02:00.002-07:00

so this is caroline's god sissy Julia Holt....this is the two of them on the stage at this really cute party place called the FLOOR...my child is just like her father all about being up front and onstage....so cute all she wanted was the mic!!!

2008-08-14T14:02:00.001-07:00

cannon and caroline fighting over the gerber puffs....it was really funny!!

2008-08-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

Okay...so my really fun friend courtney had a great girl party last week here is in pink with amy.....so fun dance party in foyer!!

2008-08-09T07:00:00.008-07:00

courious caroline totally looking for kitty cat at the toons!

2008-08-09T07:00:00.007-07:00

On a whim Caroline and I headed out to Houston last week to see our friends Mark and Courtney....they have two precious boys and while we were there Caroline learned to walk around there gorgeous house...I think she performs well when surrounded by beauty..much like her mother..needless to say daddy was not happy he missed the first few steps.......

2008-08-09T07:00:00.006-07:00

So I really dont like going out to eat with a 13 month old...My sweet husband always wants to take her out....then once we get to a restaurant he always says, "honey you were right this is just not worth it..." but on Sundays we go to our Club and each brunch...we go early as to leave so no one knows that the carpet covered in food is from the angel you see in this pick from last sunday!!

2008-08-09T07:00:00.005-07:00

Gabrielleis so increibly sweet to babies..I guess she is a pro having three little sisters.....

2008-08-09T07:00:00.004-07:00

I love this pic of Logan VanHook he like knows he's the man with a blonde on each side!

2008-08-09T07:00:00.003-07:00

Caroline, Adalaide and Kelianne playing hard.....

2008-08-09T07:00:00.002-07:00

So in theory it sounded like a great idea......Luanne Winn, Arlyen VanHook, Ramona Thompson and myself would pack up 10 children all together for a few days at the Lake House.....yeah...well it was fun...however...Caroline and Kelianne slept all the way there..so when we arrived they were READY to go.....go like go jump in Watts Bar Lake...which had me on edge..I see my 13 month old wandering around in a cinderella life jacket WANTING to jump in a huge body of water...yeah..not so relaxing...but we had the best day....you know kids playing on a gorgeous Tennessee Lake...soaking up the summer..then the storms came and it was naptime for the babies....and talk time for the mommies!!! Then daddy came up and pulled the kids on the Super Mable...I love summer!!

2008-08-09T07:00:00.001-07:00

Caroline and Wells Murray Grisham in the wagon!!

2008-08-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Okay I think my child think she is like four!! I mean I have never had a kid so I dont have anything to compare it too...but this was at Michael Winters birthday party at the park....she WORE me out! I mean there is no such thing as having an adult conversation anymore all we do is play...thankfully my sweet friend Roxy took over so I could get a pic of this doll!! Look at her hanging with the big kids!!

2008-08-01T15:01:00.008-07:00

2008-08-01T15:01:00.007-07:00

There is this really sweet business in our town called the Princess Parlour is a place for little girls to be girls....Caroline's friend Caroline Goff had her birthday party here...it was so sweet...my princess thought she was a big girl!!

2008-08-01T15:01:00.005-07:00

One of the things I really enjoy about the workd of kids is the adorable birthday parties! this is a pic at Carter Norton's bday party..Caroline is a chip off the ol'block she loves to PARTAY!!

2008-08-01T15:01:00.004-07:00

Its been a year since Baby Caroline has so blessed out life...each day is full of wonder in her eyes...this is pic totally portrays her morning activity...as I unload all the sippy cups she crawls on up and loves to see what I am doing....if you notice she smile with her paci in her mouth...i love it when they do this.....

2008-08-01T15:01:00.003-07:00

ok, so I am not going to lie to ya....my husband is a bonafide starry eye celebrity lover.....myself on the other hand look at all people who are big in fame or little in fame....as just plain ol' people...just dont understand what the big deal is..when I was a kid my mom told me I was a movie star...so were my friends..my husband on the other hand is embarrassing when it come to fame....I think it that he is a true performer at heart...if you know him...need I say more..right??? I think he want to be wildly discovered by someone other than me ! So when any celebrity is around he like goes nuts....example...it was always a dream of mine to stay at the famous Blackberry Farms right here in TN..divine ....divine...divine..I am ruined for life..anyway....so the morning we got up I told him.."honey this is a very nice place it is likely we will see someone famouos today...PLEASE dont make a big deal out of it...remember we are staying here as guest this weekend...so while I am getting a facial at the Farmhouse spa he is waiting to join me for a couples massage and I come down to find him in his spa robe (which is hysterical in itself...leaning over the counter totally hitting it off with the staff asking who was here.....LeeAnne Rimes, Brad Paisley..yeah he was coming unglued...I was going to just die....So when he heard that I went to Lee University with Phil Stacey the famous American Idol and his office manager was best friends with then...well all I can say is he was all over it...so this pic is of Phil and I on his bus at a show in Knoxville...I love Phil but he's just Phil to me.....As is Anglelina Jolie...is just a lady that has babies.....

2008-08-01T15:01:00.002-07:00

When I see my child sitting on the floor coloring...I just want to cry....where in the world has this year gone...she's quickly going into toddler hood..it make me sooo very sad...but I thought this was a fun thing to watch!!

2008-08-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

My sweet cousin from NYC came to TN to visit..this is her little girl Liv...Caroline is completely in love with her...they are just a few months apart and play so well together....I LOVE this picture they were jumping on the couch like little monkeys!!!

2008-07-03T12:38:00.010-07:00

This morning it was fourth of July! We introduced the beautiful American flag to our little American babyfirst thing!!

2008-07-03T12:38:00.009-07:00

Ok...so I fell in love with this mini kitchen at the childrens museum...every little girl would have one at their house in my perfect world...I mean this thing had a mini everything...washer...dryer....ironing board....little girls should know that these duties will one day be a like HUGE part of their lives....yeah...no one ever told me...it would take the edge off the shock...if we knew everything we had to do to take care of men!

2008-07-03T12:38:00.008-07:00

Harris Jenne giving a hot little Caroline a ride in his red, fast car....at the museum.....

2008-07-03T12:38:00.007-07:00

We went to the Creative Discovery Children's museum with a few babies this past week....so cute I thought maybe Caroline would be too young...but she loved it...they had these cute little apron...she was indeed fasincated....
One day when I become a blog expert I will learn how to turn these pics the correct way.....but for now just tilt your head to see Caroline's friend George...is he not ADORABLE!!!!

2008-07-03T12:38:00.006-07:00

Jonathan and Caroline...Wells and Heath with there one year olds!!
Mommy helping my little cowgirl..she is perfect....but I did tell her she was really a Texan!! (just a wee bit lie ;)

2008-07-03T12:38:00.005-07:00

Caroline and I went over to the Conn's a few nights before the Hammond's left for China with the entire family to go get another little girl! I thought this pic was so sweet of Ella Hammond practicing to be a big sister...what a precious sister she will be to sweet Lia! I love this kid...she's really smart....I asked her if she was excited about to to China to get her new SISSY (of course in my best Texas slang...) yeah...well...she quickly corrected me and told me she was getting a SISTER not a sissy...way to go...we probably should all stop the baby talk to our kids and let them learn how to speak properly....I just found her a total hoot!!
So this is Caroline on her first pony ride at Wells Murray Grisham's First Birthday Party...yeah...only Danny Murray would buy his grandson....a pony...gotta love it...Danny does it right...So Well's is precious...one of Caroline's buddies...the party spectacular..of course...the pony cool...but all .....my angel wanted was a ballon...could keep her away from them!

2008-07-03T12:38:00.004-07:00

Totally loving this birthday cake thing!!
Our friend Steve is playing at Vanderbilt...we had a blast going to a scrimmage in Nashville
Dig'en in!
New Wagon from Gigi and Papy
Walking the greenway with my buddies...Kelianne,Jackson,me and AJ!!

2008-07-03T12:38:00.003-07:00

All ready for church on my birthday!
Checkingout the party scene!
My mimi bought me a beautiful pink pony!!

2008-07-03T12:38:00.002-07:00

It's my birthday morning...crawling around waiting on daddy to make me my favorite Areatha Frankenstein pancakes!!! Only Caroline's mommy would make her wear a bow on her birthday...ohwell she will thank me one day when her pics are so cute!!
Yummy....Caroline loves pancakes!!

2008-07-03T12:38:00.001-07:00

Caroline wearing her very first live vest for a day on the Tennessee River at the Cabin..and of course wanting everyone to walk her around...why walk when others will help you is her motto!!

2008-07-03T12:38:00.000-07:00

I have avoided my space and facebook...but this blog thing is so cool...I have finally given in!! I want to show my precious family to all those we love!! So...June was a busy month for the Cantrell's!! Here are some pics from our trip to Chicago for the DiJulio/LaMagna wedding! Caroline had her first cupcake in the windy city...first trip to nike town...and ported in the rain with her niftey mcclaren rain shield!! This is the begining of blogging for me...however.....I cant type long because my darling daughter has torn off my space bar which makes typing a disaster...so until my computer guy comes to replace the keyboard...enjoy the pics of our family!!
First visit to nike town...of course daddy had to buy her that ball...that hat....shoes and an outfit!!
so cute crusin the mag mile in her stroller!After the wedding Jonathan and I headed to Pops our favorite Champagne Bar for a bottle of bubbly !
My lil cupcake eating at cupcake in theWindy City!