Surfside 2009

We spent last week vacationing with my family in Surfside. We had a great time. We did it all: relaxed, ate, shopped, went to the flea market, went to Broadway, ate in Murrels Inlet, had Painters ice cream (twice), went to the Pavilion – everything necessary for a proper Myrtle Beach vacation. I even finished a book. James and I have come to realize that vacations are a little different these days when you have little ones. You lather and dress the kids, pack everything up to go down to the beach (and we were beach front), haul children down to the beach, play, pack everything up to go back up, bathe children, put children down for a nap, alternate time on the beach while kids are sleeping, and do it all again when the kids wake up. We would wistfully look at Kami and Richard leisurely lounging on the beach while Adam and Austin did their own thing. We did make the most of this trip, however, and enjoy this precious time with our girls. It won’t be long and they won’t want to be seen anywhere near us while on the beach. We did come up with a great solution on Thursday for nap time. Adam wasn’t much on the beach, so he came down to our condo and stayed with the girls while James and I enjoyed beach time together. Too bad we didn’t think of that one earlier. Thanks Adam for being an awesome babysitter. He even got Sarah Ellen up from her nap and carried her down to Mimi’s condo.

It’s amazing what grandkids will do. I don’t think I have seen this sight since I was in elementary school. We enjoyed some pool time with Mimi and Papa. Lily loved the pool, although she still didn’t become too much of a dare devil. She finally began blowing bubbles on the last day. You can’t go the beach without hitting the Pavilion (Garden City). Skee ball was fun for all. Lily couldn’t make it all the way up the ramp, so Mommy got to play too – two for one.Sarah Ellen was a little bored with the whole thing.Bragging time for Adam: When the boys went to cash in their tickets at the arcade, they made sure Lily got a prize as well. Adam helped her pick something out, while he picked out two small mints for himself so Lily and Austin could get bigger prizes.Bragging time for Austin: Austin joined us for a morning trip to Broadway at the Beach. We gave him a little spending money and he used some of it to by something from a magic shop. Later we came across a toy store. He examined everything in the store and then led Lily over to some toys that he knew he had enough money for and asked her if she wanted one. He used the rest of his spending money to by her a toy.

Have you ever seen such? You are looking at ten loads of laundry. Welcome home!!

This is more for my own personal record, but here are some things I want to remember from this trip:

• Sarah Ellen cut two molars.
• Lily’s first putt-putt experience and she got a hole in one.
• Waiting one and half hours to eat at Drunken Jacks and it just wasn’t good. I think we are pretty spoiled with Charleston food.
• Lily slept in a new room with no windows all by herself – very proud of her.
• Papa got in the pool

Thanks everyone for an awesome week.

Happy Birthday Bug

Only one theme was appropriate for out sweet little girl on her first birthday: BUGS. We celebrated Thursday with friends and family. Thank you all for making our little girl’s big day special.

Sarah Ellen and Olivia enjoying table time together. They missed their main man Parker. Parker, we hope you are feeling better. The big kids celebrated Sarah Ellen’s big day.They had fun playing outside with their “bug spray” Big sister was more than happy to help Sarah Ellen blow out her candle.

My Sweet Bug Is One

I know us bloggers say this all the time, but really, “where did the time go?” There is simply no way that Sarah Ellen is one year old already. She is becoming a little person more and more each day, and I can’t get enough of her. Here are some of the latest updates:

• She loves to clap her hands. Anytime she hears a “yay”, she starts clapping away. When you ask her to do other tricks, she’ll think about it and then adamantly clap her hands, as if to say, “but look at this one.”
• The day before her birthday she officially said her first word: uh-oh. She dropped something, looked at me and said, “uh-oh.” At first, I thought it was a coincidence until she continued to do it. The next day, she thought it was great to throw everything out of the stroller and say, “uh-oh”. It was pretty cute the first five times.
• Sarah Ellen eats well, but is a little more picky than her sister was. She is still not a fan of different textures. She prefers either baby food or finger food, nothing in between, meaning grits, mashed potatoes, etc. She eats three meals a day and several snacks here and there.
• We are transitioning to milk and she has done well with it. She now can drink from a sippy and a straw cup. She gets whole milk in the morning and after her nap. She is still getting a formula bottle at night until we run out. Then I have to debate: milk in a bottle or sippy?
• Sarah Ellen is still not a big snuggler, although I have been able to rock her some the past few nights. This is a first since she was tiny. She also will randomly climb up into my lap and want to be held briefly from time to time.
• She has nine teeth and three molars on the way. Yikes
• Speaking of teeth, she has become a little biter. She will lunge for you very excited and chomp down on whatever her little teeth can get. James and I both have marks on our stomachs, chests, and arms. She is doing this affectionately, but enough is enough.
• I believe she is in the process of dropping her morning nap, although some mornings can get a little hairy without a cat nap. She continues to take a good 2-3 hour afternoon nap as long as she hasn’t slept too long in the morning. She goes to bed around 8 and wakes around 7, give or take 30 minutes.
• She lights up when she sees her big sister. They have begun to play some sweet games together and are both trying to figure out the whole sharing thing.
• She certainly has opinions about things and is not afraid to share them. I don’t think we will have to worry about this girl sticking up for herself.
• Sarah Ellen is a mover. We never had to baby-proof the house with Lily, but Sarah Ellen is very adventurous. She loves to climb, pull, explore, and get into everything. For example: Today she climbed onto the foot stool on Papa’s scooter (he was not in it). Next thing you know, the scooter is moving forward with her on it by herself. She had reached up, turned it on and pressed the knob to move it. This girl may give me a heart attack. She certainly keeps us on our toes.
• She loves to throw things off the balcony. Once again, Lily never even thought of this. Sarah Ellen will hold something over, look at you, let it go, laugh and do it again.
• She loves the water: bath, pool and ocean. She will put her whole face in and not be phased at all.
• Sarah Ellen will have absolutely nothing to do with a bow or hat.
• Changing her diaper is still like a WWF round. I’m wondering when and if this will ever get better. One would think you could overpower a 20 pound little baby, but not this gal. It is exhausting work, which means that she mostly only gets changed for poops. Good thing diapers are super absorbent these days.

Sarah Ellen, you light up our world. I simply cannot imagine our life without you. You complete our family perfectly and I thank you for being so good to us. We look forward to the amazing years we have yet to come. I pray that you will know and love God above and that He will guide us in raising you. May you be blessed with His love always. We love you Bug.

Sister Shots

 

Say It Isn’t So.

Is my tiny newborn, my infant, my sweet baby bug really one year old.  I just don’t believe it.

More to come….

On the Move

I’m so not used to an active baby.  Sarah Ellen is all over the place.  She can’t stand to be held and wants to be down moving all the time.  I imagine I’m really going to get my exercise when she starts walking, which probably won’t be long. 

She has found some creative places to play the past few days: