Growing so Fast!!

Wow! Time sure is zooming by!  I now have a 15 month old and a 4 and a half year old. Sometimes I sit and wonder how that's even possible. The past month Leah has changed so much!!  So I thought I needed to update (I really do use this as a reference for myself sometimes)

Leah had her well check a couple weeks ago and measured 31 inches and 22 pounds. Everything else checked out good; I really didn't have any issues with her. She's growing and developing right on track. She has a great live-in teacher (although some of the things Bennett teaches aren't always good things 😃) but she learns a lot from him. She got her shots and took them like a champ and they didn't seem to bother her, which is always a plus!  We go back at 18 months!!

She is walking like a pro and no longer crawls, she's been doing that for a while. She's a magnificent climber, but can't say I'm really happy about that. If she sees a dining room chair that hasn't been pushed in, she runs at the opportunity to climb up the chair and onto the table.  She adores her big brother more than ever and tries to keep up with him.  I can tell that her wanting to be right by him tends to bother Bennett sometimes, but we are working on that.  For the most part, they do really well together.  They do have their sibling moments, but I expect that.  It's not always going to be perfect.  I know they love each other, and I'm thankful they get a good amount of time together, because once Bennett starts kindergarten, they will see each other less.  Makes this momma really sad.  But they are growing up and it's bound to happen.

So, things Leah loves:

• To eat….she would eat all day long.  She'll let us know when she's ready too by saying "eat, eat".  She eats pretty well but has hit a picky stage.  She used to eat anything, but now not so much.  Her favorites are cheese, quesidillas, blueberries, strawberries, hot-dogs (I cringe every time my kids eat them but that's one thing I am guaranteed they will eat).  She used to love yogurt but it seems lately she's not really into it anymore.  She likes most fruit- bananas, grapes, raisins, but not big on oranges.  
• Bathtime….still loves getting in that water.  She would play in there all night if we let her.  She screams bloody murder when we get her out.  Makes dressing her for bed difficult, but we manage.  She loves having Bennett in there too.
• Clinging to mommy while I'm trying to cook….she loves to play, but only if I'm sitting on the floor close by.  If I'm in the kitchen trying to get stuff done, she's pulling at my leg for me to pick her up.  I have become the master of doing things with one hand.  Things I can do with one hand: empty the dishwasher, crack open eggs, cook just about anything, fix cups of milk or juice, clean the toilets, wipe off tables, vacuum, empty the trash, put in loads of laundry, the list goes on.  Really, who needs 2 arms anyways?  :) I know one day she will be little miss independent like Bennett and I know she's actually learning a lot watching me, so I carry her a lot.  It's ok, I love her so I sacrifice.  
• Giving kisses and love….she is the most loving little thing.  

Things she doesn't love:

Getting her diaper changed, getting out of the bath, getting dressed, waiting in the carpool line to get Bennett at school, and being put down (as you read above). 

But, in all, she is the most loving, sweet  baby. Her smile just lights you up and we couldn't be more happy to have her in our family!!

Sand On Our Feet and Wind In Our Hair

This year we had the amazing opportunity (thanks to my wonderful mother) to spend the week at the beach.  Of course I jumped at the opportunity and took Bennett out of preschool for the week (since I knew this was the last year we'd be able to do that) so that we'd have a family vacation.  Mom rented a house in Ocean Lakes, which is located in Surfside Beach, near Myrtle Beach for those people not familiar with SC.  As I was growing up, this was our vacation spot and we always loved it.  But we haven't been in probably 15 years.  I was not disappointed when we returned this year.  We had a blast and can't wait to go back next year.  I hope to keep it a family tradition for my children, just like I had as a child.

The thing with Ocean Lakes is you rent a house in the campground and the campground has everything you'd need for the week.  It's on the beach, has a wonderful pool area, mini golf, snack bar, a small grocery store, play grounds, basketball court, etc etc.  So we were set for the week with things to do.  If you want to leave you can, if not you have plenty there for fun!

We arrived Sunday afternoon, unpacked and went straight to rent the golf cart.  Everyone in the campground rides around in the golf cart and it is so much fun!!  The  next morning we made a trip to the big grocery store outside the campground and stocked up on food that we would need for the week.  After that we didn't go back out until our one day of excursion, and our night ride down the strip in Myrtle Beach.  Every day our routine was pretty much the same: pool in the morning and beach after lunch.  Wednesday, Jason and I took the kids to Broadway at the Beach for a little fun.  We went to the aquarium and then walked around to see everything, stopped at Johnny Rockets for lunch and then let Bennett play on the playground he found.  :)  The aquarium was ok but Bennett wasn't really interested in the fish.  They had a Wonder Works, which is an interactive museum that he probably would have enjoyed more and it looked awesome from the outside.  But maybe we'll do that next time.  Broadway is a fun place if you have a day to spend there.  We were only there for a few hours so we didn't get to do that much.  My gracious mother gave us a date night, so Wednesday night Jason and I went back to Broadway to eat some seafood at Landry's and to walk around without distraction.  :)

Before we left for  our vacation, I figured Leah would like the beach.  But she LOVED it!!  We'd get there and unload all our stuff on the beach, I'd put her down and she was good to go!  She kept herself entertained just playing in the sand, filling up her buckets, dumping it out, digging her hands in it, crawling to the water.  She had a ball and getting sand on every inch of her body did not bother her one bit.  I had so much fun watching both my babies at the beach having fun.  Bennett enjoyed the pool as well, but it wasn't Leah's favorite.  She'd much rather play in the sand at the beach.  The pool water was pretty cold so maybe she didn't like the cold water.  Most mornings she napped for most of our pool time anyways. A couple times we got snow cones and the kids enjoyed those.  We took a trip to the snack bar for an ice-cream cone one night.  And a lot of times we'd just ride around in the golf cart for fun.

We had a wonderful week with great weather and no catastrophes.  We couldn't have asked for a better week and now I'm looking forward to next year.  It's definitely a place to visit if you haven't.

Oh, how I want to be back feeling the ocean breeze…..

I love making memories with my family- it's just a wonderful reminder of what really is important in life.  I'm blessed to have my 2 children, who teach me more about life than I teach them.  So what are they up to now??

Leah is knocking on 14 months.  She's not quite walking, but taking steps here and there.  She has started to say "here ya go".  She'll say it to you when she's handing you something.  My phone, food, dirt she found on the floor, toys, etc.  It's the cutest thing!  She's still a very good eater.  Loves just about anything and is still nursing twice a day, first thing in the morning and right before bed at night.  It's hard to believe that she won't be nursing much longer.  Where did the time go?!?  She has 2 teeth, her top big tooth and the eye tooth right beside it.  It's the craziest thing.  There is no rhyme or reason to the way her teeth are coming in.  It looks like the other big tooth and incisor are just about to pop through and then her bottom 2 teeth are still right there but haven't popped out yet.  She still doesn't have much hair, but she does have some. :)  One day….

Bennett is 4 and a half, I sigh and shake my head just thinking about that.  He is growing into such a wonderful little guy.  He loves his little sister so much and she loves him right back.  It warms my heart to watch them be so loving towards each other, and I just pray it continues.  I've worked really hard to build their relationship, and the effort I have put into is really paying off.  Thank you Lord for my wonderful babies!  Bennett has started his 4K year and seems to like it.  He misses his teachers from last year but hopefully in a couple months he will love his new teachers just as much.  From what his teacher talked about and the information that he brings home, he is having lots of fun in his class!  He can spell his name and we are working on writing his name.  He can write it, but the e's are backwards and upside down.  :)  He is starting to like more and more food, which is nice.  Still not a big meat eater, but he loves his fruit, noodles, cheese, and ice-cream! :)  Those are his favorites.

Things are going well.  Time is flying by.  My children are growing up.  And I just want time to slow down for just a little bit.