Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Memorial Day!

We celebrated with a GORGEOUS day at the beach! It is about time, we've had a really rainy spring so it was nice to see the SUN.

The water was freezing, but the boys dipped their toes in.

And it was super windy.

Henry wore himself out running up and down the beach and the dunes ("news" he called them), throwing rocks, and squealing.

We tried hard to keep the sun off this baby. We packed up an umbrella and a little tent for her to nap in, but the wind was so strong that we couldn't use them. At one point, the umbrella caught a gust of wind and tumbled down the beach like a missile. So we kindly laid it on the ground. After a while, many families showed up with their strollers. A much better option, so we'll do that next time. The chair made a good napping place though.

After the beach, lunch at a burger joint and ice cream - doesn't get better than that!

Read more...

Checking in with Maggie Jane

2 ½ months already! Time has flown; I can’t believe it has gone so quickly. It’s time for an update on how she’s doing. Which is wonderfully! Maggie had her 2 month doctor appointment with the first round of vaccines two weeks ago. That was hard on me, because she had a really tough time calming down to nurse afterwards, and got bright red and sweaty during the shots. She’s weighing in at 10lbs, 3 oz and 22 ¾ inches long (35% and 55%, respectively). I’m so glad our little girl is growing so well, after so much worry about her growth at the end of the pregnancy. She’s eating great! She only has a bottle once a day (if at all) if we are going someplace where it is difficult for me to nurse her - makes life a little easier with an *almost!* preschooler and infant. Henry really likes helping her with the bottle

and little girl put her hand on the bottle last week!

She is so mild mannered and uses a paci only to fall asleep. We transitioned Maggie to the crib at 6 weeks, and she didn’t even blink an eye at the move. She slept through the night a few nights ago sleeping from 8pm – 6am (she only did so once but I’ll take it!), Regularly, though, Maggie has pretty long stretches of sleep of 6 hours or longer sometimes. We’re doing better at being able to put her in her crib for naps, and swaddling her to do so. Although that will have to end soon because she is definitely able to get out of the swaddle. She would still rather nap in our arms, though. I’m holding her as I type this, and I just love her coziness, her sweet smell, and her need to be snuggled. It’s awfully hard to put her down, and I’m torn between wanting to hold her when she sleeps for as long as she will let me, but also not wanting to create bad habits. So I’ve still got to work on that with her, but I can’t complain. I’m just enjoying every moment holding her and we will get it figured out.

Life is good!

She’s tried out the Bumbo, but still doesn’t have quite enough head control to use it for much more than 5 minutes or so.

Maggie is meeting her milestones like crazy! She’s been full of smiles since one month, and can’t help but smile when she sees us. She started reaching for objects with her little fist, and is so proud of herself when she does. I especially like to see her reaching out to touch Henry’s face – so cute.

She coos all the time, and is really holding her head up well on her tummy. Maggie rolled from her tummy to her back just a few days ago, to her left. So proud of her! She rolled five or six times, but hasn’t really done since.

She is such an easy baby and it is a delight to see her grow and change. Keep up the good work baby girl! All our love, Maggie Jane!

Read more...

Indy, part 2

It's three hours to Indy, and we didn't want to drive down just to turn around and drive back, so we used Gabe's hotel points to stay the night. We had a delicious dinner and a chance for Henry to play with new friends (Hi Osborn's - a big thank you!) that night, and then went back to the hotel. Turns out, you can get away with a lot by explaining to a two year old that "you don't need that when you stay in a hotel." Henry was pretty jazzed about sleeping in the new bed, and had fun jumping on the bed of course!The next morning we went swimming at the hotel pool. Maggie took in some lounge chair time :)

(I do feel sorry for her that so many pictures are of her in her car seat, sleeping. But when you're an infant, that's what you do during a big adventure!)

Henry swam for about an hour despite it being a little chilly, but fun! He's definitely ready for swimming lessons. I would do it with him, but it's impossible while holding Maggie. I wish we had better access to a pool this summer, or that Henry could qualify for lessons this summer, but most places want them to be three.

Miss Maggie did wake up though, donned her swim bloomers, and took her first dip in the pool, too! Henry was about this age the first time he went in the pool in Florida, so I'm glad Maggie got an opportunity to go swimming at a young age too.

I can do two when he's got his water wings on, but it's a little nerve wracking.

She's got a cute little swim shirt to go with this swim diaper too

After swimming, we met more friends for lunch (Hi Jeter-Boldts - great to see you!) and then headed home. The drive home was a little hairier as Henry only slept for 1/2 an hour and Maggie was a bit more fussy since it was later in the day, but we made it in one piece, not too frazzled. Such a fun way to celebrate Mother's Day - having fun with my babies! :)

Read more...

happy momma's day

I love you babies! Thank you for making me a momma and for blessing my life today and everyday.

"oh yeah Mommy, I love you too!" ~ Henry

"Ohhh" (with a big smile) ~Maggie

Read more...

And send it soaring....

These videos of him flying kites are just too cute not to share. Click on the links below

"I like to see kites!" (yes he did go running into the big puddle. I stopped filming to try to catch him. I wish I would have just recorded it though since he ended up running through. I need to let go and not worry about muddy shoes :))

"Muddy"

PS - can anyone help me figure out how to upload videos? please? Gabe?

Read more...

Let's go fly a kite

Sunny day + Oklahoma-esq wind = kites!

Seriously, like 10 families flying kites at the park.

Unbridled enthusiasm is my one of my favorite parts of Henry being 2 and 1/2. Watching him run in the wind, kite string in hand, galloping and skipping and running with glee, laughing with sheer delight, just made my heart sing. He loves the outdoors, and has been begging to fly kites. At times, it looked like the kite was pulling him, especially as he was running into the wind and the kite still stayed up. That's how windy it was last weekend.

Let me narrate some of his quotes. All of these said at full 2 1/2 year old volume, with much enthusiasm, as he runs around:

"Kites kites kites!"

"I like to see kites!"

"I'm doing it, I'm doing it!"

"Wind! Wind! Ahahhahah!"

"Look at me go!" "Look at dada!"

Maggie sat with grandma and me. I think she is saying, "grandma, what's with all this wind?" or "why can't I go fly a kite too?"

I hope he never loses his enthusiasm and love of life. And love of kites.

Read more...

The Park

While the weather has finally warmed up a bit here, and we have been to the park a few times, this post is about Henry and Maggie's new backyard park! Over Easter weekend, with family here, we were able to set up the new swing set in the backyard. Henry calls it his park. Generous family friends whose children have outgrown the swing set (Hello Corkes/Floyds!) allowed us to move their swing set into our backyard. Henry oversaw the project

from his new fort.

Gabe moved the pieces

with help from my dad, a little help from Henry

and Uncle Andrew and Gabe's dad.

And then we got to enjoy! First order of business, a picnic lunch at the little picnic table underneath with Paddy the Puppy

Then on to climbing up the stairs

sliding down the slide

blowing bubbles

and taking a ride on the swings.

He loves it! Every morning when Henry wakes up, he asks "can I play on my new park?" We've had some rain and cold prohibiting that lately, but this weekend has been sunny and we've had more picnics (I think we'll eat there every afternoon for lunch in the summer) and lots of park time. Maggie will love it too, and we're working on getting a swing for her that she can use this year, since she won't be quite ready to sit up in the red one pictured here, but can have one that reclines a little more. The neighbors (1st and 4th grade) even tried it out - and they approve! Their swing set is just on the other side of the fence, and so far they've discussed having water gun fights from the two fort parts, a tin can telephone, and sending messages on a line with a pulley back and forth. If any of those materialize, I'll make sure to document it :) Looking forward to lots of backyard fun this summer! A huge thank you to the Corke family!

Read more...