I'm Back
11 years ago
Ok, so now that Sophie is digging her rice cereal, I thought I'd start to introduce something a little more tasteful. I picked up a few jars of baby food while at the store today and decided that I would try a new flavor each week and let you know how it goes. (Thanks for the awesome bib Melissa!)
This week: Squash
Result: Loved it!
Check back next week to see what new foods we try next!
Ok, so the last few days have been GREAT! By that I don't mean easy, but I finally feel like I'm making a dent in turning our house into a home and ignoring the kids a little less in the process. On Tuesday, my new best friend, Kara (who you will be hearing a lot about in the next few years), helped me paint the kitchen red and yes, we got it right the first try! I've always wanted a red kitchen and now I have it. (The trick is finding something that is the shade of red you want- mine was my everyday china- and going with it. Just guessing isn't worth it! Been there done that!) It just needs some little valances and it will be done. I'm very excited! Yesterday we went shopping. Well, I shopped, she pushed the kids in the stroller, and I was finally able to purchase some of the items that I have had to forget about because one or both of the kids were crying and I just had to leave. I couldn't have done it without her!
Next is my little cheap project for the porch. The afternoon sun lights it up like crazy and I wanted some kind of curtain to to block it out. I found some green, yellow and white striped table cloths on serious clearance at Target, bought some ring clips, hung up some wire and, as Christopher says, "Ta da!!!" it is done! Felt like I was on Design on a Dime.
Last, but definitely not least, Sophie ate rice cereal today and liked it!!!!!! YEAH!!!!! Christopher never took it. She also held her own bottle. I feel like I'm finally doing something right. She just woke up, so I better run. Until next time!
Aunt Jenny and Uncle Trey were down at the beach last week and on Monday Trey and Brandon played golf while Jennifer hung out at the house with the kids and I. It was so nice to get to visit with them. Brandon started work on Wednesday, so Thursday morning I loaded the kids up in the van and we headed to where they were staying in Destin to spend the day at the beach playing. We had a blast! Christopher laughed so hard when in the water he could barely stand up and Sophie quickly learned how to nap and relax on the beach. Eventually, Christopher was tired of the ocean and wanted to go up to the pool, so Uncle Trey was happy to take him swimming. (Christopher is doing really well learning how to swim. Brandon and the guys worked with him the week we spent at the lake and he can now doggy paddle with his life jacket on and it makes Brandon and I very proud!) After lunch on the beach, swimming in the pool and digging in the sand, we decided it was time to try taking naps, so we headed upstairs. Sophie went down, no problem. Christopher on the other hand, was too excited to sleep. He wandered around a little and I sat out on the patio with Jennifer and Trey visiting. After a few minutes we turn around and see he's climbed up on the couch and his eyelids are dropping quickly. I go and get a pillow for him and he wakes up enough to see it, turns sideways and crashes. It was cute! I actually fell asleep myself for a little while on the patio and it was so nice! When I woke up I realized we'd have to leave soon because Brandon was going to be home before us and so I started to gather our things, woke up the kids and loaded up the van to head home. It was the best day we'd had in a long time! We've had more since then, but it was definitely needed after the craziness our lives have been over the last month.
I know some of you have been anxious to hear about how the move has been going, so I thought I'd update you while I had the chance. (Sorry, no photos yet, haven't had time to take any.) We moved down on Memorial Day and spent the night in an empty house. Christopher ran all over the place yelling who's room was who's, all excited about his new house. An hour after unloading the cars, we are off to one of the many playgrounds in the neighborhood. Several of the neighbors are out with their kids and Brandon, being the outgoing person he is, jumps at the chance to meet them. One of them asks if we need anything and we realize we don't have any towels and so the wife runs inside to grab a couple for us to borrow. I'm already liking this place.
The next day the movers arrive and so I load the kids up and head to the BX, Garden Center and Commissary to buy things and groceries for the house. We stop in the food court to grab some lunch and I have Sophie in the bjorn and Christopher on his bear leash. I grab my tray and head to get my drink. So far, so good. I realize that I don't have any napkins and the woman I'm passing happily tells me where to find them. I turn, Christopher doesn't, my large drink drops to the floor with a crash splashing onto the woman who just tried to help me. I'm completely embarrassed and start to bend down to clean it up and hear someone say, "Don't do that, I'll get someone to come clean it up for you." I look up and see 3 people running towards me to help. (I'm starting to get tears in my eyes, just remembering it!) I couldn't believe it. I'm trying to figure out what to do and the woman who's feet I just washed in root beer tells me she will watch Christopher while I get another drink.
We finish lunch and head into the BX to see what we can find. Then we head into the Garden Center to buy a few more things. THEN we go into the Commissary to get some groceries. By this point, Christopher is tired of riding in the buggy and Sophie is just tired. About every 10 feet someone (mostly senior citizens) stop to say how cute the kids are and want to tickle Sophie. They are all very sweet to us and I'm so thankful, but about halfway through our shopping Sophie starts crying , and for those of you who have heard her cry, know what that feels like. Christopher starts fussing because I've let Sophie our of her "container" and am carrying her, but he is still stuck in the buggy. I get in line to check out and a woman working there is trying to make me feel better by talking cute to Sophie, but she's just crying louder and louder. I finally make my way down to the checkout and am trying to unload all my groceries when all of a sudden and older man comes out of nowhere and says, "Let me help," and takes all of my groceries out for me. Once I pay I told the bagger that I was sorry, but had parked all the way at the other end of the parking lot and so she just put the bags in my cart and sent me on my way. She was the first unhappy person I'd seen all day. (But in her defense, she couldn't help me because I'd parked too far away anyway.)
Thankfully everyone has been incredibly nice, we've been invited to cookouts, playdates and a birthday party and borrowed items from neighbors that we couldn't find yet. We've played at the splash pad and numerous playgrounds on base. We've gotten bug bites and killed roaches and barely had a sunburn. And have I mentioned how hot it is here? But those are really the only bad things about living here so far, the bugs and the heat. We have a beautiful view of the water from our house (there's a street behind us that has a better view) and so far we love it all! We visited a church this morning that we really liked too, so things are looking up! I'll post photos when I get them and let you see what it all looks like. Sophie is awake and so I better run, but if you are ever headed near Destin give us a call!
There is in ours! That's right, Brandon has graduated from medical school! Ok, so it happened a few weekends ago, but we've been a little busy since then and I haven't been able to get on here to talk about it. We moved out of our house on a Thursday and headed to Grammie and Pop's house. On Sunday we loaded up on the van (in case you haven't heard, yes, we bought a van and we love it!) and headed to Birmingham for the special day. We found our seats (thanks to Brandon's parents) and waited until the ceremony began. They closed the doors and started that graduation music and the tears started. I've never been so proud of Brandon as I was at that moment. Thankfully my parents and sister were there to take care of the kids so I didn't have to miss a second. There were short speeches and awards were given out (Brandon had received one previously, voted by his class for being great working with others, don't remember the name, but wasn't surprised one bit) and then they started handing out the diplomas. He looked very smart in his robe with a cape, I think they call it that, and then they walk over and signed his name as a doctor. It was great! After the ceremony we headed to the party we were throwing for all our friends and family who could make it at one of Brandon's favorite pizza restaurants in Birmingham, Giuseppe's Cafe. We had so much fun and it was great seeing all our old and new friends again. It was a long and fun day, and we could not be more excited about what Brandon has accomplished in the last four years. Way to go!
Well, our time here in Huntsville has come to an end. We are packed up and getting ready to head farther south. We couldn't have asked for a better place to start raising our kids. We will miss our friends terribly! They have become like family to us. We have loved spending afternoons on the lawn, cookouts at night, day trips out of town, birthday parties, baby showers, graduations and holidays with them. We know that we will make new friends in Florida, but these dear people can and never will be replaced. They were here for all of Christopher's "firsts." It's also where Christopher made his first friends and I know it will be an adjustment for him when he realizes that he can't just run out the door and head to Isabela's house or yell at "Luke-n-Lani" across the street or chase Ava around the cul-de-sac on their bikes. But I think it's going to be harder on me than on him! These women have become my best friends and the ones I go to when I feel like I can't handle being a mom anymore. I'm going to miss our monthly "Girls Night Out." The only thing that makes moving away easier is knowing that Ava and Patrick are moving this summer as well. Thank you guys for making the last two years so much fun! We love you and will miss you!!!
It's no lie that kids love playing and here are a few ways our kids have enjoyed spending their time recently.
We realize that he's too big for this, but he had a blast jumping around. 
It was pretty entertaining, he just kept going and going and going!
Until he threw up all over Brandon when he was getting out.
Sophie absolutely LOVES her bouncy seat!
She'll sit there forever just kicking and hitting the toys.
I love that she loves it too!
Last weekend we had Sophie dedicated at the church we've been going to here in Huntsville. Grammie and Pop were able to come up and Kyle, Caroline, Hunter and Drake came down from Nashville. Saturday the boys just ran and played and jumped and did what boys do best. Drake isn't crawling yet, but he doesn't seem to mind. He just sat there watching everyone with his big happy smile and every now and then he would let out one of his hilarious giggles. Brandon and I took Hunter and Christopher down to the pond to feed the ducks, which there was only one and he kept swimming away. Sunday, we all loaded up and headed to church and Sophie looked beautiful in her gown that Grammie had made her. (check back later, photo to come!) She did a fabulous job, no crying or anything! We grilled burgers for lunch and then everyone had to head home. God has definitely blessed us with such a loving and wonderful family!
The boys on the table...
Drake with his usual happy face.
Sophie relaxing with Pop.
Sophie and Drake hanging out.
The boys jumping on the neighbor's trampolene...
The boys trying the feed the one duck...
And the boys doing what they do best, playing with trucks!
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