Fun in the Sun

We had the amazing privilege of spending a whole week at Topsail Island, NC with Justin's family.  7 days of sunshine, eating, sand, ocean, eating, seashells, crabbing, eating, cousins and eating.

To my Oklahoma friends - these are rain clouds.  They do exist...even though with this drought it might be up for discussion.

Haylie could spend all day in the water...and pretty much did.

Crouching baby, hidden paci.

Hard at work.

Water time with Daddy.

We like to coordinate our swim wear.

Wanting to be out in the ocean.

Making sand angels with his feet.

We had an amazing time.  I kept my expectations low with bringing a 6 month old...and they were exceeded! Jace did well.  He had an adjustment sleeping period, but then would take two long naps a day so we could have some beach time.  We didn't make Haylie nap and she did well with few melt downs. The guys got to have a full day of fishing and the girls got to go shopping.  We enjoyed quality time with aunts, uncles and cousins.  We watched the Olympics every night (up wayy too late - dang east coast time) and celebrated birthdays and cousin Victoria's baby.  We look forward to this trip every year and were so glad to be able to go.  This was a great year since Haylie LOVED being in the ocean and didn't mind the sand like last year.  Even Jace had fun in the sand.  

This was probably the best year yet.  Love this family tradition!

Flying with kids

We have been super busy these last few weeks.  Justin went on a work-cation to San Diego and I was home by myself with the two kids for the week.  He got home Friday evening and we turn around and leave for the beach for a week Saturday morning.  So finally, we are back, rested, tanned (well, Haylie is - the rest of us are still pasty and freckled) and ready to get back into the swing of things.

Because the trip was a first for my baby boy on a plane and Haylie was just flat out excited for her airplane rides, I must document the event by itself.  It was that good.

What is about to happen?!

We started out rocky by having a wet blow out with Jace and trying to feed him on the plane.  Don't recommend either.

 Not long after take off, this was my view. Love.

 The two flights going to NC were great.  Haylie was an angel and Jace slept both times.  Whew.

But the plane ride back....

Tears, poopy diapers, screaming fits, nursing on the plane, spankings, wrestling to sleep.

You name it, we dealt with it.

 
But we finally got it all together and had a pretty good time.

She's telling Bear a play by play of what she sees

A rare snuggle nap with my baby girl

Let's just say - we survived.  I don't plan on flying with a baby again if I can help it.  They are just too unpredictable.

A little fish

These last two weeks Haylie got to enjoy swim lessons with Alyx & Carlie.  She had a blast!! She would come home and tell me about jumping in the pool, kicking her legs or floating on her back.  She definitely can't swim by herself yet (probably could with floaties...or maybe not), but she is well on her way and has some skills that are pretty important when in the water.  I'm so grateful to these girls for teaching my daughter life-saving techniques!

Haylie swimming between A & C.

So proud of my exhausted baby girl!!

Doesn't take long for her to take off her wet shirt.  Hooray for swim lessons!!!

Goodbye...

This week I'm saying goodbye to my very first brand new car I've ever owned.  It was a college graduation present from my parents and I loved this car so much.  But with two kids, it was becoming less and less practical.  I could get everything in this car that I needed to, but it was cramped and frustrating.

 So...we scoured Craigslist and Carmax and wound up purchasing this beauty...

A 2004 dark gray Honda Odyssey.

I NEVER thought I would be a mini-van owner.  And I'm still in shock that it's in my driveway and I have the keys.  But the fact that in the last day I have had so much more ease with my kids just shows me that I will love this van.  I love that the front seats are probably more roomier than my whole entire car.

 I can open both sliding doors with a push of a button.  And the cargo space?  Love.  I can put ALL THREE of my strollers back here and still go grocery shopping if I need to.

And remember how Haylie's new favorite holiday is the 4th of July?  Yep, it just got better now that we will always have a comfy seat to watch them from.  The back seat just flips right over.  Seriously?! 

It may not have been love at first sight, but I can tell that this new van relationship will work out juuust fine!!

New Favorite Holiday

Haylie's new favorite holiday is the 4th of July.  What's not to love about this summer holiday?  This year, we attended the LibertyFest parade and let me just say...

This. Kid. Loved. It.

From seeing it with two of her BFF's, watching the firetrucks with sirens, horses, princesses (Miss Oklahoma, Miss UCO, etc.), marching bands (ok, this was just my favorite) and everything else, this kid barely sat still!  She kept waving at everyone and shouting "Hooray!!"  Not to mention she got to wave her American flag. 

Waving...

Still waving...

Jace slept through some of the parade but with all the sirens going off, that didn't last long.  I guess he feels like he needs to hold on or else he'll fall out.

After the parade, we decided to keep celebrating with grilling out lunch and letting the girls play in the kiddie pool in the backyard. They thought they were big time stuff because we let them play outside while we watched through the window.  They didn't know they were being supervised AND the adults got to stay in the A/C.  It was a win-win.

After everyone went home for naps, we met back up for the LibertyFest ParkFest at UCO.  What else is more fun than watermelon, bouncy houses, big tubs of water to splash in and getting a patriotic heart  on your face?  NOTHING.

Then we let them stay up way too late watching fireworks.  Haylie was really scared at first but once she got to snuggle with Daddy and watch the cool lights, she really loved them.  Jace did great too.  He was such a trooper this whole day.

Forget Christmas. This was the best holiday yet!

A chunky 5 month old

 7.2.2012

Jace is 5 months old!!

People say time flies...and it's the truth.  I think especially when it's your second child and you don't have as much time to dwell on their every move.  Jace is such a chunky monkey baby...we think about 17 lbs.  When I'm carrying him, it feels closer to 30.  I get my arm workout in every day with this guy.

He is wearing size 3 diapers (we just graduated H up like, 2 months ago, from a size 3 to a 4...) and wears 6-9 month clothing! He wears some of the unisex clothing at 5 months that Haylie wore way after she was walking.  The difference in their sizes is amazing.

I love this smile.  He smiles more and more each day, but lots of times you have to work for it.  It already shows his more serious personality.

Jace is sleeping through the night.  We give him a 6oz bottle right before bedtime and that seems to fill him up enough to fall asleep.  He usually doesn't have a paci for long.  More and more lately he's just spitting it out.

This is his usual look - scared and why am I in this?? Although he is getting more interactive with his exersaucer and is figuring out some of the toys on it.

Rolls upon rolls...I just squeeze his chunkiness whenever I can.

He is pretty happy most of the time. He does scream like a girl and yells a lot too, but nothing like Haylie.  He's just trying to communicate and usually when we (finally) figure it out, he goes back to being happy.

Not yet sitting up or rolling over, but he is working on it.  He is really getting the rhythm with his legs and using them to play with and kick at toys.

He has started teething as well.  Nothing is popping through yet but his hands are constantly in his mouth and he even sucks his thumb for occasional relief.  I change his outfits a lot because of all the drool. 

Jace is still such a wonderfully, easy baby.  There have been no major curve balls with him and has been easy going for the most part.  I'm thinking this next month will bring a few milestones - which I'm really looking forward to!

Baby Shower Fun

Today was the first baby shower I got to host at my house!  I have been a little self-conscious about our concrete floors and nasty carpet...but now no more with our beautiful wood floors!

The shower was honoring my friend Amy and her sweet baby on the way. I was in charge of the decor...and had lots of fun with it.

I did wood letters from Hobby Lobby and put scrapbook paper on top to make them cute.  Then I did some construction paper dresses, which were super easy.  I found the idea on Pinterest.  Theirs came out a little cuter than mine, but same concept.

This was my favorite - the sleeping baby diaper cake!  I saw this idea on a friend of mine's FB page.  I had to find out how to make it.  A lot of people said it was kind of scary...I think it's super fun!

Here are the hostesses and some of my best friends!  Amy is the one in the middle - blue top. 

Happy baby shower day, Amy! We can't wait to meet your sweet Cailyn.