why does snoop dogg carry an umbrella?

i am copying brooke's entry b/c i too love these things & lately have had no idea what to post!!

A. Age: 30......but sometimes i still feel like i'm 16

B. Bed size: Queen but this is my dream bed

C. Chore you dislike: dusting because it seems like as soon as i finish dusting the whole house, there is dust all over everything again!

D. Dogs: baxter & hurley

E. Essential start to your day: #1 -walking in to get van #2 - COFFEE.

F. Favorite color: blue

G. Gold or silver: platinum!

H. Height: 5'9.50 (b - love how you put down a quarter of a inch!! haha!)

I. Instrument you play(ed): i was in the choir so my vocal chords?

Joke: "why does snoop dogg carry an umbrella?" - fo drizzle!

K. Kids: duh. the cute one this whole blog is about!

L. Live: Charlotte, NC

M. Mom's name: Jeanette Aurora

N. Nickname: Lissa, Lissa Lou, Melly Mel, Mel, MAL

O. Overnight Hospital Stay: having Van was my first

P. Pet Peeves: clutter - this is my worst nightmare and just looking at it gives me major anxiety

Q. Quote from a movie: "listen, i was wandering. can i ask you a question? uh...was your father a meat burgler? here's why i ask: because it looks like somebody stole two fine hams and shoved them down the back of your dress." leon phelps from the ladies man

R. Righty or Lefty: Righty

S. Siblings: younger sister Skittles (Nole) and younger brother Jerr Bear (Punk)

T. Time you wake up: usually between 6 & 6:30 sometimes 5:50 but i'm not counting those days. my lovely alarm clocks name is van

U. Underware: always clean

V. Vegetable you don't like: haven't met one yet

W. What makes you late: derek and van!!! derek is almost always 30 mins late

X. X-rays you have had: a couple months ago when i had bronchitis, and too many dental x-rays to count.....the last one was this last tuesday after i had my front tooth extracted

Y. Yummy food you make: i don't cook that often but i'm told i make a mean meatloaf (it's my mom's recipe). derek likes my turkey sandwiches!

Z. Zoo animal favorites: this is a dumb question but i guess they were struggling for a word that started with z........i'm going with the polar bear.

sweetest moment

as i was vacuuming yesterday, getting ready for my mom to come over and watch van for me, clumsy me dropped the vacuum handle on my toe.

as i was crouching down grabbing my toe, with tears in my eyes saying over and over, ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch.......

i feel this little hand on my shoulder and then van threw his leg over mine and gave me the longest sweetest hug and a pat on the back.

i.love.my. child

this will be the moment i think of as i am being put under today for dental surgery............

Bald Head with the Kinlaws

This last weekend we made our second annual March Madness Bald Head Island weekend trip with our friends Grey & Haley. And boy was this year different! Van was only 3 months old last year and didn't do much but lay around. I definitely think he had more fun this time around!

We stopped in Wilmington Friday afternoon and visited Van's Great-Grammy. She was amazed at how much he had grown since she saw him last and had a lot of fun chasing him around on his little car.

She wanted me to get a picture of Van under this pretty cherry blossom tree but little man would not stand still. He had too may places to explore!

Like the garage, where he found his favorite thing - a broom!

After helping Grammy sweep her driveway off we all headed to Dockside to enjoy the sunshine and salty air.

There is nothing better than bloodys at the beach.

We discovered that Van LOVES him some ketchup! "Grammy, have you tasted this salty red stuff? It's SO good!"

Our visits with Grammy are always too short but we said our goodbyes and went to pick up Grey and started our journey to Bald Head.

Van really liked the ferry ride

Friday night Grey made tacos and we stayed up pretty late watching the movie "Catfish". It's a documentary about a true story based on facebook and to just call the movie CRAZY does not come close to just how creepy and sad it was.

Saturday was my favorite day.

Windy but look at that sunshine!

The boys went to play golf and Hales, Van and I had our "us" time. We took Van and Roxie (their chocolate lab) onto the beach and let them run. I didn't bring my camera b/c I just wanted to enjoy the moment but I wish I would have filmed a part of it. Van would run into the waves, briefly pause and shiver (the water was freezing); turn and run out giggling like a hyena! Then he would chase Roxie and make this high pitched scream which kind of sounded like a seagull crying?!?! It had Hales and I in stitches.

Once the boys got home, Haley and I went shopping. I have appointed Haley as my personal shopper because she found me the prettiest clothes to buy!

It was the perfect example of a day on BHI. We love our time away on our home away from home with two of our closest friends. And I'm so happy Van got to spend quality time with his Uncle Grey and Aunt Haley.

Van just hanging around

He kept us all entertained

We woke up Sunday to the most spectacular full moon. If I could paint, I would paint this picture.

We had our traditional lunch at Eb & Flo's (more bloodys for moi) then boarded the ferry. We can't wait to get back to Bald Head in July for our seventh annual Fourth of July Kinlaw/Utsey summa! (Hales, can you believe it's been 7 years????)

15 month well check-up

I can't believe how fast we got here, but Van is now 15 months old!!!! He had his well check-up today and he was such a good boy. He weighed in at 28 pounds (90th percentile), 33" (90-95th percentile) and head circumference of 47" (50th percentile). Everything looks great! And he only cried for his 2nd shot!

Dr. Swetenburg was amazed at how good-natured Van was and by his vocabulary. He explained that children who are early movers typically don't speak first words until later (around 18 months) or vice versa. Van is an obvious mover (and shaker) but he also says more than 5 words. I was a proud mommy!

Van's first words:

dog

dada

mama

go!

door

turtle

thank you

please

alligator (gator)

no!

yes

and we're working on - love you.

After his appointment we went home and Van took a much needed nap. Then we headed to the mall and I had the best time with my little man.

We played in the children's area.......

rode a carousel

and enjoyed some coconut & pistachio gelato.

I really feel so lucky that Van is ours. Dr Swetenburg commented that Van is not a good example of birth control and he said he wished that I could spend the day with him so I could see how most 15 month old toddlers behave!

I think I'll stick with ignorant mommy bliss. But watch our 2nd be a total hellion! (We're not preggo btw. Just saying.)

i had an a-ha moment!

as the wife of a man i love through and through i realized something tonight.......

i just want van to find someone who loves this face

as much as i do.

and who loves this face.....even more......

a little crazy baby before bedtime

BEACHAHOLIC

Hi, my name is Melissa. And I'm a...............a BEACHAHOLIC.

There I said it.

It's been 4 days since my last beach trip. And 16 days until my next trip!

We had the happiest weekend with Brooke, Jack and Lawton. It could not have been better. Brooke and I got in a lot of great shopping (Piggly Wiggly, Candy Store, and the cutest beach shop where I bought too much stuff for Van's big boy room and I learned that my last name is unpopular!)

The first thing we noticed when we got to Edisto was that the boys were wearing the exact same shirt (Brooke and I bought them together of course)!

Milk break:

Dinner time is kind of tough with these two. They are some picky eaters. The finally agreed on a banana!

And more milk.

"hey, what are you doing in here?"

Hawthorne House is located on a lagoon where the big boys got to watch the golfers and the little boys got to watch the birds (and try to escape).

trying to escape

notice Jack & Derek .........

lawton was on the go

Saturday was beach day. It was gorgeous and unbelievable weather for February! Van and Lawton were in their own little worlds; chasing seagulls, looking for seashells, playing in the sand and just being little happy, adorable little boys.

Right after this picture, Van ran right into the water, soaking his socks, shoes and jeans!

Lawton started making a new face right before our beach trip. He squishes up his nose (like Brooke does) when he smiles. So I spent the whole weekend trying to get him to give me his squishy nose smile!

flashcard time!

and it's bedtime again. I think Van's tired! time for two little boys to go night-night so the mommies and daddies can enjoy some steak and champagne!

Thank you so much guys for a wonderful weekend. It was the perfect re-charge and so relaxing. We honestly had the best time. I think we must make this an annual trip! Next time, we'll take ya'll to Bald Head! Love you!