Rory at 8 and 9 months

I need to get this posted before she turns 10 months!!

Not much changed between 7 1/2 months and 8 months but boy has she grown leaps and bounds since 9 months!!

in love with her crooked smile

so happy at the beach

happy happy happy

true love

Rory at 9 months

her top two teeth came in and it looks like another one is trying to break through

she went from eating all pureed foods to eating all finger foods in the matter of a day after my friend Katherine told me what she was giving her sweet girl Rollins who is about the same age as Rory

she has tried and loved: peas, french toast, pancakes, banana bread, scrambled eggs, shredded cheese, lunch meat, Mediterranean pasta salad, black beans and of course cheerios and puffs are still a favorite

she started drinking out of her sippy cup all by herself which is HUGE since she hasn't ever really taking a bottle!

she took her first two steps on May 15th - they were a little wobbly but she is getting braver and braver and all she wants to do is walk holding just one of your fingers for support

we're still trying to figure out her nap schedule. but she takes two naps for the most part. poor second child, has to nap on the go A LOT!

Rory has four words now and she knows the meaning of them which amazes me: mama, dada, byebye and papa

she waves byebye and gives kisses with a big emphasis on the MUAH!

girls loves to eat and if you are enjoying a tasty treat she will lean into you and go "mmmmmmm" then smack her lips

loves to dance and as soon as she hears music her little body starts moving

she is in love with Van and cries out every morning we drop him off at carpool. she does not like to see him leave

but when he gets back her legs and arms kick and wave in excitement!

Bean,

It is so much fun to watch you grow and to see all the love you bring to our family, the love between you and your big brother and the happy little person you are becoming. We love you to the moon and back baby girl.

xoxo

Be in love with your life. Every minute of it.

My new motto.

D and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary on April 28th. For the past two years, we have taken a weekend away (just the two of us) on Kiawah Island and this year we were planning on the same.

But, life had other plans for us. We decided to take both littles because our youngest is not exactly taking a bottle yet. There is no one to blame but me. But it has been very hard for me to find a reason to pump when it is so much easier for me to just give the girl what she wants.

So, my incredible hubby and I shared our weekend with our two beautiful children. It was fitting and appropriate and special. These two sweet babies have made our lives so much richer and we fell in love all over again watching them enjoy the place we feel most at home - the beach.

It was Rory's official first time and she literally dove right into the water. Following her big brother's lead. No questions asked. I could seriously live at the beach and have every day's play time be in the sand and salt water. #icandream

Van wanted us all to wear our hats on the way down. He chose his bike helmut!

"Shaka brah" #hangloose #daddyisfromhawaii

After an afternoon on the beach with just me and the littles a little champs was in order!

Does not get much cuter than this.

Cold water don't care.

Could watch them all day.

Swinging beauty

High five

I was following him to look out for him but all I heard was #watchoutforthatpuddlemama and #watchoutforthatbigbumpmama. So sweet. Looking out for his mama!

D & M 04*28*06

"Van, wait for me!" #littlesisterproblems

Seven years married, eleven years together and sixteen years since we met. #allhappenedinapril

All in all, it was a beautiful weekend and even though we did not come back from a weekend of sleeping in and lounging, we came back refreshed and renewed and more in love. #anniversarywin

Van played "peek"

"a-boo" with Rory on the way home. I think even these two became closer.

We still want a re-do and would love a weekend away at the end of summer, just the two of us..............

*cough*cough* grandparents?

April Love

I think April is my second favorite month. It finally starts to get warm, flowers start to bloom, and we get to stop wearing so many layers! Hello Spring and Sun!

All About my Little Man

So long overdue. C'est la vie.

I have been trying extra hard to connect with my oldest while I care for the needs of my youngest. Harder than it sounds folks, harder.than.it.sounds.

Has anyone seen that Mother's Day commercial with the little red headed baby boy growing up and his mom is constantly moving his hair out of his face and the boy is like gosh mom leave me alone and then he is facetimeing with her from his dorm room? I cry every time that stupid commercial comes on. I just connect with all the love that mom feels and the boy grows so fast. I am starting to tear up as I write this...... I need to tighten up.

Anywoo, I have decided to try my best to remember to do this little survey every year and it would be even better if I recorded a video of his answers but that would probably take a lot of editing.

The rules: Ask him each question and write down his first answer.

Van, age 3 #goingonseven

Nicknames: Peanut, Stinky, Little Man, Wild Man, Hot Rod (I did not ask him this question)

How old are you? 3

What is your favorite color? red

What is your favorite animal? horses

What is your favorite book? train book

What is your favorite TV show? Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

What is your favorite movie? Tangled #oopsthoughtitwastoystory #toddlerproblems

What is your favorite song? Tonight (we are young)

What is your favorite food? applesauce (he NEVER eats applesauce???)

What is your favorite drink? chocolate milk (just like his mama)

What is your favorite breakfast food? pancakes (made by daddy not mommy!)

What is your favorite snack? fruit snacks

What is your favorite outfit? Chuggington (his Halloween costume) #toldyouthiswaslongoverdue #askedhimthesequestionsaroundhalloween

What is your favorite game? ???????????

What is your favorite toy? Chuggington

Who is your best friend? Sydney (Smith) #sorryeffie #thoughtitwouldbeyouordaddy

What is your favorite thing to do? play

What is your favorite thing to do outside? run around and play on the swingset

What is your favorite Holiday? Christmas #ithinkthatistheonlyholidayheknows

What do you like to take to bed with you at night? my Bobby (the blanket)

Where is your favorite place to go? to Mimi's house

What is your favorite restaurant? ????????

Where do want to go on vacation? to Bald Head

What do you want to be when you grow up? a big boy (love this!!!)

What did you do on your birthday? "I turned 3." #duh #soliteral

20 Ways to Get Closer to your Child Today

I get a parenting newsletter called Aha! Parenting sent to me weekly and this particular one really touched me. It mentioned things I struggle with on an everyday basis so I'd like to include it here - in Van and Rory's virtual baby book as a reminder to myself.

20 Ways to Get Closer to Your Child Today