Chris and Dargan came for a visit

 Our sweet friends drove over an hour and a half to come visit us, meet Miss Maggie and bring us dinner!!  It was a fun afternoon.  Thankfully the weather was beautiful and the kids were able to play outside.  It's been several months since the kids have seen each other but it didn't take them long to become familiar again!  They had a great time!  Andy and I enjoyed catching up with our friends too.  A special perk to the visit is knowing that dinner is already in the fridge for tomorrow night!!  We are blessed with sweet friends who are helping make this transition time so much easier!

No more bassinet...

 As you can see in the picture above, Maggie has outgrown her bassinet.  She pretty much touches the top and the bottom...so we finally have her nursery usable-finished no-usable yes.  So two nights ago we made the big move.  Well she wanted NOTHING to do with her crib!  NOTHING!  So I brought the bassinet in her room and placed it beside her crib.  She slept fairly well.  During the day yesterday she did great napping in her crib and so tonight I thought we would try it again.  She did great!  She went down without any problems.  She woke up more than usual but over did really well.

Our girl is 12 weeks old today

Maggie had her first real laugh this week!  It was a sweet belly laugh!  She has found several things funny as they week has progressed.  I just love her sweet personality.  The facial expressions this kid makes cracks me up!  This was her first time sitting in her bumbo.  She was looking at her sweet baby doll like she had 4 eyes or something!  She loves her baby doll and has really enjoying playing with it this week.  She is actually grasping it with both hands and enjoying the different textures and sounds it makes.

 The other day she was playing and somehow managed to get her arm through the loop on her giraffe AND grab a hold of her paci!  The only problem was that she couldn't figure out how to let go...

 One super tired little girl sitting with mommy while mommy updated the last 3 weeks on the blog!  Shew, we are up to date!  or at least for the moment!

Blessing!!!

I have said MANY times before, I am SO THANKFUL for CSX!  It provides very well for our family!  We learned after Caroline was out of formula, another perk the company drug prescription plan has.  Sweet Maggie's formula is covered!!  Our pediatrician writes a prescription to the company and they send us a 3 months supply for $90!!!  Yes you read that right, $90 for a 3 month supply!!!!!!!!!!!  We are so very grateful!!!!

Dontions to the Animal Shelter

 This year for Caroline's birthday she wanted to collect items for the animals shelter.  She was so excited as she opened each gift.  Today we were finally able to take the items over.  Caroline was excited to drop the items off and see the animals for a little while.  I loved the two puppies that were in the room behind her.  The one below was asleep but reminded us so much of our Luy when she was younger.  The other doggy wanted to see what was going on and it was as if he was posing for each picture!

Birthday Stone for School

I love the way Caroline's school celebrates birthday's if you choose to participate.  We went to Lowe's and bought a $1.50 stepping stone.  Then Caroline thought about what she wanted to draw and we bought the paint colors she needed.  We headed outside and she got started.  As hard as it was, I stepped back and let her do her own thing and only helped when she asked.  I have to say that I was blown away with how well she did!!  

Step one, painting the grass and the sky  

 Step two, adding the clouds and the sun

 step three, adding the house, flower and apple tree

 step four, adding her name, I added the other info

I can honestly say this was a FUN activity for us.  I was suppose to send it in for her birthday but we couldn't...so thankful we didn't rush it!!  Hope to do more fun projects like this in the future...maybe we need painted stones to our trash can! ha

Enjoying a gorgeous Day!!!!!

 The Lord has blessed us with some beautiful days this week!  Today we decided to head out for some afternoon fun.  It was a gorgeous day!!  Maggie enjoyed hanging out in her bumbo seat for a little while.  I love the expression here on C's face...she loves her little sister SO MUCH!!!!

 Caroline thought it would be a great idea to have a tea paty...

 and play a game

 Maggie thought a nap sounded nice!  Lookk at her hands...this is her new thing.  She puts them behind her head when she gets sleepy.  I love it!

Maggie 11 weeks

As you can see Maggie is growing like a weed!  And everyone talks about how big and wide her eyes are!  Yes, she is scared she will miss something if she closes them...she is becoming more and more aware of her surroundings.  She is grabbing for the toys on her play mat or while in her swing.  She has really begun to notice her fingers and hands and feet.  It's fun to watch her look at them and stare in amazement.

 Loved this sweet shot!!

 she has great head control and amazing upper body strength as well

off to another week of learning and growing!!!

The tooth fairy is coming again

Well folks after almost a month with an extremely loose tooth, it is OUT.  The downfall of having the dentist pull your first two teeth using sedation is that when it's time to pull the third tooth, it hurts!  And Caroline wanted NO part in it!!  But finally with a little monetary persuation, it came out.  She did great until she realized it was out and then she started screaming!!!!!  Within a minute or two, she turned super white and broke out in a cold sweat!  Thankfully we had some orange juice here to help bring her back...good grief, talk about being a drama queen! :-)  (She get's it honest, I guess it's payback for all the drama I gave my parents when it came to pulling teeth!)  Love my girl!!!!!

Girls just want to have fun...

 This kids imagination never ceases to amaze me...she came in and said "look at me, I have a beautiful gown on."

 A few minutes later she said "Look at me, I am Little Red Riding Hood!"

Not only does she have an imagination, she says some of the funniest things!

• One day last week they didn't have school, the teachers had a teachers work day.  However Caroline called it a teacher "work out" day.  You know kids stay home and teachers work out.
• She calls Netflix "neck flix"
• When she opened gifts for the animal shelter at her birthday party, she told Andy "I hope this helps the animals in Zambia!"
• Her big thing to say is "When Maggie is my age, 5 you know, I will be 11 and I will ____."
• She added to the above statement one day "When I am 11 and going into high school, I will let Maggie have my tennis shoes!"

No more bed rails...

We had taken Caroline's bed rail off earlier in the week.  She insisted that she no longer needed it but Andy and I weren't so sure...she begged us to leave it off.  SO we did and look at this big girl...staying in like a champ!!!!  She is very proud of herself!

Celebrating at Skateland

 Caroline decided she wanted to have her birthday party this year at Skateland.  I wasn't huge on the idea but felt I shouldn't argue, especially since her life had been turned upside down with Maggie's arrival.  Oh how the Lord knew I wouldn't have time to plan her typical, at home, fun birthday party.  With this party, they provided everything-invitations, plates, cups, etc.  It was wonderful...a little crazy but wonderful!  Of course, it wouldn't be a birthday party without Caroline having at least one melt down due to all the attention and being overwhelmed.  Thankfully Daddy was able to help her work it out so that she could enjoy the remainder of her party.  We decided like last year, we would allow her to decide who/what she would like to donate to for her birthday.  She chose our local animals shelter.  She was so EXCITED as she opened her "gifts."  She just knew the animals would love each and every gift she opened.

Aunt Katy and the girls

Oh how both of my girls love their Aunt Katy!!!!

 Caroline, Ella and Catherine

 Caroline and Tyler

 Caroline and Ella

 Maggie was OUT in Aunt Jill's arms

 Enjoying pizza

 Andy and I decided to let Charissa and Chris "serve" as Caroline's parents and enjoy free skating

 Loved this sweet picture

 Happy Birthday Sweet Girl

 Would have never guessed we would be a family of four by Caroline's 6th birthday!!!!!

10 weeks

This little mess is growing too stinking fast!!  Her little personality continues to grow!  She is a smiley little girl and is trying so hard to laugh.  She is really paying attention to what/who is around her.  She loves her play mat and is trying to grab the things above her.  Caroline can make her smile a big old toothless grin like no one else!!!  

 She really loves this baby doll.  She is trying to hold it but just can't seem to be able to grab it.

 Now if we can just get her to sleeping longer at night...just kidding...ok maybe not but I do try to soak in these late night/early mornings!

Happy 6th Birthday Sweet Girl

 Can't believe our baby girl is 6!!!!  Where has the time gone?  What a beautiful, sweet, blessing this girl is to us!   She has grown into such a sweet little mess.  She loves her role as big sister and enjoys playing and talking with Maggie.  She is a huge helper and has a big heart!  What fun it has been to celebrate her today.  This morning she asked for pancakes and bacon.  Daddy had lunch with her at school.  She played with Tyler after school.  Ansley Kate came for dinner and a sleep over.  She was so excited for her big day and had fun celebrating!!  We look forward to celebrating with friends on Saturday.

Birthday Fun at the Beach

The timing of Andy and Caroline's birthday is just perfect for a final "summer" beach trip!  A few years ago we started this tradition and look forward to it each year!  This year was extra special as it was Maggie's first trip to the beach.  Friday night we headed out to the inlet and enjoyed the marsh walk.  We had a delicious seafood dinner overlooking the marsh.  Saturday we were lazy and took our time getting dressed.  We headed out after Maggie's 12 o'clock bottle to explore, no set destination.  We went to Miyambi's for dinner per Caroline's request.  Our cook was amazing and loved our little "birthday princess."  After dinner we enjoyed a Gamecock victory...I say enjoy cause I have no idea how many we will actually have this year...

Sunday was the day we had been waiting for...no rain and a fun morning on the beach.  Maggie of course slept through the first hour or so.  It was a gentle breeze and she was perfectly content hanging in her seat. 

love my view-my baby girl asleep on the beach while my big girl and her daddy enjoyed the waves

Caroline was THRILLED Maggie finally got to wear this super cute suit and matching hat!!!

this view never gets old!

how did this happen?  how can my sweet little baby be THIS big???

Maggie's first experience with salt water.  She was perfectly content.  If you look in the righhand corner you see Caroline's foot.  I was asking her to come get beside Daddy and Maggie and she came running but saying "Something got my foot!"  So we immediately got out and sure enough, a jellyfish got her.. :-(  But she was such a trooper!!  She never cried or complained really...talk about an abrupt ending to a fun morning!