Wordless Wednesday - Fireworks

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

After starting labor at work on a Friday afternoon, I labored at home all night and in to the next day before heading to the hopsital with my husband, mom and doula. My doctor supported my desire for a VBAC and on into Saturday night I labored, very primaly in the tub (yes, lots of info, but this is the watered down version!). Finally I succumbed to needing an epidural and got a little rest. After pushing for hours (yes, hours), lil C finally emerged. Unfortunately she was taken to the NICU, but her lungs proved to be healthy and strong and we were soon united for a nursing session and mommy/baby bonding time. Brings tears to my eyes to think about it!

And oh how you've grown, changed, and developed. You are now a full fledged walker - no more crawling for you. You love food - no more baby food for you either. You love your am/pm nursing sessions. And you love your mommy (and daddy too of course!). You are the most smiley baby girl ever!

Lil C at about 6 weeks.

Today is my first birthday - and don't you love my cute dress and new shoes?!

Watch out world - I am on the move!

I LOVE my dog Tucker - I also love to pretend to bark!

Mommy is obsessed with getting up all the dog-hair and I want to help too!

My eyes may be closed, but I am happy helping and smiling as usual!

Touch a Truck

So we went to this really cool thing last Friday called TOUCH A TRUCK - it was sponsored by our local park system. I had wanted to take B-man last year but it didn't work out so when I heard about it this year, we made it work in to our schedule! WOW - it was great and we all had a great time despite the heat. We got there early to beat the crowds and the heat too! B LOVED all the big trucks that he could climb in and out of. Lil C got in on the action too!

Here B is checking out a racecar - he thought this was SOOOOO COOOL!

And here he is in the news truck. They had it set up so I could stand outside and he could see me on a monitor in the truck. He couldn't get over it! And he got a PRESS PASS!!! LOL!

Oh Mr Post-Man.....

Future Paramedics?

LOVING IT!

B-man driving a digger and LIl C trying to get in on the action!

After a great day at Touch a Truck we headed to a our friend's lakehouse to spend the weekend which was so fun! I thought B might not like the water, but he did great! He even went tubing with me (very slowly behind a pontoon boat) and loved it. My little daredevil. I wish I would have taken a picture of all of us - we appreciate the invite from Ryan and Jennie and cannot wait to go back!

Lil C eating her fishies on the boat.

Finally home Sunday afternoon - enjoying a quiet Father's Day. PJ wanted to just chill for the day and watch soccer and golf on the couch, so I took the kids out for dip in the pool. This is when the water was clean, but soon it was a sandy dirty mess, but they had FUN!

CHEESE!

B-man is getting ready for his big trip to STL to spend time alone with his grandparents - he cannot wait!

lazy weekends

You know how sometimes the best times with your family are the most unplanned and low key? That is how this past weekend was for us - and it was much needed. After a wonderful vacation, and leading up to that, a stressed out mama prepping for a kitchen renovation and vacation, we just needed a quiet no-plans weekend. Saturday morning we woke up but man, was I tired! I am fortunate enough to have a fabulous husband who didn't complain while I took not one, but two naps throughout the day (you know, sleep when the baby sleeps! Does that count when the said baby is 11+ months?!!!). Ahhh, it was so great. We didn't get out of our jammies or leave the house until that evening.

And then we enjoyed the Italian Festival, supporting a local church. It was great! We ate and ate, and B-man LOVED riding the rides, especially the "coffee cups" (straight from the little guys mouth!), but he also loved the Ferris Wheel and Merry Go Round. Makes me so excited for the 4th of July carnival that we will get to FINALLY enjoy again in Webster!

Sunday we enjoyed time at the splash park where Miss C just took off walking like she had been doing it forever!

Oh and my kitchen, still not done, but almost there. Almost Almost. Just waiting on painting, countertops, new sink and faucet, and final fixtures! I love having my oven/range a part of the mix instead of free standing, and HELLO, I have a dishwasher!!!!!!! And more outlets!!!!!

Walking!

Lil C is officially walking! At the splash park this weekend I put sandals on her and she just walked all around the fountains - I couldn't believe what I was seeing! Watch out world!

Kaiwah Island 2010

We recently went to the beach with the McCool clan and had a wonderful time! It was great spending time with everyone, though we missed some that couldn't make it this year. We look forward to this annual tradition - lots of fun, sun, sand, laughter, and craziness!

My little beach baby - lil C LOVED the sand and ocean!

B-man loved the water too!

Two lil Cs together! This bucket was a hit with my little girl. Every day I would fill it with water and she would play in it and often would end up sitting in it. Too cute!

Checking out the beach at sunrise

I couldn't help it - like father like son

Lil C - such a sweetheart!

Momma M and Lil C checking out the water

Toesies in the surf

Walking back home...

One day we went to visit Magnolia Plantation after enjoying breakfast at the Hominy Grill - featured on the food network (or something) for something called the BIG NASTY. I did not partake, but did enjoy my buckwheat peach and blueberry pancakes! YUMMY! The plantation was beautiful though the weather not so much..... Above you are seeing B-man experience a very friendly bunny, part of the petting zoo at Magnolia. We did get caught in a downpour, and thankfully found a gazebo for shelter until the worst passed over!

Lil Iz feeding the friendly pig!

Paw Paw and Lil C enjoying the plantation gardens.

there was a horticulture maze that Iz, Gaga, and P all decided to attempt....not successfully!

Post downpour. So while we are sopping wet in this pic, it does have a sentimental meaning....in college we came to Kiawah while dating and visited Magnolia and took a picture on this exact spot!

Bocci ball on the beach

Lil C - trying to keep her covered....too much sun sometimes!

These two.....B-man and his cousin Q! They were two little peas in a pod - it was too cute! I loved it. And matching outfits too. Coop has the same one too! This was snacktime/get out of the sun for a bit time...

Lots of gators on Kiawah....check out this one we saw walking over the bridge walking to the beach one day....he was hungry!

B-man and Coop running on the very green golf course!

Too cute!

The boys with their paw paw

Okay - so B is not allowed to have soda...but one day I walked in the door and found him sitting on the couch with a Root Beer. No one actually gave it to him, he found it, and well since it was vacation, I just went with it! I thought this was such a cute pic!

We visited the Charleston Aquarium one day....the snake is behind very thick glass...

Papa and Mama!

So great spending a week with the family!

I do it!

B-man is such an independent little guy - things he says to me all the time:
I do it
It's my turn
Be nice (I must say this a lot!)
No, you be nice
Don't say that to me (hmmm - do I say that too?)
I do it
I do it
I do it

He also likes to undress himself these days, which takes a while, but is fine with us! And the other night he read, "Brown Bear Brown Bear" to me - it was so cute. He really got it almost perfect!

And then this morning we were listening to his favorite singer, Raffi, on the way to daycare and a song called "Mama" came on - my little boy all of a sudden shouts, "MOM! Raffi sing bout YOU!!!!". My heart melted.

We recently returned from a great beach vacation with my in-laws and clan. We had a great time. I am slow with getting my pictures up, as the week since has been crazy nonstop busy. We also had our kitchen renovated while we were gone - just waiting on the finishing touches. And then returned to a plumbing issue. Crazy to say the least. My sister in law did post some fun pics though - http://www.gaudingossip.blogspot.com/ if you want a sneak peek.

Lil C was such the beach baby - I have never seen a child so drawn to the water. She loved the ocean, the sand, the waves, the sun, the pool. It was great. B-man was his own little man all week playing with his little cousin Quinn, 1 year older than him - they played non stop, sometimes causing a little trouble, but all in all, having a great time. It is so great to have an opportunity for a fun family vacation. We loved it. Just loved it! Thanks Gaga and Paw Paw!