A good week

We've had a fun week and weekend! The kiddos (and parents) are finally over the never-ending cold we all passed around the family...unfortunately, Nana has it now. Sorry Nana!

Here are Sam and Caroline all dressed for school last week. They were too cute, so I had to take a picture (or two...or three!)

We had a fun weekend too. After our usual Friday night meal at "The Restaurant" - i.e., Biscotti's - Sam and Caroline went to Chip and Phy's house Saturday while Mom and Dad took a trip up to Amelia Island. We sat by the pool, had a nice dinner, watched a movie, and slept until 8:00 a.m. for the first time in almost a year! It was wonderful, but we were very happy to see our kiddos again on Sunday.

On Sunday afternoon, we went to Sam's buddy Liza's house to play on her new swingset. They had so much fun on the "airplane swings" and the slide! Sam is super happy to have Liza right down the street, and I bet we'll be doing lots of swinging in the next few weeks and months!

Our final bit of big news -- Miss Caroline started rice cereal this week! After two days, I'm happy to report that she LOVES the cereal -- can't get enough of it! -- but disappointed to report that, old wives' tales to the contrary, rice cereal has not helped her sleep through the night any better. Alas, we were blessed with two very sweet snugglers who just don't like to sleep. :)

And lastly, we want to send a hug out to Nana and Papa who are cleaning up from Hurricane Irene this week. Their beautiful yard and garden were pretty thoroughly beaten, and they have spent the week sawing up fallen trees, hauling them off, and cleaning up. The great news, of course, is that everyone is healthy, the house is fine, and the power is back on -- so we're very grateful for that. Sorry we're not there to help you, Nana and Papa, but we love you!

A few days in the life...

I just transferred some photos from my phone and wanted to share them!

Here are my two sweet kiddos!


Miss Caroline doing some art at school, courtesy of her very sweet and thoughtful teacher, Ms. Amparo!


Mr. Sam playing with the new race track toy Nana brought him. He has played with this nonstop since Saturday!

And finally, a few pictures from the pool, where we spend a lot of our time on the weekends. It's too hot to do much else! Caroline can't exactly swim, but she likes to get her feet wet, and she sure looks cute in her bathing suit!

Sam does swim, with a little help from his water wings! He splits his time between the baby pool, where he can walk around and play with his boats, and the big pool, where he tries to swim and loves being thrown in the air.

On Saturdays, they have a big waterslide! Sam loves this...and is terrified of it...all at the same time :)

Caroline Hits the Holy Water!

Sweet Miss Caroline had a big day today. With lots of family watching, and Mom, Dad, and big brother Sam by her side, she was baptized! It was a very special day for her and for us all. Thanks to Nana, Papa, Chip, Phy, Mere-Mere, Carol, and Vic for being there to share this wonderful day.

Today also marks the end of a great week with Nana! She came to town last Sunday to watch the kiddos while their school was closed this week, and we all had a great week with her. She was amazing, doing double-duty with both kids for a whole week, and she even cured Sam's nap-itis! We are awed and inspired. Papa came to town on Friday, and we had a great weekend with both of them...but we know that, while they will miss their grandkids, they are happy to be returning to North Carolina and escaping this absurdly hot and humid Florida weather!

And, finally, tomorrow marks Miss Caroline's 4-month birthday. In a way, I can't believe it's been 4 months already. And in another way, I can't believe it's ONLY been 4 months, because it's already hard to imagine life without her and I feel like we've known her for years! Her big brother Sam continues to be adorably sweet with her, and she continues to blossom...cooing and babbling more every day, laughing and giggling, and rolling over all by herself for the first time today! Happy 4 month birthday, Sweet-Pea-Sugar-Plum-Rosebud!

Where Did July Go?

I can't believe it's been a month since I last sat down to do this. In that month, we've had a great 4th of July with Mark and Walker and Frazier at the River (minus the day I spent in bed with a stomach virus...uggh), celebrated Sam's birthday (about 7 different ways - see various pictures below!), soaked up lots of snuggles during my last few weeks of maternity leave, returned to work, and had Caroline's first day of school!

Rather than type a big wordy update, I'm going to let the pictures do the talking in this update with minimal interruption. We'll do a more complete post soon, but wanted to get these sweet pictures up!

Sweet pictures of Caroline getting stronger and sitting up!

The first of many birthday celebrations for Sam... in North Carolina with Nana and Papa over July 4th weekend. He LOVES his fireman hat and fire truck!



We're missing pictures from the River (Auntie Walker has promised to send hers!), but have these sweet pictures after our return home on the 4th.
Caroline wearing her adorable ruffly outfit from the Hathaways...and falling over during her photo shoot!




Sam and Caroline playing on the floor in Sam's room in their July 4th attire!
What a sweet little face from our growing girl!

And then the birthday extravaganza continued! We let Sam open a small present each morning of his "birthday week." The kid really loves opening presents, perhaps even more than the presents themselves. He had fun wearing these silly bands all week, though!

In the class tradition, I took cupcakes in to Sam's school on the last school day before his birthday. Sam, who believes that the whole point of birthdays is to eat cupcakes, was THRILLED!
Sam and Liza with their cupcakes!

Chip and Phy came over that evening to bring Sam his birthday presents - a super-fun track for his Thomas trains, and some delicious Cars-shaped cupcakes, mac-and-cheese molds, and turkey meatloafs! Phy had a lot of fun with the Cars cupcake pan!

Sam and his sweet buddy Liza shared a birthday party on Sam's actual birthday out at the beach. It was overcast all morning, but the rain held off for the party, and the kids didn't let it keep them out of the water or the sand. It was a fun little morning with all Sam and Liza's bestest buds.

Caroline slept through most of the birthday party but woke up in time for a little snuggling with Dad.

Sam & Aunt Mere-Mere...
This sweet little birthday boy sure does love the beach!

Ashley and Brady were in town to meet Caroline and help Sam celebrate, and Sam had fun playing with all his new (and old) toys with Brady! This pirate ship was our big present for Sam, who loves being outside despite the crazy Florida heat...so we figured we'd better find a way to help make outside play a little bit cooler!

Once all the birthday celebrations were done, we relaxed back into normal life for a couple more weeks!

Kiddos having fun playing on the floor at home :)

And a few final sweet pictures of Miss Caroline, who is now 3 months old! She has had her first two days of daycare and loves it so far. It's mom who's having trouble being separated from her!

We'll do a better update soon... Lots of love to all!