Goodbye 3 year old class....hello summer vacation!

Today was Jackson's last day of preschool for this year. He will be in the four year old class and his last year of preschool next year :(  Today Toby and I attended the family picnic at his school. Its a nice way to wrap up the school year by chatting with the other parents and teachers. Jackson just adores Ms. Ann and Ms. Lori. I know he will miss them over the summer and next year. They told me that Jackson was a joy to have in class and was their little "chatterbox". No surprise there!

 



First day and last day comparison

 

Playing around before school

 

Jackson with Ms. Ann



Jackson with Ms. Lori

 

So, what have the kids been up to?

Well, Jackson just completed his soccer season at the Y. He played last spring through Charlotte Soccer Academy but all they had was one practice session each and no games. With this league he had practices on Friday night for an hour with an hour long game each Saturday morning. He never complained about going but also never got really into it. He was more excited about wearing the uniform and stretching/warming up than playing actual soccer. We would often catch him daydreaming on the field while the game went on around him. Maybe he is too young or maybe soccer just isn't his thing. We'll see....

First game of the season

Jackson has been the sweetest boy lately. In just the past couple weeks, it has really hit us that he is such a big boy now. He is so self sufficient and rarely needs our help for things like he used to. I'm so happy that he is growing up to be a smart and independent young man but at the same time it makes me sad. Seems like only yesterday I was nursing him and changing his diapers. He is so mature when it comes to his sister. He often recognizes that its not worth the fight or screaming from her end and will give up a toy or give up on building with his blocks because she keeps knocking them over. Sometimes when I scold her, he will say to me, "That's ok mama, its what babies do!" (Did, I mention, I just LOVE when he calls me "mama". It melts my heart!) He is such a sweet big brother often holding Emily's hand when we walk down the sidewalk or cross the street. He is really turning into such a gentleman. When we ride somewhere with great grandma he always wants to get out of the car quickly so he can give her a hand and help her out. I hope he carries on with these traits. Now don't get me wrong, he still has his moments of tormenting his sister, not listening to me, and whining. Oh the whining....I cant take it! The number one sign that he is tired. He no longer naps but sometimes he obviously needs it. He is still our little guy but has been eating better lately. He often comes home from school with an empty lunch box. He also has been eating what we eat at night which is great and makes things MUCH easier on me. He has been more willing to try new things. He is still a great sleeper. Now that he isn't napping anymore he falls asleep at night as soon as his head hits the pillow, usually around 8 p.m. He's getting up around 6:45 each morning. He often plays in his room until I tell him it is "wake up time". One thing we have been struggling with is pull ups at night. We are trying our best to get rid of them but when we don't put one on him, he wets the bed. Often when he has one on, he stays dry. I got really irritated washing sheets all of the time so we will revisit this when he is a bit older.

Jacksons likes: talking, watching PBS kids or Disney shows before school, his teacher Ms. Ann, playing outside especially with the 10 yr old neighbor Lucas, spending the night at Bobby and Pa's, playing with and at times tormenting Emily, eating snacks ALL.DAY.LONG!, playing shooter guns with daddy, reading a story before bed, and having me rub his back afterwards.

Jackson dislikes: resting, picking up his toys, me brushing his teeth, being told "no"

A sweet big brother reading to his little sister

So excited that Pa picked him up from school



Off to the ball game with daddy

 

 

 

 

And on to Emily.....I cant believe my "baby" is almost 18 months old! Where has the time gone? She sure does keep me on my toes. She is very fiesty and energetic. I do not remember Jackson acting like this when he was this age. It must be a second child or a girl thing. Toby and I are a bit worried that these personality traits are here to stay. I always say, "Good thing she is so cute!" Emily is still home with me all day. I do cherish all of this time that we get to spend together, especially while she is little. I have Toby to thank for that. He works so hard for our family, allowing me to stay home with the kids. Emily just in the last couple weeks went from taking two naps to just one long nap in the afternoon. She now naps from about 1:30 until 4:30 p.m. Although the two naps were nice for me it does make it a bit easier to run errands and get in a workout in the morning while Jackson is at school. She still sleeps great at night-from about 8 p.m. until 7 a.m. I joined the YMCA back in February and until now by the time Emily woke from her morning nap I barely had time to get in a workout before I had to turn right around to pick up Jackson. Now I can fit in some errands too! She does occasionally fall asleep in the car though. I joined the Y because they offer free child watch. The first few weeks with Emily were tough. They had to come get me every time because she was crying. Now she walks right in. Such a big girl! This will prep her for summer camp! Unfortunately, the clogged tear duct in Emily's right eye has not improved even after her procedure this past January. Looks like we will be repeating it this June. We are in the process of weaning her off the pacifier. We are trying to limit it to naps, bedtime, and car rides. One sweet thing she does is when we say, "time for a bath", or "wanna go night night with your sucker?" she drops whatever she is doing and runs to the stairs.

 

Emily likes: waving and saying bye, playing outside, eating, throwing food onto the floor from her high chair, taking a bath, throwing wet toys out of the tub, laying on Sugar, playing with and laughing at big brother, brushing her teeth, and her suckers.

 

Emily dislikes: having her diaper changed, getting dressed, me putting her into her car seat, sitting still.

 

Watching the Gator basketball game with daddy....

Chillin' on the back deck

Playing at the beach on Oak Island with brother during Spring break
 

This last photo reminds me....the kids and I took a trip to Oak Island with Katie and her girls the first half of Spring break (April 13-16). She had rented a condo right by the beach and generously invited us along. The kids had a blast even though the weather was not ideal. The first day was nice so we spent it on the beach. The days after were downright cold! We had a rainy day so we took a road trip to Wilmington. We went out to lunch followed by a trip to the Children's Museum. Thanks to Katie for bringing us along!!

Easter 2014

Once again we had a pretty nice and relaxing holiday at home. As far as I'm concerned that is the best way to celebrate with two little kids. On Saturday, which was also my birthday, we went to an Easter egg hunt with some of Jacksons preschool friends. Due to some rain, the hunt had to be rescheduled indoors. The kids had a blast regardless!

All dressed up...

 

Emily had more fun playing with the big balls than hunting eggs

Looking for eggs...

 

Checking out the goods

 

 

On Easter we started out the day by going  to mass and then carried on tradition by going to Bobby and Pa's afterward for breakfast and an Easter egg hunt. This year great grandma joined us in the holiday fun. That afternoon we played at our house followed by dinner on the back deck. The weather was beautiful!

Goodies the Easter bunny left for the kids

Ready, Set, Go!!!

Traditional Bloody Mary photo but including great grandma this year

Update on Emily

Yesterday Emily had her 15 month well visit. She was pretty upset the whole time we were there. Part of the problem is that the appointment fell on the verge of nap time and she is now at the age where she has developed a fear of the doctors office. She received two shots this time. We were told that she looks very well. We will start working on weaning her off the pacifier, reserving it for naps and bedtime only. Her stats were as follows:

Weight: 20 lbs 2.5 oz (33%)
Height: 30.5 inches (47%)

Emily eats pretty well but is still our little peanut. On that note, she is starting to exhibit some pickiness. Its not as bad as Jackson though! She practically runs everywhere and enjoys climbing up on things. She still takes a morning and afternoon nap and sleeps about 12 hours at night! She has 4 teeth: the top middle and bottom middle, although there are two more approaching on the top. She says: Jack, ball, ma, and da. She is starting to follow simple commands. She loves her brother to death even though he can be so rough with her at times. I guess she doesn't know any different! She often laughs at him when he is rough housing with her.

Snow and Sand

We took a road trip to Naples last month with the kids. I had already planned on going down there sometime in February and then Toby was asked to attend a conference in Sanibel on Valentines week so we just combined trips. We left early one afternoon when Jackson got out of school. That morning started the snowfall that would turn into the "biggest in decades". As we headed down through South Carolina we quickly drove out of the snow. The next morning we were sitting on the sunny beach enjoying the warm weather. It was a nice visit going to the beach often, the park, and visiting with Pa and old friends. Although, we got to escape winter and enjoy the beach, I was a bit disappointed that we missed the snow, considering it never happens like that here in Charlotte. The kids would have had a blast playing in it.

Unfortunately, Bobby could not be there because she was up north to help grandma. Grandpa Miller became very sick this past January. He passed away the Sunday that we left Florida. We will never forget him and will cherish all the good memories. Rest in peace, grandpa! We love and miss you!

My baby looks like a teenager in this photo! :(

Happy to be in sunny Florida!

 

Morning at the beach with mommy

 

Deep in thought

 

 

 

Ice cream treat with the kids...

Another beach day

 

January 2014

Since the holidays we have been laying pretty low. In a way, the weather throughout most of January has sort of forced us to. For the most part its been cold or rainy or both. We have had some random mid 60 degree days thrown in, which is always welcomed. We have had lots of relaxing afternoons at home watching movies. We have spent the weekends at birthday parties, out to eat, and just being together. Last week was probably the most eventful. Emily had the procedure to fix her clogged tear ducts. She did very well with the procedure and the anesthesia. It was very brief. We took her to a day surgery center to have it done. We had an arrival time of 5:30 a.m. and were back home by 9:30 that morning. She was just left with some swelling and a little bit of bloody drainage. Both went away very quickly. Hopefully the problem is gone now. There is only a 10% chance that the procedure would not correct it. We just have to watch and see over the next couple weeks. The afternoon/evening before the procedure we got snow! It only amounted to something like 0.9 inches but we still went out to play in it with Jackson after we got home from Emily's procedure.

That's it for now. We have warmer days ahead as we are traveling to Naples next week! I'll update again after our trip.

One of the random warm and sunny days...

Before the procedure

 

Feeling more relaxed after her first dose of medicine kicks in

After we got home that morning. Poor baby!

 

Fun in the snow....

 

 

 

 

Christmas 2013

This year we had a nice, low key Christmas at home. We celebrated with both sets of grandparents which was great for the kids. Talk about getting spoiled. Bobby and Pa hosted dinner and a gift exchange at their house on Monday night. Tuesday evening we went to mass with grandma and Papa. After the kids went to bed, all of us adults were like elves running around the house wrapping gifts and putting toys together. As usual I could hardly sleep that night due to the anticipation of the next morning. I was up before everyone else and eagerly waited for Jackson to wake up so we could go downstairs to get the party started. He woke up and went the bathroom as normal but then went back and laid down in his bed. I could hardly believe it. I finally started making noise on purpose and then I finally heard him call my name. The very best part of the entire holiday is seeing the look on his face when he sees the presents under the tree. We took our time opening gifts and just lounged around the house watching Christmas movies. Toby and his mom prepared a delicious prime rib dinner. This meal has sort of become a Christmas tradition for us. The rest of the evening we laid around and enjoyed a cozy fire. It was such a fun and truly relaxing few days spent with loved ones. I like to think that we are making beautiful memories for our children.

Opening some presents at Bobby and Pa's house...

Ready for Christmas Mass...

Time for bed so Santa can come

Picking out cookies for Santa...



Elves hard at work...

Ready for Christmas morning

Jackson got the "shooter gun" that he asked for

 

 





Emily was eating the cookie crumbs that Santa had left behind