Crazy Good Times;)

Yes, we knew we'd be busy and yes, we knew we were a little crazy but going into it we knew it wasn't going to be a typical, relaxing beach week so we definitely made the most of it! My good friend Sarah and I took our 5, yes 5 children to Emerald Isle to her family's beach house last week and we all had a blast! Sarah and I mentioned about half way through our trip that there hadn't been one second where we were both sitting down until after everyone was in bed but that was ok with us. We did the beach in the morning through lunch and came home for late naps and then hung out at the house for the rest of the night. There's a precious ice cream/candy shop within walking distance so we checked it out every night and my boys are still asking me where our sweet spot is because they loved it so much!

Sarah's boys took to the beach and ocean immediately as did Carter but funny Cooper took a little while, actually 3 days, to come around! As soon as he'd see a wave heading towards the shore, he'd sprint back to his safe place, the stroller, and hop into the seat. He would barely even sit in my lap down at the water without freaking out in the beginning but thankfully on our last day was loving every second down by the water. Sweet Hudson was a trooper and did great eating and sleeping on the beach for most of the day. He's such a happy little guy and will go to anyone so it was wonderful that Sarah was able to help with him so much! He didn't seem too phased by the beach but was definitely curious about touching and tasting the sand so I tried to keep his paci close by, not that's it's ever too far away!

Sarah, I can't thank you enough for including us and for all of your help! You are a dear friend to me! We had such a good time and really appreciate you thinking of us - hopefully we can do it again next year!

Kellen really loves his Mommy, especially kissing her!
Carter hopped right in the 1st day.
My little muscle man - promise we feed him but those ribs sure do show!
2 Boys snoozing - Cooper wanted to ride while I strolled Hudson for his nap but they both fell asleep!

Checking out the sand for the 1st time
Mmm, tastes good Mommy!
He was so funny with his paci - he'd dip it in the beach water in his pool and suck like crazy on it! Guess he's gonna love salt just like his mommy!
Poor Cole, I wouldn't look at the camera either with a sandy foot on my shoulder:)
1st bath with all 3 boys together
Cole was obviously not impressed with my picture-taking but Sarah's bedtime story was too sweet to pass up!
It's nice to be clean and sand-free!
Snooze #2 on the beach, man he looks like a chunk!
Not the best but we're all there!
Finding shells with Sarah

Love this
Showing off our minnows!
Rub a dub dub, 2 boys in a tub;)

7 Months

I really can't believe it's been 7 months already but we love every second with sweet Hudson!
Apparently we are just too funny for him:).
Check out my 2 teeth!
Random playdate picture from the other morning
Not quite sure what the sad face is all about but I could just kiss these sweet cheeks all day!
My hair is really starting to grow as you can see!

Eventful

Our neighborhood pool has been open since Mother's Day but it's been a little too chilly for us to check out until this past weekend. I had worked Friday night so we decided spur of the moment on Saturday to take the kids for the first time. Needless to say they were thrilled with our plan! Hudson was precious and thankfully loved the water. It's a good thing because we spend lots of our time there during the summer! The water was 76 degrees which felt quite icy but the little boys and I didn't seem to mind. It was a little too cold for the big boy (Jamey) so he spent most of the time taking pictures and hanging out on the side (I love you Jamey!).

Carter decided to try swimming across the pool on his own not too long after we got there and realized 3/4 of the way to the wall that he wasn't quite ready for such a bold move! He started yelling, "Daddy, help!" and treading water like a drowning dog so the lifeguard blew the whistle and jumped to his rescue. I was mortified and sad for Carter but thankfully he wasn't really embarrassed, just a little more apprehensive about his next across pool adventure! A few minutes before our drowning experience we were standing in the shallow end (2-3ft) throwing the torpedo under the water when I glanced over and noticed Coop trying to get his footing as he had slipped under but I fortunately got to him before the lifeguard! After Carter's rescue, Hudson started getting sleepy and was so sweet just laying his head down on me as I stood in the shallow water. We were just getting ready to leave when he lifted his little head, looked at me for a second, and then proceeded to throw up all over me and into the pool. We took that as our cue to leave for the day as we thought we'd probably left our mark:).

We went back the next day for round 2 and were so memorable that they remembered our last name when we were signing in! We promised them no more near death experiences and thankfully had a much less eventful trip. Carter was proud that he "remembered how to swim" as he put it so hopefully trips across the pool will become easier and easier for him!








Day 2

My Graduate

What a day! I'm definitely having a "full circle" moment about Carter and preschool. I was just telling my mom that I can remember Carter's 1st day of preschool like it was yesterday. Jamey and I went together to drop him off in his 2 year old class at Triangle Academy. We adored his teacher already but leaving him there was probably one of the hardest things I'd ever done. He was crying but they told us just to go ahead so we left our little boy for the very 1st time with tears in all of our eyes! I remember walking down the hallway looking through my tears at Jamey with his glassy eyes and feeling absolutely lost.

Preschool is wonderful and such a great experience that I'm thrilled our children have been able to enjoy but it was definitely a transition for us! I worried so much about Carter that fall because he had just turned 2, was starting preschool, and was about to be introduced to a new brother all in a little over a month. I just knew it was going to rock his little world and I felt so guilty to have so much going on for him all at once. I guess hindsight really is 20/20 and I'm so proud and relieved to say that in true Carter fashion he didn't miss a beat. He loved school, his brother, and thankfully didn't resent us to pieces for all of it!

That moment dropping him off literally feels like it was just the other day. I can't believe that Carter as of today is done with preschool forever and on to Kindergarten in the fall. How has my precious, gentle 2 year old already turned 5 and become so grown up?! We are beyond proud of our big boy and thank God every day that he chose us to be his parents. He is such an amazing, kind, and caring little boy - he's going to be the best dad (a long time from now!) and such a catch for a lucky girl. I will miss him (and I'm sure Cooper will join me in that) so much next year while he's at school but I feel completely selfish because I know he will be so happy and proud to go to kindergarten! I'm going to try and enjoy the summer break as much as possible with my 4 loves and hopefully not waste a minute with my awesome family.


Carter's 2 year old preschool picture

Carter's Graduation with some of his friends. The two girls on the top left have crushes on my boy and argue over who he's going to marry:).
Too cool for school, preschool that is.
I just love how everyone is doing something different in this one, except sweet Carter, hamming it up for me!
Hugging his teacher Miss Velma as she gave him his certificate.
Check out my diploma!




Cooper had his last day today as well and his teachers made them these cute shirts. They say "preschool fits me to a T" and have handprints from the whole class on them.
Blogger is being silly with picture order but this one is last but definitely not least. One of my new favorites.

Puddles

As much as I hate to have dirty, stained clothes and messy boys, I think they're allowed to be boys and play in mud and puddles every now and then:). They definitely enjoyed themselves as you can see!

TEETH

Guess what?

I have two teeth now:).

Wouldn't it be awesome to have an admiring audience all day every day?!
You would think that I would recognize what it looks like when your baby is getting teeth by now but I could've sworn this fella was getting his bottom two teeth at 3 months! Fortunately I was wrong and 6 1/2 months was a little more accurate!